bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anticolonial ecofeminisms: Women’s environmental literature in French-speaking Oceania
Authors: Frengs Julia L.
Published: October 2020

This article considers Oceanian women’s literature of French-expression through an ecofeminist, anticolonial lens, or through what will be termed an ‘Oceanian ecofeminist approach’. Keeping in mind Oceanian epistemological frameworks, the article examines the literary engagements of Déwé Gorodé and Imasango from Kanaky/New Caledonia and of Chantal Spitz and Rai Chaze from Te Ao Mā’ohi/French Polynesia. This article argues that while these engagements may not always resemble a Western ecofeminism, it is critical to consider Oceanian women’s voices in the ever-evolving dialogue on environmental justice and Indigenous women’s place in environmental literature, as Oceania is on the front lines of the climate crisis. These authors address the effects of settler colonialism not only on the environment, but also on the gendered socioeconomic dynamics of the Oceanian region.
Are you mentoring or coaching? Definitions matter
Authors: Hussey Lisa , Campbell-Meier Jennifer
Published: October 2020

New library and information science professionals, without previous experience in information organizations, are often left adrift, unsure how to apply theory or best practice to a new work environment. To bridge this gap, mentoring and coaching opportunities are often employed (or mandated) to provide new practitioners with required skills, knowledge, or networking. There are opportunities to harness implicit and explicit learning through experiences and interactions through mentoring and coaching. Definitions of mentoring and coaching in the profession are often used interchangeably when discussing the growth and development of an individual. This leads to the following questions: How do librarians define both mentoring and coaching? How do mentoring and coaching relate to professional development? To address the research question, 47 semi-structured interviews were conducted with librarians in Canada, New Zealand, and the United States between 2015 and 2016. Participants were asked about their mentoring and coaching experiences. During the interviews, participants were asked questions about their experiences as a mentor or mentee. In addition, participants were asked to define both “mentoring” and “coaching.” The authors used an inductive approach to data analysis, and interviews were coded by category.
LncRNA HCG11 Inhibits Adipocyte Differentiation in Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Sponging miR-204-5p to Upregulate SIRT1
Authors: Li Dandan , Liu Yang , Gao Wei , Han Jiakai , Yuan Rongrong , Zhang Mengdi , Ge Zhenying
Published: October 2020

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been discovered to play a key role in adipogenesis, while the role of lncRNA human leukocyte antigen complex group 11 (HCG11) in adipocyte differentiation has not been studied clearly. We used human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAdMSCs) to establish a model of cell differentiation in vitro and found that expression of lncRNA HCG11 was decreased during adipogenesis through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Then, hAdMSCs were transfected with pcDNA-HCG11 or HCG11-shRNA (sh-HCG11); the adipogenic marker proteins were detected by Western blot, and the activity of lipogenesis enzymes was detected by spectrophotometry. The expression of CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α, fatty acid-binding protein, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 and the levels of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase and fatty acid synthase FAS were significantly downregulated in hAdMSCs at different stages transfected with pcDNA-HCG11, while knockdown of lncRNA HCG11 promoted adipocyte differentiation. Bioinformatic analysis indicated that miR-204-5p was a potential target gene of HCG11, which was confirmed by luciferase reporter gene analysis and RNA pull-down analysis. In addition, miR-204-5p directly targeting the 3′-untranslated region of SIRT1 was also predicted by StarBase and verified by luciferase reporter gene analysis. Enforced expression of miR-204-5p negatively regulated the SIRT1 protein level. Furthermore, SIRT1 overexpression significantly inhibited adipogenic marker protein, levels of lipogenesis enzymes, and the proliferation of hAdMSCs. When pcDNA-HCG11 and miR-204-5p mimic were co-transfected into hAdMSCs, we found that the miR-204-5p mimic reversed the suppressor effect of pcDNA-HCG11. Taken together, we found that HCG11 negatively regulated cell proliferation and adipogenesis by the miR-204-5p/SIRT1 axis. Our findings might provide a new target for the study of adipogenesis in hAdMSCs and obesity.
The Build or Buy Decision of Operations and Maintenance Services at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Limited
Authors: Waheed Zehra , Rana Arif I.
Published: October 2020

Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Limited (QASPL) was a public sector, a for-profit company established by the Government of Punjab in 2013. The company was assigned the task of setting up renewable energy projects, in general, and solar energy power projects, in particular. The project was part of a wider initiative by the Government of Punjab under its Punjab 2025 vision to establish a 1,000 MW solar park in Bahawalpur.
Rotavirus A, C, and H in Brazilian pigs: potential for zoonotic transmission of RVA
Authors: Flores Patrícia S. , Costa Fábio B. , Amorim Ariane R. , Mendes Gabriella S. , Rojas Miguel , Santos Norma
Published: October 2020

Rotaviruses (RVs) have been identified as one of the main infectious causes of diarrhea in young pigs. We determined the prevalence of rotavirus A (RVA), C (RVC), and H (RVH) in pigs on a Brazilian farm. Samples were screened by reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR, and samples positive for RVA were genotyped by PCR amplification and sequencing analysis. Of the 329 fecal samples analyzed, 102 (30.9%) were positive for RV, 25 (7.6%) contained RVA only, 32 (9.7%) contained RVC only, and 31 (9.4%) contained RVH only. Co-circulation, the presence of ≥ 2 RVs in a sample, was detected in 14 (4.2%) samples. Of the 15 animals with diarrhea, 6 (40%) were positive for RV, and of the 314 asymptomatic animals, 96 (30.6%) were positive for RV; there was no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups ( p = 0.441). Genotyping of RVA strains showed co-circulation of genotypes G1, G3, G9-P[8]-I1, and I2-E1. Phylogenetic analysis showed that some of the RVA genotypes found in pigs had high percentages of identity when compared with reference strains from humans, which suggests interspecies transmission. Because RVs may be zoonotic, excretion of RVs into the environment can result in transmission to agricultural workers causing interspecies infections and allowing the emergence of new reassorted viruses.
Organizational Characteristics of Assisted Living Communities With Policies Supportive of Admitting and Retaining Residents in Need of End-of-Life Care
Authors: Travis Leanna Jean , Thomas Kali S. , Clark Melissa A. , Belanger Emmanuelle
Published: October 2020

Background:

There has been a rapid increase in the number of residential care/assisted living communities (RC/AL) that allow residents to die in place. The objective of this study was to examine the organizational characteristics of RC/AL communities that are associated with facility-level policies supportive of admitting and retaining residents in need of end-of-life (EOL) care.

Methods :

We used cross-sectional data from the 2010 National Survey of Residential Care Facilities. Organizational characteristics included structural factors, staffing levels, and other relevant facility-level policies. We examined descriptive statistics, binomial and multivariable multinomial regression models to determine the likelihood of 1) admitting and retaining, or 2) only retaining, as compared to 3) neither admitting nor retaining AL residents in need of EOL care.

Results:

A majority of residential care facilities 73.7% (n = 22,642) reported admitting and retaining residents at EOL. Yet, levels of skilled nursing care were generally low with 60.9% of these RC/AL communities reporting that registered nurses were not available, including hospice staff. In multivariable, multinomial regression models, organizational characteristics such as skilled nursing, hands-on contact hours from personal care aides, and policies allowing exemptions to self-evacuation rules were associated with increased likelihood of RC/AL communities admitting/retaining residents in need of EOL care.

Conclusion:

Despite overall low levels of skilled nursing care, a nationally representative survey revealed that a majority of RC/AL communities admit and retain residents in need of EOL care. Staffing and exemptions from self-evacuation policies appear to be central characteristics associated with the provision of these services in RC/AL communities.
The ACA Medicaid Expansions and Opioid Mortality: Is There a Link?
Authors: Abouk Rahi , Helmchen Lorens , Moghtaderi Ali , Pines Jesse
Published: October 2020

The Medicaid expansions made addiction treatment more accessible but they also made it less costly to obtain the prescription opioids that can trigger an addiction. We investigated the association between the Medicaid expansions and drug-related deaths. We add to the literature by explicitly accounting for the properties of illicit drug markets and by conducting a simulation-based power analysis to assess whether a plausible change in drug-related mortality could be detected with our data. We identify three main challenges in isolating the effect of the Medicaid expansions on drug-related mortality that cannot be sufficiently addressed with current data: (a) nonparallel preexpansion trends in drug-related mortality, (b) the contemporaneous surge in the supply of illicitly manufactured fentanyl, and (c) lack of statistical power. We argue that more comprehensive data are needed to answer this question.
The Use of Autobiographical Poetry to Process Trauma, Promote Awareness, and Shift Views on Sexual Violence: Exploring the “Against Our Will” Campaign
Authors: Hand Michelle D.
Published: October 2020

This article explores a televised campaign featuring poetry by survivors of sex trafficking, a growing domestic and international problem resulting in symptoms of posttraumatic stress. An integrative framework, incorporating feminist autobiography theory with trauma theory, empowerment theory, and a strengths perspective, is used to explore these poems and how poetry can be used to address sexual trauma, endorsing the progress of feminism and feminist methodology. Further support is provided through a systematic scoping review of extant research on the use of poetry to address sexual trauma. Implications are offered for researchers, educators, practitioners, and policymakers in this emerging area of study.
Prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions in breast cancer patients and determination of their risk factors
Authors: Bibi Rashida , Azhar Saira , Iqbal Ayesha , Jabeen Hajera , Kalsoom Umm-e , Iqbal Muhammad M , Nazeer Maria
Published: October 2020

Breast cancer patients use numerous medications, which include cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, hormonal agents and supportive medication, so they are more vulnerable to potential adverse drug interactions. This study aimed to evaluate frequency, severity, clinical importance and risk factors responsible for the Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in a cohort of patients suffering from breast cancer. Data was obtained from 150 patients in the oncology ward (both inpatient and outpatient) with a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer and currently receiving standard breast cancer-directed treatment. The data was recorded into a pre-designed form specifically made for this study through individual patient interviews and by reviewing the detailed medical chart records of the patients. DDIs were identified by using drug interaction software such as Medscape mobile application and Micromedex version 2.

The results of this study showed that all patients were female. The mean numbers of drugs that patients used were 7. Potential drug interactions were identified in 92% of the patients. When drug groups were overviewed, 32% of interactions were between anti neoplastic drugs, 62.9% interactions were between the anti neoplastic agent and supportive care drugs and 5% of them were between anti-cancer drugs and drugs used to treat comorbidities. Major DDIs were found in 62.2% of patients, 25.3% of DDIs were moderate and 12.4% were minor. The number of drugs, comorbid diseases, and selection of chemo protocols were the risk factors for drug interactions. Most of the DDIs found in breast cancer therapy may have adverse consequences on patient health and therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, health care professionals should review the medication regimen of patients with breast cancer before starting any chemotherapy treatment.
Artificial intelligence and rationalized unaccountability: Ideology of the elites?
Authors: Vesa Mikko , Tienari Janne
Published: October 2020

In this Connexions essay, we focus on intelligent agent programs that are cutting-edge solutions of contemporary artificial intelligence (AI). We explore how these programs become objects of desire that contain a radical promise to change organizing and organizations. We make sense of this condition and its implications through the idea of ‘rationalized unaccountability’ that is an ideological state in which power and control are exerted algorithmically. While populist uses of new technologies receive growing attention in critical organization and management studies, we argue that rationalized unaccountability is the hidden end of a spectrum of populism affecting societies across the world. Rather than populism of the masses, this is a populism of elites. This essay lays out some premises for critical scholars to expose the workings of intelligent agent programs and to call into question the problematic ideological assumptions that they are grounded in.
Responsiveness when parties are “weak”: A candidate-based analysis of voter-party congruence in Europe
Authors: Pedrazzani Andrea , Segatti Paolo
Published: October 2020

Outside the US, the crucial question of how well politicians represent the preferences of voters is usually investigated at the party level. Reversing this perspective, we examine representation in Europe from the point of view of individual candidates running in national parliamentary elections. This is especially insightful in a period that seems characterized by a decline in parties’ representational capacities and an increasing personalization of politics. We analyze representation by considering the incongruence between candidates’ left–right positions and the average placement of their party voters. By combining candidate survey data with mass survey data on voters, we assess how ideological incongruence varies according to predictors measured at the levels of candidates, parties, and party systems. The results highlight a systematic association between a partisan style of representation and candidates’ proximity to voters, as well as the interactions between representational roles and factors such as the anti-establishment nature of parties and ideological polarization in the party system.
Serial migration, multiple belongings and orientations toward the future: The perspective of middle-class migrants in Singapore
Authors: Wee Kellynn , Yeoh Brenda SA
Published: October 2020

The growing phenomenon of serial migrants – people who have moved at least three times and profess belongings to more than two places – challenges the dialogic relationship imagined in studies of transnationalism. This is particularly true in the case of the mobile middle class, which has attracted less attention than the multiple migrations of low-waged labour migrants and the global professional elite. Drawing on interviews with 35 Australian and Indonesian migrants in Singapore, this article proposes the idea of orientation in order to understand the serial migration biographies of middle-class migrants. Rather than focusing on the propulsion and direction of movement, the notion of orientation suspends a migrant between reflection, action and imagination as they forge provisional pathways that upend or cleave to more conventional social trajectories. Developing this concept helps us to understand how migrants with middling resources navigate post-national socio-political formations contoured by race, gender, and class.
Messy realities and collaborative knowledge production in tourism
Authors: Ren Carina , van der Duim René , Jóhannesson Gunnar Thór
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we draw on a relational ontology to explore what collaborative ways of knowing might mean in the field of tourism research. Using tourism as a prism to explore the messy realities of collaborative knowledge production, we argue that knowledge is always co-created through situated practices. By focusing on collaboration and co-creation of research and based on a discussion on what, how and where to know we suggest four orientations of research practices that clarify what collaborative research can be about and how it is of value. Research collaboration should capture the situated practices, strive for critical proximity, be interventionist and seek to come to matter in new ways.
Recent Trends in the Study of Jews and Judaism in Luke-Acts
Authors: Moraff Jason F.
Published: October 2020

This article surveys and assesses recent developments in the study of the depiction of Jews and Judaism in Luke-Acts since 2010. Studies are grouped into three general, often overlapping approaches. First, identity construction proves to be a productive avenue of research for understanding Luke’s portrait of ‘the Jews’. Second, scholars have begun to investigate the place of Luke-Acts in the ‘parting(s) of the ways’. Third, others continue to evaluate the relationship between the Jewish people, the covenant, and Luke’s future hope for Israel. The final section outlines some common issues and potential areas for further study, highlighting how these studies have reinvigorated a stagnant debate.
3D modeling design and rapid style recommendation of polo shirt based on interactive genetic algorithm
Authors: Zhuo Zhang , Honglian Cong
Published: October 2020

This paper proposes a design method for personalized 3D modeling and a rapid style recommendation of polo shirts based on interactive genetic algorithms. Through the research on the parametric multi-style design method of polo shirts, this paper proposes 3D design methods such as the conversion of 3D models, component splicing, and stripes matching mapping rules. In addition, we establish a coded component library of style parts and striped designs to realize the component modeling of tailor-made styles for polo shirts. Besides, the Interactive Genetic Algorithm (IGA) is introduced in the article. Through the algorithm coding, initial population generation, selection, using the scoring mechanism to obtain the user’s suitability evaluation of the program, crossover, and mutation, etc., gradually generating a user-satisfied polo shirt style model design plan, a personalized rapid style recommendation of the user-oriented polo shirt is established. This system can present tailored polo shirt style for customers, and WYSIWYG, to find the most favorite clothing styles for customers and lower the threshold of clothing design expertise.
Trans-popliteal hybrid retrograde technique for revascularization of chronic total occlusions of the superficial femoral artery
Authors: García-Domínguez Luis J , Falcón Moisés , Ribé Lucas , Hernández Ana , Miralles Manuel
Published: October 2020

Objectives

We present the technical description and preliminary results of a hybrid approach for the treatment of chronic total occlusions of superficial femoral artery in the setting of critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of selected case series was performed. A trans-popliteal hybrid technique was carried out in seven limbs (six patients). Open exposure of above-the-knee popliteal artery was performed over its maximum calcification zone. After retrograde recanalization and graft-stenting of the entire superficial femoral artery, endarterectomy of the popliteal artery was performed for debulking and widening of the distal landing zone of the endoprosthesis. The latter is included in the bovine patch suture to avoid leaving a segment untreated.

Results

Technical success, haemodynamic and clinical improvement were achieved in all procedures. Median length of treated occlusion was 19.8 cm. After a mean follow-up of 12 months (range 6–26 months), the primary patency was 85.7% (only one asymptomatic occlusion occurred). There were no major cardiovascular or limb adverse events. No re-interventions were required.

Conclusion

This less-invasive, one-incision technique is safe and effective for the restoration of in-line flow from groin to ankle, currently recommended in CLTI revascularization. It could be especially useful in highly calcified popliteal artery lesions, hostile groins or those at high risk of infection and in cases of vein absence for bypass surgery.
Breaking down the walls of weak knowledge-sharing among Iranian teachers: Investigating a less-considered leadership role of principals
Authors: Zeinabadi Hassanreza
Published: October 2020

One of the common aspects of professional culture is that teachers share their knowledge and experience only occasionally. However, principals can significantly contribute to reducing this weakness by demonstrating knowledge-sharing in their leadership role. It is critical for Iranian principals to play this role because there is some weakness among teachers due to certain context-specific conditions. The existing knowledge about this vital role is very scarce and cannot provide a complete and clear picture. The purpose of this study is to investigate this less-considered role in the context of Iranian primary schools. To this end, a basic qualitative approach was adopted. Using constant comparative analysis of the data obtained from interviews with successful principals, seven categories of themes emerged for knowledge-sharing leadership. This study not only supports the assertion that the principal’s role in knowledge-sharing is indisputable but also contributes to the school leadership literature. Along with its implications for training programmes for principals, this study has several suggestions for theory and research.
Performing counter-terrorism: Police newsmaking and the dramaturgy of security
Authors: Monaghan Jeffrey
Published: October 2020

Expansive domains of counter-terrorism policing remain buffered from popular visibility, and police organizations remain primary definers of security threats and the police work involved in controlling these threats. Examining the interface between police image work and the continued intensification of the “war on terror,” this article details how police agencies stage police raids, arrests, and press conferences in efforts to frame terrorism narratives in Canada; a police dramaturgy that shapes how the public consumes news about the threat of Islamic terrorism and the pre-crime interventionism of policing and security agencies. To examine these police newsmaking practices, two approaches are utilized: first by detailing experiences of defence lawyers who have worked on high-profile cases, then through an analysis of declassified documents related to the preparation and roll-out of a high profile national press conference to narrate the interdiction and killing of prospective terrorist Aaron Driver. Contributing to debates on police image work and contemporary debates around police power, this article demonstrates how policing agencies curate the image of counter-terrorism through newsmaking practices that exaggerate the threat of terrorism, shape the public imaginary around the threat of Islam, refurbish the role of police as symbolic guardians against evil, and aim to reproduce securitarian politics that advocate for more pre-emptive and surveillance powers.
Relationships between nurses’ experiences of workplace violence, emotional exhaustion and patient safety
Authors: Kim Sinhye , Mayer Celeste , Jones Cheryl B
Published: October 2020

Background

The rising rate of workplace violence in hospitals is a serious concern. While leading organisations recommend implementing interventions to address workplace violence, little is known about the workplace violence relationship between patients and visitors, and how it affects nurses’ emotional exhaustion and their perceptions of patient safety.

Aims

The study’s purpose was to understand the status of workplace violence in hospitals and the relationships between nurses’ experiences of workplace violence, emotional exhaustion, and perceptions of patient safety.

Methods

This cross-sectional analysis used data from a survey conducted at a large academic medical centre using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture plus additional measures of workplace violence and emotional exhaustion.

Results

Nurses reported more occurrences of verbal violence than physical violence. Nurses’ experiences of workplace violence negatively affect nurses’ emotional exhaustion and patient-safety perceptions. Moreover, nurses’ emotional exhaustion mediated the relationship between verbal abuse and patient-safety perceptions.

Conclusions

Interventions to reduce nurses’ emotional exhaustion and strengthen resilience can mitigate the negative effects of verbal abuse and to some extent the effects of physical violence.
Word frequency does not moderate the degree to which people can selectively attend to parts of visually presented words
Authors: Kahan Todd A , Slowiaczek Louisa M , Scott Ned , Pfohl Brian T
Published: October 2020

Whether attention is allocated to an entire word or can be confined to part of a word was examined in an experiment using a visual composite task. Participants saw a study word, a cue to attend to either the right or left half, and a test word, and indicated if the cued half of the words (e.g., left) was the same (e.g., TOLD-TONE) or different (e.g., TOLD-WINE). Prior research using this task reports a larger congruency effect for low-frequency words relative to high-frequency words but extraneous variables were not equated. In this study ( N = 33), lexical (orthographic neighbourhood density) and sublexical (bigram frequency) variables were controlled, and word frequency was manipulated. Results indicate that word frequency does not moderate the degree to which parts of a word can be selectively attended/ignored. Response times to high-frequency words were faster than response times to low-frequency words but the congruency effect was equivalent. The data support a capacity model where attention is equally distributed across low-frequency and high-frequency words but low-frequency words require additional processing resources.
Searching for individual determinants of probabilistic cueing in large-scale immersive virtual environments
Authors: Baxter Rory , Smith Alastair D.
Published: October 2020

Large-scale search behaviour is an everyday occurrence, yet its underlying mechanisms are not commonly examined within experimental psychology. Key to efficient search behaviour is the sensitivity to environmental cues that might guide exploration, such as a target appearing with greater regularity in one region than another. Spatial cueing by probability has been examined in visual search paradigms, but the few studies that have addressed its contribution to large-scale search and foraging present contrasting accounts of the conditions under which a cueing effect can be reliably observed. In the present study, participants physically searched a virtual arena by inspecting identical locations until they found the target. The target was always present, although its location was probabilistically defined so that it appeared in the cued hemispace on 80% of trials. In Experiment 1, when participants’ starting positions were stable, a probabilistic cueing effect was observed, with a strong bias towards searching the cued side. In Experiment 2, the starting position changed across the experiment, such that the cued region was defined in allocentric co-ordinates only. In this case, a probabilistic cueing effect was not observed across the sample. Analysis of individual differences in Experiment 2 suggests, however, that some participants may have learned the contingency underpinning the target’s location, although these differences were unrelated to other tests of visuospatial ability. These results suggest that the ability to learn the likelihood of an item’s fixed location when starting from different perspectives is driven by individual differences in other cognitive or perceptual factors.
The use of social media and online communications in times of pandemic COVID-19
Authors: Wong Adrian , Ho Serene , Olusanya Olusegun , Antonini Marta Velia , Lyness David
Published: October 2020

The use of social media as a tool for professional communication and education in healthcare has been increasing; pros and cons of such platforms were extensively debated in recent years with mixed results. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media use has accelerated to the point of becoming a ubiquitous part of modern healthcare systems. As with any tool in healthcare, its risks and benefits need to be carefully considered. In this article, we review the use of social media in the current pandemic. Importantly, we will illustrate this using experiences from the perspective of large medical organisations and also identify the common pitfalls.
Functional anatomy of the sagittal bands and mechanisms of extensor tendon dislocation: a cadaveric study
Authors: Mitsuzawa Sadaki , Ando Maki , Takeuchi Hisataka , Noguchi Takashi , Ikeguchi Ryosuke , Matsuda Shuichi
Published: October 2020

We investigated the functional anatomy of the radial sagittal band and possible mechanisms involved in its spontaneous and traumatic rupture using seven cadaveric hands. First, the extensor tendon excursion and the change in angle between the sagittal bands and the tendon path were measured during metacarpophalangeal joint flexion. The radial bands were then divided in two different ways that mimicked spontaneous or traumatic rupture. We found no significant correlation between the extensor tendon excursion and the change in angle of the sagittal bands in the middle and ring fingers. Dislocation could occur when the radial sagittal band was only partially divided. This may explain why conservative treatment of tendon dislocation in the middle and ring fingers is feasible. Complete section of the sagittal bands in the little finger caused ulnar dislocation of the extensor tendon in only one out of seven hands.
Clinical features of patients with small cell lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treated with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Kanaji Nobuhiro , Shimizu Junichi , Sakai Kenichiro , Ueda Yutaka , Miyawaki Hiroshi , Watanabe Naohiro , Uemura Takehiro , Hida Toyoaki , Inoue Takuya , Watanabe Naoki , Oohara Yasuhiro , Dobashi Hiroaki , Kato Mikiya , Kadowaki Norimitsu
Published: October 2020

Background:

The clinical features of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have not been fully elucidated.

Patients and methods:

Data on 366 patients with pathologically confirmed SCLC who had been treated with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the clinical features of SCLC with IPF.

Results:

A total of 97 out of the 366 patients were diagnosed with interstitial lung disease (ILD), and 75 of them had IPF. For both the limited disease (LD) and extensive disease (ED) stages, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were significantly shorter in the patients with IPF compared with non-ILD patients. A multivariate analysis showed that poor performance status, ED stage, and the presence of IPF were associated with shorter OS. The response rate to first-line therapy was significantly lower in patients with IPF compared with the non-ILD patients. The rate of patients receiving fewer than three cycles of first-line chemotherapy was higher in patients with IPF, which was a factor of poor survival. In LD-stage patients with IPF, chemoradiotherapy was associated with longer PFS and OS compared with chemotherapy only.

Conclusion:

In patients with SCLC, the presence of IPF was associated with a lower response rate as well as shorter PFS and shorter OS. There are some cases that are suitable for chemoradiotherapy, even among patients with IPF. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.
Reformed and reduced: Vocational education and structural oppression
Authors: Schmidt Teressa
Published: October 2020

Internationally, vocational education and training (VET) is intended to fulfil important economic and social objectives. There is, however, a concerning discourse relating to funding, esteem, reputation and quality, and questions have been raised about whether social mobility aspirations of the sector’s students are achieved or achievable. This paper argues that rather than resulting from deficiency or fault of VET, these issues are, instead, manifestations of the sector’s structural oppression. Further, unless this oppression is recognised and addressed as an underlying cause, VET’s troubles will remain. While acknowledging the claim may be contentious, the paper applies Freirean philosophy and contemporary critical social theory to examine the case of Australian VET, identifying the oppressive structures and policies which have progressively rendered the sector powerless and lacking the autonomy needed to enact positive and necessary change. It expounds upon Australian VET’s vulnerability to neoliberal educational reform along with the impact of competency based education and training (CBE/T), its reductionist curriculum, and the de-professionalisation of VET, its teachers and the vocations it serves, before proposing that any further reforms must be led from within the sector itself. While the paper focuses on Australian VET, its examination will likely hold meaning elsewhere.
Supporting Aboriginal families’ and children’s developing sense of belonging at KindiLink
Authors: Barblett Lennie , Barratt-Pugh Caroline , Knaus Marianne , Cooper Trudi
Published: October 2020

This paper reports on findings from four case studies, as part of a large-scale study undertaken to evaluate the KindiLink initiative across Western Australia in remote, regional and metropolitan communities. KindiLink is an educator-led playgroup initiative in public school sites in Western Australia targeted at Aboriginal children and their families. KindiLink aims included the cultivation of Aboriginal families’ and children’s developing sense of belonging and engagement at their local primary school. A constructivist paradigm was used to describe the subjective experiences of individuals, which was important to ascertain if the aims of KindiLink had been met. To complement the meaning-making of the experience, qualitative data were collected via detailed studies of four KindiLink sites to capture similarities and differences of the settings and gain depth of experience through the voices of the participants. The study found KindiLink successfully connected Aboriginal children and families to schools and built a sense of belonging and productive relationships between families, staff, school and the community in a culturally safe space. Furthermore, KindiLink developed the capacity and confidence of parents as their children’s first teachers and supported the home learning environment. The Aboriginal Indigenous education officer in each programme was critical to the engagement of Aboriginal families and acknowledgement of cultural aspects important to children’s growing cultural identities. The relationships built between KindiLink staff and families, and between families, were important for children’s and their families’ growing sense of belonging to the school, which assisted participation at school.
The Application of Simulated Moving-Bed Chromatography for the Separation of Ginsenosides in Sanchi Ginseng and American Ginseng
Authors: Dong Tai Thi Ngoc , Lin Chih-Hsiung , Liang Ming-Tsai
Published: October 2020

In this study, the separation of ginsenosides from the crude extract of Sanchi ginseng and American ginseng, obtained by aqueous ethanol extraction, was conducted in a simulated moving bed (SMB) with cleaning in place (CIP) design. Concentrated products with 86.2%, w/w, and 91.5%, w/w, of ginsenosides were obtained by the utilization of CIP-SMB for Sanchi and American ginseng, respectively. This study reveals that CIP-SMB could enrich ginsenosides by removing the retained impurities, which were initially extracted by aqueous ethanol and not removed by either the antisolvent precipitation for Sanchi ginseng or the ethyl acetate extraction for American ginseng. Although the ginsenosides in both ginsengs are similar, the difficulty in applying chromatography to the crude extract differs. A natural crude extract normally contains compounds with significant difference in retention. A traditional SMB with 4 sections will be, consequently, unable to continuously separate the natural products. This study develops methods for pretreating the crude extract and demonstrates the feasibility of continuously separating ginsenosides by using SMB. SMB is an effective technology for large-scale chromatography and can generally resolve solvent and energy consumption problems. This is expected to promote the industrial use of SMB for the production of concentrated ginsenosides as active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Examination of Safe Zone to Avoid Injury of the Lateral Plantar Artery During Calcaneal Osteotomy: A Fresh Cadaveric Study
Authors: Tonogai Ichiro , Tsuruo Yoshihiro , Sairyo Koichi
Published: October 2020

Background:

Calcaneal osteotomy are used to treat various pathologies in the correction of hindfoot deformities. But lateral plantar artery (LPA) pseudoaneurysms have been reported following calcaneal osteotomy, and LPA pseudoaneurysms may be at risk for rupture. Although the vascular structures in close proximity to calcaneal osteotomies have variable courses and branching patterns, there is little information on safe zone for LPA during calcaneal osteotomy. The aims of this study were to identify the safety zone to avoid the LPA injury during calcaneal osteotomy.

Methods:

Enhanced computed tomography scans of 25 fresh cadaveric feet (male, n = 13; female, n = 12; mean age 79.0 years at the time of death) were assessed. The specimens were injected with barium via the external iliac artery. Line A is the landmark line and extends from the posterosuperior aspect of the calcaneal tuberosity to the plantar fascia origin, and the perpendicular distance between the LPA and line A at its closest point was measured on sagittal images.

Results:

The average perpendicular distance between the LPA and line A at its closest point was 15.2 ± 2.9 mm. In 2 cases (8.0 %), the perpendicular distance between the LPA and line A at its closest point was very close, approximately 9 mm. In 18 of 25 feet (72.0%), the point where perpendicular distance from the line A to LPA is the closest was the bifurcation of one of the medial calcaneal branches from LPA, and in 7 feet in 25 feet (28.0%) feet the point where perpendicular distance from the line A to LPA is the closest was the trifurcation of LPA, medial plantar artery, and one of the medial calcaneal branches.

Conclusions:

Calcaneal osteotomy approximately more than 9 mm from the line A could injure the LPA in overpenetration into the medial aspect of tcalcaneal osteotomy. Completion of the osteotomy on the medial side should be performed with caution to avoid iatrogenic injury of the LPA.

Levels of Evidence::

Level IV, Cadaveric study
The Effect of Passive Smoking on Mucociliary Clearance and Inferior Concha Reactivity
Authors: Kılıç Osman , Yılmaz Aslı Şahin , Oysu Çağatay
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cigarette smoke on turbinate reactivity and mucociliary clearance (MCC) in passive smokers.

Methods

60 adult patients (30 passive smokers and 30 healthy subjects as the control group) were recruited for this study. Following a questionnaire on passive smoke exposure, MCC measurement using the saccharin test was carried out to all participants. The baseline and after decongestant acoustic rhinometry values (MCA1, MCA2, VOL1, VOL2) were measured and the percentage changes between the two test values (ie; response to nasal decongestants = concha reactivity) were recorded.

Results

All 60 patients, including 37 women (61.7%) and 23 men (38.3%) were between 18–57 years of age . MCC’s average measurements were 11.13 minutes in the passive smokers group, 7.87 minutes in the control group, which was statistically significantly different (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the passive smokers and control group for acoustic rhinometric measurement of the ratio of MCA2 and VOL2 values before and after decongestant application (p < 0.05).

Discussion

Passive smoking can damage the nasal mucosa at least as active smoking. The number of studies on this subject is limited. There are no studies in the literature showing the effect of cigarette smoke on the inferior turbinate mucosal response. In our study, the inferior turbinate decongestant capacity was found to be significantly decreased in the passive smokers compared to the control group.

Conclusion

As a result of cigarette exposure, the erectile function of the lower turbines may be impaired. The task of the ENT physicians is to warn the passive smokers in this regard.
Supernumerary maxillary fourth premolar teeth in five related Burmese cats
Authors: Emslie Roxanne S , Tutt Cedric LC
Published: October 2020

Case series summary

This article reports a case series of five Burmese cats with supernumerary teeth. All included cases displayed either unilateral or bilateral supernumerary maxillary fourth premolar teeth. Two cases also displayed supernumerary mandibular fourth premolar teeth, and in one case bilateral supernumerary maxillary third incisor teeth were found. Examination of the pedigrees of the affected cats revealed that all five cats were related with one common ancestor. All patients in this case series were successfully treated.

Relevance and novel information

Supernumerary maxillary fourth premolar teeth in cats have not been reported previously in the literature. As all five cats in this case series were shown to be related, supernumerary maxillary fourth premolar teeth may be yet another heritable health condition affecting the Burmese breed. Therefore, Burmese breeders should endeavour to reduce the incidence of supernumerary teeth within the breed by having animals examined by a veterinary dentist prior to breeding, and neutering affected, as well as related, individuals. Burmese cat owners must be made aware of the condition in order to institute early evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis following head injury after cochlear implantation: A case report
Authors: Yan Zhanfeng , Hao Pengpeng , Wen Xiaohui , Liu Jinfeng , Dai Jinsheng , Cao Keli , Zhang Juan , Wang Ningyu
Published: October 2020

Bacterial meningitis is a rare event in children with cochlear implants. A 7-year-old child who underwent cochlear implantation (CI) for the right ear 6 years ago was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaint of intermittent fever and headache for 6 months. Cochlear implant infection was suspected. The right cochlear implant removal and middle ear exploration were performed. Postoperatively, the bacterial cultures of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), cochlear implant and inserting electrodes all suggested Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The body temperature of the child was controlled within 2 weeks after the operation by using meropenem, and other symptoms like headache and abdominal pain disappeared. During 20-month follow-up visit, the child did not suffer any discomforts. In conclusion, we reported a child who developed Pseudomonas aeruginosa meningitis following head injury after CI. This case should serve as a reminder for clinical doctors.
The Experiences and Perceptions of Health-Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Muscat, Oman: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Al Ghafri Thamra , Al Ajmi Fatma , Anwar Huda , Al Balushi Lamya , Al Balushi Zainab , Al Fahdi Fatma , Al Lawati Anwaar , Al Hashmi Salwa , Al Ghamari Aisha , Al Harthi Mohamed , Kurup PadmaMohan , Al Lamki Mustafa , Al Manji Asim , Al Sharji Abdallah , Al Harthi Saud , Gibson Emma
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Predominantly, studies on COVID-19 report quantitative data that often miss the social implications and other determinants of health. The objective of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of health care workers (HCWs) in primary health care in the management of COVID-19 with respect to medical response experiences, socio-cultural and religious reforms, psychological impressions, and lessons learned.

Methods

This was a qualitative study using an empirical phenomenological approach. Six focus group discussions were conducted across various stakeholders working frontline in the management of COVID-19 (managerial, public health/field/community and primary care health centers). They participated in semi-structured, in-depth group discussions from 11th to 20th May 2020. All discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Forty participants were involved in this study. Three themes emerged related to the medical response experiences, including the rapid re-structuring of the PHC services, use of technology and challenges of working on COVID-19. Perceptions on the socio-cultural and religious reforms included changes in social and religious norms, and anticipated gaps in accessing health care among the vulnerable groups (elderly, expatriates, and individuals with low economic status). Perceptions on psychological disturbances were themed as consequences of social distancing, management of dead bodies, exhaustion among the health care workers, and risk of exposure. Finally, lessons learned were centered around building on the existing epidemiological and public health capacities, improving access to health care and overcoming resistance to change. Most participants labelled their experience in COVID-19 as an “experience of wisdom” in which learning was a continuous process.

Conclusion

This qualitative study amongst primary HCWs revealed certain aspects of response to COVID-19 in Muscat, Oman. Results has unfolded various aspects of COVID-19. The situation was perceived by primary HCWs as a new experience that challenged the primary health care; enforced the utilization of public health/epidemiological skills, and linked to unfavorable socio-religious and psychological events.