bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Portrayals of Volunteering on U.S. Television: A Textual Analysis
Authors: Wiley Kimberly , Evans Marissa
Published: July 2021

Volunteer managers identify challenging tasks, such as volunteer buy-in, retention, and role matching. Successful management of these tasks is influenced by how volunteers anticipate and perceive their volunteer experience. Volunteers receive and interpret messages about the drivers, rules, and expectations of giving one’s time and expertise from what they observe in the media. Television portrays how society perceives volunteering and compulsory community service. We used textual analysis to interpret portrayals of volunteering in 104 storylines on U.S. television. Television characters portrayed as volunteers were primarily motivated by civic duty, committed on a short-term basis, and had a positive experience. The volunteer manager was often absent. The intended beneficiary need not be present because the volunteer was the ultimate beneficiary. The storylines on TV excluded important components of the volunteer experience, meaning volunteer managers may need to take steps to mitigate problems associated with unrealized expectations of the TV binge-watching volunteers.
Perceiving at a distance: enaction, exteriority and possibility – a tribute to John Stewart
Authors: Lenay Charles
Published: July 2021

The aim of this article is to offer a new approach of perception regarding the position of a distant object. It is also a tribute to John Stewart who accompanied the first stages of this research. Having already examined the difficulties surrounding questions of the perception of exteriority within the framework of enactive approaches, we will proceed in two stages. The first stage will consist of an attempt to explain distal perception in terms of individual sensorimotor invariants. This poses the problem but fails to solve it. The second stage will propose a new pathway to account for spatial perception; a pathway that does not deny the initial intuitions of the autopoietic enactive approaches, but one which radically changes the conception of cognition by considering, from the perceptual stage, the need to take into account interindividual interactions. The protocol of an original experimental study will characterize this new approach considering the perceptual experience of objects at a distance, in exteriority, in a space of possibilities without parting from the domain of interaction. To do this, we have to work at the limits of the perceptual crossing, that is, at the moment when the perceptual reciprocity between different subjects begins to disappear.
Understanding the Dysfunctionality of Dysfunctional Career Decision-Making Beliefs: Ambiguity Aversion as a General Mechanism
Authors: Xu Hui
Published: July 2021

Although dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs represent an important assessment and intervention area in career counseling, the empirical foundation and the general mechanism of the dysfunctionality of dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs remain not fully clear. Based on the dual-process theory of career decision-making, the current study used a sample of U.S. college students ( n = 200) and examined a longitudinal mediation model in which dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs predict subsequent career decidedness, career commitment, and academic major satisfaction through ambiguity aversion. The results supported the hypothesized mediation model in that dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs negatively predicted subsequent career decidedness, career commitment, and academic major satisfaction, and ambiguity aversion mediated all three links. Therefore, the present study not only shows that dysfunctional career decision-making has a pervasive detrimental role in career decision-making but also sheds light on the intricate relationship between dysfunctional career decision-making beliefs and ambiguity management in career decision-making. The limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are also discussed.
Use of mechanical thresholds in a model of feline clinical acute pain and their correlation with the Glasgow Feline Composite Measure Pain Scale scores
Authors: Nicholls Daniel , Merchant-Walsh Molly , Dunne Jerry , Cortellini Natalia Parrilla , Adami Chiara
Published: July 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of mechanical thresholds (MT), measured with the SMALGO (Small Animal ALGOmeter), and to determine whether there was a correlation between MT and Glasgow Feline Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS–Feline) scores in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

Methods

Client-owned cats undergoing flank ovariohysterectomy were recruited. Pain scores for the pre- and postoperative periods were obtained using the CMPS-Feline in each cat by two independent investigators (A and B). Following CMPS–Feline scoring, MT were measured with the SMALGO, in the surgical area, pre- and postoperatively, only by investigator A. Each cat served as its own control for the comparison of pre- and postoperative variables. Reliability statistics were used to assess the level of inter-observer agreement (A vs B) with respect to pre- and postoperative CMPS–Feline scores, while Spearman’s correlation statistics were used to analyse the relationship between MT and CMPS–Feline scores.

Results

Twenty-nine cats completed the study. Preoperative MT (340 g [range 108–691]) were significantly higher than postoperatively (233 g [range 19–549]; P = 0.001). CMPS–Feline scores were not found to differ significantly between the preoperative period (2 [range 0–7] for investigator A and 3.2 ± 2.3 for investigator B) and postoperative period (2 [range 0–10] for investigator A and 3 [range 0–8] for investigator B) for either investigator. Reliability statistics revealed that the level of inter-observer agreement with respect to CMPS–Feline was fair for the preoperative assessments but poor for the postoperative evaluations. There was no correlation between MT and CMPS-Feline scores.

Conclusions and relevance

Although there was no correlation with CMPS–Feline scores performed at the same timepoint, MT increased postoperatively vs baseline. Assuming that, despite analgesia, susceptibility of the surgical area to mechanical stimulation would increase after surgery, this finding suggests that MT might be useful to assess feline surgical pain. The poor level of inter-observer agreement with respect to postoperative CMPS–Feline scores highlights the potential limitations of this scale.
Peripheral embolism as first and only clinical symptom of a true aneurysmal degeneration of the radial artery after ligation of a radiocephalic fistula
Authors: Malbecq Clémentine , Hammer Frank , Pochet Jean-Michel , Labriola Laura , Kanaan Nada , Devresse Arnaud , Lambert Catherine , Mourad Michel , Snoeijs Maarten , Darius Tom
Published: July 2021

True aneurysmal degeneration of the inflow artery after arteriovenous fistula ligation is extremely rare. Pain is the most common symptom and surgical treatment by an autologous venous bypass is considered as the treatment of choice with good long-term results. We present a patient with peripheral embolism as first and only symptom leading to the diagnosis of a true aneurysmal degeneration of the entire left radial artery. It was discovered 5 years after the ligation of his radiocephalic fistula. As illustrated by this case, a conservative treatment by antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy should be considered a satisfying alternative to the standard bypass surgery in patients with anatomical variations (e.g. an incomplete arterial palmar arch) since the latter include a higher risk of postoperative ischemic complications.
High prevalence of comorbidities at diagnosis in immigrants with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Rotstein Dalia , Maxwell Colleen , Tu Karen , Gatley Jodi , Pequeno Priscila , Kopp Alexander , Marrie Ruth Ann
Published: July 2021

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with certain comorbidities in general population studies, but it is unknown how comorbidity may affect immigrants with MS.

Objective:

To compare prevalence of comorbidities in immigrants and long-term residents at MS diagnosis, and in matched control populations without MS.

Methods:

We identified incident MS cases using a validated definition applied to health administrative data in Ontario, Canada, from 1994 to 2017, and categorized them as immigrants or long-term residents. Immigrants and long-term residents without MS (controls) were matched to MS cases 3:1 on sex, age, and geography.

Results:

There were 1534 immigrants and 23,731 long-term residents with MS matched with 4585 and 71,193 controls, respectively. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, migraine, epilepsy, mood/anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and rheumatoid arthritis were significantly more prevalent among immigrants with MS compared to their controls. Prevalence of these conditions was generally similar comparing immigrants to long-term residents with MS, although COPD, epilepsy, IBD, and mood/anxiety disorders were less prevalent in immigrants.

Conclusion:

Immigrants have a high prevalence of multiple comorbidities at MS diagnosis despite the “healthy immigrant effect.” Clinicians should pay close attention to identification and management of comorbidity in immigrants with MS.
Co-creating changes to achieve decent work conditions in the New Zealand fishing industry
Authors: Kartikasari Ani , Stringer Christina , Henderson Guye
Published: July 2021

In 2014, New Zealand enacted the Fisheries (Foreign Charter Vessels and Other Matters) Amendment Act in response to ongoing labour abuses on board South Korean vessels in New Zealand’s foreign charter vessel sector. Importantly, the legislation expresses the universality of the International Labour Organization’s Decent Work Agenda: all member countries must pursue policies based on the strategic objectives of equality, dignity, safe working conditions and that workers are protected from exploitation. The Act was in response to the identification of widespread labour abuses in this sector. In June 2011, the extent of the abuses came to light when 32 Indonesian crewmen of the Oyang 75 walked off their vessel. In this paper, we explore how a range of stakeholders worked organically to bring about change. We do this qualitatively by combining semi-structured interview (with over 160 Indonesian migrant crewmen between 2011 and 2017), observation and document analysis. We analyse our data through the lens of participatory action research which provides a framework to document the processes of who was involved, the cycles of change, what was achieved in each cycle, and importantly the platform for change. Specifically, we look at how stakeholders – the crew themselves, their advocates, academics, non-governmental organisations, journalists, activists, among others – all played a part in achieving legislated protections.
Characterization of anthocyanin from red sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) bran by liquid chromatography-electron spray ionization mass spectrometry analysis
Authors: Suganyadevi P , Saravanakumar M , Mohandas S
Published: July 2021

In the present study, anthocyanin pigments from red sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor) bran were identified and characterized by Liquid Chromatography-Electron Spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry. The individual anthocyanins were identified by comparing their mass spectrometric data and retention times, published data. 3-deoxyanthocyanidins and methyl 3-deoxyanthocyanidins were identified in red sorghum bran. This paper presents complete LCMS profile and MS spectrometric data of red sorghum bran.
Living bioethics, clinical ethics committees and children's consent to heart surgery
Authors: Alderson Priscilla , Bowman Deborah , Brierley Joe , J. Elliott Martin , Kazmi Romana , Mendizabal-Espinosa Rosa , Montgomery Jonathan , Sutcliffe Katy , Wellesley Hugo
Published: July 2021

This discussion paper considers how seldom recognised theories influence clinical ethics committees. A companion paper examined four major theories in social science: positivism, interpretivism, critical theory and functionalism, which can encourage legalistic ethics theories or practical living bioethics, which aims for theory–practice congruence. This paper develops the legalistic or living bioethics themes by relating the four theories to clinical ethics committee members’ reported aims and practices and approaches towards efficiency, power, intimidation, justice, equality and children’s interests and rights. Different approaches to framing ethical questions are also considered. Being aware of the four theories’ influence can help when seeking to understand and possibly change clinical ethics committee routines. The paper is not a research report but is informed by a recent study in two London paediatric cardiac units. Forty-five practitioners and related experts were interviewed, including eight members of ethics committees, about the work of informing, preparing and supporting families during the extended process of consent to children’s elective heart surgery. The mosaic of multidisciplinary teamwork is reported in a series of papers about each profession, including this one on bioethics and law and clinical ethics committees’ influence on clinical practice. The qualitative social research was funded by the British Heart Foundation, in order that more may be known about the perioperative views and needs of all concerned. Questions included how disputes can be avoided, how high ethical standards and respectful cooperation between staff and families can be encouraged, and how minors’ consent or refusal may be respected, with the support of clinical ethics committees.
A “Talent Agency” refers children for research: A case study
Authors: Schwebel David C , Johnston Anna , McClure Leslie A
Published: July 2021

Objective

Ethical standards state research participation must be voluntary and free of coercion and undue influence, but what if a third party appears to engage in research-relevant coercion, without the researchers’ knowledge? This case study describes this type of situation and its resolution.

Methods

We are engaged in a randomized clinical trial evaluating pedestrian safety with 7- and 8- years old. Depending on children's rate of learning, families receive up to $1275 for their time. We recently learned a third-party “talent agency,” a firm placing children in modeling and acting jobs, was referring families to our research with the expectation that families would share 20% of study reimbursements.

Results

We sensed clear impropriety, but identified no ethical violations on our part as researchers. Once paid a study reimbursement, participants can spend funds how they wish. We were concerned, however, that the third-party was exploitatively coercing families to participate.

Conclusions

We pursued four avenues to resolve the issue. First, we documented the situation to our university Institutional Review Board. Second, we contacted the talent agency and requested they stop referring families to our research. They agreed. Third, we retained children engaged in our study who were referred from the talent agency; removing them partway through the clinical trial could impact study results. In doing so, we explained that we were unaware of the talent agency referral and that they were not obligated by us to offer a portion of the study reimbursement to the talent agency. Last, we asked newly enrolled families about their referral source.
“Daddy, Help Me; I Forgot How to Make a New Friend”: Emotional Geographies of Youth Sport in Pandemic Times
Authors: Giardina Michael D.
Published: July 2021

In what follows, the author directs attention to one slice of pandemic life and its interplay across the emotional geographies of childhood, parenthood, work-life balance, lockdowns, stress, mental health, and youth sport, for it is in these private if banal moments that the “everyday” experiences of the pandemic are made real—and reveal the tensions and dilemmas that individuals tried to negotiate—to differing levels of success.
Quality Assurance for Small-Field VMAT SRS and Conventional-Field IMRT Using the Exradin W1 Scintillator
Authors: Huang Zike , Qiao Jian , Yang Cui , Liu Ming , Wang Jiazhou , Han Xu , Hu Weigang
Published: July 2021

Background:

Plastic scintillator detector (PSD) Exradin W1 has shown promising performance in small field dosimetry due to its water equivalence and small sensitive volume. However, few studies reported its capability in measuring fields of conventional sizes. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the performance of W1 in measuring point dose of both conventional IMRT plans and VMAT SRS plans.

Methods:

Forty-seven clinical plans (including 29 IMRT plans and 18 VMAT SRS plans with PTV volume less than 8 cm3) from our hospital were included in this study. W1 and Farmer-Type ionization chamber Exradin A19 were used in measuring IMRT plans, and W1 and microchamber Exradin A16 were used in measuring SRS plans. The agreement between the results of different types of detectors and TPS was evaluated.

Results:

For IMRT plans, the average differences between measurements and TPS in high-dose regions were 0.27% ± 1.66% and 0.90% ± 1.78% ( P = 0.056), and were −0.76% ± 1.47% and 0.37% ± 1.34% in low-dose regions ( P = 0.000), for W1 and A19, respectively. For VMAT SRS plans, the average differences between measurements and TPS were −0.19% ± 0.96% and −0.59% ± 1.49% for W1 and A16 with no statistical difference ( P = 0.231).

Conclusion:

W1 showed comparable performance with application-dedicated detectors in point dose measurements for both conventional IMRT and VMAT SRS techniques. It is a potential one-stop solution for general radiotherapy platforms that deliver both IMRT and SRS plans.
Belt v Lawes and the Meaning of Authorship
Authors: Singh Amitpal C.
Published: July 2021

The 1882 Belt v. Lawes libel trial centered around aesthetic questions, of precisely the kind that judges usually seek to avoid. The trigger for the dispute was an article in Vanity Fair by Charles Lawes, asserting that Richard Belt, a sculptor and member of the Royal Academy of Arts, relied on his assistants to do his work. At trial, Lawes proposed an artistic skills test of sorts, suggesting that Belt verify his abilities by executing a sculpture in the courtroom. This evidentiary drama, and the aesthetically-freighted arguments mustered by the parties at trial, make it a fruitful historical episode to study conceptions of authorship and the artistic process, the development of modern copyright doctrine, and the status of expert artistic testimony in the law.
What do cardiac surgical assistants in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia think about their job? A cross-sectional survey of job and work characteristics
Authors: Shegafi Mohammed Bahran , Leamy Mary , Murrells Trevor , Lee Geraldine A
Published: July 2021

Concerns about job design of the cardiac surgical assistant workforce such as role autonomy and job dissatisfaction have been outlined in the literature, although scant empirical research has examined these concerns from the perspective of cardiac surgical assistants themselves. This study surveyed the job design of cardiac surgical assistants in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using Morgeson and Humphrey’s Work Design Questionnaire. All scalable items within the questionnaire were reported as satisfactory except for ‘autonomy’, ‘task identity’, ‘feedback from the job’, ‘job complexity’, ‘social support’, ‘feedback from others’, ‘ergonomic’ and ‘work condition’. The results provide insight into aspects of cardiac surgical assistants’ role characteristics and contribute to the body of knowledge about their organisational psychology. Given the growth of cardiothoracic operations, the role of the surgical care assistant needs to be further developed to address the job design issues raised.
Moral metaphorical effect of cleanliness on immoral workplace behaviors
Authors: Huangfu Gang , Li Lu , Zhang Zhen , Sheng Cheng
Published: July 2021

Cleanliness connotes cleanness, hygiene, and beauty. Physical cleanliness is also a metaphor for moral purity, as proposed in recent literature. However, cleanliness means not only physical cleanliness but also environmental cleanliness. The article proposes that environmental cleanliness and physical self-cleanliness may metaphorically influence immoral behaviors in the workplace, and their effects may be different. The current study conducted a 2 (environmental cleanliness: clean vs. dirty) × 3 (self-cleanliness: hands-cleansing vs. face-cleansing vs. non-cleansing) between-subjects field experiment with employees as participants in a Chinese enterprise. One-hundred-seventy-seven employees volunteered to participate in the experiment. It was found that a clean workplace, rather than physical self-cleansing, renders harsh moral judgment regarding immoral workplace behaviors. The participants were less willing to accept immoral workplace behaviors in a clean environment than in a dirty environment, while self-cleanliness (hands-cleansing or face-cleansing vs. non-cleansing) had no significant influence on employees’ moral judgments of immoral workplace behaviors. In addition, the significant effects of environmental cleanliness were found in all the ten dimensions of immoral workplace behaviors. The findings reveal the metaphorical association between environmental cleanliness and the concept of higher social moral norms, and confirm that environmental cleanliness is a key factor leading to moral metaphorical effects. This result provides unique insight to the social significance of environmental cleanliness, and has important implications to prevent immoral workplace behaviors. A theoretical framework is proposed to explain why environmental cleanliness is more likely to affect moral judgment involving organizational interests than self-cleanliness. Considering most previous research has been done with samples of college students, this study is especially valuable through a field experiment on actual employees.
Framing Use of Force: An Analysis of News Organizations’ Social Media Posts About Police Shootings
Authors: Ash Erin , Xu Yiwei , Jenkins Alexandria , Kumanyika Chenjerai
Published: July 2021

This research is a systematic investigation of reporting on police use of force incidents by news organizations through social media. A sample of Tweets and Facebook posts appearing on the social media accounts of top news outlets ( N = 500) over the course of a year were analyzed. Rationalizations for use of force, characterizations of police and victims, and contextual framing were examined. Results revealed medium-based differences in challenging police actions as well as demonstrated the limitations of short-form social media in communicating news on complex issues. Implications of these findings for theory and journalistic practice are discussed.
Are Numbers Not Trusted in a “Post-Truth” Era? An Experiment on the Impact of Data on News Credibility
Authors: Du Y. Roselyn , Zhu Lingzi , Cheng Benjamin K. L.
Published: July 2021

The term “post-truth” was declared by Oxford Dictionaries to be its 2016 “International Word of the Year,” signifying the advent of a so-called post-truth era with rising misinformation and declining trust in media. Meanwhile, the “age of data” has seen a proliferation of big data alongside an increase in data-driven journalism, which is one critical way to make professional journalists distinctive with the production of fact-based, authoritative news. Using devised variations of one news report as stimuli, this experiment involves five test groups to determine whether data and data visualizations impact the perceived credibility of news. Results show that only when accompanied by visualizations does the use of data have a positive effect. Findings suggest the necessity and significant role of data visualizations in news production. The study also reveals that increased use of data components in the news does not always contribute to its audience’s perception of news credibility.
Engagement With Live Blogs: When Passive Consumption Overpowers Participation
Authors: Pantic Mirjana
Published: July 2021

This study investigated citizen participation in live blogs in the changing media ecosystem from the public sphere perspective. The live blog is a web-native, participatory-oriented journalistic genre comprised of brief updates of an event in motion and designed to deliver real-time information from multiple sources about breaking news and scheduled events. To examine participation in this contemporary news format, the current, exploratory study, collected survey responses from 339 volunteers and found that participation was not a motivating factor for readers to engage in live blogging on a deeper level. Other study findings pertaining to participation were also pessimistic, showing that the majority of participants were not personally interested in participating in live blogging. This is an important finding for digital journalism as it implies that the capacity of online platforms to accommodate participation does not necessarily translate into citizens’ willingness to participate.
Where Newsroom Leaders See Technology Facilitating Innovation in Local TV News
Authors: Imre Iveta , Wenger Debora
Published: July 2021

Little research has examined how local TV newsrooms determine the type and scope of technological innovation they will embrace. Given the importance of local TV news in keeping the public informed, it is critical to understand this process that could help sustain the industry into the future. This study explores technology-led innovation in local television newsrooms within the U.S. Analysis of interviews with TV newsroom leaders from a broad cross section of small, medium, and large markets identified three primary areas where they say they are innovating including live reporting, social media, and on-demand television services. Three motivating factors for media innovation were also identified: audience preferences, economic drivers, and corporate influence.
Home-Based Electrical Stimulation to Accelerate Wound Healing—A Double-Blinded Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Zulbaran-Rojas Alejandro , Park Catherine , El-Refaei Nesreen , Lepow Brian , Najafi Bijan
Published: July 2021

Background:

Electrical stimulation (E-Stim) may offer a unique adjunctive treatment to heal complicated diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Our primary goal is to examine the effectiveness of daily home-based E-Stim therapy to speed-up wound healing.

Methods:

Patients with chronic DFUs and mild to severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD) were recruited and randomized to either control (CG) or intervention (IG) groups. The IG received 1-hour home-based E-Stim therapy on daily basis for 4 weeks (4W). E-Stim was delivered through electrical pads placed above the ankle joint using a bio-electric stimulation technology (BEST®) platform (Tennant Biomodulator® PRO). The CG was provided with an identical but non-functional device for the same period. The primary outcome included wound area reduction at 4W from baseline (BL).

Results:

Thirty-eight patients were recruited and 5 were removed due to non-compliance or infection, leaving 33 participants (IG, n = 16; CG, n =17). At 4W, the IG showed a significant wound area reduction of 22% (BL: 7.4 ± 8.5 cm2 vs 4W: 5.8 ± 8.0 cm2, P = 0.002). Average of wound area was unchanged in the CG ( P = 0.982). The self-report adherence to daily home-therapy was 93.9%.

Conclusions:

Daily home-based E-Stim provides early results on the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of E-Stim as an adjunctive therapy to speed up wound healings in patients with chronic DFU and mild to severe PAD.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of 6,7-Dihydroxy-4-Methylcoumarin on LPS-Stimulated Macrophage Phosphorylation in MAPK Signaling Pathways
Authors: Kang Yun Sil , Chung You Chul , Lee Jung No , Kim Bong Seok , Hyun Chang-Gu
Published: July 2021

Coumarin derivatives, such as esculetin, have various physiological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-cancer. 6,7-Dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (6,7-DH-4MC) is a derivative of esculetin, and its anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism in macrophages have not been studied. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of 6,7-DH-4MC was evaluated by measuring the expression of inflammatory factors (NO and PGE2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results revealed that 6,7-DH-4MC significantly reduced NO levels and PGE2 expression without inducing cytotoxicity; it was confirmed that the inhibition of NO and PGE2 expression was related to iNOS and COX-2 downregulation in response to 6,7-DH-4MC treatment. Moreover, 6,7-DH-4MC decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β and IL-6, in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies revealed reduced phosphorylation of ERK and p38-MAPK upon 6,7-DH-4MC treatment. Furthermore, the degradation of IκB-α and phosphorylation of NF-κB in cells treated with LPS were interrupted by 6,7-DH-4MC treatment. These results suggest that 6,7-DH-4MC is a potential therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the anti-inflammatory effects of 6,7-DH-4MC in RAW 264.7 cells via MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.
Development of Simultaneous Analysis Method for Multi-Compounds Content of New Shilajit Using HPLC-UV and the Cognitive Enhancing Effect: Mongolian Shilajit
Authors: Lee SukJin , Ryu HyeSung , Whang WanKyunn
Published: July 2021

Shilajit has a longstanding use as an anti-aging and memory enhancing drug. It is known to have excellent anti-bacterial effects and is believed to be effective for cognitive enhancement, but is difficult to standardize because of the lack of quality control standards. This study, for the first time, proposes a quality control standard using a simultaneous analytical method for the drug’s multi-compound content using high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) as an aid for the internationalization of Mongolian Shilajit. Phenolic compounds 1-6 were isolated from Mongolian Shilajit extract using bioassay-guided isolation, and the isolated compounds were evaluated for cognitive-related anti-Alzheimer’s disease (AD) activities using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), and advanced glycation end-product (AGE) formation assays. The isolated compounds showed good effects for each activity. In addition, the isolated compounds were successfully quantified using a validated quantitative HPLC analysis method. As a result, the isolated compounds were suggested as standard marker compounds for Mongolian Shilajit. Also, we proved that the original material of Mongolian Shilajit is a lichen named Xanthoparmelia somloensis (Gyel.) Hale using HPLC-UV, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/hybrid linear trap-quadruple-orbitrap-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI/LTQ-HRMS).
Variants of SERPINA1 and the increasing complexity of testing for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Authors: Foil Kimberly E.
Published: July 2021

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is caused by mutations in the SERPINA1 gene, which encodes the alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein. Currently, over 200 SERPINA1 variants have been identified, many of which cause the quantitative and/or qualitative changes in AAT responsible for AATD-associated lung and liver disease. The types of these pathogenic mutations are varied, often resulting in misfolding, or truncating of the AAT amino acid sequence, and improvements in sequencing technology are helping to identify known and novel genetic variants. However, due to the diversity and novelty of rare variants, the clinical significance of many is largely unknown. There is, therefore, a lack of guidance on how patients should be monitored and treated when the clinical significance of their variant combination is unclear or variable. Nevertheless, it is important that physicians understand the advantages and disadvantages of the different testing methodologies available to diagnose AATD. Owing to the autosomal inheritance of the genetic mutations responsible for AATD, genetic testing should be offered not only to patients at increased AATD risk (e.g. patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), but also to relatives of those with an abnormal result. Genetic counseling may help patients and family members understand the possible outcomes of testing and the implications for the family. While stress/anxiety can arise from genetic diagnosis or confirmation of carrier status, there can be positive consequences to genetic testing, including improved lifestyle choices, directed medical care, and empowered family planning. As genetic testing technology grows and becomes more popular, testing without physician referral is becoming more prevalent, irrespective of the availability of genetic counseling. Therefore, the Alpha-1 Foundation offers genetic counseling, as well as other support and educational material, for patients with AATD, as well as their families and physicians, to help improve the understanding of potential benefits and consequences of genetic testing.
Liver disease with unknown etiology – have you ruled out alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency?
Authors: Patel Dhiren , Teckman Jeffrey
Published: July 2021

Although a less well-known consequence of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) liver disease is the second leading cause of death among patients with the condition. The alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein is produced by hepatocytes within the liver, which retain pathological variants of AAT instead of secreting the proteinase inhibitor into the systemic circulation. This intracellular retention is caused by inefficient folding and polymerization of mutant AAT and the accumulation of these AAT aggregates leads to diverse manifestations of liver disease, which can present differently in both children and adults. The progression from hepatocyte apoptosis to liver inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis, and liver failure is still not fully understood, but in older patients, liver disease can surpass lung disease as the principal cause of death. Liver function tests (LFTs) can measure plasma levels of liver enzymes to assess liver function but require careful interpretation. Non-invasive tests are being developed that can detect early liver disease, but liver biopsy is still the gold standard for assessing liver fibrosis once abnormal LFTs have been detected in a patient. Currently, there is no licensed treatment for AATD-related liver disease (intravenous AAT therapy is not indicated for this purpose), but liver transplantation is associated with positive outcomes and may even slow emphysema progression. Therefore, new strategies are being developed to address treatment of AATD-related liver disease, such as accelerating degradation of mutant AAT and assisting hepatocytes in the folding and secretion of mutant AAT, but these approaches remain at early stages of development.
Introspective Faculty Assessment of Self Leadership
Authors: Hamilton Marcellina Kehinde
Published: July 2021

This article describes a faculty self-leadership study and its impact on outcomes—extra effort, effectiveness, and satisfaction. The research questions asked faculty’s perceptions of classroom leadership—specifically whether they perceive themselves as leaders. This preliminary, small study aims to consider other avenues to improve the student learning experience and faculty performance. Faculty perception of self-leadership may account for their efforts to cultivate others effectively. The notion of faculty leading or grassroots leadership may be a paradigm shift or game-changer; the norm is that the pioneers of change, innovation, and creativity are found in administrative positions in an organization. This norm equates leadership with status, authority, and position. The concept of transformational classroom leadership is not widespread but where else can one find a better fit to integrate this concept than in teaching. What better place exists to examine its impact than the classroom? There is a need to “step outside the culture” and ask teachers how they construe a leadership role to alter higher education’s status quo.
Developing a Social-Ecological Model for Promoting Physical Activity Among Older Adults Based on the Experiences of 50+ Adults
Authors: Lusmägi Peeter , Aavik Kadri
Published: July 2021

Various programs have been developed in different countries to encourage physical activity (PA) of older adults; however, older adults themselves have rarely been included in the development of such interventions. This article explores the meanings that people aged 50 years and above attribute to PA and their own engagement in PA, in the framework of a social-ecological model (SEM). In particular, we focus on the motivations and barriers they identified to their PA. We draw on focus group interviews with 44 older adults between the ages of 50 and 80 years, based in Estonia. Our findings suggest that it is important to use an expanded definition of PA (in older age), to include the diverse and perhaps unexpected ways in which people use their bodies and keep fit in different contexts. Based on our findings, we offer developments to existing versions of the SEM, highlighting the interconnectedness of all of its levels and propose ways to encourage PA of older adults.
Audiovisual Temporal Processing in Children and Adolescents With Schizophrenia and Children and Adolescents With Autism: Evidence From Simultaneity-Judgment Tasks and Eye-Tracking Data
Authors: Zhou Han-yu , Cui Xi-long , Yang Bin-rang , Shi Li-juan , Luo Xue-rong , Cheung Eric F. C. , Lui Simon S. Y. , Chan Raymond C. K.
Published: July 2021

Impaired audiovisual temporal integration, manifested as an abnormally widened temporal-binding window (TBW) for integrating sensory information, is found in both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia (SCZ) and contributes to aberrant perceptual experiences and impaired social communication. We conducted two experiments using age-comparable samples of participants with early-onset SCZ and participants with ASD. Sophisticated paradigms, including a unisensory temporal-order-judgment task (TOJ), an audiovisual-simultaneity-judgment task (SJ), and an eye-tracking task were used. Results showed generalized deficits in temporal processing in SCZ ranging from unisensory to multisensory modalities and from nonspeech to speech stimuli. In contrast, the widened TBW in ASD mainly affected speech stimuli processing. Applying the eye-tracking task with ecologically valid linguistic stimuli, we found that both participants with SCZ and participants with ASD exhibited reduced sensitivity of detecting audiovisual speech asynchrony. This impaired audiovisual speech integration correlated with negative symptoms. Although both ASD and SCZ have impaired multisensory temporal integration, ASD impairs speech-related processing, and SCZ is associated with generalized deficits.
Somnolence and Dizziness During Mirogabalin Treatment in Patients With Neuropathic Pain Related to Lumbar Disease Who Switched From Pregabalin: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Akazawa Tsutomu , Inoue Gen , Tanaka Masahiro , Umehara Tasuku , Nagai Toshihiro , Oshita Yusuke , Imura Takayuki , Miyagi Masayuki , Saito Wataru , Sako Kosuke , Nomura Satoshi , Hiyama Akihiko , Katoh Hiroyuki , Sakai Daisuke , Sato Masato , Yoshida Atsuhiro , Iinuma Masahiro , Niki Hisateru , Takaso Masashi , Watanabe Masahiko
Published: July 2021

Study Design:

Multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives:

To investigate adverse events (AEs) in patients with neuropathic pain related to lumbar disease who switched to mirogabalin from pregabalin.

Methods:

This study surveyed the records of 82 patients with peripheral neuropathic leg pain related to lumbar disease who switched to mirogabalin from pregabalin. We evaluated AEs associated with pregabalin and mirogabalin, the continuation rate of mirogabalin, and the pain-relieving effect at 4 weeks after switching from pregabalin to mirogabalin. We compared patients who switched due to lack of efficacy (LoE group) and patients who switched due to AEs (AE group).

Results:

The incidence rates of somnolence and dizziness with pregabalin were 12.2% and 14.6%, respectively, while the incidence rates with mirogabalin were reduced to 7.3% for somnolence and 4.9% for dizziness. The incidence of AEs with pregabalin was significantly higher in the AE group (LoE group: 11.1%, AE group 100%), especially for somnolence (LoE group: 3.2%, AE group: 47.1%) and dizziness (LoE group: 4.8%, AE: 52.9%). After switching, the incidences of AEs with mirogabalin were not significantly different between the 2 groups (LoE group: 15.9%, AE group: 23.5%), including for somnolence (LoE group: 7.9%, AE group: 5.9%) and dizziness (LoE group: 4.8%, AE group: 5.9%). There were no significant differences in continuation rate of mirogabalin or the pain-relieving effect between groups.

Conclusions:

The patients who experience somnolence and dizziness with pregabalin might be able to continue safely receiving treatment for their pain by switching to mirogabalin.
Etoricoxib Can Reduce Post-Operative Morphine Consumption and Pain Score in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Laminectomy Compare to Acetaminophen: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Weraarchakul Supanut , Sae-Jung Surachai
Published: July 2021

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial.

Objectives:

This prospective trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of etoricoxib and acetaminophen in terms of post-operative morphine consumption and pain score in patients undergoing lumbar laminectomy.

Methods:

Forty lumbar-laminectomy patients aged between 18 and 50 years were enrolled, randomized, and allocated into either the etoricoxib group or the acetaminophen group. The measures assessed were the amount of morphine consumed and pain visual analog score (VAS) at 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Adverse events were recorded.

Results:

Patients in the etoricoxib group had statistically significantly lower morphine consumption than those in the acetaminophen group at 12 hours ( P-value = .006), 24 hours ( P-value = .006) and 48 hours ( P-value = .011). Patients in the etoricoxib group had lower VAS scores than those in the acetaminophen group at 0, 12, 24, 48 hours, the difference being statistically significant at 48 hours ( P < .001).

Conclusions:

Compared to acetaminophen, etoricoxib can significantly reduce post-operative morphine consumption and improve the pain score at 12, 24, and 48 hours.
Surgical Outcomes after Bucket Handle Meniscus Repairs: analysis of a large contained cohort study
Authors: Tucker Lue-Yen , Vieira Amy , Ding David
Published: July 2021

Objectives:

Comprising approximately 10% of all mensiscus tears, bucket-handle meniscus tears are large longitudinal vertical meniscus tears that have an attached fragment flipped into the intercondylar notch. Meniscectomy would often result in significant meniscal loss and increased joint loading. Alternatively, meniscus repair attempts to restore the function of the meniscus and aims to preserve joint mechanics. The objective of this observational data-only study is to evaluate the long-term risk of subsequent ipsilateral knee surgery in patients who underwent a bucket handle meniscus repair and assess risk factors associated with subsequent knee surgical intervention.

Methods:

We performed an electronic health records search for all patients who underwent arthroscopic knee meniscal repairs from 2011 to 2018. Natural language processing was used to search for terms of interest in the long operative notes to determine if these surgeries were performed for bucket handle meniscus tears. These patients comprised our initial cohort. Study subjects were followed for at least one year and up to five years with censoring at death, membership disenrollment, or 12/31/2019. Baseline patient characteristics and outcomes (i.e., subsequent operative procedures, deep surgical site infections, and deep venous thrombosis) were evaluated via a database review. Descriptive statistics were employed.

Results:

The median follow-up time was 4.2 years (interquartile range [IQR] 2.7-5.0 years). A total of 1353 patients underwent meniscus repair surgery for a bucket-handle meniscus tear. The median age was 24 years (IQR 17-34). During the follow-up period, 492 subsequent ipsilateral procedures were performed in 272 (20.1%) patients. 59 (4.3%) patients underwent a subsequent repeat meniscus repair and 164 (12.1%) patients underwent a subsequent meniscectomy. The median time to first procedure was 41.1 months (IQR 23.3-60 months). Younger age and lower BMI were significant risk factors for having subsequent surgery (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.04, 95% Confidence Interval [95%CI] 1.02-1.05, and aOR 1.60, 95%CI 1.09-2.35, respectively). Patients undergoing concomitant ACL reconstruction had a lower risk of undergoing subsequent surgery (aOR 0.66, 95%CI 0.50-0.88).

Conclusions:

This is the largest reported contained patient cohort study on outcomes after bucket-handle meniscus repair. 20% of patients underwent repeat surgery during the follow-up time period with 4.3% experiencing a subsequent repeat meniscus repair and 12% experiencing a subsequent meniscectomy. Risk factors for subsequent surgery include younger age and lower BMI. Concomitant ACL reconstruction at time of bucket-handle meniscus repair reduced the risk of subsequent reoperation.
QUADRICEPS TENDON AUTOGRAFT HAS LOWER MRI SIGNAL THAN HAMSTRING TENDON AUTOGRAFT IN ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTIONS IN ADOLESCENT ATHLETES
Authors: Alcoloumbre David , Aitchison Alexandra , Mintz Douglas , Green Daniel , Cordasco Frank
Published: July 2021

Objectives:

Hamstring tendon autograft (HTA) is a common graft choice for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructions in skeletally immature patients. However, quadriceps tendon autografts (QTA) have recently shown superior preliminary outcomes in this population. The objective of this study was to evaluate graft maturity by comparing MRI signal intensity of HTA and QTA used in primary ACL reconstruction. Given the promising preliminary results of QTA reconstructions in our center, we hypothesized that QTA would have lower signal than HTA at both 6 and 12 months.

Methods:

Patients under the age of 18 who underwent a primary ACL reconstruction between 2011 and 2018 by the senior authors using either a HTA or QTA with available MRIs at 6 and 12 months post-operatively were included. Signal intensity ratio (SIR) was measured on sagittal MRI by averaging the signal at three regions of interest (ROIs) along the ACL graft (Figure 1) and dividing each by the signal of the tibial footprint of the PCL. Statistical analysis was performed to determine interrater reliability and differences between time points and groups.

Results:

71 patients (38 in the HTA group and 33 in the QTA group) were reviewed retrospectively. Age, sex, and type of surgery were not different between groups (Table 1). There was no significant difference in SIR between groups on the 6-month MRI. At 12 months, SIR of the QTA group was significantly less that in the HTA group ( p=.029). Within the HTA group, there was no significant difference in SIR between time points. In the QTA group, there was a significant decrease in SIR between the 6 month and 12-month post-operative MRI ( p=.045) (Figure 2).

Conclusions:

The decrease in signal between 6 and 12 months post-operatively suggests quicker graft maturation and improved structural integrity of QTA as compared to HTA (Figure 3). This provides evidence that one year postoperatively, QTA may have a superior rate of incorporation and synovialization as compared to the HTA.

[Table: see text]