bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DIVERSITY OF ENDOPHYTIC FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH FRUITS AND LEAVES OF TAMARIND (Tamarindusindica L.) BASED O N ITS RIBOSOMAL DNA SEQUENCES
Authors: Mohd Zainudin Nur Ain Izzati , Mohd Zaini Nurul Asyiqin , Md Nizam Nurul Huwaidah , Awg Zainal Abidin Dayang Fatin Zafira , Mohd Nazri Nor Izanis Azni
Published: January 2022

Plant-associated microbes are among the important natural resources that abundantly exist in natural environment such as endophytic fungi. The studies on endophytic fungi in medicinal plants have allowed the discovery of numerous fungi species and their hidden potentials. Therefore, this study focused on the isolation and identification of endophytic fungi from several plant parts of tamarind such as leaves and fruits. A total of 69 fungal cultures were successfully isolated and identified into 33 distinct species from 14 genera based on morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis using a Maximum Likelihood method. There were six different species obtained from the genus Colletotrichum (C. aenigma, C. brevisporum, C. cobbittiense, C. fructicola, C. gloeosporioides and C. siamense), and Diaporthe (D. arecae, D. ceratozamiae, D. phaseolorum, D. pseudomangiferae, D. pseudooculiÂ  and D. pseudophoenicicola), four species of Aspergillus (A. aculeatus, A. carbonarius, A. flavus and A. tubingensis), three species of Curvularia (C. aeria , C. geniculata and C. lunata) and Nigrospora (N. lacticolonia, N. oryzae and N. sphaerica), two species of Lasiodiplodia (L. pseudotheobromae and L. theobromae) and Penicillium (P. rolfsii and P. verruculosum). Other fungal species that were also identified are Botryosphaeria mamane, Fusarium solani, Perenniporia tephropora, Phyllosticta fallopiae, Sarcostroma bisetulatum, Trichoderma asperellum and Xylaria feejeensis. The isolates were grouped into different clades according to their class. In conclusion, endophytic fungi isolated from tamarind plant are diverse and provides an insight into species diversity of endophytic fungi in tamarind.
Análise da taxa de transmissão vertical do HIV e fatores de risco materno-fetais em crianças expostas nascidas em centro de referência do estado de Goiás
Authors: Rosa Renata Rodrigues , Albuquerque Maly  de , Teles-Filho Ricardo Vieira , Abe Guilherme de Matos , Marques Solomar Martins , Costa Paulo Sérgio Sucasas da
Published: January 2022

Objetivos: Estimar a taxa de transmissão vertical do HIV e os fatores de risco materno-fetais em crianças nascidas em 2015 em seguimento durante os anos de 2015 a 2017 no maior centro de referência para tratamento para HIV do estado de Goiás. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo de 111 crianças expostas ao HIV nascidas em 2015 de mães HIV positivas. Resultados: Entre as mães, 85 (92,4%) utilizaram TARV durante a gestação. Das 92 crianças que mantiveram seguimento, 4 (4,34%) adquiriram infecção perinatal pelo HIV. 81 (88%) recém-nascidos fizeram uso de profilaxia antirretroviral. Um fator protetor importante de transmissão vertical do HIV foi a profilaxia antirretroviral do RN (OR = 0,02; IC 95%: 0,00-0,56; p = 0,04). Outros fatores investigados, como uso de TARV durante a gestação, não foram estatisticamente significativas para risco. Conclusão: A taxa de transmissão vertical do HIV ainda se encontra elevada no estado de Goiás e os desafios para sua prevenção consistem na perda de seguimento e falhas nas medidas estratégicas.
Hipomagnesemia e hipocalcemia graves induzidas pelo uso concomitante de inibidor de bomba de prótons e tiazídico: relato de caso
Authors: Sebastianes Fernando Moreno , Folle Gabriel Zanardo , Folle Giovane Cunha
Published: January 2022

Introdução: Inibidores de bomba de prótons (IBP) e diuréticos tiazídicos são medicações frequentemente empregadas na atenção primária. Objetivo: relatar o caso de um paciente com hipocalcemia e hipomagnesemia graves induzidas pela associação de omeprazol e hidroclorotiazida, discutindo a etiologia e fisiopatologia do quadro, além de medidas clínicas que podem ser adotadas para mitigar o risco do surgimento dessas complicações. Apresentação do caso: Homem de 69 anos procurou ambulatório por queixas de contrações musculares involuntárias e dificuldade progressiva de marcha há 3 meses. Vinha fazendo uso de omeprazol 20 mg/dia há 20 anos e hidroclorotiazida 25 mg/dia há 2 anos. No exame físico, apresentava sinais de hiperexcitabilidade neuromuscular (fasciculações, espasmos musculares, sinal de Chvostek e Trousseau positivos). Exames laboratoriais indicaram hipomagnesemia e hipocalcemia graves, com concentrações de paratormônio inapropriadamente dentro da faixa da normalidade. O paciente foi hospitalizado e, com reposição de magnésio e cálcio e suspensão das medicações, apresentou resolução permanente do quadro. Conclusão: Hipomagnesemia grave é uma possível complicação do uso a longo prazo de IBPs, principalmente quando associado a diuréticos tiazídicos. IBPs causam uma redução na via de absorção ativa do magnésio pelo intestino, enquanto tiazídicos aumentam a excreção renal de magnésio. A hipomagnesemia grave frequentemente leva à hipocalcemia por induzir uma redução na secreção e na ação do paratormônio. A fim de evitar esse efeito colateral potencialmente grave, propomos diversas medidas a serem adotadas em pacientes com indicação de serem tratados com supressores de acidez gástrica e tiazídicos.
Moyamoya Disease Susceptibility Gene
RNF213
Regulates Endothelial Barrier Function
Authors: Roy Vincent , Ross Jay P. , Pépin Rémy , Cortez Ghio Sergio , Brodeur Alyssa , Touzel Deschênes Lydia , Le-Bel Gaëtan , Phillips Daniel E. , Milot Geneviève , Dion Patrick A. , Guérin Sylvain , Germain Lucie , Berthod François , Auger François A. , Rouleau Guy A. , Dupré Nicolas , Gros-Louis François
Published: January 2022

Background:

Variants in the ring finger protein 213 (
RNF213
) gene are known to be associated with increased predisposition to cerebrovascular diseases development. Genomic studies have identified
RNF213
as a major risk factor of Moyamoya disease in East Asian descendants. However, little is known about the RNF213 (ring finger protein 213) biological functions or its associated pathogenic mechanisms underlying Moyamoya disease.

Methods:

To investigate RNF213 loss-of-function effect in endothelial cell, stable RNF213-deficient human cerebral endothelial cells were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology.

Results:

In vitro assays, using RNF213 knockout brain endothelial cells, showed clear morphological changes and increased blood-brain barrier permeability. Downregulation and delocalization of essential interendothelial junction proteins involved in the blood-brain barrier maintenance, such as PECAM-1 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1), was also observed. Brain endothelial RNF213-deficient cells also showed an abnormal potential to transmigration of leukocytes and secreted high amounts of proinflammatory cytokines.

Conclusions:

Taken together, these results indicate that RNF213 could be a key regulator of cerebral endothelium integrity, whose disruption could be an early pathological mechanism leading to Moyamoya disease. This study also further reinforces the importance of blood-brain barrier integrity in the development of Moyamoya disease and other RNF213-associated diseases.
Endogenous Deoxyribonuclease Activity and Cell-Free Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Cohort Study
Authors: Grosse Gerrit M. , Blume Nicole , Abu-Fares Omar , Götz Friedrich , Ernst Johanna , Leotescu Andrei , Gabriel Maria M. , van Gemmeren Till , Worthmann Hans , Lichtinghagen Ralf , Imker Rabea , Falk Christine S. , Weissenborn Karin , Schuppner Ramona , de Buhr Nicole
Published: January 2022

Background:

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and endogenous deoxyribonuclease activity are opposing mediators and might influence the inflammatory response following acute ischemic stroke. In this cohort study, we investigated the relation between these markers, circulating inflammatory mediators and clinical course including occurrence of stroke-associated infections (SAI) in patients with acute stroke.

Methods:

Ninety-two patients with stroke due to large vessel occlusion undergoing mechanical thrombectomy were prospectively recruited at Hannover Medical School from March 2018 to August 2019. Deoxyribonuclease activity, cfDNA, damage-associated molecular patterns, and circulating cytokines were measured in venous blood collected immediately before mechanical thrombectomy and 7 days later. Reperfusion status was categorized (sufficient/insufficient). Clinical outcome was evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale after 90 days, where a score of 3 to 6 was considered unfavorable. To validate findings regarding SAI, another stroke cohort (n=92) was considered with blood taken within 24 hours after stroke onset.

Results:

Patients with unfavorable clinical outcome had higher cfDNA concentrations. After adjustment for confounders (Essen Stroke Risk Score, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, and sex), 7-day cfDNA was independently associated with clinical outcome and especially mortality (adjusted odds ratio: 3.485 [95% CI, 1.001–12.134] and adjusted odds ratio: 9.585 [95% CI, 2.006–45.790]). No association was found between reperfusion status and cfDNA or deoxyribonuclease activity. While cfDNA concentrations correlated positively, deoxyribonuclease activity inversely correlated with distinct biomarkers. Baseline deoxyribonuclease activity was lower in patients who developed SAI compared with patients without SAI. This association was confirmed after adjustment for confounding factors (adjusted odds ratio: 0.447 [95% CI, 0.237–0.844]). In cohort 2, differences of deoxyribonuclease activity between patients with and without SAI tended to be higher with higher stroke severity.

Conclusions:

The interplay of endogenous deoxyribonuclease activity and cfDNA in acute stroke entails interesting novel diagnostic and potential therapeutic approaches. We confirm an independent association of cfDNA with a detrimental clinical course after stroke due to large vessel occlusion. This study provides first evidence for lower endogenous deoxyribonuclease activity as risk factor for SAI after severe stroke.
Xenophon and the Orators on the Topography of Arginousae and Aegospotami
Authors: Kapellos Aggelos
Published: January 2022

In his description of the naval battles of Arginousae and Aegospotami Xenophon integrated detailed topographical data into the historical description of war operations because he regarded them as absolutely necessary elements of his text, which was intended as a tool of understanding and interpretation. On the other hand, the orators tend not to use the names of Arginousae and Aegospotami when referring to the episodes which occurred there, and they write in a way that shows that their fellow citizens did not want to know or remember the topography of these naval battles, since this would have evoked painful memories to them.
A Novel Image Segmentation Method for Cardiac MRI Using Support Vector Machine Algorithm Based on Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Wang Guanghui , Ma Lihong
Published: January 2022

At present, heart disease not only has a significant impact on the quality of human life but also poses a greater impact on people’s health. Therefore, it is very important to be able to diagnose heart disease as early as possible and give corresponding treatment. Heart image
segmentation is the primary operation of intelligent heart disease diagnosis. The quality of segmentation directly determines the effect of intelligent diagnosis. Because the running time of image segmentation is often longer, coupled with the characteristics of cardiac MR imaging technology
and the structural characteristics of the cardiac target itself, the rapid segmentation of cardiac MRI images still has challenges. Aiming at the long running time of traditional methods and low segmentation accuracy, a medical image segmentation (MIS) method based on particle swarm optimization
(PSO) optimized support vector machine (SVM) is proposed, referred to as PSO-SVM. First, the current iteration number and population number in PSO are added to the control strategy of inertial weight λ to improve the performance of PSO inertial weight λ. Find the
optimal penalty coefficient C and γ in the gaussian kernel function by PSO. Then use the SVM method to establish the best classification model and test the data. Compared with traditional methods, this method not only shortens the running time, but also improves the segmentation
accuracy. At the same time, comparing the influence of traditional inertial weights on segmentation results, the improved method reduces the average convergence algebra and shortens the optimization time.
Classification of Spine Image from MRI Image Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Raja Geetha , Mohan J.
Published: January 2022

The spine tumor is a fast-growing abnormal cell in the spinal canal or vertebrae of the spine, it affected many people. Thousands of researchers have focused on this disease for better understanding of tumor classification to provide more effective treatment to the patients. The main
objective of this paper is to form a methodology for classification of spine image. We proposed an efficient and effective method that helpful for classifying the spine image and identified tumor region without any human assistance. Basically, Contrast Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization
used to improve the contrast of spine images and to eliminate the effect of unwanted noise. The proposed methodology will classify spine images as Normal or Abnormal using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model algorithm. The CNN model can classify spine image as Normal or Abnormal with
99.4% Accuracy, 94.5% Sensitivity, 95.6% Precision, and 99.9% specificity. Compared with the previous existing methods, our proposed solution achieved the highest performance in terms of classification based on the spine dataset. From the experimental results performed on the different images,
it is clear that the analysis for the spine tumor detection is fast and accurate when compared with the manual detection performed by radiologists or clinical experts, So, anyone can easily identify the tumor affected area also determine abnormal images.
An Effective Approach Based on Improved Convolutionary Neural Network Classifier for the Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Sakthi Karthi Durai B. , Benadict Raja J.
Published: January 2022

In diabetic individuals, diabetic retinopathy (DR) causes blindness. Therefore, detecting diabetic retinopathy at an early stage decreases vision loss. An successful approach for diabetic retinopathy prediction is discussed in this article. In the beginning, the input pictures of human
retinal fundus images are preprocessed using histogram equalisation followed by Gabor filtering to reduce noise for enhancement. Then, using the Watershed method, segmentation is performed, and the features are retrieved through feature extraction. The best optimum features are selected using
PCA (principal component analysis) approach. The morphological based post processing scheme was employed to further enhance the quality of selected features. At last, the classification approach is carried with the utilization of Google NET CNN classifier to classify/predict the retinal image
as normal, abnormal, and severe. Google NET CNN has been developed with limited preprocessing step to distinguish visual features directly from image pixels. The findings are then evaluated and the efficacy of the new method is contrasted with other current methods. The quantitative findings
were evaluated for Accuracy, precision, reliability, positive predictive levels and false predictive levels in parameters and were seen to deliver better results than current techniques.
Signal Processing and Classification for Electroencephalography Based Motor Imagery Brain Computer Interface
Authors: Shankar A. , Muttan S. , Vaithiyanathan D.
Published: January 2022

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) is a fast growing area of research to enable communication between our brains and computers. EEG based motor imagery BCI involves the user imagining movement, the subsequent recording and signal processing on the electroencephalogram signals from the brain,
and the translation of those signals into specific commands. Ultimately, motor imagery BCI has the potential to be applied to helping those with special abilities recover motor control. This paper presents an evaluation of performance for EEG based motor imagery BCI with a classification accuracy
of 80.2%, making use of features extracted using the Fast Fourier Transform and the Discrete Wavelet Transform, and classification is done using an Artificial Neural Network. It goes on to conclude how the performance is affected by the particular feature sets and neural network parameters.
Deep Learning Based Adaptive Recurrent Neural Network for Detection of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Mahendran Rakesh Kumar , Prabhu V. , Parthasarathy V. , Mary Judith A.
Published: January 2022

Myocardial infarction (MI) may precipitate severe health damage and lead to irreversible death of the heart muscle, the result of prolonged lack of oxygen if it is not treated in a timely manner. Lack of accurate and early detection techniques for this heart disease has reduced the
efficiency of MI diagnosis. In this paper, the design, and implementation of an efficient deep learning algorithm called Adaptive Recurrent neural network (ARNN) is proposed for the MI detection. The main objective of the proposed work is the accurate identification of MI disease using ECG
signals. ECG signal denoising has been performed using the Multi-Notch filter, which removes the specified noise frequency range. Discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is utilized for performing the feature extraction that decomposes the ECG signal into varied scales with waveletfiltering bank.
After the extraction of specific QRS features, classification of the defected and normal ECG arrhythmic beat has been performed using the deep learning-based ARNN classifier. The MIT-BIH database has been used for testing and training data. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated
based on classification accuracy. Results that are attained include the classification accuracy of about 99.21%, 99% of sensitivity and 99.4% of specificity with PPV and NPV of about 99.4 and 99.01 values indicate the enhanced performance of our proposed work compared with the conventional
LSTM-CAE and LSTM-CNN techniques.
Acute Herpetic Nasopharyngitis in an Adult Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Kuo Cathleen C. , Piccillo Ellen M. , DeGiovanni Jason C. , Kabalan Matt , Zimmer Gregg , Carr Michele M.
Published: January 2022

Objective:

To report a case of herpes virus-associated nasopharyngitis in an adult patient.

Methods:

The patient’s medical record was reviewed for demographic and clinical data. For literature review, all case reports or other publications published in English literature were identified using Pubmed with the MeSH terms “herpes,” “nasopharyngitis,” and “upper respiratory infection.”

Results:

A 40-year-old male presented for nasal congestion and a suspected nasal mass. Computed tomography of the sinuses revealed edematous changes in the nasopharynx which exerted a downward mass effect at the right aspect of the soft palate. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy (FFL) revealed a lesion arising from the posterior aspect of the soft palate with extension into the posterior nasal cavity as well as copious mucopurulent secretions consistent with a superimposed acute sinusitis. Rigid nasal endoscopy demonstrated a friable and ulcerated lesion arising from the aforementioned anatomical location. Biopsy of this lesion and subsequent immunohistochemical analysis revealed a diagnosis of herpetic nasopharyngitis.

Conclusions:

Herpetic infection should be in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with atypical symptoms of nasopharyngitis. Early accurate diagnosis and appropriate specific management can limit the duration of disease course and prevent further complications.
Implementing Reforms in Community Corrections: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Powell Kathleen , Hyatt Jordan M. , Link Nathan W.
Published: January 2022

This mixed-method study examined changes implemented in Pennsylvania community corrections agencies during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. We surveyed ( N = 54; 83% response rate) and interviewed ( N = 10) county Chiefs of probation and parole regarding changes to agency policies, processes of this change, and expected sustainability. Findings revealed meaningful changes to community corrections policy initiated by the pandemic through new modes of supervision contact —such as “ curbside probation”— and new policies regarding violations of supervision that align with evidence-based principles. The moment’s urgency provided a rare but effective impetus for reform, but perceptions of sustainability varied across Chiefs’ role orientations. Our findings demonstrate how this moment expanded the footprint of evidence-based practice through local criminal justice reform and reveal new insights into capacities for and processes of change.
A longitudinal study of intergenerational transmission of poverty in Hong Kong across the 2010s: Social investment, homeownership and mother’s education
Authors: Ho Wing Chung , Kwan Paula , Hu Lan
Published: January 2022

This study examines the extent to which poverty is passed from parents to children in Hong Kong based on the social investment thesis. Through tracking the educational and career trajectories of the second generation (aged 23–25) of 77 families, this study suggests that adolescents with poor parents have a 202 percent higher chance of being poor in young adulthood. This poverty-continuation probability increases dramatically to 681 percent if parental poverty is defined in terms of homeownership rather than income. Another important factor that also affects intergenerational poverty is the mother’s educational level. Implications for social workers and policy makers are discussed.
Modelling the Factors That Predict the Intention to Take COVID-19 Vaccine in Nigeria
Authors: Apuke Oberiri Destiny , Asude Tunca Elif
Published: January 2022

This study developed a model that predicted factors that prompt the intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine among Nigerians. Data were collected from 385 respondents across Nigeria using snowball sampling technique with online questionnaire as instrument. Results indicated that cues to action, health motivation, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control positively predicted the intention to take COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. However, perceived susceptibility, severity, and COVID-19 vaccine benefits did not predict the intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Further findings showed that COVID-19 vaccine barrier and attitude was negatively associated with the intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Some Critical Notes on Sri Lankan Muslim Religious Identity Formation, Conservatism, and Violent Extremism
Authors: Imtiyaz A.R.M. , Mohamed Saleem Amjad
Published: January 2022

A new wave of attacks by Sinhala-Buddhist extremist elements against the Muslim community in Sri Lanka started following the brutal end of the ethnic civil war between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sinhala-Buddhist-dominated Sri Lanka security forces in 2009. Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in 2019 by some Muslims polarized Sri Lanka and contributed to the compromise of the country’s security. Sri Lankan Muslims often claim they are a peaceful community and thus have no serious interests in violent mobilization. But the evidence would basically contradict Muslims’ claim of a peace-loving community. The Easter Sunday terrorist attacks did not take place in any vacuum. This paper will situate some key developments in the violent mobilization of Sri Lanka during the war against the LTTE. The primary goal of such an attempt is to read the growing religious conservative and violent trends among Muslims between 1977 and 2009. In understanding the growing religious conservative trends, an understanding is attempted to situate a later propensity for violence within the community that would manifest itself with the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. Interviews were conducted with members of the Islamic Dawah organizations and Muslim youth who were formerly associated with violent groups in the Eastern Province to understand the ground reality. The period of 1977–2009 is important as the rise of religious conservatist influences in Sri Lanka mirrors the global transnational influences of Iran and Middle East Petro Dollars, especially Saudi Arabia. The article draws mainly on secondary sources. But to gain a better understanding of the ground reality, we spoke to a few Eastern Muslims between July 2016 and September 2021 at regular intervals.
Mango Diplomacy of South Asian Countries
Authors: Ahmed Zahid Shahab , Jahanzaib Muhammad
Published: January 2022

This article examines the mango diplomacy of South Asia’s mango exporting countries. Diplomatic gifts are a common feature of public diplomacy of diplomatic missions globally. There are many prominent examples of that including China’s panda diplomacy and mango diplomacy of South Asia’s mango exporting countries like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. Based on the analysis, this study argues that Pakistan is a dominant actor in terms of mango diplomacy and has an extensive strategy, for example, including mango exhibitions, to increase its mango exports and goodwill in target countries.
Can We Talk About Life Without Taking Death Into Account? Early Childhood Educators’ Self-Perceived Ability to Approach the Topic of Death With Children
Authors: Grigoropoulos Iraklis
Published: January 2022

The current explorative cross-sectional study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of early childhood educators towards death education and their self-perceived comfort to approach the topic of death in the classroom. All data were collected from June to July 2020. One hundred eight (108) early childhood educators participated in the study. The study was promoted through early childhood educators’ support groups and social networks. Demographic characteristics, an ad hoc questionnaire, and the Greek version of the Death Attitude Profile-R questionnaire were used to assess the educators’ comfort and attitudes. Results showed that participants’ self-perceived ability to approach the topic of death in the classroom was affected by gender and personal attitudes towards death (specifically death avoidance and fear of death). Overall, this study emphasized early childhood educators’ role in extreme situations which their students may face as death.
A Social Capital Perspective on Social-Medical Collaboration in Community End-of-Life Care in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Wing-sun , Funk Laura , Thompson Genevieve
Published: January 2022

Recent developments in Hong Kong end-of-life (EOL) care have shifted some caring work for dying people and their families to cross-disciplinary collaboration in community settings. Social-medical collaboration becomes especially important. This study aims to use social capital as an analytical lens to examine the processes and mechanisms of social-medical collaboration in EOL care and elucidate practice implications for engaging in the care of dying people and their families. Qualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews. Three major conceptual categories were generated through grounded theory methodology. They are (a) establishing trust through keeping clear and simple boundaries, (b) cultivating mutuality in the multi-disciplinary meeting, and (c) fostering social-medical collaboration in EOL care. Each new stage is based on the social capital accumulated in the previous one through the social interactions between professionals. Such theorization also provides insights into how to achieve effective social-medical collaboration in this context.
Racially Charged Police Enforcement Has Cost the U.S. Economy $53 Billion to $220 Billion in Lost Productivity
Authors: Rotthoff Kurt W.
Published: January 2022

There is a major difference in the drug arrest rate and incarceration rates between Black and White individuals. However, the drug use rate across the two groups is similar (and has been over time). This study estimates the lost productivity over time of people arrested on drug charges because they are Black. Ceteris Paribus, if those using the drugs were White, instead of Black, at the point of arrest and incarceration, what would have been their additional productivity levels over their lives? In this study I estimate this lost productivity to be $53 billion to $220 billion from 1980–2018 (in 2019-dollars), suggesting that the Lucas wedge is substantial for racial drug arrests.
Circular frames without x-ray – lessons learned regarding radiation exposure during tibial deformity correction from Low & Middle Income Countries?
Authors: Shelton James , Dorman Sara , Kim Yinna , Thorpe Phillipa , Narayan Badri , Gollogly Jim
Published: January 2022

Circular frames are a successful way of treating difficult fractures and non-unions. At our institution (CSC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, our method differs from developed healthcare systems in that we do not use x-ray to site the frames. A retrospective cohort study was performed between CSC and a UK LRS unit. Demographics, diagnosis, frame type, pre- and post-op deformity, proximal and distal construct alignment comparative to the tibia, and time to union or failure. 70 patients in total were identified and were randomly selected from a hospital in UK. Demographics & deformity were similar and failed to reach significant difference on testing: union rate 70% v. 82%, time to union 9.8 v. 8.5 months, and radiation exposure mean 0 v. 74 cGy/cm2 (range 6.4–326.7). These are startlingly homogenous results considering the differing resources available. We believe that ring fixators are a viable treatment method in austere environments where image intensifiers are unavailable, and demand no unnecessary radiation exposure.
Evaluation of the effects of Covid-19 on cochleovestibular system with audiovestibular tests
Authors: Bozdemir Kazım , Çallıoğlu Elif Ersoy , İslamoğlu Yüce , Ercan Mehmet Kadir , Eser Fatma , Özdem Birsen , Kıraç Arda , Bayazıt Dilara , Güner Rahmet , Babademez Mehmet ali
Published: January 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on audiovestibular system with Transiently Evoked Distortion Otoacoustic Emissions (TOAE), Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE), video head impulse test (vHIT) and caloric test.

Methods

Audiovestibular findings of 24 patients with moderate/severe COVID-19 and 24 healthy controls were compared using pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, TOAE, DPOAE, caloric test, and vHIT.

Results

On audiometry, the pure tone averages of the COVID-19 patients were higher than the controls ( P = .038). The TEOAE amplitudes at 4000 and 5000 Hz ( P = .006 and P < .01), and DPOAE amplitudes at 3000, 6000, and 8000 Hz ( P < .001, P = .003 and P < .001) were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients compared to the controls. On vestibular tests, there was no significant difference between the caloric test results of the patients and the controls ( P > .05). On vHIT testing, amplitudes of right semicircular canal was found to be significantly lower in COVID-19 group compared to the control group ( P = .008).

Conclusion

COVID-19 may affect inner ear functions causing a subtle damage in the outer hair cells and lateral semicircular canals. It must be kept in mind that COVID-19 may cause cochleovestibular problems.
Parental Mediation of Cell Phone Use and Adolescent Autonomy
Authors: Warren Ron , Aloia Lindsey
Published: January 2022

Adolescents’ cell phone use occurs during significant developmental shifts in parent–adolescent relationships, as adolescents’ drives for independence can conflict with parents’ desires for connection. This study examines parental mediation of cell phone use within an interpersonal and family communication framework. Previous mediation research has not examined connections with social penetration theory, uncertainty reduction theory, relational dialectics theory, and communication privacy management, each of which has conceptual links to parental mediation. Cell phone mediation reflects the broader phenomenon of disclosure in interpersonal relationships. The extent to which individuals disclose information is influenced by personal desires for autonomy and connection, privacy and intimacy, which are components of interpersonal and family communication theories. This study explores the notion that families develop norms and expectations about cell phones that might influence parental mediation. Results indicate that perceptions of parent–child relationships and family expectations for cell phone use both significantly influence mediation.
Exploring musician-educators’ reflections on a collaborative cross-cultural music making encounter in Singapore
Authors: Lim Ernest Hung Choong , Yu Georgette SY , Martin Rose
Published: January 2022

Professional musician-educators from a tertiary arts institution in Singapore collaborated on a cross-cultural performance in Beijing as part of their professional development. Through a case study, semi-structured interviews explored the music making experiences of four of the musician-educators involved: the composer, the singer, the pianist and the erhu performer. Their experiences address the concept of cross-cultural music making and its significance in professional development for musician-educators. The experiences shared by the four musician-educators illuminate challenges, tensions and some areas to further resolve and critically question regarding how cultures are engaged in the process of music-making. Through unpacking the narratives of musician-educators and how they experience interactions with culture in music making, there is the possibility to further understand diverse music making encounters in Singapore.
Online construction of romantic relationships on social media
Authors: Goldberg Sharon , Yeshua-Katz Daphna , Marciano Avi
Published: January 2022

This study draws on Knapp’s offline relationship development model to examine how people construct romantic relationships on social media, with particular attention to the role of affordances in this process. Based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 30 relational partners, we show that Knapp’s five traditional stages of relationship construction merge online into three because of social media affordances, including searchability, visibility, anonymity, persistence, storage, and editability. These affordances allow users to search and obtain information about potential partners quickly, conveniently, and anonymously before, during, and after the first interaction. They also enable users to initiate or avoid romantic interactions relatively easily, present shared memories, build a sense of togetherness, and edit or erase online content about previous partners. The findings suggest that most participants perceived Facebook, more than Instagram, as a platform of choice for relationship construction. Addressing the interplay between social media affordances, online relational practices, and offline relationship dynamics, the study shows that offline and online spaces are highly interrelated in terms of interinfluence. Therefore, we argue that the merger of stages is not merely a technical rearrangement but an indication of the fundamental role that online practices play in people’s offline realities, including romantic relationships.
Critical language assessment literacy of EFL teachers: Scale construction and validation
Authors: Tajeddin Zia , Khatib Mohammad , Mahdavi Mohsen
Published: January 2022

Critical language assessment (CLA) has been addressed in numerous studies. However, the majority of the studies have overlooked the need for a practical framework to measure the CLA dimension of teachers’ language assessment literacy (LAL). This gap prompted us to develop and validate a critical language assessment literacy (CLAL) scale to further underscore the role of CLA principles and their practice as an essential part of teachers’ LAL. In the first phase, a pool of items was generated through a comprehensive review of the related studies. In the quantitative phase, the developed scale was administered to 255 English as a foreign language teachers selected through convenience and snowball sampling. The data were analyzed through exploratory factor analysis for construct validity and Cronbach’s alpha for estimating internal consistency. The results showed that the items loaded on five factors: (a) teachers’ knowledge of assessment objectives, scopes, and types; (b) assessment use consequences; (c) fairness; (d) assessment policies; and (e) national policy and ideology. It was found that the scale had a high level of internal consistency and construct validity, which suggests that this scale has the potential to be useful in assessing language teachers’ CLAL and to raise language teachers’ awareness of CLAL constructs.
Parental Autonomy Support in the Context of Parent–Child Negotiation for Children’s Independent Mobility: ‘I Always Feel Safer With My Parents’ to ‘Boom! Bust Down Those Walls!’
Authors: Han Christina S , Brussoni Mariana J , Mâsse Louise C
Published: January 2022

Autonomy – acting volitionally with a sense of choice – is a crucial right for children. Given parents’ pivotal position in their child’s autonomy development, we examined how parental autonomy support and children’s need for autonomy were negotiated and manifested in the context of children’s independent mobility – children’s ability to play, walk or cycle unsupervised. We interviewed 105 Canadian children between 10 and 13-years-old and their parents ( n = 135) to examine child-parents’ negotiation patterns as to children’s independent mobility. Four patterns emerged, varying on parental autonomy support and children’s need/motivation for independent mobility: (1) child/parent dyad wants to increase independent mobility; (2) child only wants to increase independent mobility while parents do not; (3) child does not want to increase independent mobility while parents do; and (4) child/parent dyad does not want to increase independent mobility. Findings illuminate the importance of recognizing children as active and capable agents of change.
Correlation between vitamin D levels and bone metabolism in children with cow’s milk allergy
Authors: Che Di , Yu Li , Guo Yong , Ke Hai-jin , Liu Cui , Wu Jie-Ling
Published: January 2022

Objective

Research is limited regarding biochemical markers of bone metabolism among children with cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA). We aimed to determine differences in vitamin D and bone metabolism markers between infants with CMPA and healthy infants and explore relationships between these in a cross-sectional study.

Methods

In total, we included 41 children diagnosed with CMPA and under systematic medical and nutritional care at our center, and 50 healthy children as a control group. We reviewed demographic and clinical characteristics and measured serum biomarkers.

Results

We found that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels among infants in the CMPA group were significantly lower than those in the control group, and levels of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), serum phosphorus, and serum calcitonin were reduced. Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum 25(OH)D concentrations in the CMPA group were negatively correlated with parathyroid hormone but not significantly correlated with calcitonin and BALP. Logistic regression showed that CMPA was a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that CMPA was associated with disturbances in bone metabolism. Levels of vitamin D in children with CMPA were lower than those in healthy children. CMPA was a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency.
Left eye enucleation caused by multi-systemic Klebsiella pneumoniae invasive syndrome
Authors: Liu Yanquan , Zhu Hongquan , Yin Yue , Yan Zhimin
Published: January 2022

Klebsiella pneumoniae is generally considered the most common pathogenic bacterium causing community-acquired pneumonia. In recent years, cases of liver abscess caused by the bacterium and its spread have been reported in Asia and other parts of the world. This clinical symptom of liver abscess caused by hypervirulent K. pneumoniae and its migrating infection is also called invasive K. pneumoniae liver abscess syndrome (IKPLAS). This study explored the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of an elderly patient with IKPLAS who experienced multi-organ failure caused by the infection. The treatment of the patient was difficult, and despite our efforts, the invasive infection led to eye enucleation. This paper is expected to improve our understanding and awareness of this disease in the clinic.
Diagnostic value of chest computed tomography images in adult Poland syndrome: a report of two cases
Authors: Lei Shaoyang , Gui Shaogao , Zhang Haixu , Wang Yanxia , Liu Ronghui , Ye Yufang , Zhang Shuqian , Fan Bing
Published: January 2022

Poland syndrome is a rare congenital developmental deformity characterized by unilateral agenesis or hypoplasia of thoracic wall soft tissue. We report two adult cases of Poland syndrome detected by computed tomography (CT) images. CT images of the two cases depicted an asymmetric chest wall with the absence of a breast and agenesis of the pectoralis muscles. A physical examination of case 1 showed a thin right chest wall with depression of the right nipple region. Hand deformities were also observed, including brachydactyly and syndactyly. In case 2, hand deformities were not found in a physical examination. Using multi-planar reconstruction, the size, position, origin, and termination of bilateral pectoral muscles could be compared symmetrically. For patients with Poland syndrome, a timely diagnosis and treatment are important. The use of chest CT in clinical practice could play an important role in the early diagnosis and treatment of Poland syndrome.
Comprehensive meta-analysis of associations between temperament and character traits in Cloninger’s psychobiological theory and mental disorders
Authors: Komasi Saeid , Rezaei Farzin , Hemmati Azad , Rahmani Khaled , Amianto Federico , Miettunen Jouko
Published: January 2022

Objective

To explore the relationship between temperament and character traits in Cloninger’s psychobiological theory and mental disorders. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted of five international databases for all articles published in English between January 1990 and April 2019 (PROSPERO-CRD42019133214). Owing to heterogeneity, pooled estimates of correlations for personality disorders and standardized mean differences for case–control studies related to other mental disorders were calculated using the random-effects method.

Results

The pooled effect sizes obtained from 149 studies showed that high harm avoidance (related to 22/24 diagnostic categories), low self-directedness (21/23), low cooperativeness (17/23), high self-transcendence (14/23), low reward dependence (11/24), high novelty-seeking (10/24), low novelty-seeking (7/24), high persistence (2/23), low persistence (2/23) and high reward dependence (2/24) were related to psychopathology.

Conclusions

All traits provided unique psychobiological tools for differential diagnosis of mental disorders. However, high harm avoidance and low self-directedness played a canonical role in psychopathology. Despite the study limitations, additional studies are warranted to evaluate the differential diagnoses suggested by the present model.
The Practice of Spiritual Criminology: A Non-Doing Companionship for Crime Desistance
Authors: Amitay Gila , Ronel Natti
Published: January 2022

Spiritual criminology (SC) is an umbrella term for various criminological theories, models and practices that share reference to the spiritual dimension of human existence. Informed by a growing body of research that applies spiritual approaches to various aspects of criminology, SC attempts to provide a common thread shared by most approaches to spirituality: a voluntary self-journey that begins with an elevated level of self-centeredness and is aimed at self-transformation. Based on an extensive review of the literature, this paper proposes three general principles for spiritual accompaniment of people who offended: mindful non-doing, being and acting; love and compassion; and compassionate inclusion. These principles can be applied by combining several practices: renouncing control over knowledge, process and outcomes; creating a moral atmosphere that includes forgiveness and nonjudgment; and self-modeling. SC is shown to contribute to the rehabilitation of people who offended and also to crime prevention.
Vegetables for Healthy Diets in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review of the Food Systems Literature
Authors: Harris Jody , Tan Winson , Raneri Jessica E. , Schreinemachers Pepijn , Herforth Anna
Published: January 2022

Background:

Vegetables are an essential element in healthy diets, but intakes are low around the world and there is a lack of systematic knowledge on how to improve diets through food system approaches.

Methods:

This scoping review assessed how studies of food systems for healthy diets have addressed the role of vegetables in low- and middle-income countries. We apply the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews to narratively map the literature to an accepted food systems framework and identify research gaps.

Results:

We found 1383 relevant articles, with increasing numbers over 20 years. Only 6% of articles looked at low-income countries, and 93% looked at single-country contexts. Over half of articles assessed vegetables as a food group, without looking at diversity within the food group. 15% looked at traditional vegetables. Issues of physical access to food were among the least studied food system topics in our review (7% of articles). Only 15% of articles used a comprehensive food system lens across multiple dimensions. There is also a research gap on the impacts of different policy and practice interventions (13% of articles) to enable greater vegetable consumption.

Conclusions:

Food system studies necessarily drew on multiple disciplines, methods and metrics to describe, analyze, and diagnose parts of the system. More work is needed across disciplines, across contexts, and across the food system, including understanding interventions and trade-offs, and impacts and change for diets particularly of marginalized population groups. Filling these gaps in knowledge is necessary in order to work toward healthy vegetable-rich diets for everyone everywhere.