bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychometric Evaluation of the Screener for Intensifying Community Referrals for Health
Authors: Guo Jia-Wen , Wallace Andrea S. , Luther Brenda L. , Wong Bob
Published: July 2021

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Screener for Intensifying Community Referrals for Health (SINCERE), a 10-item, low literacy screening tool developed to elicit social needs (e.g., transportation, housing) impacting patients’ ability to engage in health-related activities. Patients seeking care in a tertiary care emergency department (ED) were invited to complete the SINCERE as part of registration processes, and were asked about their desire for follow-up by a partnering service provider offering low- and no-cost community resource referrals. A total of 5,081 patients completed screenings were included in this sample. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) identified and verified one-factor structure, suggesting that the SINCERE’s 10-items are homogenous and measure one construct. The reliability of Cronbach’s α and McDonald’s ω were 0.89. Item Response Theory (IRT) suggested the SINCERE can effectively identify patients wishing referrals, or who have social needs. Moreover, patients who had two or more social needs were those willing to receive referrals after discharge. The SINCERE is a valid and reliable tool for measuring social needs for health, and should be considered as a screening option for practice interventions seeking to address social needs.
Zimbabwean news media discourses on the intersection of abortion, religion, health and the law
Authors: Nyathi Stacy Simelokuhle , Ndhlovu Mthokozisi Phathisani
Published: July 2021

Even though abortion has a long history, it remains predominantly contentious due to religious, medical and legal constraints. For instance, in Zimbabwe, abortion is illegal except under limited circumstances. This has resulted in women resorting to unsafe abortion procedures, leading to an increase in individuals and groups calling for the liberalization of abortion laws. It is against this background that this article uses qualitative content analysis and rhetoric analysis to explore how Zimbabwean daily newspapers frame abortion in relation to religion, health and the law. It contends that the newspapers in question assume conflicting positions as the Chronicle largely condemns abortion while the Daily News boldly calls for its decriminalization. The NewsDay and The Herald, on the other hand, relatively tolerate abortion even though in some instances they condemn it. These findings demonstrate the active role of the news media in arguing for and against abortion to influence policy making.
MRI investigation of vascular remodeling for heterogeneous edema lesions in subacute ischemic stroke rat models: Correspondence between cerebral vessel structure and function
Authors: Kang MungSoo , Jin Seokha , Cho HyungJoon
Published: July 2021

The spatial heterogeneity in the temporal occurrence of pseudo-normalization of MR apparent diffusion coefficient values for ischemic lesions may be related to morphological and functional vascular remodeling. As the area of accelerated pseudo-normalization tends to expand faster and more extensively into the chronic stage, detailed vascular characterization of such areas is necessary. During the subacute stage of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion rat models, the morphological size of the macrovasculature, microvascular vessel size index (VSI), and microvessel density (MVD) were quantified along with functional perfusion measurements of the relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean transit time (rMTT) of the corresponding areas (33 cases for each parameter). When compared with typical pseudo-normalization lesions, early pseudo-normalization lesions exhibited larger VSI and rCBF (p < 0.001) at reperfusion days 4 and 7, along with reduced MVD and elongated rMTT (p < 0.001) at reperfusion days 1, 4, and 7. The group median VSI and rCBF exhibited a strong positive correlation (r = 0.92), and the corresponding MVD and rMTT showed a negative correlation (r = −0.48). Light sheet fluorescence microscopy images were used to quantitatively validate the corresponding MRI-derived microvascular size, density, and cerebral blood volume.
Considering a Marketing Degree? Student Perceptions of General Versus Specialized Majors
Authors: Atkin JoAnn L. , Bowie Anthony Alland , Cowley Scott , Eckert James A. , Ferrin Bruce G. , Harrison Robert L. , Lancendorfer Karen M. , Luqmani Mushtaq , Luqmani Zahida , Leingpibul Thaweephan , Mumuni Alhassan G. , O’Reilly Kelley , Quraeshi Zahir A. , Samples Robert G. , Veeck Ann , Xie Hu , Zondag Marcellis M.
Published: July 2021

Many business colleges offer specialized marketing majors in addition to the general marketing major. Given the extra resources needed to maintain multiple majors, in a time when higher education budgets are being strained, a need exists to understand how students make choices among these majors and what students perceive to be the advantages of general marketing majors versus specialized marketing majors. Using social cognitive theory, we examine how students make selections among choices in marketing-related majors, focusing on influence and compatibility factors. We surveyed 608 marketing majors representing one general and five specialized marketing majors. The findings indicate that, compared with general marketing majors, students’ choice of a specialized major is significantly more likely to be influenced by faculty and other students in the major. Also, the results show that students rate specialized majors better than a general marketing major in terms of self-efficacy, culture, and professional fit. On the other hand, students rate the general marketing major better than specialized majors in flexibility. These results have implications for supporting the priorities of students in both general and specialized majors.
Influence of bone cement distribution on outcomes following percutaneous vertebroplasty: a retrospective matched-cohort study
Authors: Mo Ling , Wu Zixian , Liang De , Y Linqiang , Cai Zhuoyan , Huang Jinjing , Lin Shunxin , Cui Jianchao , Zhang Shuncong , Yang Zhidong , Yao Zhensong , Jiang Xiaobing
Published: July 2021

Objective

To evaluate the influence of insufficient bone cement distribution on outcomes following percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).

Methods

This retrospective matched-cohort study included patients 50–90 years of age who had undergone PVP for single level vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) from February 2015 to December 2018. Insufficient (Group A)/sufficient (Group B) distribution of bone cement in the fracture area was assessed from pre- and post-operative computed tomography (CT) images. Assessments were before, 3-days post-procedure, and at the last follow-up visit (≥12 months).

Result

Of the 270 eligible patients, there were 54 matched pairs. On post-operative day 3 and at the last follow-up visit, significantly greater visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores were obtained in Group B over Group A, while kyphotic angles (KAs) and vertebral height (VH) loss were significantly larger in Group A compared with Group B. Incidence of asymptomatic cement leakage and re-collapse of cemented vertebrae were also greater in Group A compared with Group B.

Conclusions

Insufficient cement distribution may relate to less pain relief and result in progressive vertebral collapse and kyphotic deformity post-PVP.
MRI-based radiomics: promise for locally advanced cervical cancer treated with a tailored integrated therapeutic approach
Authors: Laliscia Concetta , Gadducci Angiolo , Mattioni Roberto , Orlandi Francesca , Giusti Sabina , Barcellini Amelia , Gabelloni Michela , Morganti Riccardo , Neri Emanuele , Paiar Fabiola
Published: July 2021

Objective:

To assess prognostic factors by analyzing clinical and radiomic data of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) treated with definitive concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods:

We analyzed radiomic features from MRI in 60 women with FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) stage IB2–IVA cervical cancer who underwent definitive CCRT 45–50.4 Gy (in 25–28 fractions). Thirty-nine (65.0%) received EBRT sequential boost (4–20 Gy) on primary tumor site and 56 (93.3%) received high-dose-rate brachytherapy boost (6–28 Gy) (daily fractions of 5–7 Gy). Moreover, 71.7% of patients received dose-dense neoadjuvant chemotherapy for 6 cycles. The gross tumor volume was defined on T2-weighted sequences and 29 features were extracted from each MRI performed before and after CCRT, using dedicated software, and their prognostic value was correlated with clinical information.

Results:

In univariate analysis, age ⩾60 years and FIGO stage IB2–IIB had significantly better progression-free survival (PFS) ( p = 0.022 and p = 0.009, respectively). There was a trend for significance for worse overall survival (OS) in patients with positive nodes ( p = 0.062). In multivariate analysis, only age ⩾60 years and FIGO stage IB2–IIB reached significantly better PFS ( p = 0.020 and p = 0.053, respectively). In radiomic dataset, in multivariate analysis, pregray level p75 was significantly associated with PFS ( p = 0.047), pre-D3D value with OS ( p = 0.049), and preinformation measure of correlation value with local control ( p = 0.031).

Conclusion:

The combination of clinical and radiomics features can provide information to predict behavior and prognosis of LACC and to make more accurate treatment decisions.
Clinical-Grade MRI-Based Methods to Identify Combined Anatomic Factors That Predict ACL Injury Risk in Male and Female Athletes
Authors: Beaulieu Mélanie L. , Nowak Emma K. , Beynnon Bruce D. , Ashton-Miller James A. , Sturnick Daniel R. , Wojtys Edward M.
Published: July 2021

Background:

Recently developed multivariate sex-specific statistical models can predict anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury risk using various knee anatomic factors. However, screening tools able to identify individuals at an increased injury risk are unlikely to be developed based on these models, given that sophisticated and time-consuming methods were used to measure those factors on research-grade resolution magnetic resonance images (MRIs).

Purpose:

To determine whether simpler methods, amenable to using clinical-grade resolution MRIs, can identify the same knee anatomic factors previously found to contribute to ACL injury risk using sophisticated methods and research-grade resolution images.

Study Design:

Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

High-resolution 3-dimensional MRIs previously acquired from 87 patients with primary, noncontact, grade III ACL injury and 87 uninjured matched control participants for a series of published studies were downgraded to clinical-grade resolution images. The 4 knee anatomic factors found to contribute to ACL injury risk in women and in men in these published studies—femoral intercondylar notch width at the anterior outlet of the ACL (NW_O), posterior-inferior directed slope of the middle region articular cartilage surface of the tibial plateau’s lateral compartment (LatTibMCS), ACL volume, and tibial plateau’s lateral compartment posterior meniscus to subchondral bone wedge angle (LatTibMBA)—were measured using clinical-grade resolution MRI-based methods. Stepwise multivariate conditional logistic regressions were used to identify the combinations of factors most highly associated with an ACL injury risk in women and men separately.

Results:

The multivariate model that best predicted ACL injury risk in the female participants included the LatTibMCS and the NW_O. For the male participants, this model included the ACL volume and the LatTibMBA. These results corroborate the previously published results that reported models with the same knee anatomic factors to best predict injury risk in this group of young women and men.

Conclusion:

Simpler methods using MRIs downgraded to a clinical-grade resolution can identify the same knee anatomic factors previously found to significantly contribute to ACL injury risk using sophisticated methods and research-grade resolution MRIs.
Examining the Effects of Three Group-Level Metacognitive Scaffoldings on In-Service Teachers’ Knowledge Building
Authors: Ouyang Fan , Chen Si , Yang Yuqin , Chen Yunqing
Published: July 2021

Group-level metacognitive scaffolding is critical for productive knowledge building. However, previous research mainly focuses on the individual-level metacognitive scaffoldings in helping learners improve knowledge building, and little effort has been made to develop group-level metacognitive scaffolding (GMS) for knowledge building. This research designed three group-level metacognitive scaffoldings of general, task-oriented, and idea-oriented scaffoldings to facilitate in-service teachers’ knowledge building in small groups. A mixed method is used to examine the effects of the GMSs on groups’ knowledge building processes, performances, and perceptions. Results indicate a complication of the effects of GMSs on knowledge building. The idea-oriented scaffolding has potential to facilitate question-asking and perspective-proposing inquiry through peer interactions; the general scaffolding does not necessarily lessen teachers’ idea-centered explanation and elaboration on the individual level; the task-oriented scaffolding has the worst effect. Pedagogical and research implications are discussed to foster knowledge building with the support of GMSs.
Restorying With the Ancestors: Historically Rooted Speculative Composing Practices and Alternative Rhetorics of Queer Futurity
Authors: Coleman James Joshua
Published: July 2021

Within literacy, rhetoric, and composition (LRC) studies, composing practices have been studied as an embedded feature of life, one that manifests histories, imagination, and identities through acts of writing. Likewise, in queer LRC studies, the capacity to write with queer rhetorical agency or to recognize the impossibility of composing queer subjectivity has been tied to the living. Scholars have yet to consider with adequacy, however, the ways in which writing is equally bound up with the dead, with ghosts, histories, and ancestors that animate the imagination and attendant composing practices. Tracing the historically rooted speculative composing practices (HRSCPs) of an inquiry group of nine queer composers, this article spotlights queer ancestors as speculative resources for imagining and then composing alternative rhetorics of queer futurity. Specifically, this article details how three queer composers, Coyote (they/them), Helen (she/her), and Margarita (they/them), restory the imagination, happiness, and reality with the ancestors, doing so to challenge the trope of queer unhappy endings attached to realist genres. This article concludes by inviting LRC studies to explore how HRSCPs might be integrated into future research and pedagogy and thereby pursue healing for communities long marginalized within the field.
Alley or Autobahn? Assessing 50 Years of the Andragogical Project
Authors: St. Clair Ralf , Käpplinger Bernd
Published: July 2021

Fifty years after the publication of “The Modern Practice of Adult Education,” andragogy has significant presence in English-language adult education and related fields. This article takes stock of the development of this mid-century intellectual project. The context of mid-century adult education in North America is described, and the rhizomatic relationship with previous instances of the idea is examined. The effects of the project on practice and theory are considered and difficulties regarding lack of theoretical development and empirical investigation are identified. The discussion argues that the continuation of the andragogical project depends on development of key aspects, including stronger connections with international manifestations of andragogy.
Measuring Resilience in the Context of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: A Novel Application of the Adult Resilience Measure (ARM)
Authors: Clark Janine Natalya , Jefferies Philip , Foley Sarah , Ungar Michael
Published: July 2021

There is a rich body of research addressing the issues of conflict-related sexual violence, and a similar wealth of scholarship focused on resilience. To date, however, these literatures have rarely engaged with each other. This article developed from an ongoing research project that seeks to address this gap, by exploring how victims-/survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in three highly diverse settings – Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia and Uganda – demonstrate resilience. This research is the first to apply the Adult Resilience Measure (ARM), a 28-item scale that seeks to measure protective resources across individual, relational, and contextual subscales, to the context of conflict-related sexual violence. A total of 449 female and male participants in the three aforementioned countries completed the ARM (in the framework of the study questionnaire) as part of this research. This article presents some of the results of the analyses. Specifically, we first sought to establish through Confirmatory Factor Analysis whether the ARM was actually measuring the same construct in all three countries, by confirming the invariance (or otherwise) of the factor structure. The second aim was to explore how different resources function and cluster in different cultural contexts, to arrive at a more nuanced understanding of the different protective factors in the lives of study participants. We generated different factor structures for BiH, Colombia, and Uganda respectively, suggesting that a single factor structure does not sufficiently capture the diverse groupings of protective factors linked to the particularities of each country, including the dynamics of the conflicts themselves. Ultimately, we use the findings to underscore the need for policy approaches that move away from a deficit model and give greater attention to strengthening and investing in the (often overlooked) protective resources that victims-/survivors may already have in their everyday lives.
Selecting the Right Evidence to Inform Compensation and Benefits Decisions
Authors: Greene Robert , Bryant Phil
Published: July 2021

It is important that managers make well-informed, evidence-based decisions about employee compensation and benefits. As a field, evidence-based management recognizes four primary sources of sound evidence: scientific research, personal expertise, specific organizational data, and stakeholder perceptions. This article walks the reader through each so that compensation and benefits practitioners may make better informed, evidence-based compensation and benefits decisions.
Applicants' institution selection criteria in the higher education: An empirical study in Hungarian higher education management
Authors: Sipos Norbert , Kuráth Gabriella , Bányai Edit , Jarjabka Ákos
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this paper is to show what are the applicants' institution selection criteria in higher education in Hungary and what changes this will imply in higher education management and communication. These questions were investigated based on a review of the most relevant literature and the analysis of 1396 Hungarian higher education University of Pécs applicants in two consecutive years. Exploratory and confirmative factor analyses were used to identify the relative order of the application influencing factors: as a result, the first most important is the vivacity, followed by career and costs, fourth is image and the last one is the low commitment. In this context, the paper has shown that the identification of the application strategies requires renewed management and communication techniques. The results help the institutions to determine the possible actions to be implemented to attract more students and improve the level of offered services. The permanent system change of the Hungarian higher education as a phenomenon versus the applicants' institution selection criteria gives the uniqueness of the Hungarian situation, and this study provides information for researchers in higher education in this field additionally.
Parameters research on time-varying stiffness of the ball bearing system without race control hypothesis
Authors: Liu Yongzhen , Zhang Yimin
Published: July 2021

When the ball bearing serving under the combined loading conditions, the ball will roll in and out of the loaded zone periodically. Therefore the bearing stiffness will vary with the position of the ball, which will cause vibration. In order to reveal the vibration mechanism, the quasi static model without raceway control hypothesis is modeled. A two-layer nested iterative algorithm based on Newton–Raphson (N-R) method with dynamic declined factors is presented. The effect of the dispersion of bearing parameters and the installation errors on the time-varying carrying characteristics of the ball-raceway contact and the bearing stiffness are investigated. Numerical simulation illustrates that besides the load and the rotating speed, the dispersion of bearing parameters and the installation errors have noticeable effect on the ball-raceway contact load, ball-inner raceway contact state and bearing stiffness, which should be given full consideration during the process of design and fault diagnosis for the rotor-bearing system.
Einleitung zur Themenausgabe: Mehrfachbeschäftigung in Europa
Authors: Conen Wieteke , Schulze Buschoff Karin
Published: July 2021

In einer Reihe europäischer Länder ist der eindeutige Trend zu beobachten, dass immer mehr Arbeitnehmer:innen einer Mehrfachbeschäftigung nachgehen. Zum gegenwärtigen Zeitpunkt ist allerdings wenig über die Struktur und die potenziellen Konsequenzen dieser Entwicklung besonders im Hinblick auf die Qualität der Beschäftigung und die soziale Absicherung der Betroffenen bekannt. Diese Ausgabe von Transfer befasst sich mit modernen Formen multipler Arbeitsverhältnisse in Europa. Haben sich Struktur, Natur und Dynamik der Mehrfachbeschäftigung im Laufe der Zeit verändert? Welche Rollen spielen ein flexibler Arbeitsmarkt, der technologische Wandel und die Fragmentierung der Arbeit bei der Entwicklung multipler Arbeitsverhältnisse? Profitieren Mehrfachbeschäftigte von vergleichbaren und adäquaten Beschäftigungsbedingungen, Arbeitsbedingungen und sozialer Absicherung im Vergleich zu Beschäftigten mit nur einem Job, oder sind sie infolge ihrer (fragmentierten) Beschäftigungssituation schlechter gestellt? Welche Konsequenzen ergeben sich daraus für Gewerkschaften, politische Entscheidungsträger und die Regulierung der Arbeit? Die Beiträge dieser Themenausgabe von Transfer ergänzen die vorhandene Fachliteratur über neue Beschäftigungsformen im digitalen Zeitalter und über die damit verbundenen Herausforderungen für den Sozialschutz auch vor dem Hintergrund der Covid-19-Pandemie. Diese Einführung soll die wichtigsten Auseinandersetzungen zum Thema Mehrfachbeschäftigung skizzieren und präsentiert eine Zusammenfassung der Artikel dieser Ausgabe.
Metastatic cholangiocarcinoma mimicking tuberculosis in a cow
Authors: Elbert Jessica A. , Sanchez Susan , Rissi Daniel R.
Published: July 2021

Here we describe a metastatic hepatic cholangiocarcinoma (cholangiocellular carcinoma) in a 14-y-old Beefmaster cow that was euthanized because of depression and progressive weight loss. Gross changes included coalescing, white-to-yellow, firm-to-hard nodules with central areas of necrosis and mineralization that effaced much of the hepatic parenchyma, omentum, mesentery, ruminal serosa, and diaphragm. A fresh sample of a hepatic nodule was submitted for a modified acid-fast (MAF) stain during autopsy to rule out tuberculosis. The MAF stain was inconclusive, and the sample was subsequently submitted for a PCR assay for Mycobacterium spp. Histologically, all nodules consisted of a neoplastic proliferation of epithelial cells surrounded by extensive areas of desmoplasia, consistent with a metastatic cholangiocarcinoma. PCR for Mycobacterium spp. was negative. Although the histologic diagnosis in our case was metastatic hepatic cholangiocarcinoma, gross changes were strikingly similar to those described in cases of tuberculosis, highlighting the need to remain vigilant in the identification of zoonotic and suspected foreign animal diseases during autopsy to protect human health.
Ditching Discovery-Creation for Unified Venture Creation Research
Authors: Davidsson Per
Published: July 2021

Extending earlier critiques, I suggest that continued use of Shanian discovery and Alvarez-Barnean creation views and their respective standpoints on “opportunities” would constrain future entrepreneurship research. Instead, I suggest venture creation be recognized as the field’s true core, with or without the opportunity concept. Within a big tent of venture creation research, researchers with different knowledge interests and varying convictions regarding the roles of agency and structure in venture creation can partake in our most valuable contribution to the broader domain of economic and organizational studies: insights into the journey from non-existence to existence of new ventures.
Confronting Two Crises: The COVID-19 Pandemic, the Opioid Epidemic, and the Industrial Hygienist
Authors: Rosen Jonathan , Harnett Peter
Published: July 2021

This article was originally written for and published in the January 2021 issue of The Synergist, a monthly publication of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. The article addresses the convergence of the COVID-19 and opioid crises, the impact of the opioid crisis on the workplace and workers, and the role that industrial hygienists can play in developing workplace programs to prevent and respond to opioid misuse. While the article is specifically written for industrial hygienists, the review and recommendations will be useful to others who are developing workplace opioid prevention programs. Note that the data presented in this article were current as of January 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest available data are for the twelve-month period ending October 2020 and include 88,990 total overdose deaths and 91,862 predicted, when reporting is completed. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm (accessed on 15 June 2021).
Effectiveness of School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs in China: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Huiping , Shi Rui , Li Yali , Wang Yang
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

Although the number of school-based education programs for child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention has recently increased in China, little is known about their effectiveness. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the effectiveness of school-based CSA prevention programs on improving children’s knowledge and skills, which can prevent them from being sexually abused.

Method:

Systematic searches were conducted based on five English-language databases (PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) and three Chinese databases (CNKI, Wan Fang Data, and CQVIP). Seven studies with 2,593 participants finally met the quality criteria of this review, and the meta-analysis was conducted using a random effect model.

Results:

The overall effect sizes of school-based CSA prevention education showed a significant improvement in children’s knowledge ( d = 2.53, 95% CI [2.03, 3.04]) and skills ( d = 2.00, 95% CI [1.39, 2.60]). Programs instructed by researchers were more effective than those instructed by teachers, and preschoolers had a larger increase in both knowledge and skills than elementary and middle school students.

Discussion:

This study provides empirical evidence for further implementation of school-based CSA prevention programs, especially under the guidance of experienced researchers and conducted for students at an early age.
Assignment of Teachers to Combination Classes
Authors: Mason Dewayne A. , Burns Robert B.
Published: July 2021

While some researchers argue that combination classes have positive or no effects on student outcomes (Miller, 1990; Veenman, 1995), others assert that com bination classes have at least small negative effects (Mason and Burns, 1997). These different conclusions largely hinge on whether or not selection bias has operated in combination class research. To examine this issue, we interviewed sixty randomly se lected principals from twenty-four districts, asking them to (a) identify differences be tween combination, single-grade, and multiage/nongraded classes; (b) explain their practices (and rationale) for assigning teachers to combination classes; and (c) rate their combination ( n = 86) and single-grade teachers (n = 393) on five important di mensions of teaching (e.g., instruction, classroom management, curriculum develop ment). Principals’ responses indicated that combination classes are difficult and de manding teaching and learning environments and that most principals placed or preferred to place better or more experienced teachers in them. Furthermore, princi pals’ ratings of their teachers confirmed that they placed better teachers into combina tion classes. These results provide evidence that supports Mason and Burns1 (1997) theory on the effects of combination classes–-a theory that explains practitioners’ negative views about these classes despite research that suggests no student out come differences.
A Cross-Cultural Approach to the Study of Educational Leadership: An Emerging Framework1
Authors: Walker Allan , Dimmock Cuve
Published: July 2021

Although studies of educational leadership have proliferated over the last decade, they have mostly focused on Western school settings. Leadership in non-Western school settings has largely been ignored, so that little is known about the influence of culture on the beliefs and actions of school leaders across national boundaries. This article builds a case for increasing understanding of educational leadership through adopting a comparative cross-cultural lens. It has three interrelated purposes. First, it presents the argument for strengthening a cultural comparative approach to educational leadership. Second, it suggests a framework for comparing cultural influences on educational leadership across national and cultural boundaries. Finally, it recognizes some of the difficulties of conceptualizing and conducting cross-cultural leadership research. Through achieving these purposes we hope to contribute to the ongoing development of understanding of school leadership.
Assessing Adherence to Audiologic Parameters of Care for Children With Cleft Palate: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Authors: Findlen Ursula M. , Grischkan Jonathan , Alston Sandra , Durinka Lauren , Baylis Adriane
Published: July 2021

Objective:

To evaluate and increase adherence to an evidence-based audiologic management protocol for children with cleft palate.

Design:

Prospective, multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative.

Setting:

Tertiary pediatric hospital.

Patients, Participants:

Children with cleft palate (with or without cleft lip) between the ages of 0 and 5 years (n = 205).

Interventions:

A multidisciplinary team identified key drivers for nonadherence to recommended audiological follow-up and implemented interventions to improve adherence. Key drivers included provider practices and preferences, clinic logistics and flow, and patient/family awareness and education. Several interventions were implemented between 2016 and 2020, including developing an evidence-based audiologic protocol, maximizing access to audiologic clinic visits across multiple departments, cleft team education, and improved team communication.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Completion of recommended audiologic assessment at 5 separate care milestones.

Results:

After implementation of interventions between 2016 and 2020, adherence to recommended audiologic follow-up increased from 59% to 84%. Analysis of individual care milestones revealed that increased access to audiologic testing during team clinics resulted in the largest increase in adherence to recommended follow-up. Additionally, cause-effect analysis revealed that nonadherence due to provider-related causes decreased over the project period to a greater extent than patient/family-related causes.

Conclusions:

Implementation of an evidence-based audiologic care protocol and improvements in access to early hearing care are feasible in a high-volume multidisciplinary cleft clinic. Adherence to recommended audiologic management can be improved by establishing strategies to improve access to care, team member and family education, and enhanced team communication.
An evaluation of the influence of Eigensystem Realization Algorithm settings on multiple input multiple output system identification
Authors: Soares Dirceu , Serpa Alberto Luiz
Published: July 2021

One characteristic of the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm method for system identification concerns about the difficulty of finding more appropriate parameters to run the algorithm. One of this work’s purposes is to tackle the cumbersome task of achieving the ideal algorithm settings, providing additional knowledge about algorithm parameters’ influence, and searching to improve results with quicker settings of the algorithm’s parameters, especially for Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems. The application of a Fit Rate indicator to evaluate the identified system arises as a novelty in the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm applications, aiming to assess the system identification performance and drive the algorithm to better adjustments. Another objective of this article regards the application of a Pseudo Random Binary Sequence as excitation signals, which has not been used until now with the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm, despite being successfully applied in the system identification process. The proposed approach is verified and analyzed with numerical simulations for a mass–spring–damper model of 5 degrees of freedom. The results reported in time response analysis and frequency response analysis allow us to realize the effect of settings accordingly for the system identification improvement. The results analysis was extended to simulate and compare the Pseudo Random Binary Sequence with Gaussian white noise excitation, and the system was also submitted to the presence of measurement noise.
Spine eburnation in a metastatic lung cancer patient treated with immunotherapy and radiotherapy. The first case report of bystander effect on bone
Authors: Parisi Silvana , Napoli Ilenia , Lillo Sara , Cacciola Alberto , Ferini Gianluca , Iatì Giuseppe , Pontoriero Antonio , Tamburella Consuelo , Davì Valerio , Pergolizzi Stefano
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is nowadays treated with a multimodal therapeutic approach including immunotherapy, targeted therapy and radiotherapy. Radiation therapy, in addition to immune checkpoint inhibitors, gives rise to a particular radiobiological effect known as “bystander effect” consisting of the radiation-induced damage in nearby unirradiated cells.

Case report

We report a case of a 79-year-old female patient with stage IV NSCLC treated with concomitant immuno-radiotherapy who showed a bystander effect on bone. Management and outcome: Primary tumour biopsy revealed an adenocarcinoma with a PDL1 expression >50%, while staging exams showed a right pulmonary lesion with a partial involvement of the contiguous rib and a single brain metastasis. The patient refused chemotherapy, so that Pembrolizumab 2 mg/Kg was administered every 3 weeks. After two administrations, the single brain metastasis was treated using stereotactic radiosurgery while the site of primitive lung cancer received an 8 Gy-single fraction 3 D-conformal radiotherapy. Three months after irradiation a chest CT showed a radiological remission of about 10% of the GTV and a partial eburnation of the vertebra located nearby the target volume. The CT images of a PET/CT at six months showed a complete vertebral eburnation. At the last follow-up, the patient was free of disease (brain MRI, spinal MRI and PET/CT).

Discussion

The present case alerts for unusual side effects provoked by bystander phenomenon in patients treated with a combination of immunotherapy and irradiation. Immune activation exacerbates the bystander effect causing normal tissues toxicities beyond what immunotherapies are causing by themselves.
A case of palmar hypopigmentation induced by capecitabine in a gastrointestinal cancer patient
Authors: Gratiaux Julian , Gossery Chloé , Rezzag-Mahcene Chirine , Botsen Damien , Visseaux Laetitia , Slimano Florian , Bouche Olivier
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Capecitabine is an antimetabolite antineoplastic agent widely used in the treatment gastrointestinal cancers. The common frequently reported cutaneous adverse drug reaction associated with capecitabin are a palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, rash and hyperpigmentation. This case reports a capecitabine-induced palmar hypopigmentation.

Case report

We report the case of a 74-years old patient with jejunum adenocarcinoma treated by capecitabine. The patient developed a pseudo-vitiligo after 2 cycles capecitabine and without history of cutaneous disorders. The skin lesions were characterized with skin hypopigmentation on both hands. Management and outcome: The hypopigmentation slowly recovered after capecitabine discontinuation.

Conclusion

This is the first described case of pseudo-vitiligo induced by capecitabine. This impressive but non-severe adverse effect should be known by oncologists and oncology pharmacists to reassure the patients in particular about the possible recovery after discontinuation of capecitabine.
Tourist Perceived Value, Tourist Satisfaction, and Life Satisfaction: Evidence From Chinese Buddhist Temple Tours
Authors: Yu Yanghang , Lang Mei , Zhao Yuanyuan , Liu Wenjun , Hu Bixia
Published: July 2021

Prior research has mainly focused on the effect of tourist perceived value on customer satisfaction and behavior intention; the relationship between tourist perceived value and life satisfaction in religious tourism has been overlooked. This study aims to examine the link between tourist perceived value and life satisfaction and whether tourist satisfaction can play a mediating role in the process, specifically in the context of Chinese religious tourism. Data on Buddhist temple tours in China were collected through surveys, semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain the construct of the Buddhist tourist perceived value and regression analyses were used to test the study’s hypotheses. We developed and tested a scale of measurement of Buddhist tourist perceived value through 21 items grouped into seven dimensions: quality, price, emotional value, social value, educational value, physical attributes, and nonphysical attributes. Results from 537 tourists revealed that tourist perceived value is positively related to life satisfaction, and tourist satisfaction plays a mediating role in the relationship between perceived value and life satisfaction. Findings of this study provide a Buddhism-specific perspective for tourist perceived value.
Partial laryngectomy for the management of laryngeal masses in six cats
Authors: Moser Jasmine , Haimel Georg , Tichy Alexander , Findji Laurent
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Partial laryngectomy is an organ-sparing surgical procedure for the removal of laryngeal masses which has not been described in cats. The aim of this study was to report on the surgical procedure and the short- and long-term clinical outcomes of cats that underwent partial laryngectomy.

Methods

Medical records were retrospectively collected over a 4-year period in two institutions. The following data were retrieved: signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic test results, surgical procedure, postoperative management, complications and outcome.

Results

Six cats underwent partial laryngectomy. The most common clinical signs in cats with laryngeal masses were stridor (n = 4) and dyspnoea (n = 4). In all cats, a full-thickness portion of one or several laryngeal cartilages was resected, including thyroid cartilage alone (n = 2), thyroid cartilage and arytenoid (n = 2), and arytenoid cartilage and epiglottis (n = 2). The resected laryngeal masses were reported to be lymphoma (n = 3), carcinoma (n = 1), laryngeal cyst (n = 1) and inflammatory laryngeal disease (n = 1). All cats survived the surgical intervention of partial laryngectomy. Four cats showed varying degrees of respiratory distress in the short-term postoperative period. A temporary tracheostomy tube was placed in two cats. No other postoperative complications were noted in the short- or long-term. Four cats were still alive at the time of writing. These cats survived at least 252 days.

Conclusions and relevance

In a small number of cases, our results show that successful long-term outcomes after partial laryngectomy are achievable, with longer survival times than previously reported. Therefore, partial laryngectomy should be considered as a viable treatment option in cats with laryngeal masses.
Effect of dislocation and layer height on the compression performance of tandem honeycombs
Authors: Zhang Xiaojing , Weng Hangjian , Liu Longquan
Published: July 2021

In this study, the compression mechanical response of tandem honeycomb cores was investigated to determine the effect of dislocation length and layer height on the compression resistance of tandem honeycomb. A series of flatwise compressive tests were carried out on single-layer and double-layer honeycombs, which showed that tandem honeycomb obtains higher equivalent elastic modulus and collapse stress, and the core assembled with dislocation can achieve almost the same collapse stress with the aligned assembled honeycombs. In addition, a mesoscale finite element modeling method was developed and used to evaluate the effect of dislocation length and layer height on the mechanical response of tandem honeycomb through parametric simulation. Overall, our results suggest that dislocation length is proportional to the collapse stress, and the layer height decides the equivalent modulus and collapse stress of tandem honeycomb, specifically, dislocation length helps achieve higher collapse stress in the tandem honeycomb of varying layer heights.
DEELIG: A Deep Learning Approach to Predict Protein-Ligand Binding Affinity
Authors: Ahmed Asad , Mam Bhavika , Sowdhamini Ramanathan
Published: July 2021

Protein-ligand binding prediction has extensive biological significance. Binding affinity helps in understanding the degree of protein-ligand interactions and is a useful measure in drug design. Protein-ligand docking using virtual screening and molecular dynamic simulations are required to predict the binding affinity of a ligand to its cognate receptor. Performing such analyses to cover the entire chemical space of small molecules requires intense computational power. Recent developments using deep learning have enabled us to make sense of massive amounts of complex data sets where the ability of the model to “learn” intrinsic patterns in a complex plane of data is the strength of the approach. Here, we have incorporated convolutional neural networks to find spatial relationships among data to help us predict affinity of binding of proteins in whole superfamilies toward a diverse set of ligands without the need of a docked pose or complex as user input. The models were trained and validated using a stringent methodology for feature extraction. Our model performs better in comparison to some existing methods used widely and is suitable for predictions on high-resolution protein crystal (⩽2.5 Å) and nonpeptide ligand as individual inputs. Our approach to network construction and training on protein-ligand data set prepared in-house has yielded significant insights. We have also tested DEELIG on few COVID-19 main protease-inhibitor complexes relevant to the current public health scenario. DEELIG-based predictions can be incorporated in existing databases including RSCB PDB, PDBMoad, and PDBbind in filling missing binding affinity data for protein-ligand complexes.
Salivary Heme Oxygenase-1: A Potential Biomarker for Central Neurodegeneration
Authors: Galindez Julia M , Juwara Lamin , Cressatti Marisa , Gornitsky Mervyn , Velly Ana M , Schipper Hyman M
Published: July 2021

Background:

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, affecting 2% of the population over 65 years of age. PD diagnosis is based on clinical examination and can only be confirmed during autopsy. In 2018, we reported that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible stress response protein important for heme catabolism and implicated in PD pathology, was higher in PD saliva relative to healthy controls, suggesting that salivary HO-1 may serve as a potential biomarker of PD.

Objectives:

To ascertain whether HO-1 protein levels are elevated in PD saliva relative to degenerative neurological, non-degenerative neurological and healthy controls.

Methodology:

The study included 307 participants comprising 75 participants with idiopathic PD and 3 control groups: 162 non-neurological, 37 non-PD degenerative neurological, and 33 non-degenerative neurological participants. Salivary HO-1 and total protein concentrations were measured using ELISA and BCA assay, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to estimate model discrimination. Analyses were adjusted by age, sex, total protein, and relevant comorbidities.

Results:

Elevated HO-1 concentrations were observed in the PD group and other neurodegenerative conditions compared to subjects with no neurological or non-degenerative neurological conditions. ROC curves using HO-1 levels and covariates yielded areas under the curve above 85% in models for PD or neurodegenerative conditions versus controls.

Conclusions:

Salivary HO-1 concentrations in combination with covariates may provide a biomarker signature that distinguishes patients with neurodegenerative conditions from persons without.

Classification of evidence:

This study provides Class III evidence that salivary HO-1 multivariable models can distinguish neurodegenerative conditions.
Where is the justice in EU anti-trafficking policy? Feminist reflections on European Union policy-making processes
Authors: FitzGerald Sharron , Freedman Jane
Published: July 2021

In this article, we reflect on our personal experience of acting as ‘independent academic experts’ in an European Union (EU) policy forum, to reflect on how the EU utilises gender to legitimise certain policy discourses in combating sex trafficking. Starting from our personal experience, we draw on wider feminist research on gender expertise and on Fraser’s new reflexive theory of political injustice, to consider how the EU structures debates in this area to determine ‘who’ is entitled to speak and be heard on this issue. In a context in which sex trafficking policy intersects with a variety of competing agendas on – among other things – law and order, organised crime, immigration, asylum and border security policy, our argument will suggest that the exclusion of critical feminist voices and lack of alternative perspectives permits much scope for continuing inequality and injustice.