bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tazarotene/Betamethasone Dipropionate Cream in Patients with Plaque Psoriasis: Results of a Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study
Authors: He Chunxia , Jin Hongzhong , Liu Xiguang , Hu Fengming , Zhang Litao , Zhang Shifa , He Yanling , Yang Xiumin , Chen Hao , Wang Xiaohua , Ji Chao , Lv Chengzhi , Miao Guoying , Li Xiaojing , Diao Qingchun , Li Linfeng , Li Xuefei , Li Yuzhen , Wang Rupeng , Zhang Lijuan , Zhou Xiaoyong , Xia Xiujuan , Yan Min , Song Jiquan , Zhang Ruzhi , Geng Long , Zheng Min , Lu Qianjin , Lu Tao , Shi Yuling , Jing Haixia , Zhang Xiaojie , Shi Jianqiang , Xia Jue , Gao Yu , Wang Yun
Published: December 2020

Background: Topical agents are still the mainstay for the treatment of mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis, in which fixed combinations play an important role. Tazarotene/betamethasone dipropionate (Taz/BD) cream is a novel fixed combination approved for treating plaque psoriasis in China, but its efficacy and safety have not been verified in a real-world environment. Objectives: The primary objective was to investigate the efficacy and safety of Taz/BD cream in treating plaque psoriasis. The secondary objectives were to assess its relapse after discontinuation and the efficacy and safety profiles during retreatment. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, large-scale observational study was conducted. Adult patients with chronic plaque psoriasis involving <20% of the body surface area were enrolled. Taz/BD cream was applied once daily for 4 weeks. Patients who achieved ≥90% improvement in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) from baseline to week 4 were followed up to investigate relapse after drug withdrawal. Relapsed patients underwent another 4-week treatment. Results: In total, 2,299 eligible patients were enrolled, and 2,095 patients (91.1%) completed the 4-week study. The mean PASI improvement at week 4 was 53.7%, and the PASI 50/75 response rates were 62.5 and 26.8%, respectively. The mean PASI reduction in plaque induration, desquamation and erythema were 58.3, 61.0 and 40.0%, respectively (p < 0.001). Adverse reactions occurred in 445 patients (20.8%) at week 4. The most frequently reported adverse reactions were local skin irritation, including pruritus (10%), pain (6.7%), erythema (6.1%) and desquamation (1.8%). During the post-treatment period, 47 patients (24.0%) relapsed within 8 weeks after drug discontinuation. Forty-five patients were retreated for another 4 weeks, and the PASI 50/75 response rates were 72.7 and 40.9%, respectively. There were no unexpected safety signals during retreatment. Conclusion: Taz/BD cream is effective and well tolerated in treating mild-to-moderate plaque psoriasis under near real-world conditions and demonstrates efficacy and safety during retreatment.
A Rare Case of Intra-Fourth-Ventricular Germinoma, Derived from the Medulla Oblongata
Authors: Minh Thong Pham , Minh Duc Nguyen
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Extragonadal germinomas rarely emerge from the brain stem; however, proper diagnosis and treatment can result in favorable prognosis. Unfortunately, the preoperative diagnosis of medulla oblongata germinoma is difficult due to insufficient clinical signs and symptoms that are specific to this diagnosis. Case Representation: We present a 12-year-old male patient with an intra-fourth-ventricular germinoma, derived from the medulla oblongata, with no abnormalities in the supratentorial region. The germinoma was initially assessed by advance MRI sequences, including diffusion-weighted imaging, T1 perfusion, and spectroscopy. Conclusion: In summary, although existing imaging technologies cannot completely distinguish germinomas from other primary brain neoplasms in the fourth ventricle, in patients aged between 12 and 40 years, a small mass on the dorsal side of medulla oblongata that emerges into the fourth ventricle and is characterized by homogeneous contrast enhancement, the absence of calcification and hemorrhage, and the lack of hydrocephalus should be considered for a potential medulla oblongata germinoma diagnosis.
Plasma Sulfur Amino Acids and Risk of Cerebrovascular Diseases
Authors: Vinknes Kathrine J. , Refsum Helga , Turner Cheryl , Khaw Kay-Tee , Wareham Nicholas J. , Forouhi Nita G. , Imamura Fumiaki
Published: December 2020

Background and Purpose:

B-vitamin supplements lower circulating concentrations of homocysteine and may reduce stroke incidence. Homocysteine concentrations are associated with the incidence of stroke but other sulfur-containing compounds in the related metabolic pathway have not yet been investigated for an association with incident cerebrovascular diseases.

Methods:

Nested within the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition)-Norfolk cohort, we established a case-control study with 480 incident cases of cerebrovascular diseases and 480 controls matched by age, sex, and year of baseline examination (1993–1997). Using baseline plasma samples, we assayed sulfur-containing compounds including methionine, homocysteine, cystathionine, cysteine, glutathione, and taurine with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. We examined the association of concentrations of each of the compounds and the ratio of methionine to homocysteine (representing activity of one-carbon metabolism) with risk of incident cerebrovascular diseases, adjusted for potential confounders.

Results:

Plasma methionine and the methionine/homocysteine ratio were inversely associated with risk of cerebrovascular diseases, with odds ratios per 1 SD of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.72–0.96) and 0.82 (95% CI, 0.71–0.95), respectively. The association of methionine remained significant after adjustment for homocysteine. None of the other examined compounds was significantly associated with incident cerebrovascular diseases.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that greater availability of methionine, an essential amino acid, may play a role in the prevention of cerebrovascular diseases and explain the previously recognized link between elevated homocysteine and stroke. Further research is needed to determine causation and the potential of circulating methionine as a target in cerebrovascular disease prevention.
Qualitative and Quantitative Wall Enhancement on Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Associated With Symptoms of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms
Authors: Fu Qichang , Wang Yuting , Zhang Yi , Zhang Yong , Guo Xinbin , Xu Haowen , Yao Zhiqiang , Wang Meng , Levitt Michael R. , Mossa-Basha Mahmud , Zhu Jinxia , Cheng Jingliang , Guan Sheng , Zhu Chengcheng
Published: December 2020

Background and Purpose:

Aneurysmal wall enhancement (AWE) on vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VW-MRI) has been described as a new imaging biomarker of unstable unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs). Previous studies of symptomatic UIAs are limited due to small sample sizes and lack of AWE quantification. Our study aims to investigate whether qualitative and quantitative assessment of AWE can differentiate symptomatic and asymptomatic UIAs.

Methods:

Consecutive patients with UIAs were prospectively recruited for vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging at 3T from October 2014 to October 2019. UIAs were categorized as symptomatic if presenting with sentinel headache or oculomotor nerve palsy directly related to the aneurysm. Evaluation of wall enhancement included enhancement pattern (0=none, 1=focal, and 2=circumferential) and quantitative wall enhancement index (WEI). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the parameters associated with symptoms.

Results:

Two hundred sixty-seven patients with 341 UIAs (93 symptomatic and 248 asymptomatic) were included in this study. Symptomatic UIAs more frequently showed circumferential AWE than asymptomatic UIAs (66.7% versus 17.3%,
P
<0.001), as well as higher WEI (median [interquartile range], 1.3 [1.0–1.9] versus 0.3 [0.1–0.9],
P
<0.001). In multivariate analysis, both AWE pattern and WEI were independent factors associated with symptoms (odds ratio=2.03 across AWE patterns [95% CI, 1.21–3.39],
P
=0.01; odds ratio=3.32 for WEI [95% CI, 1.51–7.26],
P
=0.003). The combination of AWE pattern and WEI had an area under the curve of 0.91 to identify symptomatic UIAs, with a sensitivity of 95.7% and a specificity of 73.4%.

Conclusions:

In a large cohort of UIAs with vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging, both AWE pattern and WEI were independently associated with aneurysm-related symptoms. The qualitative and quantitative features of AWE can potentially be used to identify unstable intracranial aneurysms.
Grenzland als Synergie- und Dysergiezone
Authors: Donec Pavel N.
Published: December 2020

The author discusses reasons for the scientific interest on the definition of “border / borderland / boundary” in many research-fields, various types of which are described in the article. It is suggested that at least two of them – “threshold” and “mixed zone” – are significantly marked by processes of syn-/ and dysergy. For this reason, the category of “border / borderland / boundary” should be included into the terminological instrumentarium of synergetics and systems theory.
Konzepte CONTACT ZONE und BORDER AREA in der Archäologie
Authors: Petlyuchenko Nataliya
Published: December 2020

The article provides results of a cognitive analysis into the conceptual opposition of CONTACT ZONE vs. BORDER AREA in English and German languages highlighting problems related to their definition in history, linguistics, communication studies, education, etc. The author discusses a series of issues concerning the typology of contact zones in sciences and humanities, offers definitions of the concepts of CONTACT ZONE and BORDER AREA, identifies their constitutive characteristics: motivation (origin) of the concept and types of sub-concepts, type/number of contact cultures and the nature of their relationship, inner structure of a zone and its size, stability/transitivity of a zone, interculturalism/hybridity, etc. The proposed linguistic interpretation of the concept of CONTACT ZONE in archeological discourse contributes to the refinement of the terminological apparatus used by archaeologists specializing in contact zone studies and complex systems of boundaries allowing a more sophisticated way for analyzing ethno-archaeological contact zones as a hypernym-hyponym relationship with several border areas within one contact zone, and provides an ideal-type model of CONTACT ZONE for further interdisciplinary research.
Deprivation or Circumvention of the UN’s Immunity
Authors: Okada Yohei
Published: December 2020

The immune system is supposed to protect one’s body from harmful germs, but sometimes it may attack a healthy part of the body itself—this is called an ‘autoimmune disease’. Although the founders of the United Nations (UN) equipped it with such immunities as are necessary for the fulfilment of its purposes, it seems that its jurisdictional immunity is sometimes more detrimental to its proper functioning than protective of it, especially in the context of peacekeeping. The present study aims to discover a cure for this autoimmune disease. Immunities are, in general, under attack because they serve as insurmountable hurdles to holding those who exercise public authority accountable before domestic courts. Peacekeepers may harm the local population, but the UN’s immunity leads to the denial of justice in cases of third-party claims, which put pressure on the UN. However, neither deprivation nor circumvention of the UN’s jurisdictional immunity is a safe and holistic cure for this autoimmune disease. What we need to ensure is that the immune system functions as designed.
Misconduct Committed by (Civilian) Private Contractors in Peacekeeping Operations
Authors: Buscemi Martina
Published: December 2020

In peacekeeping operations, private companies are frequently and increasingly engaged by the United Nations to carry-out a wide-range of activities that can potentially impinge on human rights. This article deals with two recent cases of misconduct committed by contractors whose activities, albeit not on the face of it involving the threat or (lethal or not-lethal) use of force, nonetheless caused harm to individuals. The first case-study relates to the mismanagement of sanitary waste, while the second case addresses the (mis)use of unarmed surveillance drones. Against this backdrop, the article purports to assess whether, and under what conditions, wrongdoing committed by private contractors gives rise to the international responsibility of the United Nations. The study explores, firstly, the question of the ‘direct’ attribution of such conduct to the United Nations, based on the qualification of the contractors as agent of the Organization, as understood in the Draft Articles on the Responsibility of International Organizations. It then analyzes the issue of the ‘indirect’ responsibility of the United Nations for failing to have sufficient oversight of the outsourced activities. In this respect, it highlights the crucial role played by internal accountability mechanisms, in particular the Office of Internal Oversight Services, in appraising the monitoring measures taken by the Organization with regard to the practice of contractors and in recommending remedial actions.
Frege on Singular Senses
Authors: Ruffino Marco
Published: December 2020

In this article the author discusses what seems to be a puzzle for Frege’s notion of singular senses (i.e., the senses of singular terms), in particular senses of definite descriptions. These senses are supposed to be complete (or saturated), but they are composed of the incomplete (unsaturated) senses of conceptual terms (i.e., conceptual senses). The author asks how the definite article (or what it expresses) transforms an unsaturated sense into a saturated one and reviews some attempted explanations in the literature. He argues that none of them is compatible with Frege’s views in semantics. Next, he discusses an alternative that Frege himself endorses and argues that it is also incompatible with his semantics. The author concludes that Frege has no coherent view on the senses of definite descriptions. If we assume that every name expresses a descriptive sense, then we must conclude that Frege has no coherent explanation for singular senses in general.
Pluralism at the Twilight of Franco’s Spain: Antifascist and Intersectional Practice
Authors: Valencia-García Louie Dean
Published: December 2020

Since the late 1980s, the term ‘intersectionality’ has been used as a way to describe ways in which socially constructed categories must be considered in conjunction to better understand everyday oppression. This article presents a broad understanding of pluralism as antifascist practice, whilst studying antifascist publications in Spain during the 1970s, considering intersectional analysis and methodology. Many of the producers of these publications saw themselves as explicitly antifascist or at the very least part of a countercultural movement which challenged social norms promoted under the late fascist regime. By looking at these antifascist movements, using intersectional approaches, we can better understand how fascism itself functions and how it can be disentangled – as scholarship on fascism has largely ignored how intersectional analytical approaches might give us new insights into fascism.
‘Somehow Getting Their Own Back on Hitler’: British Antifascism and the Holocaust, 1960–1967
Authors: Cohen Joshua
Published: December 2020

This article considers the extent to which the Holocaust galvanized British antifascism in the 1960s. It explores whether the genocide surfaced in Jewish antifascists’ motivations and rhetoric but goes beyond this to assess the Holocaust’s political capital in wider antifascism and anti-racism. The article considers whether political coalitions were negotiated around Holocaust memory, for example, by analysing whether Jewish antifascism intersected with the black and Asian communities of Smethwick and Southall respectively who were targeted by the far right in 1964. Using archival materials and newly-collected oral histories, the article surveys organisations including the Jewish Board of Deputies, the 62 Group, Yellow Star Movement and Searchlight newspaper. It will argue that the Holocaust played a more important role in 1960s’antifascism than has been recognised. Jewish groups fragmented around the lessons of the genocide for their antifascism. The Holocaust influenced race relations legislation and became a metonym for extreme racist violence.
Antifascism in the Neighborhood: Daily Life, Political Culture, and Gender Politics in the German Communist Antifascist Movement, 1930–1933
Authors: Sewell Sara Ann
Published: December 2020

This article examines grassroots communist antifascist politics in Germany during the final years of the Weimar Republic. In contrast to most studies on Weimar’s street politics, which focus on political violence, this research demonstrates that daily life, political culture, and gender relations shaped the communist antifascist movement in working-class neighborhoods. It argues that daily conflict with distinct political overtones or undertones increased steadily in the early 1930s. As a result, quarrels between neighbors were often colored with political narratives, and sometimes ordinary disputes escalated into political conflict and even violence. Political culture inflamed the tensions, particularly when Nazis and communists littered proletarian boroughs with their symbols. Women were often at the center of the conflict. Many joined the frontlines of communist antifascist struggle, where they faced widespread discrimination from male comrades who, flaunting a militant hypermasculinity, insisted that women belonged only in the rearguard.
Amphipoda species (Suborders: Amphilochidea and Senticaudata) from Vasiliko Bay, Cyprus: New records, information on their biogeography and an annotated checklist from the coasts of Cyprus
Authors: ROUSOU MARIA , PLAITI WANDA , LOWRY JIM , CHARALAMBOUS STEPHANOS , CHINTIROGLOU CHARITON CHARLES
Published: December 2020

Current information on soft-bottom benthic amphipod species of the south coasts of Cyprus is scarce. In the summer of 2013, a research survey was carried out, targeting the Vasiliko Bay and the nearby coastal area which is influenced by multiple human-induced stressors. Analysis of 126 samples revealed the presence of 2,122 individual amphipods (Amphilochidea and Senticaudata) belonging to 25 families and 52 species. Twenty-four species are new records for Cyprus increasing the number of amphipods to 141 species. In Vasiliko Bay, two amphipod species presented the highest abundances and were found to be constant (Microdeutopus periergos, Perioculodes longimanus), while seven are common species (Ampelisca brevicornis, Ampelisca typica, Apherusa chiereghinii, Dexamine spinosa, Harpinia crenulata, Leptocheirus pectinatus, Leucothoe incisa) and the remaining 43 species are rare. The highest amphipod total abundances and number of species were recorded in stations with dense Posidonia oceanica meadows and aquaculture units in the vicinity. Brief distributional and ecological characteristics of the identified amphipod species are given and an annotated checklist for the coasts of Cyprus is provided.
New Brazilian species of Folsomides Stach (Collembola: Isotomidae)
Authors: DE MENDONÇA MARIA CLEIDE , DA ROCHA NEVES ANA CAROLINA
Published: December 2020

A new blind species, Folsomides cariocus sp. nov., which belongs to the F. parvulus group sensu Fjellberg (1993), is described and illustrated based on material collected in compacted clay soil covered by undergrowth and no litter around the bee nest holes at the Botanical Garden, located in Rio de Janeiro City. The new species is very similar to F. parvulus Stach, 1922 but differs mainly due to the absence of eyes. Synonymies based on ocular variations and pigmented spots were discussed and a table for the group parvulus species is present.
First comes the river, then comes the conflict? A qualitative comparative analysis of flood-related political unrest
Authors: Ide Tobias , Kristensen Anders , Bartusevičius Henrikas
Published: December 2020

Disasters triggered by natural hazards will increase in the future due to climate change, population growth, and more valuable assets located in vulnerable areas. The impacts of disasters on political conflict have been the subject of broad academic and public debates. Existing research has paid little attention to the links between climate change, disasters, and small-scale conflicts, such as protests or riots. Floods are particularly relevant in this context as they are the most frequent and most costly contemporary disasters. However, they remain understudied compared to other disasters, specifically, droughts and storms. We address these gaps by focusing on flood-related political unrest between 2015 and 2018 in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Drawing on data from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory (DFO) and Armed Conflict Location and Event Dataset (ACLED), we find that flood-related political unrest occurs within two months after 24% of the 92 large flooding events recorded in our sample. Subsequently, a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) shows that the simultaneous presence of a large population, a democratic regime, and either the exclusion of ethnic groups from political power or a heavy impact of the flood is an important scope condition for the onset of flood-related political unrest. This indicates that disaster–conflict links are by no means deterministic. Rather, they are contingent on complex interactions between multiple contextual factors.
Retinal and Lens Degeneration in New Zealand White Rabbits Administered Intravitreal TSG-6 Link Domain-Rabbit FAb Fusion Proteins
Authors: Laing Steven T. , Tassew Nardos , Tesar Devin , Wang Yue , Crowell Susan R. , Gray Julia , Kwong Mandy , Loyet Kelly M. , Andaya Roxanne , Kusi Aija , Kelley Robert F.
Published: December 2020

Fusion of biologic therapeutics to hyaluronic acid binding proteins, such as the link domain (LD) of Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-Stimulated Gene-6 (TSG-6), is expected to increase vitreous residence time following intravitreal injection and provide for long-acting delivery. The toxicity of a single intravitreal dose of free TSG-6-LD and fusion proteins of TSG-6-LD and a nonbinding rabbit antibody fragment (RabFab) were assessed in New Zealand White rabbits. Animals administered free TSG-6-LD exhibited extensive lens opacities and variable retinal vascular attenuation, correlated with microscopic findings of lens and retinal degeneration. Similar but less severe findings were present in animals dosed with the RabFab-TSG-6-LD fusion proteins. In-life ocular inflammation was noted in all animals from 7-days postdose and was associated with high anti-RabFab antibody titers in animals administered fusion proteins. Inflammation and retinal degeneration were multifocally associated with evidence of retinal detachment, and hypertrophy and migration of vimentin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and glutamine synthetase positive Müller cells to the outer nuclear layer. Further assessment of alternative hyaluronic acid binding protein fusions should consider the potential for retinal degeneration and enhanced immune responses early in development.
Access to e-government services by citizens through public/community libraries in Namibia
Authors: Nengomasha Cathrine T , Shuumbili Teopoline N
Published: December 2020

The role of public/community libraries in promoting national development is undeniable. It is therefore not surprising that these libraries are being heralded as partners in e-government service delivery. The libraries however experience challenges in providing this important service, many of which emanate from poor funding. The paper presents findings of a study that was conducted in urban, semi-urban and rural public/community libraries in Namibia to determine access to e-government services through public/community libraries. Related studies have highlighted the digital divide between rural and urban settings as one of the factors influencing e-government service delivery. There is an imbalance in the provision of technology infrastructure between rural and urban areas in Namibia. The study therefore was based on the assumption that the setting of the library will have an influence on access to e-government services. The study employed a survey research design using a questionnaire for data collection, which was administered via email. The study population were all 65 community libraries, of which 64 took part in the study and the units of analysis were library staff, of which 75 completed the questionnaire. The findings show that the e-government services that users were accessing through the libraries included downloading and completing employment forms, employment information, and filing tax returns. The challenges included few workstations in libraries, unreliable Internet connectivity and slow Internet access (i.e. slow bandwidth). The library setting had no impact on access to e-government services, suggesting that these other factors could equally be affecting libraries regardless of setting and that there could be other factors at play. The study recommends that a study be conducted to gather the perspective of the users which may highlight what these other factors are.
Extrapolation of Survival Curves Using Standard Parametric Models and Flexible Parametric Spline Models: Comparisons in Large Registry Cohorts with Advanced Cancer
Authors: Gray Jodi , Sullivan Thomas , Latimer Nicholas R. , Salter Amy , Sorich Michael J. , Ward Robyn L. , Karnon Jonathan
Published: December 2020

Background

It is often important to extrapolate survival estimates beyond the limited follow-up times of clinical trials. Extrapolated survival estimates can be highly sensitive to model choice; thus, appropriate model selection is crucial. Flexible parametric spline models have been suggested as an alternative to standard parametric models; however, their ability to extrapolate is not well understood.

Aim

To determine how well standard parametric and flexible parametric spline models predict survival when fitted to registry cohorts with artificially right-censored follow-up times.

Methods

Adults with advanced breast, colorectal, small cell lung, non–small cell lung, or pancreatic cancer with a potential follow-up time of 10 y were selected from the SEER 1973–2015 registry data set. Patients were classified into 15 cohorts by cancer and age group at diagnosis (18–59, 60–69, 70+ y). Follow-up times for each cohort were right censored at 20%, 35%, and 50% survival. Standard parametric models (exponential, Weibull, Gompertz, log-logistic, log-normal, generalized gamma) and spline models (proportional hazards, proportional odds, normal/probit) were fitted to the 10-y data set and the 3 right-censored data sets. Predicted 10-y restricted mean survival time and percentage surviving at 10 y were compared with the observed values.

Results

Across all data sets, the spline odds and spline normal models most frequently gave accurate predictions of 10-y survival outcomes. Visually, spline models tended to demonstrate better fit to the observed hazard functions than standard parametric models, both in the censored and 10-y data.

Conclusions

In these cohorts, where there was little uncertainty in the observed data, the spline models performed well when extrapolating beyond the observed data. Spline models should be routinely included in the set of models that are fitted when extrapolating cancer survival data.
A systematic review of the published literature on interventions to improve personal self-care for people with severe mental health problems
Authors: Birken Mary , Wong Hei Ting , McPherson Peter , Killaspy Helen
Published: December 2020

Introduction

People with severe mental health problems often struggle to manage everyday tasks such as personal hygiene, housework, shopping, cooking and budgeting. These functional problems result in self-neglect and are associated with specific cognitive impairments and poor outcomes. Despite their importance, little guidance is available for practitioners in how to address these problems.

Method

We conducted a systematic review of the research literature published since 1990 on the effectiveness of interventions that aim to assist people with severe mental health problems to manage their personal self-care. We searched six major electronic databases and followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidance in the conduct of the review and reporting of results.

Results

Our search identified 2808 papers of which only eight met our inclusion criteria. The included papers comprised six randomised controlled trials and two ‘pre-post’ studies reporting on evaluations of five different interventions. We used narrative synthesis to summarise our findings. The strongest evidence was for cognitive adaptation training, comprising environmental supports provided in the home that address the functional problems arising from specific cognitive impairments.

Conclusion

The paucity of research into interventions to assist personal self-care for people with severe mental health problems is surprising. More research in this area is urgently needed.
What Happens If They Come for You? An Exploration of Mothers’ Racial Socialization on Discrimination With Black College Women
Authors: Leath Seanna , Butler-Barnes Sheretta , Ross Raven , Lee-Nelson Zenobia
Published: December 2020

Few scholars have considered the racial socialization that Black mothers offer to their daughters on racial discrimination and violence or how mothers’ other social identities (social class and ethnicity) may influence their discourse on these topics. To address this gap, we used consensual qualitative research methods to explore the racial socialization that 47 Black college women recalled from their mothers on racial discrimination and violence during their formative years. The following themes emerged: (a) the nature of Black mothers’ socialization on racial discrimination (consistent messaging, messaging focused on sons, more socialization in response to police shootings, anti-Black messaging from immigrant mothers, and absence of messages) and (b) the ways that mothers socialized their daughters to respond to racial discrimination (self-advocacy, get home safe, code switching, and take the high road). Participants described how their mothers’ socialization messages reflected their personal race-related beliefs and experiences including perceptions of the United States racial climate. Our findings highlight the need for socialization in Black family contexts that addresses the unique and intersectional experiences of Black girls. In particular, scholars and practitioners must draw attention to how racism and sexism contribute to the state-sanctioned violence that Black women and girls experience. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ's website at http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/0361684320979679
Outcomes of Multiple Runs of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: An analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Registry
Authors: Cooper David S. , Thiagarajan Ravi , Henry Brandon Michael , Byrnes Jonathan W. , Misfeldt Andrew , Frischer Jason , King Eileen , Gao Zhiqian , Rycus Peter , Marino Bradley S.
Published: December 2020

Objective:

When patients deteriorate after decannulation from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a second run of extracorporeal support may be considered. However, repeat cannulation can be difficult and poor outcomes associated with multiple ECMO runs are a concern. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes and identify factors associated with survival and mortality in cases of multiple runs of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Design:

Retrospective cohort analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry.

Setting:

The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization’s registry was queried for neonates, children, and adults receiving 2 or more runs of ECMO during the same hospitalization, for any indication, from 1998 to 2015.

Patients:

1,818 patients from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry.

Results:

Of the 1,818 patients, 1,648 underwent 2 runs and 170 underwent 3 or more runs of ECMO. The survival to discharge rate was 36.7% for 2 runs and 29.4% for 3 or more runs. No significant differences in survival were detected in analysis by decade of ECMO run (p = 0.21). Pediatric patients had less mortality than adults (OR: 0.45, 95%CI: 0.24-0.82). Cardiac support on the first run portrayed worse mortality than pulmonary support regardless of final run indication (OR:1.38, 95%CI: 1.09-1.75). Across all age groups, patients receiving pulmonary support on the last run tended to have higher survival rates regardless of support type on the first run. The only first run complication independently predictive of mortality on the final run was renal complications (OR: 1.60, 95%CI: 1.28-1.99).

Conclusions:

Though the use of multiple runs of ECMO is growing, outcomes remain poor for most cohorts. Survival decreases with each additional run. Patients requiring additional runs for a pulmonary indication should be considered prime candidates. Renal complications on the first run significantly increases the risk of mortality on subsequent runs, and as such, careful consideration should be applied in these cases.
Educational Resources and Curriculum on Lactation for Health Undergraduate Students: A Scoping Review
Authors: Campbell Suzanne Hetzel , de Oliveira Bernardes Nicole , Tharmaratnam Thayanthini , Mendonça Vieira Flaviana Vely
Published: December 2020

Background

Breastfeeding is a fundamental component of health care, and health professionals need to be adequately prepared. As part of the system, health care professionals have the ability to influence the establishment and maintenance of breastfeeding. The global literature regarding the curricular approach or established best practices for health professional education in lactation is inconclusive and lacking in rigor.

Research aim

To explore the literature for the educational resources, methods, and curriculum used in the education of undergraduate health students related to lactation.

Methods

A scoping review examining the curricular programs of health professional students in lactation was undertaken exploring and summarizing evidence from peer reviewed and grey literature. A scoping review with a five-stage review process was followed. The database search between 1982–2018 generated 625 results, 79 full-text articles were reviewed, and 29 articles published in English met the inclusion criteria.

Results

In general, educational resources, methods, curricular approaches, and foundational topics were based on best practice standards. Some authors incorporated a variety of learning methods and provided experiential learning, with evidence of translation of knowledge into clinical practice. In the studies examined, researchers reported that students had improved their: knowledge and attitudes (59%); breastfeeding support skills (45%); and confidence (10%). However, even in programs that focused on developing students’ breastfeeding support skills, authors reported a lack of change in students’ confidence.

Conclusions

Although only English articles met the inclusion criteria, this review was unique in its search of multidisciplinary, multilingual, and international studies. Consistency in teaching across disciplines is key and not evident in the studies reviewed.
What are Optimal Bacteriological Screening Test Cut-Offs for Pasteurized Donor Human Milk Intended for Feeding Preterm Infants?
Authors: Clifford Vanessa , Klein Laura D. , Sulfaro Christine , Karalis Tass , Hoad Veronica , Gosbell Iain , Pink Joanne
Published: December 2020

Background

Definitive criteria for microbial screening of pasteurized donor human milk are not well established and international recommendations vary.

Aims

(1) To review pasteurized donor human milk batch discard due to failed microbial screening criteria at our milk bank (following United Kingdom National Institute of Clinical Excellence guidelines), and (2) to compare our known milk discard proportion with estimated milk discard proportions that would be required by other international milk bank guidelines.

Methods

We reviewed our microbial screening results ( N = 783) over 18-months (July 2018-December 2019) and compared our known milk discard proportion with estimated milk discard proportions using other international milk bank guidelines.

Results

Of samples, n = 50 (6.4%) failed pre-pasteurization screening, most commonly due to the presence of >104 CFU/mL Enterobacterales in the pre-pasteurization sample ( n = 30; 3.8%). Two (0.3%) samples failed post-pasteurization screening, with Bacillus cereus identified in both cases, resulting in total discard proportion of 6.7% ( n = 52) of batches. Applying European Milk Bank Association recommended bacterial screening criteria, approximately 23.3% ( n = 183) of milk batches would have been discarded.

Conclusions

Further research is required to justify the stringent European Milk Bank Association recommendations for pre-pasteurization discard criteria, although we believe that a post-pasteurization acceptance criterion of <1 CFU/mL is appropriate and aligns with international guidance. Further work is needed to understand pasteurized donor human milk microbiological safety risks, to better integrate screening criteria within current food standards regulation, and to consider risk-based assessment including the impact on availability and affordability.
Illness Process and Recovery From the Perspective of the Alcoholic Patient
Authors: Rodríguez Puente Linda Azucena , Alonso Castillo María Magdalena , Villar Luis Margarita Antonia , Armendáriz García Nora Angélica , Gómez Melasio Dafne Astrid , Navarro Oliva Edna Idalia Paulina , Lima Rodríguez Joaquín Salvador
Published: December 2020

The aim of this work was to gain understanding, using the self-transcendence theory, of the perspective of the alcoholic patient. This was a qualitative study using the grounded theory method. Eight semistructured interviews were conducted with alcohol-dependent individuals. Eleven categories emerged that allowed for understanding the process of becoming alcohol dependent to later seeking help and maintaining abstinence through the intervention program developed by Alcoholics Anonymous.
Real-time method for traffic sign detection and recognition based on YOLOv3-tiny with multiscale feature extraction
Authors: Yao Zhenxin , Song Xinping , Zhao Lu , Yin Yanhang
Published: December 2020

As a part of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), the vehicle traffic sign detection and recognition system have been paid more attention by Intelligent transportation researchers, the traffic sign detection and recognition algorithm based on convolution neural network has great advantages in expansibility and robustness, but it still has great optimization space inaccuracy, computation and storage space. In this paper, we design a multiscale feature fusion algorithm for traffic sign detection and recognition. In order to improve the accuracy of the network, the gaussian distribution characteristics are used in the loss function. The training and analysis of two neural networks with different feature scales and YOLOv3-tiny were carried out on the Tsinghua-Tencent open traffic sign dataset. The experimental results show that the detection and recognition of the targets by networks with multiple feature scales have improved significantly, and the recall and accuracy are 95.32% and 93.13% respectively. Finally, the algorithm of traffic sign detection and recognition is verified on the NVIDIA Jetson Tx2 platform and delivers 28 fps outstanding performances.
Feasibility, benefits, and cost-effectiveness of adding universal hepatitis B and syphilis testing to routine antenatal care services in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Van Thi Thuy , Trang Ho Thi Quynh , Ishikawa Naoko , Anh Nguyen Lan , Anh Le Ai Kim , Minh Truong Binh , Lo Ying-Ru , Kato Masaya
Published: December 2020

Pregnant women in Vietnam have a high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis. This study aims to assess the feasibility and benefit of universal testing for HIV, HBV and syphilis in antenatal care (ANC) services. A pilot project was conducted in the Thai Nguyen province of Vietnam between 2012 and 2014. HIV, HBV and syphilis testing were offered to pregnant women. Interventions to eliminate mother-to child-transmission (MTCT) of the three pathogens were provided to infected mothers and their infants. Descriptive analysis was conducted, and the number of infections averted from integrating hepatitis B tests into ANC was estimated. Testing coverage for HIV, HBV and syphilis for the cohort of pregnant women during the pilot project was 98%. Prevalence of HIV, HBV and syphilis infections in this cohort was 0.14%, 7.8%, and 0.03%, respectively. No infant was infected with HIV or syphilis, while HBV infection was diagnosed in 27 infants (13.9%). An estimated 23 mother to child HBV infections were prevented by integrated interventions. The triple prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, HBV and syphilis is feasible. Investment in the expansion of the integrated approach is required to achieve the goal of eliminating MTCT.
Paleoceanographic evolution of the Gulf of Tehuantepec (Mexican Pacific) during the last ~6 millennia
Authors: García-Gallardo Ángela , Machain-Castillo María Luisa , Almaraz-Ruiz Laura
Published: December 2020

Oceanographic dynamics in the Gulf of Tehuantepec (GT) are the direct consequence of climate variability, mainly influenced by the strong wind regime locally called “Tehuanos” and the interactions between the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The area is characterized by intense upwelling driven by the Tehuanos within one of the largest Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZ) in the world. Upwelling carries nutrient-rich subsurface waters to the surface and provides marine resources to the coasts conforming one of the main economic sectors in the region. In this study, sediment core MD02-2521 is used to perform the first high-resolution paleoceanographic reconstruction of the last 6 millennia in the GT. The main focus is put on the analysis of the benthic foraminifera (BF) assemblages inhabiting within the OMZ, which appear to respond to bottom oxygenation and climate variations of the last ~6000 years. The microfossil assemblages throughout the sediment core revealed, first, intervals where the lack of foraminifera provide evidence of episodes of strong deoxygenation that triggered the dissolution of calcareous foraminiferal tests, second, a long-term decline of bottom-water oxygenation in the last ~2500 years likely responding to the southward migration of the ITCZ. Last, variations in response to the transitions between cold and warm periods occurred during the last 2–2.5 millennia and cyclicities of 1470 years resembling Bond Cycles suggest a climatic connection between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans during the late-Holocene.
Review of research on basalt fibers and basalt fiber-reinforced composites in China (I): Physicochemical and mechanical properties
Authors: Yan Li , Chu Faliang , Tuo Wanyong , Zhao Xiaobo , Wang Yan , Zhang Pengqi , Gao Yibin
Published: December 2020

This paper reviewed the research progress in China on the durability, acid and alkali corrosion resistances, thermal insulation, sound insulation, and hygroscopic properties of basalt fibers (BFs) as well as the physicochemical and mechanical properties of BF-reinforced resin composites. The acidity coefficient and pH value of BFs and glass fibers (GFs) were tested, which showed that BFs had better chemical stability. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the acid corrosion of BFs gradually occurred from the outside to the inside, whereas the alkali corrosion of BFs occurred nearly simultaneously both inside and outside. Moreover, the reasons for these results were analyzed from a chemical reaction perspective. BFs met the thermal conductivity and sound absorption coefficient requirements of building thermal insulation and sound absorption materials. The hygroscopicity of BFs was 1/8–1/6 that of GFs, and BFs also had a smaller dielectric loss angle. Tests confirmed that BFRC exhibited great high-temperature resistance. As the short BF content increased, the flexural strength, splitting tensile strength and impermeability of BFRC significantly improved, and an optimal fiber length and content were proposed. A comparison showed that the mechanical properties of BF-reinforced resin were generally better than those of GF-reinforced resin. Finally, this review identified some concepts to be studied in this field and prospects for possible future research directions.

[Formula: see text]
Induced empathy moderates emotional responses to expressive qualities in music
Authors: O’Neill Katherine , Egermann Hauke
Published: December 2020

Recent research has explored the role of empathy in the context of music listening. Here, through an empathy priming paradigm, situational empathy was shown to act as a causal mechanism in inducing emotion, although the way empathy was primed had low levels of ecological validity. We therefore conducted an online experiment to explore the extent to which information about a composer’s expressive intentions when writing a piece of music would significantly affect the degree to which participants reportedly empathise with the composer and in turn influence emotional responses to expressive music. A total of 229 participants were randomly assigned to three groups. The experimental group read short texts describing the emotions felt by the composer during the process of composition. To control for the effect of text regardless of its content, one control group read texts describing the characteristics of the music they were to hear, and a second control group was not given any textual information. Participants listened to 30-second excerpts of four pieces of music, selected to express emotions from the four quadrants of the circumplex theory of emotion. Having heard each music excerpt, participants rated the valence and arousal they experienced and completed a measure of situational empathy. Results show that situational empathy in response to music is significantly associated with trait empathy. As opposed to those in the control conditions, participants in the experimental group responded with significantly higher levels of situational empathy. Receiving this text significantly moderated the effect of the expressiveness of stimuli on induced emotion, indicating that it induced empathy. We conclude that empathy can be induced during music listening through the provision of information about the specific emotions of a person relating to the music. These findings contribute to an understanding of the psychological mechanisms that underlie emotional responses to music.
Eyeball Preservation With Purse-String Conjunctival Closure for Melting Corneal Ulcer in Rare Facial Cleft
Authors: Tonello Cristiano , Paula Raul G. , Paula Isabella P. , Nunes Rodrigo B. , Kokitsu-Nakata Nancy M. , Alonso Nivaldo
Published: December 2020

Rare facial clefts are characterized by facial involvement that is not restricted to the lip, palate, and alveolus as in traditional cleft lip and palate. The craniofacial skeleton and the orbital structures are frequently affected in these conditions. Exposure of the eyeball, when not early treated, puts the function and the preservation of the eye at risk. We report the case of a 2-month-old boy admitted to our service with an extensive oral-ocular cleft and exposure of the eyeball with melting corneal ulcer treated with a conjunctival closure with a purse-string suture.