bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of LBM and FVM in the estimation of LAD stenosis
Authors: Liu Jian , Yu Yong , Zhu Chenqi , Zhang Yu
Published: May 2021

The finite volume method (FVM)-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technology has been applied in the non-invasive diagnosis of coronary artery stenosis. Nonetheless, FVM is a time-consuming process. In addition to FVM, the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is used in fluid flow simulation. Unlike FVM solving the Navier–Stokes equations, LBM directly solves the simplified Boltzmann equation, thus saving computational time. In this study, 12 patients with left anterior descending (LAD) stenosis, diagnosed by CTA, are analysed using FVM and LBM. The velocities, pressures, and wall shear stress (WSS) predicted using FVM and LBM for each patient is compared. In particular, the ratio of the average and maximum speed at the stenotic part characterising the degree of stenosis is compared. Finally, the golden standard of LAD stenosis, invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR), is applied to justify the simulation results. Our results show that LBM and FVM are consistent in blood flow simulation. In the region with a high degree of stenosis, the local flow patterns in those two solvers are slightly different, resulting in minor differences in local WSS estimation and blood speed ratio estimation. Notably, these differences do not result in an inconsistent estimation. Comparison with invasive FFR shows that, in most cases, the non-invasive diagnosis is consistent with FFR measurements. However, in some cases, the non-invasive diagnosis either underestimates or overestimates the degree of stenosis. This deviation is caused by the difference between physiological and simulation conditions that remains the biggest challenge faced by all CFD-based non-invasive diagnostic methods.
The Fallacy of an Airtight Alibi: Understanding Human Memory for “Where” Using Experience Sampling
Authors: Laliberte Elizabeth , Yim Hyungwook , Stone Benjamin , Dennis Simon J.
Published: May 2021

A primary challenge for alibi-generation research is establishing the ground truth of real-world events of interest. In the current study, we used a smartphone app to record data on adult participants ( N = 51) for a month prior to a memory test. The app captured accelerometry data, GPS locations, and audio environments every 10 min. After a week-long retention interval, we asked participants to identify where they were at a given time from among four alternatives. Participants were incorrect 36% of the time. Furthermore, our forced-choice procedure allowed us to conduct a conditional logit analysis to assess the different aspects of the events that the participants experienced and their relative importance to the decision process. We found strong evidence that participants confuse days across weeks. In addition, people often confused weeks in general and also hours across days. Similarity of location induced more errors than similarity of audio environments or movement types.
Developmental Variability and Developmental Cascades: Lessons From Motor and Language Development in Infancy
Authors: Iverson Jana M.
Published: May 2021

The first year of life is punctuated by explosions of growth in motor and language abilities. This is not a coincidence. The notion of developmental cascades provides a conceptual framework for considering ways in which advances in one component of a developing system can exert far-reaching and lasting change in other domains. In this article, I review evidence for the cascading effects of early motor advances on the developing communication and language system and describe how differences in the timing of these advances may have consequences for these effects.
Evaluation of a screw insertion landmark for a minimally invasive repair technique in induced bilateral sacroiliac luxation in feline cadavers
Authors: Han Cheol-kyu , Kang Jinsu , Lee Haebeom , Kim Namsoo , Heo Suyoung
Published: May 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to describe an alternative landmark for screw insertion into the body of the ilium with bilateral sacroiliac luxation in cats.

Methods

Seven cat cadavers with artificially induced bilateral sacroiliac luxation were used. The screw insertion point was determined using the caudal iliac crest and cranial acetabular rim. These two points make the first guideline; a second guideline ran perpendicular to the caudal iliac crest point. The screw insertion point was halfway along the second guideline across the ilium body. Surgery was performed in a minimally invasive manner using fluoroscopy.

Results

Postoperative radiographs and CT were performed. In the postoperative evaluation, the sacroiliac joint reduction percentage was almost 90% and there was no significant difference in pelvic canal diameter ratio before and after surgery. Screw depth/sacral width was >60% in all cadavers. On CT, the angle between the screw and sacrum wing was within the normal range of 96.24° to the left and 98.65° to the right, except in one case.

Conclusions and relevance

In previous studies, surgical repair was based on having an intact contralateral ilium. However, this method is not applicable to patients with bilateral sacroiliac luxation and is mostly performed using open reduction methods. The screw insertion point suggested in this study offers a potential alternative repair technique for patients with bilateral sacroiliac luxation.
Feline ophthalmomyiasis externa caused by Cuterebra larvae: four cases (2005–2020)
Authors: Schlesener Brittany N , Peck Elizabeth A , Teplitz Eric M , Espinheira Gomes Filipe , Bowman Dwight D , Lucio-Forster Araceli , Ledbetter Eric C
Published: May 2021

Case series summary

Described are four cats diagnosed with ophthalmomyiasis externa caused by Cuterebra larvae. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed to identify cats with ophthalmomyiasis externa between 2005 and 2020 at Cornell University Hospital for Animals. Signalment, history, clinical and diagnostic findings, treatment and outcome were recorded. All cats were young (< 3 years of age), had outdoor access and were initially examined during the summer months. All cases had unilateral disease with the right eye affected. Two cases had nictitating membrane lesions and two had orbital disease. Concurrent superficial corneal ulceration was present in three cats. Two cats suffered from pyrexia, suspected secondary to inflammation from the larval infestation. Successful larval removal was performed in all cats, which resulted in improvement of discomfort and clinical signs. A corneal ulcer persisted in one cat, which was lost to follow-up prior to ulcer resolution. Parasite identification confirmed Cuterebra species infestation in all cases.

Relevance and novel information

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of feline ophthalmomyiasis externa caused by Cuterebra species. Parasite removal was successful in restoring comfort and resolving clinical signs in all cats with adequate follow-up information.
Do topical antiglaucoma drugs affect the cornea?
Authors: Güneş İrfan Botan , Öztürk Hakan , Özen Bediz
Published: May 2021

To investigate effects of beta blocker (BB; timolol or betaxolol), latanoprost, and latanoprost-timolol combination (LTC) drugs on corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) and central corneal thickness (CCT) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. Sixty-one patients in BB group, 64 patients in latanoprost group, 59 patients in LTC group, and 58 healthy cases in control group were included. Intraocular pressures (IOP), ECDs, and CCTs of groups were recorded at initial (pre-treatment) period, first and third years after treatment, and comparisons were done. In groups, changes of ECDs according to time were not significant ( p > 0.05). In BB and control groups, changes of CCTs according to time were not significant ( p > 0.05). In latanoprost and LTC groups, CCTs in both first and third years were significantly thinner than initial CCTs ( p = 0.039 for latanoprost, p = 0.041 for LTC at first year; p = 0.018 for latanoprost, p = 0.032 for LTC at third year). In latanoprost and LTC groups, CCTs of patients using drugs for 1 year were similar to those of patients using drugs for 3 years ( p > 0.05). In our study, uses of BB, latanoprost or LTC did not affect ECD. BB drugs had no effect on CCT. Although latanoprost and LTC appeared to reduce CCT at 3-year follow-up from the statistical point of view, this 8–10 μm difference in CCT was not clinically significant.
Management of peritoneal dialysis Mycobacterium abscessus exit-site infection: A case report and literature review
Authors: Bartolomeo Korey , Hassanein Mohamed , Vachharajani Tushar J
Published: May 2021

Peritoneal dialysis associated infections are common and associated with high morbidity and mortality, if not treated in a timely manner. Mycobacterium abscessus is an uncommon pathogen in peritoneal dialysis associated infections, but is resistant to standard antimicrobial therapies used. Here we present a case of a 56 year-old male with end stage kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis for 7 years who developed a Mycobacterium abscessus exit-site infection. Peritonitis and peritoneal dialysis catheter tunneled line infections were ruled out and he was treated with linezolid, amikacin, and azithromycin. He required peritoneal dialysis catheter removal and hemodialysis conversion. Antibiotics were de-escalated based on erm inducibility and antibiotic sensitivities. Linezolid and amikacin were continued for approximately 7 total weeks, with complete resolution of the infection. Further research is needed to refine challenges in the management of Mycobacterium abscessus exit-site infections, including risk factors for development of Mycobacterium abscessus, optimal selection of empiric antibiotic therapies, duration of antibiotics, and peritoneal dialysis catheter re-insertion timing.
Nine Mechanisms of Job-Searching and Job-Finding Through Contacts Among Young Adults
Authors: Vacchiano Mattia
Published: May 2021

Since Granovetter’s seminal works, the influence of personal networks on the labour market has attracted widespread attention. This article analyses the role played by contacts in the context of the labour trajectories of young people in Spain, for whom the use of personal networks represents one of the most important job-searching methods. Using narrative data extracted from a life-history grid and ego-network generator, the analysis brings to light nine mechanisms in which personal contacts intervene in job-searching and job-finding in a sample of 90 young people living in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. The article emphasizes that contacts play primarily three roles in these processes as informers, employers, or influencers. This distinction offers a renewed framework for the study of networks in the labour market, further complementing the debate on the strength of ties. Using this framework allows me to create a map of the mechanisms that shed light on personal networks as tools with which to deal with labour insecurity and unemployment among young people, thus providing resources that to a large extent reaffirm the objective character of class differences. The article offers innovative insights into how social capital operates in the labour market and helps understand how youth precarity, which is widespread in Spain, is experienced in a relational way.
Teacher enthusiasm and students’ social-behavioral learning engagement: The mediating role of student enjoyment and boredom in Chinese EFL classes
Authors: Dewaele Jean-Marc , Li Chengchen
Published: May 2021

Teacher enthusiasm is attracting growing attention in educational and learner psychology research. There is evidence that teacher enthusiasm is contagious in class and positively affects student emotions. Their fundamental role in shaping student engagement has also been well documented. However, the links – between teacher enthusiasm and student emotions, and between student emotions and engagement – remain underexplored in instructed second language acquisition. The present study adopted a mixed-method approach to examine the complex relationships between perceived teacher enthusiasm, emotions (enjoyment and boredom), and social-behavioral learning engagement among 2,002 learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) from 11 universities in China. Quantitative analyses showed small to large correlations between perceived teacher enthusiasm, enjoyment, boredom, and social-behavioral learning engagement. In addition, student enjoyment and boredom were found to co-mediate the relationship between perceptions of teacher enthusiasm and student social-behavioral engagement in English classes. Qualitative interviews with nine students provided insights into the potential causes of the statistical patterns. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are discussed, followed by directions for future research.
The impact of caregiver stigma on real-life social experience of Taiwanese adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Lim Valerie Hwee Taur , Chen Yu-Wei Ryan , Tseng Mei-Hui , Bundy Anita , Cordier Reinie
Published: May 2021

Caregivers of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder commonly experience stigma. However, how stigma influences social interactions of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder is unclear. We aimed to explore the impact of caregiver stigma on real-life social experiences of Taiwanese adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. In the context of everyday activities, 76 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder who were not intellectually disabled (69 males, aged 10–16 years) carried a mobile device that prompted them 7 times, randomly, each day for 7 days to record with whom they were interacting, what they perceived, and how they felt about the interactions. Caregivers completed the Affiliate Stigma Scale to measure caregiver stigma. Multilevel analyses revealed that participants whose caregivers perceived high levels of stigma were more likely than those whose caregivers experienced less stigma to interact with family members and less likely to be interested in interacting with people at school. However, those participants also experienced more anxiety while interacting with family members. The findings shed light on ways that caregiver stigma impacted the social experiences of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and suggest that, in promoting social participation for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, researchers and service providers must support caregivers to manage stigma.

Lay abstract

Caregivers of people with autism spectrum disorder commonly experience stigma. As a result, they may avoid contact with others, in turn, influencing their child’s social participation. This study aimed to explore the impact of stigma perceived by the caregivers on the everyday social experience of Taiwanese adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. We asked 76 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder who did not have intellectual disability (69 males, aged 10–16 years) to carry a mobile device for 7 days. The device prompted them 7 times each day to record who they were interacting with, what they perceived, and how they felt about their social interactions. In addition, we asked their caregivers to complete the Affiliate Stigma Scale to measure their experience of stigma. We found that participants whose caregivers perceived high levels of stigma were more likely to spend time with family members and less likely to be interested in interacting with people at school. Those participants also were more likely to experience anxiety while interacting with family. Our study suggests that it is important for clinicians to implement support services for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and help caregivers in managing stigma to promote their child’s social participation.
Sex-specific deaths in Norway and Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic: Did mandates make a difference?
Authors: Catalano Ralph
Published: May 2021

Aims:

To determine whether differences between Norway’s and Sweden’s attempts to contain SARS-CoV-2 infection coincided with detectably different changes in their all-cause mortality sex ratios. Measuring temporal variation in the all-cause mortality sex ratio before and during the pandemic in populations exposed to different constraints on risky behavior would allow us to better anticipate changes in the ratio and to better understand its association with infection control strategies.

Methods:

I apply time Box–Jenkins modeling to 262 months of pre-pandemic mortality sex ratios to arrive at counterfactual values of 10 intra-pandemic ratios. I compare counterfactual to observed values to determine if intra-pandemic ratios differed detectably from those expected as well as whether the Norwegian and Swedish differences varied from each other.

Results:

The male to female mortality sex ratio in both Norway and Sweden increased during the pandemic. I, however, find no evidence that the increase differed between the two countries despite their different COVID-19 containment strategies.

Conclusion:

Societal expectations of who will die during the COVID-19 pandemic will likely be wrong if they assume pre-pandemic mortality sex ratios because the intra-pandemic ratios appear, at least in Norway and Sweden, detectably higher. The contribution of differences in policies to reduce risky behavior to those higher ratios appears, however, small.
Type 2 Diabetes as a Socioecological Disease: Can Youth Poets of Color Become Messengers of Truth and Catalysts for Change?
Authors: Abbs Elizabeth , Daniels Ryane , Schillinger Dean
Published: May 2021

Background

Efforts to confront the type 2 diabetes (T2D) epidemic have been stymied by an absence of effective communication on policy fronts. Whether art can be harnessed to reframe the T2D discourse from an individual, biomedical problem to a multilevel, communal and social problem is not known.

Method

We explored whether spoken word workshops enable young artists of color to convey a critical consciousness about T2D. The Bigger Picture fosters creation and dissemination of art to shift from the narrow biomedical model toward a comprehensive socioecological model (SEM). Workshops offer (1) public health content, (2) writing exercises, and (3) feedback on drafts. Based on Freire and Boal’s participatory pedagogy, workshops encourage youth to tap into their lived experiences when creating poetry. We analyzed changes in public health literary and activation among participants and mapped poems onto the SEM to assess whether their poetry conveyed the multilevel perspective critical to public health literacy.

Results

Participants reported significant increases in personal relevance of T2D prevention, T2D discussions with peers, concern about corporations’ targeted marketing, and interest in community organizing to confront the epidemic. Across stanzas, nearly all poems (95%) featured >three of five SEM levels (systemic forces, sectors of influence, societal norms, behavioral settings, individual factors); three-quarters (78%) featured >four levels.

Conclusions

Engaging youth poets of color to develop artistic content to combat T2D can increase their public health literary and social activation and foster compelling art that communicates how complex, multilevel forces interact to generate disease and disease disparities.
Evaluation the Effects of Helichrysum plicatum Subsp. pseudoplicatum on an In-Vitro Wound Model Using Human Dermal Fibroblast Cells
Authors: Miloglu Fatma Demirkaya , Akpınar Abdulbaki , Güven Leyla , Demirkaya Alper Kursat , Gundogdu Gulsah , Nalcı Kemal Alp , Hacımuftuoglu Ahmet
Published: May 2021

Wound is tissue damage that occurs in the skin. Helichrysum species (Altınotu) are rich in phenolic compounds used in traditional medicine for wound healing. The main component in their flower head (capitulum) is phenolic compounds. The present study investigates the proliferative, oxidative stress, and wound healing properties of the methanolic extract of Helichrysum plicatum subsp. pseudoplicatum capitulum on a human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cell line in this study. H plicatum subsp. pseudoplicatum capitulums were collected in Erzurum, Turkey (altitude 1950 m), dried, pulverized, and extracted with methanol. Firstly, total phenolic contents were determined and secondly, the proliferative effect, oxidative stress activities, and wound healing effects on HDF cells were evaluated by the cell proliferation kit (XTT) test, total antioxidant status (TAS), and total oxidant status (TOS) commercial kits, and the scratch experiment by taking microscopic images of the cells at 0, 12, 18, and 24 h, respectively. Total phenolic content was found to be 142.00 ± 0.73 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram (GAE/g) extract. The capitulum extract has a proliferative effect at 0.5 to 10 µg/mL concentrations according to the XTT test results. It was observed that TAS levels significantly increased in the plant extract at the concentration ranges 1 to 10 µg/mL ( P < .01). About 1 to 5 µg/mL plant extract started to increase cell migration at the 12 h and significantly closed the wound area at the 24 h. At the doses between 1 to 5 μg/mL, it has the most substantial effect on both cell viability and antioxidant effect, and wound healing was found to be in this concentration range. These findings suggested that the H plicatum subsp. pseudoplicatum capitulum is a valuable source of phenolic content with important antioxidant activity at wound healing and it was concluded that the capitulum extract accelerates wound healing by increasing cell migration in low doses.
Stent-retriever alone vs. aspiration and stent-retriever combination in large vessel occlusion stroke: A matched analysis
Authors: Mohammaden Mahmoud H , Haussen Diogo C , Pisani Leonardo , Al-Bayati Alhamza R , Anderson Aaron , Liberato Bernardo , Schachter Daniel , Navalkele Digvijaya , Frankel Michael R , Nogueira Raul G
Published: May 2021

Background

Three randomized clinical trials have reported similar safety and efficacy for contact aspiration and stent-retriever thrombectomy.

Aim

We aimed to determine whether the combined technique (stent-retriever + contact aspiration) was superior to stent-retriever alone as first-line thrombectomy strategy in a patient cohort where balloon guide catheter was universally used.

Methods

A prospectively maintained mechanical thrombectomy database from January 2018 to December 2019 was reviewed. Patients were included if they had anterior circulation proximal occlusion ischemic stroke (intracranial ICA or MCA-M1/M2 segments) and underwent stent-retriever alone thrombectomy or stent-retriever + contact aspiration as first-line therapy. The primary outcome was the first-pass effect (mTICI2c-3). Secondary outcomes included modified first-pass effect (mTICI2b-3), successful reperfusion (mTICI2b-3) prior to and after any rescue strategy, and 90-day functional independence (mRS ≤ 2). Safety outcomes included rate of parenchymal hematoma type-2 and 90-day mortality. Sensitivity analyses were performed after dividing the overall cohort according to first-line modality into two matched groups.

Results

A total of 420 patients were included in the analysis (mean age 64.4 years; median baseline NIHSS 16 (11–21)). As compared to first-line stent-retriever alone, first-line stent-retriever + contact aspiration resulted in similar rates of first-pass effect (53% vs. 51%, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.122, 95%CI (0.745–1.691), p = 0.58), modified first-pass effect (63% vs. 60.4%, aOR1.250, 95%CI (0.782–2.00), p = 0.35), final successful reperfusion (97.6% vs. 98%, p = 0.75), and higher chances of successful reperfusion prior to any rescue strategy (81.8% vs. 72.5%, aOR 2.033, 95%CI (1.209–3.419), p = 0.007). Functional outcome and safety measures were comparable between both groups. Likewise, the matched analysis (148 patient-pairs) demonstrated comparable results for all clinical and angiographic outcomes except for significantly higher rates of successful reperfusion prior to any rescue strategies with the first-line stent-retriever + contact aspiration treatment (81.8% vs. 73.6%, aOR 1.881, 95%CI (1.039–3.405), p = 0.037).

Conclusions

Our findings reinforce the findings of ASTER-2 trial in that the first-line thrombectomy with a combined technique did not result in increased rates of first-pass reperfusion or better clinical outcomes. However, the addition of contact aspiration after initial stent-retriever failure might be beneficial in achieving earlier reperfusion.
The role of viscosupplementation in patellar chondropathy
Authors: da Costa Sergio Ricardo , da Mota e Albuquerque Roberto Freire , Helito Camilo Partezani , Camanho Gilberto Luis
Published: May 2021

Patellar chondropathy has a high incidence in the general population, being more common in patients younger than 50 years, female and recreational athletes, and overweight and obese patients. The most common complaints are pain, limited mobility, crepitus, difficulty climbing and descending stairs, and joint instability, usually showing unsatisfactory results with anti-inflammatory, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, and many other conservative treatment methods. The presumed hyaluronic acid (HA) disease-modifying activity may include effects on cartilage degradation, endogenous HA synthesis, synoviocyte and chondrocyte function, and other cellular inflammatory processes. Currently, HA is widely used as a safe and effective conservative treatment for osteoarthritis in the knee and other joints. HA improves the physiological environment in an osteoarthritic joint and the shock absorption and lubrication properties of the osteoarthritic synovial fluid, thus restoring the protective viscoelasticity of the synovial HA, reducing the pain, and improving the mobility. The complete mechanism of HA in the joint is not fully understood, but a wide range of actions in the joint is recognized. Its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and chondroprotective action is related to the modulation of the intra- and extracellular inflammation cascade. HA has been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of pain related to patellar chondropathy.
New Metabolites From the Endophytic Fungus Cercophora samala Associated With Mitragyna inermis
Authors: Vouffo Erik Donfack , Douanla-Meli Clovis , Awantu Angelbert Fusi , Lenta Bruno Ndjakou , Ngouela Sylvère , Tsamo Etienne , Laatsch Hartmut
Published: May 2021

Two new natural products, mitrafungidione (1) elucidated as prototrop-isomers of ( R-3-acetyl-5-ethyl-4-hydroxy-5 H-furan-2-one, and maristachone F (2a), elucidated as 5-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methoxy-2-methylphenol, together with 5 known compounds have been isolated from the solid cultures of an endophytic fungus associated with Mitragyna inermis (Rubiaceae) and identified as Cercophora samala. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. The absolute configuration of 1 and 2a were determined by extensive DFT calculations.
Revisiting Engels’ ‘housing question’: Work and housing conditions of immigrant platform delivery riders in Barcelona
Authors: Metawala Prachi , Golda-Pongratz Kathrin , Irazábal Clara
Published: May 2021

In his 1872 The housing question, Friedrich Engels addressed the housing problems faced by the proletarian migrant workers in major industrial centres. He asserted that they could only be solved by first resolving their harsh working conditions in the capitalist mode of mass production. Presently, with transnational migrant flows to urban centres and the mass acceptance of the digital platform economy, the housing question manifests itself, among other expressions, in the case of immigrants working in this digital contract-based market. While the platform economy provides immigrants with quick access into a host country’s labour market, the income insecurity and high risks associated with such work put them in a state of precariousness. Through the framework of Engels’ proposed action lines and analysis of observations and interviews with immigrant riders working for the food delivery platforms Glovo and Deliveroo, the paper highlights the negative impacts that this contemporary capitalist model of work, the municipal housing plan and the ongoing Covid-19 crisis have on the immigrant riders’ residential and working conditions in Barcelona, Spain, a city facing a severe rental housing shortage. Lastly, it suggests that, while the social market economy in Spain can be reformed to ameliorate the negative impacts of the platform economy on immigrant riders, bridging the gap between immigrant housing provision and employment inclusion would need to consider decent labour and housing as rights for residents, immigrants included, asserting the currency of Engels’ ideas.
Successful combination chemotherapy involving clofarabine, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide for pediatric relapsed acute myeloid leukemia: A case report
Authors: Fujita Sachio , Matsuno Ryosuke , Kawabata Naoko , Sugishita Yumiko , Kaneko Ryota , Koganesawa Masaya , Akiyama Kosuke , Toyama Daisuke , Yamamoto Shohei
Published: May 2021

Limited salvage chemotherapies are available for relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Herein, we described successful reinduction chemotherapy, involving a combination of clofarabine, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide, in a 12-year-old male with relapsed acute myeloid leukemia prior to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from his father. Although treatment with a combination of fludarabine, cytarabine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, idarubicin, and gemtuzumab ozogamicin had no positive effects, the aforementioned clofarabine-based chemotherapy induced complete remission and allowed the transplantation to go ahead. The abovementioned regimen may be useful for induction chemotherapy prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for refractory/relapsed acute myeloid leukemia.
Personal Identity Economics: Facebook and the Distortion of Identity Politics
Authors: Lim Elisha
Published: May 2021

This article examines Facebook’s role in the treatment of marginalized identity as currency. Recent examples of solidarity statements and corporate social responsibility rhetoric treat disenfranchised racial and gender identities as value-added competitive market quantities to boost brands. This trend also incentivizes marginalized actors to capitalize on their own disenfranchisement in pursuit of visibility and career advancement. The resulting identity politicking replaces communal care, grassroots social ties, solidarity, and interdependence with isolating market competition. This article diverges from scholars who trouble the differential value of identity—by troubling the valuation of identity itself. Facebook normalizes identity as private property in what I call a transition from identity politics to “personal identity economics.” I coin this concept and break it down into the following four factors: (1) The optimization of difference beginning in the 1970s, (2) Facebook’s algorithmic invasion of market logic into intimate aspects of life starting in the mid 2000s, (3) Ads Manager’s economization of identity into legible economic units, and (4) neoliberal corporate social responsibility rhetoric of “social good” as a profitable asset.
Satisfaction of allergic patients treated with house dust mite sublingual immunotherapy
Authors: Aarestrup Matheus Fonseca , Aarestrup Paula Fonseca , de Andrade Mariana Senff , Aarestrup Beatriz Julião V , Nagato Akinori Cardozo , Aarestrup Fernando Monteiro
Published: May 2021

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has been used for more than three decades as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of allergic diseases. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy and safety, and numerous clinical trials have evaluated these parameters. In the present study, through patient perception, we investigated the patient satisfaction with the use of house dust mite SLIT treatment. “Satisfaction Scale for Patients Receiving Allergen Immunotherapy” (ESPIA) questionnaire, a standardized and validated instrument for clinical studies evaluating allergen immunotherapy, was applied to allergic patients ( N = 136). Children and adults of both sexes who received SLIT for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and/or Blomia tropicalis, according to the results of an immediate reading puncture test, were included. Data analysis showed that the perception of treatment effectiveness was 92%, performance improvement in the daily activities was 91%, a satisfactory cost-benefit balance was 84%, and the perception of general satisfaction was 97%. The results showed a high perception of satisfaction in allergic patients undergoing house dust mite SLIT.
Potential role of probiotic species in ameliorating oxidative stress, effect on liver profile and hormones in male albino rat model
Authors: Anwar Haseeb , Hussain Ghulam , Rasul Azhar , Ali Shah Syed Muhammad , Naqvi Syed Ali Raza , Bukhari Shazia Anwer , Sohail Muhammad Umar , Faisal Muhammad Naeem , Mustafa Imtiaz , Munir Naveed , Nisar Jaweria , Shaukat Arslaan , Muzaffer Humaira
Published: May 2021

Probiotics are living micro-organism preparations which can vigorously inhibit the probable pathogens colonization in the gut microbial ecology. Current experiment was designed to investigate the efficacy of imported probiotic species compared with the indigenous probiotics species on the oxidative stress, enzymes, and hormones in animal model. Thirty Albino rats were equally divided into three groups with 10 rats ( n = 10) in each group as Control (C), supplemented with imported probiotic species (IP), and supplemented with indigenous probiotics species (InP) for 21 days under controlled environment. The evaluation of treatments was done by testing the serum oxidative stress markers, liver enzymes (Aspartate transaminase and Alanine aminotransferase), lipid profile, and hormonal dynamics including Lutinizing hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), and growth hormone (GH) in albino male rats. Results revealed that use of indigenous probiotic species significantly ( p < 0.05) reduces the oxidative stress and improves the antioxidant capacity; liver enzymes, total cholesterol, and LDL-Cholesterol were also reduced significantly ( p < 0.05) in InP as compared to IP group. Moreover, results of hormones including LH, FSH, and GH explored that indigenous probiotics have significant ( p < 0.05) potential to improve these hormones as compared to imported probiotics. Although, it could be concluded that InP have beneficial role in preventing the body from oxidative stress as well as in improving the blood parameters but comprehensive studies are required to investigate the detail gut ecology of the indigenous species which will definitely a strong support in preparing a more suitable local probiotic supplement.
Impact of Goods and Services Tax on Supply Chain Management
Authors: Dhar Kuldeep , Khandelwal Utkal
Published: May 2021

Companies prefer to have their warehouses run in each state before goods and services tax (GST), but after GST whole supply chain phenomenon have changed. The purpose of this study is to address the impact of GST and then see how it affects the wider supply chain management sector. For this conceptual model is adapted and modified from Porter’s value chain model in current GST context. Online convenience sampling survey of 519 respondents from Indian companies which comprised eight different subsectors has been conducted. Partial least square structural equation modeling technique has been used to analyze the data. Findings reveal the empirical significant impact of inbound logistics, supply chain operations and outbound logistics on productivity with GST scenario. In addition, results also established on the moderating role of GST environment on all these direct relationship. This study enriches the knowledge of supply chain operations with the arousal of new tax system GST in India. This research helps managers to understand this new tax system in a better way so that they can adopt this system for enhancing their business performance.
Incidental Finding of Leiomyoma in Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome
Authors: Ibidapo-Obe Oyetokunbo , Okudo Jerome , Filani Oladunni
Published: May 2021

Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome is a sexual developmental disorder. In this disorder, there is a congenital absence of the uterus and vagina with normal external genitalia. The etiology is not well understood. Variations of this condition exist that may include congenital abnormalities and psychological problems. In this article, we discuss the case of a 47-year-old African American female who presented with acute renal failure, solitary right kidney, and a pelvic mass extending from the pelvis to the right hypochondrium determined to be a fibroid. The patient was managed by a multidisciplinary team, dialyzed, and planned for removal of the mass. While understanding the low probability of having fibroids without a uterus, fibroids should not be excluded from such patients. It is also important to consider the emotional and psychological well-being of such patients.
The Context of Immigrant Reception in the American South
Authors: Maggio Christopher
Published: May 2021

Past research has shown the Southern United States to have more conservative immigration attitudes compared to more established immigrant destination states. However, it is unclear whether or not the places that immigrants have arrived share these conservative attitudes and how this impacts the reception of immigrant groups. Analyzing the Cooperative Congressional Election Study, I find that U.S.-born White attitudes toward immigration are less conservative in zip codes where immigrant-origin groups in the South are most likely to live, often by substantial margins. This indicates that immigrant-origin groups in the South are likely to encounter Southern Whites with a more liberal orientation than Southern Whites more generally. The implications for how these attitudes compare to established immigrant destination states and counties are addressed in detail, as are Southern Black attitudes toward immigration. Regardless, on various questions approximating racial experience/understanding, immigrant-origin groups in the South do not report more negative feelings than those in established destinations and report more positive feelings in some cases, although these results could also indicate a lower awareness of racial issues. Overall, these findings point to a context of reception in the South that is likely more positive than past research on Southern immigration attitudes has implied.
Knowledge and Attitude Towards COVID-19 Among Nursing Students: Palestinian Perspective
Authors: Ayed Ahmad , Zabn Kefah
Published: May 2021

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a public health emergency of international concern and called for the collaborative efforts of all countries to prevent rapid spread.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude towards COVID-19 among Palestinian nursing students.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 218 nursing students from Arab American University and Al-Quds University. The instrument was developed by the researchers after a critical literature review.

Results

The results revealed that the majority of participates were third academic year level (60.6%). Only 84 (38.5%) of respondents had a high level of knowledge and 17(7.8%) had a positive attitude regarding COVID-19.

Conclusion

The study confirmed that nursing students had a moderate level of knowledge about COVID-19 and a negative attitude toward it.
Sensitivity of prehospital stroke scales for different intracranial large vessel occlusion locations
Authors: Duvekot Martijne HC , Venema Esmee , Lingsma Hester F , Coutinho Jonathan M , van der Worp H Bart , Hofmeijer Jeannette , Bokkers Reinoud PH , van Es Adriaan CGM , van der Lugt Aad , Kerkhoff Henk , Dippel Diederik WJ , Roozenbeek Bob ,   on behalf of the MR CLEAN Registry investigators
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Prehospital stroke scales have been proposed to identify stroke patients with a large vessel occlusion to allow direct transport to an intervention centre capable of endovascular treatment (EVT). It is unclear whether these scales are able to detect not only proximal, but also more distal treatable occlusions. Our aim was to assess the sensitivity of prehospital stroke scales for different EVT-eligible occlusion locations in the anterior circulation.

Patients and methods

The MR CLEAN Registry is a prospective, observational study in all centres that perform EVT in the Netherlands. We included adult patients with an anterior circulation stroke treated between March 2014 and November 2017. We used National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores at admission to reconstruct previously published prehospital stroke scales. We compared the sensitivity of each scale for different occlusion locations. Occlusions were assessed with CT angiography by an imaging core laboratory blinded to clinical findings.

Results

We included 3021 patients for the analysis of 14 scales. All scales had the highest sensitivity to detect internal carotid artery terminus occlusions (ranging from 0.21 to 0.97) and lowest for occlusions of the M2 segment (0.08 to 0.84, p-values < 0.001). Discussion and conclusion: Although prehospital stroke scales are generally sensitive for proximal large vessel occlusions, they are less sensitive to detect more distal occlusions.
Synthesis of Fe-layered double hydroxide from bittern and its nitrate-ion removal ability
Authors: Wajima Takaaki
Published: May 2021

Nitrate contamination of surface waters and groundwater is one of the main problems associated with agricultural activities worldwide, and there is an urgent need to develop effective materials and processes to remove efficiently excess nitrate from aquatic environments. Bittern is a seawater resource that contains large amounts of Mg2+ and Ca2+, and its utilization has received much recent attention. In this study, an Fe-type layered double hydroxide (Fe-LDH) product was prepared from bittern with the addition of an inexpensive agent (FeCl3) for nitrate removal. The greatest nitrate removal was obtained for synthesis conditions of pH 8.5–9.5 at 50°C for 0.5 h. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of the product for nitrate was measured and fitted with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The experimental data better fit the Langmuir model than the Freundlich model. The calculated maximum adsorption capacity for nitrate was 0.40 mmol g–1, which was greater than those of other reported nitrate adsorbents. The product removed nitrate ions from a highly saline solution. The order of interference of anion species for nitrate removal was CO32– > SO42– > Br– > NO2– > Cl– > F–. The pH of the solution and removal of nitrate increased with increasing solution temperature because of ion exchange between the Cl– in Fe-LDH and the NO3– in the solution. Nitrate ions were repeatedly adsorbed and desorbed. The prepared Fe-LDH is expected to be a new inorganic anion exchanger for the removal and recovery of nitrate ions from aquatic environments.
Effectiveness of antibacterial agents against cell-invading bacteria such as Streptococcus pyogenes and Haemophilus influenzae
Authors: Iuchi Hiroyuki , Ohori Junichiro , Kiyama Satoshi , Imuta Naoko , Nishi Junichiro , Kurono Yuichi , Yamashita Masaru
Published: May 2021

Background

Recurrent tonsillitis is one of the most common otolaryngological disorders caused by cell-invading bacteria, such as Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes) and Haemophilus influenzae. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of antibacterial agents against cell-invading bacteria.

Methods

The intracellular invasion of Detroit 562 cells by five strains of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and four strains of S. pyogenes was investigated. The antibacterial agents used were garenoxacin (GRNX), clarithromycin (CAM), amoxicillin (AMPC), cefditoren pivoxil (CDTR-PI), and levofloxacin (LVFX).

Results

Both NTHi and S. pyogenes fully invaded Detroit 562 cells in 6 h and were less sensitive to CAM. GRNX, CAM, and LVFX were effective against bacteria invading the cells, but AMPC and CDTR-PI were not effective. GRNX was the most effective.

Conclusion

GRNX was the most effective agent against bacteria invading cells.
A longitudinal study of changes in smart phone addiction and depressive symptoms and potential risk factors among Chinese college students
Authors: Yang Xue , Hu Huahua , Zhao Chengjia , Xu Huihui , Tu Xiaolian , Zhang Guohua
Published: May 2021

Background

The current study aims to track the changes in the levels of smart phone addiction (SPA) and depressive symptoms between pre and during COVID-19 and potential risk factors of among Chinese college students in a four-wave longitudinal study.

Methods

The participants were recruited from a Chinese university (n = 195; 58.5% females). The first three-wave surveys were conducted before COVID-19 (during December of Year 1, June of Year 1, and December of Year 2 of their college study; Time 1, Time 2, Time 3), while the fourth survey (Time 4; during June of Year 2 of their college study) was conducted in June 2020 during COVID-19. COVID-19-related factors, including quarantine, lockdown, boredom, emotional loneliness, and social loneliness, were investigated.

Results

The results showed a significant increase in the levels of depressive symptoms and prevalence of probable depression during COVID-19 (69.2%) compared to those 18 months, 12 months and 6 months before COVID-19 (41.5, 45.6, 48.2%) but non-significant changes in SPA. Boredom and emotional loneliness were positively associated with both SPA and depressive symptoms during COVID-19. Social loneliness was also positively associated with depressive symptoms during COVID-19. Quarantine and lockdown were not significantly associated with SPA or depressive symptoms.

Discussion and conclusions

The results highlight that the study population may be a high risk group of probable depression. Future studies should continue to track these mental and behavioral status with the progression of the epidemic. The identified emotional factors could be used to reduce depressive symptoms during COVID-19 and prevent the potential risk of SPA.