bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Action Planning Create More Harm Than Good? Common Challenges in the Practice of Action Planning After Employee Surveys
Authors: Brown Matt I.
Published: April 2021

Despite the popularity of employee surveys in practice, there has been little research to determine how leaders and managers can effectively take action based on survey results. Without a foundation for evidence-based practice, many organizations rely on action planning processes where individual managers are tasked with developing plans to improve attitudes and perceptions among their subordinates. Although action plans are easy to quantify and monitor, it is unclear whether they are useful for creating change. Action planning is often rated as least favorable among other aspects of employee survey programs. Managers may lack the capability to actively change the causes of dissatisfaction among their subordinates. At worst, managers may grow to perceive action planning as a meaningless, box-checking task. This potentially acts to demotivate and demoralize managers while also increasing pessimism toward future surveys. This article provides several suggestions to avoid these potential pitfalls when designing and implementing employee surveys.
African poetry and the intellectual: A critique of the academy in verse
Authors: Lipenga Ken Junior
Published: April 2021

In The Wretched of the Earth (1963), Frantz Fanon holds an optimistic view of the intellectual in the colony, as one who plays a key role in confronting the colonial administrators and addressing them on level intellectual turf. Long after African countries have gained independence, university campuses continue to sprout and grow on the continent. The intellectual finds their position changed. Now, intellectuals are under scrutiny more than ever, pressed to illustrate their relevance to the continent, to indicate how their expertise is not limited to the professing of theory in university corridors. The discourse has been ongoing in various disciplines. This essay examines the area of poetry, arguing that this domain illustrates the continent’s disillusionment with the place of the African intellectual in relation to their immediate world and indigenous knowledge production within it. In poetry, we find insightful critiques of as well as recommendations for the role of the African intellectual. Through an exploration of several poems that touch on the academy and the intellectual, the essay illustrates how these poems fit into the ongoing discourse about the indigenization of knowledge vis-à-vis the pedagogy imported from the West.
Catalonia in the Face of the USSR: Soviet Intervention in the Spanish Civil War, 1936–9
Authors: Farràs Josep Puigsech
Published: April 2021

The Politburo of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), with Stalin at its head, began its intervention in Spain in September 1936. From the beginning, Stalin understood very clearly what the logic, goals and mechanisms of Soviet intervention in Spain should be. He approved the Spanish Republican Government’s request for Soviet aid, but one of the Republic’s autonomous regions held surprises. Catalonia proved itself an unpredictable and, at times, undesirable player with respect to the USSR. This was due to a series of idiosyncrasies of the region that were incomparable throughout the Spanish Republic or indeed throughout the rest of Europe, making it necessary to seek unorthodox solutions. The two main focuses were the internal relations of the international communist movement led from Moscow and the interstate political relations between the Republic and the USSR. The dynamics generated were unique at both the Spanish and European level, and led to various hiccups for the Soviet intervention in Spain. On the basis of primary evidence found in Russian archives, this article examines how local dynamics affected, pressurised and shaped an intervention model that was conceived from the perspective of the state, standardisation and centralisation.
Three-Dimensional Surface Texture Characterization of In Situ Simulated Erosive Tooth Wear
Authors: Hara A.T. , Elkington-Stauss D. , Ungar P.S. , Lippert F. , Eckert G.J. , Zero D.T.
Published: April 2021

This in situ erosive tooth wear (ETW) study tested enamel 3-dimensional (3D) surface texture outcomes for the detection and differentiation of ETW lesions simulated in clinically relevant conditions. Twenty participants enrolled in this 3-arm crossover intraoral ETW simulation and wore their own partial denture for 14 d holding 2 human enamel specimens (per arm). In each arm, participants were assigned to 1 of 3 different dental erosion protocols: severe (lemon juice/pH 2.5), moderate (grapefruit juice/pH 3.5), and no erosion (bottled drinking water, control). Enamel specimens were evaluated by white-light scanning confocal profilometry for 3D surface texture and surface loss (ETW model validation). Individual point clouds were analyzed using standard dental microwear texture characterization protocols for surface roughness and anisotropy. Fractal complexity ( Asfc), texture aspect ratio ( Str), and arithmetical mean height ( Sa) values were generated at baseline, 7 d, and 14 d. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance models suitable for the crossover design with repeated measurements, and correlation coefficients were used to examine the relationship between outcomes. Asfc and Sa differentiated ETW severity (no erosion < moderate < severe, P < 0.001) at days 7 and 14. Asfc and Sa were lower at baseline compared to days 7 and 14 ( P < 0.001) for moderate and severe challenges. Asfc increased from day 7 to 14 ( P = 0.042) for the severe challenge. For Str, ETW severity did not have a significant effect overall ( P = 0.15). Asfc and Sa were highly positively correlated ( r = 0.89, P < 0.001), while Asfc and Sa were not correlated overall with Str ( r < 0.1, P ≥ 0.25). Enamel surface loss increased with ETW severity (no erosion < moderate < severe, P < 0.001) at days 7 and 14, validating the ETW simulation model. Complexity ( Asfc) and roughness ( Sa) outcomes were able to detect and differentiate ETW levels, with Asfc being able to monitor the progression of severe lesions. No clear characterization of ETW lesions could be provided by the anisotropy ( Str) parameter.
Humanistic and Positive Psychologies: The Continuing Narrative After Two Decades
Authors: DeRobertis Eugene M. , Bland Andrew M.
Published: April 2021

Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi launched the “positive” psychology movement with a conspicuously negative strategy: the seemingly deliberate character assassination of humanistic psychology. Their critical remarks, not at all original, appeared designed to distance positive psychology from humanistic psychology and (ironically) to paint a portrait of positive psychology as being more original than it really was. Seligman has since apologized for disparaging humanistic psychology, and this article assesses both the content of that apology and its value in the ongoing discussion concerning the relationship between humanistic and positive psychologies. The apology was found to be superficial and laced with more extensive explicit and implicit negative assessments of humanistic psychology. These assessments were found to range from theoretically biased partial truths to completely unfounded claims, all unworthy of scientific discourse and in need of fact checking. The unabated dissemination of these arguably damning and unsubstantiated views is framed in terms of van Kaam’s observations concerning the collectivist leanings of postindustrial psychological science, which fly in the face of the humanistic revolution.
Social Disorganization and Strain: Macro and Micro Implications for Youth Violence
Authors: Antunes Maria João Lobo , Manasse Michelle
Published: April 2021

Objectives:

Explanations of community violence traditionally reflect a social disorganization perspective, suggesting that neighborhood characteristics affect crime via the intervening mechanism of informal social control. Drawing on Agnew’s Macro Strain Theory [MST], we argue that neighborhood characteristics 1) also affect macro-level crime for reasons related to aggregated strain and 2) condition the relationship between micro-level strains and individual violent offending.

Methods:

Using data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, we conduct a series of multilevel models examining both the macro- and multi-level relationship between neighborhood characteristics, strain and youth violence.

Findings:

Results generally support our arguments, suggesting that neighborhood characteristics like concentrated disadvantage 1) remain associated with community violence even after adjusting for multiple measures of informal social control and 2) condition the association between micro-level strain and violent offending.

Conclusions:

Strain processes, at both the macro and micro-level, play a critical role in the well-established empirical relationship between structural disadvantage and violence. In light of results, community crime control policies should address the ways in which structural disadvantage increases motivation, rather than focusing exclusively on the ways in which it weakens informal social control.
Glass table tops: An unusual source of lethal domestic injury
Authors: Bodwal Jatin , Chauhan Mohit , Behera Chittaranjan , Byard Roger W
Published: April 2021

A 42-year-old woman who fell through a glass tabletop had her lower back pierced by a long shard of glass. She rapidly exsanguinated. At autopsy, a single penetrating wound was present in her left lower back, with complete transection of her left kidney and a 3.5 L haematoperitoneum. Death was due to exsanguination following accidental transection of the left kidney by a penetrating glass injury of the lower back. Glass-topped tables are a well-recognised source of injury in a domestic setting There are far more non-lethal than lethal injuries, many of which involve children. Quite long shards may remain undetected in wounds for considerable amounts of time. Non-tempered glass is a particular risk for breakage. Glass-topped tables should not be used as substitutes for chairs, particularly in overweight or obese individuals.
Testing Kumpfer’s Resilience Model Among Adults With Serious Mental Illness
Authors: Pan Deyu , Sánchez Jennifer
Published: April 2021

Having a serious mental illness (SMI) is often associated with significant adversities, and people respond differently to adversities. The existing research supports the idea that people with SMI can achieve and maintain positive life outcomes despite experiencing adversities. Resilience, the ability to cope with (or bounce back quickly from) crisis, can help buffer the negative effects of various types of adversities, including chronic illness and disability, and facilitate the psychosocial adaptation process to SMI. Kumpfer’s resilience model, a person–process–context framework, has been widely used to conceptualize, and assess for, resilience in various populations, including people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. However, the research in resilience among people with SMI is very limited. The purpose of this study was to empirically assess the utility of Kumpfer’s resilience model and its proposed predictive components for conceptualizing the adaptation process to SMI. One hundred forty-four participants completed a Qualtrics survey containing demographic questions and a series of validated instruments representing the major components of Kumpfer’s resilience model. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to analyze the data, and the final model explained 71% of the variance of the dependent variable—adaptation to disability. Avoidance coping, internalized stigma, and optimism were significant independent predictors of adaptation to disability. This study supports the utilization of Kumpfer’s resilience model to conceptualize the adaptation to disability process among people with SMI. Implications for rehabilitation counseling practices are discussed.
The roles of code in biology
Authors: Lawlor Brendan , Sleator Roy D
Published: April 2021

The way in which computer code is perceived and used in biological research has been a source of some controversy and confusion, and has resulted in sub-optimal outcomes related to reproducibility, scalability and productivity. We suggest that the confusion is due in part to a misunderstanding of the function of code when applied to the life sciences. Code has many roles, and in this paper we present a three-dimensional taxonomy to classify those roles and map them specifically to the life sciences. We identify a “sweet spot” in the taxonomy—a convergence where bioinformaticians should concentrate their efforts in order to derive the most value from the time they spend using code. We suggest the use of the “inverse Conway maneuver” to shape a research team so as to allow dedicated software engineers to interface with researchers working in this “sweet spot.” We conclude that in order to address current issues in the use of software in life science research such as reproducibility and scalability, the field must reevaluate its relationship with software engineering, and adapt its research structures to overcome current issues in bioinformatics such as reproducibility, scalability and productivity.
The distribution and psychological distress related to COVID-19 of spine patients in a Grade-A tertiary hospital in Anhui province, China
Authors: Zheng Yongshun , Zhang Xingfang , Fang Shiyuan , Zhang Fan
Published: April 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic may cause psychological distress, changes in numbers and distributions of patients in spine surgery patients, which all affect the strategies of spine surgery treatment. These changes may be related to the number of new COVID-19 cases per day since they are visual indicators of the changes in the epidemic and are of interest to the public. This descriptive research took the spine surgery department as an example in a Grade-A tertiary hospital in Anhui province, China. The number and distribution of patients from January 24 to April 2, 2020 was collected and compared with the past 5 years. A psychological scale was constructed to assess the psychological distress of patients and the number of new COVID-19 cases per day in Anhui, China was collected each day from January 24 to April 2, 2020. Also, this research compared these variables with the emergency response or the number of new COVID-19 cases per day. All distributions dropped dramatically during first-level emergency response and then back to normal. The psychological distress of patients was relatively higher at the beginning of the outbreak and then gradually returned to normal. The trends between the psychological distress of patients and the number of new COVID-19 cases per day were similar. The number of new COVID-19 cases per day could be used to predict psychological distress, changes in patient numbers and distributions, which was beneficial for the department of spine surgery to adjust its treatment strategy during the epidemic.
Presuming religious congruence? The nonreligious and Catholicism in Poland
Authors: Trzebiatowska Marta
Published: April 2021

This article contributes to the understanding of the symbiotic relationship between the nonreligious and the religious in religiously homogeneous cultures. Specifically, it examines the centrality of the religious congruence fallacy in the narratives of nonreligious people. Based on 60 qualitative interviews with Polish nones, I chart the ways in which they make sense of the dominant model of Polish-Catholic religiosity, commonly referred to as the ‘Polak-Katolik’. The findings demonstrate that nonreligious Poles equate Polish Catholicism with hypocrisy, conformity, and an implicit fear of ostracism. In conclusion, I suggest that it is vital that scholars of nonreligion flesh out the complexities of the relationship between the nones and the religiously homogeneous cultures within which they exist.
Isoniazid induced palmoplantar hyperhidrosis
Authors: K Panda Prateek , Mehta Sonalika , Sharawat Indar K
Published: April 2021

Secondary focal hyperhidrosis is usually due to peripheral or central neuronal defects and is a complex dysfunction of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. Palmoplantar hyperhidrosis has been described with various types of polyneuropathies such as diabetic but has not previously been described with isoniazid. We report a 15-year-old boy, being followed for neurotuberculosis, who presented with burning sensation and hyperhidrosis of both palms and soles five months after starting antitubercular therapy. With oral pyridoxine supplementation, the paraesthesia and hyperhidrosis reduced to minimal severity over the next four months. Before commencing antiperspirants, simple pyridoxine supplementation can lead to the reversal of symptoms in such cases.
Public–Private Collaboration Led by Private Organizations in Combating Crises: Evidence From China’s Fighting Against COVID-19
Authors: Wang Huanming , Qi Huiting , Ran Bing
Published: April 2021

Public–private collaborations have the potential to effectively respond to extreme events. However, traditional public–private collaborations that are usually led by governmental actors often encounter significant difficulties in a crisis. Based on a case study of a public–private collaboration dealing with COVID-19 in China, we explore how a private actor emerges as a leader to initiate and manage a public–private collaboration in the crisis, and how stakeholders in this collaboration work together to effectively handle the crisis. The findings indicate critical characteristics and contingencies when a private actor leads the cross-sector collaboration to effectively cope with uncertainties and deliver public services in crisis time.
Erratic electric power challenges in Africa and the way forward via the adoption of human biogas resources
Authors: Emetere Moses E , Agubo O , Chikwendu L
Published: April 2021

This paper examines a broad spectrum of challenges plaguing electric power supply in Africa. The challenges have lingered very long that policymakers, energy companies, and government agencies have shown docility in tackling the problem headlong. The increasing human population and technological innovations are evidence that the more the problem lingers, the more it becomes insurmountable. In this paper, it was proposed the lingering challenges can be solved using the standalone system of power generation. The renewable energy option and its adaptability were highlighted to guide standalone users on the way forward. The growing population in Africa can be advantageous in generating biogas from human feaces. It was discovered that renewable energy devices are quite expensive; hence, the biogas option for cooking and powering gas generators seem to be sustainable as its technology can be modified to suit the users' financial base. Therefore, it is projected that if the human excretal biogas can be adopted, Africa will soon overcome its energy crisis through the doggedness of its standalone users.
Low Self-Control: A Hidden Cause of Loneliness?
Authors: Stavrova Olga , Ren Dongning , Pronk Tila
Published: April 2021

Loneliness has been associated with multiple negative outcomes. But what contributes to loneliness in the first place? Drawing from the literature on the importance of self-regulatory ability for successful social functioning, the present research explored the role of low self-control as a factor leading to loneliness. A set of four studies (and three additional studies in Supplementary Online Materials ) using cross-sectional, experimental, daily diary, and experience sampling methods showed that lower self-control is associated with higher loneliness at both trait and state levels. Why does low self-control contribute to loneliness? Self-control failures that have negative implications for others lead to higher risks for being ostracized by others, which predicts increased feelings of loneliness over time. These results suggest that low self-control, which is often associated with negative intrapersonal outcomes, can have important interpersonal consequences by evoking ostracism, and consequently, loneliness.
How Narcissism Shapes Responses to Antisocial and Prosocial Behavior: Hypo-Responsiveness or Hyper-Responsiveness?
Authors: Chen Jiafang , Nevicka Barbara , Homan Astrid C. , van Kleef Gerben A.
Published: April 2021

Narcissists have a relatively higher proclivity for displaying antisocial rather than prosocial behaviors, suggesting a comparatively higher tendency for unfavorably impacting societies. However, maintenance of social order also depends on appropriate responses to others’ social behavior. Once we focus on narcissists as observers rather than actors, their impact on social functioning becomes less clear-cut. Theoretical arguments suggest that narcissists could be either hypo-responsive or hyper-responsive to others’ social behavior. Across four studies, we examined narcissists’ responsiveness to variations in others’ antisocial and prosocial behaviors. Results showed that narcissists differentiated less between others’ antisociality/prosociality, as reflected in their subsequent moral character evaluations (Studies 1–4) and reward and punishment (Studies 3 and 4). These results suggest that narcissists are hypo-responsive to others’ social behaviors. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Ultrasound criteria for lipedema diagnosis
Authors: Amato Alexandre Campos Moraes , Saucedo Dumitriu Zunino , Santos Keller da Silva , Benitti Daniel Augusto
Published: April 2021

Background

Lipedema is characterized by the deposition of abnormal fat in the lower and upper limbs bilaterally. It is a disease with high prevalence and genetic characteristics. Non-specific and non-quantified increases in the thickness of the subcutaneous tissue have previously been demonstrated using magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.

Objectives

To evaluate the thickness of the dermis and subcutaneous tissue in predetermined areas as a distinguishing feature between individuals with and without lipedema using ultrasound.

Methods

Ultrasound images of 89 female patients were analyzed, including patients undergoing clinical investigation for venous insufficiency or lipedema who underwent ultrasound evaluations at our institution. Patients were divided in two groups: with lipedema clinically diagnosed and those without lipedema. They underwent a common Doppler protocol for venous mapping to assess venous insufficiency associated with the evaluation of dermis and subcutaneous thickness at pre-defined points of the lower limbs.

Results

There were 63 patients with lipedema. Anterior thigh, pre-tibial and lateral aspect of the leg and supra-just medial malleolar region were significantly different. Supra-just medial malleolar region was significantly different with BMI above 25. An optimal cutoff value was calculated for the ultrasound diagnosis of lipedema using thickness of the dermis and subcutaneous tissues.

Conclusions

Studied criteria allow use of simple and reproducible ultrasound cutoff values to diagnose lipedema in the lower limbs. Pre-tibial region thickness measurement, followed by thigh and lateral leg thickness are recommended for the ultrasound diagnosis of lipedema.
Role of endothelium-pericyte signaling in capillary blood flow response to neuronal activity
Authors: Zhang Wenri , Davis Catherine M , Zeppenfeld Douglas M , Golgotiu Kirsti , Wang Marie X , Haveliwala Mariya , Hong Daniel , Li Yuandong , Wang Ruikang K , Iliff Jeffrey J , Alkayed Nabil J
Published: April 2021

Local blood flow in the brain is tightly coupled to metabolic demands, a phenomenon termed functional hyperemia. Both capillaries and arterioles contribute to the hyperemic response to neuronal activity via different mechanisms and timescales. The nature and specific signaling involved in the hyperemic response of capillaries versus arterioles, and their temporal relationship are not fully defined. We determined the time-dependent changes in capillary flux and diameter versus arteriolar velocity and flow following whisker stimulation using optical microangiography (OMAG) and two-photon microscopy. We further characterized depth-resolved responses of individual capillaries versus capillary networks. We hypothesized that capillaries respond first to neuronal activation, and that they exhibit a coordinated response mediated via endothelial-derived epoxyeicosatrienoates (EETs) acting on pericytes. To visualize peri-capillary pericytes, we used Tie2-GFP/NG2-DsRed mice, and to determine the role of endothelial-derived EETs, we compared cerebrovascular responses to whisker stimulation between wild-type mice and mice with lower endothelial EETs (Tie2-hsEH). We found that capillaries respond immediately to neuronal activation in an orchestrated network-level manner, a response attenuated in Tie2-hsEH and inhibited by blocking EETs action on pericytes. These results demonstrate that capillaries are first responders during functional hyperemia, and that they exhibit a network-level response mediated via endothelial-derived EETs’ action on peri-capillary pericytes.
Influence of diabetes on diagnostic performance of computed tomography angiography of the calf arteries in acute limb ischemia
Authors: Butt Talha , Lehti Leena , Apelqvist Jan , Gottsäter Anders , Acosta Stefan
Published: April 2021

Background

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have a more extensive distal arterial occlusive disease compared to non-diabetic patients. Diagnostic imaging is a necessity to identify the location and extent of the arterial occlusion in acute limb ischemia (ALI). Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the most commonly used modality and the diagnostic performance with CTA of calf arteries may be questioned.

Purpose

To evaluate diagnostic performance of CTA of calf arteries in ALI and to compare patients with and without DM.

Material and Methods

All thrombolytic treatments performed during 2001–2018 in patients with ALI were included. Initial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and CTA of all patients were classified according to the Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease (TASC II) below-the-knee arteries and compared to CTA. Two raters assessed the CTA images independently. Inter-rater reliability was expressed as intraclass correlation (ICC) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Patients with (n = 23) and without (n = 85) DM had lower ( P = 0.006) glomerular filtration rate. ICC between CTA and DSA was 0.33 (95% CI –0.22 to 0.56) and 0.71 (95% CI 0.38–0.68) in patients with and without DM, respectively. Sensitivity with CTA for TASC D lesions in patients with and without DM was 0.14 (95% CI –0.12 to 0.40) and 0.64 (95% CI 0.48–0.80), respectively.

Conclusion

The sensitivity of CTA for assessment of infra-popliteal TASC D lesions in patients with ALI was not acceptable in patients with DM in contrast to those without DM. Another imaging option at present times should be considered for patients with DM.
Does the primary soft-tissue sarcoma configuration predict configuration of recurrent tumors on magnetic resonance imaging?
Authors: Sedaghat Sam , Salehi Ravesh Mona , Sedaghat Maya , Meschede Jens , Jansen Olav , Both Marcus
Published: April 2021

Background

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare malignancies of the soft tissue.

Purpose

To assess whether the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) configuration of primary STS can predict the configuration of a recurring tumor and whether the MRI configuration of multiple recurrences differs in one and the same patient.

Material and Methods

Thirty-nine patients with histologically proven recurrent STS were included in this retrospective study and underwent pre- and post-treatment MRI. Three main configurations of primary and recurrent tumors were identified: polycyclic/multilobulated; ovoid/nodular; and streaky.

Results

Sixty recurrent lesions were detected: 34 ovoid/nodular; 15 polycyclic/multilobulated; and 11 streaky. Five recurrences were multifocal and eight were bifocal. Of 39 patients, 28 (71.8%) presented one recurrence within the MRI follow-up period ( P = 0.006); in 10 patients (25.6%), up to three different configurations of recurring STS were identified in one patient. Recurrences of polycyclic/multilobulated primaries were mostly ovoid/nodular (48%; P = 0.003) or polycyclic/multilobulated (37%; P = 0.014), and recurring ovoid/nodular STS significantly most often showed the same configuration as the primary tumor (85%; P < 0.001). Primary STS with a streaky configuration recurred in all three configurations in roughly equal proportions. Homogeneity/heterogeneity and tumor borders are significantly associated with the configuration of recurrences.

Conclusion

Primary STS configuration may help predict recurrent tumor configuration when the primary STS had a polycyclic/multilobulated or ovoid/nodular configuration. However, recurrent STS configuration can also differ from primary STS configuration, especially when the primary STS had a streaky configuration, rendering recurrent STS difficult to predict. Different configurations of recurrent STS in one and the same patient are common.
Successful application of roxadustat in the treatment of patients with anti-erythropoietin antibody-mediated renal anaemia: a case report and literature review
Authors: Cai Ke-Dan , Zhu Bei-Xia , Lin Hai-Xue , Luo Qun
Published: April 2021

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has been used worldwide for treatment of renal anaemia due to its good curative effect. However, rHuEPO treatment is associated with a rare but severe complication because of the development of anti-EPO antibodies, which are difficult to treat. Currently, the main treatments for the anti-EPO antibodies include withdrawing the rHuEPO, providing blood transfusions and administrating steroid-based immunosuppressive agents. Although the above methods can alleviate anti-EPO-related anaemia, there are obvious side-effects such as decreased immunity and an increased risk of infection. Therefore, accurately identifying anti-EPO-related anaemia and effectively treating this complication is worth exploring. This current case report describes a 49-year-old female patient with chronic kidney disease that received rHuEPO subcutaneously and then developed anti-EPO antibody-mediated renal anaemia with her haemoglobin levels dropping to 37 g/l. The patient refused to be treated with steroids, so she received 120 mg roxadustat administered orally every 72 h and her Hb level increased to 110 g/l over a few months. This current case report demonstrates that roxadustat can be used to successfully treat anti-EPO antibody-mediated renal anaemia without the use of steroid-based immunosuppressants.
Imaging features and outcomes in patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization: a retrospective clinical study
Authors: Zhao Wenpeng , Hou Xiaopu , Li Honglu , Guo Jiang , Cai Liang , Duan Youjia , Du Hongliu , Shao Xihong , Diao Zhenying , Li Changqing
Published: April 2021

Objective

To summarize and analyze the imaging features and outcomes of patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Methods

We investigated all consecutive patients with HCC who received standardized TACE based on our hospital database. Ruptured HCCs were divided into three types according to their relationship with the liver capsule, determined by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans: Type I, portion of tumor cambered outwards ≤30%; Type II, portion of tumor cambered outwards >30% and <50%; and Type III, portion of tumor cambered outwards ≥50%.

Results

There were 54, 40, and 26 patients with Type I, II, and III HCCs, respectively. Among these, eight patients developed ruptured tumors within 2 weeks after TACE, including one, two, and five patients with type I, II, and III ruptured HCCs, respectively. Patients with type III HCCs had a shorter median survival time than patients with type I–II HCCs.

Conclusions

Patients with type III HCCs might have a higher re-rupture rate and benefit less from emergency arterial embolization procedures than patients with type I–II HCCs.
Moving to new generational beats: Lived experiences of capitalism, student-led (re)makings of knowledge, and the evolution of critical research agendas
Authors: Bruff Ian
Published: April 2021

Via a reflection on the evolution of a module on comparing capitalisms that I have been teaching for more than a decade, this article discusses the collective influence of new generations of students on how knowledge is (re)made. I deploy a conjunctural understanding of the term ‘generations’ in order to make sense of how students’ interpretations of the topics covered by the module have, across the 2010s, led me to increasingly question the field that was, in an earlier conjuncture, essential for my intellectual foundation and development. Their lived experiences of capitalism are more likely to be dominated by themes such as political, economic and social crises and conflicts, inequality, personal indebtedness and precarity, and in some cases activism. This has had profound and long-lasting effects on my teaching and research, discomfiting me in an ultimately beneficial way; most notably, through the recognition that future critical work on comparing capitalisms ought to move away from previous attempts to engage immanently with dominant, mainstream approaches and towards the articulation of a more confident, autonomous position. Hence, a key aspect of the development and evolution of critical research agendas occurs in and through educational exchanges in the seminar room.
Measuring Changes in Multimodal Travel Behavior Resulting from Transport Supply Improvement
Authors: Deschaintres Elodie , Morency Catherine , Trépanier Martin
Published: April 2021

Despite the desired transition toward sustainable and multimodal mobility, few tools have been developed either to quantify mode use diversity or to assess the effects of transportation system enhancements on multimodal travel behaviors. This paper attempts to fill this gap by proposing a methodology to appraise the causal impact of transport supply improvement on the evolution of multimodality levels between 2013 and 2018 in Montreal (Quebec, Canada). First, the participants of two household travel surveys were clustered into types of people (PeTys) to overcome the cross-sectional nature of the data. This allowed changes in travel behavior per type over a five-year period to be evaluated. A variant of the Dalton index was then applied on a series of aggregated (weighted) intensities of use of several modes to measure multimodality. Various sensitivity analyses were carried out to determine the parameters of this indicator (sensitivity to the least used modes, intensity metric, and mode independency). Finally, a difference-in-differences causal inference approach was explored to model the influence of the improvement of three alternative transport services (transit, bikesharing, and station-based carsharing) on the evolution of modal variability by type of people. The results revealed that, after controlling for different socio-demographic and spatial attributes, increasing transport supply had a significant and positive impact on multimodality. This outcome is therefore good news for the mobility of the future as alternative modes of transport emerge.
Simulation Framework for Analysis of Relief Distribution Efforts after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico
Authors: Rojas Ibarra María X. , Valdés Didier , Holguín-Veras José
Published: April 2021

After massive disasters and catastrophes, communities’ infrastructure and communication systems can be severely affected to the point that they cease to function. Furthermore, the affected areas are supplied with significant amounts of donations, which need to be optimally inventoried, stored, and distributed to benefit those affected while minimizing logistics costs. In these events, it is vital to have disaster response plans in place, and readily available trained personnel who can reach and support the affected areas with critical supplies in time to prevent the loss of lives and property. In 2017, Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, a category five hurricane. Non-established relief groups (NERGs) formed immediately after the disaster to reduce the distress of the severely affected population. This research presents a conceptual framework with the key factors to improve the operation of NERGs when participating in the relief efforts after a catastrophic event. The proposed framework considers the steps required for an efficient relief effort, and it is intended to support a well-organized emergency response process by NERGs. Simulation tools were implemented to assess the operations performed by these groups to manage supplies. Various layouts for the space usage distribution and factors that affect the material convergence phenomenon were evaluated. Recommendations are provided for NERGs to improve the efficiency of their activities and increase the benefits offered to the affected communities.
Driver Yielding and Pedestrian Performance at Midblock Crossings on Three-Lane Roadways with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
Authors: Kothuri Sirisha , Appiah Frank Boateng , Monsere Christopher
Published: April 2021

Rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs) have proven to be a useful tool for improving driver yielding and pedestrians’ safety at midblock crossings. This study analyzed driver yielding at 23 RRFB-enhanced midblock crossings on three-lane roadways with and without median refuge islands in Oregon. The locations were chosen to represent a range of posted speed limits and average daily traffic that aligns with existing guidance for median and beacon installations. Sites were classified either as (a) no median refuge, RRFBs placed outside the roadway, (b) median refuge, RRFBs placed outside the roadway, (c) median refuge, RRFBs placed on the island and outside the roadway. Yielding was determined following protocols established in prior research. Two hundred seventy-six hours of video footage were analyzed, resulting in 3,065 crossing events (1,338 staged; 1,727 naturalistic) undertaken by 3,683 pedestrians. High yielding rates were observed—the average near side yielding rate was 97%, with the lowest site having a rate of 89.9%. Yielding rates were generally higher on the far side. Owing to sample size and consistently high yielding rates, it was not possible to make conclusive observations about the relationship between driver yielding and the presence of median or additional beacons for the volume and speed combinations. The results generally indicated that yielding rates increased with the addition of median beacons. The findings also suggested median refuge islands with a beacon increased yielding. The increase in yielding was statistically significant at sites with average daily traffic of 12,000 to 15,000.
Evidence for the Technical Adequacy of the Risk Assessment and Distress Recovery: Examining Risks While Avoiding Profiling Youth With Mental Health Difficulties
Authors: Garwood Justin D. , Gage Nicholas A.
Published: April 2021

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Risk Assessment and Distress Recovery (RADR) Scale—a new self-report psychological screening tool for high school students that explores risk factors related to mental health characteristics of students who have engaged in school violence. The sample consisted of 1093 high school students from all four regions of the United States. A four-factor model consisting of coping skills, depression, suicidal ideation, and narcissism demonstrated good fit. Results of confirmatory factor analysis and measurement invariance, as well as internal consistency estimates, provide initial evidence for reliability and validity of the RADR. Exploratory analyses between the RADR and characteristics of past school shooters are also presented. Students with disabilities self-reported significantly greater risks for mental health concerns across all four constructs, with small (.15) to large (.80) effect sizes.
Intersectionality and Non-Reporting Behavior: Perceptions from Women of Color in Federal Law Enforcement
Authors: Yu Helen H.
Published: April 2021

Since the passage of the No FEAR Act of 2002, scholars across various disciplines have examined women’s reporting behavior toward sex-based discrimination. Most of the scholarship has concentrated on why women do not report sex-based discrimination, with this study being no exception. Missing, however, from this research is the intersectionality of race and gender, as most studies capture women as a homogeneous group without regard to race or ethnicity. Using a subsample of women who responded “yes” to having experienced sex-based discrimination ( n = 550) in the workplace but chose not to report the unlawful behavior, this study employs a series of mean comparisons to differentiate women’s non-reporting behavior by race or ethnicity. The findings suggest women of color as a group, as well as African-American and Latina respondents by their respective minority race or ethnic subgroup, have differences in non-reporting behavior in comparison to White women. These findings are important because they illustrate a more accurate examination of women’s reporting behavior in the workplace.
Leadership for a climate resilient, net-zero health system: Transforming supply chains to the circular economy
Authors: Ritchie Neil H.
Published: April 2021

The global pandemic has taught us that we can focus the attention of the healthcare system on a clear intention when there is a looming threat. Climate action is required from multiple stakeholders particularly private sector suppliers in order to achieve the net-zero carbon emission by 2050 goal established by the Canadian government. Also building climate resilience among healthcare institutions and their supply chains is urgently needed, as they are already affected by a changing climate. By adopting a circular economy framework, the industry can move away from the current damaging take, make waste economic model and adopt a more sustainable model characterized by designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Health leaders can adopt sharing platforms, view product as a service, reduce single use products, encourage extended producer responsibility, and encourage value-based procurement in order to further these aims.
Transthoracic Right Heart Echocardiography for the Intensivist
Authors: Hockstein Maxwell A. , Haycock Korbin , Wiepking Matthew , Lentz Skyler , Dugar Siddharth , Siuba Matthew
Published: April 2021

Background:

The impact of critical illness on the right ventricle (RV) can be profound and RV dysfunction is associated with mortality. Intensivists are becoming more facile with bedside echocardiography, however, pedagogy has largely focused on left ventricular function. Here we review measurements of right heart function by way of echocardiographic modalities and list clinical scenarios where the RV dysfunction is a salient feature.

Main:

RV dysfunction is heterogeneously defined across many domains and its diagnosis is not always clinically apparent. The RV is affected by conditions commonly seen in the ICU such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary embolism, RV ischemia, and pulmonary hypertension. Basic ultrasonographic modalities such as 2D imaging, M-mode, tissue Doppler, pulsed-wave Doppler, and continuous Doppler provide clinicians with metrics to assess RV function and response to therapy.

Conclusion:

The right ventricle is impacted by various critical illnesses with substantial mortality and mortality. Focused bedside echocardiographic exams with attention to the right heart may provide intensivists insight into RV function and provide guidance for patient management.
Preparation of biocompatible wound dressings with dual release of antibiotic and platelet-rich plasma for enhancing infected wound healing
Authors: Shi Linying , Lin Fang , Zhou Mou , Li Yanhui , Li Wendan , Shan Guiqiu , Xu Yubing , Xu Jingjing , Yang Jing
Published: April 2021

The ever-growing threats of bacterial infection and chronic wound healing have provoked an urgent need for novel antibacterial wound dressings. In this study, we developed a wound dressing for the treatment of infected wounds, which can reduce the inflammatory period (through the use of gentamycin sulfate (GS)) and enhance the granulation stage (through the addition of platelet-rich plasma (PRP)). Herein, the sustained antimicrobial CMC/GMs@GS/PRP wound dressings were developed by using gelatin microspheres (GMs) loading GS and PRP, covalent bonding to carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC). The prepared dressings exhibited high water uptake capability, appropriate porosity, excellent mechanical properties, sustain release of PRP and GS. Meanwhile, the wound dressing showed good biocompatibility and excellent antibacterial ability against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Moreover, in vivo experiments further demonstrated that the prepared dressings could accelerate the healing process of E. coli and S. aureus-infected full-thickness wounds i n vivo, reepithelialization, collagen deposition and angiogenesis. In addition, the treatment of CMC/GMs@GS/PRP wound dressing could reduce bacterial count, inhibit pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), and enhance anti-inflammatory factors (TGF-β1). The findings of this study suggested that biocompatible wound dressings with dual release of GS and PRP have great potential in the treatment of chronic and infected wounds.
Probable Interaction Between Warfarin and the Combination of Remdesivir With Dexamethasone for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Treatment: A 2 Case Report
Authors: Landayan Ronald Patrick , Saint-Felix Sampson , Williams Ashley
Published: April 2021

Purpose:

To describe a potential drug interaction between warfarin and the combination of remdesivir with dexamethasone.

Two male patients, a 71-year-old and 62-year-old presented to the emergency department for symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Both patients were on long-term warfarin therapy with their most recent international normalized ratio (INR) prior to admission within their patient specific goal as managed by their outpatient Pharmacist. In both instances, the patients denied any changes in diet, lifestyle, or missed doses of medications upon admission interview. During admission, both patients experienced a marked elevation in INR within 24 to 48 hours of the initiation of remdesivir with dexamethasone for COVID-19 pneumonia directed therapy. The patients were both eventually stable and were instructed to continue warfarin monitoring and management under the direction of their outpatient Pharmacist upon discharge.

Conclusion:

The underrecognized but probable interaction between warfarin in conjunction with remdesivir and dexamethasone warrants further analysis.