bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence by Community Survey and Residual Specimens, Denver, Colorado, July–August 2020
Authors: Kugeler Kiersten J. , Podewils Laura J. , Alden Nisha B. , Burket Tori L. , Kawasaki Breanna , Biggerstaff Brad J. , Biggs Holly M. , Zacks Rachael , Foster Monique A. , Lim Travis , McDonald Emily , Tate Jacqueline E. , Herlihy Rachel K. , Drobeniuc Jan , Cortese Margaret M.
Published: November 2021

Objectives:

The number of SARS-CoV-2 infections is underestimated in surveillance data. Various approaches to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 have different resource requirements and generalizability. We estimated the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in Denver County, Colorado, via a cluster-sampled community survey.

Methods:

We estimated the overall seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 via a community seroprevalence survey in Denver County in July 2020, described patterns associated with seroprevalence, and compared results with cumulative COVID-19 incidence as reported to the health department during the same period. In addition, we compared seroprevalence as assessed with a temporally and geographically concordant convenience sample of residual clinical specimens from a commercial laboratory.

Results:

Based on 404 specimens collected through the community survey, 8.0% (95% CI, 3.9%-15.7%) of Denver County residents had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, an infection rate of about 7 times that of the 1.1% cumulative reported COVID-19 incidence during this period. The estimated infection-to-reported case ratio was highest among children (34.7; 95% CI, 11.1-91.2) and males (10.8; 95% CI, 5.7-19.3). Seroprevalence was highest among males of Black race or Hispanic ethnicity and was associated with previous COVID-19–compatible illness, a previous positive SARS-CoV-2 test result, and close contact with someone who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Testing of 1598 residual clinical specimens yielded a seroprevalence of 6.8% (95% CI, 5.0%-9.2%); the difference between the 2 estimates was 1.2 percentage points (95% CI, −3.6 to 12.2 percentage points).

Conclusions:

Testing residual clinical specimens provided a similar seroprevalence estimate yet yielded limited insight into the local epidemiology of COVID-19 and might be less representative of the source population than a cluster-sampled community survey. Awareness of the limitations of various sampling strategies is necessary when interpreting findings from seroprevalence assessments.
Ethics as Discursive Work: The Role of Ethical Framing in the Promissory Future of Data-driven Healthcare Technologies
Authors: Wehrens Rik , Stevens Marthe , Kostenzer Johanna , Weggelaar Anne Marie , de Bont Antoinette
Published: November 2021

The allure of a “data-driven” future healthcare system continues to seduce many. Increasingly, work in Science & Technology Studies and related fields started to interrogate the saliency of this promissory rhetoric by raising ethical questions concerning epistemology, bias, surveillance, security, and opacity. Less visible is how ethical arguments are used as part of discursive work by various practitioners engaged in data-driven initiatives in healthcare. This article argues for more explicit attention to such discursive work in shaping the promissory future of data-driven healthcare technologies. Bringing together the hitherto separated themes of promissory futures and an emic approach to ethics as discursive work, we study how actors engaged various data-driven healthcare initiatives discursively conduct such ethics work, implicitly or explicitly assigning tasks and roles for stakeholders. We conceptualize this with the notion of “ethical framing” and identify three widely recurring types: ethics as “balancing act,” the technical “fix,” and ethics as “collective thought process.” We outline the characteristics of these acts of framing and discuss their implications for the envisaged roles and responsibilities of various actors. In the Discussion section, we outline the added value of bringing the distinct bodies of literature on promissory futures and ethical framing together and outline themes for new research.
Learning Right from Wrong: A Cross-national Analysis of Education, National Scientific Investment, and the Morality of Science
Authors: Noy Shiri , O’Brien Timothy L.
Published: November 2021

Opposition to and skepticism of science have important social consequences, as highlighted by contemporary debates about vaccines and climate change. Recent studies suggest that opposition to science is rooted in moral concerns and reflects a belief that science breaks down traditional conceptions of right and wrong. This article turns attention to the education system and to national contexts to examine how people see science as a moral threat. We analyze data from the World Values Survey using multilevel regression models and find that individuals with higher levels of education are less concerned about the effects of science on morality. Yet, education differences in moral concern about science are more than twice as large in countries with the highest levels of scientific investment compared to those with the lowest. We conclude that although the link between education and the moral consequences of science is not limited to specific countries, its intensity varies across national contexts. We discuss these findings in light of recent scholarship on political and religious opposition to science, noting the importance of understanding publics’ views of the moral consequences of science.
Swallowing Function Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Transoral Robotic Surgery for Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: A 2‐Year Follow‐up
Authors: Lee Esther , Gorelik Daniel , Crowder Hannah R. , Badger Christopher , Schottler Jennifer , Li Ning‐Wei , Siegel Robert , Sadeghi Nader , Goodman Joseph F. , Thakkar Punam G. , Joshi Arjun S.
Published: November 2021

Objective

To evaluate 2‐year follow‐up swallowing function in patients with human papillomavirus–related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+ OPSCC) who completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy and transoral robotic surgery (NAC+S)

Study Design

Retrospective analysis of patients with OPSCC treated with NAC+S between 2010 and 2021.

Setting

A single academic institution.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional study of patient‐reported swallowing function, assessed with the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) at least 2 years after completion of treatment. The inclusion criteria are patients with HPV+ OPSCC who underwent NAC+S at least 2 years ago. Those requiring adjuvant radiation or chemoradiation or experiencing relapse were excluded from the study.

Results

Completed MDADIs were received from 37 patients at a median 3.8 years posttreatment (interquartile range, 2.0‐8.6 years). Of those, 94.6% (n = 35) were male and 81.1% (n = 30) were White. The median age at OPSCC diagnosis was 59.0 years (interquartile range, 41‐80 years). The most frequent primary subsite of OPSCC was the base of the tongue (n = 20, 54.1%), followed by the tonsils (n = 16, 43.2%). In addition, 75.7% (n = 28) had stage IVa disease (TNM seventh edition), and 29 (78.4%) had scores ≥80, classified as optimal function. When compared with patients who received bilateral neck dissection, patients who received unilateral neck dissection were associated with an age <65 years old (P =. 036) and lower clinical TNM stage (P =. 04), as well as higher composite, emotional, functional, and physical MDADI scores (P =. 017,. 046,. 013, and. 05, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients with OPSCC who were treated with NAC+S achieved satisfactory long‐term swallowing outcomes. Unilateral neck dissection was significantly associated with higher MDADI scores in this patient cohort.
Undervalued, understaffed, underdeveloped, and underutilized? The status of public libraries in the eleven municipalities of rural Iloilo Province, Philippines
Authors: Estrullo-Suaga Eugenia , Miaque-Crucero Michelle Joy , Superio Daryl Lustracion
Published: November 2021

Libraries, as service-oriented organizations, are being guided on every aspect of their operation by local and international standards. In the Philippines, public libraries are expected to adhere to the stipulations of the Philippine Standards for Public Libraries. This study was conducted to assess the adherence of the 11 municipal libraries in Iloilo Province to the following areas of the Standards: library administration, collection management, services and utilization, physical facilities, financial resources, and linkages, networking and collaboration. Findings revealed that most libraries were non-compliant with almost all aspects of the Standards. Specifically, the majority lacked support from their local government units and were managed by non-professional librarians with inadequate knowledge and skills in successfully managing a library. Additionally, most libraries have a low budget to purchase updated resources of various types and formats and appropriate facilities and equipment. Furthermore, almost all libraries lacked networks and linkages, and collaborative activities that could have helped librarians enhance their skills, improve library resources and services, and increase their visibility and value to the stakeholders. Consequently, most municipal libraries could not fulfill the community's information needs; therefore, they remained undervalued and underutilized.
Luxury consumption and the moderating role of attitude toward counterfeits: The case of an emerging market
Authors: Rahimnia Fariborz , Arian Nazanin Hosseini
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this research is to investigate the moderating role of positive attitude toward economic benefit of counterfeit products in the relationship between luxury value perception and purchase intention of luxury brands among Iranian consumers. Data were collected using questionnaires, which were completed by 386 customers at various shopping malls. Structural equation modeling was used to test the direct hypotheses in Amos v.18, and moderated regression analysis to test the moderating hypothesis in SPSS v.19. The results indicate that financial and social value are important drivers of luxury value perception in shaping the purchase intention of consumers, while functional value is not involved in this regard. Moreover, attitude toward counterfeits, as a moderator, reduces the positive effect of luxury value perception on purchase intention. This research provides important insights not only with regard to market entry decision-making but also to develop marketing strategies for positioning a luxury brand in an Asian emerging market. The findings could be potentially generalized to other developing countries in the Middle East with analogous socioeconomic and cultural circumstances. While several studies have been conducted regarding counterfeiting and luxury brand consumption, this is an initial investigation on the moderating role of positive attitude toward economic benefits of counterfeits in the relationship between luxury value perception and purchase intention in the context of an emerging market. This research facilitates further investigations in this regard.
Transformational leadership and employee innovation: Examining the congruence of leader and follower perceptions
Authors: Sehgal Ritu , Balasubramanian Sreejith , Sreejith Sony , Chanchaichujit Janya
Published: November 2021

Organizations are relying on their leaders to demonstrate effective leadership behavior that positively affects employee innovation. However, discrepancies are often found between leaders’ self-perception and followers’ perception of leadership. Understanding the discrepancies is critical for narrowing the leader–follower perception gap and achieving congruence between leaders and followers. This forms the motivation of this study, which aims to compare and contrast the direct and mediated (through psychological empowerment) impact of transformational leadership behavior on employee innovation performance from the perspective of both leaders and followers. Multisource data using questionnaires were collected from 66 leaders and 220 followers in the United Arab Emirates. The results show that leaders’ self-perception scores were significantly lower than that of their followers. Also, discrepancies in perceptions of the direct impact of transformational leadership behavior on employee innovation were found such that a positive and significant relationship was found for followers while no significant relationship was found for leaders. Finally, psychological empowerment mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and employee innovation performance for both leaders and followers, though leaders perceive the mediation of psychological empowerment to be stronger than followers perceive it to be. The study findings show the importance of obtaining multiple-source feedback to first assess the perceptions of both leaders and followers and then make necessary interventions (if required) to narrow perception gaps between leaders and followers since discrepancies could lead to poor organizational culture.
Do employee perceptions of needs–supply fit impact job satisfaction and job search behavior?
Authors: Vandavasi Rama Krishna Kishore , McConville David , Uen Jin-Feng , Wu Ko-Wei
Published: November 2021

In this study, a job characteristics profile is developed to calculate indirect measures of needs–supply (N-S) fit. Two surveys were conducted with employees in Taiwan, to test N-S fit, employee job satisfaction, intention to leave, and job search behavior. The findings show that employee perceptions of indirect N-S fit are significantly related to job satisfaction and negatively related to intention to leave and job search behavior. We find that an individual’s desires, needs, and subjective “fit” perceptions can impact considerably on how the individual thinks and feels about their job and their inclinations to leave. In addition to contributing empirical evidence of how employee perceptions of N-S fit can affect employee intentions to leave, we conclude that it is of practical importance for practitioners to assess the congruence between an employee’s perceptions of what he or she needs in a job and their subjective perceptions of what is supplied.
A contingency theory perspective of environmental management: Empirical evidence from entrepreneurial firms
Authors: Mahmud Muaz , Soetanto Danny , Jack Sarah
Published: November 2021

This article examines the roles of organizational structure of decision-making and external pressure in determining the practice of environmental management. Using contingency theory, this study argues that having a decentralized structure, entrepreneurial firms are able to adapt to external pressure while implementing environmental management. The data were drawn from 106 small and medium-sized firms in the United Kingdom. The study found that a decentralized structure is positively associated with the practice of environmental management while external pressure from global awareness and social relationships has less impact on firms’ environmental management. Interestingly, the impact of decentralized structure on environmental management is strengthened in the context of high level of technological dynamic. Overall, the findings of the study have provided some recommendations to theory and practice of environmental management especially in the context of entrepreneurial firms.
Shared Time Scarcity and the Pursuit of Extraordinary Experiences
Authors: Garcia-Rada Ximena , Kim Tami
Published: November 2021

This work documents a relationship-maintenance strategy that individuals use when they perceive their time with a partner as scarce (vs. abundant): choosing to share extraordinary experiences (i.e., those characterized by uniqueness and superiority; pilot study N = 57). Study 1 first tested this notion in a social media experiment ( N = 35,848 ad impressions on 25,148 adults). Study 2 ( N = 393 adults) suggested that individuals choose extraordinary experiences as a way of sustaining the focal relationship, which leads them to prioritize extraordinariness over other attributes, such as quantity (Study 3: N = 100 adults) and convenience (Study 4: N = 799 adults). Consistent with the relationship-maintenance account, results showed that this prioritization of extraordinary experiences when facing shared time scarcity occurs only when individuals have a strong relationship-maintenance goal (Study 4). Taken together, these studies advance our understanding of the antecedents of experiential choices in close relationships.
Socio-cultural Importance of Newborn Healthcare Practices of Parengi Porja Tribe Living in Hilly Forested Areas of Andhra Pradesh, India: An Anthropological Analysis
Authors: Samakya V. Srividhya , Palanisamy G.
Published: November 2021

The study aims to understand the traditional healthcare management of the newborns of the Parengi Porja tribe. The Parengi Porja tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) that inhabits the Eastern Ghats, which is a continuous high hilly region of Visakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The members of this tribe strongly believe that the earliest weeks of a newborn’s life is the time for the greatest probability of death and disability. To avoid these misfortunes, they strictly follow the traditional healthcare regimen for newborns, which has significant socio-cultural importance. For this study, 105 neonates were purposively selected, and their mothers were interviewed for data collection. The research data were analysed by qualitative methods that included participant observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussion. The collected data were repeatedly cross-checked with other elderly female members like grandmothers, and sutranimaizi (traditional birth attendant [TBA]) through interviews to strengthen the efficiency and authenticity of the data. The findings of the study show that this tribal population has its understanding of the management of neonatal health, which is socio-culturally ingrained, sanctioned and transmitted through generations.
The Transition in Household Energy Use for Cooking in India: Evidence from a Longitudinal Survey
Authors: Brahmanandam N. , Nagarajan R.
Published: November 2021

This article seeks to assess the transition in household energy use for cooking in India based on data from two rounds of the India Human Development Survey in 2004–2005 and 2011–2012. In this study, we have used the multinomial logistic regression and Multiple Classification Analysis conversion model to assess the transition in household energy use according to the socio-economic characteristics of households. Our findings suggest that although the transition from solid fuel to clean fuel is universal across households, it is greater among the socio-economically better-off households than their poorer counterparts. The use of solid fuel for cooking was more prevalent among the socio-economically disadvantaged households than among their socio-economically better-off counterparts in both 2004–2005 and 2011–2012. Convergence in clean cooking fuel use across the households can be possible only when socio-economically disadvantaged households progress faster than their already better-off counterparts.

JEL Codes: B5, C23, D31, I3, Q5
India–European Union Trade Integration: An Analysis of Current and Future Trajectories
Authors: Loganathan Swetha , Karakunnel Joshy Joseph , Victor Vijay
Published: November 2021

In a dynamic global environment of increased economic interdependence, nations are more than ever seeking to remove barriers to trade, despite growing trends of protectionism. In this context, India and the EU-27 have initiated talks for the establishment of a Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) in an attempt to bring their economies together. However, after 16 rounds of negotiations, the failure to conclude this agreement has raised questions regarding the benefits of the agreement to India. This study attempts to examine the current trade scenario and the effects of the proposed regional trade agreement by estimating a structural gravity model. This study employs the Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimator for analysing the trade-creation and trade-diversion effects of the BTIA to overcome the shortcomings of ordinary least square (OLS) estimators. For the empirical analysis, the merchandise export data from the Gravity database has been taken for a period of 19 years from 2001 to 2019. The results indicate that the BTIA could lead to trade creation and trade diversion, highlighting the need for a re-evaluation of India’s trade policy.

JEL Classification: F10, F13, F14, F15, O24
Relationships Between Care Recipients’ Psychological Symptoms and Family Caregivers’ Depressive States
Authors: Hoshino Junko , Tamakoshi Koji , Hori Yoko , Sakakibara Hisataka
Published: November 2021

This cross-sectional study aims to clarify the relationship between the number of behavioral and psychological symptoms in long-term care recipients and family caregivers’ depressive states. Participants were 38 family caregivers who had provided care for their relatives for 6 years or more; they were recruited from in-home care settings in Aichi, Gifu, and Shiga Prefectures, Japan. Participants answered a self-administered questionnaire assessing their depressive state using the Japanese version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies for Depression Scale (CES-D). They also answered questions inquiring about behavioral and psychological symptoms of care recipients, including resistance to care, irritability, and feelings of persecution. Using CES-D scores, 11 participants were categorized as depressed and 27 as non-depressed. Depressive symptoms were significantly greater in those with more behavioral and psychological symptoms, following adjustment for confounding factors. The odds ratio of being in a depressive state was 9.43 higher for those with more than 4 behavioral and psychological symptoms compared to those with none, showing a distinct threshold for the influence of behavioral and psychological symptoms on depressive state. Knowing the number of behavioral and psychological symptoms of care recipients may help quickly identify depressed caregivers and alleviate depressive symptoms.
Comparing successful insertions, dwell time, reinsertions and the costs of supplies between integrated and simple short peripheral catheters
Authors: Cura Jonathan D
Published: November 2021

Background:

Along with the challenges to strengthen patient safety in the use of short peripheral catheters (SPCs), various studies have been conducted in the past to explore differences between two main types of SPCs—integrated SPC (ISPC) and simple SPC (SSPC) in terms of clinical performance. The accumulated evidence from the literature lean toward the benefits of ISPC use in preventing complications leading to longer dwell time and more economical savings than SSPC use. The study aimed to compare ISPC and SSPC in terms of first-attempt successful insertions, number of attempts before successful insertion, perceived ease of insertion, dwell time, reinsertion rate, reasons for removal, and costs of supplies used for the insertions. Furthermore, it aimed to verify whether the previous results of referenced work in the use of ISPC were similar, and its use provided more foreseeable benefit for patient safety and cost-efficiency.

Methods:

This quasi-experimental study was conducted in a 650-bed tertiary academic medical center in the Philippines. Eligible participants were adult patients who were required SPC for at least 72 h by the physician. Using inferential statistics, comparisons were done among adult patients with integrated ( n = 350) and simple ( n = 350) SPC. Comparisons were also made according to insertion site and gauge of SPC.

Results:

The successful first-attempt insertions did not vary significantly at around 80% in both groups ( p = 0.428). No significant differences were found in terms of attempts before successful insertion ( p = 0.677), dwell time ( p = 0.144), reinsertions ( p = 0.934), and reasons for removal ( p = 0.424). Meanwhile, comparable differences were noted in terms of perceived ease of insertion ( p < 0.001) and cost of supplies used during the insertions ( p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

ISPCs can yield the same results with that of SSPCs while being easier to use and less costly.
Working towards inclusion: Creating technology for and with people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia who are employed
Authors: Shastri Karan , Boger Jennifer , Marashi Sheida , Astell Arlene , Dove Erica , Nedlund Ann-Charlotte , Mäki-Petäjä-Leinonen Anna , Nygård Louise
Published: November 2021

Earlier diagnosis and longer working careers is resulting in more individuals being identified as having Mild Cognitive Impairment or Early Onset Dementia (MCI/EOD) when they are still in the workforce. While there is growing interest in the dementia research community and beyond to develop technologies to support people with dementia, the use of technology for and by people with MCI/EOD in the workplace has had very little attention. This paper presents a two-part study involving interviews and participatory sessions to begin to understand the workplace experiences and the role of technology among people living with MCI/EOD. We present our findings from working with seven people with MCI/EOD and two care partners to explore technology design. Our results indicate several similarities as well as a few differences between MCI/EOD and later-onset dementia with respect to challenges using technology and design considerations for supporting engagement and use of technology. Lessons learned through the process of working with people with MCI/EOD through participatory methods is presented along with recommendations to foster an inclusive, respectful, and empowering experience for participants with MCI/EOD.
Breathability performance of antiviral cloth masks treated with silver nanoparticles for protection against COVID-19
Authors: Hamouda Tamer , Kafafy Hany , Mashaly HM , Aly Nermin M
Published: November 2021

The global widespread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused shortage of medical face masks and led to developing of various types of cloth masks with different levels of protection and comfort to meet the market demands. Breathing comfort is a significant aspect that should be considered during the design of cloth masks along with the filtration efficiency; otherwise, the wearer will feel suffocated. In this work, different types of cotton and polyester knitted fabrics blended with spandex yarns were produced and treated with silver nanoparticles to be used as antiviral cloth masks. Scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and EDX were used to characterize the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Antiviral activity was assessed against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus as well. The influence of using different fabric materials, number of layers, and hybrid layers on their air permeability and breathability were investigated to evaluate the comfortability of the cloth masks. Physiological impacts of wearing the cloth masks were evaluated by measuring oxygen saturation of hemoglobin and heart rate of the wearers while doing various activities. The results indicated that AgNPs have low cytotoxicity and considerable efficiency in inhibition of SARS-CoV-2. Adding spandex yarns with different count and ratios reduced the porosity and air permeability of the fabrics. Moreover, the combination of three hybrid layers’ mask made of polyester fabric in the outer layer with 100% cotton fabric in the inner layer showed high comfortability associated with high air permeability and breathability. Also, wearing these masks while doing activities showed no significant effect on blood oxygen saturation and heart rate of the wearers.
No Effect of Surgical Approach on Discharge Outcomes in Outpatient Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: LeBrun Drake G. , LaValva Scott M. , Waddell Bradford S. , Mayman David J. , Jerabek Seth A. , Alexiades Michael M. , Ast Michael P.
Published: November 2021

Background: The interest in ambulatory total hip arthroplasty (THA) has increased recently due to a national focus on value-based care and improved rapid recovery protocols. Purpose: We sought to determine if surgical approach had an effect on discharge outcomes in outpatient THA. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study examining patients who underwent unilateral THA at a single institution using a standardized perioperative care pathway who were discharged home within 24 hours. In total, we compared 106 patients who underwent THA using the direct anterior approach (ATHA) and 90 patients who underwent THA using the posterior approach (PTHA). Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to compare time to ambulation, length of surgery, readmissions, and 90-day complications. Results:Time to ambulation in the ATHA and PTHA groups was 3.9 hours and 4.1 hours, respectively, and time to discharge was 5.9 hours and 6.0 hours, respectively. Length of surgery was shorter in the ATHA group than in the PTHA group (78 minutes vs 86 minutes, respectively). Complications occurred in 3 patients (3%) in the ATHA group vs 4 patients (4%) in PTHA group. In both groups, early ambulation (within 5 hours) predicted earlier time to discharge. Surgical approach was not associated with time to ambulation or time to discharge on multivariable analysis. Conclusion: In this retrospective study, outpatient THA was feasible in a well-selected population of patients undergoing anterior or posterior approaches. Further study is warranted.
Tissue and Growth Specific Chemical Profiles and Antimicrobial Activity of Libanotis buchtormensis (Fisch.) DC Extracts
Authors: Wang Ping , Geng Nan , Qiu Yijie , Dong Yihua , Li Huaizhu , Wang Wenbo
Published: November 2021

Libanotis buchtormensis (Fisch.) DC. is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb used for the treatment of rheumatism, articular pain, and symptoms of the common cold. To evaluate the possible medicinal value of the aerial parts of L. buchtormensis, the chemical composition and antibacterial activity were assessed on a tissue and growth specific basis. Results based on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the samples were divided into two main clusters, one associated with roots and the other associated with the aerial parts. Analysis of the bioactive chemical contents revealed that coumarin was the most abundant compound in leaves (0.53 to 0.82%), while osthole and isoimperatorin exhibited relatively high concentrations in roots. Two-year growth samples, which correspond with the harvest period of L. buchtormensis, contained the highest amounts of total coumarin, osthole, and isoimperatorin. Broth microdilution tests showed that Gram-positive bacterial strains ( Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis and Streptococcus agalactiae) were more sensitive to L. buchtormensis extracts than the Gram-negative bacterial strain ( Escherichia coli). Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis were more sensitive to the extracts, exhibiting significant correlation with osthole and isoimperatorin contents. Comparative analysis of the chemical profiles and antibacterial activity revealed significant differences between the root and the aerial parts, which implied that the clinical application of the aerial parts needed further study. In addition, the aerial parts could serve as a material source for osthole, having comparable content to that of the root.
Incidence of COVID-19 in Children and Young People Who Play Federated Football
Authors: Seijo Bestilleiro Rocío , Suanzes Hernández Jorge , Batalla Bautista Diego , Pereira Rodríguez María José , Martín Cristina González , Garcia Rodriguez Mara Teresa , Pértega Díaz Sonia
Published: November 2021

Aim:

To determine the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection in children and young people who play federated football.

Methods:

Prospective study, from October 2020 to January 2021, in players aged 4 to 19 years from federated football clubs in Galicia, Spain (N = 23,845). Outbreaks and cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection were recorded. The cumulative incidence was compared with the incidence registered in Galicia in the same age range.

Results:

The cumulative incidence was 29.8 cases per 10,000 licenses in 4 months, lower than the incidence registered in the general population for all ages and both sexes (283.7 per 10,000 inhabitants; rate ratio = 9.5). It was higher in January (40.7 per 10,000), coinciding with the population peak. More cases were registered in futsal (42.9 vs 27.5 per 10,000) and competitions with periodic screenings (127.4 vs 9.1 per 10,000). There were 2 outbreaks in 2389 teams (0.08%).

Conclusion:

The results support the safety of football practice in children and young people with prevention protocols.
Creating something out of nothing: Enacting critical civic engagement in urban classrooms
Authors: Schmidt Jon
Published: November 2021

Critical civic engagement (CCE) is a pedagogical framework for civic education in urban settings. CCE as a pedagogical approach engages student lived experience, develops critical thinking, and facilitates informed civic action projects. In this phenomenological study of teachers in four urban high schools in a large urban school district, the author seeks to understand how teachers experience the enactment of CCE elements in schools with majority African American or Latinx student populations. The author argues that CCE practices can and should lead to the development of civic identity as a critical outcome for students in contrast to more formal measures of academic achievement. Civic identity is the foundation upon with engagement in public life is built. The study suggests that the enactment of CCE elements provides a powerful learning and identity formation experience for students and a pedagogical process that inspires teachers and their student-centered practices.
The status of serum cortisol before and after treatment of schizophrenia and its correlation to disease severity and improvement: A longitudinal study
Authors: Woldesenbet Yohannes Markos , Alenko Arefayne , Bukata Iyasu Tadesse , Gedefaw Lealem , Fikru Chaltu
Published: November 2021

Background:

Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis functioning, with cortisol as its major output hormone, has been presumed to play a key role in the development of psychopathology of schizophrenia.

Objective:

We examined the association of serum cortisol with disease severity and improvement in schizophrenia patients in Jimma, Ethiopia.

Method:

A total of 34 newly diagnosed schizophrenics were included in this study. Data on demographic, behavioral, clinical state, serum cholesterol level, and antipsychotic usage were obtained at baseline and after 8 weeks. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale was used to assess psychotic symptoms severity. A paired sample t-test was used to compare baseline and post-treatment values. Linear regression was used to assess associations.

Result:

Post-treatment serum cortisol level was significantly lower than its baseline value ( p = 0.001). There was also a significant positive and negative psychotic symptoms decrease after treatment (baseline positive psychotic vs post-treatment positive psychotic symptoms: t(33) = 6.24 (95% confidence interval = 7.03,13.84, p = 0.000) and (baseline negative psychotic vs post-treatment negative psychotic symptoms: t(33) = 4.21 (95% confidence interval = 3.82, 10.99, p = 0.000). At baseline, neither positive nor negative subscore on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale showed an association with serum cortisol level ( B = −0.016, p = 0.794 and B = −0.032, p = 0.594). However, serum cortisol level showed strong associations with post-treatment positive sub scores and negative sub scores ( B = 0.167, p = 0.007) and ( B = 0.144, p = 0.010) on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

Conclusion:

We found a significant decrease in serum cortisol level after antipsychotics treatment and that was associated with improvement in psychotic symptoms in schizophrenics in Jimma, Ethiopia.
Case report of hidradenitis suppurativa localized to the face in an HIV patient
Authors: Rankin Brian D , Haber Richard M
Published: November 2021

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, debilitating inflammatory skin disease. Case reports of individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa presenting exclusively on the face, as well as reports of individuals with HIV and hidradenitis suppurativa, are rare. Here, we present the case of an HIV-positive man who presented with hidradenitis suppurativa localized only on his face. We also review facial hidradenitis suppurativa and hidradenitis suppurativa in HIV patients.
Acute and severe haemorrhage following pentosan polysulfate injection in a Cornish Rex
Authors: Tong Miranda X , Romine Jessica F , Hardcastle Michael R
Published: November 2021

Case summary

A 14-year-old male castrated Cornish Rex cat was referred for lethargy progressing rapidly to collapse in the hours following a subcutaneous injection of a product containing 100 mg/ml pentosan polysulfate sodium and 168 mg/ml glucosamine. Physical examination revealed the cat to be in hypotensive shock with swelling and interstitial oedema around the cranial thorax and caudal cervical regions without cutaneous haemorrhage. Initial diagnostics revealed a severe anaemia (packed cell volume 11%) which later deteriorated further, necessitating a blood transfusion and aggressive fluid therapy. Post-transfusion, the patient remained dyspnoeic and subsequent diagnostics found evidence of pre-existing cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. The cat was euthanased 24 h following presentation due to increasing dyspnoea. Post-mortem findings were of severe subcutaneous and intermuscular haemorrhage over the neck and thorax, among other changes. There were no detectable levels of coumarin anticoagulants in the liver.

Relevance and novel information

This is the first reported case of acute subcutaneous and intermuscular haemorrhage of this severity suspected to be related to the off-label use of an injectable product containing pentosan polysulfate in a cat. Given the popularity of its use for feline arthritis, there is a need for large-scale clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of products containing pentosan polysulfate for cats, and any side effects to be reported.
Wages and Firm Ownership: A Study of the Manufacturing Sector of India
Authors: Sahu Santosh Kumar , Goel Ankita
Published: November 2021

From an ownership viewpoint, we analyse the determinants of significant wage differences for India’s manufacturing sector. We use data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy’s Prowess database from 2000–2015. Using fixed-effects and Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition method, we confirm that foreign firms pay higher wages and salaries than domestic firms. Most importantly, productivity, participation in the export market, firm size, firm age and profit margin explain the inter-firm and intra-firm differences in labour intensity for the manufacturing firms in the Indian economy. The wage gap seems higher for intra-firm than the inter-firm, indicating that demand for labour is higher within the sector.

JEL Classifications: E24, G32, L6, C13
Earlier Resolution of Symptoms and Return of Function After Bridge-Enhanced Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair As Compared With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Barnett Samuel C. , Murray Martha M. , Badger Gary J. ,   the BEAR Trial Team, Sanborn Ryan , Kiapour Ata , Proffen Benedikt , Sant Nicholas , Fleming Braden C. , Micheli Lyle J. , Yen Yi-Meng , Kramer Dennis E.
Published: November 2021

Background:

Bridge-enhanced anterior cruciate ligament repair (BEAR) has noninferior patient-reported outcomes when compared with autograft anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) at 2 years. However, the comparison of BEAR and autograft ACLR at earlier time points—including important outcomes such as resolution of knee pain and symptoms, recovery of strength, and return to sport—has not yet been reported.

Hypothesis:

It was hypothesized that the BEAR group would have higher outcomes on the International Knee Documentation Committee and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, as well as improved muscle strength, in the early postoperative period.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

A total of 100 patients aged 13 to 35 years with complete midsubstance anterior cruciate ligament injuries were randomized to receive a suture repair augmented with an extracellular matrix implant (n = 65) or an autograft ACLR (n = 35). Outcomes were assessed at time points up to 2 years postoperatively. Mixed-model repeated-measures analyses were used to compare BEAR and ACLR outcomes. Patients were unblinded after their 2-year visit.

Results:

Repeated-measures testing revealed a significant effect of group on the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Score ( P = .015), most pronounced at 6 months after surgery (BEAR = 86 points vs ACLR = 78 points; P = .001). There was a significant effect of group on the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Symptoms subscale scores ( P = .010), largely attributed to the higher BEAR scores at the 1-year postoperative time point (88 vs 82; P = .009). The effect of group on hamstring strength was significant in the repeated-measures analysis ( P < .001), as well as at all postoperative time points ( P < .001 for all comparisons). At 1 year after surgery, approximately 88% of the patients in the BEAR group and 76% of the ACLR group had been cleared for return to sport ( P = .261).

Conclusion:

Patients undergoing the BEAR procedure had earlier resolution of symptoms and increased satisfaction about their knee function, as well as improved resolution of hamstring muscle strength throughout the 2-year follow-up period.

Registration:

NCT02664545 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier)
Sorting It Out: Identifying and Addressing Conflicts and Business Ethics in Global Value Networks
Authors: Davis Matthew C. , Voss Hinrich , Sumner Mark P. , Singhal Divya
Published: November 2021

Global value networks are often large, complex, and opaque. Understanding the relationships among stakeholders involved in these networks or organizations can be challenging. This card sort task provides an interactive way to engage participants in questioning the roles of stakeholders who are involved in a business ethics dilemma or an organizational product failure. This card sort task and discussion activity encourages participants to recognize that stakeholders may hold different knowledge, responsibility, or power; identify competing, conflicting, or complementary interests across stakeholders; articulate logical arguments; and engage in debate, compromise, and critical evaluation. This technique has been used successfully with undergraduate and postgraduate business, management, and social science students and is suitable for in-person and remote classes.
Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Vitreomacular Traction Syndrome
Authors: Nawrocka Zofia Anna , Nawrocka Zofia , Nawrocki Jerzy
Published: November 2021

Purpose:

A swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) analysis of vasculature in vitreomacular traction (VMT) before and after surgery as well as 15 months’ “watchful waiting” follow-up data.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis of 38 eyes. Patients were divided into group 1: untreated (20 eyes); group 2: untreated, spontaneous release of traction (4 eyes); and group 3: vitrectomy (14 eyes).

Results:

In all cases, SS-OCTA of the choriocapillaris revealed a hyporeflective area, which disappeared after traction release. In group 1, none of the analyzed factors significantly changed. In group 2, visual acuity (VA) improved from 0.3 logMAR to 0.1 logMAR. None of the following parameters significantly changed: central choroidal thickness, superficial fovea avascular zone (sFAZ), deep fovea avascular zone (dFAZ), and vessel densities. In 1 eye a lamellar macular hole formed. Factors increasing the chances of spontaneous release of traction were width of traction and central retinal thickness ( P < .05). In group 3, VA improved from 0.27 Snellen (0.6 logMAR) to 0.44 Snellen (0.4 logMAR) ( P < .05). Postoperative OCTA revealed significant decreases in central retinal thickness ( P < .001), the parameters sFAZ, and dFAZ ( P < .05).

Conclusions:

sFAZ and dFAZ decreased after vitrectomy but not after spontaneous release of traction. VA was better in eyes with spontaneous release of traction. The degree of improvement in VA was greater in the vitrectomy group. In all cases a hyporeflective area is visible in the choriocapillaris layer in SS-OCTA. It disappears when traction is released. Early treatment, at least in patients with lower VA, might be beneficial.
Revision Quadriceps Tendon Repair With Bone-Achilles Allograft Augmentation
Authors: Dandu Navya , Trasolini Nicholas A. , DeFroda Steven F. , Holland Tai , Yanke Adam B.
Published: November 2021

Background:

Surgical repair of chronic quadriceps tendon ruptures can be daunting, especially after failure of a prior repair. In this setting, tissue quality is usually poor, necessitating graft augmentation. In this video, we describe our technique for Achilles tendon allograft augmentation for revision quadriceps tendon repair.

Indications:

Failed quadriceps tendon repair defined as ongoing extensor mechanism deficit including patella baja, functional deficit, or palpable quadriceps defect with confirmed retear on advanced imaging.

Technique Description:

Patient is placed in the supine position, and a midline incision is extended to the tibial tubercle. Full thickness medial and lateral flaps are raised, nonviable scar tissue is excised, and suprapatellar adhesions are released to ensure full mobilization of the viable remnant quadriceps. A plane is then developed deep to the patellar tendon paratenon from proximal to distal. A reamer is used to prepare a socket just medial to the tibial tubercle. The calcaneal bone block of the Achilles allograft is fashioned to match the recipient site on the tibia with a sagittal saw. The graft is shuttled deep to the paratenon, and the bone plug is fixed to the tibia with an interference screw. Suture from the patellar anchors is then used to place 2 running Krackow stitches spanning the remnant quadriceps tendon proximally. The remnant tissue is subsequently reduced and tied with an anchor pull-through technique. The soft tissue component of the Achilles graft is laid over the repair and oversewn with free nonabsorbable suture. Patient is placed in a brace locked in extension for 6 weeks and allowed to be weight bearing as tolerated.

Results:

Long-term patient-reported outcomes of Achilles allograft reconstruction for revision extensor mechanism repairs are limited. Two studies of 17 reconstructions each reported this to be a reliable and durable option at a mean follow-up of 65 and 52 months, respectively.

Discussion/Conclusion:

Revision surgery for extensor mechanism deficits can be a challenging procedure. Our preference is to perform augmentation with Achilles allograft with bone plug fixation on the tibial side. This allows for augmentation of the entire extensor mechanism, as well as bone-to-bone healing on the tibial side.