bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
De-disciplining humanity: the humanities’ case for Critical Management Literacy
Authors: Landfester Ulrike , Metelmann Jörg
Published: October 2020

From the point of view of the humanities, it is a very promising development that management studies have recently turned to the humanities in the quest for competences which are perceived by both managers and the public to be sadly lacking in management education. From the point of view of management studies, however, humanities’ scholars usually fall equally sadly short of teaching those competences to management students in a manner designed to convey what, exactly, those competences are and why they should need them. Our article seeks to negotiate the gap between the two disciplinary domains by introducing a concept of Critical Management Literacy which is designed to communicate the humanities’ specific contribution to management studies. Applying this concept to the humanities, we argue that the humanities are uniquely suited to help overcome the disciplinary segregation of knowledge by teaching that humanity is not an ontologically pre-stabilised entity that can be owned by any discipline; rather, it is an epistemological construct which varies according to the contexts it is developed and used in. The type of knowledge the humanities offer makes this conceptual dimension visible, which we claim is intrinsically important to management education. To offer access to this knowledge to management studies, however, the humanities will definitively have to revise their understanding of their disciplinary identity to some extent.
Chasing rainbows? A recognition-based critique of Primark’s precarious commitment to inclusion
Authors: Tyler Melissa , Vachhani Sheena
Published: October 2020

This paper develops a dialectical critique of organizational commitments to inclusion showing how, as rhetorical gestures, such commitments are undermined by practices of over-inclusion and exclusion. It argues that these practices are not distinct but interrelated aspects of the instrumental ways in which organizations respond to encounters with difference, limiting the latter’s capacity to open up new ways of being, and of organizing. This theoretical critique is illustrated with reference to two examples of Primark’s recent treatment of LGBTQ employees and communities. The first, the company’s recent introduction of a range of Pride-themed clothes and accessories, illustrates how inclusion is pursued through an appropriating co-optation or ‘over inclusion’ of difference. The second, the company’s treatment of a transgender employee and subsequent tribunal evidence, indicates how Primark’s espoused commitment to inclusion is also undermined by an exclusionary negation. The discussion draws on insights from Judith Butler’s writing on recognition and precarity to develop a recognition-based critique of how the simultaneous pursuit of twin strategies of over-inclusion and exclusion perpetuates a reification of difference, examining the consequences of this for those involved and for the critical evaluation of corporate commitments to inclusion more widely.
The organization’s synaptic mode of existence: How a hospital merger is many things at once
Authors: Bencherki Nicolas , Trolle Elmholdt Kasper
Published: October 2020

Different perspectives on organizations have alternatively sorted them on the side of the social / human / linguistic or that of the material / non-human / technical, reducing the question of what an organization may be to attempts to (re)connect these two realms. Literature adopting a relational view, however, has offered a way out of this opposition, by embracing the multiplicity of beings that may make up organizations. We extend this approach by engaging with French philosopher Étienne Souriau’s discussion of modes of existence to suggest that organizations are “synaptic,” which means they exist in the passages between modes, as they articulate the actions of entities existing under different modalities. By analyzing the case of a hospital merger in Denmark, we show that this work of articulation amounts to organizing, and that viewing organizations as synaptic recognizes not only their ontic pluralism, but also their existential pluralism. By doing so, our study contributes to relational understandings of what organizing means and provides a sensitivity to the politics involved in deciding who or what may exist within organizations.
Outcomes of a Community-Wide Health Intervention in a Low-Income, Primarily Hispanic Community: The Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin (GAVA) Initiative
Authors: Ranjit Nalini , Nielsen Aida , Akhavan Nika , Denis Laurence , Janda Kathryn , Jovanovic Christine , Basu Semonti , Hussaini Aliya , van den Berg Alexandra
Published: October 2020

Objectives

To describe outcomes of a 4-year physical activity (PA) and nutrition intervention (2013–2017) in Dove Springs, a low-income urban community in Texas.

Method

Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin is a place-based intervention targeting the built and social environments of PA and nutrition. Baseline and follow-up measures related to PA and nutrition were obtained from 357 parent–child dyads (final n = 236) in the intervention community and a control community. A three-level dose of exposure measure was created to indicate the amount of exposure to intervention activities across the 4 years. Pre–post changes in key outcomes by level of exposure and contrasts across “high exposure” and “no exposure” categories were obtained using repeated-measures regression, adjusting for important confounders.

Results

“High exposure” adult participants showed consistently more favorable changes than “no exposure” participants across a variety of indicators, including positive perceptions and utilization of community PA resources, amount of moderate PA, utilization of retail outlets offering fresh produce, and measures of healthy eating. Few improvements were seen in child-level outcomes.

Conclusions

Community interventions can successfully improve health-promoting behaviors provided they ensure sufficient dose of exposure.
A Review and Proposed Classification System for the No-Option Patient With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia
Authors: Kim Tanner I. , Vartanian Shant S. , Schneider Peter A.
Published: October 2020

A growing, but poorly defined subset of patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) have “no option” for revascularization. One notable subgroup includes patients with severe ischemia and advanced pedal artery occlusive disease, termed “desert foot,” who are at high risk for major amputation due to a lack of conventional revascularization options. Although new therapies are being developed for no-option patients with desert foot anatomy, this subgroup and the broader group of no-option patients are not well defined, limiting the ability to evaluate outcomes. Based on a systematic review, a classification of the no-option CLTI patient was constructed for use in clinical practice and studies. Several no-option conditions were identified, including type I—severe and pedal occlusive disease (desert foot anatomy) for which there is no accepted method of repair; type II—lack of suitable venous conduit for bypass in the setting of an acceptable target for bypass; type III—extensive tissue loss with exposure of vital structures that renders salvage impossible; type IV—advanced medical comorbidities for which available revascularization options would pose a prohibitive risk; and type V—presence of a nonfunctional limb. While type I and type II patients may have no option for revascularization, type III and type V patients have wounds, infection, comorbidities, or functional status that may leave them with few options for revascularization. As treatment strategies continue to evolve and novel methods of revascularization are developed, the ability to identify no-option patients in a standardized fashion will aid in treatment selection and assessment of outcomes.
Clinical Outcomes and Predictors in Patients With Unresectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases Following Salvage Percutaneous Radiofrequency Ablation: A Single Center Preliminary Experience
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhang Guang-Yuan , Xu Li-Chao , He Xin-Hong , Huang Hao-Zhe , Li Guo-Dong , Wang Yao-Hui , Wang Guang-Zhi , Li Wen-Tao
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical efficacy of salvage percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in patients with unresectable colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Methods:

The cohort consisted of 81 patients with 126 colorectal cancer liver metastases who underwent radiofrequency ablation between January 2012 and September 2016. The clinical data and ablation data were retrospectively analyzed. The local tumor progression-free survival, overall survival, and prognostic factors were analyzed using the log-rank test and Cox regression model.

Results:

The technique success rate was 99.21%. The primary efficacy rate was 100% at the 1-month follow-up. Minor complications were observed in 2 patients, which recovered within 1 week. The median local tumor progression-free survival time of all patients was 29.8 months. The absence of subsequent chemotherapy was an independent predictor of a shorter local tumor progression-free survival time ( P < 0.001, hazard ratio: 2.823, 95% confidence interval: 1.603, 4.972). The median overall survival time was 26.8 months. A lesion size greater than 3 cm ( P = 0.011, hazard ratio: 2.112, 95% confidence interval: 1.188, 3.754) and the presence of early local tumor progression ( P = 0.011, hazard ratio: 2.352, 95% confidence interval: 1.217, 4.545) were related to a shorter survival time.

Conclusions:

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is safe in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases refractory from chemotherapy. Subsequent chemotherapy is important to enhance local control. Small lesions and favorable early responses are related to prolonged overall survival.
Modifying the “Eye of the Tiger” Technique: Preserving Gluteal Artery Perfusion in the Treatment of an Aneurysm of the Hypogastric Artery
Authors: Iwakoshi Shinichi , Inagaki Masahiro , Yoshiyama Yutaka , Shimohara Yuichi , Yamashita Masanori , Ichihashi Shigeo , Kichikawa Kimihiko
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

In endovascular aneurysm repair, parallel stent graft deployment is sometimes utilized to preserve the distal branch perfusion. However, there will be some gutter space around 2 stent grafts, which may cause endoleak. The “eye of the tiger” technique was invented to minimize this leak when deploying a small side-branch stent graft in conjunction with a large aortic endograft. The purpose of this case report is to describe our modified technique for 2 small endografts deployed in double D-shape in order to prevent gutter leak, which we applied in endovascular treatment for a hypogastric artery aneurysm.

Case Report:

A 79-year-old male patient presented with a right hypogastric artery aneurysm measuring 44 mm. The patient refused the open surgical repair option and hoped for an endovascular treatment. Therefore, endovascular treatment to exclude the hypogastric artery aneurysm as well as preserve the gluteal arteries was planned. An Internal Iliac Component (IIC)(W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) was utilized for the proximal sealing and 2 Viabahn stent grafts (W. L. Gore & Associates) were deployed in the superior and inferior gluteal arteries for distal sealing. Then, 2 VBX stent grafts (W. L. Gore & Associates) were added in the IIC as bridging stents to connect the IIC and both Viabahn stent grafts. Next, over-dilatation of VBX stent grafts was performed alternately with an 8 mm balloon catheter and subsequent kissing balloon dilation with 5 mm balloon catheters, which allowed the VBX stents to be set in double D-shape. A follow-up CT scan performed 1 week after the procedure revealed no endoleak and a favorable shape to the VBX stent grafts.

Conclusion:

The modified method of dilating the VBX stent grafts allowed the double D-shape deployment, minimizing the risk of gutter leak and preserving distal branch perfusion.
Low-Dose Berberine Attenuates the Anti-Breast Cancer Activity of Chemotherapeutic Agents via Induction of Autophagy and Antioxidation
Authors: Han Bing , Wang Kai , Tu Yanbei , Tan Lihua , He Chengwei
Published: October 2020

Berberine (BBR), a major active component of Rhizoma coptidis, is one of the most promising agents for breast cancer adjuvant therapy. It is well accepted that BBR could exhibit remarkable anticancer efficacy with few side effects, and when treated with chemotherapeutic agents in combination, BBR could enhance the chemosensitivity of cancer cells. Our previous study reported that low-dose BBR (LDB) induced hormetic effect and attenuated the anticancer activity of chemotherapeutic agents. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we confirmed that LDB could promote cancer cell proliferation and antagonize the anti-breast cancer activities of chemotherapeutic agents. And the mechanisms were proved to be induction of autophagy and antioxidation by LDB. Our results showed that LDB could mildly induce reactive oxygen species, raise the level of autophagy by promoting the phosphorylation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, and promote antioxidant enzymes expression through activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in breast cancer cells. These findings revealed a potential negative impact of BBR on its adjuvant anti-breast cancer therapy, providing guidance for a safe and effective use of naturally originated medicines in the clinic.
Program Evaluation for Health Professionals: What It Is, What It Isn’t and How to Do It
Authors: Adams Jeffery , Neville Stephen
Published: October 2020

Health professionals deliver a range of health services to individuals and communities. The evaluation of these services is an important component of these programs and health professionals should have the requisite knowledge, attributes, and skills to evaluate the impact of the services they provide. However, health professionals are seldom adequately prepared by their training or work experience to do this well. In this article we provide a suitable framework and guidance to enable health professionals to appropriately undertake useful program evaluation. We introduce and discuss “Easy Evaluation” and provide guidelines for its implementation. The framework presented distinguishes program evaluation from research and encourages health professionals to apply an evaluative lens in order that value judgements about the merit, worth, and significance of programs can be made. Examples from our evaluation practice are drawn on to illustrate how program evaluation can be used across the health care spectrum.
Critical care outcomes, for the first 200 patients with confirmed COVID-19, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: A report from the ICNARC Case Mix Programme
Authors: Richards-Belle Alvin , Orzechowska Izabella , Doidge James , Thomas Karen , Harrison David A , Koelewyn Abby , Christian Michael D , Shankar-Hari Manu , Rowan Kathryn M , Gould Doug W
Published: October 2020

Background

Early in a pandemic, outcomes are biased towards patients with shorter durations of critical illness. We describe 60-day outcomes for patients critically ill with confirmed COVID-19 and explore the potential bias in the weekly reported data by ICNARC.

Methods

First 200 consecutive patients with confirmed COVID-19, admitted for critical care in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, followed-up for a minimum of 60 days from admission. Outcomes included survival and duration of critical care, receipt/duration of organ support in critical care and hospital survival .

Results

Mean age was 62.6 years, 70.5% were male, 52.0% were white, 39.2% obese and 9.0% had serious comorbidities. Median APACHE II score was 16 (IQR 12, 19). After 60 days, 83 (41.5%) patients had been discharged from hospital, 15 (7.5%) had been discharged from critical care but remained in hospital, 1 (0.5%) was still receiving critical care, 90 (45.0%) had died while receiving critical care and 11 (5.5%) had died in hospital after discharge from critical care. Median duration of critical care was 14.0 days (IQR 6.1, 23.0) for survivors and 10.0 days (IQR 5.0, 16.0) for non-survivors of critical care. Overall, 158 (79.0%) patients received advanced respiratory support for a median of 13 (IQR 8, 20) calendar days. Compared with weekly reports during the pandemic, critical care mortality started higher than but then decreased below that of the first 200 consecutive patients. Duration of critical care, for both survivors and non-survivors increased over time; however, both were still lower than those for the first 200 consecutive patients. Receipt and duration of organ support increased to values similar to those for the first 200 consecutive patients.

Conclusion

COVID-19 in critical care has high mortality and places a large burden on resources. Analysis of preliminary data with limited follow-up should be interpreted with caution, particularly for future planning in a pandemic.
How to get away with COVID-19: endoscopy during post-peak pandemic. A perspective review
Authors: Vanella Giuseppe , Capurso Gabriele , Boškoski Ivo , Bossi Eleonora , Signorelli Carlo , Ciceri Fabio , Arcidiacono Paolo Giorgio , Costamagna Guido
Published: October 2020

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has changed the way we work, and health care services have to adapt. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the delay of non-urgent procedures were the immediate measures adopted by Gastrointestinal (GI) Endoscopy Units at the time of crisis. As the peak has now passed in most countries, GI facilities are facing the next challenge of this pandemic: service providers must adapt their routine work to a ‘new normal’. Routine casework must resume, and waiting lists must be addressed: all in the awareness of the ongoing potential risks of COVID-19, and the threat of a second wave. In this review, we discuss strategies to manage the workload by improving procedure appropriateness and prioritization, whilst maintaining a ‘COVID-free’ environment. This includes monitoring of an adequate stock of PPE and the implications for the staff’s workload, and the GI trainees’ need of training.
Expression Pattern of HMGB1 Differs Between Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyp and Non-Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyp: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Min Hyun Jin , Kim Kyung Soo
Published: October 2020

Background

Eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (ECRSwNP) is histologically distinct from non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (NECRSwNP) and exhibits a high frequency of recurrence. The differences between the pathogenesis of ECRSwNP and NECRSwNP are not well-characterized. HMGB1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of CRSwNPs; however, its precise contributions to ECRSwNP and NECRSwNP have not been established.

Objective

We evaluated the role of HMGB1 in the pathogenesis of ECRSwNP.

Methods

A total of 26 nasal polyps (NPs) from patients with ECRSwNP and NECRSwNP who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery were obtained. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to compare the HMGB1 levels between the NPs from ECRS and NECRS. A multiplex cytokine assay was performed to evaluate the levels of other cytokines and chemokines in exudates in the NPs. Nasal lavage fluids were used to evaluate extracellular HMGB1 levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

HMGB1 expression in the NPs was higher in ECRSwNP than in NECRSwNP. The level of HMGB1 in the exudate within the NPs was significantly higher in ECRSwNP than in NECRSwNP. Furthermore, HMGB1 levels in nasal lavage fluids from ECRSwNP were higher than those from NECRSwNP. We found that HMGB1 levels in the exudate in NPs and in nasal lavage fluids effectively differentiate ECRSwNP from NECRSwNP.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that a high level of HMGB1 in NPs is an important factor for differentiating ECRSwNP from NECRSwNP. HMGB1 may play a role in the development of ECRSwNP and should be further evaluated.
English language learning and social media: Schematic learning on Kpop Stan twitter
Authors: Malik Zunera , Haidar Sham
Published: October 2020

The recent years have observed a notable rise in online activities and interactions. One of the popular online interaction zones are fandom communities comprising fans of any artist, band, TV show, movie, book, and so on. These fans come together on various platforms to enthuse about their favorites with people who share their admiration and interests. One such platform is Twitter and the fandom community is Stan Twitter. Within those fandoms, K-Pop fandom stands out because of the density of English as a second or foreign language speakers in this community. Taking this community as its sample, this study explores the ways in which the non-native English speaking fandom members use English to communicate on this platform. Moreover, the study focuses on the interpretation and usage of meme discourse by these non-native English speaking members. The findings reveal that the fandom members learn memetic discourse by internalizing it in the form of schemas, which means that they learn the whole chunk of interaction rather than learning individual words. The study has also explored overall language-learning within this community, and has discussed the implications of fandom activities as potential learning aids.
Oral Carbohydrate Administration in Patients Undergoing Cephalomedullary Nailing for Proximal Femur Fractures: An Analysis of Clinical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction
Authors: Kweon Suc-hyun , Park Jin sung , Lee Yeong chang
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effects of oral carbohydrate intake for cephalomedullary nailing on proximal femoral fractures and patient satisfaction.

Subjects and Methods:

88 patients were admitted to our hospital with proximal femoral fracture from July 2019 to December 2019. All patients were treated with closed reduction and internal fixation (CR&IF, Cephalomedullary nailing) under spinal anesthesia. The exclusion criteria included the presence of endocrine disorders including diabetes mellitus (DM), patients treated with steroids, and cognitive impairment. Additionally, those with fasting blood glucose levels above 126 mg / dl or HbA1C> 6.5% were considered as having undiagnosed DM. After obtaining informed consent, the subjects were randomized into either the preoperative oral carbohydrate (POC) group or control group. Patients who were assembled into the control group fasted including water from midnight of the day of the surgical procedure according to the conventional method. Patients assembled into the POC group received 400 ml of oral carbohydrate solution (Nucare NONPO, DAESANG, 12.8%, 1 kcal/ml)) between 21-24 hours on the day before operation and 400 ml oral carbohydrate solution 2 hours before the administration of anesthesia. Serum glucose on the day before operation at 7 am (before breakfast, baseline), immediately before anesthesia, at skin incision, 1 hour, 4 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours after anesthesia, and 3 days after surgery (before breakfast) was measured, and insulin, cortisol, and IL-6 were measured at baseline 7 am at day before operation, immediately before anesthesia, 4 hours and 24 hours after anesthesia, and 3 days after surgery (before breakfast). The patients completed questionnaires about their satisfaction (thirst, hunger, nausea and vomiting, and anxiety) in the morning (before the surgery) on the day of the surgery. Additionally, the length of hospital stay (LOS) and preoperative opioid usage was also investigated.

Results:

The operative characteristics of the patients did not differ between the groups except for the actual fasting time. The glucose levels were higher in the control group at skin incision; however, there were no significant differences in both groups at other time points. Additionally, insulin, insulin resistance, cortisol, and IL-6 also did not differ significantly between the 2 groups at all time-points. Among the factors related to patient satisfaction, the POC group showed significantly higher scores for thirst and hunger factors and shorter LOS than the control group.

Conclusion:

The intake of oral carbohydrates in patients treated with closed reduction and internal fixation for proximal femoral fractures does not affect the improvement of post-operative insulin resistance. However, there was significant improvement in patients’ thirst and hunger before surgery and LOS.
An Empirical Revision of the Definition of Science Fiction: It Is All in the Techne . . .
Authors: Menadue Christopher Benjamin , Giselsson Kristi , Guez David
Published: October 2020

Researchers employ science fiction and fantasy in public engagement, advocacy, and education as significant sources of insights to identify public interests, inspire public policy, and influence future science. These uses of science fiction as a source that is expected to reflect public interests are undermined if the examples employed by researchers are interpreted differently by the intended audience or beneficiaries of research. We surveyed the public to identify their definitions and discovered a categorization based on clearly defined features. These align with some academic theories but differ from postmodern approaches as the analysis suggests science fiction can be defined categorically. The empirical survey data are consistent and demonstrate an unmistakable distinction between popular definitions of science fiction and fantasy. Our theoretical analysis implies some definitions may be confused by evaluating secondary “fuzzy” characteristics as if they were fundamental features of the genre. We suggest Wittgenstein’s family resemblances, between subjects associated with the genre at any specific time, should be interpreted as an ephemeral grouping validated by correlation with enduring core features, rather than definitive. On the basis of the common themes identified from the survey responses and a critique of existing genre models, we suggest the classical concept of techne may best describe the empirical essence of science fiction. Researchers intending to employ science fiction for applications that have an influence in the public realm may wish to consider this when designing their research.
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis in Elective Spine Surgery
Authors: Solaru Samantha , Alluri Ram K. , Wang Jeffrey C. , Hah Raymond J.
Published: October 2020

Study Design:

Review.

Objective:

Venothromboembolic (VTE) complications, composed of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are commonly observed in the perioperative setting. There are approximately 500 000 postoperative VTE cases annually in the United States and orthopedic procedures contribute significantly to this incidence. Data on the use of VTE prophylaxis in elective spinal surgery is sparse. This review aims to provide an updated consensus within the literature defining the risk factors, diagnosis, and the safety profile of routine use of pharmacological prophylaxis for VTE in elective spine surgery patients.

Methods:

A comprehensive review of the literature and compilation of findings relating to current identified risk factors for VTE, diagnostic methods, and prophylactic intervention and safety in elective spine surgery.

Results:

VTE prophylaxis use is still widely contested in elective spine surgery patients. The outlined benefits of mechanical prophylaxis compared with chemical prophylaxis varies among practitioners.

Conclusion:

The benefits of any form of VTE prophylaxis continues to remain a controversial topic in the elective spine surgery setting. A specific set of guidelines for implementing prophylaxis is yet to be determined. As more risk factors for thromboembolic events are identified, the complexity surrounding intervention selection increases. The benefits of prophylaxis must also continue to be balanced against the increased risk of bleeding events and neurologic injury.
Ultrasound-guided hydrodilatation for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: A case series
Authors: Ainen Adam , Sivan Manoj
Published: October 2020

Adhesive capsulitis (AC) is a painful and debilitating condition of the glenohumeral joint and has been described as self-limiting. However, recent reports suggest that up to 40% of patients report persistent symptoms, therefore intervention strategies are needed to improve function and quality of life. One such intervention is the hydrodilatation of the glenohumeral joint with a high-volume injection, comprising of local anaesthetic, corticosteroid and normal saline, making a total volume of up to 40 ml. This service evaluation assessed the outcomes in 28 patients (23 females and 5 males; mean age 54.29 years) with AC who underwent ultrasound-guided (USG) hydrodilatation in a clinical outpatient setting. There was a statistically significant improvement in pain and all shoulder movements (all changes p value < 0.01). No adverse effects were encountered. Therefore, the USG glenohumeral joint hydrodilatation procedure in a clinical outpatient setting is a safe and effective intervention for AC.
A comparative study of lateral and palmar venous anastomosis in Ishikawa zone Ⅱ fingertip replantation
Authors: Li Xuedong , Zhai Huang , Zhao Gang , Pan Xiaoyun , Yao Qun , Hua Yong , Yu Jiong , Mi Jingyi
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

Venous anastomosis is the key procedure for Ishikawa zone Ⅱ fingertip replantation. Both palmar and lateral veins provide efficient venous drainage. This study compared the clinical effects between these venous anastomoses for fingertip replantation.

Methods:

In 2016–2018, 61 patients underwent Ishikawa zone Ⅱ fingertip replantation with venous anastomosis (28 and 33 cases with palmar and lateral anastomoses, respectively). Retrospective comparative analyses evaluated surgical technique and function, including operative time; rates of finger survival, venous congestion, and infection; sensation; joint motion; cold intolerance symptom severity (CISS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH), and Vancouver scar scores; and chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) rates.

Results:

There were 33 patients with lateral vein anastomosis and 28 patients with palmar vein anastomosis. The average patient follow-up was 18.2 months. The survival rates did not differ significantly between groups (87.8% (29/33) vs. 85.7% (24/28), p > 0.05); however, the operative time was shorter in the lateral vein group than in the palmar vein group (78.57 ± 7.08 min vs. 67.88 ± 5.77 min, p < 0.05). Venous congestion and infection rates did not differ significantly between groups ( p > 0.05). The replanted finger function, including joint motion, sensation, DASH scores, Vancouver scar scores, and CRPS rates, did not differ significantly between groups ( p > 0.05). However, the CISS score was higher in the palmar vein group than in the lateral vein group (44.39 ± 5.16 vs. 38.09 ± 4.49, p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Venous anastomosis with either palmar or lateral veins showed high survival rates and good function in fingertip replantation. The lateral vein had a shorter operative time and benefit to arterial revision and was especially suitable for patients with finger pulp damage.
Where Platform Capitalism and Racial Capitalism Meet: The Sociology of Race and Racism in the Digital Society
Authors: McMillan Cottom Tressie
Published: October 2020

The study of race and racism in the digital society must produce theoretically distinct and robust formulations of Internet technologies as key characteristics of the political economy. The author puts forth racial capitalism as a coherent framework for this research agenda. The argument for racial capitalism draws on two examples of its engagement with two characteristics of the digital society: obfuscation as privatization and exclusion by inclusion. Internet technologies are now a totalizing sociopolitical regime and should be central to the study of race and racism.
Spontaneous Closure of a Macular Hole in Macular Telangiectasia Type 2
Authors: Chandra Varun , Merani Rohan , Hunyor Alex P. , Gillies Mark
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

Spontaneous closure of a macular hole in macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel) with vision improvement is described.

Methods:

A case report is presented.

Results:

A 71-year-old man presented with a 1-week history of distorted vision in his left eye. Left visual acuity (LVA) was 20/80. Optical coherence tomography showed an almost full-thickness left macular hole with an intact internal limiting membrane drape. Small inner retinal cavitations were present at the right macula; multimodal imaging confirmed MacTel. Managed conservatively, at 5 months the patient’s LVA had improved to 20/60, the defect was no longer full thickness, and the external limiting membrane had reconstituted. At the right macula, the inner cavitations grew and outer cavitations developed, but the external limiting membrane remained intact. At 32 months, right VA was 20/20 and LVA was 20/40.

Conclusions:

This case of MacTel with spontaneous closure of a macular hole was associated with an overlying internal limiting membrane drape.
Mechanical responses of high-performance concrete beam reinforced with CFRP/GFRP tendons based on nonlinear shell beam mixed element
Authors: Jian Zhang , Yanlong Jiang , Hua Liu , Jinghang Wang , Xinming Zhao
Published: October 2020

For high-performance concrete (HPC) beams reinforced with hybrid Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer/Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP/GFRP) tendons, the nonlinear shell beam mixed element is studied and the whole mechanical process is analyzed. The CFRP/CFRP tendons are simulated with spatial beam element and the HPC beam is modeled with the layered shell element. With the coordination of nodal linear displacement and rotational displacement of CFRP/GFRP tendons element, the contribution of CFRP/GFRP element to stiffness matrix of nonlinear shell beam mixed element is deduced. Then, Jiang’s yielding criterion, Hinton’s crushing criterion, and so on, are used to describe the material nonlinearity of concrete. The new kind of nonlinear shell beam mixed element is achieved and the three-dimensional nonlinear calculation program is developed. The calculative results are consistent with the development trend of test results, which shows the correctness of the nonlinear shell beam mixed element and the reliability of the development program. The mixed element can accurately simulate the geometric configuration of CFRP tendons and realize the tension-compression-bending-shearing performance of CFRP tendons, which is helpful to fully reflect the reinforcement effect of reinforcement in the structure. The computational stiffness is defined and the stiffness degradation experiences three change processes. During the whole processes in the proposed typical load cases, the CFRP/GFRP tendons are still kept in the elastic stages.
Targeting the GCK pathway: a novel and selective therapeutic strategy against RAS-mutated multiple myeloma
Authors: Li Shirong , Fu Jing , Yang Jun , Ma Huihui , Bhutani Divaya , Mapara Markus Y. , Marcireau Christophe , Lentzsch Suzanne
Published: October 2020

In multiple myeloma (MM), frequent mutations of NRAS, KRAS, or BRAF are found in up to 50% of newly diagnosed patients. The majority of the NRAS, KRAS, and BRAF mutations occur in hotspots causing constitutive activation of the corresponding proteins. Thus, targeting RAS mutation in MM will increase therapeutic efficiency and potentially overcome drug resistance. We identified germinal center kinase (GCK) as a novel therapeutic target in MM with RAS mutation. GCK knockdown (KD) in MM cells demonstrated in vitro and in vivo that silencing of GCK induces MM cell growth inhibition, associated with blocked MKK4/7-JNK phosphorylation and impaired degradation of IKZF1/3, BCL-6, and c-MYC. These effects were rescued by overexpression of a short hairpin RNA (shRNA)-resistant GCK, thereby excluding the potential off-target effects of GCK KD. In contrast, overexpression of shRNA-resistant GCK kinase-dead mutant (K45A) inhibited MM cell proliferation and failed to rescue the effects of GCK KD on MM growth inhibition, indicating that GCK kinase activity is critical for regulating MM cell proliferation and survival. Importantly, the higher sensitivity to GCK KD in RASMut cells suggests that targeting GCK is effective in MM, which harbors RAS mutations. In accordance with the effects of GCK KD, the GCK inhibitor TL4-12 dose-dependently downregulated IKZF1 and BCL-6 and led to MM cell proliferation inhibition accompanied by induction of apoptosis. Here, our data identify GCK as a novel target in RASMut MM cells, providing a rationale to treat RAS mutations in MM. Furthermore, GCK inhibitors might represent an alternative therapy to overcome immunomodulatory drug resistance in MM.
Does COVID-19 change dietary habits and lifestyle behaviours in Kuwait: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Husain Wafaa , Ashkanani Fatemah
Published: October 2020

Background

The coronavirus pandemic has transformed and continues to transform and affect the daily lives of communities worldwide, particularly due to the lockdown restrictions. Therefore, this study was designed to understand the changes in dietary and lifestyle behaviours that are major determinants of health during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online questionnaire using a convenience sample of 415 adults living in Kuwait (age range 18–73 years).

Results

The rate of skipping breakfast remained consistent, with a slight increase during the pandemic. Lunch remained the main reported meal before and during COVID-19. Compared to before COVID-19, people were much more likely have a late-night snack or meal during COVID-19 (OR = 3.57 (95% CI 1.79–7.26), p < 0.001). Moreover, there was a drastic decrease in the frequency of fast-food consumption during COVID-19, up to 82% reported not consuming fast food (p < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the percentage of participants who had their main meal freshly made (OR = 59.18 (95% CI 6.55–1400.76), p = 0.001). Regarding food group patterns, no significant differences were found before and during the pandemic in terms of the weekly frequency of consumption, except in the case of fish and seafood. There were no remarkable changes in beverage consumption habits among participants before and during the pandemic, except for Americano coffee and fresh juice. Furthermore, there was a great reduction in physical activity and an increase in the amount of screen time and sedentary behaviours. A notable increase was detected in day-time sleep and a decrease in night-time sleep among participants.

Conclusion

In general, this study indicates some changes in daily life, including changes in some eating practices, physical activity and sleeping habits during the pandemic. It is important that the government considers the need for nutrition education programmes and campaigns, particularly during this critical period of the pandemic in Kuwait.
Discrimination between human populations using a small number of differentially methylated CpG sites: a preliminary study using lymphoblastoid cell lines and peripheral blood samples of European and Chinese origin
Authors: Daca-Roszak Patrycja , Jaksik Roman , Paczkowska Julia , Witt Michał , Ziętkiewicz Ewa
Published: October 2020

Background

Epigenetics is one of the factors shaping natural variability observed among human populations. A small proportion of heritable inter-population differences are observed in the context of both the genome-wide methylation level and the methylation status of individual CpG sites. It has been demonstrated that a limited number of carefully selected differentially methylated sites may allow discrimination between main human populations. However, most of the few published results have been performed exclusively on B-lymphocyte cell lines.

Results

The goal of our study was to identify a set of CpG sites sufficient to discriminate between populations of European and Chinese ancestry based on the difference in the DNA methylation profile not only in cell lines but also in primary cell samples. The preliminary selection of CpG sites differentially methylated in these two populations (pop-CpGs) was based on the analysis of two groups of commercially available ethnically-specific B-lymphocyte cell lines, performed using Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450 BeadChip Array. A subset of 10 pop-CpGs characterized by the best differentiating criteria (|Mdiff| > 1, q < 0.05; lack of the confounding genomic features), and 10 additional CpGs in their immediate vicinity, were further tested using pyrosequencing technology in both B-lymphocyte cell lines and in the primary samples of the peripheral blood representing two analyzed populations. To assess the population-discriminating potential of the selected set of CpGs (further referred to as “composite pop (CEU-CHB)-CpG marker”), three classification methods were applied. The predictive ability of the composite 8-site pop (CEU-CHB)-CpG marker was assessed using 10-fold cross-validation method on two independent sets of samples.

Conclusions

Our results showed that less than 10 pop-CpG sites may distinguish populations of European and Chinese ancestry; importantly, this small composite pop-CpG marker performs well in both lymphoblastoid cell lines and in non-homogenous blood samples regardless of a gender.
Predicting and clustering plant CLE genes with a new method developed specifically for short amino acid sequences
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Liu Lei , Kucukoglu Melis , Tian Dongdong , Larkin Robert M. , Shi Xueping , Zheng Bo
Published: October 2020

Background

The CLV3/ESR-RELATED (CLE) gene family encodes small secreted peptides (SSPs) and plays vital roles in plant growth and development by promoting cell-to-cell communication. The prediction and classification of CLE genes is challenging because of their low sequence similarity.

Results

We developed a machine learning-aided method for predicting CLE genes by using a CLE motif-specific residual score matrix and a novel clustering method based on the Euclidean distance of 12 amino acid residues from the CLE motif in a site-weight dependent manner. In total, 2156 CLE candidates—including 627 novel candidates—were predicted from 69 plant species. The results from our CLE motif-based clustering are consistent with previous reports using the entire pre-propeptide. Characterization of CLE candidates provided systematic statistics on protein lengths, signal peptides, relative motif positions, amino acid compositions of different parts of the CLE precursor proteins, and decisive factors of CLE prediction. The approach taken here provides information on the evolution of the CLE gene family and provides evidence that the CLE and IDA/IDL genes share a common ancestor.

Conclusions

Our new approach is applicable to SSPs or other proteins with short conserved domains and hence, provides a useful tool for gene prediction, classification and evolutionary analysis.
Image and fractal analysis as a tool for evaluating salinity growth response between two Salicornia europaea populations
Authors: Cárdenas-Pérez S. , Piernik A. , Ludwiczak A. , Duszyn M. , Szmidt-Jaworska A. , Chanona-Pérez J. J.
Published: October 2020

Background

This study describes a promising method for understanding how halophytes adapt to extreme saline conditions and to identify populations with greater resistance. Image and colour analyses have the ability to obtain many image parameters and to discriminate between different aspects in plants, which makes them a suitable tool in combination with genetic analysis to study the plants salt tolerance. To the best of our knowledge, there are no publications about the monitoring of halophytic plants by non-destructive methods for identifying the differences between plants that belong to different maternal salinity environments. The aim is to evaluate the ability of image analysis as a non-destructive method and principal component analysis (PCA) to identify the multiple responses of two S. europaea populations, and to determine which population is most affected by different salinity treatments as a preliminary model of selection.

Results

Image analysis was beneficial for detecting the phenotypic variability of two S. europaea populations by morphometric and colour parameters, fractal dimension (FD), projected area (A), shoot height (H), number of branches (B), shoot diameter (S) and colour change (ΔE). S was found to strongly positively correlate with both proline content and ΔE, and negatively with chlorophyll content. These results suggest that proline and ΔE are strongly linked to plant succulence, while chlorophyll decreases with increased succulence. The negative correlation between FD and hydrogen peroxide (HP) suggests that when the plant is under salt stress, HP content increases in plants causing a reduction in plant complexity and foliage growth. The PCA results indicate that the greater the stress, the more marked the differences. At 400 mM a shorter distance between the factorial scores was observed. Genetic variability analysis provided evidence of the differences between these populations.

Conclusions

Our non-destructive method is beneficial for evaluating the halophyte development under salt stress. FD, S and ΔE were relevant indicators of plant architecture. PCA provided evidence that anthropogenic saline plants were more tolerant to saline stress. Furthermore, random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis provided a quick method for determining genetic variation patterns between the two populations and provided evidence of genetic differences between them.
Clinical characteristics and laboratory indicator analysis of 67 COVID-19 pneumonia patients in Suzhou, China
Authors: Wang Yi , Yao Lin , Zhang Jian-Ping , Tang Pei-Jun , Ye Zhi-Jian , Shen Xing-Hua , Xu Jun-Chi , Wu Mei-Ying , Yu Xin
Published: October 2020

Background

Sudden exacerbations and respiratory failure are major causes of death in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) pneumonia, but indicators for the prediction and treatment of severe patients are still lacking.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 67 collected cases was conducted and included approximately 67 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who were admitted to the Suzhou Fifth People’s Hospital from January 1, 2020 to February 8, 2020. The epidemiological, clinical and imaging characteristics as well as laboratory data of the 67 patients were analyzed.

Results

The study found that fibrinogen (FIB) was increased in 45 (65.2%) patients, and when FIB reached a critical value of 4.805 g/L, the sensitivity and specificity、DA, helping to distinguish general and severe cases, were 100 and 14%、92.9%, respectively, which were significantly better than those for lymphocyte count and myoglobin. Chest CT images indicated that the cumulative number of lung lobes with lesions in severe patients was significantly higher than that in general patients (P < 0.05), and the cumulative number of lung lobes with lesions was negatively correlated with lymphocyte count and positively correlated with myoglobin and FIB. Our study also found that there was no obvious effect of hormone therapy in patients with severe COVID-19.

Conclusions

Based on the retrospective analysis, FIB was found to be increased in severe patients and was better than lymphocyte count and myoglobin in distinguishing general and severe patients. The study also suggested that hormone treatment has no significant effect on COVID-19.