bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Domestication is not an ancient moment of selection for prosociality: Insights from dogs and modern humans
Authors: Losey Robert J
Published: December 2021

Domestication is often portrayed as a long-past event, at times even in archaeological literature. The term domestication is also now applied to other processes, including human evolution. In such contexts, domestication means selection for friendliness or prosociality and the bodily results of such selective choices. Both such perspectives are misleading. Using dogs and modern humans as entry points, this paper explores why conceiving of domestication as a threshold event consisting of selection for prosociality is both incomplete and inaccurate. Domestication is an ongoing process, not a moment or an achievement. Selection in breeding, including for prosociality, is a part of many domestication histories, but it alone does not sustain this process over multiple generations. Further, much selection in domestication has little to do with human intention. Care, taming, commensalism, material things, and places are critical in carrying domestic relationships forward.
Cues of Social Status: Associations Between Attractiveness, Dominance, and Status
Authors: Rahal Danny , Fales Melissa R. , Haselton Martie G. , Slavich George M. , Robles Theodore F.
Published: December 2021

Hierarchies naturally emerge in social species, and judgments of status in these hierarchies have consequences for social relationships and health. Although judgments of social status are shaped by appearance, the physical cues that inform judgments of status remain unclear. The transition to college presents an opportunity to examine judgments of social status in a newly developing social hierarchy. We examined whether appearances—as measured by raters’ judgments of photographs and videos—provide information about undergraduate students’ social status at their university and in society in Study 1. Exploratory analyses investigated whether associations differed by participants’ sex. Eighty-one first-year undergraduate students ( Mage   =  18.20, SD  =  0.50; 64.2% female) provided photographs and videos and reported their social status relative to university peers and relative to other people in society. As hypothesized, when participants were judged to be more attractive and dominant they were also judged to have higher status. These associations were replicated in two additional samples of raters who evaluated smiling and neutral photographs from the Chicago Faces Database in Study 2. Multilevel models also revealed that college students with higher self-reported university social status were judged to have higher status, attractiveness, and dominance, although judgments were not related to self-reported society social status. Findings highlight that there is agreement between self-reports of university status and observer-perceptions of status based solely on photographs and videos, and suggest that appearance may shape newly developing social hierarchies, such as those that emerge during the transition to college.
Governing through consensus? The European Semester, soft power and education governance in the EU
Authors: Eeva Katri
Published: December 2021

This paper discusses the workings of the European Semester (ES) in relation to the policy field of education. My study shows how the ES enables the steering of education policy through encouraging specific economic and employment-related actions by European Union (EU) member states. With a focus on the relationship between the EU institutions and member states, this paper examines how the ES discursively promotes certain approaches to education through country-specific recommendations (CSRs). In this study, CSRs are revealed as policy spaces where European and national interests are brought together, enabling shared problem definition and collective learning. The paper illustrates how policy moves through translation and negotiation in the construction of CSR. The evidence drawn on here comes from analysis of CSRs in 2011–2016 and 15 semi-structured interviews with key policy actors, mainly from the European Commission, Council and Parliament. This paper concludes that CSRs work through soft power to manage governing tensions through translation and by building convergence and consensus. The analysis is framed theoretically by research on governing and knowledge and draws on a social constructivist perspective on policy work.
Restoration of missing structural health monitoring data using spatiotemporal graph attention networks
Authors: Niu Jin , Li Shunlong , Li Zhonglong
Published: December 2021

For structural health monitoring systems with many low-cost sensors, missing data caused by sensor faults, power supply interruptions and data transmission errors are almost inevitable, significantly affecting structural diagnosis and evaluation. Considering the inherent spatial and temporal correlations in the sensor network, this study proposes a spatiotemporal graph attention network for restoration of missing data. The proposed model was stacked with a graph convolutional layer and several spatiotemporal blocks composed of spatial and temporal layers. The monitoring data of normal sensors were first mapped to all sensors through the graph convolutional layer, and attention mechanisms were used in the spatiotemporal blocks to model the spatial dependencies of sensors and the temporal dependencies of time steps, respectively. The extracted spatiotemporal features were assembled through a fully connected layer to reconstruct the missing signals. In this study, both homogeneous and heterogeneous monitoring items were used to calculate the spatial attention coefficients. The data restoration accuracy with and without the multi-source data fusion was discussed. Application on a long-span cable-stayed bridge to restore missing cable forces demonstrates that spatiotemporal attention modelling can achieve satisfactory restoring accuracy without any prior analysis.
Immunity of the second harmonic shear horizontal waves to adhesive nonlinearity for breathing crack detection
Authors: Wen Fuzhen , Shan Shengbo , Cheng Li
Published: December 2021

High-order harmonic guided waves are sensitive to micro-scale damage in thin-walled structures, thus, conducive to its early detection. In typical autonomous structural health monitoring (SHM) systems activated by surface-bonded piezoelectric wafer transducers, adhesive nonlinearity (AN) is a non-negligible adverse nonlinear source that can overwhelm the damage-induced nonlinear signals and jeopardize the diagnosis if not adequately mitigated. This paper first establishes that the second harmonic shear horizontal (second SH) waves are immune to AN while exhibiting strong sensitivity to cracks in a plate. Capitalizing on this feature, the feasibility of using second SH waves for crack detection is investigated. Finite element (FE) simulations are conducted to shed light on the physical mechanism governing the second SH wave generation and their interaction with the contact acoustic nonlinearity (CAN). Theoretical and numerical results are validated by experiments in which the level of the AN is tactically adjusted. Results show that the commonly used second harmonic S0 (second S0) mode Lamb waves are prone to AN variation. By contrast, the second SH0 waves show high robustness to the same degree of AN changes while preserving a reasonable sensitivity to breathing cracks, demonstrating their superiority for SHM applications.
Response to ‘What Conservatives Value’
Authors: Blackburn Dean
Published: December 2021

This article responds to O’Hara’s ‘What Conservatives Value’. It establishes what is at stake in our debate about the adjectival nature of conservatism, and it explores the role that risk plays in conservative thinking.
Engineered properties of polyurethane laden with beetroot and cerium oxide for cardiac patch application
Authors: Jaganathan Saravana Kumar , Mani Mohan Prasath , Fauzi bin Ismail Ahmad , Mohd Khudzari Ahmad Zahran , Faudzi Ahmad Athif Mohd
Published: December 2021

The cardiac patch provides appropriate physicochemical properties and mechanical strength for the regeneration of damaged heart tissues. In this work, for the first-time, beetroot (BR) is blended with cerium oxide (CeO2) to produce nanofibrous polyurethane (PU) composite patch using electrospinning. The objective of this work is to fabricate the composite and examine its feasibility for cardiac patch applications. Morphological analysis revealed a dramatic reduction of fiber diameter of PU/BR (233 ± 175 nm) and PU/BR/CeO2 (331 ± 176 mm) compared to the pristine PU (994 ± 113 mm). Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR) analysis indicated functional peak intensities of the newly formed composite PU/BR and PU/BR/CeO2 were not similar to PU. The addition of beetroot rendered PU/BR hydrophilic (86° ± 2), whereas PU/BR/CeO2exhibited hydrophobic nature (99° ± 3). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis depicted the reduced surface roughness of the PU/BR (312 ± 12 nm) and PU/BR/CeO2 (390 ± 125 nm) than the pristine PU (854 ± 32 nm). The incorporation of beetroot and CeO2 into PU enhanced the tensile strength compared with the pristine PU. The blood clotting time of PU/BR (APTT-204 ± 3 s and PT-103 ± 2 s) and PU/BR/CeO2 (APTT-205 ± 3 s and PT-105 ± 2s) were delayed significantly than the pristine PU(APTT-176 ± 2 s and PT-94 ± 2 s) as revealed in the coagulation study. Further, hemolysis assay showed the less toxic nature of the fabricated composites than the pristine PU. Hence, it can be inferred that the advanced physicochemical and blood compatible properties of electrospun PU/BR and PU/BR/CeO2 nanocomposite can be engineered successfully for cardiac patch applications.
Studies on the influence of process parameters on the protection performance of the outer layer of fire-protective clothing
Authors: Rathour Rochak , Das Apurba , Alagirusamy Ramasamy
Published: December 2021

During an operation, the turnout gear for firefighters must meet two important requirements: thermal protection and comfort. As comfort and protection are inherently incompatible, it is impossible to satisfy both. As part of this study, the outer layer of multilayered turnout suits was analyzed under the influence of various factors such as intensity of heat flux, pick density, and air space between the fabric and the sensor. Choosing Nomex IIIA was based on its inherent properties that are conductive to thermal protection. To simulate the environment encountered during firefighting, benchtop experiments were designed. A system equation for the prediction of the protection time (t-protection) was developed based on a three-factor and three-level Box–Behnken model. The predicted values of t-protection obtained for all the experimental blocks in the design space were subjected to ANOVA analysis which showed that the system equation, as well as the coefficients of linear interactive and square terms, is significant, so the system equation can be efficiently used for predicting t-protection. The validity of the system equation was verified by using the same experimental blocks and estimating t-protection using the Stoll criteria. The accuracy of the system equation was checked by comparing t-protection and t*-protection which revealed a linear relationship with a high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.975). To analyze the effects of the independent variables on protection time, 3D surface response curves were created. The nature of the surfaces was critically analyzed by developing regression equations for the contours and the diagonals.
The effect of washing on the electrical performance of knitted textile strain sensors for quantifying joint motion
Authors: Isaia Cristina , McMaster Simon , McNally Donal
Published: December 2021

Successful market penetration of textile-based strain sensors requires long-term reliability which in turn relies on the washability of the sensor. First, this paper presents an evaluation of the effect of 5 washing cycles on the electrical performance of a knitted conductive transducer, over 1500 cycles of repetitive elongation. The promising behaviour of the textile sensor in this study showed that it might be possible to make a smart garment, capable of quantifying elbow flexion-extension motion, by integrating it into an elbow sleeve. Second, a prototype sleeve, incorporating a knitted sensor (the so-called smart sleeve), was tested in a simulated training/clinical setting by performing 50 flexion-extension cycles after 1, 5, 15, 25, 50 and 75 washes. In both studies, the electrical resistance of the sensor increased with the number of washes in a predictable manner and exhibited a repeatable, reliable and prompt response to elongation. In particular, the electrical pattern representing flexion-extension motion measured using the sleeve was clear and distinguishable up to the 75th wash. Moreover, resistance measurements within the same trial were repeatable at maximum flexion (≤2% variation) and at maximum extension (≤3% variation) and predictable with increasing washes (R2 = 0.992 at maximum flexion and R2 = 0.989 at maximum extension). The good washability of the smart sleeve, evidenced by its ability to detect, distinguish and measure parameters of flexion-extension motion up to 75 washes, makes it a suitable and sustainable choice for applications, such as strength conditioning or rehabilitation, where repetition count and speed are useful.
A Prognostic Model Based on Clinicopathological Features and Inflammation- and Nutrition-Related Indicators Predicts Overall Survival in Surgical Patients With Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Wei Lai-Feng , Huang Xu-Chun , Lin Yi-Wei , Luo Yun , Ding Tian-Yan , Liu Can-Tong , Chu Ling-Yu , Xu Yi-Wei , Peng Yu-Hui , Guo Hai-Peng
Published: December 2021

Objectives: It is reported that inflammation- and nutrition-related indicators have a prognostic impact on multiple cancers. Here we aimed to identify a prognostic nomogram model for prediction of overall survival (OS) in surgical patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Methods: The retrospective data of 172 TSCC patients were charted from the Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College between 2008 and 2019. A Cox regression analysis was performed to determine prognostic factors to establish a nomogram and predict OS. The predictive accuracy of the model was analyzed by the calibration curves and the concordance index (C-index). The difference of OS was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results: Multivariate analysis showed age, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, red blood cell, platelets, and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were independent prognostic factors for OS, which were used to build the prognostic nomogram model. The C-index of the model for OS was 0.794 (95% CI = 0.729-0.860), which was higher than that of TNM stage 0.685 (95% CI = 0.605-0.765). In addition, decision curve analysis also showed the nomogram model had improved predictive accuracy and discriminatory performance for OS, compared to the TNM stage. According to the prognostic model risk score, patients in the high-risk subgroup had a lower 5-year OS rate than that in a low-risk subgroup (23% vs 49%, P < .0001). Conclusions: The nomogram model based on clinicopathological features inflammation- and nutrition-related indicators represents a promising tool that might complement the TNM stage in the prognosis of TSCC.
Chronic Fistulas of Thigh Presenting Unusually in an Operated Patient of Carcinoma Rectum. More Than What Meets the Eye!
Authors: Masoodi Zulqarnain , Steinbacher Johannes , Wimberger Peter , Panhofer Peter Tadeusz , Tzou Chieh-Han John
Published: December 2021

Chronic skin lesions of the thigh (wounds, fistulas etc) are relatively uncommon, vis-à-vis, their notorious cousins over the distal limb. Even when present, the cause is usually obvious, mostly as trauma or a systemic affliction. We present an unusual case of chronic fistulas over the right thigh in a patient of carcinoma rectum for which anterior resection and an end colostomy was done 4 years earlier. Postsurgical pelvic abscesses finding their way into the thigh are a known entity, but they are usually accompanied by systemic/local features and their presentation is within a shorter time span. The novelty of our case lies in its manifestation (as a cluster of chronic fistulas and not a frank abscess), its late presentation as well as in the absence of any systemic/local inflammatory signs. Our primary objective is to educate wound physicians about the origin of such fistulas whenever they deal with patients who have had a preceding surgical intervention of the abdomen. In our humble opinion, this will ease out many diagnostic and management dilemmas, that such patients can potentially pose.
Maternal serum-derived exosomal lactoferrin as a marker in detecting and predicting ventricular septal defect in fetuses
Authors: Li Suping , Jin Yuxia , Tang Ping , Liu Xiaodan , Chai Xiaojun , Dong Jinhua , Che Xuan , Zhou Qinqin , Ni Meidi , Jin Fan
Published: December 2021

Among different types of congenital heart diseases, ventricular septal defect is the most frequently diagnosed type and is frequently missed in early prenatal screening programs. Herein, we explored the role of maternal serum-derived exosomes in detecting and predicting ventricular septal defect in fetuses in the early stage of pregnancy. A total of 104 pregnant women consisting of 52 ventricular septal defect cases and 52 healthy controls were recruited. TMT/iTRAQ proteomic analysis uncovered 15 maternal serum exosomal proteins, which showed differential expression between ventricular septal defect and control groups. Among these, four down-regulated proteins, lactoferrin, SBSN, DCD, and MBD3, were validated by Western blot. The protein lactoferrin was additionally verified by ELISA which was able to distinguish ventricular septal defects from controls with area under the ROC curve (AUC) 0.804 (p < 0.001). Our findings reveal that lactoferrin in maternal serum-derived exosomes may be a potential biomarker for non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal ventricular septal defects.
Understanding the Dialogical Experiences of Puerto Rican Women With Fibromyalgia: An Intersectional Analysis
Authors: De León-Menjivar Cristina
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a condition that is often misunderstood by the medical community. Misunderstandings are exacerbated when a patient is an ethnic minority, and recent literature suggests that ethnic minorities are shown to have a higher prevalence of fibromyalgia. Despite this information, many studies about fibromyalgia are conducted with Anglo-Americans while ethnic minorities are underrepresented. Methods: To address this research gap, this study uses qualitative interviews to discuss the dialogical experiences of Puerto Rican women with fibromyalgia through a combination of intersectional and rhetorical theory. These methodologies can reveal what having various identities can mean when communicating in institutional and cultural settings. Results: The data shows a significant level of gaslighting by providers, which led participants to more aggressively seek proper treatment. Cultural deference towards doctors was also noted as a practice that can backfire, especially when living with a condition that is often dismissed. Conclusion: The results indicate that when the body's truth is filtered through intersectional lenses, this truth can become distorted or lost.
Retroductive Theorizing: A Contribution of Critical Realism to Mixed Methods Research
Authors: Mukumbang Ferdinand C.
Published: December 2021

Mixed methods studies in social sciences are predominantly employed to explore broad, complex, and multifaceted issues and to evaluate policies and interventions. The integration of qualitative and quantitative methods in social sciences most often follows the Peircean pragmatic approach—abductive hypothesis formation followed by deductive and inductive testing/confirmation—with limited theorizing properties. This paper contributes to the field of mixed methods research in social sciences by explicating a two-way interaction process between mixed methods data and [social] theory in a pluralistic inferencing approach espoused by critical realism—retroductive theorizing. The paper further illustrates how through retroductive theorizing, critical realism offers a more epistemologically and ontologically grounded alternative for integrating qualitative and quantitative methods compared to pragmatism.
Study on the correlation between hemodynamic status of the transverse sinus-sigmoid sinus and the clinical efficacy of sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction
Authors: Li Zhenfeng , Jin Long
Published: December 2021

Background and Purpose

For patients with pulsatile tinnitus who have both transverse sinus stenosis and sigmoid sinus wall anomalies, sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction surgery is the first-choice treatment when the trans-stenotic pressure gradient less than 10 mmHg. However, not all patients are cured by surgery. We hypothesized the abnormal hemodynamics caused by transverse sinus stenosis is associated with the clinical efficacy of surgery.

Methods

Eight pulsatile tinnitus patients treated with surgery were retrospectively reviewed (4 rehabilitated, 4 nonrehabilitated). All patients had radiologically diagnosed transverse sinus stenosis and sigmoid sinus wall anomalies. A numerical simulation of the hemodynamics of the transverse sinus-sigmoid sinus was performed using computational fluid dynamics technology. Changes in the blood flow patterns before and after surgery were observed. The blood flow velocity at the stenosis, vorticity of blood flow in the sigmoid sinus and wall pressure distribution in the sigmoid sinus wall anomalies area were compared.

Results

The blood flow velocity in the stenosis (preoperative P = 0.04, postoperative P = 0.004) and vorticity in the sigmoid sinus (preoperative P = 0.02, postoperative P = 0.007) pre- and post-surgery were significantly higher in the non-rehabilitation group than in the rehabilitation group. No significant difference was found in the wall pressure distribution in the sigmoid sinus wall anomalies area (preoperative P = 0.12, postoperative P = 0.24).

Conclusions

There is a clear correlation between the abnormal hemodynamic status caused by transverse sinus stenosis and the clinical efficacy of surgery. The blood flow velocity at the stenosis and vorticity of blood flow in the sigmoid sinus are factors influencing the clinical efficacy of surgery.
Using Communities of Practice Theory to Understand the Crisis of Identity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME)
Authors: Murray Rebecca , Turner Lynda
Published: December 2021

Objective

To explore the crisis of identity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) through the lens of Communities of Practice.

Methods

A closed Facebook group was created to gather qualitative data from participants diagnosed with CFS/ME (n = 22). Data were analysed using a theoretical thematic analysis.

Results

The current research revealed the reality of enabling and disabling communities in the lived experience of CFS/ME and the role of participation in developing empowered identities. Learning how to be alongside CFS/ME aligned with participants’ experiences of purpose and meaning. New identities may be developed which are not centrally defined by loss or stigma.

Discussion

Participation in supportive communities enables CFS/ME identities to emerge as a platform for positive change. Engaging with the CFS/ME virtual community may be a way for both families and health professionals to reflect on current practice.
The role of social support in the experience of life with ischemic heart disease for socially disadvantaged patients: A qualitative study
Authors: Rasmussen Amanda Nikolajew , Guise Andrew , Overgaard Charlotte
Published: December 2021

Objectives

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) displays wide social inequalities that are often explained with reference to lifestyle factors. However, research indicates that social support may also play an important role in social inequality in IHD. This study aims to explore the role of social support in the experience of life with IHD for socially disadvantaged patients.

Methods

The study was conducted as a critical hermeneutic qualitative study in Denmark between October 2018 and August 2019. Data consist of in-depth qualitative interviews with 30 socially disadvantaged patients with IHD.

Results

The findings showed a notable difference between the participants who were engaged in close and supportive social relationships and those who were not. Life with IHD for those who lacked supportive relationships tended to be marked by feelings of chaos, powerlessness and meaninglessness. Contrarily, those who were engaged in supportive relationships received help to navigate their life with illness, reconcile with what had happened to them, feel empowered, and gain a sense of meaning in their life. Discussion: Social support from close social relationships appears to be crucial for socially disadvantaged ischemic heart patients, and should be encouraged and facilitated in healthcare and interventions targeting this patient group.
A scale development study: Hemodialysis comfort scale version II
Authors: Kosar Sahin Cansu , Cinar Pakyuz Sezgi
Published: December 2021

Aim

Aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable measuring tool in order to evaluate comfort of patients receiving hemodialysis treatment.

Background

There has been available a scale developed to evaluate comfort of hemodialysis patients “HDCS (Hemodialysis Comfort Scale).” Due to HDCS consisted of nine items and evaluated comfort in two sub-dimensions, researchers who developed HDCS, stated that number of scale items and dimensions is not sufficient to fully evaluate comfort. Therefore, (Hemodialysis Comfort Scale Version II) HDCS-II was developed with this research and its development process were discussed in this article.

Materials and Methods

Sample of this methodological research was consisted of 436 chronic hemodialysis patients, treated at five hemodialysis centers between October 2018 and May 2019. In process of creation item pool, comfort theory and literature was examined. The items in the old scale were also revised and included. Thereby a new question pool of 87 items was created. This draft scale was sent for expert opinion. In validity of scale; content validity index, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used. In reliability study; Item analysis, cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient, parallel form reliability and item analysis based on upper-lower group averages were used.

Results

There was consistency between expert views relating to items in scale. According to exploratory factor analysis, scale consisted of six dimensions. Cronbach alpha coefficient of 26-item scale was 0.79. Alpha values of the six factor in scale were, respectively; for physical relief 0.83, for physical ease 0.71, for psychospiritual ease 0.87, for psychospiritual transcendence 0.85, for environmental transcendence 0.82, and for sociocultural ease 0.61.

Conclusion

HDCS-II is a 5-point likert type and consists of 26 items and 6 factors. This scale is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used to determine comfort of patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment.
Influence of game format and team strategy on physical and perceptual intensity in soccer small-sided games
Authors: Guard Andrew , McMillan Kenneth , MacFarlane Niall
Published: December 2021

The aim of the study was to compare internal and external load responses of different small-sided games, using balanced (5v5 Possession and small-sided games formats) and unbalanced (6v4) teams. Ten elite youth male soccer players were monitored at the start of the in-season period using global positioning system, heart rate and subjective ratings of intensity. Results showed higher physiological stress (>90% HRmax) in Possession and small-sided games formats when compared to the unbalanced teams (ES = 1.3–2.3). Total and high-intensity distance in small-sided games (28 ± 25 m) and Possession (67 ± 35 m) were greater compared to teams of 6 and 4 in the unbalanced scenario. Small-sided games format and team with six players had higher proportion of distance running at sub-maximal velocities (0–5.8 m/s2). Small-sided games format and team with four players saw greater mean acceleration effort (mean acceleration intensity in small-sided games 1.91 ± 0.27 vs. Possession 1.80 ± 0.20 m/s2, ES = 0.4 and Team 4 1.56 ± 0.24 vs. Team 6 1.44 ± .0.19 m/s2, ES = 1.3). Small-sided games format and team with 6 players had lower starting velocities prior to acceleration efforts (small-sided games 0.90 ± 0.08 and Team 6 1.11 ± 0.11 m/s2, ES = 1.5 and ES = 1.8), while velocity at the end of each acceleration effort was greater in the Possession format and Team 4 compared to small-sided games and Team 6 (Possession 3.54 ± 0.23 m/s2 and Team 4 3.13 ± 0.22 m/s2) compared to the small-sided games format (ES = 0.1) and the team with six players (ES = 2.3). These data demonstrate that using unbalanced teams can provide an additional form of training prescription to facilitate player specific training within a squad environment by providing different internal and external training responses within a combined drill.
The ADR Encoder is a reliable and valid device to measure barbell mean velocity during the Smith machine bench press exercise
Authors: Pérez-Castilla Alejandro , Miras-Moreno Sergio , García-Vega Agustín J , García-Ramos Amador
Published: December 2021

Velocity-based training is a contemporary resistance training method, which uses lifting velocity to prescribe and assess the effects of training. However, the high cost of velocity monitoring devices can limit their use among strength and conditioning professionals. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the reliability and concurrent validity of an affordable linear position transducer (ADR Encoder) for measuring barbell velocity during the Smith machine bench press exercise. Twenty-eight resistance-trained males performed two blocks of six repetitions in a single session. Each block consisted of two repetitions at 40%, 60%, and 80% of their estimated one-repetition maximum. The mean velocity of the lifting phase was simultaneously recorded with the ADR Encoder and a gold-standard linear velocity transducer (T-Force® System). Both devices demonstrated high reliability for measuring mean velocity (ADR Encoder: CVrange = 2.80%–6.40% and ICCrange = 0.78–0.82; T-Force® System: CVrange = 3.27%–6.62% and ICCrange = 0.77–0.81). The ADR Encoder provided mean velocity at 40%1RM with a higher reliability than the T-Force® System (CVratio = 1.17), but the reliability did not differ between devices at higher loads (60%1RM–80%1RM) (CVratio ≤ 1.08). No fixed or proportional bias was observed for the different loads using least-products regression analysis, while the Bland–Altman plots revealed low systematic bias (0.01 m·s−1) and random errors (0.03 m·s−1). However, heteroscedasticity of the errors was observed between both devices ( R2 = 0.103). The high reliability and validity place the ADR Encoder as a low-cost device for accurately measuring mean velocity during the Smith machine bench press exercise.
Risk factors for wound dehiscence following radical cystectomy: a prediction model
Authors: Nasrallah Ali A. , Mansour Mazen , Abou Heidar Nassib F. , Ayoub Christian , Najdi Jad A. , Tamim Hani , El Hajj Albert
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

Radical cystectomy (RC) is a complex urologic procedure performed for the treatment of bladder cancer and causes significant morbidity. Wound dehiscence (WD) is a major complication associated with RC and is associated with multiple risk factors. The objectives of this study are to identify clinical risk factors for incidence of WD and develop a risk-prediction model to aid in patient risk-stratification and improvement of perioperative care.

Materials and Methods:

The American College of Surgeons – National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database was used to derive the study cohort. A univariate analysis provided nine variables eligible for multivariate model entry. A stepwise logistic regression analysis was conducted and refined considering clinical relevance of the variables, and then bootstrapped with 1000 samples, resulting in a five-factor model. Model performance and calibration were assessed by a receiver operated curve (ROC) analysis and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test for goodness of fit, respectively.

Results:

A cohort of 11,703 patients was identified from years 2005 to 2017, with 342 (2.8%) incidences of WD within 30 days of operation. The final five-factor model included male gender [odds ratio (OR) = 2.5, p < 0.001], surgical site infection (OR = 6.3, p < 0.001), smoking (OR = 1.8, p < 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR = 1.9, p < 0.001), and weight class; morbidly obese patients had triple the odds of WD (OR = 2.9, p < 0.001). The ROC analysis provided a C-statistic of 0.76 and calibration R2 was 0.99.

Conclusion:

The study yields a statistically robust and clinically beneficial five-factor model for estimation of WD incidence risk following RC, with good performance and excellent calibration. These factors may assist in identifying high-risk patients, providing preoperative counseling and thus leading to improvement in perioperative care.
Academic Incentives Should Not Promote the “Extinction of Nature Experience”
Authors: Sarkar Dipto , Chapman Colin A.
Published: December 2021

Evidence suggests that a decline in people’s exposure to nature corresponds to decreasing support for nature—a phenomenon we call extinction of nature experience. Here, we evaluate three current trends in conservation research and consider if they contribute to a decrease in exposure to nature. We suggest that while using sensors, algorithms, technocentric thinking, conducting meta-analyses, and taking more lab-based approaches all have significant potential to advance conservation goals, they lead to researchers spending less time in the field and an extinction of nature experience. A reduction of researcher field time will mean fewer local field assistants are hired and trained; lower engagement of researchers with ground realities; and a rift in conservation research, planning, and implementation. We suggest that the field of conservation science should balance how it allocates time and rewards to field versus non-field components. If we are not careful, we will select researchers that are distant from the biodiversity itself and the communities that are affecting it locally. Since the pandemic began many researchers were unable to go to their field sites and if care is not taken, the pressures that promote the extinction of nature experience may be promoted by institutions in a post–COVID-19 world.
Nasal Nitric Oxide and Nasal Cytology as Predictive Markers of Short-Term Sublingual Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy Efficacy in Children with Allergic Rhinitis
Authors: Parisi Giuseppe Fabio , Manti Sara , Papale Maria , Amato Melania , Licari Amelia , Marseglia Gian Luigi , Leonardi Salvatore
Published: December 2021

Background

Few studies have been conducted on the short-term response to sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT).

Objective

The purpose of our experimental trial was to evaluate if two markers such as nasal nitric oxide (nNO) and nasal cytology could be useful to identify a precocious clinical efficacy of SLIT treatment.

Methods

We enrolled 34 children aged 6 to 14 years old with diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (AR) and documented sensitization towards house dust mites. We started allergoid-monomeric tablets immunotherapy along with any conventional therapy for AR and we evaluated at baseline (T0), after one (T1), two (T2), three (T3), and six months (T6) the effects of the treatment through the study of: i) a visual analogue scale (VAS 1-10); ii) measurement of nNO; iii) measurement of FeNO; iv) nasal cytology; v) spirometry; and vi) evaluation of any conventional therapy.

Results

We observed an improvement in symptoms evaluated by global VAS (T0 vs. T6: 47.13 vs. 17.57; p < .05) and a statistically significant reduction of nNO (1035.2 ± 956.08 vs. 139.2 ± 59.01; p < .05). In this case, significance was reached when the patients completed the 6 months of treatment. Cytological evaluation revealed significant reduction in nasal eosinophils (T0 vs. T6: 87% vs. 16%; p < .01). Moreover, at T0, 56% of patients had also neutrophils that were reduced up to the 8% at T6 (p < .05).

Conclusions

Our data confirm the effectiveness of SLIT treatment from a clinical perspective and identifies two biomarkers, such as nNO and nasal cytology, as predictive of treatment efficacy in the short term.
Face Adaptation—Investigating Nonconfigural Saturation Alterations
Authors: Mueller Ronja , Utz Sandra , Carbon Claus-Christian , Strobach Tilo
Published: December 2021

Recognizing familiar faces requires a comparison of the incoming perceptual information with mental face representations stored in memory. Mounting evidence indicates that these representations adapt quickly to recently perceived facial changes. This becomes apparent in face adaptation studies where exposure to a strongly manipulated face alters the perception of subsequent face stimuli: original, non-manipulated face images then appear to be manipulated, while images similar to the adaptor are perceived as “normal.” The face adaptation paradigm serves as a good tool for investigating the information stored in facial memory. So far, most of the face adaptation studies focused on configural (second-order relationship) face information, mainly neglecting non-configural face information (i.e., that does not affect spatial face relations), such as color, although several (non-adaptation) studies were able to demonstrate the importance of color information in face perception and identification. The present study therefore focuses on adaptation effects on saturation color information and compares the results with previous findings on brightness. The study reveals differences in the effect pattern and robustness, indicating that adaptation effects vary considerably even within the same class of non-configural face information.
CSF neurofilament light chain predicts 10-year clinical and radiologic worsening in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Bhan Alok , Jacobsen Cecilie , Dalen Ingvild , Bergsland Niels , Zivadinov Robert , Alves Guido , Myhr Kjell-Morten , Farbu Elisabeth
Published: December 2021

Background

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is an attractive biomarker of disease activity and progression in MS, but there is a lack in long-term prognostic data.

Objective

To test the long-term clinical and radiological prognostic value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-NfL among newly diagnosed patients with MS.

Methods

Newly diagnosed MS patients where followed prospectively with baseline CSF-NfL and repeated MRI and clinical assessments for up to 10 years. Associations between baseline CSF-NfL and longitudinal MRI and clinical assessments were found by Generalized Estimating Equations analysis.

Results

Forty-two participants were included. CSF-NfL at baseline was significantly associated with the rate of atrophy in globus pallidus ( p = 0.009) and hippocampus ( p = 0.001) as evaluated by MRI. Baseline volumes of thalamus (β −0.33; 95% CI −0.57 to −0.10, p = 0.006), T1 (β 0.28; 95% CI 0.11 to 0.44, p = 0.001) and T2 (β 0.16; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.27, p = 0.008) lesions and baseline levels of CSF-NfL (β 0.9; 95% CI 0.3 to 1.5, p = 0.002) significantly predicted EDSS worsening over 10 years. Baseline CSF-NfL gave a comparable prediction to the best MRI volumetric predictors.

Conclusion

CSF-NfL predicted the clinical and radiological course of newly diagnosed patients with MS over a 10-year period, underlining its prognostic role.
Musical Activities, Prosocial Behaviors, and Executive Function Skills of Kindergarten Children
Authors: Ilari Beatriz , Helfter Susan , Huynh Tina , Bowmer Alice , Mason Kathryn , Knight Julian , Welch Graham
Published: December 2021

Prosocial behaviors and executive function are staples of child development. Engagement in music has been associated with enhanced prosocial behaviors and executive function skills in children and youth. Yet, research concerning the role of formal music programs in the development of these important behaviors and skills remains elusive. The aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the role of a 5-week music program on prosocial behaviors (instrumental helping and sharing) and executive function skills (cognitive flexibility and working memory/inhibition control) of 103 kindergarten children from two public schools in a large urban center in the United States, serving predominantly Latinx children from underserved communities. Our data suggested that the short music program positively influenced children's cognitive flexibility, but not working memory, nor prosocial skills (sharing and helping). Findings are discussed in light of earlier studies, methodological issues, and limitations, and in relation to developmental and cultural issues surrounding child participants. Implications for future research and practice are outlined.
2019 Novel Coronavirus Vaccination Among Medical Students
Authors: Peterson Christopher J. , Abohelwa Mostafa , Payne Drew , Mohamed Ahmed A. , Nugent Kenneth
Published: December 2021

COIVD-19 vaccination of medical students is essential since these students will have contact with patients and will become future healthcare leaders. Hence, we surveyed medical students at Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, TX, and received 234 responses. The majority of students were vaccinated against COVID-19 (215/234; 91.8%) and reported pro-vaccine attitudes, such as support for a COVID-19 booster shot (191/234; 81.6%) and an annual COVID-19 vaccine (186/234; 79.5%). Among those who did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the most frequent reasons included waiting for more evidence (16/19; 84.2%) and concern about the side effects (15/19; 79.0%). These results indicate that medical students consider vaccination important and suggest that students can provide an important resource for patients and public education.
The Relationship Between Witnessing Bullying, Defending Targets, and Internalizing Symptoms: An Analysis of Gender Differences Among Sixth-Grade Students
Authors: Midgett Aida , Doumas Diana M. , Peck Matt , Winburn Amanda
Published: December 2021

We examined the moderating effect of gender on witnessing bullying, defending, and internalizing symptoms among sixth-grade students at one middle school in the northwestern United States. Results indicated that for females, witnessing bullying was positively associated with depressive symptoms and social anxiety, whereas for males, defending was positively associated with depressive symptoms. Findings suggest the importance of equipping female students with strategies to cope with witnessing bullying and providing male students with appropriate intervention skills for defending targets.
Factors that affect the one-year mortality rate after lower limb amputation in the Hong Kong Chinese population
Authors: Chung Pui M , Chau Bolton KH , Chow Esther C-S , Lam Kwok H , Wong Nang MR
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Lower limb amputation has significant morbidity and mortality. This study reviews the potential factors affecting the one-year mortality rate after lower limb amputation in the Hong Kong Chinese population.

Methods

Cases with lower limb amputations (toe, ray, below-knee, and above-knee amputations) from a regional hospital from January 2016 to December 2017 were recruited. Amputations due to trauma were excluded. The one-year mortality rate and the potential risk factors (age, sex, length-of-stay, multiple operations, extent of surgery (minor vs. major), medical comorbidities including (1) end-stage renal failure (ESRF), (2) cardiac diseases, (3) ischemic heart disease, (4) peripheral vascular disease and (5) diabetes mellitus) were analyzed by multiple logistic regression using Matlab 2018a.

Results

A total of 132 patients were recruited (173 operations). The one-year mortality rate was 36.3%. The mean age at death was 72.2 years. The results of the regression analysis showed patients having ESRF (β = 2.195, t 120 = 3.008, p = 0.003) or a major amputation (including above- or below-knee amputation) (β = 1.079, t 120 = 2.120, p = 0.034), had a significantly higher one-year mortality. The remaining factors showed no significant effect. The one-year mortality rate in ESRF patients was 77.8%; while the one-year mortality rate without ESRF was 29.8%. The mean age at death in the ESRF group was 62.9 years; while that without ESRF was 76.1 years. The one-year mortality for patients with major amputation was 45.8% while that for minor amputation was 20.4%.

Conclusion

ESRF and major amputation are factors that increase the one-year mortality rate after lower limb amputation.
Clomiphene Citrate and Enclomiphene Hydrochloride Exposure Is Associated With Interfrontal Suture Fusion in Zebrafish
Authors: Franz-Odendaal Tamara A. , Bezuhly Michael
Published: December 2021

Background: The last several decades have witnessed an increase in metopic craniosynostosis incidence. Population-based studies suggest that pharmacological exposure in utero may be responsible. This study examined effects of the fertility drug clomiphene citrate (CC) on calvarial development in an established model for craniofacial development, the zebrafish Danio rerio. Results: Zebrafish larvae were exposed to clomiphene citrate or its isomer enclomiphene for five days at key points during calvarial development. Larvae were then raised to adulthood in normal rearing water. Zebrafish were analyzed using whole-mount skeletal staining. We observed differential effects on survivability, growth and suture formation depending on the treatment. Treatments with CC or enclomiphene at 5.5 mm SL led to increased fusion of the interfrontal suture (p < .01) compared to controls. Conclusions: Exposure to fertility drugs appears to affect development of the cranial vault, specifically the interfrontal suture, in zebrafish. Further research is required to identify the signaling mechanisms at play. This work suggests that fertility drug treatment may contribute to the increased incidence of metopic craniosynostosis observed globally.
Entering the Misinformation Age: Quality and Reliability of YouTube for Patient Information on Liposuction
Authors: Chawla Sahil , Ding Jeffrey , Mazhar Leena , Khosa Faisal
Published: December 2021

Background: YouTube is currently the most popular online platform and is increasingly being utilized by patients as a resource on aesthetic surgery. Yet, its content is largely unregulated and this may result in dissemination of unreliable and inaccurate information. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and reliability of YouTube liposuction content available to potential patients. Methods: YouTube was screened using the keywords: “liposuction,” “lipoplasty,” and “body sculpting.” The top 50 results for each term were screened for relevance. Videos which met the inclusion criteria were scored using the Global Quality Score (GQS) for educational value and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria for video reliability. Educational value, reliability, video views, likes, dislikes, duration and publishing date were compared between authorship groups, high/low reliability, and high/low educational value. Results: A total of 150 videos were screened, of which 89 videos met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the videos had low reliability (mean JAMA score = 2.78, SD = 1.15) and low educational value (mean GQS score = 3.55, SD = 1.31). Videos uploaded by physicians accounted for 83.1% percent of included videos and had a higher mean educational value and reliability score than those by patients. Video views, likes, dislikes, comments, popularity, and length were significantly greater in videos with high reliability. Conclusions: To ensure liposuction-seeking patients are appropriately educated and informed, surgeons and their patients may benefit from an analysis of educational quality and reliability of such online content. Surgeons may wish to discuss online sources of information with patients.