bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infant-Driven Feeding Systems: Do They “Normalize” the Feeding Experience of Infants With Cleft Palate?
Authors: Madhoun Lauren L. , O’Brien Meghan , Baylis Adriane L.
Published: January 2021

Objective:

To examine feeding skills of infants with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP±L) using infant-driven feeding systems compared to healthy controls on standard bottles.

Design:

Cross-sectional cohort.

Setting:

Large pediatric academic medical center in the Midwestern United States.

Participants:

Infants with CP±L (n = 15) using the Dr. Brown’s Specialty Feeding System and typically developing infants without CP±L (n = 15) using the Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow Original or Options bottles.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Bottle-feeding proficiency, duration, milk transfer, and signs of feeding difficulty.

Results:

Five-minute feeding proficiency differed significantly between groups with the control group taking 44% of the feed compared to 15% for the CP±L group on level 1 ( P < .001) and 21% on level 2 ( P < .001) nipples. Proportion of milk transfer was 96% ± 7% for controls and 75% ± 24% for the CP±L group ( P = .013). Feeding duration (minutes) differed between the control group (13 ± 3) and the CP±L groups on each nipple level (level 1: 29 ± 16; P = .003; level 2: 32 ± 11; P = .001). Milk transfer rate (mL/min) was 9 ± 3 for control infants compared to 3 ± 1 for infants with CP±L on level 1 ( P < .001) and 5 ± 1 on level 2 ( P = .007). Coughing occurred in 40% of infants with CP±L and 27% of controls.

Conclusions:

Even when using specialty bottles, infants with CP±L differ from noncleft infants in feeding proficiency, duration, and overall intake.
Prevalence of the Factor V Leiden Mutation Arg534Gln in Western Region of Saudi Arabia: Functional Alteration and Association Study With Different Populations
Authors: Athar Mohammad , Abduljaleel Zainularifeen , Ghita Ibrahim S. , Albagenny Amani A. , Halawani Saeed H. , Alkazmi Mohammad M. , Elbjeirami Wafa M. , Alquthami Khalid , Alkhuzae Mohammad M. , Ragab Fadel M. , Al-Allaf Faisal A.
Published: January 2021

The rare Gln534 (Factor V Leiden; FVL) allele (1:169,519,049 T>C) is associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to measure the prevalence of Factor V Leiden mutation in thrombophilia patients with deep vein thrombosis. Also, we investigated the functional and structural characteristics of this mutation p.(Arg534Gln) to be examined the cumulative impact on venous thrombosis risk as well correlated with different populations by Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS). A total of 108 patients with idiopathic deep vein thrombosis were examined for Factor V Leiden gene mutation. Our preliminary data show that about 10% of patients were detected with the heterozygous and homozygous form of the Factor V Leiden mutation. An association analysis confirmed that the Factor V SNP variant (rs6025) was highly associated ( P-value 4.91 x10-^ -39) with an increased risk of venous thrombosis. Also, we found that the recognized SNP was important among HapMap populations. Our results indicated that among the 3 populations (Asian, African, and American) studied, this association was highest in the African population based on the r(2) significant threshold ( P-value 5e-190). In addition, this mutation was located at the domain F5/8 type A 2, which can disturb this domain and abolish its function. Because of aspartic acid nearby wild type position as form in the salt bridge due to this discharge will disturb the ionic interaction made by the wild type residue Arg534. This residue was not found to be in contact with other domains of which the function was known. However, contact with other molecules or domains (THPH2: MIM: 188055) were still possible and might be affected by this mutation that may cause thrombophilia due to activated protein C resistance.
Systemic Coagulopathy in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Uaprasert Noppacharn , Moonla Chatphatai , Sosothikul Darintr , Rojnuckarin Ponlapat , Chiasakul Thita
Published: January 2021

Coagulation activation has been reported in several cohorts of patients Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the true burden of systemic coagulopathy in COVID-19 remains unknown. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we performed a literature search using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Database to identify studies that reported the prevalence of systemic coagulopathy using established criteria in patients with COVID-19. The primary outcome was the prevalence of systemic coagulopathy (disseminated intravascular coagulation [DIC] and/or sepsis-induced coagulopathy [SIC]). Pooled prevalences and 95% confidence intervals [CIs] were calculated using random-effects model. A total of 5 studies including 1210 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included. The pooled prevalence of systemic coagulopathy was 7.1% (95%CI: 3.2%,15.3%, I2 = 93%). The pooled prevalence of DIC (N = 721) and SIC (N = 639) were 4.3% (95%CI 1.7%, 10.4%, I2 = 84%) and 16.2% (95%CI: 9.3%, 26.8%, I2 = 74%), respectively. Only 2 studies reported the prevalence of elevated D-dimer levels with the pooled prevalence of 84.6% (95%CI: 52.0%,96.5%, I2 = 94%). Average D-dimer and fibrinogen levels were remarkably increased, while platelet counts, PT, and aPTT ratios were minimally affected in COVID-19. The estimated prevalence of systemic coagulopathy in patients with COVID-19 was low despite D-dimer elevation in most patients. Relatively low systemic coagulopathy in COVID-19 may contribute to the high incidence of thrombosis rather than bleeding in patients with COVID-19.
A New Panel Dataset for Studies Using Substate Units of Analysis and Indicators of Drug Activity
Authors: Carpenter Dick , Ward Anthony
Published: January 2021

This research note reports on the creation of a new panel dataset using multiple waves of substate estimates from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. It also provides identifying information that contains state, place, and/or agency codes for merging additional datasets at levels below the state. The process for creating this dataset and for merging external data is described. This research note ends by providing an example analysis utilizing the panel dataset in combination with law enforcement personnel data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and forfeiture data from municipalities in Minnesota to analyze the relationship between civil asset forfeiture and crime.
Does nutritional status affect treatment tolerability, chemotherapy response and survival in metastatic gastric cancer patients? Results of a prospective multicenter study in Turkey
Authors: Karabulut Senem , Dogan Izzet , Usul Afsar Cigdem , Karabulut Mehmet , Ak Naziye , Duran Ali , Tastekin Didem
Published: January 2021

Background

The possible impact of malnutrition on the efficacy and tolerability of modern chemotherapy for metastatic gastic adenocarcinoma (mGC) patients is unclear. With this study, we aimed to represent the possible impact of malnutrition on the efficacy and tolerability of chemotherapy, and also on the overall survival of mGC patients.

Methods

In this prospective multicenter study, we collected demographic, oncological and nutritional data of our mGC patients. The nutritional status of patients were assessed with the Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), Body Mass Index (BMI) and weight loss percentage within 21-day period, between the chemotherapy cycles. All of these parameters along with toxicity assessment were evaluated after each courses of chemotherapy in order to determine inter-treatment weight loss. NRIs were calculated with a formula as follows; [1.519 × serum albumin level(g/L) + 41.7 × current weight/basic weight]. Patients were classified as having ‘no malnutrition’ (NRI > 97.5), ‘moderate malnutrition’ (97.5 ≥ NRI ≥ 83.5) or ‘severe malnutrition’ (NRI < 83.5). Drug-induced toxicities and treatment responses were evaluated via National Cancer Institute CTCAE version 4.0 and RECIST Criteria 1.1, respectively.

Results

One hundred and sixteen mGC patients were enrolled into the study. Median age was 60 years with range 32–83. Primary location of the tumor was antrum in 40% of the patients and of which 24% had undergone primary tumor resection. Ninety-eight percent of the patients had WHO performance status 0 or 1. Malnutrition was diagnosed in 67% of the patients and was severe in 31% of them. All patients received chemotherapy as first-line setting. Severe malnutrition was not associated with chemotherapy responses (p = 0.57). Moderate/severe malnutrition was associated with more cytopenia, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, neuropathy, (p < 0.05 for all parameters). Moderate/severe malnutrition is associated with worser non-hematological toxicities (p = 0.038). Forty-one percent of patients died during the follow up period (Median: 138 days, range: 21–378). Malnutritional level was associated with significantly reduced overall survival. Severe malnutrition was associated with shorter median overall survival (74 days (95% CI, 20.7–111.0) vs. 237 (95% CI, 148.4-325.6) in none/moderate groups, p = 0.007).

Conclusions

In mGC patients, moderate/severe malnutrition is associated with worse non-hematological toxicities. Severe malnutrition is also associated with reduced overall survival.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome: Responding to 5-azacitidine therapy
Authors: Kaur Jaspreet , Tuler Shahaf , Dasanu Constantin A
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Autoimmune disorders, including autoimmune cytopenias, are more common in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and may share with MDS the same steps of pathogenesis. Some patients with MDS have antibodies against red cells.

Case report

We describe herein a 79-year-old patient who presented with fatigue, jaundice and pancytopenia. She was diagnosed with warm-antibody autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and synchronous MDS. Management and outcome: In our patient, AIHA responded to the hypomethylating agent 5-azacitidine used for the treatment of MDS. Six months later, the patient remains in clinico-laboratory remission for both MDS and AIHA.

Discussion/conclusions

Our case indirectly suggests that 5-azacitidine led to a decrease in autoantibody production by the auto-reactive B-cell clone in MDS leading in turn to a diminished rate of autoimmune hemolysis. If our observation is accurate, we believe that similar reports will populate the scientific literature in the future years.
Effect of Distractors on Sustained Attention and Hyperactivity in Youth With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Using a Mobile Virtual Reality School Program
Authors: Hong Narae , Kim Jae-jin , Kwon Joon-Hee , Eom Hyojung , Kim Eunjoo
Published: January 2021

Objective:

This study examined whether distractors in virtual reality (VR) environment affected the attention and hyperactivity in children and adolescents with ADHD.

Method:

A total of 40 students (21 ADHD, 19 controls) aged between 9 and 17 years participated in this study. A rapid visual information processing task utilizing VR (VR-RVP) was performed under two conditions (no-distractor and distractor condition). Task performance and head movement during each condition were compared, and additional analyses were conducted after grouping participants into two developmental stages.

Results:

Children with ADHD performed comparably to the controls under the distractor condition, but had poorer performance under the no-distractor condition. They displayed more head movement under the distractor condition than in the no-distractor condition.

Conclusion:

VR is possibly a useful tool for investigating the effect of distractors on individuals with ADHD, and children with ADHD are more vulnerable to a low-level stimulation situation than normal children in VR.
Rhabdomyosarcoma: From Obscurity to Clarity in Diagnosis … But With Ongoing Challenges in Management: The Farber-Landing Lecture of 2020
Authors: Parham David M , Giannikopoulos Petros
Published: January 2021

Rhabdomyosarcoma, the most common soft tissue sarcoma in childhood, has challenged and intrigued soft tissue pathologists ever since the original descriptions. Once based on the identification of rhabdomyoblastic cells with elongate eosinophilic cytoplasm, the diagnosis has evolved to include tumors composed only of primitive mesenchymal cells but now relies heavily on immunohistochemical stains for desmin, myogenin, and MyoD. Rhabdomyosarcomas show a variety of histological patterns, giving rise to classifications that have included embryonal, alveolar, botryoid, pleomorphic, spindle cell, and sclerosing subtypes. These have been linked to prognosis and treatment assignment in the past, but that concept has been superseded by the identification of PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1 fusions. Fusion testing results are more predictive of outcome and have become standard practice in clinical management. However, high risk tumors with alveolar histology or metastatic disease continue to resist oncologic treatment.
Monochorionic Triplet Pregnancies With Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion and Acardiac Triplet: Report of Two Cases and Literature Review
Authors: Mon Ami , Yip James , Zalud Ivica , Thompson Karen S
Published: January 2021

TRAP pregnancies involving monochorionic triplets are extremely rare, calculated to be 1 in 4.5 million. We report two cases of monochorionic triplet pregnancies with an acardiac triplet. In one case, the mother was a 33-year-old G2P1 who underwent dilation and evacuation at 20 weeks due to poor prognosis. The other case involved a 21-year-old G1P0 mother presenting in advanced preterm labor at 21 weeks who elected expectant management. Seventeen cases of monochorionic triplets with TRAP were identified in the literature. Invasive intervention was performed in 10 cases; 9 cases resulted in the survival of the nonacardiac twins and 1 case resulted in the survival of 1 fetus. Our two cases had common sonographic features which included polyhydramnios of all fetuses. Placental features shared between both cases included being large for gestational age and velamentous insertion of the acardiac twin. The acardiac twins in both of our cases were hydropic and demonstrated developed pelvis and lower extremities. One had an omphalocele. Most case reports in the literature review demonstrate similar findings. Two cases of monochorionic triplets with TRAP and acardiac twin are herein described. Successful treatment by invasive interventions have been described in this condition, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis.
Evaluation of the difficulty of peripheral venous cannulation during anesthesia induction in children: Is DIVA score sufficient?
Authors: Keskin Gulsen , Akin Mine , Senayli Yesim , Saydam Sibel , Kurt Devrim Tanil
Published: January 2021

Background:

The primary objective of the present study was to determine the rate and the independent predictors of the difficult peripheral intravascular access (PIVA) in the operating room (OR). The secondary objective was to validate the ability of the difficult intravenous access (DIVA) scoring system in the detection of difficult PIVA in the operating room.

Methods:

In this prospective observational study, patients between 0 and 18 years old who were operated in the pediatric hospital were evaluated. Peripheral intravenous cannulation performed during inhalation induction in 1008 patients were recorded. The following data were collected: demographic characteristics, the presence of a chronic disease, the DIVA score, operating room temperature, the area of PIVA application, the duration of PIVA and the number of PIVA attempts. The independent determinants of the difficult PIVA were determined with multivariate logistic regression.

Results:

A total of 1008 patients (82% boys) with a median age of 4 (range 0.04–17 years) were included in the study. The median number of PIVA attempts was 1 whereas the median duration for successful PIVA was 15 s (range 4–2100). PIVA was successful at the first attempt in 75.3% of patients. Among patients who required more than two PIVA attempts, the most common adjunctive method was to seek help from another operator (80.8%). In the multivariable logistic regression model, only the presence of chronic disease, being underweight, and DIVA score ⩾4 (OR 6.355, CI 4.57–9.486) remained to be the significant determinants of difficult PIVA.

Conclusion:

The success rate of anesthesiologist-performed PIVA at the first attempt in the OR was 75.3%. Having a chronic disease, a DIVA score ⩾4 and being underweight appeared as the independent predictors for difficult PIVA.
Core experiences of parents of children with autism during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown
Authors: Tokatly Latzer Itay , Leitner Yael , Karnieli-Miller Orit
Published: January 2021

The lockdown that was imposed by governments as part of the attempt to contain the COVID-19 pandemic included extreme measures, such as home confinement and the shutting down of special education systems. Our aim was to learn about the core experiences of parents of children with autism during this significant life disturbance. Thirty-one parents of 25 children with autism participated in semi-structured telephone interviews which were transcribed verbatim and underwent a qualitative, immersion/crystallization analysis. The analysis was conducted in an iterative consensus-building process to identify parents’ experiences, concerns, challenges, coping strategies, and perceived needs during the lockdown. The main themes that emerged related to the various parental concerns; the major difficulties encountered during this unique time, the functional, social, and behavioral implications the lockdown had on these children; and the manner in which the parents coped as an indication of their resourcefulness and outlook. Our findings broaden the insight into the underlying elements of the hardships and gains experienced by children with autism and their parents in times of significant life adversity. Programs in such times should be directed at supporting and guiding parents on how to better accommodate to the situation, thereby optimizing their coping strategies and resilience.

Lay abstract

The lockdown and home isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant transformation in lifestyles. Being a parent in this situation was not easy for anyone, much less for parents of children with special needs. The shutting down of special education systems meant that parents lost a vital support network and had to be the sole full-time caregivers despite often lacking the skills to cope with this new and daunting situation. We interviewed parents and learned that the main difficulties faced by homebound autistic children stemmed from the change in routine, lack of special education services, limited physical space, and food- and sleep-related issues. Some children experienced worsening in behavioral, social, and developmental domains, yet others seemed to not only overcome the challenges of changing conditions but even benefit from them. The children’s success or failure was directly related to how their parents coped. The key factors that enabled successful coping were the parents’ ability to accommodate to the child’s needs, their own creativeness and resourcefulness, and a generally positive outlook. The results of this analysis revealed that the best way to benefit autistic children caught up in drastic changes in their routine lifestyle is to invest in a strong support system for their parents.
Suicidal ideation in an ethnically mixed, highland Guatemalan community
Authors: Pezzia Carla , Hernandez Luisa M.
Published: January 2021

Reported suicide rates in Latin America remain low, but there is evidence to suggest they may be increasing, particularly among indigenous populations. To better understand who may be at risk for suicide, we examined the prevalence of suicidal ideation and explored factors contributing to suicidal thoughts in an ethnically mixed, highland Guatemalan community. The data presented in this article are from a mixed methods ethnographic field project conducted over 15 months from 2010 to 2011 in Panajachel, Guatemala. We surveyed a random sample of 350 community members. Survey questions included standardized modules from the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, as well as questions on experiences of violence and mental health care. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 self-selected survey participants with current suicidal ideation. These interviews included questions regarding survey responses, experiences of mental illness, and access to mental health care. A total of 55 survey participants (N = 350; 15.7%) scored positive for suicidality. Ethnic identity, gender, psychiatric illness, and experiences of violence were all correlated to suicidal ideation. Qualitative interview data highlight distinctions between genders within prominent themes of religion, family, experiences of violence, and seeking resources. Three key findings emerged from our research that are relevant to the literature: 1) ethnic identity may be both a critical risk and a protective factor for suicide in some indigenous people; 2) intersections between violence and gender highlight different patterns in suicidal ideation; and 3) high rates of suicidal ideation and other psychiatric comorbidities underscore the need for greater access to mental health services.
The paradox of project success despite lack of the “My Pathway” telehealth platform usage
Authors: Müller Sune Dueholm , Wehner Ditte Lykke , Konzag Henrike , Vesterby Martin , Høybye Mette Terp
Published: January 2021

The article investigates the paradoxical success of a Danish telehealth project introducing the “My Pathway” platform to reduce the length of patient stays while maintaining patient satisfaction. These goals were achieved in the project, which was considered successful despite the lack of actual platform usage. Based on a qualitative, longitudinal case study we investigate this paradox by showing how barriers and facilitators have influenced telehealth adoption and use in the post-implementation process, affecting the overall success of the project. The study makes two contributions. First, it describes dynamics of adoption barriers, that is, that barriers are interrelated and influence adoption to varying degrees over time. Adoption barriers resulted in the telehealth platform not being used and it consequently only influenced the actual project success and goal achievement indirectly. Second, it highlights information management as a critical facilitator in telehealth adoption and use. Information management facilitated achievement of project goals despite the lack of actual use of “My Pathway,” which explains the paradoxical project success. Based on these interpretations, we point to information management as a critical facilitator of the success of telehealth initiatives and provide recommendations for research and practice.
Proposing a mobile apps acceptance model for users in the health area: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Authors: Binyamin Sami S , Zafar Bassam A
Published: January 2021

Due to rapid advancements in the field of information and communication technologies, mobile health (mHealth) has become a significant topic in the delivery of healthcare. Despite the perceived advantages and the large number of mHealth initiatives, the success of mHealth ultimately relies on whether these initiatives are used; their benefits will be diminished should people not use them. Previous literature has found that the adoption of mHealth by users is not yet widespread, and little research has been conducted on this problem. Therefore, this study identifies the antecedents of the intention to use mHealth and proposes a general model that might prove beneficial in explaining the acceptance of mHealth. The authors performed a quantitative meta-analysis of 49 journal papers published over the past 10 years and systematically reviewed the evidence regarding the most commonly identified factors that may affect the acceptance of mHealth. The findings indicate that the proposed model includes the seven most commonly used relationships in the selected articles. More specifically, the model assumes that perceived usefulness positively affects perceived ease of use and user behavioral intention to use mHealth is commonly influenced by five factors: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, and facilitating conditions. The results of this work provide important insights into the predictors of mHealth acceptance for future researchers and practitioners.
Design of 1-year mortality forecast at hospital admission: A machine learning approach
Authors: Blanes-Selva Vicent , Ruiz-García Vicente , Tortajada Salvador , Benedí José-Miguel , Valdivieso Bernardo , García-Gómez Juan M
Published: January 2021

Palliative care is referred to a set of programs for patients that suffer life-limiting illnesses. These programs aim to maximize the quality of life (QoL) for the last stage of life. They are currently based on clinical evaluation of the risk of 1-year mortality. The main aim of this work is to develop and validate machine-learning-based models to predict the exitus of a patient within the next year using data gathered at hospital admission. Five machine-learning techniques were applied using a retrospective dataset. The evaluation was performed with five metrics computed by a resampling strategy: Accuracy, the area under the ROC curve, Specificity, Sensitivity, and the Balanced Error Rate. All models reported an AUC ROC from 0.857 to 0.91. Specifically, Gradient Boosting Classifier was the best model, producing an AUC ROC of 0.91, a sensitivity of 0.858, a specificity of 0.808, and a BER of 0.1687. Information from standard procedures at hospital admission combined with machine learning techniques produced models with competitive discriminative power. Our models reach the best results reported in the state of the art. These results demonstrate that they can be used as an accurate data-driven palliative care criteria inclusion.
Practical Advice Regarding the Reliability of the Patient Educational Materials Assessment Tool for Health Educators
Authors: Lee Joseph G. L. , Sesay Mahdi , Acevedo Paula A. , Chichester Zachary A. , Chaney Beth H.
Published: January 2021

The quality of patient education materials is an important issue for health educators, clinicians, and community health workers. We describe a challenge achieving reliable scores between coders when using the Patient Educational Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) to evaluate farmworker health materials in spring 2020. Four coders were unable to achieve reliability after three attempts at coding calibration. Further investigation identified improvements to the PEMAT codebook and evidence of the difficulty of achieving traditional interrater reliability in the form of Krippendorff’s alpha. Our solution was to use multiple raters and average ratings to achieve an acceptable score with an intraclass correlation coefficient. Practitioners using the PEMAT to evaluate materials should consider averaging the scores of multiple raters as PEMAT results otherwise may be highly sensitive to who is doing the rating. Not doing so may inadvertently result in the use of suboptimal patient education materials.
Electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of conductive cotton fabrics
Authors: Attia RM , Yousif NM , Zohdy MH
Published: January 2021

Functional electrically conductive fabric with acceptable mechanical properties, which could be applied in electromagnetic shielding, was developed. Conductive cotton fabrics (cotton/PANI, cotton/Mn, cotton/Cu, and cotton/Co) were prepared by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization for (cotton/PANI) and pad dry curing method was used for nanometals application. The Nano size of the metals and polyaniline inclusion were proven through both Dynamic Liquid Scattering (DLS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) which showed an increase in crystallite density in unit space and the nanoparticles ranged from 100–200 nm. The effect of gamma irradiation on different treated cotton fabrics was investigated. The mechanical properties against irradiation dose showed an improvement up to 40 kGy, for all treated fabrics. On the other hand, Young’s modulus for untreated cotton recorded the lowest value, while cotton/Co recorded the highest one. Moreover, both AC (Alternating Current) and DC (Direct current) conductivities values can be calculated. In DC conductivity cotton/PANI was found to be more conducive than the remainder of the treated fabric by surface metallization with transition metals; while in AC conductivity cotton/Mn was found to be more conducive than the rest of the treated samples. The conductivity value increases by increasing the gamma irradiation dose for cotton/PANI fabric. Also, g-factor values can be estimated from ESR signals and vary from 0.009 up to 0.059 for conductive cotton fabrics; whilst cotton/Mn fabric has six hyperfine splittings, indicating that it is a paramagnetic element.
Dealing With Sri Lanka’s Demons: Using Documentary Film for Peacebuilding
Authors: Premaratna Nilanjana
Published: January 2021

Documentary film is a popular resource amongst peacebuilding organisations and practitioners. Despite this popularity, research on documentary film is still emerging in peace and conflict studies. This article explores documentary film’s role in the study and practice of peacebuilding by examining the documentary Demons in Paradise and its engagement with issues of peace and conflict in post-war Sri Lanka. This article makes conceptual, methodological, and empirical contributions. Drawing from empirical research, I identify and discuss documentary film’s engagement along three analytical angles: documentary film as a text, within social processes, and within research processes. Under each angle, I explore how empirical observations and understanding of peace emerge through the visual, using diverse methods and data, including interviews, participant observation, visual elicitation in post-screening focus groups, and film analysis. I conclude that documentary film can contribute to the study and practice of peacebuilding by offering multiple analytical angles that elucidate plural, disparate understandings of peace in post-war societies.
The Cycle of Violence: Abused and Neglected Girls to Adult Female Offenders
Authors: Widom Cathy Spatz , Osborn Max
Published: January 2021

Drawing on findings from a prospective cohort design study that followed abused and neglected children and demographically matched controls into adulthood, this paper focuses on these abused and neglected girls and one important consequence—the extent to which these victims become offenders themselves. We ask four questions: Is criminal behavior among abused and neglected girls and women rare? Are abused and neglected girls at increased risk for becoming violent offenders? Does childhood maltreatment affect criminal career trajectories for girls? Do maltreated girls grow up to maltreat their own children? We conclude with discussion, suggestions for future research, and implications.
Fa’afaletui: A Pacific Research Framework
Authors: Goodyear-Smith Felicity , ‘Ofanoa Malakai
Published: January 2021

While typically North American and Anglo-European stances have dominated discussion on different paradigms advanced about mixed method research, recently there has been a call for examination of other cultural worldviews. This article contributes to the field of mixed methods research by presenting a worldview based on collective inquiry, whereby different perspectives are woven together to create new knowledge. Fa’afaletui, a Samoan research framework, literally means “‘ways of’ [fa’a] ‘weaving together’ [tui] deliberations of different groups or ‘houses’ [fale].” It is derived from the Pacific philosophy of connectiveness and a collective holistic approach. We give a case example of how this framework is directing our research.
Research Attitudes Questionnaire scores predict Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial dropout
Authors: Stites Shana D , Turner R Scott , Gill Jeanine , Gurian Anna , Karlawish Jason , Grill Joshua D ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study
Published: January 2021

Background

Missing data are a notable problem in Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials. One cause of missing data is participant dropout. The Research Attitudes Questionnaire is a 7-item instrument that measures an individual’s attitudes toward biomedical research, with higher scores indicating more favorable attitudes. The objective of this study was to describe the performance of the Research Attitudes Questionnaire over time and to examine whether Research Attitudes Questionnaire scores predict study dropout and other participant behaviors that affect trial integrity.

Methods

The Research Attitudes Questionnaire was collected at baseline and weeks 26 and 52 from each member of 119 participant/study partner dyads enrolled in a Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease clinical trial. Within-subject longitudinal analyses examined change in Research Attitudes Questionnaire scores over time in each population. Logistic regression analyses that controlled for trial arm and clustering in trial sites were used to assess whether baseline Research Attitudes Questionnaire scores predicted trial completion, study medication compliance, and enrollment in optional substudies.

Results

Participants and study partners endorsed statistically similar ratings on the Research Attitudes Questionnaire that were stable over time. Participants with baseline Research Attitudes Questionnaire scores above 28.5 were 4.7 (95% confidence interval = 1.01 to 21.95) times as likely to complete the trial compared to those with lower scores. Applying the same cutoff, baseline study partner Research Attitudes Questionnaire scores were similarly able to predict study completion (odds ratio = 4.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.71 to 10.32). Using a score cutoff of 27.5, higher participant Research Attitudes Questionnaire scores predicted study medication compliance (odds ratio = 5.85, 95% confidence interval = 1.34 to 25.54). No relationship was observed between Research Attitudes Questionnaire score and participation in optional substudies.

Conclusion

This brief instrument that measures research attitudes may identify participants at risk for behaviors that cause missing data.
Reforming public education in Chile: The creation of local education services
Authors: Anderson Stephen , Uribe Mario , Valenzuela Juan Pablo
Published: January 2021

The government of Chile mandated a system-wide reform in public school education in 2017. The reform calls for de-municipalization of the public school sector (345 municipal education departments under mayoral control) and the creation of 70 Servicios Locales de Educación Pública (SLEPs) between 2018 and 2025. The reform represents a largescale attempt to improve and save public education in Chile. This analysis is based on case studies of implementation of the first four SLEPs in the first year of the reform. Using Stake’s method for multiple case study analysis, the analysis explores how context influences the professional capacity of the SLEPs to provide professional assistance to schools. The study relates to research on the effectiveness of intermediate level agencies in school systems and on contextual influences on organizational innovation and capacity building. The analysis reveals that contextual factors shaping initial professional capacity of the SLEPs reinforced traditional practices of local education agency support to schools in three of the four cases. The differentiating factor centered on the actions of local agency leaders who responded to capacity gaps and lack of direction from government authorities as either constraints on change or as an opportunity for innovation.
School effectiveness for education for sustainable development (ESD): What characterizes an ESD-effective school organization?
Authors: Verhelst Dries , Vanhoof Jan , Van Petegem Peter
Published: January 2021

While research on education for sustainable development (ESD) is expanding, empirical evidence on its impact and outcomes remains very limited. Moreover, the facilitating role of the school organization, while extensively documented in literature on school management and school effectiveness, is lacking. In this study we present and qualitatively validate a framework for an ESD-effective school, previously developed via a critical review of ESD and school management literature. This framework consists of eight characteristics: sustainable leadership, school resources, pluralistic communication, supportive relations, collective efficacy, adaptability, democratic decision-making and shared vision. Via semi-structured interviews, the framework for an ESD-effective school was theoretically validated via a sample of 19 teachers and school leaders with expertise in ESD. The findings from the interviews show that the participants largely confirm the framework and the individual characteristics are recognized by the sample. There were relevant differences between the respondents in terms of positioning the different characteristics within the framework. Specifically, views on pluralistic communication differed from the initial conceptual framework.
Primary lung tumour invading the chest wall
Authors: Charnock Mark
Published: January 2021

Introduction

This case study describes a primary lung tumour invading the chest wall, that clinically was thought likely to be a lipoma, and was imaged first using ultrasound.

Case Report

A 67 year old male presented to his GP with a six month history of a lump increasing in size on the left upper chest wall. The ultrasound scan demonstrated a hypoechoic and hypervascular soft tissue mass, extending out of the chest into the subcutaneous tissue and starting to erode the overlying rib. The appearances were highly suspicious for a chest malignancy. Further imaging and an ultrasound guided biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of a squamous cell carcinoma.

Discussion

The majority of patients who present to their general practitioner with a soft tissue mass commonly have benign abnormalities such as a lipoma or epidermoid cyst. Tumours of the chest wall are varied and are divided into benign and malignant tumours, and those that arise from the rib cage. Primary lung tumours are uncommonly seen on ultrasound. Lung cancers account for around 20% of all cancer deaths and the chest wall is involved in around 5% of primary lung tumours.

Conclusion

This case highlights the need for prompt investigation of enlarging superficial masses. Ultrasound imaging offers excellent detail for superficial structures and in this case, due to the location of the mass, identified a primary lung tumour.
Emotionality effects in ambiguous word recognition: The crucial role of the affective congruence between distinct meanings of ambiguous words
Authors: Ferré Pilar , Haro Juan , Huete-Pérez Daniel , Fraga Isabel
Published: January 2021

There is substantial evidence that affectively charged words (e.g., party or gun) are processed differently from neutral words (e.g., pen), although there are also inconsistent findings in the field. Some lexical or semantic variables might explain such inconsistencies, due to the possible modulation of affective word processing by these variables. The aim of the present study was to examine the extent to which affective word processing is modulated by semantic ambiguity. We conducted a large lexical decision study including semantically ambiguous words (e.g., cataract) and semantically unambiguous words (e.g., terrorism), analysing the extent to which reaction times (RTs) were influenced by their affective properties. The findings revealed a valence effect in which positive valence made RTs faster, whereas negative valence slowed them. The valence effect diminished as the semantic ambiguity of words increased. This decrease did not affect all ambiguous words, but was observed mainly in ambiguous words with incongruent affective meanings. These results highlight the need to consider the affective properties of the distinct meanings of ambiguous words in research on affective word processing.
Existence of natural mouse IgG mAbs recognising epitopes shared by malondialdehyde acetaldehyde adducts and Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Kyrklund Mikael , Kaski Heidi , Akhi Ramin , Nissinen Antti E , Kummu Outi , Bergmann Ulrich , Pussinen Pirkko , Hörkkö Sohvi , Wang Chunguang
Published: January 2021

Natural Abs are produced by B lymphocytes in the absence of external Ag stimulation. They recognise self, altered self and foreign Ags, comprising an important first-line defence against invading pathogens and serving as innate recognition receptors for tissue homeostasis. Natural IgG Abs have been found in newborns and uninfected individuals. Yet, their physiological role remains unclear. Previously, no natural IgG Abs to oxidation-specific epitopes have been reported. Here, we show the cloning and characterisation of mouse IgG mAbs against malondialdehyde acetaldehyde (MAA)-modified low-density lipoprotein. Sequence analysis reveals high homology with germline genes, suggesting that they are natural. Further investigation shows that the MAA-specific natural IgG Abs cross-react with the major periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis and recognise its principle virulence factors gingipain Kgp and long fimbriae. The study provides evidence that natural IgGs may play an important role in innate immune defence and in regulation of tissue homeostasis by recognising and removing invading pathogens and/or modified self-Ags, thus being involved in the development of periodontitis and atherosclerosis.
Are statins beneficial for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection?
Authors: Fares Auda , Borrmann Dieter , Ivester Julius R
Published: January 2021

Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious, rapidly spreading viral disease and has emerged as a public health emergency of international concern. As of this time, there are no specific antiviral therapies available for the treatment of COVID-19. However, it is possible that some existing drugs, usually used for other conditions, may have some benefits. Statins have been widely reported to exert antiviral activity against many enveloped viruses by inhibiting the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. Cholesterol likewise contributes to the coronavirus’s life cycle, including viral entry, fusion and budding. In addition, statins have been ascribed beneficial anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory effects and promote haemodynamic stability. Therefore, statins, which are cholesterol-lowering drugs with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antiviral properties, may play a role in SARS-CoV-2 therapy. The aim of the present minireview was to delineate the potential beneficial therapeutic effects of statins in treating SARS-CoV-2 infections. Nevertheless, large, randomised trials are needed to confirm the beneficial effects and safety profile of the statins in patients with SARS-CoV-2.
From subjects of knowledge to subjects of integration? Newly arrived students with limited schooling in Swedish education policy
Authors: Brännström Malin
Published: January 2021

The education of newly arrived students is a debated global policy issue. Less attention has been paid to the sub-group of students with limited experience of schooling, referred to here as ‘newly arrived students with limited schooling’ (NALS). This article explores Swedish policy frameworks that inform the education of newly arrived students, comparing policy approaches from two time periods (1983–1996 and 2013–2016) during which the numbers of NALS were said to be increasing in Swedish compulsory schools. Framed within a poststructural approach to policy analysis and Foucault’s theorisation of heterotopian spaces, the analysis explores policies’ representation of separate teaching groups for newly arrived students, with a particular focus on what these spaces have to offer NALS. The findings indicate a shift between the two periods: from a focus on knowledge acquisition in policies of the 1980s and 1990s towards an emphasis on integration in those of the 2010s. This shift is particularly evident in relation to NALS, whose educational needs are discussed only to a limited extent in relation to subject knowledge in the 2010s policies. It is argued that this serves to homogenise the educational needs of the category newly arrived, thereby potentially obscuring the conception of NALS.
Clinical impact of the tumor immune microenvironment in completely resected stage IIIA(N2) non-small cell lung cancer based on an immunological score approach
Authors: Feng Wen , Li Yuan , Shen Lei , Zhang Qin , Cai Xu-Wei , Zhu Zheng-Fei , Sun Meng-Hong , Chen Hai-Quan , Fu Xiao-Long
Published: January 2021

Background:

Completely resected stage IIIA(N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises a heterogeneous population according to discrepancies in survival prognosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are clinically significant, despite a lack of consensus regarding the immunological score (IS) in NSCLC. Here, we determined the prognostic value of the immune microenvironment as an IS in a uniform cohort of patients with completely resected stage IIIA(N2) NSCLC.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed stage IIIA(N2) NSCLC and who underwent complete resection (2005–2012) were retrospectively reviewed. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) were constructed from surgical paraffin-embedded primary lung tumor specimen. For each case, two representative regions from the tumor center (CT) and two from the invasive margin (IM) containing the highest density of lymphocytes were selected. Densities of CD3+, CD45RO+, and CD8+ lymphocytes were assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) by specialized pathologists according to predefined scoring scales. Patients were classified according to IS definition based on TIL type, density, and distribution, and relationships between IS and prognosis were evaluated.

Results:

Patients ( N = 288) with complete IHC-based TMA spots were included. Univariate analyses showed that CD3+ T cell density was associated with neither overall survival (OS) nor distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), whereas CD45RO+ T cell density in the IM was a significant prognostic factor for DMFS ( p = 0.02) and was predictive of OS ( p = 0.05). Combined CD45RO+ and CD8+ cell infiltration in tumor regions (CT and IM) significantly improved IS prognostic impact. Multivariate analyses revealed IS as an independent prognostic predictor for both DMFS ( p = 0.001) and OS ( p = 0.002).

Conclusion:

The proposed IS might provide valuable prognostic information, including prediction of DMFS and OS in stage IIIA(N2) NSCLC patients. Larger patient cohorts are needed to validate this IS classification, which might assist with accurate risk stratification and treatment decisions.