bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advocacy, Strategy and Tactics Used to Confront Corporate Power: The Nestlé Boycott and International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes
Authors: Johnson Douglas A. , Duckett Laura J.
Published: October 2020

Douglas A. Johnson began his career as a human rights activist while earning his undergraduate degree in philosophy (1975) at Macalester College in the United States. He lived at Gandhi’s ashram in India to study nonviolent organizing (1969 to 1970). He served as the director of the Third World Institute in Minneapolis, MN, USA (1973–1979), which functioned as the international social justice program of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Johnson’s work included creating and running a political collective; leading development study tours into villages in Guatemala and Honduras; and investigating how transnational companies (e.g., Nestlé) were penetrating the developing world. He was the co-founder of the Infant Formula Action Coalition (INFACT), elected national chairperson (1977–1985), and appointed as Executive Director (1978–1984). His role included representing INFACT before national and international organizations, the human milk substitute industry, the US Congress and Executive Branch, and the press. He initiated and coordinated the first international grass-roots consumer boycott (against Nestlé) in ten nations. He was also a co-founder of the International Nestlé Boycott Committee and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). He earned a Master’s in Public and Private Management at Yale University (1988). Then he became the first Executive Director of the Center for Victims of Torture, in Minneapolis (1988–2012), the first treatment center for torture victims in the US. Since 2013, he has been teaching human rights theory and practice, and sharing lessons he has learned, as a Lecturer in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University (US). (This interview was conducted via Zoom and transcribed verbatim. It has been edited for ease of readability. DJ refers to Doug Johnson and LD refers to Laura Duckett.)
Associations Between Single-Family Room Care and Breastfeeding Rates in Preterm Infants
Authors: Grundt Hege , Tandberg Bente Silnes , Flacking Renée , Drageset Jorunn , Moen Atle
Published: October 2020

Background

Hospitalization in neonatal intensive care units with a single-family room design enables continuous maternal presence, but less is known regarding the association with milk production and breastfeeding.

Research aim

To compare maternal milk production, breastfeeding self-efficacy, the extent to which infants received mother’s milk, and rate of direct breastfeeding in a single-family room to an open bay neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods

A longitudinal, prospective observational study comparing 77 infants born at 28– 32° weeks gestational age and their 66 mothers ( n = 35 infants of n = 30 mothers in single family room and n = 42 infants of n = 36 mothers in open bay). Comparisons were made on milk volume produced, the extent to which infants were fed mother’s milk, and rate of direct breastfeeding from birth to 4 months’ corrected infant age. Breastfeeding self-efficacy was compared across mothers who directly breastfed at discharge ( n = 45).

Results

First expression (6 hr vs. 30 hr, p < .001) and first attempt at breastfeeding (48 hr vs. 109 hr, p < .001) occurred significantly earlier, infants were fed a greater amount of mother’s milk ( p < .04), and significantly more infants having single-family room care were exclusively directly breastfed from discharge until 4 months’ corrected age; OR 6.8 (95% CI [2.4, 19.1]). Volumes of milk produced and breastfeeding self-efficacy did not differ significantly between participants in either units.

Conclusion

To increase the extent to which infants are fed mother’s own milk and are exclusively directly breastfed, the design of neonatal intensive care units should facilitate continuous maternal presence and privacy for the mother–infant dyad.
Cluster Headache: Opportunities for Pharmacists to Improve Care
Authors: Wenzel Richard , Smith Timothy R. , Clark Alexis S.
Published: October 2020

Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache (PH) disorder characterized by recurrent attacks of severe/extremely severe unilateral pain and associated symptoms. While less prevalent than other PHs such as migraine, CH impact is substantial given the agonizing pain, negative effect on daily productivity, impaired mental health, and increased costs. Cluster headache is not optimally treated and few clinical trials are available to model therapy, especially dosing and administration. Pharmacists are well positioned to help prescribers and CH individuals with several key opportunities. Subcutaneous sumatriptan (SC SM) lower than the FDA-approved 6 mg per attack, specifically 2 mg and 3 mg, can be considered; literature describes these doses’ benefits. Moreover, lower doses may improve patient access to this treatment-of-choice. Despite the SC SM’s FDA-approved dose limit of 12 mg per 24 hours, the maximum CH dose has not been examined; this limit merits reevaluation since literature and clinical experience illustrate treatment exceeding this limit. Oxygen therapy for CH remains unfamiliar to, and under-utilized by, clinicians and CH individuals. Pharmacists can facilitate prescribing, distribution, and administration of oxygen via education. Patient education for the various CH medication devices, including oxygen, is paramount. Narcotics remain widely prescribed for CH, without supporting evidence, but with considerable abuse and diversion risks. Pharmacists are positioned to help guard against narcotic usage and to direct care toward medications endorsed by CH guidelines. Since the optimal method to initiate and discontinue drugs which may decrease CH attacks’ remains unknown, pharmacists can educate clinicians and individuals with CH to make fully informed decisions.
Recent advancements in flapping mechanism and wing design of micro aerial vehicles
Authors: Yousaf R , Shahzad A , Qadri MN Mumtaz , Javed A
Published: October 2020

Recent studies on understanding of natural flyers have encouraged researchers in development of micro aerial vehicles mimicking birds and insects such as hummingbirds, dragonflies, bats and many more. The vehicles find their applications in reconnaissance and situational awareness in combat field, search and rescue operations, biological and nuclear compromised sites and broadcasting and sports. The focus of this review is to assess recent progress in sub systems of these vehicles including drive mechanisms, actuation mechanisms and wing designs that define the aerodynamics, propulsion, stability, and control of the vehicles. Limited research has been carried out on drive mechanisms capable of producing figure-of-eight wingtip motion contrary to conventional four and five-bar linkage mechanisms along with modified planar and spherical attachments. Motor and piezoelectric actuation mechanisms are being used extensively in these vehicles due to lightweight and power efficiency as compared to non-conventional power sources. Wing shape and rigidity plays a key role in determining the required lift and thrust along with frequency limitations and material constraints. A relatively new field of structural and kinematic optimization for the development of a lightweight flapping vehicle with high endurance capability is also a part of this review. This review has pointed out the research gaps including 3-DoF piezoelectric kinematics, under-actuated mechanisms, structural contact analysis, limited static and dynamic structural analysis, limited fatigue analysis and development of optimization techniques.
Melting heat transfer of a hybrid nanofluid flow towards a stagnation point region with second-order slip
Authors: Waini Iskandar , Ishak Anuar , Pop Ioan
Published: October 2020

This paper examines the behaviour of a hybrid nanofluid flow towards a stagnation point on a stretching or shrinking surface with second-order slip and melting heat transfer effects. Copper (Cu) and alumina (Al2O3) are considered as the hybrid nanoparticles while water as the base fluid. The governing equations are reduced to the similarity equations using similarity transformations. The resulting equations are programmed in MATLAB software through the bvp4c solver to obtain the numerical solutions. The results reveal that two solutions are possible for the shrinking case [Formula: see text], where the bifurcation of the solutions occurs in this region. Moreover, the heat transfer rate and the skin friction coefficient enhance with the rise of the melting parameter. Meanwhile, these quantities decrease for a smaller second-order slip parameter. The temporal stability analysis shows that only one of the two solutions is stable as time evolves.
Embedded librarians as research partners in South Korea
Authors: Shin Eun-Ja
Published: October 2020

Recently, many articles co-authored by librarians have been published in non-library and information science journals. This may indicate that embedded librarians are actively working as research partners in various fields. However, studies have rarely discussed the roles and experience of embedded librarians and, unlike the USA and European countries, the activities of embedded librarians in Korea are not well reported. This study collected and analysed co-authored articles from Korean faculty and librarians. In addition to identifying the role of the embedded librarian by analysing the author-contributions texts of the articles, the study examined the backgrounds of librarians and the difficulties of collaborating through interviews with librarian authors. The results of the analyses show that the number of collaborative articles by faculty and embedded librarians increased over the years and, of these, almost 70% were medical publications. The roles of the librarians outlined in the author-contributions texts were as reported in previous studies but, in many cases, their role was more significant than traditional liaison work, such as reporting the study’s methodology or approving the final draft. In the interviews, the embedded librarians expressed that they had experienced some difficulties, such as lack of time, insufficient guidelines and an inadequate curriculum in their library and information science department. For librarians to be recognized as research partners, they need to communicate well with team members and have knowledge, skills and abilities related to the research. Further, to achieve this collaboration, the curriculum of departments should be reformed. If such efforts are made, it is expected that embedded librarians will continue to excel in their role as liaison librarians, which has contributed to supporting research projects.
Post-Transplant Cyclophosphamide and Thymoglobulin, a Graft-Versus-Host Disease Prophylaxis in Matched Sibling Donor Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantations
Authors: Kunacheewa Chutima , Owattanapanish Weerapat , Jirabanditsakul Chutirat , Issaragrisil Surapol
Published: October 2020

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) has been explored in several types of stem cell transplantations (SCTs) and it proved highly effective in controlling graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) without aggravating relapsed disease. However, PTCy alone has resulted in inferior outcomes in matched sibling donor (MSD) employing peripheral blood (PB) SCTs. We hypothesized that adding thymoglobulin to PTCy would be able to control GvHD effectively. We retrospectively compared the use of standard GvHD prophylaxis encompassing a combination of PTCy and thymoglobulin (ATG) in patients with myeloid malignancies in a myeloablative conditioning MSD PBSCT. Forty-two patients underwent PBSCT using either methotrexate and cyclosporine (MTX/CSA, 21 patients) or PTCy and ATG (21 patients) as a GvHD prophylaxis. With median follow-ups of 71 months, the 1-year GvHD-free, relapse-free survival rates and chronic GvHD-free survival rate of the standard and PTCy/ATG groups were similar: 24% versus 37% ( P = 0.251) and 29% versus 43% ( P = 0.095), respectively. When focusing on chronic GvHD we observed that 17/35 patients (48.6%) suffered from this, 5/18 (27.8%) treated with MTX/CSA had extensive chronic GvHD, but 0/17 PTCy/ATG did. Twenty-one patients required additional GvHD treatment; 7/21 in the PTCy/ATG received only corticosteroid, while 8/14 MTX/CSA required at least 2 drugs. The 5-year overall survival rates were 52% and 52% ( P = 0.859), and the 5-year disease-free survival rates were 52% and 52% ( P = 0.862) for the MTX/CSA and PTCy/ATG groups, respectively. We conclude that PTCy in combination with ATG without immunosuppression of a calcineurin inhibitor can effectively control GvHD.
In Ambiguous Times and Spaces: The Everyday Assemblage of Lay Participation to Argentine Courthouses
Authors: Amietta Santiago Abel
Published: October 2020

Most sociolegal research on juries and other forms of lay participation in criminal justice has been limited to questions of how lay people make decisions. This article proposes expanding this focus through a conceptually and methodologically novel examination of the recent incorporation of lay decision-makers in Argentina’s criminal justice system. Based on fieldwork conducted in the province of Córdoba, the article follows jurors as they enter the courthouses, unsettle normalized everyday practices and spatiotemporal arrangements, and encounter multiple authorities that define their role and legitimate belonging therein. The work of these multiple entities, the article argues, locates jurors in ambiguous situations between public and private spaces of the courthouses, and ultimately accentuate their alterity vis-à-vis legal professionals. Drawing on an ethnographic approach inspired in actor-network theory and on Mariana Valverde’s sociolegal elaborations of Bakhtin’s notion of chronotope, the article looks at this judicial reform as a site for fruitful examination of law’s multiscalar power dynamics, and it argues that legal institutions be investigated as flexible, fragile, and contingent assemblages of practices beyond their official representations.
Do Prestigious Underwriters Shape the Performance of SME IPOs in India?
Authors: Arora Nischay , Singh Balwinder
Published: October 2020

The present article aims to examine the impact of underwriter reputation on underpricing and long-run returns of small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) initial public offerings (IPOs) over a 12-month period in an emerging country like India on a sample of 403 IPOs issued from 2012 to 2018 and subsequently listed on Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) small and medium enterprise (SME) platform and National Stock Exchange (NSE) EMERGE. However, the migration of 27 SME IPO companies to main platform has resulted in reduced sample size of 376 IPOs for measuring long-run performance. The current study has utilized ordinary least square regression technique to investigate the concerned relationship. The robustness of the findings has been further ensured by checking for endogeneity bias using two-stage least square regression (2SLS). The results unveil that while underwriter reputation positively influences underpricing of SME IPOs, it has no significant impact on their long-run performance. This analysis may provide some meaningful information for policymakers responsible for reforms of Indian equity market. For SME issuers, the findings may provide some insights on the importance of hiring reputed underwriters in IPO process. The results may further assist the investors in improving their equity valuation and taking informed investment decisions.
Depot-Wise Efficiency of Haryana Roadways: A Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Aneja Ranjan , Sehrawat Nitisha
Published: October 2020

Presently, there are 24 depots and 13 sub-depots operating in various districts of Haryana and these play a pivotal role in providing short as well as medium distance passenger portability. The depots of Haryana roadways have relatively few incentives to perform efficiently. This study makes an effort to measure the efficiency of 20 major depots of Haryana roadways for the year of 2017–2018 and also find out the overall and depot level efficiency of Haryana roadways. For the purpose, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) has been applied and fleet size of Haryana roadways, total number of staff in this department and fuel consumption by buses are taken as inputs and bus utilisation taken as output. On the basis of technical efficiencies of the depots, it was found that the performance of depots is not at par with the optimum level. The overall mean technical efficiency is 91 per cent indicating that they can produce the same level of output by reducing 9 per cent inputs.

JEL: R40, C67, L32, L91
Culturally Mixed Group Work and the Development of Students’ Intercultural Competence
Authors: Liang Yuwei , Schartner Alina
Published: October 2020

Culturally mixed group work has become a common mode of assessment in higher education to encourage students from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds to learn from and work with each other. This article aims to address whether culturally mixed group work can contribute to students’ intercultural competence (IC) development. The Multicultural Personality Questionnaire was used to measure students’ IC development over time, while three waves of interviews investigated students’ attitudes on culturally mixed group work. Findings suggest that both staff and students think culturally mixed group work can be beneficial and is an effective way to develop IC and increase intercultural awareness. However, students perceived it as both rewarding and challenging. Findings showed that without staff guidance, mixed group activities can cause a long-term negative effect on students’ open-mindedness. This result points to a need to reconsider how mixed-culture group work can be utilized effectively in class.
Cervical Cancer Screening Utilization and Associated Factors Among Women Aged 30 to 49 Years in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Belay Yalelet , Dheresa Merga , Sema Alekaw , Desalew Assefa , Assefa Nega
Published: October 2020

Background:

Cervical cancer is a public health problem and one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. In Ethiopia, the government expands cervical cancer screening centers and recommends services to age-eligible and high-risk groups of women. However, evidence indicates that the utilization of services among eligible and high-risk women in the country has remained very low, and data are scarce in Dire Dawa. Therefore, this study aimed to assess cervical cancer screening service utilization and associated factors among women aged 30 to 49 years in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia.

Methods:

A facility-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in Dire Dawa from February 01 to March 01, 2017. Only two facilities provided the screening service in Dire Dawa Administration. Six- hundred and one women aged 30 to 49 years were selected using a systematic sampling method. Data were collected using a pretested face-to-face interview administered questionnaire. Data were entered using EpiData 3.1, and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science Version 21. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with cervical cancer screening utilization. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used, and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

In this study, the magnitude of cervical cancer screening service utilization was 4.0% (95% CI: 2.5-5.7). The factors associated with cervical cancer screening service utilization were older age (AOR = 4.2; 95% CI:1.3-13.8), attending private health facilities (AOR = 8.9; 95% CI: 2.8-28.0), being employed (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.3-8.8), visiting the gynecology departments (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI: 1.5-9.8), being knowledgeable (AOR = 4.8; 95% CI: 1.5-15.5), being counseled by health professionals (AOR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.5-11.3), and user’s of family planning (AOR = 4.9; 95% CI: 1.2-20.0).

Conclusion:

The magnitude of cervical cancer screening utilization was very low. Hence, to improve the screening service utilization of cervical cancer, a campaign on community awareness, strengthening service linkage among departments, expansion of the centers for cervical cancer screening, and promotion of family planning method utilization are recommended.
ENCUENTROS: Decolonizing the Academy and Mobilizing for Justice
Authors: Ayala Jennifer , Fine Michelle , Mendez Maria del Cielo , Mendoza Andrea Nikté Juarez , Rivera Juan Carlos Garcia , Finesurrey Samuel , Villeda Ariadna , Thelusca Hermanica , Mena Viandry , Azzam Karim , Galletta Anne , Houston Angelica , jones vanessa , Mungo Dion
Published: October 2020

In this article, we try to capture a moment when we were relatively steady in our belief that as persons working in/through the academy, we are accountable to the temblores, to take up the project of decolonizing the curriculum, democratizing our pedagogy, and sharing the very space we occupy with those most affected by current assaults on immigrants and people of color in the United States. We still believe this, perhaps even more from our homes of quarantine. Our universities are obligated to build ligaments of solidarity—material, intellectual, political, ethical—and spaces of sanctuary.
Safe administration of chemotherapy in mast cell activation syndrome
Authors: Lythgoe MP , Krell J , McNeish IA , Tookman L
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is an immunogenic disorder typically presenting with episodic multi-organ symptoms, caused by the inappropriate and aberrant release of mast cell mediators. Symptoms may be severe, including anaphylaxis and often occur in response to specific triggers which include many drugs and potentially chemotherapeutic agents. The administration of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in endometrial cancer significantly reduces the risk of reoccurrence in patients with high risk disease. Currently there is no evidence or case reports to guide the safe administration of chemotherapy in MCAS patients.

Case report

We present the case of a 59-year-old lady with stage 3 A grade 2 endometroid endometrial cancer who underwent successful surgical management. She then received 4 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy in the form of carboplatin and paclitaxel. This case describes a staged approach to chemotherapy administration and the utilisation of a carboplatin desensitization regimen to reduce the risk of immediate and delayed hypersensitivity sequalae. Management & outcome: Utilising an enhanced pre-medication strategy and a staged approach to chemotherapy administration, she was able to complete adjuvant treatment without any serious complications. At the date of censoring (May 2020) she has not shown any evidence of disease re-occurrence. Discussion & conclusion: Administering chemotherapy to patients with any mast cell disorder remains challenging. We hope that this case may provide the framework for safer chemotherapy administration for any patients at high risk of serious hypersensitivity sequalae in endometrial cancer and beyond.
Abnormal Dynamic Community Structure of Patients with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in the Resting State
Authors: Ding Congli , Xiang Jie , Cui Xiaohong , Wang Xiaoyue , Li Dandan , Cheng Chen , Wang Bin
Published: October 2020

Objective:

Some static network studies have suggested that the community structure in the brains of ADHD patients is altered. However, ADHD is now increasingly regarded as a disorder of neural dynamics, but the dynamic reconstruction of brain communities in ADHD patients is far from being understood.

Method:

Forty-two ADHD patients and fifty healthy controls participated in this study. We constructed a multilayer network model and calculated several metrics for quantifying community reconstruction at different levels. Results: Regardless of the level of research, the flexibility and cohesion of the ADHD patients were significantly higher than those of controls. In addition, the frontal lobe of ADHD patients presented a phenomenon of increasing peripheral areas and decreasing core areas.

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that ADHD patients do have abnormalities in dynamic community structure. These evidences provide a new perspective that advances the present understanding of the dynamic organizational principles of communities in ADHD.
What Drives Gender Differences in Trust and Trustworthiness?
Authors: Mukherjee Shagata
Published: October 2020

This study examines the underlying factors that drive gender differences in trust and trustworthiness. Is gender difference in trust behavior motivated by variations in social context and gender norms? I study this question by conducting trust experiments in comparable and neighboring matrilineal and patrilineal societies in India. I find that the matrilineal subjects are more trusting than the patrilineal ones, although there is substantial heterogeneity across gender. In the matrilineal society, men are significantly more trusting but no more trustworthy than women, while in the patrilineal society, men are neither more trusting nor more trustworthy than women. My findings thus suggest that societal structure is crucially linked to the observed gender differences in trust and trustworthiness.
Evaluation and comparison of serum procalcitonin and heparin-binding protein levels as biomarkers of bacterial infection in cats
Authors: Cho Jae-Geum , Oh Ye-In , Song Kun-Ho , Seo Kyoung-Won
Published: October 2020

Objectives

As bacterial infection can lead to sepsis and high mortality, early and easy diagnosis of sepsis can improve survival. In cats, the diagnosis of systemic bacterial infection is quite challenging, and, usually, non-specific markers for inflammation are employed. In humans, procalcitonin, heparin-binding protein and absolute neutrophil count are biomarkers that are studied in bacterial infections and sepsis owing to their high sensitivity and specificity.

Methods

A total of 56 cats were categorised into 16 healthy cats and 40 bacterially infected cats, diagnosed by various examinations. In all cats, serum procalcitonin and heparin-binding protein levels were measured using ELISA and an absolute neutrophil count was performed.

Results

The median values of procalcitonin levels and absolute neutrophil count were significantly higher in the infection group than in the normal group, but heparin-binding protein levels were not. A procalcitonin level >366 pg/ml was a better biomarker of bacterial infection than heparin-binding protein and absolute neutrophil count (sensitivity: 67.5%; specificity: 93.8%). Procalcitonin was not correlated with heparin-binding protein ( r = 0.213, P = 0.115) and absolute neutrophil count ( r = 0.393, P = 0.003).

Conclusions and relevance

High procalcitonin levels in cats were associated with bacterial infection. Hence, procalcitonin could be a valuable marker for diagnosing bacterial infections in cats.
Transient hyperammonaemia following epileptic seizures in cats
Authors: Nilsson Charlotta H , Svensson Mikael BT , Säve Susanne JM , Van Meervenne Sofie AE
Published: October 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine whether transient postictal hyperammonaemia exists in cats.

Methods

The medical records of all feline patients that presented at a Swedish veterinary hospital between 2008 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed to find those that had a recent or ongoing epileptic seizure. To qualify for inclusion, the medical record had to include information on at least one ammonia value taken in close proximity to, or during, an active seizure, the cat must have exceeded the normal upper limit of blood ammonia concentration on initial testing (reference interval 0–95 μmol/l), and there needed to be a follow-up ammonia value available within a maximum of 3 days.

Results

Five cats were included in the study, and they had blood ammonia concentrations on initial testing ranging from 146 to 195 µmol/l. They were all retested within a period of 2 h to 3 days of the original reading. All five cats had a spontaneous decrease in ammonia levels without any specific treatment for hyperammonaemia.

Conclusions and relevance

Pursuant to the findings of this retrospective study, transient hyperammonaemia may be noted after epileptic seizure in cats. Consequently, a differential diagnostic list in feline patients with hyperammonaemia could, depending on the context, include non-hepatic-related pathologies, such as epileptic seizures.
A PRPH2 gene variant detected in retinitis punctata albescens with congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium
Authors: Qiu Aowang , Yu Yan , Huang Junlong , Liu Qinghuai , Paulus Yannis M , Fan Wen
Published: October 2020

Retinitis punctata albescens (RPA) is generally diagnosed by the presence of numerous clusters of white punctate lesions in the retina that progress over time and are related to several gene variants. The multifocal variant of congenital hypertrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (CHRPE) is characterized by multiple, grouped, sharply circumscribed, pigmented spots. The PRPH2 gene encodes a photoreceptor-specific glycoprotein, which is essential for the morphogenesis of rod and cone photoreceptor outer segments. A 39-year-old Chinese female with nyctalopia, complained about blurred vision, presented a unique co-existing feature of RPA and CHRPE. Dilated fundus exam demonstrated numerous porcelain white discrete dots in both eyes and multiple, small, flat clusters of round brown to black pigmented lesions in the left eye. The full field electroretinography (ERG) showed decreased responses after standard dark adaptation and normal b-wave amplitudes after a long (4-h) dark-adapted period. A heterozygous PRPH2 splicing variant was detected in the proband. In addition, the same variant was found in her mother, her son, and her daughter. We describe a PRPH2 variant in a rare case of RPA associated with multifocal CHRPE of the same individual.
Development of fly ash based friction material for wind turbines by liquid phase sintering technology
Authors: Rajesh Kannan K , Govindaraju M , Vaira Vignesh R
Published: October 2020

Fly ash based sintered materials are identified as potential brake pad materials for wind turbines. However, fly ash based friction materials fabricated through conventional techniques results in more porosity and undesirable tribological properties. This study attempts to develop liquid phase sintering technology for fly ash using Cu as a liquid phase sintering agent. The study presents a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of microstructure, microhardness, and tribological performance of the specimens sintered in Argon and Air environment.
A scoping review of mother–child separation in clinical paediatric settings
Authors: Power Nina M , North Natasha , Leonard Angela L , Bonaconsa Candice , Coetzee Minette
Published: October 2020

There is increasing evidence to suggest that autonomic regulation of hospitalised infants is affected by separation from their mother. This review explored the extent of the evidence relating to the impact of separation on infants and children and aimed to identify suitable measures of the impact of mother–child separation. We conducted a scoping review of seven databases using the main search terms ‘physiological’, ‘psychological’, ‘infant/child’, ‘maternal separation’ and ‘hospital’. Thirty-four articles containing data relevant to the effects of mother–child separation on either member of the pair were included. Findings highlight the central importance of the mother’s presence in mediating the stressful effects of hospitalisation on her child. The majority of articles reported on psychological effects of separation on mothers of infants or on younger children. We identified no articles reporting on physiological effects on the older child or mothers of older children or psychological effects on mothers of older children. Only nine articles used validated tools to measure the effects of separation. There is a need for more evidence, based on validated measurement, about the psychological effects of separation on the child, particularly the older child, and on the physiological effects of separation on the mother–child pair during hospitalisation.
Effects of socio-economic indicators on perceptions of urban acoustic environments in Chinese megacities
Authors: Xie Hui , Ge Yuzhe , Luo Fangfang
Published: October 2020

The acoustic environment in an urban dwelling is a key factor in human health, especially in megacities, where there are high levels of traffic noise. This study investigated the effects of various socio-economic indicators (gender, age, roadside residence, average daily time at home) on the subjective evaluation of residential acoustic environments, employing a series of questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews in two Chinese megacities (Chongqing and Guangzhou). The findings indicate that residents in Chongqing, a typical mountainous city, are less satisfied with their acoustic environment than those in Guangzhou, a city built on a plain. However, there were no significant differences between residents in the two Chinese megacities in terms of their perspectives on their thermal, humid or luminous environments or noise-related health symptoms. Regarding perceptions of acoustic environments, there were significant differences between residents in the mountainous city and the plain city, as well as those in roadside and non-roadside homes, but no significant differences were identified between the views of men and women or the young and the old, and time spent at home appeared to have no impact. Moreover, age and average daily time spent at home are likely to be associated with noise-related health symptoms.
Young tourists’ experiences at dark tourism sites: Towards a conceptual framework
Authors: Kerr Mary Margaret , Stone Philip R , Price Rebecca H
Published: October 2020

While dark tourism aimed at adults reminds them of past tragic fights, faults and follies, thousands of children and youth also consume inherent memorial messages at dark tourism sites. This paper addresses these unnoticed childhood encounters, about which scholarly discourse remains conspicuously silent. At present, dark tourism research focuses almost exclusively on adults and does not adequately explain young tourists’ experiences. How children experience dark tourism sites has much to do with their understanding of death. Because younger children may not possess an adult-like knowledge of death, they are unable to experience a site as dark. Other theoretical disparities include children’s limited agency in choosing their destinations and their unique and often playful exploration of dark places. To address the inadequacy of current dark tourism conceptualisations, we propose a new framework to encourage scholarly interrogation of children’s experiences at dark tourism sites. Drawing from multiple sources including archival studies and original research with youth, we offer a rationale for considering four major, intersecting influences on a young tourist’s experience: understanding of death, visit preparation (at home or in school), site and interpretation features and dynamics of the specific visit (e.g. group membership, norms and itinerary). Ultimately, this paper uncovers potential research avenues to bring children’s perspectives and experiences to the core of dark tourism research.
“The ultimate risk:” How clinicians assess the value and meaning of genetic data in cardiology
Authors: Owens Kellie
Published: October 2020

In modern medicine, health risks are often managed through the collection of health data and subsequent intervention. One of the goals of clinical genetics, for example, is to identify genetic predisposition to disease so that individuals can intervene to prevent potential harms. But recently, some clinicians have suggested that patients should undergo less testing and monitoring in an effort to reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment. In this paper, I explore how clinicians navigate the tension between identifying real disease risks for their patients with concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment. I focus on clinicians ordering genetic testing for inherited cardiovascular diseases. Of the genes determined to be “clinically actionable” by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), half are related to cardiovascular diseases. But, due in part to high levels of uncertainty surrounding cardiovascular genetics, there is still disagreement within the field about how to order and interpret these tests. Based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 20 clinicians who order genetic testing for cardiovascular diseases, I find that there is considerable variability in the ways that clinicians determine which types of genetic tests are appropriate for their patients and how they interpret test results. Most importantly, I find that many providers do not presume that more genetic data will lead to better care. Instead, increased genetic data can lead to confusion and inappropriate treatment. This re-valuation of the utility of medical data is crucial for bioethicists to explore, especially as medical fields are sorting through increasing amounts of data.
Outcomes and Intentionality of Action Planning in Photovoice: A Literature Review
Authors: Lofton Saria , Grant Alexis K.
Published: October 2020

Participatory action research methods have been utilized to engage community members in community-driven health promotion projects addressing issues across various socioecological levels. Photovoice is one such participatory action research method that allows participants to use photography to document their experiences and dialogue to eventually influence change and reach policy makers. However, it is unclear how photovoice projects demonstrate intentional action planning and its impact on community-level outcomes. The purpose of this literature review is to understand (1) how action plans are developed, initialized and implemented in the community and (2) describe community-wide changes that occurred in photovoice projects with an action planning process. We searched scholarly databases for peer-reviewed articles that used photovoice with action planning and community-level outcomes. As a result, 19 articles were included in this review. Using the socioecological model to assess the literature, we found that action planning varied at different levels of influence. The intentionality of action planning was described through the use of specific action steps, as well as intentional dissemination to stakeholders, evaluation, and sustainability primarily at the community and organization levels. Our results suggest that the most successful photovoice projects were those that were intentional in action planning. We provide recommendations for photovoice researchers to better incorporate action planning into their methodology and make use of photovoice as an action research tool that can provide a clear, sustainable path toward community-wide changes.
Using Implementation Mapping to Develop Implementation Strategies for the Delivery of a Cancer Prevention and Control Phone Navigation Program: A Collaboration With 2-1-1
Authors: Ibekwe Lynn N. , Walker Timothy J. , Ebunlomo Ebun , Ricks Katharine Ball , Prasad Sapna , Savas Lara S. , Fernandez Maria E.
Published: October 2020

Cancer prevention and control (CPC) behaviors, such as cancer screening, human papillomavirus vaccination, and smoking cessation, are critical public health issues. Evidence-based interventions have been identified to improve the uptake of CPC behaviors; however, they are often inconsistently implemented, affecting their reach and effectiveness. Patient navigation is an evidence-based approach to increasing CPC behaviors. Nevertheless, there are few navigation programs that use systematically developed implementation strategies to facilitate adoption, implementation, and maintenance, which affects uptake and outcomes. This article describes the development of a multifaceted implementation strategy designed to facilitate delivery of a CPC phone navigation program to increase breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening; human papillomavirus vaccination; and smoking cessation among 2-1-1 Texas helpline callers. Using implementation mapping, a systematic approach for developing implementation strategies, we designed a strategy that involved training 2-1-1 information specialists to deliver the program, developed online tracking and quality-monitoring (audit and feedback) systems, and developed and distributed protocols and other materials to support training and implementation. Through this iterative process and our collaboration with 2-1-1 Texas call centers, our project resulted in a comprehensive training program with a robust curriculum of pertinent program content, for which we identified core components and appropriate delivery modes that are culturally relevant to the population. The results of this study can be applied to the development of more systematic, transparent, and replicable processes for designing implementation strategies. The study also demonstrates a process that can be applied to other contexts and other CPC program implementation efforts.
Changes in Skin Perfusion Pressure After Endovascular Treatment for Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia
Authors: Ichihashi Shigeo , Takahara Mitsuyoshi , Fujimura Naoki , Shibata Tsuyoshi , Fujii Miki , Kato Taku , Tsubakimoto Yoshinori , Iwakoshi Shinichi , Obayashi Kenji , Kichikawa Kimihiko
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To assess skin perfusion pressure (SPP) changes after endovascular treatment (EVT) of patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) and to explore preoperative factors that affect SPP changes.

Materials and Methods

This prospective, multicenter study recruited 147 patients (mean age 74 years; 99 men) with ischemic wounds at 6 vascular centers in Japan between July 2017 and December 2018. Over half of the patients (92, 63%) were diabetic, and 76 (52%) required dialysis. Sixty-four patients (43%) had WIfI (wound, ischemia, foot infection) wound grades of 2 or 3; 59 (40%) had foot infections. SPP was measured before and 1, 2, 7, and 30 days after EVT to establish inline flow to the ischemic foot based on the angiosome concept when feasible. The anterior and posterior tibial arteries and the peroneal artery were revascularized in 66 (45%), 50 (34%), and 30 (21%) patients, respectively.

Results

Both the dorsal and plantar SPPs at 1 or 2 days post-EVT were significantly higher than those at baseline (p<0.001), and both SPPs increased further at 1 month compared with those at 1 (p=0.001) or 2 days (p=0.006) post-EVT. SPP increases occurred on the dorsal and plantar surfaces of the foot regardless of the vessel revascularized. The SPP increase at 1 month after EVT was significantly lower in patients with foot infections than that in those without foot infections (p=0.003). Age, sex, diabetes, dialysis, wound severity, and direct revascularization did not affect the pattern of SPP change.

Conclusion

The SPP increased continuously up to 1 month after EVT, though the increase was smaller in patients with wound infections. The SPP on the dorsal and plantar surfaces increased, regardless of the vessel revascularized, which could justify indirect revascularization when direct revascularization is technically challenging.
Preliminary Simulation Study of Carotid Artery and Pharyngeal Constrictor Muscle Sparing-Radiotherapy in Glottic Carcinoma
Authors: Ozdemir Yurday , Acibuci Ibrahim , Selek Ugur , Topkan Erkan
Published: October 2020

Background:

This preliminary simulation study aimed to compare the dosimetric outcomes of carotid arteries (CAs) and pharyngeal constrictor muscle (PCM) in patients with T1N0M0 glottic carcinoma undergoing helical tomotherapy-intensity modulated radiotherapy (HT-IMRT) and 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) plans.

Methods:

In addition to the clinical target volume (CTV) which was defined as the entire larynx, the CAs and PCM of 11 glottic carcinoma patients were delineated. The CTV was uniformly expanded 5 mm to create a planning target volume (PTV) relative to the PCM and at a distance of 2 mm from the CA. The dosimetric characteristics in HT-IMRT and lateral opposed fields-based 3D-CRT plans were analyzed.

Results:

Median D95%and V100% of PTV were significantly higher in HT-IMRT (p < 0.001) compared to 3D-CRT. The right/left CA dosimetric outcomes, including the mean doses (20.7/21.5 Gy versus 48.7/50.5 Gy), Dmax (53.6/52.0 Gy versus 67.4/67.7 Gy), V30 (25.0/27.1% versus 77.6/80.3%), V40 (8.0/7.9% versus 74.6/71.9%), and V50 (2.0/1.2% versus 70.0/71.6%) were also significantly lower in HT-IMRT (p < 0.05), similar to the mean PCM doses (49.6 Gy versus 62.6 Gy for 3D-CRT;p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions:

Our present results demonstrated the feasibility of simultaneous sparing of the CAs and PCM in HT-IMRT- compared to 3D-CRT plans in glottic carcinoma patients undergoing definitive radiotherapy.
Nipped-B-like Protein Sensitizes Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells to Cisplatin via Upregulation of PUMA
Authors: Zhang Shengjie , Zhou Yun , Wang Qinchuan , Donahue Kristine , Feng Jianguo , Yao Yinli , Chen Aiping , Li Xia , Hong Lianlian
Published: October 2020

Nipped-B-like protein plays a pivotal role as a cohesin loading factor in the segregation of chromosomes when cells divide. Accumulating evidence indicates that alterations of this protein are involved in human carcinogenesis, especially in the regulation of chemotherapeutic drug response. However, the role of Nipped-B-like protein in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the relevance of Nipped-B-like protein in the regulation of cisplatin sensitivity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Ectopic expression of Nipped-B-like protein inhibited the growth of COLO-680N cells with low endogenous expression levels of Nipped-B-like protein, and increased sensitivity to cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapy drug for patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In contrast, loss of Nipped-B-like protein stimulated the growth of EC9706 and Eca-109 cells with high levels of the protein, and resulted in resistance to cisplatin. P53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis, which is essential in the modulation of cisplatin sensitivity in a variety of cancers, acts as a downstream effector of Nipped-B-like protein. Restoration of this pro-apoptotic protein in Nipped-B-like protein-overexpressing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells effectively increased cisplatin sensitivity. Conversely, the silencing of P53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis in Nipped-B-like protein-depleted esophageal squamous cell carcinoma rendered cells resistant to cisplatin. Moreover, Nipped-B-like protein could bind directly to the promoter region of P53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis. In summary, our study addresses the involvement of Nipped-B-like protein in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and the modulation of cisplatin sensitivity via regulation of P53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis.