bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A guide to post-mortem examination procedure in mouse models
Authors: Rodrigues Alexandra , Beresford Lynn , Scudamore Cheryl L , Yon Marianne
Published: April 2022

The main objective of a post mortem is to identify, at a macroscopic level, any anatomical features that characterise mutant or sick mice and to describe lesions contributing to morbidity and mortality. Tissues collected for subsequent examination require appropriate handling and preservation to prevent deterioration. Therefore, efficient routine procedures are essential to facilitate histology and to ensure high-quality samples. In addition, optimised techniques minimise data loss from damaged samples reducing the numbers of animals used and supporting the 3Rs principle of reduction. Here, we describe an optimised method for tissue collection in the mouse. Training tips and points for caution are included.
Male mentor midwives for Black female religious leadership
Authors: Tribble Jeffery L.
Published: April 2022

An African proverb says, “I am because we are.” This proverb reflects the importance of individual and communal relationships that help to form and shape us. The Black Lives Matter guiding principle of the “Black Village” also emphasizes the importance of the collective village that takes care of each other. This article reflects on the praxis of being mentored by caring mentors and being a caring teaching mentor to others. I write as a male who has served as a guide, gatekeeper, companion, and midwife for Black women in spaces where male leadership is the assumed norm. I seek to challenge, inspire, and inform other men and women who are still tethered to hegemonic patriarchal notions of masculinity that fracture the potential of women who are on their journeys of “becoming” all the Creator intends. I intentionally select the image of a male mentor as “midwife,” a feminine image associated with the birthing process, to disrupt toxic masculinity as a strategy for gaining or maintaining cultural and political power. My thesis is that males who are actively deconstructing the sexist temptation to objectify and marginalize women and who engender trust can serve in the Black Village of caring and collaborative relationships, exercising the magic of midwifery to assist female religious leaders on their journeys of realizing their sacred potential. To risk being guide, gatekeeper, midwife, and companion on the journey with others is a holy transformative privilege and responsibility.
Spiritual democracy: The politics of patriarchy versus embodied spirituality as a sacred leadership praxis
Authors: Lazenby Keyona Saquile
Published: April 2022

Patriarchy is a common denominator interwoven into Christianity’s and Ifá Isese’s culture, tenets, rituals, and infrastructure. It is a force that negates women’s spiritual power and anointing. Within the Christian and Ifá traditions, women’s spiritual power and presence have been largely suppressed, discarded, and ignored. Although these women are the spiritual backbone of their respective communities, they have been regulated to “leadership” positions that do not hold any authoritative power. This article offers a liberative model based on embodied spirituality for African and African Diasporic Women. The politics of patriarchy have stifled their spiritual and religious expressions and limited their leadership possibilities in their respective Christian and Ifá Isese (West African Indigenous Spiritual Tradition) communities. I propose the liberative model I term “spiritual democracy” to inspire these women to live their voice, power, authority, and presence.
Leading change through sacred ecopraxis: Cultivating ecological belonging as a holy task
Authors: Sherma Rita D.
Published: April 2022

The task of creating a sense of belonging among newer communities of color involves the fostering of a spirituality of terrain. Cultivating belonging through ecopraxis requires creating a sense of communion, not only with the land, but with those who have experienced it before us, particularly Native peoples and Black Americans. The dominant culture of environmentalism does not always recognize their place in the human ecology of the land. Leading change through ecopraxis is a matter of forging one story out of many narratives, of remembering the gifts of ecospirituality brought by minority religions and cultures; it is to weave a new American tapestry. And, it is to ask the question: “If we acted from the truth of interrelationality, what would our shared vision look like?” This article presents the argument that human civilization’s malrelationship with the other-than-human world echoes through people’s broken relations with each other. It suggests the need to lead change through an integrative ecospirituality of terrain that weaves a new ecovision with forgotten and unacknowledged strands of the American experience.
Faithful female financiers: A womanist way of leading change through financial means
Authors: Jackson Debora
Published: April 2022

This article examines the narratives of faithful female financiers of the Bible—the Shunammite woman, Joanna, and Lydia—to commend womanist leadership practices as a framework for leading change. Their example is demonstrative of the womanist leader who leverages faith as a grounding means and engages her lived experience as one who is marginalized and oppressed to expand her contextual perspective. Such experiences help gird her with strategies to subvert efforts to marginalize her voice and suppress her impact. So girded, the womanist leader is empowered to direct her change efforts as sacred praxis for the betterment of others. This example is recognized in these Biblical exemplars. These women additionally leveraged the power of wealth which further solidified the permanence of their praxis.
Implicated by scale: Anthropochemicals and the experience of ecology
Authors: Papadopoulos Dimitris
Published: April 2022

If our worlds are unimaginable, or, ironically, perhaps even unsustainable without anthropogenic chemicals, what does it mean to live and navigate the toxic regime, this historical moment where human-made substances are so entangled with ecologies and societies that a clean up and an ‘after’ to our polluted worlds is almost unthinkable? Anthropogenic chemicals are produced and used at such scale that humans need a tremendous scale of alternative chemicals to replace them. Scale, the organising principle of growth, is the source of ecological degradation and, simultaneously, is a necessary component of many remediation attempts. As life is becoming more and more chemical, chemical practice is gradually becoming conscious of its flagrant disregard of its own ecological boundaries. The attempt to restore a holistic experience of ecology shapes many current attempts to develop alternative chemical practices. When chemical practice becomes obliged by ecology to respond to the environmental crisis, the search for a different approach to scale emerges. With obligation comes the quest for reparation, both as repair and as compensation for the social and ecological damage done.
Presence, Face, and Light: The Liturgical Assembly as an Icon
Authors: Sauvé Julien
Published: April 2022

Architect Jean-Marie Duthilleul can be reproached with leaving out images in his layout of liturgical spaces. However he may only be tackling the issue in a different way. Indeed the way he fits the assembly in the liturgical space can remind us of the way icons are painted. In this study I will try to see if this hypothesis has any grounding by first recalling the norms concerning liturgical space and images, then by scrutinizing Duthilleul's approach to liturgical space and then by comparing it with that of an iconographer from three specific points of view : presence, face and light.
Which Gap? – What Bridge?
Authors: Okros Alan , Jensen Rebecca
Published: April 2022

The discourse around the bridging the gap debate is seen to a unique sub-set of the social sciences in the United States as applied to a unique American approach to security. This article looks beyond US National Security and the practices of the discipline of political science at US universities to address, and expand on, some specific ideas in Michael Desch’s volume The Cult of the Irrelevant. We offer that an integrative assessment of how scholarly work can best inform security policies and practices requires more critical examination in four domains: consideration of how different disciplines frame key issues and speak to each other; understanding the dynamics of the policy marketplace; assessments to alternate ways to frame security and national security; and requirements to critical challenge the privilege academics have awarded themselves as the purveyors (and gatekeepers) of ‘knowledge’ and the ‘truth’.
Olfactory Function and Depression: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kim Boo-Young , Bae Jung Ho
Published: April 2022

Objectives

We investigated the relationship between olfactory function and depression and suggested future research in this area from rhinology.

Methods

We independently searched 5 databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane database) for recent studies published from December 2019 to the present. From the obtained studies, we reviewed the findings on olfactory function and depression using a questionnaire to measure depression and olfactory tests.

Results

The olfactory function test score based on the UPSIT-40 (standardized mean difference = −.37 [−.66; −.08], P = .0123) was significantly lower in the depression group than in the control group. The olfactory function score based on the Sniffin’ sticks test for identification, discrimination, and threshold was lower in the depression group than in the control. A meta-analysis of the studies showed that depressed patients showed lower olfactory function than the control group.

Conclusions and Significance

The findings revealed that an understanding of the relationship between olfaction and depression can be determined using an analysis methodology and a standardized olfactory test. Olfactory functioning and processing are highly integrated with emotion and memory through projections from the olfactory bulb to the central areas.
Laryngeal Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma: A rare adult neoplasm
Authors: Hafiz Yusuf Farah , Shaikh Irfan , Hussain Muntazir , Arif Aabiya , Rahim Danish , Hafeez Siddiqui Atif , Farrukh Shuja , Saleem Tebha Sameer , Huma Zil e
Published: April 2022

The embryonal subtype of rhabdomyosarcoma is the most frequent, commonly seen in children. However, it is uncommon to discover this subtype in adults, especially in the larynx. We presented a rare case of a 63 years old man who presented with worsening hoarseness, dysphagia for solids, and dyspnea and was later diagnosed with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the larynx.
Vibration of Tympanic Membrane Influenced by Middle Ear Fluid
Authors: Wang Lijian , Wang Jie , Zhang Lifang , Li Xia
Published: April 2022

Hypothesis

The amount and viscosity of middle ear fluid probably influences the vibration function of the tympanic membrane (TM).

Background

There has been much research into the mechanisms of hearing loss resulting from middle ear fluid in the previous study. However, further study is required to understand how the middle ear fluid affects the vibration function of the TM.

Methods

Tests on a TM in a fresh cadaveric human temporal bone specimen under different simulated conditions were carried out. Saline (1 cSt) and silicone oil (100 cSt, 1 000 cSt, 12 500 cSt) were used to simulate middle ear fluid. The fluid approximately contacted 50% or 100% of TM, which was proportional to the fluid amount. Induced by stimulus signal with frequency domain from 0.25 to 8 kHz, the vibration at 6 points of the TM was measured by laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV), respectively. Data acquisition and processing were accomplished by self-developed software.

Results

With the increase of the fluid amount, the magnitude of velocity transfer function reduced across all frequencies. The effect of fluid viscosity on the TM vibration varied and reduced in a complicated way when the fluid viscosity changed.

Conclusion

Increasing fluid amount will significantly reduce the TM movement. The effect of fluid viscosity on the TM vibration was nonlinear and related to the fluid amount. The vibration at each point on the TM is frequency-dependent.
Youth and social media: the affordances and challenges of online graffiti practice
Authors: Baird Ron
Published: April 2022

The impact of social media use on youth subcultures, such as graffiti writers, has been rapid and dramatic, bringing with it a number of significant transformations that present both opportunities and challenges. This paper explores the impact of the Internet and social media on a community of graffiti practitioners. I argue that the rise and uptake of online social networking platforms such as Instagram and You Tube have offered a range of affordances to the practice of graffiti writing. These affordances include: greater accessibility to graffiti culture; learning opportunities; and opportunities for wider distribution and curation of graffiti pieces. Simultaneously, social media challenges the significance of ‘community’, that is, the physical social interaction afforded by participation in real world graffiti crews. The findings suggest that while there are tangible benefits from the use of the Internet and uptake of social media by the graffiti writing community, it is the physical communal bonds experienced within a graffiti crew that are vital to the wellbeing and continuity of the culture. This paper contributes to our understanding of how social media affects youth more broadly and specifically how social media platforms are transforming the experience of youth subcultural practice.
Visibilising the climate in social policies in Barcelona: Connections in the urban context
Authors: Díaz-Pont Joana
Published: April 2022

The paper aims to identify whether the interdependencies between climate action and social policies in the urban context are visible and, if so, in what areas and through what framings. Using a content analysis approach, it compares framings of the news on social policies in Barcelona over the course of a year. The results show that climate action is constructed discursively as an isolated issue, with its own logics and complexities, and with few references to other social policy areas. It also reveals that references to climate change in other social policy areas do not operate as framings. The paper claims that discursive strategies that separate climate change policy from other social policy areas can invisibilise the connections that operate between these policies, links that are key for pursuing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the urban context.
Efficacy of medicinal cannabis for appetite-related symptoms in people with cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Razmovski-Naumovski Valentina , Luckett Tim , Amgarth-Duff Ingrid , Agar Meera R
Published: April 2022

Background:

Anorexia (loss of appetite) is a prevalent and distressing symptom in people with cancer, with limited effective interventions. Medicinal cannabis has shown promise in improving appetite-related symptoms in people with cancer.

Aim:

To assess the efficacy of medicinal cannabis for improving appetite-related symptoms in people with cancer, considering measures and outcomes, interventions and toxicity.

Design:

Systematic review with narrative approach to synthesis and meta-analysis.

Data sources:

Databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, CENTRAL), websites and trials registries were searched from inception to February 2021. Included studies were randomised controlled trials (RCT) in English peer-reviewed journals comparing medicinal cannabis with placebo and/or another intervention. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results:

Five studies were included that compared medicinal cannabis interventions (dronabinol, nabilone and cannabis extract) either with placebo ( n = 4) or megestrol acetate ( n = 1). Measures and trial endpoints varied, but efficacy was demonstrated in one trial only, in which dronabinol significantly improved chemosensory perception and other secondary outcomes (taste of food, premeal appetite, proportion of calories consumed as protein) compared with placebo. Cannabis interventions were generally well tolerated across studies, regardless of the product or dose, although the comprehensive measurement of toxicities was limited.

Conclusion:

Evidence from RCTs that medicinal cannabis increases appetite in people with cancer is limited. Measures, outcomes and interventions were variable, and toxicities have not been comprehensively evaluated. Future research should carefully consider biological mechanisms to guide more nuanced selection of endpoints and interventions, including product, dose and administration.
Views and experiences of young people, their parents/carers and healthcare professionals of the advance care planning process: A summary of the findings from a qualitative study
Authors: Hughes Ben , O’Brien Mary , Flynn Anita , Knighting Katherine
Published: April 2022

Background:

Advance care planning for young people is relatively new in the UK. There is a lack of understanding about the engagement of young people in their own planning process, optimal timing of discussions and the facilitators and barriers to the engagement of young people.

Aim:

To explore the views and experiences of young people, their parents/carers and HCPs of the advance care planning process.

Design:

A qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews with young people, their parents/carers and healthcare professionals across four case series. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Participants:

Fifteen participants were interviewed: young people ( n = 2), parents/carers ( n = 5) and healthcare professionals ( n = 8).

Results:

Three themes were identified from the findings. Key findings related to barriers and facilitators of engaging young people in their own care planning were apparent in the following areas: misperception of terms; hierarchies of power in relationships; and a flexible and innovative organisational structure and culture.

Conclusion:

Participants expressed a variety of views and experiences of advance care planning. Advance care planning was thought to be best initiated by a consultant when the young person is in their mid-teens, their condition is stable, and before they transition to adult care. Engagement was also considered to be facilitated by appropriate communication, developing relationships prior to initiating advance care planning, and written support for everyone involved in the process. These factors were supported by training and education for healthcare professionals and a flexible and innovative structure and cultures of organisations.
Role of radium-223 discontinuation due to adverse events in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. A retrospective monocentric analysis
Authors: Turco Fabio , Tucci Marcello , Angusti Tiziana , Parente Antonella , Di Stefano Rosario Francesco , Urban Susanna , Pisano Chiara , Samuelly Alessandro , Audisio Alessandro , Audisio Marco , Parlagreco Elena , Ungaro Antonio , Scagliotti Giorgio Vittorio , Di Maio Massimo , Buttigliero Consuelo
Published: April 2022

Background:

Radium 223 (Ra-223) was approved for the treatment of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients with bone-only disease, following demonstration of significant improvement in overall survival (OS). To date, there are no validated prognostic factors useful in predicting outcome of mCRPC patients treated with Ra-223. Our retrospective study aims to evaluate the prognostic role of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events in mCRPC patients treated with Ra-223, and to identify which factors correlate with the toxicity onset.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective analysis of all consecutive mCRPC patients treated with Ra-223 from September 2013 to December 2019 at our institute. Patients were divided in 2 groups according to the reason of Ra-223 therapy discontinuation: toxicity versus other causes. Outcome measures were progression-free survival (PFS) and OS.

Results:

In the overall population (75 patients) median PFS and OS were 5.46 months and 11.15 months respectively. Patients who discontinued treatment due to toxicity had a lower median PFS (3.49 vs 5.89 months, HR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.14-3.12, p = 0.014) and OS (8.59 vs 14.7 months HR: 3.33, 95% CI: 1.85-6.01, p < 0.001) than patients who discontinued therapy due to other causes. The risk of Ra-223 discontinuation due to toxicity correlates with the number of previous treatments ( p = 0.002), previous chemotherapy treatment ( p = 0.039), baseline LDH ( p = 0.012), Hb ( p = 0.021) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio ( p = 0.024).

Conclusions:

Discontinuation due to toxicity is associated with worse outcomes in mCRPC patients treated with Ra-223. To reduce the risk of developing toxicities that may compromise treatment efficacy, Ra-223 should be used early in mCRPC patients.
A molecular reappraisal of matrix-producing breast metaplastic carcinoma highlighted by PLAG1 and MYC rearrangements
Authors: Salvatori Rebecca , Manzoni Marco , Lepanto Daniela , Stufano Viviana , Pessina Simona , Zanetti Chiara , Bassi Fabio , Mazzarol Giovanni , Montagna Emilia , Maffini Fausto
Published: April 2022

Background:

Very little is currently known about molecular alteration of matrix-producing carcinoma of the breast. However, the morphological similarity with other neoplasm with a myxo-chondroid component is remarkable. In this pilot study we evaluated the molecular alterations involving PLAG1 and MYC genes in 12 cases of matrix producing carcinoma.

Methods:

We evaluated PLAG1 rearrangements as Break-Apart and Gene Copy Gain, and MYC as amplification and polysomy in 12 cases of matrix producing carcinoma using a FISH method.

Results:

Among the 12 cases of matrix producing carcinomas we found that the three cases harboring MYC amplification were all negative for PLAG1 break-apart; four cases with MYC polysomy were associated to PLAG1 break-apart and high Gene Copy Number; among four cases wild type for MYC, three showed a PLAG1- break-apart signal and of them two died with disease. One of the deceased patients showed an amplification of MYC with PLAG1- wild-type and the other showed a PLAG1 break-apart (6%) and a MYC wild-type.

Conclusion:

This is the first report to the best of our knowledge that shows a possible correlation between a matrix producing carcinoma with PLAG1 and MYC involvement in the development and progression of this kind of tumor. We can suppose that MYC amplification behaves in an aggressive way together with PLAG1- break-apart in the cases of matrix producing carcinoma presented here. The gene copy gain is a useful diagnostic tool in the case of difficult diagnosis because an increase was observed in more than 50% of cases.
The effect of peripheral regional analgesia in thoracic surgery: a systematic review and a meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials
Authors: Balzani Eleonora , Rosboch Giulio Luca , Ceraolo Edoardo , Lyberis Paraskevas , Filippini Claudia , Piccioni Federico , Guerrera Francesco , Ruffini Enrico , Pedoto Alessia , Brazzi Luca
Published: April 2022

Background:

Several peripheral regional anaesthesia (RA) techniques are commonly used in thoracic surgery even in the absence of precise indications regarding their effectiveness on postoperative pain management.

Objective:

This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to describe and evaluate the relative effectiveness of different peripheral regional blocks and systemic analgesia in the context of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or thoracotomy.

Design:

Systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) with meta-analyses.

Data sources:

We searched PubMed and Embase for all RCTs comparing the 24 hour morphine equivalents (MMEs) consumption following peripheral regional blocks and systemic analgesia (SA).

Eligibility criteria:

We selected only RCTs including adult participants undergoing thoracic surgery, including esophagectomy and reporting on postoperative pain outcomes including 24 hour MMEs consumption.

Results:

Among the 28 randomized studies including adult participants undergoing thoracic surgery and reporting on 24 hour opioid consumption, 11 reporting a comparison of individual blocks with systemic analgesia were meta-analyzed. RA was effective for almost all peripheral blocks. Regarding intercostal block, its antalgic effect was not well evaluated SMD -1.57 (CI -3.88, 0.73). RA in VATS was more effective in reducing MMEs than thoracotomy SMD -1.10 (CI -1.78, -0.41).

Conclusions:

RA is a useful choice in thoracic surgery. However, it is still not possible to determine the most appropriate block in the individual surgical settings to be performed due to RCTs paucity.
Optimisation of straight plate upstream deflector for the performance enhancement of vertical axis wind turbine at low, medium and high regimes of tip speed ratios
Authors: Syawitri Taurista P. , Yao Yufeng , Yao Jun , Chandra Budi
Published: April 2022

Location and geometry optimisations of Straight Plate Upstream Deflector (SPUD) for performance enhancement of a three-straightbladed Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) are carried out at three regimes of tip speed ratios (TSRs). Results analysis reveals that SPUD location has significant effect on the power coefficient ( Cp) increment of VAWT. Placing two SPUDs both upward and downward in upstream of VAWT can achieve the highest Cp improvement at all regimes of TSRs. Overall, placing SPUD in upstream of VAWT can improve the Cp value at all regimes of TSRs, but the percentage of improvement can vary. The largest Cp improvement of 126.7% is achieved at low regime of TSRs, while at the medium and high regimes of TSRs, Cp improvements decrease to 52.7% and 52.5%, respectively. Increasing the width of SPUD can increase the average VAWT Cp improvement by 2.83% at all regimes of TSRs.
Barriers to Management of Moderate Acute Malnutrition Among Children Aged 6 to 59 Months in Damot Pulassa, Wolaita, South Ethiopia: A Phenomenological Study of Mothers and Health Service Providers
Authors: Nane Debritu , Hatløy Anne , Lindtjørn Bernt
Published: April 2022

Background:

Management of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in children needs to improve to reduce the transition from MAM to severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

Objective:

This study aimed to assess barriers to management of MAM among children aged 6 to 59 months in Damot Pulassa, Wolaita, South Ethiopia.

Method:

This descriptive phenomenological design used 6 focus group discussions with mothers or caregivers of children aged 6 to 59 months and 10 in-depth interviews with health service providers. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method.

Result:

Six themes were identified: Possible reasons for MAM; identification of a child with MAM; management services of MAM; maternal-level barriers; service provider-level barriers; and suggestions to improve the service. Shortage of food and money, selling out of self-produced food without having sufficient reserves at home, large household size, shame from having children with malnutrition, occasional house-to-house screening for MAM, family-initiated screening, leaving the management responsibility of children with MAM to the family, no provision of supplementary food, and lack of repeated follow-up visits were the main obstacles for managing MAM.

Conclusion:

Maternal-level barriers and service provider-level barriers affect the management of MAM negatively in Damot Pulassa, Wolaita. Children with MAM living in the area ineligible for food supplementation could deteriorate to SAM. The provision of nutrition counseling to the mothers of children with MAM without food supplementation placed children with MAM at increased risk of negative outcomes. Thus, the government should give more attention and facilitation in promoting supplementary food into the existing management of MAM.
Distance Teaching Urban Design and Planning Studio Courses during the Pandemic: Challenges and Lessons Learnt
Authors: Katsavounidou Garyfallia
Published: April 2022

Urban design and planning studios presented considerable challenges to teach remotely following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Planning is space-based and requires real-life experience, and existing virtual teaching platforms can hardly re-create the studio atmosphere. This paper presents an empirical study, via surveys and interviews, on how instructors in Greek universities, where online teaching carried on for three semesters, adjusted studio courses to remote teaching. Findings are organized into three rubrics: Resilience, Interaction, and Surprises. Results show that planning pedagogy needs to maintain problem-based methodologies, that existing platforms should be designed to better emulate the studio atmosphere, and that inviting guest speakers online is a practice that will remain post-pandemic.
Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Arabic Version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form Among Women in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Radwan Hadia , Fakhry Randa , Boateng Godfred O. , Metheny Nick , Bani issa Wegdan , Faris MoezAlIslam E. , Obaid Reyad Shaker , Al Marzooqi Suad , Al Ghazal Hessa , Dennis Cindy-Lee
Published: April 2022

Background:

Breastfeeding self-efficacy as a construct has been theoretically and empirically linked to exclusive breastfeeding in studies globally using the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). However, its application in the Middle East and North Africa region is limited, as it has not been validated.

Research Aims:

To psychometrically validate the BSES-SF among a sample of mothers in the United Arab Emirates.

Methods:

We psychometrically evaluated the Arabic version of the BSES-SF using a sample of mothers ( N = 457) residing in the United Arab Emirates. We used translation techniques, item-test and item-total correlations, confirmatory factor analysis, tests of reliability, and tests of validity.

Results:

Item-test correlations of scale items ranged from 0.67 to 0.84, while item-total correlations ranged from 0.58 to 0.81. The confirmatory factor model assessed the 14-item scale to be unidimensional with satisfactory model fit indices. Our findings suggested the Arabic-language version of the BSES-SF was a reliable measure (α = 0.95) with strong construct and discriminant validity. BSES-SF scores significantly predicted exclusive breastfeeding (aOR = 1.04; 95% CI [1.02, 1.08]) and exclusive duration (β = .06; 95% CI [0.4, 0.08]), which suggested strong predictive, validity after adjusting for parity, maternal age, maternal education, and study site.

Conclusions:

We have provided rigorous evidence that the BSES-SF is a valid and reliable measure of breastfeeding self-efficacy among Arabic-speaking women in the UAE. Interventions designed specifically to increase breastfeeding self-efficacy among Arabic-speaking women may be a mechanism to increase the suboptimal rates of breastfeeding exclusivity occurring in much of the MENA region.
Knockdown of LINC00511 decreased cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer by elevating miR-625 level to suppress the expression of leucine rich repeat containing eight volume-regulated anion channel subunit E
Authors: Liu Benkun , Zhou Fucheng , Liu He , Wang Yanbo , Wang Junfeng , Ren Fenghai , Xu Shidong
Published: April 2022

Background

LINC00511 has been reported as a biomarker related to the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but the molecular mechanism and exact functions of LINC00511 in chemoresistance of NSCLC remain to be elucidated.

Methods

RT-qPCR was used to evaluate the mRNA expression of LINC00511, miR-625, and leucine rich repeat containing 8 volume-regulated anion channel subunit E (LRRC8E). Western blotting detected the protein levels of Ki-67, MMP-9, cleaved-caspase-3. The interaction between miR-625 and LINC00511 or LRRC8E was verified by luciferase reporter assays. CCK-8, TUNEL, and Transwell assays were used to evaluate IC50 value, proliferation, migration, and invasion of NSCLC cells.

Results

In our study, it was discovered that the levels of LINC00511 and LRRC8E were increased, while miR-625 expression was decreased in NSCLC tissues, DDP-resistant NSCLC cells, and non-resistant NSCLC cells. LINC00511 depletion significantly curbed cell growth, IC50 value, and metastasis in DDP-resistant NSCLC cells. In addition, the influence of LINC00511 deficiency on the DDP resistance in NSCLC was overturned by suppressing miR-625. Furthermore, LRRC8E overexpression abolished the promotive effect of miR-625 abundance on the DDP sensitivity in DDP-resistant NSCLC cells.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that LINC00511 increased DDP resistance in NSCLC by suppressing miR-625 to upregulate LRRC8E.
Lightweight knitted fabric nap-core sandwich: A comprehensive comparison between single sided structure and double sided structure
Authors: Ha Giap X , Zehn Manfred W
Published: April 2022

Nap-core sandwich, which is lightweight and characterized by many remarkable properties, comes from an extraordinary combination of sandwich-structured composites and textile materials. However, the application of it in industries is still limited due to a lack of understanding its mechanical properties and behaviors. Several studies based on experimentation or numerical simulation have been conducted to fulfill the shortage, and this study is in the mainstream of exploring how the sandwich composite performs when geometries or materials of the nap-core vary. Namely, the comparison of double sided structure and single sided structure used for the nap-core will be presented in this article. The inquiry derives from the fact that a nap-core can take either of the two structures, but the advantages and disadvantages of each have not been identified yet while manufacturers hardly own costly molds for both. Since only the double sided nap-core is actually available, a modeling method is being deployed in Abaqus engineering software to compare it with an equivalent single sided nap-core that is simulated having the same materials and boundary dimensions. Before that, the Representative Volume Element homogenization method was employed to effectively determine engineering constants of the nap-core’s knitted fabric. The final results reveal that the single sided nap-core has better strength than the double sided nap-core in typical loading cases, but it assumes less smooth stress distribution.
Exploring the Relevance of Crude Oil Prices and Installed Generation Capacity in Prognosticating the NIFTY Energy Index
Authors: Ghosh Avik , Banerjee Suvajit
Published: April 2022

The article brings a new approach with a proficient rendition of the existing literature emphasizing the stock and oil prices (OP) nexus, and it uniquely incorporates the demand-side impact of the domestic electricity installed capacity (IC) on India’s benchmark NIFTY Energy Index (NEI). The study undertakes a multivariate time series analysis consisting of a dual-cointegration exercise with the Johansen test and the Bounds test followed by a comprehensive residual analysis. From the multivariate analysis, the study found that the underlying variables are having a significant long-run association among them, while with Granger causality test, it detects a bidirectional causality in the case of IC and energy index pair, and no significant causality in the case of crude OP and energy stock returns pair. After this, the study proceeds with a univariate analysis of a long time series and establishes that the NEI can be foreseen with a suitable ARMA model and residual heteroscedasticity EGARCH analysis even in the presence of exogenous shocks.
Using the Stages of Change to Counsel Victims of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Craven Laura C. , Carlson Ryan G. , Waddington Ashley F.
Published: April 2022

Medical, women's health, trauma, and violence prevention researchers have investigated the transtheoretical model and motivational interviewing as potential treatment models for victims of intimate partner violence. Despite these models’ prevalence in counseling, they have received minimal attention related to victims of intimate partner violence in counseling journals. The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize the use of the transtheoretical model and motivational interviewing to counsel victims of intimate partner violence. We provide overviews of both models and how they can be applied with intimate partner violence victims. Further, we explore how counselors can use the transtheoretical model and motivational interviewing to inform case conceptualization, treatment planning, and interventions for victims of intimate partner violence. Finally, we discuss the ethical implications of applying the transtheoretical model and motivational interviewing to intimate partner violence.
The Relevance of Anti-PF4 Antibody Isotypes and Endogenous Glycosaminoglycans and their Relationship with Inflammatory Biomarkers in Pulmonary Embolism Patients
Authors: Kantarcioglu Bulent , Darki Amir , Siddiqui Fakiha , Hoppensteadt Debra , Lewis Joseph , Krämer Roland , Adiguzel Cafer , Fareed Jawed
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Previous studies have shown that inflammation may contribute to the interplay of endogenous glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and anti-PF4 antibodies. In this study, we quantified the levels of anti-PF4 antibody isotypes and endogenous GAGs together with inflammatory biomarkers in pulmonary embolism (PE) patients to determine whether there is a relationship in between. Identification of this relationship may provide insight to the complex pathophysiology of PE and HIT and may also be useful for development of potential prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

Materials and Methods

Plasma samples from PE patients (n: 210) were analyzed for anti-PF4 antibody isotypes and various thrombo-inflammatory cytokines utilizing commercially available biochip array and ELISA methods. The endogenous GAG levels in PE patients’ plasma were quantified using a fluorescence quenching method. The collected data analyzed to demonstrate the relationship between various parameters.

Results

The endogenous GAG levels were increased in the PE group ( P < .05). The levels of anti-PF4 antibody isotypes were higher in varying levels in comparison to the normal group ( P < .05). Inflammatory cytokines have shown varying levels of increase with IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 showing the most pronounced values. Mortality outcome was related to increased GAGs and some of the cytokines.

Conclusion

In this study, we demonstrated increased levels of anti-PF4 antibody isotypes, endogenous GAGs, and inflammatory biomarkers in a large patient cohort in PE. The levels of the endogenous GAGs and inflammatory biomarkers were associated with PE severity and mortality. More studies are needed to understand this complex pathophysiology.
Central venous catheter-related complications in older haemodialysis patients: A multicentre observational cohort study
Authors: van Oevelen Mathijs , Heggen Boudewijn DC , Abrahams Alferso C , Rotmans Joris I , Snoeijs Maarten GJ , Vernooij Robin WM , van Buren Marjolijn , Meijvis Sabine CA
Published: April 2022

Background:

Central venous catheters (CVC) remain a commonly used vascular access option in haemodialysis, despite guidelines advising to preferably use arteriovenous fistulae. Compared to younger patients, the risk-benefit ratio of CVC in older patients might be more beneficial, but previous studies mainly focussed on catheter-related bacteraemia and/or assessed tunnelled CVC (TCVC) only. This study’s aim was to compare all catheter-related infections and malfunctions in older patients with younger patients using all CVC subtypes.

Materials and methods:

We used data from DUCATHO, a multicentre observational cohort study in The Netherlands. All adult patients in whom a CVC was placed for haemodialysis between 2012 and 2016 were included. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of catheter-related infections, comparing patients aged ⩾70 years with patients aged <70 years (reference). As secondary endpoints, catheter malfunctions and catheter removal due to either infection or malfunction were assessed. Using Cox proportional hazards and recurrent events modelling, hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated with adjustment of prespecified confounders. Additionally, endpoints were assessed for non-tunnelled CVC (NTCVC) and TCVC separately.

Results:

A total of 1595 patients with 2731 CVC (66.5% NTCVC, 33.1% TCVC) were included. Of these patients, 1001 (62.8%) were aged <70 years and 594 (37.2%) ⩾70 years. No statistically significant difference was found for the occurrence of catheter-related infections (adjusted HR 0.80–95% CI 0.62–1.02), catheter malfunction (adjusted HR 0.94–95% CI 0.75–1.17) and catheter removal due to infection or malfunction (adjusted HR 0.94–95% CI 0.80–1.11). Results were comparable when assessing NTCVC and TCVC separately.

Conclusion:

Patients aged ⩾70 to <70 years have a comparable risk for the occurrence of catheter-related infections and catheter malfunction. These findings may help when discussing treatment options with older patients starting haemodialysis and may inform the current debate on the best vascular access for these patients.
Mandatory versus non-mandatory training in culturally safe practices for education staff at universities
Authors: Quonoey Jordyn , Coombe Leanne , Willis Jon
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to determine whether mandatory or non-mandatory cultural safety training would be more effective to address a lack of cultural safety for Indigenous students in tertiary education. Two electronic databases were systematically searched, and articles were included based on reference to mandatory or non-mandatory cultural safety training, and respective outcomes for Indigenous students. Findings were mixed, whereby studies with both mandatory and non-mandatory cultural safety training have proven successful, suggesting potential for a mixed-methods model to be effective. Effectiveness can also be dependent on the context of the study and its associated delivery methods. These findings suggest that how cultural safety training is implemented may be more influential than whether or not it is mandated. This is a potential research topic for future studies that look at cultural safety for Indigenous peoples.
Contribution of practical wisdom to resolving ethical issues
Authors: Hurteau Marthe , Gagnon Caroline
Published: April 2022

Evaluators often find themselves on ‘rough ground’ as they try to do the right thing and do it well. They face unanticipated ethical issues requiring decisions that are subtle and nuanced, and they do not always find the expected guidance in current ethics guidelines. In the present article, the authors offer practical wisdom as an alternative to the deontological approach. First, we develop this complex concept and illustrate its contribution to addressing and resolving ethical issues. Second, we present a study and the model that emerged from it to illustrate how practical wisdom contributes to finding solutions to ethical dilemmas and taking the necessary action.
Elevated serum homocysteine levels are associated with the development of chronic venous ulcers
Authors: Guo Zhenyu , Li Xu , Wang Tao , Yang Xiaohu , Fan Longhua
Published: April 2022

Introduction:

Venous ulceration is a multifactorial disease, and whether hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) promotes deterioration from primary varicose veins to venous ulcers remains unproven.

Methods:

This study retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 717 patients to investigate the potential correlation between HHcy and primary varicose veins ulcer formation, including 611 patients without ulcers (control group) and 106 with ulcers (case group).

Results:

In this study, 46.2% (49/106) of patients in the case group and 17.5% (107/611, p < 0.001) in the control group suffered from HHcy. Multivariate logistic analysis revealed that HHcy was closely associated with the incidence of venous ulceration in patients with primary varicose veins ( p < 0.001). Propensity score matching created 101 matched pairs of patients with and without ulcers, and the analysis pointed to a potential link between HHcy and ulcer formation in the context of primary varicose veins ( p < 0.001). Additional experiments showed that HHcy could induce endothelial dysfunction and phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Conclusion:

Both clinical and experimental findings implicated HHcy as a key factor in the development of venous ulceration. Further research is needed to appraise the effectiveness of HHcy-lowering therapy in the prevention of venous ulcers in patients with varicose veins.
Social support and links to quality of life among middle-aged and older autistic adults
Authors: Charlton Rebecca A , McQuaid Goldie A , Wallace Gregory L
Published: April 2022

Social support has a positive impact on quality of life (QoL) in neurotypical older adults and young autistic adults, but the association for older autistic adults is unclear. Autistic adults ( n = 388; mean age = 40–83 years) were recruited via Simons Powering Autism Research for Knowledge (SPARK) Research Match. Participants completed questionnaires online querying demographic information, depression, and anxiety symptomatology, QoL (physical, psychological, social, environmental, and autism-specific) and social support (instrumental, subjective, and social interactions). Regression analyses examined whether different aspects of social support contributed to models explaining each domain of QoL. Models explaining QoL were significant. Subjective social support significantly contributed to the models for all aspects of QoL; social interactions contributed to the models for Physical and Psychological QoL, whereas instrumental support contributed to models for social, environmental and autism-specific QoL. Social support is an important contributor to the QoL of middle-aged and older autistic adults, after accounting for demographic factors and depression. Further studies are required to understand whether age-related changes in social support and QoL are the same for autistic as non-autistic older adults in order to identify and implement appropriate support.

Lay abstract

Social support can take many forms, such as practical help, time spent socially with others, or the satisfaction with personal relationships. Social support is known to affect quality of life (QoL) in both non-autistic older and autistic young adults. QoL reflects how satisfied an individual is with their life either overall or in a certain area. We know little about middle-aged and older autistic adults’ experiences of social support or QoL. In this study, 388 adults aged 40–83 years old, completed online questionnaires asking about background such as age and sex, depression and anxiety symptoms, QoL (physical, psychological, social, environmental, and autism-specific), and different types of social support. Even after taking into account background, depression, and anxiety, social support was important for individuals’ QoL. To our knowledge this is the first paper to examine the relationship between social support and QoL in middle-aged and older autistic adults. Improving social support may have a significant impact on the QoL of older autistic adults. Future studies should examine whether age-related changes in social support (size, content, and arrangement of social networks) that are common in non-autistic aging, also occur among older autistic adults.