bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional Asymmetries in Ocean Heat and Carbon Storage due to Dynamic Redistribution in Climate Model Projections
Authors: Williams Richard G. , Katavouta Anna , Roussenov Vassil
Published: February 2021

Projected changes in ocean heat and carbon storage are assessed in terms of the added and redistributed tracer using a transport-based framework, which is applied to an idealized climate model and a suite of six CMIP5 Earth system models following an annual 1% rise in atmospheric CO2. Heat and carbon budgets for the added and redistributed tracer are used to explain opposing regional patterns in the storage of ocean heat and carbon anomalies, such as in the tropics and subpolar North Atlantic, and the relatively reduced storage within the Southern Ocean. Here the added tracer takes account of the net tracer source and the advection of the added tracer by the circulation, while the redistributed tracer takes account of the time-varying circulation advecting the preindustrial tracer distribution. The added heat and carbon often have a similar sign to each other with the net source usually acting to supply the tracer. In contrast, the redistributed heat and carbon consistently have an opposing sign to each other due to the opposing gradients in the preindustrial temperature and carbon. These different signs in heat and carbon redistribution can lead to regional asymmetries in the climate-driven changes in ocean heat and carbon storage. For a weakening in the Atlantic overturning and strengthening in the Southern Ocean residual circulation, the high latitudes are expected to have heat anomalies of variable sign and carbon anomalies of a consistently positive sign, since added and redistributed tracers are opposing in sign for heat and the same sign for carbon there.
Book review: Goke Adegoroye, Restoring Good Governance in Nigeria (Vol. 2): Leadership & Political Will
Authors: Magbadelo John Olushola
Published: February 2021

Goke Adegoroye, Restoring Good Governance in Nigeria (Vol. 2): Leadership & Political Will. Lagos: Prestige Imprint, Kachifo Limited, 2015, pp. 186, ₹941.64.
Network Capabilities: Brokerage as a Bridge Between Network Theory and the Resource-Based View of the Firm
Authors: Burt Ronald S. , Soda Giuseppe
Published: February 2021

We accomplish three tasks here: (a) We highlight the lack of cross-fertilization between research on network theory and the resource-based view of the firm (RBV). (b) We sketch by analogy what we believe should be a productive bridge between network brokerage as a core concept in network theory and integrating resources as a core concept in RBV. (c) Network brokerage quickly introduced, we distinguish and illustrate three levels to the proposed network-RBV analogy: tight integration of resources (closed networks for learning-curve efficiency), loose integration of resources (brokered clusters for resilience to market vicissitudes), and recombinatory integration of resources (broker leadership for innovation and robust response to market shock).
Evaluating the Interoperability of Urban Air Mobility Systems and Airports
Authors: Vascik Parker D. , John Hansman R.
Published: February 2021

This paper investigates how existing arrival and departure procedures can be directly used or adapted to enable high-volume instrument and visual urban air mobility (UAM) flight operations at major airports in the United States. Viable procedures are restricted to those that enable simultaneous and non-interfering UAM flights with conventional aircraft operations. Air traffic controller workload is proposed as the critical integration barrier to scale UAM operations in visual conditions whereas separation minima, especially for approach procedures, is proposed as the critical barrier in instrument conditions. A systems approach is taken to evaluate potential integration strategies for UAM in which the location of UAM runways or vertipads and flight procedures are presented in a topological framework. The benefits, challenges, and notional application of five integration schemes are discussed. Four promising procedures for UAM are introduced through case studies at three airports. Findings indicate that multiple procedures exist to support high-volume UAM integration at major airports under current regulations with additional controller staffing, especially if UAM aircraft exhibit helicopter-like performance.
Islamophobia in non-Western media: A content analysis of selected online newspapers
Authors: Hassan Isyaku , Azmi Mohd Nazri Latiff
Published: February 2021

This study explores the reproduction of Islamophobia in selected non-Western online newspapers: Nigeria’s Punch and Vanguard and Malaysia’s The Star and New Straits Times. News articles (n = 599) focusing on Islam were collected using internet-based search and content analyzed. Selected newspapers tended to reproduce Islamophobia through conflict frames, negative tone and terms in negative contexts, so non-Western, not only Western, news media portray a negative image of Islam.
Alertness Training Increases Visual Processing Speed in Healthy Older Adults
Authors: Penning Melanie D. , Ruiz-Rizzo Adriana L. , Redel Petra , Müller Hermann J. , Salminen Tiina , Strobach Tilo , Behrens Simone , Schubert Torsten , Sorg Christian , Finke Kathrin
Published: February 2021

In this study, we investigated whether alertness training in healthy older adults increases visual processing speed (VPS) and whether functional connectivity in the cingulo-opercular network predicts training gain. Using the theory of visual attention, we derived quantitative estimates of VPS before and after training. In Study 1, 75 healthy older adults participated in alertness training, active-control training, or no training ( n = 25 each). A significant Group × Session interaction indicated an increase in VPS in the alertness-training group but not in the control group, despite VPS not differing significantly between groups before training. In Study 2, 29 healthy older adults underwent resting-state functional MRI and then participated in alertness training. Pretraining functional connectivity in the cingulo-opercular network correlated with the individual training-induced change in VPS. In conclusion, results indicate that alertness training improves visual processing in older adults and that functional connectivity in the cingulo-opercular network provides a neural marker for predicting individual training gain.
Don’t Ditch the Laptop Just Yet: A Direct Replication of Mueller and Oppenheimer’s (2014) Study 1 Plus Mini Meta-Analyses Across Similar Studies
Authors: Urry Heather L. , Crittle Chelsea S. , Floerke Victoria A. , Leonard Michael Z. , Perry Clinton S. , Akdilek Naz , Albert Erica R. , Block Avram J. , Bollinger Caroline Ackerley , Bowers Emily M. , Brody Renee S. , Burk Kelly C. , Burnstein Ally , Chan Allissa K. , Chan Petrina C. , Chang Lena J. , Chen Emily , Chiarawongse Chakrapand Paul , Chin Gregory , Chin Kathy , Cooper Ben G. , Corneilson Katherine Adele , Danielson Amanda M. , Davis Elizabeth S. , Devis Ycar , Dong Melissa , Dossett Elizabeth K. , Dulchin Nick , Duong Vincent N. , Ewing Ben , Fuller Julia Mansfield , Gartman Thomas E. , Goldberg Chad R. , Greenfield Jesse , Groh Selena , Hamilton Ross A. , Hodge Will , Van Hong Dylan , Insler Joshua E. , Jahan Aava B. , Jimbo Jessica Paola , Kahn Emma M. , Knight Daniel , Konstantin Grace E. , Kornick Caitlin , Kramer Zachary J. , Lauzé Meghan S. , Linnehan Misha S. , Lombardi Tommaso , Long Hayley , Lotstein Alec J. , Lyncee Myrna-Nahisha A. , Lyons Monica Gabriella , Maayan Eli , May Nicole Marie , McCall Elizabeth C. , Montgomery-Walsh Rhea Ann Charlotte , Morscher Michael C. , Moser Amelia D. , Mueller Alexandra S. , Mujica Christin A. , Na Elim , Newman Isabelle R. , O’Brien Meghan K. , Ochoa Castillo Katherine Alexandra , Onipede Zaenab Ayotola , Pace Danielle A. , Park Jasper H. , Perdikari Angeliki , Perloff Catherine E. , Perry Rachel C. , Pillai Akash A. , Rajpal Avni , Ranalli Emma , Schreier Jillian E. , Shangguan Justin R. , Silver Micaela Jen , Spratt Avery Glennon , Stein Rachel E. , Steinhauer Grant J. , Valera Devon K. , Vervoordt Samantha M. , Walton Lena , Weinflash Noah W. , Weinstock Karen , Yuan Jiaqi , Zarrella Dominique T. , Zarrow Jonah E.
Published: February 2021

In this direct replication of Mueller and Oppenheimer’s (2014) Study 1, participants watched a lecture while taking notes with a laptop ( n = 74) or longhand ( n = 68). After a brief distraction and without the opportunity to study, they took a quiz. As in the original study, laptop participants took notes containing more words spoken verbatim by the lecturer and more words overall than did longhand participants. However, laptop participants did not perform better than longhand participants on the quiz. Exploratory meta-analyses of eight similar studies echoed this pattern. In addition, in both the original study and our replication, higher word count was associated with better quiz performance, and higher verbatim overlap was associated with worse quiz performance, but the latter finding was not robust in our replication. Overall, results do not support the idea that longhand note taking improves immediate learning via better encoding of information.
Gemcitabine-induced dilated-cardiomyopathy in patient with platinum-refractory ovarian-cancer: A case report and literature review
Authors: Raimondi Lucrezia , Raimondi Filippo Maria , Rossi Luigi , Lazzeroni Rachele , Pietranera Marta , Di Benedetto Laura , Gozzi Elisa , Spinelli Gian Paolo
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog and pyrimidine antimetabolite that inhibits RNA synthesis, currently approved for use to treat a variety of cancers, among which ovarian cancers. Gemcitabine is considered relatively safe and it is generally well tolerated, with rarely reported cardiac side effects.

Case report

We report a case of gemcitabine induced dilated cardiomyopathy in a 41-year-old woman receiving gemcitabine as second line treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer without pre-existing hypertension or significant cardiac history. Management and Outcome: The patient presented with clinical symptoms and laboratory and imaging results suggestive of congestive cardiac failure, with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 15%. Gemcitabine administration was stopped and Furosemide with ACE-inhibitors and Beta-blocker agents were initiated. At that point the clinical situation improved: symptoms and findings disappeared with gemcitabine cessation.

Discussion

Our case demonstrated for the first time objective evidence for dilated cardiomyopathy induced by gemcitabine in a young patient with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer without pre-existing significant cardiac history. Although rare, gemcitabine-induced cardiotoxicity should be promptly recognized in order to take appropriate measures to manage it.
Retinal arterial macroaneurysm in leukemia
Authors: Bekmez Sinan , Eris Dilem
Published: February 2021

Introduction:

Retinal arterial macroaneurysm (RAM) is an acquired vascular dilatation usually seen at the site of arterial bifurcation or arterial-vein crossing. It’s often seen in the first three branches of the central retinal artery.

Case description:

A 15-year-old male patient was admitted to the outpatient clinic with complaints of weakness, headache, and bruising on the body for a few weeks. During the physical examination, a hepatomegaly and a common patchy ecchymosis in the body were detected at the abdominal examination. Hemoglobin was 6.6 g/dl, white blood cells were 40,000/mm3, platelet was 24,000/mm3 at the whole blood count done. The 70% blast was detected in peripheral spread. Bone marrow aspiration evaluation was consistent with pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. There was two macroaneurysms in the inferior arcuate of the left eye. The patient was examined on a weekly basis. During control examinations, retinal macroaneurysms in left eye and the hemorrhages significantly regressed.

Conclusion and importance:

The fact that RAM is not often seen in the pediatric age group, indicates the importance of this phenomenon. It should be remembered that a complete ophthalmic examination should be performed on leukemia patients.
Alternative environment activities on both sides of the Atlantic: A Canada-Ireland consideration and comparison
Authors: Robinson Daniel B , Hall Nathan , Costa José da , Bradford Brent
Published: February 2021

Due to the overemphasis of traditional sports at the expense of other movement domains in physical education (PE) programmes, there is a need to consider what factors might enable or limit PE teachers’ incorporation of some of these other domains that can support student learning. The focus of this article is on one such marginalized domain – alternative environment activities (AEAs). AEAs can afford students a breadth of opportunities for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in different environments (i.e. land, snow and ice, water, air) and improve environmental awareness and stewardship. This article reports on a comparative investigation of Nova Scotian (Canadian) and Irish PE teachers’ incorporation of AEAs in their PE programmes. To understand what similarities or differences might exist with respect to these PE teachers’ incorporation of AEAs, along with existing enablers and barriers, a self-selected sample of current PE teachers (Nova Scotia = 53; Ireland = 64) completed a 22-item online questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were employed to conduct comparisons among the two data sets. PE teachers’ understandings of curricular requirements for AEAs were found to be an issue in both Nova Scotia and Ireland. Reported significant differences include: AEA-related professional development participation; most important factors for deciding not to include AEAs; and feelings of school administrative support towards AEA incorporation. Findings also suggest that various issues may be hindering incorporation of AEAs in PE programmes, and that some of these issues do differ based on where the PE programme is situated.
Antibacterial and biological properties of coconut oil loaded poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin electrospun membranes
Authors: Mohamadi Parian S , Hivechi Ahmad , Bahrami Hajir , hemmatinegad Nahid , Milan Peiman B
Published: February 2021

Coconut oil (CO) is a naturally derived bio-oil which exhibits specific characteristics such as biocompatibility and antibacterial activity. In this work, the biological properties of poly(caprolactone)/gelatin (PCL/Gel) nanofibers are improved using CO encapsulation. This bio-oil was added to the PCL/Gel polymer solution with different concentrations (5–40%). Nanofibers were crosslinked using glutaraldehyde vapor. Different types of characterization techniques such as SEM, FTIR, DSC, tensile measurements, water contact angle, and water vapor permeability were used to study the chemical, physical, thermal, and morphological properties of resultant nanofibers. Results showed an average diameter of 300–370 nm for as-spun nanofibers, which increased to 360–470 nm after the crosslinking reaction. The presence of CO was confirmed using FTIR and DSC experiments. Moreover, results indicated that the presence of CO increases the hydrophilicity and water vapor permeability of nanofibers, which are desirable for their final application. Biological tests, such as antibacterial activity, cell viability, and cell morphology tests were performed to evaluate the possible application of the produced nanofibers for wound healing applications. Results indicated that the crosslinked PCL/Gel nanofibers containing 20% CO exhibited the highest cell compatibility and antibacterial activity against gram-positive (S. aureus) and gram-negative ( E. coli) bacteria.
Horizontal but not vertical saccades enhance memory retrieval: A meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Qin Xiao-jing , Yang Han-xue , Cui Ji-fang , Ye Jun-yan , Wang Ya
Published: February 2021

Saccade-induced retrieval enhancement (SIRE) refers to the phenomenon that actively engaging in horizontal eye movements before recall enhances subsequent memory performance. This effect is thought to be the result of interhemispheric interactions stimulated by saccades. An alternative explanation is that saccades promote memory retrieval by improving top–down attention control. Thus, the mechanisms of SIRE are unclear, and the present meta-analysis quantitatively analysed the effect of saccades on memory performance and examined the mechanisms of SIRE. We searched “Web of Science,” “PubMed,” and “Springer” for peer-reviewed papers using the keywords “eye movements + memory” and “saccades + memory.” Twenty-two papers were included in the final analysis. There was a significant facilitation of horizontal saccades on overall memory performance, with a pooled effect size (Cohen’s d) of 0.45 ( p < .001). However, the overall effect of vertical saccades was not significant ( d = 0.1, p = .14). Moderation analysis showed that the handedness of participants was a significant moderator of SIRE, with strongly right-handed individuals benefitting more from horizontal saccades than non-strongly right-handed individuals ( p < .01). Horizontal saccades improved memory performance, particularly for strongly right-handed individuals. These results support the interhemispheric interaction hypothesis.
The face of future: Face expressions during future thinking
Authors: El Haj Mohamad , Altintas Emin , Moustafa Ahmed A , Boudoukha Abdel Halim
Published: February 2021

Future thinking, which is the ability to project oneself forward in time to pre-experience an event, is intimately associated with emotions. We investigated whether emotional future thinking can activate emotional facial expressions. We invited 43 participants to imagine future scenarios, cued by the words “happy,” “sad,” and “city.” Future thinking was video recorded and analysed with a facial analysis software to classify whether facial expressions (i.e., happy, sad, angry, surprised, scared, disgusted, and neutral facial expression) of participants were neutral or emotional. Analysis demonstrated higher levels of happy facial expressions during future thinking cued by the word “happy” than “sad” or “city.” In contrast, higher levels of sad facial expressions were observed during future thinking cued by the word “sad” than “happy” or “city.” Higher levels of neutral facial expressions were observed during future thinking cued by the word “city” than “happy” or “sad.” In the three conditions, the neutral facial expressions were high compared with happy and sad facial expressions. Together, emotional future thinking, at least for future scenarios cued by “happy” and “sad,” seems to trigger the corresponding facial expression. Our study provides an original physiological window into the subjective emotional experience during future thinking.
“You come up with different theories every year”: Practitioner perceptions of injury risk factors and player monitoring practices in elite men’s domestic cricket
Authors: Goggins Luke , McKay Carly , Peirce Nicholas , Stokes Keith , Williams Sean
Published: February 2021

The aim of the current study was to capture and better understand the current perceptions of injury risk factors and player monitoring practices in elite men’s domestic senior cricket, to help guide practice in this setting. A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was used, consisting of a quantitative survey sent to science and medicine practitioners at all English County clubs ( n = 23, with representation from each club) and a set of qualitative interviews ( n = 10 from six County clubs). Previous injury and physical fitness were the intrinsic injury risk factors most frequently endorsed as being important, with reduced recovery time and congested match schedules the most frequently endorsed extrinsic risk factors. Monitoring bowling overs was the most common tool for continually assessing injury risk. Player adherence was perceived to be the main factor impacting effective monitoring, along with human resource and practical application of monitoring knowledge. The interviews revealed that communicating value, fostering effective working relationships, and a strong club culture were important for successfully implementing monitoring and prevention initiatives. Cricket presents distinct challenges for its practitioners, and more education and guidance on appropriate monitoring methods and analysis is needed.
A case of minimal change disease during pregnancy – benefits of early diagnosis and use of corticosteroids
Authors: Sagar Priyanka S , Fischer Eddy , Gangadharan Komala Muralikrishna , Bose Bhadran
Published: February 2021

Nephrotic syndrome presenting in pregnancy is rare and poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Timing of renal biopsy is important given the increased risk of bleeding and miscarriage, and the choice of immunosuppression is limited due to the teratogenicity profiles of standard drugs. We report and discuss a case of minimal change disease diagnosed by renal biopsy during early pregnancy and treated with corticosteroids throughout the pregnancy. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of glomerular disease in pregnancy are vital to prevent poor maternal and fetal outcomes.
Extracellular matrix degradation pathways and fatty acid metabolism regulate distinct pulmonary vascular cell types in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Mumby Sharon , Perros F. , Hui C. , Xu B.L. , Xu W. , Elyasigomari V , Hautefort A. , Manaud G. , Humbert M. , Chung K.F. , Wort S.J. , Adcock I.M.
Published: February 2021

Pulmonary arterial hypertension describes a group of diseases characterised by raised pulmonary vascular resistance, resulting from vascular remodelling in the pre‐capillary resistance arterioles. Left untreated, patients die from right heart failure. Pulmonary vascular remodelling involves all cell types but to date the precise roles of the different cells is unknown. This study investigated differences in basal gene expression between pulmonary arterial hypertension and controls using both human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells and human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells from pulmonary arterial hypertension patients and controls were cultured to confluence, harvested and RNA extracted. Whole genome sequencing was performed and after transcript quantification and normalisation, we examined differentially expressed genes and applied gene set enrichment analysis to the differentially expressed genes to identify putative activated pathways. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells displayed 1008 significant (p ≤ 0.0001) differentially expressed genes in pulmonary arterial hypertension samples compared to controls. In human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, there were 229 significant (p ≤ 0.0001) differentially expressed genes between pulmonary arterial hypertension and controls. Pathway analysis revealed distinctive differences: human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells display down‐regulation of extracellular matrix organisation, collagen formation and biosynthesis, focal‐ and cell‐adhesion molecules suggesting severe endothelial barrier dysfunction and vascular permeability in pulmonary arterial hypertension pathogenesis. In contrast, pathways in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were mainly up‐regulated, including those for fatty acid metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, cell–cell and adherens junction interactions suggesting a more energy‐driven proliferative phenotype. This suggests that the two cell types play different mechanistic roles in pulmonary arterial hypertension pathogenesis and further studies are required to fully elucidate the role each plays and the interactions between these cell types in vascular remodelling in disease progression.
Prevalence of Morphological Variations Associated With Femoroacetabular Impingement According to Age and Sex: A Study of 1878 Asymptomatic Hips in Nonprofessional Athletes
Authors: Morales-Avalos Rodolfo , Tapia-Náñez Adriana , Simental-Mendía Mario , Elizondo-Riojas Guillermo , Morcos-Sandino Michelle , Tey-Pons Marc , Peña-Martínez Víctor M. , Barrera Francisco J. , Guzman-Lopez Santos , Elizondo-Omaña Rodrigo E. , Vílchez-Cavazos Félix
Published: February 2021

Background:

Radiographic findings related to the cam and pincer variants of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) include measurements of the alpha angle and lateral center-edge angle (LCEA). The function of these radiographic findings has been put into question because of high heterogeneity in reported studies.

Purpose:

The aim of this study was 3-fold: (1) to determine the prevalence of cam and pincer variants according to sex and age on anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs from an asymptomatic nonathletic population, (2) to identify the most common radiographic signs of cam- and pincer-type variants, and (3) to determine if there are variations in the prevalence of these radiographic signs according to sex and age.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

There were 3 independent observers who retrospectively analyzed the 939 AP pelvic radiographs (1878 hips) of patients aged 18 to 50 years who did not have hip symptoms and who were not professional athletes. The prevalence of the cam and pincer variants according to the alpha angle and LCEA, respectively, and the presence of other radiographic signs commonly associated with these variables were determined in the overall population and by subgroup according to sex and age group (18-30, 31-40, and 41-50 years). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the study sample.

Results:

The mean age of the included population was 31.0 ± 9.2 years, and 68.2% were male. The prevalence of the cam-type variant was 29.7% (558/1878), and that of the pincer-type variant was 24.3% (456/1878). The radiographic signs that were most associated with the cam and pincer variants were a pistol-grip deformity and the crossover sign, respectively. Significant differences ( P < .001) in the prevalence of these variants were identified between men and women in both variants. No differences were observed in the alpha angle or LCEA according to sex or age.

Conclusion:

Radiographic findings suggestive of FAI had significant variations with respect to sex and age in this study sample. This study provides information to determine the prevalence of these anatomic variants in the general population.
Companion or Substitution? Automation and Digitisation in the Workplace
Authors: Cinco Samantha Joy
Published: February 2021

The production process is no longer purely limited to human workers. Automation and digitisation have come in. Workers are aided by various machines that assist them in production. This has led to faster production and lower prices. The benefits are obvious, yet up to what extent can we automate and digitise production? Will it ever come to a point when we would no longer need any human intervention to produce the things we need? Can the digital and the automated ever substitute human hands?

This article offers a brief discussion on how digitisation and automation have affected our lives and the way we work. It presented an overview of automation’s history and recent developments. Moreover, it discussed the various opportunities and risks associated with these fast improvements. Lastly, an analysis of the possible future of digitisation was mentioned: What must be done to take full advantage of the opportunities and to curb the risks?

Automation has made production faster and this has led to various benefits and opportunities just waiting to be taken advantaged off, yet I firmly believe that human labour will continue to flourish. Automation and digitisation may have been going on for decades, but human work still exists because there are aspects of work that cannot just simply be replaced by machines. Machines are to complement us and help us to do things better. Moreover, there should be a focus on education and on fostering a culture of innovation so that we can be ready to face any changes in the workplace. There should also be a conscious effort to fight the factors that further inequality in society.
An Evaluation of the Microvasculature of Macular Nodules in Coats Disease Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography: A Report of 3 Cases
Authors: Ong Sally S. , Hsu S. Tammy , Ponugoti Arathi , Toth Cynthia A. , Vajzovic Lejla
Published: February 2021

Purpose:

This work aimed to examine the microvasculature of macular fibrosis in Coats disease.

Methods:

Three boys (aged 3, 4, and 6 years) with Coats disease (stages 2B to 3A2) and macular fibrotic nodules were imaged using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) on the Spectralis spectral-domain OCT tabletop and investigational portable Spectralis Flex module (version 6.9, Heidelberg Engineering).

Results:

In 2 eyes, a neovascular complex was observed in the avascular slab on OCTA. This neovascular complex had vessels connected to diving vessels from the superficial vascular complex that traveled through the deep vascular complex to the avascular complex. In the third eye, no neovascular complex was observed on OCTA at presentation, but on subsequent examinations fluorescein leakage was observed and cross-sectional OCTA further confirmed the presence of angiographic flow in the nodule.

Conclusions:

OCTA demonstrates the presence of type 3 neovascularization in fibrotic nodules in Coats disease.
The effect of diabetes on corneal endothelium: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Kaikai , Zhao Liangliang , Zhu Chao , Nan Weijin , Ding Xinfen , Dong Yuchen , Zhao Meisheng
Published: February 2021

Background

This research was conducted with the aim to determine the effect of diabetes mellitus on corneal endothelial cells.

Methods

The terms: (“diabetes mellitus” or “diabetes” or “diabetic”) and (“corneal endothelium” or “cornea” or “Corneas”) searched in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of science until August 2019. The included types of studies contained observational studies. The standard mean difference (SMD) which was deemed as main size effects for continuous data was calculated by means and standard deviations. The data on corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), mean cell area (MCA), cell area variation coefficient (CV) and percentage of hexagonal cells (HEX) included in the study were collected and analyzed using stata15.1.

Results

The final 16 cross-sectional studies and 2 case-control studies were included for the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that diabetes mellitus could reduce ECD (SMD = − 0.352, 95% CI -0.538, − 0.166) and the HEX (SMD = − 0.145, 95% CI -0.217, − 0.074), in addition to increasing CV (SMD = 0.195, 95% CI 0.123, 0.268). Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant differences observed when combining MCA (SMD = 0.078, 95% CI -0.022, 0.178). In subgroup analysis, Type 2 diabetes patients owned less corneal ECD (P < 0.05). Moreover the same results also found during the subgroup form Asia, Europe and American. The meta-regression revealed the type of diabetes mellitus might be contributing to heterogeneity. (P = 0.008). The results indicated a significant publication bias for studies, with combined CV (Begg’s test, P = 0.006; Egger’s test, P = 0.005) and merged combined HEX (Begg’s test, P = 0.113; Egger’s test, P = 0.024).

Conclusions

As indicated by meta-analysis, diabetes mellitus could cause a detrimental effect on corneal endothelium health. Diabetes mellitus contributed to the instability of corneal endothelium during the analysis. Therefore, further research is considered necessary to confirm our research results.

Trial registration

CED 42019145858.
The effect of pedicle subtraction osteotomy for the correction of severe Scheuermann thoracolumbar kyphosis on sagittal spinopelvic alignment
Authors: Lin Guanfeng , Wang Shengru , Yang Yang , Su Zhe , Du You , Xu Xiaolin , Chai Xiran , Wang Yipeng , Yu Bin , Zhang Jianguo
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To analyze how pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) treatment of severe Scheuermann thoracolumbar kyphosis (STLK) using pedicle screw instrumentation affects sagittal spinopelvic parameters.

Background

The medical literature on the post-surgical effects of treatments such as Ponte osteotomy is limited, but suggests few effects on spinopelvic profiles. Currently, there is no research regarding changes in sagittal spinopelvic alignment upon PSO treatment in STLK patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective study on 11 patients with severe STLK. These patients underwent posterior-only correction surgeries with PSO and pedicle screw instrumentation between 2012 to 2017 in a single institute. Patients were measured for the following spinopelvic parameters: global kyphosis (GK), thoracic kyphosis (TK), thoracolumbar kyphosis (TL), lumbar lordosis (LL), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tile (PT), sacral slope (SS), and administered a Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaire (SRS-22) pre-operation, post-operation and at final follow-up.

Results

GK improved from a median of 74.1° to 40.0° after surgery, achieving a correction rate of 48.8% with a median correction loss of 0.8°. TK, TL and LL all showed significant difference (P < 0.05) and SVA improved 22.7 (11.6, 30.9) mm post operation. No significant difference was found in pelvic parameters (PI, PT, SS, all P < 0.05). The absolute value of LL- PI significantly improved from a median of 26.5° pre-operation to 6.1° at the final follow-up. 72.7% in this series showed an evident trend of thoracic and lumbar apices migrating closer to ideal physiological segments after surgery. Self-reported scores of pain, self-image, and mental health from SRS-22 revealed significant improvement at final follow-up (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

PSO treatment of severe STLK with pedicle screw instrumentation can improve spine alignment and help obtain a proper alignment of the spine and the pelvis.
Access to and adequacy of psychological services for adult patients in UK hospices: a national, cross-sectional survey
Authors: McInnerney Daisy , Candy Bridget , Stone Patrick , Atkin Nicola , Johnson Joana , Hiskey Syd , Kupeli Nuriye
Published: February 2021

Background

Providing psychological support to people living with terminal illness is a fundamental part of hospice care. Recent research on delivery of psychological services in hospices in the United Kingdom (UK) on a national level, including inequalities or variation in practice, is limited. A nationwide survey will highlight any differences in provision and in doing so help focus future research and inform best practice both within the UK, and internationally. The specific objectives of this survey are to (1) chart the types of psychological support available to adult patients in hospices in the UK in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence model; (2) explore how services are organised; and (3) gather service perspectives on adequacy of care, and facilitators and barriers to appropriate practice.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey emailed to adult hospices in the UK in November–December 2019. One staff member involved in the delivery and/or organisation of psychological support was invited to participate per hospice. Of 193 invited hospices, 116 took part.

Results

Sixteen percent rated their hospice psychological service as wholly adequate. The majority reported that services can access specialist professionals, but many relied on external referrals. Barriers to best practice included funding and staff capacity; facilitators included clear referral structures, audit and appropriate needs and outcome assessments.

Conclusions

Access to psychological professionals has improved since the last survey 15 years ago, but the majority of responders felt their overall service was not wholly adequate. Basic emotional support is largely felt to be sufficient, but our results indicate a need for improvements in access to more specialist care. Partnerships with external mental health services may be key. Our findings highlight core facilitators and barriers to providing good psychological care at the end of life that should be considered by services both within the UK and on an international level.
Circulating tight-junction proteins are potential biomarkers for blood–brain barrier function in a model of neonatal hypoxic/ischemic brain injury
Authors: Andersson E. Axel , Mallard Carina , Ek C. Joakim
Published: February 2021

Background

Neonatal encephalopathy often leads to lifelong disabilities with limited treatments currently available. The brain vasculature is an important factor in many neonatal neurological disorders but there is a lack of diagnostic tools to evaluate the brain vascular dysfunction of neonates in the clinical setting. Measurement of blood–brain barrier tight-junction (TJ) proteins have shown promise as biomarkers for brain injury in the adult. Here we tested the biomarker potential of tight-junctions in the context of neonatal brain injury.

Methods

The levels of TJ-proteins (occluding, claudin-5, and zonula occludens protein 1) in both blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well as blood–brain barrier function via14C-sucrose (342 Da) and Evans blue extravasation were measured in a hypoxia/ischemia brain-injury model in neonatal rats.

Results

Time-dependent changes of occludin and claudin-5 levels could be measured in blood and CSF after hypoxia/ischemia with males generally having higher levels than females. The levels of claudin-5 in CSF correlated with the severity of the brain injury at 24 h post- hypoxia/ischemia. Simultaneously, we detected early increase in blood–brain barrier-permeability at 6 and 24 h after hypoxia/ischemia.

Conclusions

Levels of circulating claudin-5 and occludin are increased after hypoxic/ischemic brain injuries and blood–brain barrier-impairment and have promise as early biomarkers for cerebral vascular dysfunction and as a tool for risk assessment of neonatal brain injuries.
Needle biopsy compared with surgical biopsy: pitfalls of small biopsy in histologial diagnosis of IgG4-related disease
Authors: Liu Yanying , Yang Fei , Chi Xiying , Zhang Yuxin , Fu Jiangnan , Bian Wenjie , Shen Danhua , Li Zhanguo
Published: February 2021

Objective

The growing utilization of needle biopsy has challenged the current pathology consensus of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). The aims of this study were to identify the histological characteristics of needle biopsy and surgical specimens and evaluate the ability of needle biopsy in histological diagnosis of IgG4-RD.

Methods

Biopsies from patients who were referred to as IgG4-RD by the 2019 ACR/EULAR IgG4-RD classification criteria in Peking University People’s Hospital from 2012 to 2019 were re-evaluated. Typical histological features and diagnostic categories were compared between needle biopsy and surgical biopsy.

Results

In total, 69 patients met the 2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria and 72 biopsies of them were re-evaluated. All cases showed lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, while storiform fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis were only present in 35 (48.6%) and 23 (31.9%) specimens, respectively. Storiform fibrosis was more likely to be seen in retroperitoneum lesion (P = 0.033). Surgical biopsy showed significantly higher IgG4+ plasma cells/high-power field (IgG4/HPF) count (P < 0.01) and higher proportion of IgG4/HPF > 10 (P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed with regard to the ratio of IgG4+ plasma cells/IgG+ plasma cells (IgG4/IgG) (P = 0.399), storiform fibrosis (P = 0.739), and obliterative phletibis (P = 0.153). According to the 2011 comprehensive diagnostic criteria, patients who performed a needle biopsy were less likely to be probable IgG4-RD (P = 0.045). Based on the 2011 pathology consensus, needle biopsy was less likely to be diagnosed as IgG4-RD (P < 0.01), especially to be highly suggestive IgG4-RD (P < 0.01). Only 1/18 (5.6%) needle salivary specimens fulfilled the cutoff of IgG4/HPF > 100, which was significantly less than 15/23 (65.2%) of surgical ones (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Needle biopsy shows an inferiority in detecting IgG4/HPF count but not in IgG4/IgG ratio, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis. Compared with surgical samples, needle biopsy is less likely to obtain a histological diagnosis of IgG4-RD. A different IgG4/HPF threshold for needle biopsy of the salivary glands may be considered.
A study protocol for a Pilot Masked, Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Locally-applied Gentamicin versus Saline in Open Tibia Fractures (pGO-Tibia) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: von Kaeppler Ericka P. , Donnelley Claire , Ali Syed H. , Roberts Heather J. , Ibrahim John M. , Wu Hao-Hua , Eliezer Edmund N. , Porco Travis C. , Haonga Billy T. , Morshed Saam , Shearer David W.
Published: February 2021

Background

Open tibia fractures are a major source of disability in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to the high incidence of complications, particularly infection and chronic osteomyelitis. One proposed adjunctive measure to reduce infection is prophylactic local antibiotic delivery, which can achieve much higher concentrations at the surgical site than can safely be achieved with systemic administration. Animal studies and retrospective clinical studies support the use of gentamicin for this purpose, but no high-quality clinical trials have been conducted to date in high- or low-income settings.

Methods

We describe a protocol for a pilot study conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to assess the feasibility of a single-center masked randomized controlled trial to compare the efficacy of locally applied gentamicin to placebo for the prevention of fracture-related infection in open tibial shaft fractures.

Discussion

The results of this study will inform the design and feasibility of a definitive trial to address the use of local gentamicin in open tibial fractures. If proven effective, local gentamicin would be a low-cost strategy to reduce complications and disability from open tibial fractures that could impact care in both high- and low-income countries.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, Registration # NCT03559400; Registered June 18, 2018.
Assessment of the difference in detection of pleasant and unpleasant odors in different grades of hyposmia
Authors: Attia Tamer M. , Hamdan Ahmad M.
Published: February 2021

Background

Olfaction is a complex process involving different neurological mechanisms with a correlation between the chemical structure and quality of odors regarding pleasantness. This study aimed to compare the detection of pleasant and unpleasant odors in different grades of hyposmia. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted preceded by a preliminary pilot study, including 20 normal subjects without a history of hyposmia. The pilot study was carried out using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) with the assessment of pleasantness of odors using a visual analog scale (VAS). Fifty patients diagnosed with organic hyposmia/anosmia were included in the main study and assessed for the degree of hyposmia/anosmia using UPSIT. The number of detected odors out of the five odors with highest VAS for pleasantness and five odors with lowest VAS for pleasantness, as detected by the pilot study, for every patient was assessed and compared.

Results

There was a significant difference between the detection of pleasant and unpleasant odors in mild, moderate, and severe hyposmia (p value = 0.02, 0.005, and 0.03 respectively) with a highly significant difference in the whole study group ( p < 0.00001) with more loss of ability to detect unpleasant odors compared with pleasant odors.

Conclusion

The current study showed significantly less ability to detect unpleasant odors compared with pleasant odors in different grades of hyposmia. This finding suggests that the pattern of degeneration of the olfactory sense organ is not uniform with the topographic nature of the olfactory membrane.
Conditional Cash Transfers and Migration: Reconciling Feminist Theoretical Approaches With the New Economics of Labor Migration
Authors: Hughes Christina
Published: February 2021

In 2019, I published a study titled “Reexamining the Influence of Conditional Cash Transfers on Migration from a Gendered Lens,” to which Oded Stark has since issued a formal comment. This response has been written to address the major themes of Stark's comment. While the first three sections focus on specific items related to framing, selection bias, and endogeneity, the fourth and final section tackles a more substantive theoretical debate between Stark and me over how to conceptualize the New Economics of Labor Migration framework in relation to gender. In my original paper, I argued that conditional cash transfers (CCTs) are gendered in their program conditions in ways that promote a normative gendered division of labor and that constrain beneficiary women from migrating. I note here that Stark's primary issue with this point appears to be his contention that CCTs are not necessarily gendered but rather that women have a comparative advantage in completing housework and care work. My response first compares Stark's argument to that made by Gary Becker in A Treatise on the Family and engages with the literature that has emerged to critique Becker's own arguments regarding gendered comparative advantage. I then conclude my final section by offering some suggestions that might open a common theoretical path forward—one that insists on grounding microeconomic analyses of family behavior on assumptions that take gender and other aspects of culture and institutions seriously and one that also moves toward a bargaining model of microeconomic behavior rather than one that assumes consensus among all relevant actors.
Decomposition of Improvements in Infant Mortality in Asian Developing Countries Over Three Decades
Authors: Aizawa Toshiaki
Published: February 2021

Low- and middle-income countries in Asia have seen substantial improvements in infant mortality over the last three decades. This study examines the factors contributing to the improvement in infant survival in their first year in six Asian countries: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines. I decompose the overall improvement in the infant survival rate in the respective countries from the 1990s to the 2010s into the part that can be explained by the improvements in circumstantial environments in which infants develop and the remaining part that is due to the structural change in the hazard functions. This decomposition is achieved by employing the random survival forest, allowing me to predict the counterfactual infant survival probability that infants in the 2010s would have under the circumstantial environments of the 1990s. The results show that large parts of the improvement are explained by the improvement in the environments in all the countries being analyzed. I find that the reduction in family size, increased use of antenatal care, longer pregnancy periods, and improved living standards were associated with the improvement of the infant mortality rate in all six countries.