bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Right to Asylum
Authors: Gil-Bazo María-Teresa , Guild Elspeth
Published: June 2021

This chapter explores the right to asylum in international law of universal and regional scope, including the right to seek asylum and the right to be granted asylum,. It does so by examining the evolution of asylum in international law and practice, as well as the jurisprudence of a number of courts, most notably the Court of Justice of the European Union and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Asylum, understood as ‘the protection that a State grants on its territory or in some other place under the control of certain of its organs to a person who comes to seek it’, is a well-known institution in international law and its historical roots in State practice are well established. Asylum is different from refugee status, as the former constitutes an institution for protection, while the latter refers to the content of the protection offered to those who meet the refugee definitions under the relevant international instruments. The chapter then offers a critique of the current state of play regarding asylum, refugee status, and international protection, including in the context of the Global Compact on Refugees. It looks at trends arising in regional contexts and analyses their contribution to a holistic interpretation of States’ obligations towards refugees and others in need of protection.
Non-penalization and Non-Criminalization
Authors: Costello Cathryn , Ioffe Yulia
Published: June 2021

This chapter reviews the protections under international law which purport to secure refugees’ right to seek asylum by protecting them from penalization. Once a mere administrative matter, irregular migration and presence are now often made a crime in domestic laws, often with additional criminal offences such as for failure to cooperate in migration and asylum proceedings, or failure to have or produce identity documentation. In addition to criminalization, States also have meted out increasingly harsh treatment to those who breach their migration controls, irrespective of whether they are refugees or not. The chapter then analyses article 31 of the Refugee Convention, the provision which purports to protect refugees from penalization for ‘illegal entry and stay’. It argues that non-penalization reflects one of the objects and purposes of the Refugee Convention. The chapter also explores whether international human rights law substantively limits States’ ‘right’ to criminalize irregular entry and stay, and whether non-penalization of irregular entry or stay may be an emerging general principle of law.
The Right to Work
Authors: Ó Cinnéide Colm , Costello Cathryn
Published: June 2021

This chapter analyses the application of the right to work to asylum seekers and refugees, examining the right under international human rights law of global scope, in particular under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. While that instrument is often perceived as being normatively weak, due in part to a misunderstanding about the ‘progressive realization’ standard, the chapter highlights States’ immediate ‘minimum core’ obligations under the right to work. It also assesses the right under African, Inter-American, and European regional human rights mechanisms. Some deprivations of the right to work may entail breaches of regional treaties, directly or indirectly. Restrictions on the right to work may also contribute to violations of absolute rights, such as the prohibitions on inhuman and degrading treatment, or forced labour. The chapter then looks at two possible means of securing the right to work, namely domestic litigation and transnational political processes.
Cessation
Authors: Cole Georgia
Published: June 2021

This chapter focuses on the cessation of refugee status. Questions about when, how, and why refugee status ends remain critical for academics, States, UNHCR, and refugees alike. If States are uncertain about when their responsibilities towards refugees will end, the result may be ever-stricter policies concerning borders, refugee status determination procedures, and individuals, even once they have been granted some form of protection. The changes wrought by this restrictionism would likely be to the long-term detriment of the laws, norms, and institutions of the refugee regime. Article 1C of the Refugee Convention provides an exhaustive list of ways in which refugee status can end. Due to the significant consequences of the cessation of refugee status for individuals and States, however, legal experts and UNHCR promote a strict, but contested, interpretation of article 1C.
Refugee Naturalization and Integration
Authors: Khan Fatima , Ziegler Reuven (Ruvi)
Published: June 2021

Refugees' access to citizenship of their host country is key to their integration. Manifesting full and equal permanent political community membership, citizenship entails cessation of refugee status, pursuant to Article 1C(3) of the Refugee Convention. Yet the 2018 ‘Global Compact on Refugees’ omitted naturalization and 'local' integration from its list of objectives, merely describing ‘durable legal status and naturalization’ as ‘useful’. Globally, citizenship regimes vary widely, with direct ramifications for refugees’ access thereto; meanwhile. The Chapter highlights a ‘global north’/’global south’ divide regarding naturalization practices, situating then within an international law framework in which host countries remain (the) ultimate gatekeepers. The Chapter argues it is unhelpful to describes forms of integration that do not offer pathways to naturalization as ‘durable’, given that many refugees find themselves in protracted displacement with neither a ‘durable solution in sight nor the legal, economic, and social capacity to properly integrate in their asylum countries.
Restitution and Other Remedies for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
Authors: Bradley Megan
Published: June 2021

This chapter explores restitution and other remedies for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Most refugees and IDPs never receive any formal redress for the wrongs they have suffered. Yet over the past 30 years, significant progress has been made in advancing international norms on remedies for refugees and IDPs, and experiences in countries from Bosnia and Kosovo to Rwanda and Iraq have strengthened understanding of the challenges involved in translating these principles into practice. Efforts have focused predominantly on the restitution of housing, land, and property (HLP), with the assumption that this is the most pertinent remedy for forced migrants, particularly because it may help enable return as the ‘preferred’ solution to displacement. The chapter assesses these developments and the state of research on this pivotal challenge. It reviews the approaches taken in major peace treaties, court decisions, and standards. The chapter then reflects on five intertwined challenges: (i) developing appropriate data collection techniques and evidentiary standards; (ii) balancing the rights of ‘secondary occupants’ and people in protracted displacement; (iii) mitigating risks associated with HLP restitution; (iv) developing a better understanding of how gender, race, class, and other intersecting power relations influence redress; and (v) moving beyond a narrow focus on property restitution to consider the wider range of losses associated with displacement.
Logics of dependence and independence: The local variants
Authors: Grädel Erich , Pützstück Phil
Published: June 2021

Modern logics of dependence and independence are based on team semantics, which means that formulae are evaluated not on a single assignment of values to variables, but on a set of such assignments, called a team. This leads to high expressive power, on the level of existential second-order logic. As an alternative, Baltag and van Benthem have proposed a local variant of dependence logic, called logic of functional dependence ($ {\textsf {LFD}}$). While its semantics is also based on a team, the formulae are evaluated locally on just one of its assignments, and the team just serves as the supply of the possible assignments that are taken into account in the evaluation process. This logic thus relies on the modal perspective of generalized assignments semantics and can be seen as a fragment of first-order logic. For the variant of $ {\textsf {LFD}}$ without equality, the satisfiability problem is decidable. We extend the idea of localizing logics of dependence and independence in a systematic way, taking into account local variants of standard atomic dependency properties: besides dependence and independence, also inclusion, exclusion and anonymity. We study model-theoretic and algorithmic questions of the localized logics and also resolve some of the questions that had been left open by Baltag and van Benthem. In particular, we study decidability issues of the local logics and prove that satisfiability of $ {\textsf {LFD}}$ with equality is undecidable. Further, we establish characterization theorems via appropriate notions of bisimulation and study the complexity of model checking problems for these logics.
Choice Points for a Theory of Normality
Authors: Loets Annina J
Published: June 2021

A variety of recent work in epistemology employs a notion of normality to provide novel theories of knowledge or justification. While such theories are commonly advertised as affording particularly strong epistemic logics, they often make substantive assumptions about the background notion of normality and its logic. This article takes recent normality-based defences of the KK principle as a case study to submit such assumptions to scrutiny. After clarifying issues regarding the natural language use of normality claims, the article isolates a number of choice points regarding the role of contingency, context-sensitivity and similarity in our theorizing with normality. It turns out that both weaker and stronger logics of normality can be motivated depending on how such choices are resolved. And yet securing logics of normality strong enough for normality to play its envisaged role in epistemology may have unwelcome downstream consequences for the resultant theories of knowledge or justification.
Antifungal prescribing in neonates: Using national point prevalence survey data from Australia
Authors: McMullan Brendan J , Blyth Christopher C , Jones Cheryl A , Thursky Karin A , Cooper Celia , Spotswood Naomi , James Rodney , Konecny Pamela
Published: June 2021

We describe contemporary antifungal use in neonates, with point-prevalence survey data from the National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey across Australian hospitals from 2014 to 2018. There were 247 antifungal prescriptions in 243 neonates in 20 hospitals, median age six days (range 0–27 days). In 219/247 prescriptions (89%) antifungals were prescribed as prophylaxis. Topical (oral) nystatin was the most frequently prescribed in 233/247 prescriptions (94%), followed by fluconazole 11/227 (4%), with substantial variation in dosing for both. Two of 243 neonates (0.8%) had invasive fungal infection. Nystatin use dominates current antifungal prescribing for Australian neonates, in contrast to other countries, and invasive fungal infection is rare.

Lay summary

Novel nationwide surveillance found newborn infants in Australian hospitals commonly receive antifungal medications, mostly oral nystatin. This is given mainly to prevent rather than treat infection, which is rare. There is substantial unexplained variation in dosing of antifungal drugs nationally.
The Pristine survey – XII. Gemini-GRACES chemo-dynamical study of newly discovered extremely metal-poor stars in the Galaxy
Authors: Kielty Collin L , Venn Kim A , Sestito Federico , Starkenburg Else , Martin Nicolas F , Aguado David S , Arentsen Anke , Fabbro Sébastien , González Hernández Jonay I , Hill Vanessa , Jablonka Pascale , Lardo Carmela , Mashonkina Lyudmila I , Navarro Julio F , Sneden Chris , Thomas Guillaume F , Youakim Kris , Bialek Spencer , Sánchez-Janssen Rubén
Published: June 2021

High-resolution optical spectra of 30 metal-poor stars selected from the Pristine survey are presented, based on observations taken with the Gemini Observatory GRACES spectrograph. Stellar parameters Teff and log g are determined using a Gaia DR2 colour–temperature calibration and surface gravity from the Stefan–Boltzmann equation. GRACES spectra are used to determine chemical abundances (or upper limits) for 20 elements (Li, O, Na, Mg, K, Ca, Ti, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Ba, La, Nd, Eu). These stars are confirmed to be metal-poor ([Fe/H] < −2.5), with higher precision than from earlier medium-resolution analyses. The chemistry for most targets is similar to other extremely metal-poor stars in the Galactic halo. Three stars near [Fe/H] = −3.0 have unusually low Ca and high Mg, suggestive of contributions from few SN II where alpha-element formation through hydrostatic nucleosynthesis was more efficient. Three new carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars are also identified (two CEMP-s and one potential CEMP-no star) when our chemical abundances are combined with carbon from previous medium-resolution analyses. The GRACES spectra also provide precision radial velocities (σRV ≤ 0.2 km s−1) for dynamical orbit calculations with the Gaia DR2 proper motions. Most of our targets are dynamically associated with the Galactic halo; however, five stars with [Fe/H] < −3 have planar-like orbits, including one retrograde star. Another five stars are dynamically consistent with the Gaia-Sequoia accretion event; three have typical halo [α/Fe] ratios for their metallicities, whereas two are [Mg/Fe]-deficient, and one is a new CEMP-s candidate. These results are discussed in terms of the formation and early chemical evolution of the Galaxy.
CMB mode coupling with isotropic polarization rotation
Authors: Namikawa Toshiya
Published: June 2021

We provide a new analysis technique to measure the effect of the isotropic polarization rotation, induced by e.g. the isotropic cosmic birefringence from axion-like particles and a miscalibration of cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization angle, via mode coupling in the CMB. Several secondary effects such as gravitational lensing and CMB optical-depth anisotropies lead to mode coupling in observed CMB anisotropies, i.e. non-zero off-diagonal elements in the observed CMB covariance. To derive the mode coupling, however, we usually assume no parity violation in the observed CMB anisotropies. We first derive a new contribution to the CMB mode coupling arising from parity violation in observed CMB. Since the isotropic polarization rotation leads to parity violation in the observed CMB anisotropies, we then discuss the use of the new mode coupling for constraining the isotropic polarization angle. We find that constraints on the isotropic polarization angle by measuring the new mode-coupling contribution are comparable to that using the EB cross-power spectrum in future high-sensitivity polarization experiments such as CMB-S4 and LiteBIRD. Thus, this technique can be used to cross-check results obtained by the use of the EB cross-power spectrum.
The Heraklion Extragalactic Catalogue (HECATE): a value-added galaxy catalogue for multimessenger astrophysics
Authors: Kovlakas K , Zezas A , Andrews J J , Basu-Zych A , Fragos T , Hornschemeier A , Kouroumpatzakis K , Lehmer B , Ptak A
Published: June 2021

We present the Heraklion Extragalactic Catalogue, or HECATE, an all-sky value-added galaxy catalogue, aiming to facilitate present and future multiwavelength and multimessenger studies in the local Universe. It contains 204 733 galaxies up to a redshift of 0.047 (D${\lesssim }200\, \text{Mpc}{}$), and it is >50 per cent complete in terms of the B-band luminosity density at distances in the 0–170 Mpc range. By incorporating and homogenizing data from astronomical data bases and multiwavelength surveys, the catalogue offers positions, sizes, distances, morphological classifications, star formation rates, stellar masses, metallicities, and nuclear activity classifications. This wealth of information can enable a wide range of applications, such as (i) demographic studies of extragalactic sources, (ii) initial characterization of transient events, and (iii) searches for electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational-wave events. The catalogue is publicly available to the community at a dedicated portal, which will also host future extensions in terms of the covered volume and data products.
Thirdhand Smoke Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behavior: Development of Reliable and Valid Self-report Measures
Authors: Record Rachael A , Greiner Lydia H , Wipfli Heather , Pugel Jessica , Matt Georg E
Published: June 2021

Introduction

This study sought to provide essential tobacco control tools by testing the reliability and validity of new self-report scales developed to assess thirdhand smoke (THS) (ie, toxic tobacco residue) related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior (KAB).

Aims and Methods

Items for the KAB scales were adapted from established secondhand smoke (SHS) measures, reviewed to support face validity, and tested in a longitudinal online survey evaluating THS health messages. Participants were California adults at risk of THS exposure. For 7 months, the three KAB scales were completed monthly, and data from the first (n = 1086), third (n = 315), and seventh (n = 301) month surveys were used in these analyses.

Results

All three scales demonstrated consistent reliability and single-factor loading at all three timepoints for knowledge (αrange: .87–.90), attitude (αrange: .84–.87), and behavior (αrange: .80–.86). Similarly, analyses supported scale convergent validity (scale correlations rrange: .45–.85; all p values <.001), discriminant validity between smokers and nonsmokers (knowledge Cohen’s drange: .57–.61, all p values <.001; attitude Cohen’s drange: .78–.82, all p values <.001; behavior Cohen’s drange: .90–.99, all p values <.001), and predictive validity (range R2KAB: .41–.48; all p values <.001).

Conclusions

KAB scales about THS provide new opportunities for tobacco control advocates and scholars to identify gaps in knowledge, misperceptions, and obstacles to behavior change in order to guide the design of novel tobacco control policies and interventions.

Implications

Numerous scales have been vetted as reliable and valid measures for assessing SHS-related KABs. Currently, standard measures of THS KABs are not available. This study tested three THS scales to fill this gap. The present findings provide tobacco control advocates, scholars, and practitioners tools for assessing KABs related to THS. This information is critical to development, implementation, and evaluation of novel tobacco control strategies.
Treatment Dilemmas in Disseminated Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections With Interferon-gamma Autoantibodies
Authors: King Elizabeth M , Weaver Victoria K , Kestler Mary H
Published: June 2021

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (dMAC) is typically seen in individuals with impaired cell-mediated immunity and is best described in those with HIV. Recently, cases have been described in otherwise healthy individuals with neutralizing antibodies to interferon-gamma (nIFNγ-autoAb), especially in patients of Southeast Asian descent. Treatment is often refractory to mycobacterial therapies, and the use of rituximab and other immunomodulatory agents has been explored. We report 3 cases of dMAC with nIFN-γ-autoAb and review the available literature on treatment strategies to provide a framework for the management of patients with refractory infections in the context of neutralizing antibodies to interferon-gamma.
The ARP2/3 complex, acting cooperatively with Class I formins, modulates penetration resistance in Arabidopsis against powdery mildew invasion
Authors: Qin Li , Liu Lijiang , Tu Jiangying , Yang Guogen , Wang Sheng , Quilichini Teagen D. , Gao Peng , Wang Hong , Peng Gary , Blancaflor Elison B. , Datla Raju , Xiang Daoquan , Wilson Kenneth E. , Wei Yangdou
Published: June 2021

The actin cytoskeleton regulates an array of diverse cellular activities that support the establishment of plant–microbe interactions and plays a critical role in the execution of plant immunity. However, molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating the assembly and rearrangement of actin filaments (AFs) at plant–pathogen interaction sites remain largely elusive. Here, using live-cell imaging, we show that one of the earliest cellular responses in Arabidopsis thaliana upon powdery mildew attack is the formation of patch-like AF structures beneath fungal invasion sites. The AFs constituting actin patches undergo rapid turnover, which is regulated by the actin-related protein (ARP)2/3 complex and its activator, the WAVE/SCAR regulatory complex (W/SRC). The focal accumulation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate at fungal penetration sites appears to be a crucial upstream modulator of the W/SRC–ARP2/3 pathway-mediated actin patch formation. Knockout of W/SRC–ARP2/3 pathway subunits partially compromised penetration resistance with impaired endocytic recycling of the defense-associated t-SNARE protein PEN1 and its deposition into apoplastic papillae. Simultaneously knocking out ARP3 and knocking down the Class I formin (AtFH1) abolished actin patch formation, severely impaired the deposition of cell wall appositions, and promoted powdery mildew entry into host cells. Our results demonstrate that the ARP2/3 complex and formins, two actin-nucleating systems, act cooperatively and contribute to Arabidopsis penetration resistance to fungal invasion.
Curvature perturbations and anomaly explain dark energy
Authors: Kitazawa Yoshihisa
Published: June 2021

We investigate the history of dark energy to explain the present magnitude. We assume the dark energy is the residual cosmological constant. The most important channel in the reheating process is gluon pair production by the quantumchromodynamic trace anomaly. We argue that dark energy decays rapidly by gluon pair emissions during the reheating and after the big bang. The reheating temperature is determined by the decay width of dark energy, $\Gamma$, and the Planck mass, $M_\mathrm{p}$, as $\sqrt{M_\mathrm{P}\Gamma} \sim 10^6 \, GeV$. This is a consequence of Friedmann’s equation and the equilibrium condition $\Gamma\sim H$. As the Universe cools below the hadronic scale, the dark energy density is almost frozen. Nevertheless, the dark energy further decreases by emitting two photons. We have estimated the current decay rate of dark energy from the quantum electrodynamic trace anomaly. The consistent solution of the Friedmann equation is in excellent agreement with the observations. The suppression factor of the dark energy scale is the product of the fine structure constant, $\alpha$, and the curvature perturbation, $P$: $10^{-30}=(\alpha^2P/4\pi)^2$. We argue that the conformal symmetry breaking in both ultraviolet and infrared are necessary unless dark energy is subtracted. We also investigate leptogenesis by adding massive right-handed neutrinos: realistic leptogenesis takes place during the reheating process.
Prevalence of avascular necrosis in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a single-centre experience
Authors: Bourji Khalil I , Mecoli Christopher A , Paik Julie J , Albayda Jemima , Tiniakou Eleni , Kelly William , Lloyd Thomas E , Mammen Andrew , Ahlawat Shivani , Christopher-Stine Lisa
Published: June 2021

Objectives

To assess the prevalence of avascular necrosis (AVN) in a large cohort of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and define the major associated risk factors.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients with a definitive diagnosis of IIM enrolled in our registry between 2003 and 2017, and followed until 2020. Pertinent demographic, clinical, serologic and imaging data were collected. A matched group of patients without AVN was then selected for comparison.

Results

A total of 1680 patients were diagnosed with IIM. Fifty-one patients developed AVN, with an overall prevalence of 3%. Musculoskeletal MRI was available for 1085 patients and AVN was present in 46 patients (43 lower extremities and 3 upper extremities MRI studies), with a relative prevalence of 4.2%. Most patients with AVN were Caucasian females (57%) with a mean (s.d.) age at diagnosis of 44.5 (12.4) years. Sixty-one percent had DM and 29% had PM. The median time from onset of IIM to diagnosis of AVN was 46 months. The hip joint was most commonly involved in 76% of cases, followed by the knee joint in 15% and shoulder joint in 9%. Some 81% of patients were asymptomatic. Established risk factors for AVN were not found to be associated with the development of AVN in IIM patients.

Conclusion

Although mostly asymptomatic and incidental, the overall prevalence of AVN in IIM was 3% and the prevalence by MRI was 4.2%. None of the established risk factors was found to be associated with AVN development.
Expertise influences congruency monitoring during action observation at the motor level
Authors: Zhao Qiwei , Wang Yixuan , Chen Yifan , Wang Yingying , Zhou Chenglin , Lu Yingzhi
Published: June 2021

Congruency monitoring of action occurs in individuals with relevant motor experience while observing actions. However, it remains unclear whether congruency monitoring can occur at the motor level and the extent to which expertise contributes. Here, we examined the behavioral performance and electrophysiological brain activity of individuals with and without domain-specific expertise when judging the action congruency of occluded video clips of a snowboard halfpipe trick and normal walking. For the halfpipe trick, experts exhibited better task performance and greater midline theta oscillations before possible incongruency compared with controls. Source reconstruction for the theta oscillation revealed a stronger activation in the middle and superior frontal gyrus for experts in response to incongruency compared with controls. Incongruent halfpipe actions elicited a higher N400 amplitude in experts compared with congruent actions, while no such differences were observed in controls. Source reconstruction revealed the activation in the board frontal regions and middle temporal gyrus for experts. These findings suggest that congruency monitoring can occur at the motor level during action observations and is modulated by individual expertise. The modulation of expertise reflects in the special N400 effect and midline theta oscillation.
A feature-based network analysis and fMRI meta-analysis reveal three distinct types of prosocial decisions
Authors: Rhoads Shawn A , Cutler Jo , Marsh Abigail A
Published: June 2021

Tasks that measure correlates of prosocial decision-making share one common feature: agents can make choices that increase the welfare of a beneficiary. However, prosocial decisions vary widely as a function of other task features. The diverse ways that prosociality is defined and the heterogeneity of prosocial decisions have created challenges for interpreting findings across studies and identifying their neural correlates. To overcome these challenges, we aimed to organize the prosocial decision-making task space of neuroimaging studies. We conducted a systematic search for studies in which participants made decisions to increase the welfare of others during functional magnetic resonance imaging. We identified shared and distinct features of these tasks and employed an unsupervised graph-based approach to assess how various forms of prosocial decision-making are related in terms of their low-level components (e.g. task features like potential cost to the agent or potential for reciprocity). Analyses uncovered three clusters of prosocial decisions, which we labeled as cooperation, equity and altruism. This feature-based representation of the task structure was supported by results of a neuroimaging meta-analysis that each type of prosocial decisions recruited diverging neural systems. Results clarify some of the existing heterogeneity in how prosociality is conceptualized and generate insight for future research and task paradigm development.
Prevalence and Functional Consequences of Social Anxiety in Individuals at Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis: Perspective From a Community Sample Comparison
Authors: Kuhney Franchesca S , Damme Katherine S F , Pelletier-Baldelli Andrea , Chun Charlotte , Ellman Lauren M , Schiffman Jason , Mittal Vijay A
Published: June 2021

Background

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) commonly occurs among individuals at clinical high-risk (CHR) for psychosis. Extant research has yet to examine the prevalence and clinical/functional correlates of SAD in this population compared to a community control (CC) sample. This comparison may improve the generalizability that traditional nonpsychiatric control samples cannot provide. Additionally, it remains unknown how SAD contributes to symptom severity and social impairments in individuals at CHR for psychosis.

Methods

Both CHR and CC groups were recruited from general community sources; CC participants were not excluded in this analysis on the basis of any psychopathology except psychosis. A total of 245 adolescents and young adults (CHR = 81; CC = 164) were administered the Social Phobia Scale, the Structured Interview for Psychosis-risk Syndromes, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Research Version, and the Social Functioning Scale.

Results

The CHR group was at increased risk for having SAD relative to CC (42% CHR; 13% CC; RR = 3.28) and, to a lesser degree, a non-SAD anxiety disorder (41% CHR; 29% CC; RR = 1.42). Greater social anxiety was related to higher levels of negative (r = 0.29) but not positive (r = 0.05) symptoms within the CHR group. Furthermore, elevated social anxiety was found to be linked with poor social functioning in the CHR group (r = −0.31).

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate the specificity of SAD over and above other anxiety disorders in individuals at CHR for psychosis and the critical target of SAD to treat subclinical psychotic symptoms and social functioning.
Associations of COVID-19 online information sources and information overload with psychological distress symptoms: a population-based study
Authors: Guo Ningyuan , Zhao Sheng Zhi , Weng Xue , Wu Yongda , Luk Tzu Tsun , Wong Janet Yuen Ha , Lam Tai Hing , Wang Man Ping
Published: June 2021

Using information communication technologies as information sources of COVID-19 was associated with psychological problems, but mechanisms remain uncertain. We examined associations of COVID-19 information sources and information overload with psychological distress symptoms and explored the mediating effect of information overload in Hong Kong. A random sample of Chinese adults (N = 1501; 52.6% females; 55.0% aged 30–59) from dual landline and online surveys in April 2020 reported frequency of using traditional media, internet websites, social networking sites, instant messaging, and online discussion forums as COVID-19 information sources. Psychological distress symptoms were measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire 4-item ([PHQ-4]; 0–12). Information overload defined as a perception of being overwhelmed was measured (1–6). Linear regressions were performed to analyze the associations, and the mediating effect of information overload was examined. Greater PHQ-4 score was observed for frequent use of internet websites (adjusted b = 0.58, 95% CI 0.29, 0.87, adjusted β = 0.12) and online discussion forums (adjusted b = 0.39, 95% CI 0.08, 0.70, adjusted β = 0.08) and information overload (adjusted b = 0.54, 95% CI 0.44, 0.63, adjusted β = 0.28). Information overload mediated 44.9% and 36.9% of associations of frequent use of internet websites and online discussion forums with PHQ-4 score, respectively. Frequent use of social networking sites was associated with lower PHQ-4 score (adjusted b = −0.37, 95% CI −0.69, −0.04, adjusted β = −0.07) partially through lower information overload (37.5%). Psychological distress symptoms were associated with frequent use of internet websites and online discussion forums as COVID-19 information sources, which were mediated through information overload.
A mutation of EYA1 gene in a Chinese Han family with Branchio-Oto syndrome
Authors: Han Rui , Xia Yan , Liu Zhijuan , Wu Shuang , Ye Erdengqieqieke , Duan Ling , Ding Jianbing , La Xiaolin
Published: June 2021

Branchio-Oto (BO) syndrome is one of the common syndromic forms of hearing loss. In this study, we aimed to characterize the clinical and genetic features of BO syndrome in a Chinese deaf family.

The proposita in this study was a 29-years-old Chinese female with hearing loss, microtia, anterior concave auricle, and right branchial fistula. The family members agreed to undergo clinical examination. We collected blood samples from 7 family members, including 4 affected by the syndrome. Genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to Sanger sequencing. In addition, bioinformatics software SWISS MODEL was used to predict the protein encoded by EYA transcriptional coactivator and phosphatase 1 (EYA1) gene.

Intra-familial consistency can be observed in the clinical phenotypes of BO syndrome in this family. EYA1 c.1627C>T (p.Gln543Ter) mutation was identified as the pathogenic cause in this family.

This study reports a mutation associated with BO syndrome in a Chinese Han family. We highlight the utility of genetic testing in the diagnosis of BO syndrome. Thus, we believe that this report would provide a basis for the diagnosis of similar diseases in the future.
Evaluation of the curative effects of Bailing capsules for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Zhang Long , Zhao Yumiao , Jia Junli , Huang Lisha , Chu Weili , Xu Qinfu , Sheng Yanbing , Xu Aiguo
Published: June 2021

Background:

The goal of the present study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Bailing capsules, which is a traditional Chinese drug that can improve lung functionality when used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.

Methods:

A comprehensive search will be performed on the following primary electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and WanFang database. A search of secondary sources includes reference lists of included studies. Two pairs of review authors will screen and scrutinize selected articles. This study will analyze continuous data as mean differences and dichotomous data as odds ratios, both with 95% confidence intervals. A sensitivity analysis will also be conducted to evaluate the stableness of the outcomes. RevMan 5.3 software was adopted to accomplish all the statistical analysis.

Results:

The results obtained in this research shall be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Conclusion:

Based on the interpretations of the results, useful conclusions will be presented. These conclusions will offer additional insights with useful evidence to assess whether it is viable to use Bailing capsules as an effective and safety treatment option for COPD.

Ethics and dissemination:

The present work does not involve any humans or animals; therefore, ethical approval is not needed.

Systematic review registration:

March 26, 2021.osf.io/kvgbu. (https://osf.io/kvgbu/)
Granulomatous mastitis in multiparae during pregnancy and lactation
Authors: Ding Song-tao , Gao Ya-jun , Qin Chun-xin , Liu Hong-yan , Zhang Hong-wei , Li Yan , Zhang Yi
Published: June 2021

The incidence of granulomatous mastitis (GLM) in multiparae as seriously affected the quality of life and breastfeeding of pregnant women after delivery, but the treatment is rarely reported.
In this article, the development, healing, and lactation of 13 cases were reported and a retrospective analysis was performed. 10 cases of GLM were treated at the Breast Disease Prevention and Treatment Center of Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Beijing and 3 cases of GLM were treated in the Breast Department of Weihai Municipal Hospital of Shandong province from February 2017 to May 2019.

Among the 13 patients, conservative symptomatic treatment was adopted during pregnancy and lactation: anti-infective therapy consisting of oral cephalosporin antibiotic for patients; ultrasound-guided puncture and drainage of pus or incision and drainage after abscess formation. Observation continued during the sinus tract phase. Postpartum breastfeeding was encouraged, especially on the affected side. In this study, the median healing time was 20 months and the average healing time was 30.4 months in 5 healthy breast lactation cases. In 8 cases of bilateral breast lactation, the median healing time was 30 months and the average healing time was 26.5 months. Linear regression test analysis: whether the affected breast was breast-fed after delivery had no effect on the postpartum wound healing time, P = .792. The wounds of 13 patients healed well after lactation, and none of them recurred since the last follow-up visit. There were no adverse events in all infants.

Conservative symptomatic treatment for GLM of multiparous women during pregnancy and lactation and encouraging breastfeeding after delivery have no effect on infant health and the recovery time of patients.
Predictors of surgical intervention and visual outcome in bacterial orbital cellulitis
Authors: Aryasit Orapan , Aunruan Supachaya , Sanghan Nuttha
Published: June 2021

This study aims to identify predictive factors associated with surgical intervention and the visual outcome of orbital cellulitis and to evaluate the treatment outcomes.

A retrospective study involving 66 patients (68 eyes; 64 unilateral and 2 bilateral) diagnosed with bacterial orbital cellulitis was conducted between November 2005 and May 2019.

The mean (± standard deviation) age was 42.1 (± 25.8) years (range: 15 days–86 years). Sinusitis was the most frequent predisposing factor, occurring in 25 patients (37.9%), followed by skin infection in 10 patients (15.2%), and acute dacryocystitis in 9 patients (13.6%). Subperiosteal abscesses were found in 24 eyes and orbital abscesses in 19 eyes. Surgical drainage was performed in 31 eyes. Regarding the abscess volume for surgical drainage, a cut-off of 1514 mm3 showed 71% sensitivity and 80% specificity. There was significant improvement in visual acuity (VA) and decrease in proptosis after treatment (for both, P ≤ .001). Only pre-treatment VA ≤20/200 was a significant predictor for post-treatment VA of 20/50 or worse (adjusted odds ratio: 12.0, P = .003). The presence of a relative afferent pupillary defect was the main predictor of post-treatment VA of 20/200 or worse (adjusted odds ratio: 19.0, P = .003).

The most common predisposing factor for orbital cellulitis in this study was sinusitis. VA and proptosis significantly improved after treatment. We found that the abscess volume was strongly predictive of surgical intervention. Pre-treatment poor VA and the presence of relative afferent pupillary defect can predict the worst visual outcome. Hence, early detection of optic nerve dysfunction and prompt treatment could improve the visual prognosis.
Safety and efficacy of S1 monotherapy or combined with nab-paclitaxel in advanced elderly pancreatic cancer patients
Authors: Chen Yunlong , Gu Jiangning , Yin Menghong , Wang Chenqi , Chen Dan , Yang Lili , Chen Xiang , Lin Zhikun , Du Jian , Cui Shimeng , Ma Chi , Luo Haifeng
Published: June 2021

Objective:

To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of S1 monotherapy or combination with nab-paclitaxel for the treatment of elderly patients with metastatic or locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Method:

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Library, China Biology Medicine, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were searched without time limits according to the inclusion criteria. RevMan (Version 5.3) software was used for data extraction and meta-analysis. Objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were used to evaluate therapeutic effects while side effects including leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, neurotoxicity, vomit, and alopecia were extracted for evaluation. There was no need for ethical review in this study because no ethical experiments were conducted and all data used were public data. All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.

Results:

Four retrospective studies comprising 308 elderly patients with metastatic or locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma were included in the analysis. One hundred fifty-one patients underwent S1 monotherapy and 157 received S1 combined nab-paclitaxel. Meta-analysis indicated that compared with S1 monotherapy, S1 combined with nab-paclitaxel had higher ORR (OR 2.25, 95% CI: 1.42–3.55; P = .0005) and DCR (OR 2.94, 95% CI: 1.55–5.58; P = .0009). The adverse reaction of leukopenia was higher in the combined therapy group (OR 1.85, 95% CI: 1.09–3.13, P = .02), but no significant difference was found in thrombocytopenia, neurotoxicity, vomiting, and alopecia between the 2 groups (P > .05).

Conclusion:

Nab-paclitaxel plus S1 was more efficient in terms of ORR and DCR than S1 monotherapy in elderly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients while the side effect was controllable with a higher probability of leukopenia. Thus, combined nab-paclitaxel and S1 could be safely used in elderly patients.
Self-administered acupressure for chronic severe functional constipation
Authors: Hu Weifeng , Ying Xiaoming , Sun Jialei , Fan Binghua , Guo Rubao
Published: June 2021

Background:

Functional constipation is a disease with a high incidence, which has a bad effect on general health, mental health, and social functioning. However, current treatment is sometimes unsatisfactory. Acupuncture has been proven effective in some randomized controlled trials. Acupressure is a subtype of acupuncture and can be manipulated by the patients at home. But the evidence is limited now. This study aims to provide some strict evidence for the use of self-administered acupressure in the treatment of functional constipation.

Methods:

This 2-armed, parallel, nonspecific controlled, randomized trial will be conducted at The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University in Hangzhou. A total of 154 FC patients will be enrolled into the acupoint group and the sham acupoint group with a ratio of 1:1 into this trial and it will consist of a 2-week run-in period, an 8-week intervention period, and an 8-week follow-up period. The treatment will be done by the patients themselves at home twice a day and they should sign in on the WeChat APP every day to make sure they have done the acupressure. The outcome will also be collected in WeChat APP through the diary and questionnaires. For the one who is unable to use the WeChat, the print edition of the diary and questionnaires are provided and the supervision will be done by the short message. The primary outcome will be the proportion of participants whose CSBM≥3 during week 3 to 10. The secondary outcome will be the proportion of participants whose CSBM ≥3 between 2 groups in week 11 to 18, Spontaneous bowel movements, Bristol Stool Form Scale, Straining severity scores, Patient assessment of constipation quality of life, and Medicine use.

Discussion:

Acupressure is not an invasive method and can be done by the patient itself at home. We hope this trial will provide credible evidence to the application of self-acupressure for the management of severe chronic functional constipation.

Trial registration:

This trial has been registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000038594).
Cortical somatosensory processing after botulinum toxin therapy in post-stroke spasticity
Authors: Veverka Tomáš , Hluštík Petr , Otruba Pavel , Hok Pavel , Opavský Robert , Zapletalová Jana , Kaňovský Petr
Published: June 2021

In dystonic and spastic movement disorders, abnormalities of motor control and somatosensory processing as well as cortical modulations associated with clinical improvement after botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) treatment have been reported, but electrophysiological evidence remains controversial. In the present observational study, we aimed to uncover central correlates of post-stroke spasticity (PSS) and BoNT-A-related changes in the sensorimotor cortex by investigating the cortical components of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). Thirty-one chronic stroke patients with PSS of the upper limb were treated with BoNT-A application into the affected muscles and physiotherapy. Clinical and electrophysiological evaluations were performed just before BoNT-A application (W0), then 4 weeks (W4) and 11 weeks (W11) later. PSS was evaluated with the modified Ashworth scale (MAS). Median nerve SEPs were examined in both upper limbs with subsequent statistical analysis of the peak-to-peak amplitudes of precentral P22/N30 and postcentral N20/P23 components. At baseline (W0), postcentral SEPs were significantly lower over the affected cortex. At follow up, cortical SEPs did not show any significant changes attributable to BoNT-A and/or physiotherapy, despite clear clinical improvement. Our results imply that conventional SEPs are of limited value in evaluating cortical changes after BoNT-A treatment and further studies are needed to elucidate its central actions.
The clinical effects of sodium hyaluronate, polyethylene glycol, and dextran-70 eye drops in relieving dry eye after phacoemulsification
Authors: Duan Zhi-Hui , Tang Yi-Fei
Published: June 2021

To compare the clinical efficacy of sodium hyaluronate eye drops, polyethylene glycol eye drops, and compound dextran eye drops in the treatment of dry eye after phacoemulsification of cataract.

A total of 99 patients with dry eye after cataract phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation were treated in our hospital. Patients were divided into group A (sodium hyaluronate eye drops), group B (polyethylene glycol eye drops), and group C (dextran-70 eye drops). The clinical effect, tear film breakup time, basic tear secretion, corneal staining score, dry eye symptom score, and the incidence of ocular irritation were assessed.

On the 3rd, 15th, 30th, and 60th day after operation, the tear film breakup time, corneal staining score, Schirmer I test, and dry eye symptom score in group A and group B were better than those in group C (P < .05). In addition, there were no significant differences in tear breakdown time, corneal staining score, Schirmer I test, and dry eye symptom score between group A and group B (P > .05). At 3 days to 60 days after operation, the incidence of dry eye in group A (12.12%) and group B (18.18%) was lower than that in group C (39.39%), and the incidence of dry eye in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P < .05).

The effect of sodium hyaluronate eye drops elicited a greater beneficial impact as compared to polyethylene glycol eye drops and dextran-70 eye drops.