bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enzyme Replacement Therapy for Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency: Relevance in γ-Aminobutyric Acid Plasticity
Authors: Lee Henry Hing Cheong , Pearl Phillip L. , Rotenberg Alexander
Published: February 2021

Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADHD) is a rare inborn metabolic disorder caused by the functional impairment of SSADH (encoded by the ALDH5A1 gene), an enzyme essential for metabolism of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In SSADHD, pathologic accumulation of GABA and its metabolite γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) results in broad spectrum encephalopathy including developmental delay, ataxia, seizures, and a heightened risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Proof-of-concept systemic SSADH restoration via enzyme replacement therapy increased survival of SSADH knockout mice, suggesting that SSADH restoration might be a viable intervention for SSADHD. However, before testing enzyme replacement therapy or gene therapy in patients, we must consider its safety and feasibility in the context of early brain development and unique SSADHD pathophysiology. Specifically, a profound use-dependent downregulation of GABAA receptors in SSADHD indicates a risk that any sudden SSADH restoration might diminish GABAergic tone and provoke seizures. In addition, the tight developmental regulation of GABA circuit plasticity might limit the age window when SSADH restoration is accomplished safely. Moreover, given SSADH expressions are cell type–specific, targeted instead of global restoration might be necessary. We therefore describe 3 key parameters for the clinical readiness of SSADH restoration: (1) rate, (2) timing, and (3) cell type specificity. Our work focuses on the construction of a novel SSADHD mouse model that allows “on-demand” SSADH restoration for the systematic investigation of these key parameters. We aim to understand the impacts of specific SSADH restoration protocols on brain physiology, accelerating bench-to-bedside development of enzyme replacement therapy or gene therapy for SSADHD patients.
Systematic Literature Review on Smart Mobility: A Framework for Future “Quantitative” Developments
Authors: Francini Mauro , Chieffallo Lucia , Palermo Annunziata , Viapiana Maria Francesca
Published: February 2021

This work aims to reorganize theoretical and empirical research on smart mobility through the systematic literature review approach. The research goal is to reach an extended and shared definition of smart mobility using the cluster analysis. The article provides a summary of the state of the art that can have broader impacts in determining new angles for approaching research. In particular, the results will be a reference for future quantitative developments for the authors who are working on the construction of a territorial measurement model of the smartness degree, helping them in identifying performance indicators consistent with the definition proposed.
Bidirectional Correlations Between Dopaminergic Function and Motivation in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Hinkle Jared T. , Mills Kelly A. , Perepezko Kate , Pontone Gregory M.
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To test the hypothesis that striatal dopamine function influences motivational alterations in Parkinson disease (PD), we compared vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) and dopamine transporter (DaT) imaging data in PD patients with impulse control disorders (ICDs), apathy, or neither.

Methods:

We extracted striatal binding ratios (SBR) from VMAT2 PET imaging (18F-AV133) and DaTscans from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) multicenter observational study. Apathy and ICDs were assessed using the Movement Disorders Society-revised Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and the Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson’s Disease (QUIP), respectively. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA) and log-linear mixed-effects (LME) regression to model SBRs with neurobehavioral metrics.

Results:

Among 23 participants (mean age 62.7 years, mean disease duration 1.8 years) with VMAT2 imaging data, 5 had apathy, 5 had an ICD, and 13 had neither. ANOVA indicated strong groupwise differences in VMAT2 binding in right anterior putamen [F(2,20) = 16.2, p < 0.0001), right posterior putamen [F(2,20) = 16.9, p < 0.0001), and right caudate [F(2,20) = 6.8, p = 0.006)]. Post-hoc tests and repeated-measures analysis with LME regression also supported right striatal VMAT2 elevation in the ICD group and reduction in the apathy group relative to the group with neither ICD nor apathy. DaT did not exhibit similar correlations, but normalizing VMAT2 with DaT SBR strengthened bidirectional correlations with ICD (high VMAT2/DaT) and apathy (low VMAT2/DaT) in all striatal regions bilaterally.

Conclusions:

Our findings constitute preliminary evidence that striatal presynaptic dopaminergic function helps describe the neurobiological basis of motivational dysregulation in PD, from high in ICDs to low in apathy.
Synthesis and properties of a benzoxazine monomer containing maleimide and biphenyl groups
Authors: Guo Tao , Fan Yang , Bo Chang , Qi Zhang , Tao Han , Ziran Chen , Youhui Xu
Published: February 2021

Benzoxazine resin exhibits excellent properties and is widely used in many fields. Herein, the synthesis of a novel compound, the bis(2,4-dihydro-2 H-3-(4- N-maleimido)phenyl-1,3-benzoxazinyl)biphenyl (BMIPBB), has been reported, which was synthesized by reacting N-(4-aminophenyl)maleimide (APMI), formaldehyde, and 4,4’-dihydroxybiphenyl. 1,3,5-three(4-(maleimido)phenyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TMIPT) was formed as an intermediate during the reaction. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and Fourier transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy experiments were conducted to determine the structure of BMIPBB. BMIPBB was obtained as a reddish-brown solid in 40.1% yield. The thermal properties of BMIPBB were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Analysis of the DSC curves revealed that the broad peak representing the release of curing reaction heat appeared in the temperature range of 140–330°C. The peak temperature was 242.59°C and the heat of the reaction was 393.82 J/g, indicating that the rate of the curing reaction was low and the heat of the reaction was high. Analysis of the TGA results revealed that the weight loss rate was 5% at 110°C. The monomer exhibited a significant weight loss in the range of 320–500°C. The compound lost 50% of its weight at a temperature of 427°C.
Metaphors of migration over time
Authors: Taylor Charlotte
Published: February 2021

This paper aims to cast light on contemporary migration rhetoric by integrating historical discourse analysis. I focus on continuity and change in conventionalised metaphorical framings of emigration and immigration in the UK-based Times newspaper from 1800 to 2018. The findings show that some metaphors persist throughout the 200-year time period (liquid, object), some are more recent in conventionalised form (animals, invader, weight) while others dropped out of conventionalised use before returning (commodity, guest). Furthermore, we see that the spread of metaphor use goes beyond correlation with migrant naming choices with both emigrants and immigrants occupying similar metaphorical frames historically. However, the analysis also shows that continuity in metaphor use cannot be assumed to correspond to stasis in framing and evaluation as the liquid metaphor is shown to have been more favourable in the past. A dominant frame throughout the period is migrants as an economic resource and the evaluation is determined by the speaker’s perception of control of this resource.
Effect of different bleaching techniques on DNA damage biomarkers in serum, saliva, and GCF
Authors: Sürmelioğlu D , Gündoğar H , Taysi S , Bağiş YH
Published: February 2021

Bleaching agents containing a high concentration of H2O2 in the dental market lead to formation of reactive oxygen species, which have genotoxic effects. However, ozone bleaching, one of the most effective oxidants known, stimulates blood circulation and immune response and thus it has strong antimicrobial activity against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. For these reasons, one of our hypothesis was ozone bleaching would reduce local and systemic DNA damage in the body. Hence, we aimed to determine the oxidative DNA damage biomarker levels in serum, saliva, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) by measuring 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) after different bleaching methods.

Forty-eight volunteers who requested dental bleaching were divided into three treatment groups ( n = 16). Group 1: ozone bleaching with the ozone-releasing machine; Group 2: chemical bleaching with 40% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) gel; Group 3: 40% H2O2 gel activated with the diode laser. Initial and post-operative (immediately after bleaching and two weeks later) color measurements were performed with a spectrophotometer. The color changes were calculated with the CIEDE2000 (Δ E 00) formula. 8-OHdG levels in serum, saliva, and GCF samples were determined with ELISA. All three treatments resulted in efficient and statistically similar bleaching. The 8-OHdG levels in the serum and saliva were not affected by all bleaching methods ( p > 0.05), but a temporary increase was observed in the GCF for chemical and laser-assisted groups except the ozone group ( p > 0.05). According to the findings, chemical and laser-assisted bleaching can affect DNA damage locally but not systemically. Bleaching with ozone may eliminate this local DNA damage.
Paraoxonase 2 protects against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation-induced neuronal injury by enhancing Nrf2 activation via GSK-3β modulation
Authors: Bai J , Jia P , Zhang Y , Wang K , Wu G
Published: February 2021

Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) is a powerful antioxidant that mediates cell survival under oxidative stress; however, its protection neurons against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury-induced oxidative stress remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the precise regulating role of PON2 in neuronal survival under oxidative stress. An in vitro model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury was used to assess the effect of PON2 on oxidative stress induced by oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R). Results showed that PON2 expression in neurons was decreased due to OGD/R exposure. A series of functional experiments revealed that upregulated PON2 improved OGD/R-impaired viability and attenuated OGD/R-induced increases in apoptosis and reactive oxygen species in neurons. Decreased PON2 expression enhanced neuronal sensitivity to OGD/R-induced injury. Overexpressed PON2 markedly enhanced the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the nucleus and increased the levels of Nrf2-mediated transcriptional activity. Furthermore, PON2 enhanced the Nrf2 activation by modulating glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Inhibition of GSK-3β substantially abrogated the PON2 knockdown-mediated suppression of Nrf2 activity. Notably, Nrf2 inhibition partially reversed the neuroprotective effects of PON2 overexpression in OGD/R-exposed neurons. These findings indicate that PON2 alleviates OGD/R-induced apoptosis and oxidative stress in neurons by potentiating Nrf2 activation via GSK-3β modulation. This study highlights the potential neuroprotective function of PON2 against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.
“When Is Health Care Actually Going to Be Care?” The Lived Experience of Family Planning Care Among Young Black Women
Authors: Logan Rachel G. , Daley Ellen M. , Vamos Cheryl A. , Louis-Jacques Adetola , Marhefka Stephanie L.
Published: February 2021

While family planning care (FPC) visits may serve as opportunities to address gaps in knowledge and access to limited resources, young Black women may also face structural barriers (i.e., racism, discrimination, bias) to engaging in care due to the intersections of racial identity, age, and socioeconomic status. Findings from interviews with 22 Black women, ages 18 to 29 years, about the lived experience of FPC highlighted dynamic patient–provider encounters. Women’s narratives uncovered the following essences: silence around sex impedes engagement in care, patient–provider racial concordance as protection from harm, providers as a source of discouragement and misinformation, frustration as a normative experience, decision making excludes discussion and deliberation, medical mistrust is pervasive and a part of Black consciousness, and meaningful and empathic patient–provider encounters are elusive. Health systems should prioritize developing and enhancing young Black women’s relationship with FPC providers to help mitigate persistent inequities that perpetuate disadvantage among this population.
Response to Pulp Vitality Tests in Teeth Submitted to Orthodontic Movement, Adjacent to the Cleft Area
Authors: Pinheiro Claudia Ramos , de Castro Pinto Lidiane , Mateo-Castillo José Francisco , Siqueira Viviane da Silva , Garib Daniela
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To evaluate the pulp vitality in teeth adjacent to the cleft area submitted to orthodontic movement into the alveolar graft area in individuals with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (CUCLP).

Design:

Cold sensitivity, vertical, and horizontal percussion tests were conducted on the teeth adjacent to the cleft and the contralateral teeth.

Setting:

Endodontics Sector in the Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo (HRAC/USP).

Patients:

One hundred patients with CUCLP and hypodontia of the upper lateral incisor in orthodontic movement and after successful alveolar bone graft in the cleft area.

Main Outcome Measures:

The cleft study group (SG) was composed of 200 teeth, adjacent to the cleft area. The control group (CG) consisted of 200 contralateral teeth. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test for comparisons between groups ( P < .05).

Results:

In the SG, 82.0% of teeth presented positive response to the cold sensitivity testing, 13.5% had negative response, and 4.5% had marked response, with statistically significant difference in relation to the CG. The vertical and horizontal percussion tests on teeth in the SG revealed the same results, in which 95.0% presented negative response and 5.0% responded positively, without significant difference compared to teeth in the CG, for both tests.

Conclusions:

Teeth adjacent to the cleft area presented changes in the physiological conditions of the pulp, which were observed by reduction of positive response to the cold sensitivity testing or presence of pulp hypersensitivity in cases of marked response.
On the naturalisation of teleology: self-organisation, autopoiesis and teleodynamics
Authors: García-Valdecasas Miguel
Published: February 2021

In recent decades, several theories have claimed to explain the teleological causality of organisms as a function of self-organising and self-producing processes. The most widely cited theories of this sort are variations of autopoiesis, originally introduced by Maturana and Varela. More recent modifications of autopoietic theory have focused on system organisation, closure of constraints and autonomy to account for organism teleology. This article argues that the treatment of teleology in autopoiesis and other organisation theories is inconclusive for three reasons: First, non-living self-organising processes like autocatalysis meet the defining features of autopoiesis without being teleological; second, organisational approaches, whether defined in terms of the closure of constraints, self-determination or autonomy, are unable to specify teleological normativity, that is, the individuation of an ultimate beneficiary; third, all self-organised systems produce local order by maximising the throughput of energy and/or material (obeying the maximum entropy production (MEP) principle) and thereby are specifically organised to undermine their own critical boundary conditions. Despite these inadequacies, an alternative approach called teleodynamics accounts for teleology. This theory shows how multiple self-organising processes can be collectively linked so that they counter each other’s MEP principle tendencies to become codependent. Teleodynamics embraces – not ignoring – the difficulties of self-organisation, but reinstates teleology as a radical phase transition distinguishing systems embodying an orientation towards their own beneficial ends from those that lack normative character.
The affordances of art: the role of the individual and the case of literature
Authors: Stokhof Martin
Published: February 2021

This short note addresses the question whether Rietveld’s account of visual arts and adaptive behaviour be extended to literature.
Nodular Fasciitis With Malignant Morphology and a COL6A2–USP6 Fusion: A Case Report (of a 10-Year-old Boy)
Authors: Tomassen Tess , van de Ven Cees , Anninga Jakob , Koelsche Christian , Hiemcke-Jiwa Laura S. , ter Horst Simone , de Leng Wendy W. , Tirode Franck , Karanian Marie , Flucke Uta
Published: February 2021

Nodular fasciitis is usually a benign lesion genetically characterized by ubiquitin-specific protease 6 ( USP6) rearrangements. We present a case of a 10-year-old boy with a 1.5-week history of a painless mass on the right chest wall, which was excised. A histomorphologically malignant tumor with pronounced pleomorphism, atypical mitotic figures, and a myoid immunophenotype was observed. The methylation profile was consistent with nodular fasciitis and fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed USP6 rearrangement. Using Archer Fusion Plex (Sarcoma Panel) and RNA sequencing, a collagen, type VI, alpha 2 ( COL6A2) –USP6 gene fusion was subsequently identified. Furthermore, DNA clustering analysis also showed a match with nodular fasciitis. During the follow-up of 22 months, no recurrence or metastasis occurred. In conclusion, we describe a clinically benign, histomorphologically malignant mesenchymal neoplasm with a myoid immunophenotype, and a genetic and epigenetic profile consistent with nodular fasciitis. In such cases, molecular analysis is a useful adjunct to avoid unnecessary overtreatment.
Event-triggered adaptive fault-tolerant attitude synchronization and tracking control of multiple rigid bodies with finite-time convergence
Authors: Mihankhah Amin , Doustmohammadi Ali
Published: February 2021

This study investigates finite-time attitude synchronization and tracking control of multiple rigid bodies under event-triggered control strategy in presence of actuator faults and an external disturbance. The event-triggered implementation technique aims to reduce resource utilization in regard to control effort and communication burden. To achieve this aim, the adaptive sliding mode structure is used, and a novel triggering condition is proposed. In presence of unknown actuator faults and external disturbance, it is shown that the multiple rigid bodies track a time-varying attitude of a virtual leader synchronously in finite time under limited data communication. Moreover, a lower bound on the inter-event times has been derived to ensure that the Zeno behavior is avoided. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by numerical simulation along with comparison with another relevant research.
What Motivates Local Sustainability Policy Action in China? The Case of Low-Carbon City Pilot Program
Authors: Liu Zhilin , Wang Jie , Thomas Craig W.
Published: February 2021

An increasing volume of literature has sought to identify factors that motivate cities to pursue sustainability and adopt climate policies. However, most empirical studies were done in Western countries, where relatively high local autonomy and low pressure on industrial growth create conditions for spontaneous policy innovations in sustainability. This paper uses China’s Low-Carbon City Pilot Program as a case to investigate motivations for local sustainability actions in an authoritarian context. Our event history analyses confirm the effects of multi-level governance on local sustainability initiatives in China, particularly horizontal competition across jurisdictions, priorities and preferences of upper-level authorities, as well as local determinants including leadership, capacity, politics, and environmental stress. The findings contribute to the comparative urban governance scholarship by highlighting the unique feature of “experimentation under hierarchy” in shaping urban sustainability policymaking in China.
The safe handling of chemotherapy drugs in low- and middle-income countries: An overview of practices
Authors: von Grünigen Sandrine , Geissbühler Antoine , Bonnabry Pascal
Published: February 2021

Introduction

The rising burden of cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has led to substantial efforts to improve access to chemotherapy. The present study’s objectives were to obtain an overview of the safe handling practices implemented in LMICs’ healthcare facilities when dealing with chemotherapy drugs and to prioritize opportunities for improving them.

Methods

We conducted an online survey, from June 2018 to April 2019, among LMIC healthcare facilities dealing with chemotherapy drugs. Facilities were asked to self-assess their chemotherapy handling processes using Cyto-SAT, a self-assessment tool incorporating 134 items organized into 10 domains (management, personnel, logistics, prescription, preparation, administration, incident management, waste management, cleaning, and patient counselling). Data were recorded on an online platform ( www.datapharma.ch/cyto-SAT ).

Results

The survey enrolled 53 healthcare facilities (15 from low-income, 26 from lower-middle-income, and 12 from upper-middle-income countries). The median level of implementation of safe practices was 63% (Q1:39%–Q3:77%). Facilities in low-income countries (LICs) reported lower median levels of safe practices than middle-income countries (MICs) [LICs: 32% (Q1:24%–Q3:62%), Lower-MICs: 63% (Q1:49%–Q3:70%), Upper-MICs: 85% (Q1:77%–Q3:93%)]. The biggest differences between country categories were observed in the domains related to personnel, preparation processes, and incident management.

Conclusion

This overview of practices highlighted a large variability and major gaps in the safe handling of chemotherapy drugs in LMICs. Improvement strategies are needed to increase patient and staff safety and limit environmental contamination, especially in LICs. Safe handling programs should be part of continuing efforts to improve access to quality cancer drugs and should be integrated into national cancer control programs.
The Prospects of Using EEG in Tourism and Hospitality Research
Authors: Li ShiNa , Lyu Ting , Chen MengXin , Zhang PuYue
Published: February 2021

This study investigates the prospects of using electroencephalography (EEG) in tourism and hospitality research. It first discusses the concept and importance of EEG. Then, it systematically reviews articles that have used EEG to measure psychophysiological responses in business and management. The review mainly discusses EEG themes/theories/concepts and EEG methods and indices. Based on the review, this study analyses main challenges of applying EEG and suggests solutions to solve them. It finally proposes some future applications of EEG in tourism and hospitality. This study is one of the first to offer a better understanding of the literature, analysis methods, and theories/concepts associated with EEG, informing future EEG applications in tourism and hospitality research.
Inferior oblique recession associated to partial temporal inferior rectus recession in unilateral congenital superior oblique palsy
Authors: Burgos-Blasco Barbara , Hernandez-Garcia Elena , Llorente-La-Orden Carlos , Gomez-de-Liaño Rosario
Published: February 2021

Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of inferior oblique recession with contralateral partial temporal inferior rectus recession in patients with decompensated congenital unilateral superior oblique palsy (SOP) in correcting moderate vertical deviations in primary position.

Methods:

The medical records of patients with SOP who underwent inferior oblique recession with contralateral partial temporal inferior rectus recession were reviewed retrospectively. Vertical deviation in primary position, subjective torsion, diplopia, residual deviation, and the deviation decrease were evaluated.

Results:

Four patients (three males and one female, age range 29–56 years) with congenital unilateral SOP and mean vertical deviation of 21.0 ± 5.3PD (range 14–25D) in primary position were included. Mean correction of hypertropia in primary position with this technique was 15.5 ± 5.3PD (range 10–20PD). The mean hypertropia on gaze to the contralateral side changed from 30.0 ± 10.8D before surgery to 9.3 ± 7.9D after surgery. Torsion had a mean change of 4.8° of incyclodeviation. Preoperatively, all patients had head tilt and diplopia, which was resolved in all but one patient, who will need surgery. Patients were followed an average of 18 months. No adverse events were reported in any subjects.

Conclusion:

When performing recession of inferior oblique muscles in SOP associated to a full recession of the contralateral inferior rectus, there is a risk of overcorrection in those with moderate angles. Performing a partial recession in the contralateral inferior rectus eye corrected up to 20PD in primary position in our series, reducing this risk.
Ultrasound guided percutaneous cephalic venipuncture for implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices
Authors: Yalniz Ahmet , Cam Isa , Bozyel Serdar
Published: February 2021

Background:

Preoperative ultrasound (US) for cephalic cut-down is related to shorter procedure time and higher success rate. This study aimed to assess efficiency of US-guided percutaneous cephalic vein (CV) puncture for placement of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

Methods:

Patients undergoing a procedure including both US-guided pectoral nerve block (PECS) and percutaneous CV puncture were retrospectively investigated. Patient medical history and demographic data was collected. Clinical features of the procedures and intra- and post-operative complications occurring were collected from patient records. Clinical data included target vessel features, and the time taken for the following: CV puncture; CV and PECS puncture; total procedure.

Results:

In total 34 patients had CV puncture with US-guided PECS block was attempted in all patients and the procedure was successful in 27 of 34 (79.4%) patients. The total number of CV puncture attempts was 62 for 34 leads (mean attempts per lead = 1.82). The mean ± standard deviation time for CV puncture was 137.5 ± 27.4 s. There were no venous access-related complications.

Conclusion:

US-guided CV puncture appears feasible and safe with an acceptable success rate. In case of failure of the US-guided axillary or subclavian vein approach, it may be preferred as an alternative to the cephalic cut-down procedure, where the success rate is relatively lower and the risk of bleeding is higher.
Arteriovenous fistulas thrombosis in hemodialysis patients with COVID-19
Authors: Desbuissons Geoffroy , Michon Arthur , Attias Philippe , Burbach Maren , Diaconita Mirela , Karie-Guiges Svetlana , Novelli Luigi , Abou Rjeili Marawa , Awad Sameh , Besse Francis , Viglietti Denis , Beaudreuil Severine , Zaidan Mohamad , Lefèvre Edouard , Hebibi Hadia
Published: February 2021

Background:

The current Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is associated with significant mortality, especially in patients suffering from end stage renal disease (ESRD) and hemodialysis patients. Several previous studies reported an over-risk of arterial and venous thrombosis, in particular pulmonary embolism and venous thrombosis of catheter in COVID19 patients in intensive care unit. However, arteriovenous fistula (AVF) thrombosis has rarely been reported yet in these patients. AVF thrombosis is a serious complication that impacts significantly patients outcome. Here, we aim to describe characteristics and prognosis of a cohort of COVID-19 hemodialysis (HD) patients presenting with AVF thrombosis.

Methods:

In the Ile de France region (Paris area) during the March 11th–April 30th 2020 period, fistula thrombosis cases were collected among COVID-19 hemodialysis patients in seven dialysis units and in interventional vascular departments. These patients’ characteristics were analyzed through a review of the patient’s medical records.

Results:

Seventeen patients were included in our study (median age 69 years). Ten patients (59%) were men. Ten patients (59%) were diabetic and 88% had a high blood pressure. The mortality rate in these patients was 47%. All thrombosis treated with a declotting procedures (64%) were successfully cleared, but with early relapse in 36%.

Conclusion:

Our study highlights AVF thrombosis as a severe complication in COVID-19 hemodialysis patients that contributed to the severity and accelerated death.
Uraemic Cardiomyopathy: A Review of Current Literature
Authors: Garikapati Kartheek , Goh Daniel , Khanna Shaun , Echampati Krishna
Published: February 2021

Uraemic Cardiomyopathy (UC) is recognised as an intricate and multifactorial disease which portends a significant burden in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with UC is significant and can be associated with the development of arrythmias, cardiac failure and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The pathophysiology of UC involves a complex interplay of traditional implicative factors such as haemodynamic overload and circulating uraemic toxins as well as our evolving understanding of the Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral Bone Disease pathway. There is an instrumental role for multi-modality imaging in the diagnostic process; including transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in identifying the hallmarks of left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis that characterise UC. The appropriate utilisation of the aforementioned diagnostics in the ESRD population may help guide therapeutic approaches, such as pharmacotherapy including beta-blockers and aldosterone-antagonists as well as haemodialysis and renal transplantation. Despite this, there remains limitations in effective therapeutic interventions for UC and ongoing research on a cellular level is vital in establishing further therapies.
Localized Versus Generalized Granuloma Annulare: A Retrospective Review of 407 Patients
Authors: Yousaf Ahmed , Boustany Osama J. , Gerbo Michael , Waris Shanawar , Davis Stephen , Fang Wei , Powers Roxann
Published: February 2021

Background

Granuloma annulare has been linked to diabetes, dyslipidemia, thyroid disease, collagen vascular disease, malignancies, infectious hepatitis, and systemic infections. However, these associations have not been systematically investigated when categorized by its clinical variants.

Objective

To evaluate disease associations of localized and generalized granuloma annulare.

Methods

In total, 407 granuloma annulare patients from 1989 to 2019 were retrospectively reviewed, categorized by clinical variant (localized or generalized), age (pediatric or adult), and diagnostic method (clinical or histologic). Descriptive statistical analyses and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Fisher’s exact tests were conducted to produce unbiased probability values.

Results

Overall, 75.2% of the study sample was female, 47.2% had dyslipidemia, 24.8% were diabetic, and 24.6% had thyroid disease. Dyslipidemia (OR 2.15, CI 1.95-2.35, P < .001), diabetes (OR 1.16, CI 1.01-1.31, P = .041), and histologic diagnosis (OR 2.08, CI 1.21-3.52, P = .007) were associated with increased risk of GGA compared to LGA. When stratified by adult versus pediatric cases, dyslipidemia and diagnostic method remained significant, but diabetes did not.

Conclusions

Evaluating granuloma annulare by its clinical variants may help to determine disease associations with each variant.
Labor of love: The formalization of care in transgender kinship organizations
Authors: Greene Joss
Published: February 2021

While prior research shows how community-based organizations (CBO’s) create new social ties and solidarities, we know less about CBO’s that formalize preexisting relationships of care. Analyzing transgender nonprofits as a strategic case, this article develops the concept of kinship organizations: organizations that incorporate norms, networks, and resources from kinship systems into a formal organization that provides regular social services. Drawing on 7 months of ethnography and 36 formal interviews with staff and clients, I explore how transgender kinship organizations function, develop, and impact broader transgender community. Kinship organizations are highly responsive to crisis, are able to leverage personal and organizational resources, and are therefore capable of providing personalized rapid-response care to very precarious transgender people. On the other hand, subsuming kinship within a nonprofit transforms relationships of mutual care into unidirectional service relationships and relationships of chosen family into work-based hierarchies. This account of kinship organizations contributes to the theory on organizational development and provides new conceptual tools for analyzing boundaries between organizations and communities.
‘Should textbook images be merely decorative?’: Cultural representations in the Iranian EFL national textbook from the semiotic approach perspective
Authors: Derakhshan Ali
Published: February 2021

Studies examining culture representation in language textbooks have rarely adopted the semiotic approach, despite its potential for presenting and (re)creating cultural meanings at their various levels (i.e. cultural, intercultural, multicultural, and transcultural) in the co-instantiations of texts, tasks, and images. To address this issue, a qualitative analysis, embarking on the Peircean semiotic theory, was applied on the text-image-task semiotic relationship. It explored its potential for constructing and reconstructing cultural meanings relative to the Iranian national English as a foreign language (EFL) textbook, Vision 1, from the perspectives of Iranian EFL students, teachers, and teacher educators. Content and thematic analyses of the interview records revealed three themes: first, the co-instantiation of the image and text was indexical, cultural awareness and connotations were almost untouched; second, the textual and visual components driving intercultural meanings and interpretations were not in accordance with the tasks; and, third, some alternative more culturally engaging images were provided by the interviewees. On the whole, the findings confirmed the previous findings that the discourse of this brand-new Iranian localized EFL textbook leaves little space to raise cultural awareness for its users. Based on the findings, a dynamic model for evaluating cultural representations in textbooks is suggested, hoping to show how EFL textbooks can be developed, implemented, and received more effectively in instructional settings.
A theory of a theory of the smartphone
Authors: Miller Daniel
Published: February 2021

This article addresses the consequences of theory in social science. It suggests that theory has become fetishized and contributes to class differentiation as most people are excluded from its increasingly obfuscating form. Fetishism implies that what used to be a means for clarifying and explaining the world has become an end in itself. This article presents an alternative approach to theory as de-fetishized, using as an example a recent attempt to theorize the smartphone. In this approach the processes of abstraction, generalization and de-contextualization that are required to create theory are negated through simultaneous illustration, re-contextualization and forms of highly accessible dissemination. Two examples are provided from our recent theorization of the smartphone, first as the Transportal Home and, second, as Beyond Anthropomorphism.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of injuries during lockdown in Norway
Authors: Ohm Eyvind , Hauge Lars J. , Madsen Christian , Grøholt Else K. , Evensen Miriam , Reneflot Anne
Published: February 2021

Aims:

In order to prevent a major outbreak of COVID-19 disease in Norway, a series of lockdown measures was announced on 12 March 2020. The aim of the present paper was to describe the impact of this lockdown on the treatment of injuries.

Methods:

We collected hospital data on injury diagnoses from a national emergency preparedness register established during the pandemic. We identified the number of injured patients per day in the period 1 January–30 June 2020, and analysed the change in patient volumes over two three-week periods before and during the lockdown by sex, age, level of care, level of urgency, type of contact and type of injury.

Results:

Compared to pre-lockdown levels, there was an overall reduction of 43% in injured patients during the first three weeks of lockdown. The decrease in patient contacts did not differ by sex, but was most pronounced among young people. Substantial reductions were observed for both acute and elective treatment and across all levels of care and types of contact, with the exception of indirect patient contacts. The change in patient contacts varied considerably by injury type, with the largest reduction observed for dislocations/sprains/strains. The decrease was much lower for burns/corrosions and poisoning.

Conclusions:

A substantial reduction in the treatment of injuries was observed during lockdown in Norway. Possible explanations for this finding include an overall decrease in injury risk, a redistribution of hospital resources and a higher threshold for seeking medical attention as a result of the pandemic.
Emotive, evaluative, epistemic: A linguistic analysis of affectivity in news journalism
Authors: Koivunen Anu , Kanner Antti , Janicki Maciej , Harju Auli , Hokkanen Julius , Mäkelä Eetu
Published: February 2021

In this article, we introduce a linguistic approach to studying affectivity as a fundamental feature of news journalism. By reconceptualising affectivity beyond emotive storytelling, intentional stance-taking or evaluative expression, we propose a methodology that highlights how conventions related to mediating, modulating and managing affectivity permeate journalistic genres. Drawing from conversation analysis, Bakhtinian theory of language as dialogical and notion of affective meaning-making, we investigate how selected linguistic forms and structures – namely evidential and epistemic modals and lexical items signalling affective intensity (such as emotive and evaluative words and metaphorical expressions) – participate in affective meaning-making in news journalism. A scalable computational methodology is introduced to study multiple linguistic structures in conjunction. In investigating a case study – the news reporting and commentary on a highly charged, year-long political conflict between the right-wing conservative government and the trade unions in Finland (2015–2016) – the approach allows a focus on the ways in which affectivity operates in journalistic texts in response to both generic expectations of the audience and journalistic conventions. Our findings include identification of the intertwining of strategic rituals of objectivity and emotionality, recognition of metaphoricity as a key source of affectivity and detection of different news article types having their own conventions for managing affectivity. We also observe a connection between emotive and evaluative words and the grammatical constructions used to express degrees of certainty, which suggests these modal constructions play an important part in how affectivity informs journalistic texts.
Euphoric defiance: The role of positive emotions in the British Eurosceptic discourse
Authors: Henkel Imke
Published: February 2021

Ever since Britain voted to leave the European Union, emotions have dominated the public debate. How negative emotions, such as anger, have impacted the Brexit vote, has been widely researched. Less attention has been focused on the role positive emotions played in debating Britain’s relationship to the EU. Using critical discourse analysis and drawing on appraisal theory to investigate the representation of emotions in six sample texts from a corpus of so-called ‘Euromyths’ ( N = 334), this study argues that positive emotions were used to create a myth in Roland Barthes’ sense to naturalise a Eurosceptic ideology of British defiance and power.
Adopting a mojo mindset: Training newspaper reporters in mobile journalism
Authors: Salzmann Anja , Guribye Frode , Gynnild Astrid
Published: February 2021

Due to the visual turn in journalism and the emergence of mobile journalism, many newspaper journalists have had to change the way they work and learn to use new tools. To face these changes, traditional news organizations apply different strategies to increase staff competencies in using new production tools and creating innovative content in new formats. In this paper, we investigate how a specific training arrangement was experienced by a group of 40 print editors and journalists in a German regional publishing house. The journalists were introduced to audio-visual storytelling and reporting with smartphones in a 2-week training course. The training arrangements were studied using participant observation and in-depth interviews, followed by a thematic analysis of the data. The study indicates that for print journalists and editors, the transition from the print to the mojo mindset depends on three dimensions: (i) mastering mojo skills, (ii) adopting visual thinking and (iii) integrating ethical and legal awareness.
Invisible bondage: Mobility and compulsion within Sri Lanka’s global assembly line production
Authors: Hewamanne Sandya
Published: February 2021

Female workers who enter factory work in Sri Lanka’s Free Trade Zones (FTZs) via contractors are not forced to join or remain in contractor labor pools. This paper, however, argues that such workers nevertheless remain unfree due to cultural and emotional bonds that restrict labor mobility. By analyzing how contracted workers’ entry and mobility within work get shaped by a coalition of patriarchal agents—parents, contractors and factory management—the paper demonstrates how compulsive emotional conditions, that I term “invisible bondage,” are produced and maintained. While the degree of compulsion varies depending on the particular form of labor contracting (i.e., Tamil women from the war torn areas recruited by military personnel, or daily hired workers), I show that all labor contracting for global production represent how forms of unfreedoms are interwoven into supposedly free market relations of production. Such invisible controls, I argue, are essential for neoliberal capitalism to thrive.
Lifting the veil: Considering the conceptualizations of racism-based trauma among social workers
Authors: Francois Samantha , Davis Curtis
Published: February 2021

There is often a superficial veil that divides those willing to discuss the construct of race and those participating in racial ambivalence or color blindness. Talking about race, racism, and the traumatic effects of racism is a discussion that society is still learning how to navigate. This qualitative study, utilizing the narratives of 13 social workers, was the first to question how social workers, in the role of justice system advocates, engage with the construct of racism-based trauma experienced by the incarcerated person. Data analysis revealed that participants conceptualized racism-based trauma as an often unbeknownst and persistently stressful reaction to a covert or overt racially oppressive situation potentially accentuated by place or locale. Results highlight the importance of increasing knowledge in the construct of racism-based trauma to be beneficial in practice while confronting white privilege and allyship were identified challenges. Participants, varying in their education, indicated having received no training on racism-based trauma. An engagement with one’s racial identity before and during a critique of racialized systems was also posited as being beneficial. The aims of engaging with construct ultimately strengthen and diversify social work pedagogy, training, and policies regarding marginalized groups.
Collaborative research into the “hidden worlds” of children’s peer reading
Authors: Johnson Sarah Jean , Avetisian Cochran Hasmik
Published: February 2021

Children’s peer social worlds as part of language and literacy learning are often “hidden” from researchers and teachers alike. This article reports on collaborative research between a researcher and veteran kindergarten teacher into these hidden worlds. We draw upon ethnographic documentation (videos, interviews, field notes) and video microanalysis with two aims for our inquiry. For one, we are interested in the teacher’s perspective on children’s peer reading behaviors and what children are learning as part of these practices. Secondly, we reflect on how using video to look closely into hidden classroom life contributes to teacher learning. The result is a detailed analysis from the teacher’s perspective of how children acquire both the character and skills for learning to read when reading with a peer. Findings contribute to literatures on the sociolinguistic features of children’s peer reading and teacher development in literacy education.
The (im)materiality of literacy in early childhood: A socio-material approach to online and offline events
Authors: Pacheco-Costa Alejandra , Guzmán-Simón Fernando
Published: February 2021

Among the recent approaches to literacy incorporated into Literacy Studies, the concept of (im)materiality has enabled researchers to delve into the fluid and hybrid nature of contemporary literacy practices in early childhood. Our research explores the (im)materiality of literacy practices from the perspectives of space, screen mediation, artefacts and embodiment. The research focuses on the (im)material nature of the literacy practices carried out in different spaces, and its relevance in the making of meaning by children. The research method is based on an ethnographic approach. The results show the children’s embodiment of their literacy practices, and the way in which they create and interact with space and make meaning from their (im)material practices. These practices raise questions about their inclusion in current literacy development in schools.
‘I fear only the neighbourhood and the Lord!’ Youth violence in marginalized spaces
Authors: Kurtenbach Sebastian
Published: February 2021

Male juveniles in segregated poor neighbourhoods are at increased risk of violence. The code of the street approach is commonly used to understand the context informing street violence in such marginalized spaces, but the concept is mainly used in Western countries, especially in African American communities in the US. This study investigates whether the code of the street is also applicable to the largest Roma neighbourhood in Europe, located in Bulgaria, through guided interviews with male juveniles. The results show that some elements of the code work are applicable in this space, but clear differences also emerge. These findings affect the generalizability of the approach and the understanding of street violence.