bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying the impact of the Zone Insertion MethodTM (ZIMTM): A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Huang Chunli , Wu Zhenming , Huang Weihua , Zhang Xinghong , Lin Xiling , Luo Jielin , Li Lihua , Li Jia
Published: October 2021

Background:

In 2011, Dawson proposed the Zone Insertion MethodTM (ZIMTM) to identify the optimal peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) insertion site in the upper arm. However, data on the effectiveness and safety of the ZIMTM in guiding PICC placement in Chinese population is limited.

Methods

In this randomized controlled trial, 120 cancer patients were randomly assigned to the upper portion of the red zone (RZ), the green zone (GZ) and the lower portion of the yellow zone (YZ) groups (at a 1:1:1 ratio). The aim was to compare the degree of patient comfort and the incidence of major PICC complications among the three insertion zones based on the ZIMTM in a Chinese Cancer Center. (Clinical Trials. Gov number, ChiCTR1900024111)

Results

A total of 118 catheters were inserted in 118 patients (2 patients were lost to follow-up). After the 1-month follow-up, patients randomly assigned to the YZ group had a higher degree of comfort with a lower score than those assigned to the other two zone groups: 30.21±3.16 in the YZ group versus 31.65±2.51 in the RZ group and 31.59±2.92 in the GZ group ( P=.046). The incidence of thrombosis (10/40, 25%) and occlusion (4/40, 10%) in the RZ, which were significantly higher than those in the other two zone groups (χ2 =7.368, P=.02; χ2 =5.778, P =.03), whereas the risk in the GZ group was similar to that in the YZ group. The incidence of contact dermatitis in the GZ group was significantly higher than that of the other two zone groups (χ2=12.873, P=.001).

Conclusions:

This study found that the lower portion of YZ seems to be another suitable PICC insertion site for a higher degree of comfort and a lower risk of occlusion and thrombosis, which broadens the choice of PICC insertion sites in the upper arm for clinical practice.
Accidental guide wire migration and late percutaneous externalization after central venous catheterization
Authors: van den Bogert Petra Cristina , de Araujo Walter Junior Boim , Ruggeri Viviane Gomes Milgioransa , Caron Filipe Carlos , Erzinger Fabiano Luiz , de Macedo Paulo Eduardo Muller
Published: October 2021

A 70-year-old man was admitted to the emergency department with recent spontaneous externalization of a metallic device from his right inner thigh. He had been experiencing mild local pain for 2 weeks and had a recent hospitalization due to cardiogenic hemodynamic instability, requiring a central venous catheter placement in his right internal jugular vein 3 months earlier. Doppler ultrasound confirmed the intravascular foreign body hypothesis as a guidewire was identified inside the right femoral vein, associated with femoropopliteal venous thrombosis. The guidewire was successfully removed percutaneously through simple manual traction guided by radioscopy. The patient was discharged the following day on oral anticoagulation with rivaroxaban. On outpatient follow-up 4 weeks post discharge, he had no complaints in the right lower limb except for slight swelling. Central venous catheterization is a common invasive procedure that, although unquestionably safe and well stablished in medical practice, can lead to serious complications when performed without proper technique.
Development of open-source software for free-hand 3D vascular ultrasound: Dialysis fistula application
Authors: Weitzel William F , Rajaram Nirmala , Zheng Yihao , Funes-Lora Miguel Angel , Hamilton James , Yessayan Lenar , Krishnamurthy Venkataramu N , Henke Peter , Osborne Nicholas , Bishop Brandie , Shih Albert J , Thelen Brian J
Published: October 2021

Background:

The arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access for End Stage Renal Disease, having superior patency and lower infection risks than prosthetic graft and catheter access. When AVF dysfunction or delayed maturation does occur, the gold standard for diagnosis is the fistula angiogram (a.k.a. fistulogram). 3D ultrasound is available for obstetrical and other specialized uses, but it is cost prohibitive and has a field of view that is too small to cover the region of interest for the dialysis fistula application. We sought to develop a point of care 3D solution using freehand 2D ultrasound data acquisition.

Methods:

We developed open-source software for 3D image reconstruction and projection of an angiogram-like image of the vascular access using a 2D freehand ultrasound scanner. We evaluated this software by comparing the ultrasound “sono-angiogram” images to fistulogram images in five subjects, using visual inspection and by applying the Percent of Exact Match (PEM) as a statistic test.

Results:

The sono-angiograms showed identifiable characteristics that matched the fistulogram results in all five subjects. The PEM ranged between 42.8% and 77.0%, with Doppler and grayscale ultrasound data, showing complementary advantages and disadvantages when used for sono-angiogram image construction. Motion from freehand ultrasound acquisition was a significant source of mismatch. 3D image generation is a potential advantage with ultrasound data.

Conclusions:

While further work is needed to improve the accuracy with free hand scanning, fistulogram-like “sono-angiograms” can be generated using point of care 2D ultrasound. Methods such as these may be able to assist in point-of-care diagnosis in the future. The software is open-source, and importantly, the ultrasound data used are non-proprietary and available from any standard ultrasound machine. The simplicity and accessibility of this approach warrant further study.
Towards an integral pedagogy in the age of ‘digital Gestell’: Moving between embodied co-presence and telepresence in learning and teaching practices
Authors: Aroles Jeremy , Küpers Wendelin
Published: October 2021

Digitalisation offers a wide array of opportunities, but also challenges, for universities and business schools alike, regarding the provision and delivery of their teaching and learning activities. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted some of these challenges, as it forced educational institutions to move their pedagogic activities online in line with new governmental regulations. In this article, we identify and discuss critically the following three interconnected challenges: (1) shifting from direct embodied co-presence to technologically mediated telepresence, (2) re-embodying teaching and learning activities and (3) rethinking the purpose and relevance of teachings in business schools. We explore these challenges through a phenomenological lens, informed by the Heideggerian concepts of enframing ( Gestell) and releasement ( Gelassenheit), with a focus on (re-)embodiment. Finally, we discuss the need, for teachers and learners, to be able to reflectively move between embodied and digital(ised) forms of learning and teaching and outline some implications and perspectives regarding the development of an integral pedagogy.
Breaking the peace: Representation, affect and materiality in pre-modern England
Authors: Byng Gabriel
Published: October 2021

The pax was an object intended both to symbolise and to enforce peace among Christian congregations in pre-modern Europe and so when a man named John Browne smashed one over the head of the parish clerk during one of the holiest services of the year in a church in southeast England something had evidently gone wrong. This article is dedicated to explaining not only why Browne reacted with such fury at precisely the moment when he was expected to do the opposite but also why the pax and the clerk were chosen as his victims. The pax's material and visual qualities are integral, and overlooked, parts of this story but it is only by relating them to its representational and institutional contexts that Browne's actions begin to make sense. By integrating the material and the semiotic in this way, this article posits a conceptual structure for explicating not only an important dimension of the relationship between materiality, representation and affectivity but also how such relationships can, indeed must, be historicised to particular objects, ideologies and institutions.
Salience in EFL speakers’ perceptions of formality: (In)formal greetings and address forms combined with (in)formal nouns, verbs, and adjectives
Authors: Lasan Ivan
Published: October 2021

This study explores whether English-dominant (ED) speakers and speakers of English as a foreign language (EFL) perceive the same degrees of formality in combinations of (in)formal greetings (Hi/Dear) and address forms (informal First Name/Ms. Last Name) with (in)formal nouns, verbs, and adjectives (Latinate/Germanic). It also explores which of these variants the two groups perceive as salient in communicating formality. Twenty-five ED undergraduates in Canada and 27 EFL undergraduates in Slovakia rated the formality of 20 sentence-length examples of business email correspondence and identified features that were the primary basis for their formality rating. Distributions of 11 of the formality ratings were statistically significantly different in the two groups (with most effect sizes ranging from small to medium), and trends in the reports of salient features suggested that the EFL speakers focused on the formality of address forms more frequently than did the ED speakers. The findings are discussed in relation to infelicitous interlingual transfer and strategies for developing pragmatic competence.
Gender Differences in a Risk-Reduction Model of Sharing
Authors: Jimenez Stephanie T. , Bambino Matthew , Nathaniel David
Published: October 2021

The current experimental study investigated human sharing within a laboratory task that modeled environmental variability. In particular, it sought to assess the efficacy of a risk-reduction model of sharing, which originated from a risk-sensitive optimization model known as the energy-budget rule. Participants were given the choice between working alone or cooperating and sharing accumulated hypothetical earnings with a fictious partner. Failure to acquire sufficient money resulted in a loss of accumulated earnings. To investigate the effects of economic context on sharing, the difficulty of meeting an earnings requirement was manipulated across conditions by changing the monetary requirement that needed to be met in order to bank earnings, which could later be exchanged for real money. In some conditions sharing was the optimal strategy (positive budget conditions), sometimes working alone was optimal (negative budget conditions), and other times neither option was optimal (neutral budget conditions). Gender differences were examined within this context to determine if males and females differed in their sharing behavior. The results suggested that males chose the sharing option more often in the positive budget condition and showed a stronger preference for the work-alone option in the negative budget condition than females.
Spotlight: Pragmatism in contemporary political theory
Authors: Festenstein Matthew
Published: October 2021

This article surveys recent work in pragmatism and political theory. In doing so, it shows both how recent work on pragmatism has secured the view that at its core is a set of arguments about the character of democracy – although the character of those arguments is open to debate and reimagination – and how pragmatist arguments have been reinterpreted and deployed to address contemporary concerns and approaches. This charts a terrain of live disagreements rather than settled opinion.
One-Year Results of ZBIS Iliac Branch Device With an Off-Label Connection Limb
Authors: Torrealba Jose , Panuccio Giuseppe , Rohlffs Fiona , Gandet Thomas , Gronert Catharina , Heidemann Franziska , Tsilimparis Nikolaos , Kölbel Tilo
Published: October 2021

Purpose:

The purpose of this article is to study 1-year results of Zenith branch iliac endovascular graft (ZBIS) with the off-label use of a 13 mm spiral Z limb to connect to the aortic main body.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective review from 2015 to 2019 of all iliac branch devices (IBDs) was performed at 1 institution that were connected to an aortic main body with a 13 mm spiral Z limb and had at least 1-year follow-up with computed tomography (CT). Primary endpoints are freedom from ZBIS separation from the connection limb, endoleak (EL), or reintervention at 1 year. Secondary endpoints are primary and secondary ZBIS patency, presence of any EL, and aortic reinterventions.

Results:

Of 149 IBDs implanted in this period, 45 ZBIS in 35 patients were connected with a 13 mm limb and had a 1-year CT; 97% of patients had common iliac artery (CIA) aneurysms, 7% of patients had hypogastric artery (HA) aneurysms, and 30% of patients had bilateral ZBIS implantation. Technical success was 98%. In 84% of cases, the Advanta V12 was used as the HA mating stent; 56% of patients had an EL, mostly type II, which resolved spontaneously in 70% at 1 year, and 9% of ZBIS required reinterventions at 1 year (2 for thrombosis, 2 for type Ic EL from HA mating stent). One-year ZBIS primary patency and secondary patency were 96% and 100%, respectively. No EL was noted to be related to the 13 mm connection limb. No migration or separation of the devices occurred.

Conclusions:

The use of 13 mm spiral Z limb to connect a ZBIS with the main body in our series yields a high technical success rate and good 12-month outcomes without device separation or migration.
Impact of Social Vulnerability on Access to Educational Programming Designed to Enhance Living Donation
Authors: Carter Alexis J. , Reed Rhiannon D. , Kale A. Cozette , Qu Haiyan , Kumar Vineeta , Hanaway Michael J. , Cannon Robert M. , Locke Jayme E.
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Transplant candidate participation in the Living Donor Navigator Program is associated with an increased likelihood of achieving living donor kidney transplantation; yet not every transplant candidate participates in navigator programming.

Research Question

We sought to assess interest and ability to participate in the Living Donor Navigator Program by the degree of social vulnerability.

Design

Eighty-two adult kidney-only candidates initiating evaluation at our center provided Likert-scaled responses to survey questions on interest and ability to participate in the Living Donor Navigator Program. Surveys were linked at the participant-level to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index and county health rankings and overall social vulnerability and subthemes, individual barriers, telehealth capabilities/ knowledge, interest, and ability to participate were assessed utilizing nonparametric Wilcoxon ranks sums tests, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests.

Results

Participants indicating distance as a barrier to participation in navigator programming lived approximately 82 miles farther from our center. Disinterested participants lived in areas with the highest social vulnerability, higher physical inactivity rates, lower college education rates, and higher uninsurance (lack of insurance) and unemployment rates. Similarly, participants without a computer, who never heard of telehealth, and who were not encouraged to participate in telehealth resided in areas of highest social vulnerability.

Conclusion

These data suggest geography combined with being from under-resourced areas with high social vulnerability was negatively associated with health care engagement. Geography and poverty may be surrogates for lower health literacy and fewer health care interactions.
Paraeducator-Delivered Interventions for Students with Extensive Support Needs in Inclusive School Settings: A Systematic Review
Authors: Walker Virginia L. , Kurth Jennifer , Carpenter Megan E. , Tapp Melissa C. , Clausen Amy , Lockman Turner Elissa
Published: October 2021

Schools have continued to rely on paraeducators to assist special education teachers and other professionals in the provision of special education and related services. Although paraeducators often support students with extensive support needs (ESN) in a range of school environments, the subset of intervention studies focused on paraeducators who support students with ESN in inclusive settings has not been systematically reviewed. The purpose of this literature review was to synthesize single-case research studies involving paraeducator-delivered interventions for students with ESN in inclusive school environments. Our findings suggest that research primarily has focused on communication and social skills interventions that involved paraeducator-facilitated peer supports in core academic classes and specials (e.g., art, music, physical education). Overall, paraeducator-delivered interventions resulted in improved student outcomes. Likewise, paraeducator training, which typically included an oral description, modeling, and/or performance feedback, was effective in improving paraeducator implementation of the target interventions. We present implications for practice specific to paraeducators who support students with ESN in inclusive settings and future research directions.
An explainable sentiment prediction model based on the portraits of users sharing representative opinions in social sensors
Authors: Wang Bin , Wang Enhui , Zhu Zikun , Sun Yangyang , Tao Yaodong , Wang Wei
Published: October 2021

“Social sensors” refer to those who provide opinions through electronic communication channels such as social networks. There are two major issues in current models of sentiment analysis in social sensor networks. First, most existing models only analyzed the sentiment within the text but did not analyze the users, which led to the experimental results difficult to explain. Second, few studies extract the specific opinions of users. Only analyzing the emotional tendencies or aspect-level emotions of social users brings difficulties to the analysis of the opinion evolution in public emergencies. To resolve these issues, we propose an explainable sentiment prediction model based on the portraits of users sharing representative opinions in social sensors. Our model extracts the specific opinions of the user groups on the topics and fully considers the impacts of their diverse features on sentiment analysis. We conduct experiments on 51,853 tweets about the “COVID-19” collected from 1 May 2020 to 9 July 2020. We build users’ portraits from three aspects: attribute features, interest features, and emotional features. Six machine learning algorithms are used to predict emotional tendency based on users’ portraits. We analyze the influence of users’ features on the sentiment. The prediction accuracy of our model is 64.88%.
Leading as boundary crossing: How teacher leaders lead across a professional learning network in Shanghai China
Authors: Zeng Yan , Lo Leslie NK
Published: October 2021

This paper explores how teacher leaders enact leadership practice across a regional learning network, Master Teacher Studios, an officially initiated teacher learning program in Shanghai. It investigates the leadership strategies that are employed for cross-boundary endeavors in the network. The concepts of boundary and boundary crossing, as expounded by Wenger and others, are used to guide an examination of the process of teacher leadership enactment across a network, which is elucidated as interpreting the boundaries, selecting/designing boundary objects, and participating in communities of practice. The paper fosters an understanding of teacher leadership practice as boundary work in a network context, and delineates a process of teacher leadership enactment, as well as the importance of teacher leader identity in the process.
Is there a preferred first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma? A network meta-analysis
Authors: Cattrini Carlo , Messina Carlo , Airoldi Chiara , Buti Sebastiano , Roviello Giandomenico , Mennitto Alessia , Caffo Orazio , Gennari Alessandra , Bersanelli Melissa
Published: October 2021

Background:

In recent years, new therapeutic combinations based on immunotherapy provided significant benefits as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Objective:

This work aims to address the lack of head-to-head comparisons and the uncertainty of the benefit from immunotherapy-based combinations in all the International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) subgroups.

Design, setting, and participants:

A systematic review and a network meta-analysis were performed. Overall survival (OS) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population was the primary endpoint. OS according to IMDC subgroups (favorable, intermediate, poor), PD-L1 expression, and grade ⩾3 adverse events (AEs) were secondary endpoints. A SUCRA analysis was performed.

Results and limitations:

Six randomized phase III trials with 5121 patients were included. There was a high likelihood (82%) that nivolumab-cabozantinib was the preferred treatment in OS. The benefit of ICI-based combinations over sunitinib was unclear in the favorable-risk subgroup. Nivolumab-ipilimumab had the best risk/benefit ratio among all the ICI-based combinations. The limitations were the lack of individual patient data; the heterogeneity of patients’ characteristics, trial designs, and follow-up times; and a limited number of studies for indirect comparisons.

Conclusions:

A customized approach for the first-line treatment of patients with mRCC should consider the risk/benefit profile of each treatment option, especially considering the likeliness of long-term survival finally reached in this setting.
Minibeam radiation therapy enhanced tumor delivery of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin in a triple-negative breast cancer mouse model
Authors: Price Lauren S.L. , Rivera Judith N. , Madden Andrew J. , Herity Leah B. , Piscitelli Joseph A. , Mageau Savannah , Santos Charlene M. , Roques Jose R. , Midkiff Bentley , Feinberg Nana N. , Darr David , Chang Sha X. , Zamboni William C.
Published: October 2021

Background:

Minibeam radiation therapy is an experimental radiation therapy utilizing an array of parallel submillimeter planar X-ray beams. In preclinical studies, minibeam radiation therapy has been shown to eradicate tumors and cause significantly less damage to normal tissue compared to equivalent radiation doses delivered by conventional broadbeam radiation therapy, where radiation dose is uniformly distributed.

Methods:

Expanding on prior studies that suggested minibeam radiation therapy increased perfusion in tumors, we compared a single fraction of minibeam radiation therapy (peak dose:valley dose of 28 Gy:2.1 Gy and 100 Gy:7.5 Gy) and broadbeam radiation therapy (7 Gy) in their ability to enhance tumor delivery of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin and alter the tumor microenvironment in a murine tumor model. Plasma and tumor pharmacokinetic studies of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin and tumor microenvironment profiling were performed in a genetically engineered mouse model of claudin-low triple-negative breast cancer (T11).

Results:

Minibeam radiation therapy (28 Gy) and broadbeam radiation therapy (7 Gy) increased PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin tumor delivery by 7.1-fold and 2.7-fold, respectively, compared to PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin alone, without altering the plasma disposition. The enhanced tumor delivery of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin by minibeam radiation therapy is consistent after repeated dosing, is associated with changes in tumor macrophages but not collagen or angiogenesis, and nontoxic to local tissues. Our study indicated that the minibeam radiation therapy’s ability to enhance the drug delivery decreases from 28 to 100 Gy peak dose.

Discussion:

Our studies suggest that low-dose minibeam radiation therapy is a safe and effective method to significantly enhance the tumor delivery of nanoparticle agents.
China’s Foreign Aid Political Drivers: Lessons from a Novel Dataset of Mask Diplomacy in Latin America during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Telias Diego , Urdinez Francisco
Published: October 2021

This study investigates a novel dataset comprised of a universe of 537 donations in 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, between 11 February and 20 June 2020, which provides a high level of detail on China’s and Taiwan’s mask diplomacy. We describe who the main donors were, who the main recipients were, what was donated to each country, and which variables explain why some countries received more aid than others. Drawing on previous literature, the article advances understanding about the political determinants of these donations. Our findings revealed that, although seemingly uncoordinated, donations made by China’s central government, Chinese companies, cities, and foundations were strongly affected by two political determinants, namely the recipient’s partnership status with China and the One China Policy. Furthermore, aid provided by China’s Central Government was larger in autocracies than in democracies.
Evaluation of a Continuous Blood Glucose Monitor: A Novel and Non-Invasive Wearable Using Bioimpedance Technology
Authors: Sanai Farid , Sahid Arshman S. , Huvanandana Jacqueline , Spoa Sandra , Boyle Lachlan H. , Hribar Jonathan , Wang David Ta-Yuan , Kwan Benjamin , Colagiuri Stephen , Cox Shane J. , Telfer Thomas J.
Published: October 2021

Background:

Frequent blood glucose level (BGL) monitoring is essential for effective diabetes management. Poor compliance is common due to the painful finger pricking or subcutaneous lancet implantation required from existing technologies. There are currently no commercially available non-invasive devices that can effectively measure BGL. In this real-world study, a prototype non-invasive continuous glucose monitoring system (NI-CGM) developed as a wearable ring was used to collect bioimpedance data. The aim was to develop a mathematical model that could use these bioimpedance data to estimate BGL in real time.

Methods:

The prototype NI-CGM was worn by 14 adult participants with type 2 diabetes for 14 days in an observational clinical study. Bioimpedance data were collected alongside paired BGL measurements taken with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) meter and an FDA-approved CGM. The SMBG meter data were used to improve CGM accuracy, and CGM data to develop the mathematical model.

Results:

A gradient boosted model was developed using a randomized 80-20 training-test split of data. The estimated BGL from the model had a Mean Absolute Relative Difference (MARD) of 17.9%, with the Parkes error grid (PEG) analysis showing 99% of values in clinically acceptable zones A and B.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated the reliability of the prototype NI-CGM at collecting bioimpedance data in a real-world scenario. These data were used to train a model that could successfully estimate BGL with a promising MARD and clinically relevant PEG result. These results will enable continued development of the prototype NI-CGM as a wearable ring.
Postoperative Complications Following Ankle Arthrodesis in Patients With Hepatitis C: Matched Propensity Score Analysis
Authors: Kamalapathy Pramod N. , Sequeira Sean , Chen Dennis , Bell Joshua , Park Joseph S. , Werner Brian C.
Published: October 2021

Background:

Hepatitis C is associated with increased adverse events following surgery. The goals of this study were therefore to evaluate postoperative outcomes in patients with hepatitis C following ankle arthrodesis.

Materials and Methods:

A review of Medicare patients was performed to identify patients who underwent ankle arthrodesis. Patients were then divided into those with a preoperative history of hepatitis C and those who did not and were matched using propensity scores. Outcomes of interest were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.

Results:

A diagnosis of hepatitis C was associated with a significantly increased risk of myocardial infarction, emergency department visits, and readmission within 90 days following surgery. In addition, hepatitis C is associated with an increased length of stay, cost of hospitalization, and total hospital charge.

Conclusions:

A diagnosis of hepatitis C was associated with a significant increase in hospital resource utilization during the initial inpatient stay and the immediate post-discharge period. Level of Evidence: III
The Episodic Prototypes Model (EPM): On the nature and genesis of facial representations
Authors: Schneider Tobias Matthias , Carbon Claus-Christian
Published: October 2021

Faces undergo massive changes over time and life events. We need a mental representation which is flexible enough to cope with the existing visual varieties, but which is also stable enough to be the basis for valid recognition. Two main theoretical frameworks exist to describe facial representations: prototype models assuming one central item comprising all visual experiences of a face, and exemplar models assuming single representations of each visual experience of a face. We introduce a much more ecological valid model dealing with episodic prototypes (the Episodic Prototypes Model—EPM), where faces are represented by a low number of prototypes that refer to specific Episodes of Life (EoL, e.g., early adulthood, mature age) during which the facial appearance shows only moderate variation. Such an episodic view of mental representation allows for efficient storage, as the number of needed prototypes is relatively low, and it allows for the needed variation within a prototype that keeps the everyday and steadily ongoing changes across a certain period of time. Studies 1–3 provide evidence that facial representations are highly dependent on temporal aspects which is in accord with EoL, and that individual learning history generates the structure and content of respective prototypes. In Study 4, we used implicit measures (RT) in a face verification task to investigate the postulated power of the EPM. We could demonstrate that episodic prototypes clearly outperformed visual depictions of exhaustive prototypes, supporting the general idea of our approach.
Physoxia alters human mesenchymal stem cell secretome
Authors: Merkhan Marwan M , Shephard Matthew T , Forsyth Nicholas R
Published: October 2021

The human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) secretome has pleiotropic effects which underpin their therapeutic potential. hMSC serum-free conditioned media (SFCM) has been determined to contain a variety of cytokines with roles in regeneration and suppression of inflammation. Physiological oxygen (physoxia) has been demonstrated to impact upon a number of facets of hMSC biology and we hypothesized that the secretome would be similarly modified. We tested a range of oxygen conditions; 21% O2 (air oxygen (AO)), 2% O2 (intermittent hypoxia (IH)) and 2% O2 Workstation (physoxia (P)) to evaluate their effect on hMSC secretome profiles. Total protein content of secretome was upregulated in IH and P (>3 fold vs AO) and IH (>1 fold vs P). Focused cytokine profiling indicated global upregulation in IH of all 31 biomolecules tested in comparison to AO and P with basic-nerve growth factor (bNGF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) (>3 fold vs AO) and bNGF and Rantes (>3 fold vs P) of note. Similarly, upregulation of interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP10) was noted in P (>3 fold vs AO). Interleukin-2 (IL2) and Rantes (in AO and P) and adiponectin, IL17a, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) (in AO only) were entirely absent or below detection limits. Quantitative analysis validated the pattern of IH-induced upregulation in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor-1 (PIGF1), Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa), IL2, IL4, and IL10 when compared to AO and P. In summary, modulation of environmental oxygen alters both secretome concentration and composition. This consideration will likely impact on delivering improved mechanistic understanding and potency effects of hMSC-based therapeutics.
The effectiveness of a financial literacy and job-readiness curriculum for youth from low-income households
Authors: Cedeño Diana , Lannin Daniel G. , Russell Luke , Yazedjian Ani , Kanter Jeremy B. , Mimnaugh Sarah
Published: October 2021

Intergenerational poverty and scarce financial resources can create and sustain detrimental behaviors and outcomes among adolescents. Efforts to increase financial literacy and job-related skills, however, can offer youth from low-income households knowledge, skills, and opportunities otherwise unavailable to them. Targeted interventions that combine financial literacy and job-readiness components may help adolescents disrupt the cycle of intergenerational poverty by increasing economic awareness, adaptive financial behaviors, and work-related skills. Drawing on career construction and asset theory, the present study examined changes in financial knowledge and labor skills among youth from low-income households (N = 111) over the course of their participation in the Road to Success curriculum as well as how changes varied across demographic characteristics of participants. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, t-test analyses, and MANCOVA. Results indicated several improvements from Wave 1 to Wave 2 as students developed job-readiness and financial literacy knowledge. Potential educational and policy implications are discussed.
Respiratory rate modulation improves symptoms in patients with pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Kjellström Barbro , Ivarsson Bodil , Landenfelt Gestré Lise-Lotte , Ryftenius Henrik , Nisell Magnus
Published: October 2021

Background:

Pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension are chronic diseases with a severe symptom burden. Common symptoms are dyspnoea at light activity and general fatigue that limits daily activities. Respiratory modulation by device-guided breathing decreased symptoms in patients with heart failure. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate if respiratory modulation could improve symptoms of dyspnoea in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Method:

Adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension with symptoms of dyspnoea at rest or light activity performed home-based respiratory modulation by device-guided breathing 20 min a day for 3 months. Patients were on stable disease-specific treatment ⩾3 months and willing to undergo all study procedures. Dyspnoea score, World Health Organization class, physical status, N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide, quality of life, respiratory rate and 6-min walk distance were assessed before and after 3 months with respiratory modulation.

Results:

Nine patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and five with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension completed the study protocol. Mean age was 71 ± 14 years, and 11 were women. After 3 months of respiratory modulation, dyspnoea score (−0.6, p = 0.014), respiratory rate at rest (−3 breaths/min, p = 0.013), World Health Organization class (−0.3, p = 0.040), quality of life (EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale +5 points, not significant) and decreased N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (−163 ng/L, p = 0.043) had improved. The fatigue and respiratory rate after the 6-min walk decreased while the 6-min walk distance remained unchanged.

Conclusion:

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension that used device-guided breathing for 3 months improved symptoms of dyspnoea and lowered the respiratory rate at rest and after exercise.
Evaluation of plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA as a biomarker for Epstein–Barr virus–associated Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Usha Masuma Khatun , Jahan Jasmine Akhter , Islam SM Rashed Ul , Begum Ferdousy , Ahsan Chowdhury Rafiqul , Yasmin Mahmuda
Published: October 2021

Objectives:

Epstein–Barr virus is a tumorigenic virus and has been extensively studied as a causative agent for Hodgkin lymphoma. Although immunostaining of the tumor biopsy is the standard method for diagnosis of Epstein–Barr virus-driven Hodgkin lymphoma, the invasiveness of the procedure renders it difficult and less desirable for the patients. Therefore, we designed this study to evaluate the efficiency of plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA detection as an alternative diagnostic and prognostic method for Epstein–Barr virus–associated Hodgkin lymphoma.

Methods:

This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted during March 2017 to December 2018 including 43 Hodgkin lymphoma patients diagnosed histopathologically followed by the latent membrane protein-1 immunohistochemistry to determine their Epstein–Barr virus association. Plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA in these samples was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results:

Of total, 29 (67.44%) patients tested positive for plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA. On comparing results of latent membrane protein-1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) with plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA, plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA was found in 25 of 30 patients with latent membrane protein-1 expression and 4 of 13 patients without latent membrane protein-1 expression. The sensitivity and the specificity of plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA detection with respect to latent membrane protein-1 IHC were found to be 83.33% and 69.23%, respectively ( p = 0.0014).

Conclusion:

Determination of plasma Epstein–Barr virus DNA was found to be highly sensitive and specific in characterizing Epstein–Barr virus–associated Hodgkin lymphoma, suggesting that this diagnostic method holds promise as an alternative and more convenient method of diagnosis compared with tissue biopsy.
A case of delayed maculopapular eruption to ibuprofen and acute urticaria to acetaminophen
Authors: Wong Jason , Sandoval Ashley , Jean Tiffany , Naderi Asal Gharib
Published: October 2021

We present the unique case of a 33-year-old male referred to our clinic in search of analgesic options who was found to have a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to ibuprofen manifesting as a maculopapular rash and acute urticaria to acetaminophen. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are associated with predictable reactions as well as immunoglobulin E-mediated reactions or T-cell mediated reactions. This case highlights the importance of knowledge of the different types of reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents as well as the risk of cross reactivity. Delayed reaction to a single non-steroidal agent is rare; urticaria to acetaminophen is very rare. This is the first report we have found in the literature where one individual has a delayed reaction manifesting as rash to ibuprofen as well as urticaria to acetaminophen. We challenged our patient to aspirin which helped identify that his delayed reaction was only to ibuprofen and urticaria only to acetaminophen. The case also highlights the importance of an oral provocation challenge when no contraindications exist which helped us find that he could take celecoxib and avoid narcotics as initial therapy.
Unusual presentation of tubercular mastoid cyst
Authors: Rauniyar Neeraj , Shakya Dipesh
Published: October 2021

Tuberculosis in the otomastoid compartment is extremely rare. The classical presentation of tuberculous otitis media includes chronic otorrhea, severe hearing loss irrespective of the disease, multiple perforations, and pale granulations in the middle ear cavity. However, most present with non-specific signs and symptoms making it a diagnostic dilemma. Here, we report a case that presented with a bony mastoid cyst which is the first case report to the best of our knowledge. A 12-year-old boy visited our center with a complaint of chronic ear discharge and hearing loss not improving with conventional antibiotic therapy. The computed tomography scan of the temporal bone revealed soft tissue opacification in the mastoid along with features suggestive of cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media. The patient underwent mastoidectomy under general anesthesia, which revealed a bony mastoid cyst filled with turbid fluid along with granulation tissues in the middle ear cleft without cholesteatoma. Final histopathology revealed tuberculous otitis media. Antitubercular chemotherapy was started and the patient’s condition recovered. Primary tuberculous mastoiditis is a rare clinical entity that requires a high index of suspicion. It can also present as chronic otorrhea with mastoid cyst, and thus need to be considered as one of the differential diagnoses.
Statistically significant? Let us recognize that estimates of tested effects are uncertain
Authors: Bultez Alain , Derbaix Christian , Herrmann Jean-Luc
Published: October 2021

Haven’t all of us dreamt of concluding that our results be statistically significant, that is, characterized by a p-value lying below an arbitrary threshold, most often [Formula: see text]? In this article, we, first, deplore that p has been largely misunderstood, and that its misinterpretation has entailed a fallacious dichotomization and an understatement of the uncertainty prevailing about the effect tested. Next, we introduce and explain a brand-new – direct – measure of the plausibility of the effect under study. Then, we illustrate the relevance of this indicator by revisiting a recently published marketing research case. We also insist on the necessity to contextualize it, using complementary credibility intervals graphically contrasted. Beyond making researchers aware of the exact meaning of test-related probabilities, the delineated approach invites them to formulate their inferences with prudence and modesty acknowledging how uncertain these are.
Early Results in Non-Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures Using the Femoral Neck System
Authors: Cintean Raffael , Pankratz Carlos , Hofmann Matti , Gebhard Florian , Schütze Konrad
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Femoral neck fractures in the elderly are a major event and are rising in incidence over the last decade. Advancing age and numerous comorbidities largely account for high mortality rate and require geriatric expertise. Treatment options are total hip arthroplasty (THA), hemiarthroplasty (HA) or osteosynthesis. Literature suggests THA or HA for better outcomes, although no clear guidelines exist.

Material and methods

A retrospective chart review was performed of 63 patients (80 ± 11 years; 32 women, 31 men) with Garden one femoral neck fractures treated between June 2018 and June 2020 with either HA or internal fixation with the Femoral Neck System (FNS). Primary outcome measures were surgical and non-surgical complication rates and best achievable mobilization during the hospital stay.

Results

Thirty four patients were treated with HA, and 29 with the FNS. Mobilization was measured using the Charité Mobility Index (CHARMI). No difference between age, ASA, CCI or preoperative CHARMI was found. The CHARMI was significantly lower in the HA group. No difference in surgical complications was found. The HA cohort showed more non-surgical complications, a longer ICU stay and more blood transfusions. Hospitalization was significant longer in the HA than the FNS cohort (15.1 ± 5.1 vs 9.8 ± 3.8 days). Radiographic controls were performed after 6 and 12 weeks. The FNS group showed a mean shortening of 3.3 mm. 4 of 21 patient had shortening >5 mm. 20 of 21 patients showed radiographic signs of bone healing after 3 months.

Conclusion

Early results with the FNS show faster recovery than patient with hemiarthroplasty. Internal fixation with the FNS may be an option in non-displaced femoral neck fractures. Further studies should be performed to better evaluate the FNS compared to traditional internal fixation methods and arthroplasty.
Big fish in a big pond: Peer effects on university students’ academic self-concept
Authors: Zhang Juan
Published: October 2021

The big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) has been proved by numerous studies. However, few researchers have focused on university students, particularly gifted students in elite universities (big fish in the big pond). This study adopted a two-level linear model to discuss the BFLPE on talented students in an elite university through a longitudinal survey involving two waves ( n = 1073). The results indicated that peer achievements had negative effects on the ASC of competent students in the elite university. Additionally, student–faculty interactions and university support had remarkable effects on ASC, despite students’ personal achievements. This study contributes toward enriching the BFLPE research framework and encouraging more researchers to focus on university students’ ASC, not limited to intelligent students in elite universities. Furthermore, the study provides an example of minimal research for building hierarchical linear models. Finally, the findings of the study can help elite students build a positive ASC in elite universities.
Navigation for surgical treatment of disorders of the cervical spine – A systematic review
Authors: Lange Nicole , Meyer Bernhard , Meyer Hanno S
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Computer-assisted navigation (CAN) is a well-established tool in spinal instrumentation surgery. Different techniques – each with specific advantages and disadvantages – are used in the cervical spine.

Methods:

A structured summary of different spinal navigation techniques and a review of the literature were done to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of specific navigation tools in the cervical spine.

Results:

In cervical spine surgery, CAN increases the accuracy of pedicle screw placement, reduces screw mispositioning and leads to fewer revision surgeries. Due to the mobility of the cervical spine, preoperative CT followed by region matching or intraoperative CT are recommended.

Conclusions:

CAN increases pedicle screw placement accuracy and should be used in spinal instrumentation for the cervical spine whenever possible.
Pregnancy Counseling in a Young Woman With Left Ventricular Non-Compaction
Authors: El Nawaa Saif El Naser H. M. , Vutthikraivit Wasawat , Jenkins Leighann
Published: October 2021

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is an uncommon form of cardiomyopathy. Its prevalence in adults is 1:5000. In the differential diagnosis of congestive heart failure, it is rarely the etiology. The etiology of LVNC may be genetic or acquired. There are not guidelines regarding pregnancy planning or outcome in women with this disease. In this presentation, we bring the issue of genetics and pregnancy counseling in women with left ventricular noncompaction.