bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Were you treated differently because you wore the hijab?”: Everyday Islamophobia, racialization and young Turks in Britain
Authors: Babacan Muhammed
Published: September 2022

Numerous studies suggest that British society is becoming more Islamophobic, and Muslims, especially youth, in Britain have been its victims. But while there is growing evidence of how they have been targets of explicit and severe instances of Islamophobia, less attention has been focused on how they are also targets of its subtle and implicit forms. The purpose of this paper is to examine how Islamophobia manifests in everyday interactions and how Muslims are racialized from the perspective of one of its supposed victims that has been so far under-researched, i.e., young Turks in Britain. The young Turks’ accounts about themselves and their immediate circle of relatives revealed that Turks in the UK experience Islamophobia, but that it is often enacted during mundane interactions without ever becoming explicit. Visible Turkish-Muslim women, however, are the target of everyday Islamophobia far more than Turkish men and secular women, both of whom do not display any religious signifiers in public places. They face Islamophobia at the intersection of gender and religion. Many Turkish women are racialized through the hijab which is interpreted and described in ways that draw upon a set of symbolic meanings and associations. In addition, contrary to what has been discussed about the Islamophobic experiences of Muslim women in previously conducted studies, the evidence of this research shows that Islamophobia appeared to visible Turkish women more frequently in a more mundane, subtle way.
Identifying conceptual incongruences within global leadership competency models
Authors: Azeredo Rafael , Henriqson Eder
Published: September 2022

Despite decades of research on global leadership competencies, there is a continued unresolved debate among scholars around an integrative Global Leadership Competency model (GLC model), as none of the models proposed has been widely used in literature. Attempts to replicate and operationalize existing models are scarce, and scholars tend to recreate GLC models instead of building on existing ones. Instead of proposing yet another GLC model, this paper aims to identify factors that explain the unresolved debate around an integrative Global Leadership Competency model to be used in academic and managerial settings. To do so, we conducted a conceptual analysis based on an integrative literature review, where a sample of exemplar GLC models was surveyed and assessed. This analysis resulted in the identification of three conceptual incongruences, namely 1) varying assumptions regarding the meaning of competency; 2) divergent model structuring; and 3) varying delimitation, resulting in varied sets of competencies. These incongruences relate to diverse assumptions, perspectives and interpretations that are inherent to the development of GLC models, but often not explicitly acknowledged and addressed by studies. We argue that these incongruences hinder scholars’ and practitioners’ capacity to evaluate, compare and contrast different models, and may therefore explain the unresolved debate around an integrative GLC model. While grounded in global leadership theory, this article also contributes to cross-cultural leadership and management scholarship by providing a critical discussion about the competencies required by leaders to operate effectively in a global environment, where they are required to manage across different cultures and socio-economic contexts.
Bearing Witness as a Process for Responding to Trauma Survivors: A Review
Authors: Wyles Paul , O’Leary Patrick , Tsantefski Menka
Published: September 2022

Bearing witness is a means for trauma survivors to give voice to lived experience. Bearing witness has been used in national and international commissions, inquiries, and tribunals to hear directly from survivors of abuse and trauma. This scoping review examines the documented research on the experience of survivors of trauma bearing witness. In 2021, six electronic data bases were searched—EBSCO, Informit, CINHAL, Clarivate, ProQuest, and Sage—and a search of the gray literature, revealed 1,201 references for studies between 1990 and 2021. After applying the Arksey and O’Malley framework, 21 studies that met inclusion criteria were identified. The inclusion criteria focused on studies where survivors expressed their views on bearing witness to trauma in official processes inclusive of public or private testimony, verbal or written. These studies utilized a range of methodologies and designs that represented the perspectives of 3,192 survivors of trauma who had borne witness. Analysis of the studies resulted in key findings under four themes: healing versus re-traumatization, support and safety of survivors, engaging and involving survivors, and culture and context. The literature indicates that bearing witness is a critical means to give voice to survivors of trauma and to provide them with acknowledgment; however, the literature is inconclusive regarding the impact of bearing witness on survivors. More research is required to better understand how survivors can best benefit and be supported by processes of bearing witness, and not be harmed or re-traumatized.
Role of Combined CT Pulmonary Angiography and Indirect CT Venography in Diagnosing Venous Thromboembolism in COVID-19 Patients – Experience From an Indian Quaternary Centre
Authors: Kalyanasundaram Srinivasan , Sudarsanam Hemanth , Dhas Daspin , Shankar Abhinaya , Varadan Baskaran , Ethiraj Dillibabu , Rajakumar Akila , A.C Sathya , Devarajan Vidya , Hakeem Abdul Rahman
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To study the role of combined CTPA and indirect CT venogram to diagnose venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and to compare the clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, CT findings and clinical outcomes between the VTE positive and negative groups.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 131 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who underwent CTPA and venogram between August 2020 and January 2021 were included. Relevant demographical, clinical and laboratory data and CT images were collected. Two thoracic radiologists independently reviewed the CTPA and venogram images.

Results

VTE was identified in 29 patients (22% of the study population). CT venogram identified DVT in 9 patients. No statistical difference was observed between the two groups with respect to age, gender, BMI and presence of comorbidities. There was a significant difference in the hospital stay duration, which is increased in the VTE positive group. The number of patients who were dependent on oxygen and mortality were also high in the positive group. There was statistically significant difference in the mean D-dimer value and the mean Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, which were higher in the VTE positive group.

Conclusion

Combined CTPA and venogram can be used as a one-stop investigation for diagnosing PE and DVT of lower limbs in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. CTPA with venogram should be performed in patients with D-dimer value in the range of 1000 – 1200 μg/L and above to rule out VTE as the hospital stay duration and final outcomes vary between the positive and negative groups.
Freedom and Constraint in Digital Environments: Implications for the Self
Authors: Talaifar Sanaz , Lowery Brian S.
Published: September 2022

We evaluate how features of the digital environment free or constrain the self. Based on the current empirical literature, we argue that modern technological features, such as predictive algorithms and tracking tools, pose four potential obstacles to the freedom of the self: lack of privacy and anonymity, (dis)embodiment and entrenchment of social hierarchy, changes to memory and cognition, and behavioral reinforcement coupled with reduced randomness. Comparing these constraints on the self to the freedom promised by earlier digital environments suggests that digital reality can be designed in more freeing ways. We describe how people reassert personal agency in the face of the digital environment’s constraints and provide avenues for future research regarding technology’s influence on the self.
How Racism “Gets Under the Skin”: An Examination of the Physical- and Mental-Health Costs of Culturally Compelled Coping
Authors: Brownlow Briana N.
Published: September 2022

Historically and contemporarily, Black Americans have been compelled to use effortful coping styles characterized by high behavioral and emotional restraint in the face of systematic racism. Lynch and colleagues have previously conceptualized a class of regulatory strategies—overcontrolled coping—characterized by emotional suppression, hypervigilance for threat, and high distress tolerance, which bear close analogy to coping styles frequently used among individuals facing chronic racial stress. However, given the inherent culture of racism in the United States, engaging in highly controlled coping strategies is often necessitated and adaptive, at least in the short term. Thus, for Black Americans this class of coping strategies is conceptualized as culturally compelled coping rather than overcontrolled coping. In the current article, I offer a critical examination of the literature and introduce a novel theoretical model—culturally compelled coping—that culturally translates selected components of Lynch’s model. Cultural translation refers to considering how the meaning, function, and consequences of using overcontrolled coping strategies changes when considering how Black Americans exist and cope within a culture of systematic racism. Importantly, this model may offer broad implications for future research and treatment by contextualizing emotion regulation as a central mechanism, partially answering how racism “gets under the skin” and affects the health of Black Americans.
Efficacy of neoadjuvant docetaxel + cisplatin chemo-hormonal therapy versus docetaxel chemo-hormonal therapy in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer with germline DNA damage repair gene alterations
Authors: Chi Chenfei , Liu Jiazhou , Fan Liancheng , Zhu Yinjie , Wang Yanqing , Sha Jianjun , Huang Yiran , Dong Baijun , Pan Jiahua , Xue Wei
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

To assess the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant docetaxel + cisplatin chemotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy for the treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer (PCa) in patients harboring germline DNA damage repair genes (gDDR) defects.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective observational study in patients with locally advanced PCa confirmed with gDDR defects through next-generation sequencing. All patients received either docetaxel + cisplatin (platinum-group) or docetaxel chemo-hormonal therapy (docetaxel group) followed by radical prostatectomy with extended lymphadenectomy. The primary end point was biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) and secondary end points include postoperative pathological response and safety assessment during the study period.

Results:

A total of 36 patients were included in the study, among whom 14 and 22 patients received docetaxel + cisplatin and docetaxel treatment, respectively. Down-staging of Tumor (T), Nodes (N), and Metastasis (M) stages was observed in 11 (78.57%) and 9 (40.9%) patients ( p = 0.041), respectively, in the docetaxel + cisplatin group and docetaxel group. The median bPFS was 7.76 months (95% CI 0.770–14.748) and not reached in the docetaxel group and docetaxel + cisplatin group, respectively. bPFS was significantly longer in the docetaxel + cisplatin group ( p = 0.039) with a hazard ratio of 0.386 (95% CI 0.151–0.987, p < 0.05). Furthermore, one patient discontinued docetaxel + cisplatin after second cycle due to severe liver insufficiency which was confirmed as viral hepatitis A and no significant perioperative complications was observed in either group.

Conclusion:

This study suggests that cisplatin may increase docetaxel anticancer activity with tolerable safety profile in patients with locally advanced PCa carrying gDDR defects in the neoadjuvant setting, a hypothesis which will require prospective, randomized confirmation.
An exploration into early childhood physical literacy programs: A systematic literature review
Authors: Porter Joanne E. , Dabkowski Elissa , Prokopiv Val , Missen Karen , Barbagallo Michael , James Michelle
Published: September 2022

This review explored the impact of physical literacy programs designed to engage two- to five-year-old preschool children. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was used. Six EBSCO host databases were searched for the period 2011 to April 2021 using the search terms “physical literacy,” “early childhood,” and “impact.” Articles were excluded if physical literacy was not the focal intervention. The final data set consisted of seven-peer reviewed articles meeting the eligibility criteria and quality assessment for this review. Three themes were created using Braun and Clark’s (2006) approach to thematic analysis: Holistic benefits of physical literacy, Barriers to physical literacy and Education begins at home. Early childhood physical literacy programs provide holistic benefits for children; however, further research is needed in an Australian context. Families and community members working in the early childhood sector could benefit from further education and training to improve physical literacy awareness.
Introducing Poetic Immersion as Post‐Qualitative Analysis: A Focus On Culturally Responsive Research
Authors: Gilbert Chelsea , Pasque Penny A.
Published: September 2022

Since its inception, post-qualitative research has proliferated across fields, yet still remains amorphous for many researchers. In this manuscript, the authors introduce and operationalize the technique of poetic immersion as post-qualitative analysis using data from participants in an international methods training institute to form three poetic diffractions of culturally responsive research.
Differences in brain connectivity of meditators during assessing neurocognition via gamified experimental logic task: A machine learning approach
Authors: Savanth Ashwini S , PA Vijaya , Nair Ajay K , Kutty Bindu M
Published: September 2022

Meditation practices increase attention, memory, and self-awareness. The neuroscientific study of meditation has helped gain useful insights into the functional changes in the brain. In this study, we have assessed the performance of meditators with different years of practice while performing an engaging task rather than studying the meditation practice itself. This task helps assess many neural processes simultaneously and represents task performance in presence of multiple audio-visual distractors as in a real-life scenario. The long-term practice of meditation could bring neuroplastic changes in the way cognitive processing is carried out. It could be conscious and effortful in short-term practitioners and relatively unconscious and effortless in long-term practitioners. Our goal is to understand if it is possible to differentiate between long-term and short-term meditators solely based on their cognitive processing. A group of proficient Rajayoga meditators from the Brahma Kumaris were recruited based on their meditation experience—Long-Term Practitioners ( n = 12, mean 13,596 h) and Short-Term Practitioners ( n = 10, mean 1095 h). A task-based functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging was acquired while the subjects performed the task. Functional Connectivity Analysis was performed to derive the correlation measures to be used as features for classification. Five supervised Machine Learning algorithms Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosted Tree were used for classification. Among all the classifiers Gradient Boosted Tree performed the best with an accuracy of 77% when all the four Functional Connectivity Metrics were used. Connectivity in visual areas, cerebellum, left rostral prefrontal cortex, and middle frontal gyrus was found to be higher in long-term meditators. Such a classification demonstrates that long-term meditation practice brings about neuroplastic changes that influence cognitive processing.
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Spine Surgeons Worldwide: A One Year Prospective Comparative Study
Authors: Barajas Juan N. , Hornung Alexander L. , Kuzel Timothy , Mallow Gary M. , Park Grant J. , Rudisill Samuel S. , Louie Philip K. , Harada Garrett K. , McCarthy Michael H. , Germscheid Niccole , Cheung Jason PY. , Neva Marko H. , El-Sharkawi Mohammad , Valacco Marcelo , Sciubba Daniel M. , Chutkan Norman B. , An Howard S. , Samartzis Dino
Published: September 2022

Study Design

Survey

Objective

In March of 2020, an original study by Louie et al investigated the impact of COVID-19 on 902 spine surgeons internationally. Since then, due to varying government responses and public health initiatives to the pandemic, individual countries and regions of the world have been affected differently. Therefore, this follow-up study aimed to assess how the COVID-19 impact on spine surgeons has changed 1 year later.

Methods

A repeat, multi-dimensional, 90-item survey written in English was distributed to spine surgeons worldwide via email to the AO Spine membership who agreed to receive surveys. Questions were categorized into the following domains: demographics, COVID-19 observations, preparedness, personal impact, patient care, and future perceptions.

Results

Basic respondent demographics, such as gender, age, home demographics, medical comorbidities, practice type, and years since training completion, were similar to those of the original 2020 survey. Significant differences between groups included reasons for COVID testing, opinions of media coverage, hospital unemployment, likelihood to be performing elective surgery, percentage of cases cancelled, percentage of personal income, sick leave, personal time allocation, stress coping mechanisms, and the belief that future guidelines were needed (P<.05).

Conclusion

Compared to baseline results collected at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, significant differences in various domains related to COVID-19 perceptions, hospital preparedness, practice impact, personal impact, and future perceptions have developed. Follow-up assessment of spine surgeons has further indicated that telemedicine and virtual education are mainstays. Such findings may help to inform and manage expectations and responses to any future outbreaks.
Do the General Public and Health Care Professionals Think That Running Is Bad for the Knees? A Cross-sectional International Multilanguage Online Survey
Authors: Esculier Jean-Francois , Besomi Manuela , Silva Danilo de Oliveira , Passigli Samuele , Rathleff Michael Skovdal , Van Middelkoop Marienke , Barton Christian , Callaghan Michael J. , Harkey Matthew S. , Hoens Alison M. , Krowchuk Natasha M. , Teoli Anthony , Vicenzino Bill , Willy Richard W. , Hunt Michael A.
Published: September 2022

Background:

Running is a popular sport with widely recognized health benefits. Given the high rates of knee injury in runners and the growing prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA), it may be useful to assess perceptions about running and knee joint health.

Purpose:

The objectives of this study were to (1) explore and compare the perceptions of the general public (PUB) and health care professionals (HCPs) on the topic of running and knee health and (2) explore recommendations about running and knee health provided by HCPs.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

We conducted an online survey between June 18 and October 1, 2020. The questionnaire included questions on running and knee health, and HCPs were asked about their typical recommendations and level of confidence in providing recommendations on the topic. Perceptions (proportions) were compared between the PUB and HCPs using the chi-square test.

Results:

In total, 4521 responses (PUB, n = 2514; HCPs, n = 2007) were analyzed. A greater proportion of HCPs perceived regular running as healthy for knees (86% vs 68%; P < .001). More of the PUB than HCPs ( P < .001) believed that running frequently (29% vs 13%), long distances (54% vs 45%), and on hard surfaces (60% vs 36%) increased the risk of developing KOA. Running for those with KOA was perceived by the PUB as posing an increased risk of getting more knee pain (48%) and needing joint replacement surgery (38%), more so than by HCPs (26% and 17%, respectively). The majority of HCPs reported being relatively confident in providing evidence-based recommendations about running and knee health and mostly recommended that runners with KOA modify training parameters instead of quit.

Conclusion:

More HCPs perceived running as healthy for knees when compared with the PUB. Most HCPs felt confident in providing evidence-based recommendations about running and knee health.
Application of FE method in predicting the properties of nanocomposites
Authors: Motamedi Mohsen , Ramezani Mohamad Mahdi
Published: September 2022

Nanocomposites have low weight and the improvement in properties is significant due to their nanostructure. Finding the properties of nanocomposites by experimental or computational methods is the priorities of researchers. Numerous studies on stress-strain behavior, strength, elastic-plastic behavior, bending, buckling, torsion, and other material behavior have been performed using the finite element method, which was reviewed in this study. In all the researches, the results obtained from the finite element method were in proper agreement with the experimental and analytical results. The use of the finite element method allows further studies on nanocomposites, which may not be possible in an experimental method or may require a lot of time and cost. In the following, a model of copper/CNT nanocomposite was studied using finite element method. The model was composed of a CNT in a box of pure copper. The stress contour and displacement contour of model was obtained and the results showed a 135% growth in nanocomposite Young’s module.
Triceps Surae Lengthening in Foot and Ankle Trauma: A Survey of OTA and AOFAS Members
Authors: Patterson Joseph T. , Campbell Sean T. , Wallace Stephen J. , Magnusson Erik A. , Elliott Iain S. , Mertz Kevin , Benirschke Stephen K.
Published: September 2022

Background:

The prevalence, indications, and preferred methods for gastrocnemius recession and tendo-Achilles lengthening—grouped as triceps surae lengthening (TSL) procedures—in foot and ankle trauma are supported by a scarcity of clinical evidence. We hypothesize that injury, practice environment, and training heritage are significantly associated with probability of performing adjunctive TSL in the operative management of foot and ankle trauma.

Methods:

A survey was distributed to members of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society and the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. Participants rated how likely they would be to perform TSL at initial management, definitive fixation, and after weightbearing in the presence and absence of a positive Silfverskiöld test in 10 clinical scenarios of closed foot and ankle trauma.

Results:

A total of 258 surgeons with median 14 years’ experience responded. Eighty-five percent reported foot and ankle fellowship training, 24% reported traumatology fellowship training, 13% both, and 4% no fellowship. Ninety-nine percent reported performing TSL with a median 25 TSL procedures per year, 72% open gastrocnemius recession, and 17% percutaneous tendo-Achilles lengthening). Across all scenarios, we observed low overall 8% probability with fair agreement (κ = 0.246) of performing TSL (range, 1% at initial management of an unstable Weber B bimalleolar ankle fracture with negative contralateral Silfverskiöld test to 29% at definitive fixation of tongue-type calcaneus fracture with positive contralateral Silfverskiöld test). Silfverskiöld testing significantly influenced TSL probability at all time points. University of Washington training (β = 1.5, P = .007) but not trauma vs foot fellowship training, years in practice, academic practice, urban setting, or facility trauma designation were significantly associated with likelihood of performing TSL.

Conclusion:

Orthopaedic traumatology and foot and ankle surgeons report similar indications, methods, and low perceived propensity to use TSL in the management of foot and ankle trauma. We found that graduates of 1 fellowship training site were more likely to perform TSL in the setting of acute trauma potentially indicating the need for better scientific data to support this practice.

Level of Evidence:

Level V, therapeutic.
Pediatric Odontogenic Myxoma: A Case Report and a Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Mckenzie Jamie , Charles Zhi Yon , Simpson Ellen , Singh Thasvir , Pandita Archana
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

Odontogenic myxoma (OM) is a benign, locally invasive odontogenic tumor, which has been historically treated with en bloc resection to prevent recurrence. In pediatric patients en bloc resection is associated with significant morbidity in relation to growth, function, cosmesis, and the associated risks of radical surgery.

Methods:

This research aims to present an up-to-date series of OM in pediatric patients (0-3 years), to evaluate treatment approaches and recurrence in this population, and provide treatment recommendations through the presentation of a case report in a 15-month-old child and a systematic review of the literature. MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched in August 2021 in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.

Results:

In total 53 patients were identified with OM. Pediatric OM occurs more frequently in males, in the maxilla, presenting most commonly with swelling, with a mean duration of onset of 9 weeks (6-12 weeks, 95% CI). The rates of recurrence in OM were low (5/53, 9%) with no recurrences in patients treated with enucleation with peripheral ostectomy or adjunctive procedures including cryotherapy or Carnoy’s solution, indicating that they can be used successful as first line treatment, reducing patient morbidity.

Conclusion:

Pediatric odontogenic myxoma occurs most frequently in males, within the maxilla and can be treated successfully with conservative surgical management with enucleation, peripheral ostectomy with the application of Carnoy’s solution or Cryotherapy, reducing patient morbidity. Patients should be followed up clinically and radiographically to monitor for recurrence, which primarily occurs within the first 12 months of treatment.
Narratives of Project Risk Management: From Scientific Rationality to the Discursive Nature of Identity Work
Authors: Green Stuart D. , Dikmen Irem
Published: September 2022

The dominant narrative of project risk management pays homage to scientific rationality while conceptualizing risk as objective fact. Yet doubts remain regarding the extent to which the advocated quantitative techniques are used in practice. An established counternarrative advocates the importance of intuition and subjective judgment. New insights are developed by conceptualizing risk as a narrative construct used for the purposes of identity work. Project-based practitioners are seen to mobilize resources from competing narratives to meet the transient expectations of those with whom they interact. Ultimately, they tend to emphasize approaches that sustain their ascribed identities as custodians of rationality.
Using natural language processing to automatically classify written self-reported narratives by patients with migraine or cluster headache
Authors: Vandenbussche Nicolas , Van Hee Cynthia , Hoste Véronique , Paemeleire Koen
Published: September 2022

Background

Headache medicine is largely based on detailed history taking by physicians analysing patients’ descriptions of headache. Natural language processing (NLP) structures and processes linguistic data into quantifiable units. In this study, we apply these digital techniques on self-reported narratives by patients with headache disorders to research the potential of analysing and automatically classifying human-generated text and information extraction in clinical contexts.

Methods

A prospective cross-sectional clinical trial collected self-reported narratives on headache disorders from participants with either migraine or cluster headache. NLP was applied for the analysis of lexical, semantic and thematic properties of the texts. Machine learning (ML) algorithms were applied to classify the descriptions of headache attacks from individual participants into their correct group (migraine versus cluster headache).

Results

One-hundred and twenty-one patients (81 participants with migraine and 40 participants with cluster headache) provided a self-reported narrative on their headache disorder. Lexical analysis of this text corpus resulted in several specific key words per diagnostic group (cluster headache: Dutch (nl): “oog” | English (en): “eye”, nl: “pijn” | en: “pain” and nl: “terug” | en: “back/to come back”; migraine: nl: “hoofdpijn” | en: “headache”, nl: “stress” | en: “stress” and nl: “misselijkheid” | en: “nausea”). Thematic and sentiment analysis of text revealed largely negative sentiment in texts by both patients with migraine and cluster headache. Logistic regression and support vector machine algorithms with different feature groups performed best for the classification of attack descriptions (with F1-scores for detecting cluster headache varying between 0.82 and 0.86) compared to naïve Bayes classifiers.

Conclusions

Differences in lexical choices between patients with migraine and cluster headache are detected with NLP and are congruent with domain expert knowledge of the disorders. Our research shows that ML algorithms have potential to classify patients’ self-reported narratives of migraine or cluster headache with good performance. NLP shows its capability to discern relevant linguistic aspects in narratives from patients with different headache disorders and demonstrates relevance in clinical information extraction. The potential benefits on the classification performance of larger datasets and neural NLP methods can be investigated in the future.

Trial registration

This study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov with ID NCT05377437.
Inhibition of CISD2 promotes ferroptosis through ferritinophagy-mediated ferritin turnover and regulation of p62–Keap1–NRF2 pathway
Authors: Li Yanchun , Xu Bing , Ren Xueying , Wang Luyang , Xu Yaqing , Zhao Yefeng , Yang Chen , Yuan Chen , Li Huanjuan , Tong Xiangmin , Wang Ying , Du Jing
Published: September 2022

Background

CDGSH iron sulfur domain 2 (CISD2) is an iron–sulfur protein with a [2Fe–2S] cluster, which is critical for cell proliferation and iron homeostasis. It has been demonstrated that aberrant expression of CISD2 is associated with the progression of multiple cancers. However, the underlying mechanism of CISD2 in regulating tumorigenesis remains obscure.

Methods

Bioinformatics strategies were used to investigate the protein interaction network and functional annotation of CISD2. In the functional experiment, cell viability was measured by CCK-8 kit. The levels of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular free iron, lipid peroxides, and lysosomal activity were determined by DCF-DA, RPA, C11-BODIPY, and cathepsin B staining, respectively. The glutathione (GSH) content was determined using a GSH assay kit.

Results

We showed that knockdown of CISD2 significantly accelerated the Erastin-induced ferroptotic cell death with excess lipid peroxidation, GSH exhaustion, and iron accumulation, while overexpression of CISD2 hindered the sensitivity to Erastin. Further assays via confocal microscopy and western blot exhibited that CISD2 knockdown markedly enhanced the lysosomal activity, and activated ferritinophagy under the exposure of Erastin. Pharmacological inhibition of lysosomal function could inhibit the degradation of ferritin heavy chain (FTH), and attenuate the phenotypes of ferroptosis, such as accelerated iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Notably, we found that Erastin-induced compensatory elevation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) could be eliminated in CISD2 depletion cells. Mechanically, CISD2 knockdown promoted the degradation of autophagy adaptor p62 and resulted in an increased binding affinity of Keap1 with NRF2, thus leading to the increased ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of NRF2. Enforced expression of NRF2 reversed the sensitivity of shCISD2 cells to ferroptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, enforced expression of Keap1 exacerbated the degradation of NRF2, reduced the transcriptional expression of FTH and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), increased the oxidative damage, and thus further facilitated ferroptosis.

Conclusion

Taken together, our current results illustrated two parallel mechanisms involved in the shCISD2-mediated ferroptosis. One was that shCISD2 enhanced the accumulation of free iron via ferritinophagy-dependent ferritin turnover; the other was that CISD2 depletion induced the inhibition of the p62–Keap1–NRF2 pathway, which resulted in oxidative stress and ferroptosis.
The demand-side mitigation gap in German passenger transport
Authors: Arnz Marlin
Published: September 2022

Deep transport decarbonisation requires not only technological measures, but also large-scale changes towards sustainable mobility behaviour. Researchers and decision-makers need suitable tools for corresponding strategy development on a macroscopic scale. Aiming at broad accessibility to such methods, this paper presents an open source passenger transport model for policy analysis in German medium- to long-distance transport. It discusses model design and data, limitations, alternative approaches, and its base year results and concludes, that macroscopic transport modelling is very suitable for policy analysis on national scales. Alternative approaches promise more insight on smaller scales. As an exemplary case study, the model is applied to ambitious technology projections for the year 2035, showing the ambition gap towards reaching the 1.5 degree-target of the Paris Agreements. Results indicate that 66 million tCO$$_{2eq}$$

2
e
q

per year must be mitigated through further technological substitution or demand-side mitigation strategies.
Study of the grafting compatibility of the apple rootstock 12–2, resistant to apple replant diseases (ARD)
Authors: Mao Yunfei , Cui Xueli , Wang Haiyan , Qin Xin , Liu Yangbo , Hu Yanli , Chen Xuesen , Mao Zhiquan , Shen Xiang
Published: September 2022

Background

Cultivation of resistant rootstocks can effectively prevent apple replant disease (ARD), and grafting tests are an important means of evaluating the compatibility of rootstocks with scions.

Methods

The apple rootstocks 12–2 (self-named) and Malus hupehensis Rehd. (PYTC) were planted in a replanted 20-year-old apple orchard. The two rootstocks were grafted with scions of 13 apple varieties. Multiple aboveground physiological parameters of the grafted combinations were measured and evaluated to verify the grafting affinity of 12–2 with the scions as compared to Malus hupehensis Rehd. (PYTC).

Results

The graft survival rate and graft interface healing of 12–2 did not differ significantly from those of PYTC. Mechanical strength tests of the grafted interfaces showed that some mechanical strength indices of Redchief, Jonagold, Starking, Goldspur and Yinv apple varieties were significantly higher when they were grafted onto 12–2 compared to the PYTC control. The height and diameter of shoots and the relative chlorophyll content, photosynthetic and fluorescence parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde content of leaves showed that Fuji 2001, Tengmu No.1, RedChief, Gala, USA8, and Shoufu1 grew similarly on the two rootstocks, but Tianhong 2, Lvguang, Jonagold, Starking, Goldspur, Yinv and Luli grew better when grafted onto 12–2 than onto the PYTC control. The rootstock 12-2, therefore, showed good grafting affinity.

Conclusion

These results provide experimental materials and theoretical guidance for the cultivation of a new grafting compatible rootstock to the 13 studied apple cultivars.
Inconsistency analysis between metagenomic next-generation sequencing results of cerebrospinal fluid and clinical diagnosis with suspected central nervous system infection
Authors: Wang Jin , Ye Jun , Yang Liqi , Chen Xiangfeng , Fang Haoshu , Liu Zhou , Xia Guomei , Zhang Yafei , Zhang Zhenhua
Published: September 2022

Background

Recently, with the rapid progress of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), inconsistency between mNGS results and clinical diagnoses has become more common. There is currently no reasonable explanation for this, and the interpretation of mNGS reports still needs to be standardised.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 47 inpatients with suspected central nervous system (CNS) infections, and clinical data were recorded. The final diagnosis was determined by an expert group based on the patient’s clinical manifestation, laboratory examination, and response to treatment. mNGS results were compared with the final diagnosis, and any inconsistencies that occurred were investigated. Finally, the credibility of mNGS results was evaluated using the integral approach, which consists of three parts: typical clinical features, positive results with the traditional method, and cerebrospinal fluid cells ≥ 100 (× 106/L) or protein ≥ 500 mg/L, with one point for each item.

Results

Forty-one patients with suspected CNS infection were assigned to infected (ID, 31/41, 75.61%) and non-infected groups (NID, 10/41, 24.39%) after assessment by a panel of experts according to the composite diagnostic criteria. For mNGS-positive results, 20 of the 24 pathogens were regarded as contaminants when the final score was ≤ 1. The remaining 11 pathogens detected by mNGS were all true positives, which was consistent with the clinical diagnosis when the score was ≥ 2. For mNGS negative results, when the score was ≥ 2, the likelihood of infection may be greater than when the score is ≤ 1.

Conclusion

The integral method is effective for evaluating mNGS results. Regardless of whether the mNGS result was positive or negative, the possibility of infection was greater when the score was ≥ 2. A negative mNGS result does not necessarily indicate that the patient was not clinically infected, and, therefore, clinical features are more important.
LncRNA H19 alleviates sepsis-induced acute lung injury by regulating the miR-107/TGFBR3 axis
Authors: Hao Xiuling , Wei Huiqiang
Published: September 2022

Objective

Acute lung injury (ALI) increases sepsis morbidity and mortality. LncRNA H19 plays a critical role in sepsis. miR-107 is highly-expressed and TGFβ type III receptor (TGFBR3) is poorly-expressed in sepsis, yet their roles in sepsis development require further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of H19 in alleviating sepsis-induced ALI through the miR-107/TGFBR3 axis.

Methods

Mice were intravenously injected with Ad-H19 adenovirus vector or control vector one week before establishing the mouse model of cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) were transfected with oe-H19 or oe-NC plasmids and then stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Lung injury was assessed via hematoxylin–eosin staining, measurement of wet-to-dry (W/D) ratio, and TUNEL staining. Levels of H19, miR-107, and TGFBR3 were determined by RT-qPCR. Apoptosis of PMVECs was evaluated by flow cytometry. Levels of Bax and Bcl-2 in lung tissues and PMVECs were measured using Western blot. Total protein concentration and the number of total cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were quantified. Levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in BALF, lung tissues, and PMVECs were measured by ELISA. Cross-linking relationships among H19, miR-107 and TGFBR3 were verified by dual-luciferase and RIP assays.

Results

H19 was poorly-expressed in CLP-operated mice. H19 overexpression attenuated sepsis-induced ALI, which was manifested with complete alveolar structure, decreased lung injury score and lung W/D ratio, and inhibited apoptosis in CLP-operated mice, which was manifested with decreased number of TUNEL-positive cells and Bax level and increased Bcl-2 level. CLP-operated mice had increased concentration of total protein and number of total cells, neutrophils, and macrophages in BALF, which was nullified by H19 overexpression. H19 overexpression declined levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and elevated IL-10 levels. H19 inhibited LPS-induced PMVEC apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. H19 targeted TGFBR3 as the ceRNA of miR-107. miR-107 overexpression or silencing TGFBR3 partially averted the inhibition of H19 overexpression on LPS-induced PMVEC apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Conclusion

LncRNA H19 inhibited LPS-induced PMVEC apoptosis and pro-inflammatory cytokine production and attenuated sepsis-induced ALI by targeting TGFBR3 as the ceRNA of miR-107.
Prevalence and associated factors of complementary and integrative medicine use in patients afflicted with COVID-19
Authors: Parvizi Mohammad Mahdi , Forouhari Sedigheh , Shahriarirad Reza , Shahriarirad Sepehr , Bradley Ryan D , Roosta Leila
Published: September 2022

Background

Complementary and Integrative Medicine (CIM) is often taken up by individuals seeking relief from different diseases. This study investigates the prevalence and associated factors of CIM use in patients with COVID-19.

Methods

In this telephone-based, cross-sectional study, data on CIM usage were collected from COVID-19 patients from February till June 2020 in Fars province, Iran using a researcher-made checklist. Additionally, we asked about the patients’ attitudes toward these treatments.

Results

Out of 453 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 400 (88.30%) responded to our calls and agreed to participate in the study. Among them, 276 patients reported using CIM to treat COVID-19 [prevalence: 69% (95% CI: 64.2 to 73.5)]. The most frequently used herbal medicine among COVID-19 patients was ginger (n = 273, 98.9%), thyme (n = 263, 95.3%), and black cumin (n = 205, 74.3%). Most of these patients were recommended to use herbal medicine by their families and friends (n = 96, 34.8%). Univariable logistic regression revealed that age under 50 years old, residency in urban areas (including the capital of the province and small cities), employment, academic education, and being an outpatient were statistically significant factors resulting in CIM usage. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that CIM use among outpatients was 3.65 times more than among inpatients. In addition, patients under 50 years old used CIM 85% more than older patients. Ultimately, only 9 (3.3%) patients consulted with their doctors regarding these medications. No side effects due to CIM use were reported.

Conclusion

Many patients with COVID-19 used CIM, but few consulted with their physicians in this regard. Therefore, physicians should ask their patients about CIM usage, and patients should also report their use of CIM therapies during their medical visits. Furthermore, age and hospitalization status affected CIM use among patients with COVID-19.
Patient and health-care provider experience of a person-centred, multidisciplinary, psychosocial support and harm reduction programme for patients with harmful use of alcohol and drug-resistant tuberculosis in Minsk, Belarus
Authors: Harrison Rebecca Elizabeth , Shyleika Volha , Falkenstein Christian , Garsevanidze Ekaterine , Vishnevskaya Olga , Lonnroth Knut , Sayakci Öznur , Sinha Animesh , Sitali Norman , Skrahina Alena , Stringer Beverley , Tan Cecilio , Mar Htay Thet , Venis Sarah , Vetushko Dmitri , Viney Kerri , Vishneuski Raman , Carrion Martin Antonio Isidro
Published: September 2022

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) often concentrates in groups of people with complex health and social issues, including alcohol use disorders (AUD). Risk of TB, and poor TB treatment outcomes, are substantially elevated in people who have AUD. Médecins sans Frontières and the Belarus Ministry of Health have worked to improve treatment adherence in patients with multi-drug or rifampicin resistant (MDR/RR)-TB and harmful use of alcohol. In 2016, a person-centred, multidisciplinary, psychosocial support and harm reduction programme delivered by TB doctors, counsellors, psychiatrists, health-educators, and social workers was initiated. In 2020, we described patient and provider experiences within the programme as part of a wider evaluation.

Methods

We recruited 12 patients and 20 health-care workers, using purposive sampling, for in-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions. We used a participant-led, flexible, exploratory approach, enabling participants and the interviewer to shape topics of conversation. Qualitative data were coded manually and analysed thematically. As part of the analysis process, identified themes were shared with health-care worker participants to enable their reflections to be incorporated into the findings.

Results

Key themes related to the patients’ and practitioners experience of having and treating MDRTB with associated complex health and social issues were: fragility and despair and guidance, trust and health. Prejudice and marginalisation were global to both themes. Counsellors and other health workers built a trusting relationship with patients, enabling guidance through a multi-disciplinary approach, which supported patients to achieve their vision of health. This guidance was achieved by a team of social workers, counsellors, doctors and health-educators who provided professional and individualised help for patients’ illnesses, personal or interpersonal problems, administrative tasks, and job searches.

Conclusions

Patients with MDR/RR-TB and harmful use of alcohol faced complex issues during treatment. Our findings describe how person-centred, multi-disciplinary, psychosocial support helped patients in this setting to cope with these challenges and complete the treatment programme. We recommend that these findings are used to: i) inform programmatic changes to further boost the person-centred care nature of this program; and ii) advocate for this type of person-centred care approach to be rolled out across Belarus, and in contexts that face similar challenges.