bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NAD
+
Levels Are Augmented in Aortic Tissue of ApoE
−/−
Mice by Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Authors: Chi Do Huu , Kahyo Tomoaki , Islam Ariful , Hasan Md. Mahmudul , Waliullah A.S.M. , Mamun Md. Al , Nakajima Madoka , Ikoma Takenori , Akita Keitaro , Maekawa Yuichiro , Sato Tomohito , Setou Mitsutoshi
Published: February 2022

Background:

Maintaining bioenergetic homeostasis provides a means to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events during chronological aging. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD
+
) acts as a signaling molecule, and its levels were used to govern several biological pathways, for example, promoting angiogenesis by SIRT1 (sirtuin 1)-mediated inhibition of Notch signaling to rejuvenate capillary density of old-aged mice. NAD
+
modulation shows promise in the vascular remodeling of endothelial cells. However, NAD
+
distribution in atherosclerotic regions remains uncharacterized. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids consumption, such as docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, might increase the abundance of cofactors in blood vessels due to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids metabolism.

Methods:

Apolipoprotein E-deficient (
ApoE

−/−

) mice were fed a Western diet, and the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids-treated groups were supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid (1%, w/w) or eicosapentaenoic acid (1%, w/w) for 3 weeks. Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging was exploited to detect exogenous and endogenous NAD
+
imaging.

Results:

NAD
+
, NADH, NADP
+
, NADPH, FAD
+
, FADH, and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide of the aortic arches were detected higher in the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids-treated mice than the nontreated control. Comparing the distribution in the outer and inner layers of the arterial walls, only NADPH was detected slightly higher in the outer part in eicosapentaenoic acid-treated mice.

Conclusions:

Supplementation of adding docosahexaenoic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid to the Western diet led to a higher NAD
+
, FAD
+
, and their metabolites in the aortic arch. Considering the pleiotropic roles of NAD
+
in biology, this result serves as a beneficial therapeutic strategy in the animal model counter to pathological conditions.
Genetics of Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Scholl Ute I.
Published: February 2022

Primary aldosteronism is considered the commonest cause of secondary hypertension. In affected individuals, aldosterone is produced in an at least partially autonomous fashion in adrenal lesions (adenomas, [micro]nodules or diffuse hyperplasia). Over the past decade, next-generation sequencing studies have led to the insight that primary aldosteronism is largely a genetic disorder. Sporadic cases are due to somatic mutations, mostly in ion channels and pumps, and rare cases of familial hyperaldosteronism are caused by germline mutations in an overlapping set of genes. More than 90% of aldosterone-producing adenomas carry somatic mutations in K
+
channel Kir3.4 (
KCNJ5
), Ca
2+
channel Ca
V
1.3 (
CACNA1D
), alpha-1 subunit of the Na
+
/K
+
ATPase (
ATP1A1
), plasma membrane Ca
2+
transporting ATPase 3 (
ATP2B3
), Ca
2+
channel Ca
V
3.2 (
CACNA1H
), Cl
−
channel ClC-2 (
CLCN2
), β-catenin (
CTNNB1
), and/or G-protein subunits alpha q/11 (
GNAQ/11
). Mutations in some of these genes have also been identified in aldosterone-producing (micro)nodules, suggesting a disease continuum from a single cell, acquiring a somatic mutation, via a nodule to adenoma formation, and from a healthy state to subclinical to overt primary aldosteronism. Individual glands can have multiple such lesions, and they can occur on both glands in bilateral disease. Familial hyperaldosteronism, typically with early onset, is caused by germline mutations in steroid 11-beta hydroxylase/ aldosterone synthase (
CYP11B1/2
),
CLCN2
,
KCNJ5
,
CACNA1H
, and
CACNA1D
.
Use of Marijuana: Effect on Brain Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Testai Fernando D. , Gorelick Philip B. , Aparicio Hugo J. , Filbey Francesca M. , Gonzalez Raul , Gottesman Rebecca F. , Melis Miriam , Piano Mariann R. , Rubino Tiziana , Song Sarah Y. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Stroke Brain Health Science Subcommittee of the Stroke Council; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; and Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease
Published: February 2022

Marijuana is perceived as a harmless drug, and its recreational use has gained popularity among young individuals. The concentration of active ingredients in recreational formulations has gradually increased over time, and high-potency illicit cannabinomimetics have become available. Thus, the consumption of cannabis in the general population is rising. Data from preclinical models demonstrate that cannabinoid receptors are expressed in high density in areas involved in cognition and behavior, particularly during periods of active neurodevelopment and maturation. In addition, growing evidence highlights the role of endogenous cannabinoid pathways in the regulation of neurotransmitter release, synaptic plasticity, and neurodevelopment. In animal models, exogenous cannabinoids disrupt these important processes and lead to cognitive and behavioral abnormalities. These data correlate with the higher risk of cognitive impairment reported in some observational studies done in humans. It is unclear whether the effect of cannabis on cognition reverts after abstinence. However, this evidence, along with the increased risk of stroke reported in marijuana users, raises concerns about its potential long-term effects on cognitive function. This scientific statement reviews the safety of cannabis use from the perspective of brain health, describes mechanistically how cannabis may cause cognitive dysfunction, and advocates for a more informed health care worker and consumer about the potential for cannabis to adversely affect the brain.
The structural shift and collaboration capacity in GenBank Networks: A longitudinal study
Authors: Qin Jian , Hemsley Jeff , Bratt Sarah E.
Published: February 2022

Metadata in scientific data repositories such as GenBank contain links between data submissions and related publications. As a new data source for studying collaboration networks, metadata in data repositories compensate for the limitations of publication-based research on collaboration networks. This paper reports the findings from a GenBank metadata analytics project. We used network science methods to uncover the structures and dynamics of GenBank collaboration networks from 1992–2018. The longitudinality and large scale of this data collection allowed us to unravel the evolution history of collaboration networks and identify the trend of flattening network structures over time and optimal assortative mixing range for enhancing collaboration capacity. By incorporating metadata from the data production stage with the publication stage, we uncovered new characteristics of collaboration networks as well as developed new metrics for assessing the effectiveness of enablers of collaboration—scientific and technical human capital, cyberinfrastructure, and science policy.
A revision of the genus Xanthopygus Kraatz (Staphylinidae: Xanthopygina)
Authors: CHATZIMANOLIS STYLIANOS
Published: February 2022

The genus Xanthopygus Kraatz 1857 sensu Chatzimanolis 2021 is revised and the distributional records for all species are updated. Lampropygus giganteus Bernhauer is shown to be a junior synonym of Staphylinus luctuosus Blanchard. Neotypes are designated for Belonuchus pexus Motschulsky and Xanthopygus oliveirae Lynch. Lectotypes are designated for Lampropygus major Bernhauer, Staphylinus xanthopygus Nordmann and Xanthopygus cacti Horn. Lampropygus giganteus Bernhauer is designated as the type of the subgenus Heteropygus Bernhauer, since the type designation by Blackwelder was invalid. Illustrations and a key are provided for all species in Xanthopygus.
Caregiver Experiences Managing Persistent Childhood Asthma During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Caveney Brennen , Halterman Jill S. , Fagnano Maria , Stern Jessica , Frey Sean M.
Published: February 2022

COVID-19 has adversely affected child wellness, but it is unclear whether the pandemic led to changes in home management of chronic diseases like asthma. We surveyed 93 caregivers of children with persistent asthma from 2 ongoing asthma trials to measure changes in home asthma management, stressors, access to health care, and caregivers’ worry about COVID-19 affecting their child’s health. We conducted descriptive analyses, and assessed whether caregiver worry about COVID-19 was associated with asthma management, stressors, health care access, or recent symptoms. Most (80%) caregivers worried that COVID-19 would affect their child’s health, and >50% restricted their child’s physical activity to avoid asthma symptoms. We observed a dose-dependent relationship between increasing worry about COVID-19 and activity restrictions, financial hardship, difficulty obtaining asthma medications, and nocturnal asthma symptoms. These findings raise concern that children with persistent asthma may be at particular risk for weight gain and obesity-associated asthma morbidity due to the pandemic.
COVID-19’s Impact on Black, Female Correctional Officers and Justice-Involved Individuals at Rikers Island Jail
Authors: Martin-Howard Simone
Published: February 2022

Through in-depth interviews, this study focuses on the experiences and perceptions of 15 Black, female correctional officers (COs) employed at Rikers Island, one of the country’s biggest jail complexes. Furthermore, this paper underlines the experiences of COs during the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit New York City particularly hard in spring 2020. Thematic analysis suggests that participants do not receive needed mental health services from the Department of Correction; experience physical and mental health stressors as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; and negatively perceive the impact of COVID-19 on the physical and mental health of justice-involved individuals.
A Comparison of Re-arrest Outcomes Between Youth in Juvenile Drug Court, Teen Court, Probation, and Dismissed Cases
Authors: Hartsell Elizabeth N. , Novak Abigail
Published: February 2022

This study identified populations served by diversion and explored potential effects of diversion by comparing re-arrest among diverted youth, youth on probation, and youth whose case were dismissed using a large sample of low-risk youth in Florida. Using propensity score estimation, results found youth who participated in teen court or drug court or who were on probation were more likely to be re-arrested within 1 year compared to youth whose case was dismissed. Juvenile drug court participants were more likely to be re-arrested than teen court participants. Youth on probation were more likely to be re-arrested compared to teen court participants, but there was no significant difference in re-arrest between youth on probation and juvenile drug court participants.
Are we Truly “Safer-At-Home”? A Test of Contextual Effects on Mental Health and Drug Overdose Incidents During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Konkel Rebecca Headley , Harris Michelle N. , Hoffman Chrystina Y.
Published: February 2022

This study examined whether the social restrictions stemming from COVID-19 impacted the locations of mental health and drug overdose incidents, while controlling for immediate and community contextual indices. Addresses for mental health/overdose calls to law enforcement or emergency medical services between January 1, 2018 and August 13, 2020 were collected from one police department in the Midwestern United States. Businesses and previous victimization/offending were joined with parcels (level-1; N = 20,019), whereas local services and socioeconomic indicators were joined with block groups (level-2; N = 32), to allow for a multi-level (HLM7) examination of context on mental health/overdose incidents. Event Rate Ratios (ERR) revealed the greatest contextual effects took place following social distancing mandates. Findings highlight the importance of allocating to areas with the highest likelihood of reporting incidents and suggest that parcels with a history of sex offenses, drug offenses, and prior mental health calls may benefit the greatest from preventative resources.
PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NONINTERVENTION IN THE RWANDA GENOCIDE
Authors: Szandzik Eric James
Published: February 2022

This research analyzes Clinton's decision to not intervene in the Rwandan genocide. The methodology used is a historical analysis and interpretation of primary and secondary source material. Clinton admitted that not intervening in the Rwandan genocide was one of the greatest regrets of his presidency. There was not a substantial amount of domestic support for an intervention into Rwanda and Clinton did not attempt to use his influence to change that disposition. Clinton did not attempt to change domestic sentiments due to his priorities of reduced funding for foreign operations and the avoidance of ‘mission creep.’ The most common fault in the current historiography is the claim that Clinton did not intervene in Rwanda because of the failed mission that had recently occurred in Somalia, which does not align with the available evidence. Upon leaving office, he accepted ownership of his poor decisions and expressed sincere regret.
REVIEW ESSAY
Authors: Chaudhuri Nairita Roy
Published: February 2022

This essay reviews ecological economist, Giorgos Kallis’ recent book, ‘Why Malthus Was Wrong and Why Environmentalists Should Care’ (2019) to review the debate around population and sustainability. In the name of sustainability and resource scarcity, debates on population tend to blame the poor without adequately problematizing structural inequalities that sustain racial capitalism and stimulate scarcity. This narrative is a remnant of the Malthusian thesis that problematized population growth in relation to food scarcity without problematizing utilitarian human wants. In this essay, I review this book because the author expands on the politics of scarcity and urges us to nurture ethics and the politics of limits. My contribution in this extended review comes in offering a perspective from post‐colonial countries like India, and in the global South more broadly, that align with ‘other’ notions of limits, the good life, and sustainability.
THE CASE FOR AN ISRAELI‐PALESTINIAN‐JORDANIAN CONFEDERATION
Authors: Ben‐Meir Alon
Published: February 2022

This extended article argues a case for an Israeli‐Palestinian‐Jordanian Confederation, proposes the central elements necessary to realize this in practice, and offers policy advice to the key players as well as to policy makers in the United States, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. After 73 years of conflict, following the Arab Spring, and the intermittent violence between Israel and the Palestinians, the Palestinians will not give up on their aspiration for statehood. Ultimately, a two‐state solution remains the only viable option to end their conflict. The difference, however, between the framework for peace discussed in the 1990s and 2000s—where the focus was on establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza—versus the present time is that many new, irreversible facts have been created: the interspersing of the Israeli and Palestinian populations in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Israel; the status of Jerusalem, where both sides have a unique religious affinity; Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the majority of which will have to remain in place; the intertwined national security concerns involved; and the resettlement of/compensation for Palestinian refugees. I argue that independent Israeli and Palestinian states, therefore, can peacefully coexist and be sustained only through the establishment of an Israeli‐Palestinian confederation that would subsequently be joined by Jordan, which has an intrinsic national interest in the resolution of all conflicting issues between Israel and the Palestinians. To that end, all sides will have to fully and permanently collaborate on many levels necessitated by the changing conditions on the ground, most of which can no longer be restored to the status quo ante.
Current demands in the Nepali electricity sector: For a social reproduction theory of infrastructure
Authors: Vindegg Mikkel
Published: February 2022

This article uses work and state relations at a Nepali electricity office as a staging ground for bringing the labour of repair squarely into focus in the ethnography of infrastructure. A trio of electricians at the office had a torrid time trying to address an ever-increasing number of complaints. Customers were under the impression that the electricians were both lazy and slow, despite even compromising safety regulations to get more work done. Although the electricians’ jobs may be comparatively stable and privileged, they put their bodies on the line to service an often-unappreciative public. This shows that infrastructures are made of people, not simply constructed by them. This is often skirted over in the anthropology of infrastructure, which frames repair through its absence and insufficiency, in rare ethnographic engagements with those who do repair work. A suggested response to this deficiency is found in a social reproduction theory of infrastructure.
Real-Time Arterial-Friendly Ramp Metering System
Authors: Cheng Yao , Chen Yen-Yu , Chang Gang-Len
Published: February 2022

To balance the benefits between the freeway and arterial users and also to prevent on-ramp queue spillbacks, the authors have developed an arterial-friendly local ramp metering control (AF-ramp) system for time-of-day operations during recurrent congestion. This study presents the real-time version of the AF-ramp (named RAF-ramp) system, with a lane-group-based macroscopic traffic module for predicting traffic state and for executing control strategies, aiming at maximizing the total throughput from the control area, comprising the ramp meter and nearby local intersection signals. Recognizing the discrepancy in the dynamic nature between ramp traffic and arterial flows, the RAF-ramp system with its embedded traffic state prediction and monitoring mechanism can trigger the concurrent optimization of both controls when justified to do so, or only dynamically adjust the ramp metering rate under the pre-optimized local signal environment. The results of extensive simulation experiments have confirmed that the proposed system outperforms the widely-applied real-time ramp control model, ALINEA/Q, under various experimental traffic scenarios, because the produced control strategies can effectively utilize the freeway’s weaving capacity and also best coordinate neighboring intersections’ signals to maximize the entire network’s performance. Such a real-time arterial-friendly ramp metering system, addressing both the time-varying freeway dynamics and the concerns of local traffic users, may well serve as an effective tool for contending with bottlenecks at freeway interchanges.
Kindergarten children’s views on friendship in a super-diverse context
Authors: Streelasky Jodi
Published: February 2022

In this empirical research, I investigated 16 kindergarten children’s perspectives on their friendships at school in a super-diverse classroom in Canada. A cultural-historical perspective and a “pedagogy of friendship” conceptual framework were drawn on in this research. In the study, the kindergarten children created drawings of their valued friendships. These visual representations revealed the importance of outdoor play and engagement as the catalyst for their development of authentic and valued peer friendships.
Nurses’ involvement in end-of-life decisions in neonatal intensive care units
Authors: Chatziioannidis Ilias , Pouliakis Abraham , Cuttini Marina , Boutsikou Theodora , Giougi Evangelia , Volaki Voula , Sokou Rozeta , Xanthos Theodoros , Iliodromiti Zoi , Iacovidou Nicoletta
Published: February 2022

Background:

End-of-life decision-making for terminally ill neonates raises important legal and ethical issues. In Greece, no recent data on nurses’ attitudes and involvement in end-of-life decisions are available.

Research question/aim:

To investigate neonatal nurses’ attitudes and involvement in end-of-life decisions and the relation to their socio-demographic and work-related background data.

Research design:

A survey was carried out in 28 neonatal intensive care units between September 2018 and January 2019. A structured questionnaire was distributed by post.

Participants and research context:

The questionnaire was answered anonymously by 312 nurses (response rate, 71.1%) and returned to the investigators.

Ethical considerations:

The study was approved by the Bioethics and Research Committee of Aretaieio Hospital in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration.

Findings:

Nurses more often reported involvement in various end-of-life decisions, such as continuation of treatment without adding further therapeutic interventions for terminally ill neonates, while less reported were mechanical ventilation withdrawal and drug administration to end life. Nurses with a high attitude score, reflecting a more quality-of-life approach, were more likely to be involved in setting limits to intensive care. α low score was consistent with life preservation. Nurses’ religiousness ( p = 0.097), parenthood ( p = 0.093), involvement in daily practice ( p = 0.03), and position on the existing legal framework ( p < 0.002) influenced their attitude score.

Discussion:

The likelihood of nurses to support interventions in neonates with poor prognosis in neonatal intensive care units was related to their attitudes. After adjusting for potential confounders, the most important predictors for nurses’ attitudes were parenthood, involvement in daily practice, and position supporting current legislation reform.

Conclusion:

Variability in involvement in end-of-life decisions among nurses exists on a national level.
The duty to care and nurses’ well-being during a pandemic
Authors: Muñoz-Rubilar C Amparo , Carrillos Carolina Pezoa , Mundal Ingunn Pernille , Cuevas Carlos De las , Lara-Cabrera Mariela Loreto
Published: February 2022

Background:

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic is impacting the delivery of healthcare worldwide, creating dilemmas related to the duty to care. Although understanding the ethical dilemmas about the duty to care among nurses is necessary to allow effective preparation, few studies have explored these concerns.

Aim:

This study aimed to identify the ethical dilemmas among clinical nurses in Spain and Chile. It primarily aimed to (1) identify nurses’ agreement with the duty to care despite high risks for themselves and/or their families, (2) describe nurses’ well-being and (3) describe the associations between well-being and the duty to care.

Research design:

Cross-sectional self-reported anonymous data were collected between May and June 2020 via electronic survey distribution (snowball sampling).

Ethical considerations:

The Institutional Ethical Review Committees in both countries approved the study (CHUC_2020_33 and 27/2020).

Findings:

In total, 345 clinical nurses answered the primary question about the duty to care for the sick. Although in the total sample 77.4% agreed they have a duty to care for the sick, significant differences were found between the Spanish and Chilean samples. Overall, 53.6% of the nurses reported low levels of well-being; however, among those reporting low well-being, statistically significant differences were found between Spanish and Chilean nurses as 19.4% and 37.8%, respectively, disagreed with the statement regarding the duty to care.

Discussion:

Participants in both countries reported several ethical dilemmas, safety fears, consequent stress and low well-being. These results suggest that prompt actions are required to address nurses’ ethical concerns, as they might affect their willingness to work and psychological well-being.

Conclusion:

Our findings shed light on the ethical dilemmas nurses are facing related to the duty to care. Not only has the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic given rise to ethical challenges, but it has also affected nurses’ well-being and willingness to work during a pandemic.
Electromechanical impedance-based concrete structural damage detection using principal component analysis incorporated with neural network
Authors: Ai Demi , Mo Fang , Yang Feng , Zhu Hongping
Published: February 2022

This paper proposed an electromechanical admittance (EMA, inverse of impedance)-based concrete structural damage detection (SDD) approach using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) algorithm incorporated with neural network (NN). First, the PCA algorithm was applied to extract essential feature of the original EMA data obtained from an active piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducer through data compression. Second, the extracted principle components were adopted as input of a generated NN model to enhance damage prediction ability of the EMA technique. Third, after a sufficient training of NN model using the PCA-processed data, structural damage in term of severity and location could be automatically predicted. Feasibility of the approach was evaluated via conducting an experiment on detecting crack damages in concrete cubic structure, performance of the NN model was analyzed using randomly varied different ratios of training dataset as well. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed approach gives around 100% accuracy for crack identification, which provided an alternative paradigm of data-driven damage detection in concrete structures.
Student-Generated Questions in Literacy Education and Assessment
Authors: Maplethorpe Lois , Kim Hyunah , Hunte Melissa R. , Vincett Megan , Jang Eunice Eunhee
Published: February 2022

This study investigated the extent to which students’ questioning ability is associated with their literacy abilities, attitudes, perceived text understanding, and interest in the text they read. We further examined these relationships by the type of text they read to generate questions. Fifth- and sixth-grade students ( N = 89) were asked to generate three questions after reading two different types of text. The students also completed reading comprehension and writing tests, as well as a questionnaire about their attitude toward literacy, perceived text understanding, and interest in the text. A hierarchical regression analysis showed that the quality of student-generated questions was predicted by reading comprehension ability, a positive attitude toward writing, and perceived level of understanding of the text, with strong effects related to text genre. We explore the implications of these findings on current pedagogy and assessment practices in literacy education and suggest areas for further research.
The Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire has poor diagnostic accuracy in people with intermittent claudication
Authors: Ibeggazene Saïd , Stirrup Andrew , Pymer Sean , Palmer Joanne , Cai Paris L , Smith George E , Chetter Ian C
Published: February 2022

Background

The screening and diagnosis of intermittent claudication is a challenging process and often relies on the expertise of specialist vascular clinicians. We sought to investigate the diagnostic performance of the Edinburgh Claudication Questionnaire (ECQ) as a screening tool for referrals of suspected intermittent claudication from primary to secondary care.

Method

Prospectively, 100 referrals from primary care with a stated diagnosis or query regarding intermittent claudication were recruited. All participants who completed the ECQ, underwent an anklebrachial pressure index (ABPI) assessment and treadmill exercise testing. Outcomes of the ECQ were compared to clinical diagnoses of intermittent claudication.

Results

The ECQ had a sensitivity of 46.8% (95% CI: 27–65%), specificity of 63.2% (95% CI: 43–82%) and accuracy of 53.0% (95% CI: 43–63%). The diagnostic performance was not changed by combining the ECQ with a positive ABPI or post-exercise ABPI outcome for PAD.

Conclusion

The ECQ had a poor diagnostic performance in this cohort. Considering the results found here and in other recent studies, the utility of the ECQ as a screening tool and epidemiological survey tool must be questioned. Novel, low-resource diagnostic tools are needed in this population.
Risk of bias in non-randomized observational studies assessing the relationship between proton-pump inhibitors and adverse kidney outcomes: a systematic review
Authors: Rajan Pradeep , Iglay Kristy , Rhodes Thomas , Girman Cynthia J. , Bennett Dimitri , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar
Published: February 2022

Background:

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely prescribed as acid-suppression therapy. Some observational studies suggest that long-term use of PPIs is potentially associated with certain adverse kidney outcomes. We conducted a systematic literature review to assess potential bias in non-randomized studies reporting on putative associations between PPIs and adverse kidney outcomes (acute kidney injury, acute interstitial nephritis, chronic interstitial nephritis, acute tubular necrosis, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal disease).

Methods:

We searched the medical literature within 10 years of 17 December 2020. Pre-specified criteria guided identification of relevant English language articles for assessment. Risk of bias on an outcome-specific basis was evaluated using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool by two independent reviewers.

Results:

Of 620 initially identified records, 26 studies met a priori eligibility criteria and underwent risk of bias assessment. Nineteen studies were judged as having a moderate risk of bias for reported adverse kidney outcomes, while six studies were judged as having a serious risk of bias (mainly due to inadequate control of confounders and selection bias). We were unable to determine the overall risk of bias in two studies (one of which was assessed as having a moderate risk of bias for a different adverse kidney outcome) due to insufficient information presented. Effect estimates for PPIs in relation to adverse kidney outcomes varied widely (0.24–7.34) but associations mostly showed increased risk.

Conclusion:

Using ROBINS-I, we found that non-randomized observational studies suggesting kidney harm by PPIs have moderate to serious risk of bias, making it challenging to establish causality. Additional high-quality, real-world evidence among generalizable populations are needed to better understand the relation between PPI treatment and acute and chronic kidney outcomes, accounting for the effects of varying durations of PPI treatment, self-treatment with over-the-counter PPIs, and potential critical confounders.
Internet of things in telecommunications: A technological perspective
Authors: Jabeen Munazza , Ishaq Khurram
Published: February 2022

The Internet of Things (IoT) is changing the role of telecommunications service providers in promoting connectivity among people and devices. Through its deployment, the IoT is fostering digitization, technological innovation, and advancement in the telecom industry. Telecom businesses are primarily engaging in IoT platforms through either international collaborations with cloud service providers or local infrastructure deployments. In developing countries, businesses are adopting IoT technology, which is a newly emerging phenomenon. From sim and data sales to new IoT-enabled offerings, telecoms are diversifying their businesses and services. Individuals and businesses can use their services to host IoT devices, applications, and solutions on the IoT platform. This paper discusses IoT technology in telecom in context of a Telecom Company “China Mobile Pakistan” in developing country Pakistan, who is boosting connectivity among people and devices through the deployment of IoT platform OneNET. Through qualitative case study, this paper documents ecosystem, value chain, features, architecture, and functions of IoT platform OneNET. It emphasizes the importance of an IoT platform that aids management, as well as university students, hardware providers, solution providers, equipment suppliers, local application developers, and incubators, in comprehending the complexities of IoT technology for telecoms.
The Impact of “Social Networking +” Technology on the Social Inclusion of People With Mobility Impairments in China
Authors: Yang Liu , Lin Zhongxuan
Published: February 2022

This study examined whether “social networking +” technology can facilitate the social inclusion of people with mobility impairments. Based on the modality, agency, interactivity, and navigability (MAIN) model of uses and gratifications theory, we conducted a survey on WeChat use among people with mobility impairments in China. We identified 16 gratification factors and tested their associations with social participation, service access, and societal relationships. The linear regression results indicated that instrumental gratifications can more significantly enhance the social participation and service access of people with mobility impairments, whereas non-instrumental gratifications have a greater impact on their social relationships. An analysis of social background and media use revealed that social networking has a greater impact on the social inclusion of people with mobility impairments from superior social backgrounds, especially in the social participation domain.
What Affected Primary Care Patients’ Decisions to Receive the Seasonal Influenza Vaccine in the 2020 to 2021 Season?
Authors: Kajikawa Natsuki , Goto Ryohei , Yokoya Shoji
Published: February 2022

Introduction/objectives:

A primary care patient’s decision to undergo seasonal influenza vaccination may have been different during the global COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020 to 2021 season. The purpose of this study is to investigate what affected primary care patients’ decisions to undergo seasonal influenza vaccination in the 2020 to 2021 season.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted in a primary care clinic in Ibaraki, Japan. We used a purposive sampling strategy to reach individuals aged 20 years or older who underwent influenza vaccination. The transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results:

Twenty-one patients completed the interview. Two main themes emerged: the desire to avoid risks to one’s health and being a part a community in coexistence with others. The first theme included desire to avoid influenza and expectations that vaccination will prevent severe disease. The second theme included concerns about the consequences of one’s own influenza infection on others in the community and necessity of vaccination based on the surroundings and others.

Conclusions:

Raising awareness of risk factors such as older age and comorbidities, and the expectations of community members might be effective in promoting influenza vaccination.
Extending Resource Value-Based Circular Economy Business Model in Emerging Economies: Lessons from India
Authors: Ahmed Jashim Uddin , Islam Quazi Tafsirul , Ahmed Asma , Amin Sakib Bin
Published: February 2022

The linear economic model fueled by misconception and ignorance towards our limited resources led us to extract, produce, consume, and dispose of materials faster than putting them back into the chain or reproducing. The circular economy (CE) business model answers these concerns, and exploring the implementation of such models in densely populated emerging nations is overdue. An open-ended interview of the executive team of Paperman Foundation, the organization in concern, was conducted, along with documentary analysis of the organization’s website, international news coverage, and government legislation to collect data for the research. The Paperman Foundation (hereinafter referred to as Paperman) has successfully implemented a circularity business model based on resource value extension in one of the largest cities in India. They have been scaling their operations for almost a decade and sustainably returned the recovered resources to the supply chain extending the resource value of post-consumer plastic waste and thus cutting down on carbon emission. This study established that such contemporary business models like the circular model can achieve lowered carbon emissions in emerging and transitional economies such as India successfully. Although, there is a high volume of research output from academia in CE in the past decade, most of them are not conducted on cases based in emerging economies. Only one representative organization is considered in this case study. Studying several organizations from similar economies could provide a better understanding.
Hemorrhagic Stroke in a Child With Cytomegaloviral Infection
Authors: Askarova Azhar E. , Zhurkabayeva Bayan D.
Published: February 2022

Pediatric hemorrhagic stroke (HS) has become a problem, determining both a high frequency of fatal outcomes and early disability. The priority objective determining the effectiveness of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hemorrhagic stroke is to identify the etiology of the disease. We report a case of hemorrhagic stroke in a 2-month old child with cytomegalovirus infection, which led to a negative outcome of the disease. In the context of the current presentation, a set of neuroimaging, somatic, and laboratory changes in the child with HS is shown. Our case demonstrates a high probability of hemorrhagic stroke in cytomegalovirus infection, which requires an appropriate vigilance and interdisciplinary approach in identifying the cause of hemorrhagic stroke in children.
The contributions of immediate retrieval and spaced retrieval to word learning in preschoolers with developmental language disorder
Authors: Leonard Laurence B. , Kueser Justin B. , Deevy Patricia , Haebig Eileen , Karpicke Jeffrey D. , Weber Christine
Published: February 2022

Background and Aims

Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) benefit from word learning procedures that include a mix of immediate retrieval and spaced retrieval trials. In this study, we examine the relative contribution of these two types of retrieval.

Methods

We examine data from Haebig et al. (2019) in their study that compared an immediate retrieval condition and a condition of spaced retrieval that also included immediate retrieval trials. Participants were 4- and 5-year old children with DLD and same-age peers with typical language development. Each child learned novel (made-up) words referring to unusual plants and animals in both conditions. We examined the phonetic accuracy of the novel words used during the final learning trial and during recall tests 5 min and 1 week after learning.

Results

On the final learning trial, the children were more phonetically accurate in using the novel words learned in the immediate retrieval condition. However, recall tests after the learning trials revealed a decrease in accuracy, especially for the children with DLD. After one week, accuracy was much lower for words in the immediate retrieval condition than for words in the mixed spaced-plus-immediate retrieval condition. For words learned in the mixed spaced-plus-immediate retrieval condition, accuracy was very stable across time for both groups.

Conclusions

Immediate retrieval boosts the phonetic accuracy of new words in the short term but spaced retrieval promotes stability and increases the likelihood that short-term gains are maintained. Implications: When novel word learning is assessed at the level of phonetic accuracy, children with DLD can show declines over time not characteristic of children with typical language development. Spaced retrieval procedures augmented by immediate retrieval opportunities during learning appear to prevent such declines, leading to longer-lasting gains.
Low-dose Oral Thimerosal for the Treatment of Oral Herpes: Clinical Trial Results and Improved Outcome After Post-hoc Analysis
Authors: Mamber Stephen W. , Hatch Thomas , Miller Craig S. , Murray John V. , Strout Cynthia , McMichael John
Published: February 2022

Background

Thimerosal (TML) is an organomercury antimicrobial. Low doses (1/250th of the amount in a typical vaccine dose) may promote an antiviral immune response. Low-dose TML (BTL-TML) was evaluated for safety and efficacy against herpes labialis in two FDA-approved, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Methods

BTL-TML was evaluated in a Phase IIa trial for its ability to block progression to lesion in subjects with recurrent oral herpes caused by dental trauma. Subjects were administered BTL-TML or a saline control over a 7-day period. In a Phase IIb trial, BTL-TML was evaluated for its ability to block progression to lesion over a 7-day period in subjects with herpes lip infections induced by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Results

Progression to lesion post-dental procedure was prevented in 54.5% (12/22) TML subjects versus 22.2% (2/9) control subjects (p = 0.106). Progression to lesion post-UV irradiation was blocked in 47.8% (11/23) BTL-TML treatment subjects and 42.8% (6/14) control subjects. A post-hoc analysis yielded 52.2% (12/23) BTL-TML subjects with no progression to lesion versus 28.6% (6/21) control subjects with no progression (p = 0.099). There were no significant differences in adverse effects between treatment and control groups in either trial.

Conclusions

Neither clinical trial showed a statistically significant effect of BTL-TML on progression to lesion. However, the post-hoc analysis suggested there is a 48-hour period following UV radiation exposure during which the anti-herpes activity of antivirals such as BTL-TML is reduced. Accordingly, BTL-TML may have promise in subsequent, properly designed and powered clinical trials.
A Rare Case of Successfully Treated Total Anomalous Systemic Venous Connection With Interruption of IVC in an Adolescent
Authors: Mahadevappa Manjappa , Reddy Chinnaswamy , Kulkarni Prashanth
Published: February 2022

Total anomalous systemic venous connection (TASVC) with interruption of inferior vena cava in the absence of heterotaxy is an extremely rare anomaly. TASVC is diagnosed when both the caval veins and coronary sinus drain into the left atrium. The diagnosis of TASVC is possible only when all the systemic veins (both superior and inferior caval veins) and coronary sinus drain into the left atrium in the setting of normal or mirror-imaged atrial arrangement. The presence of cyanosis despite left-to-right shunt across an atrial septal defect with hypoplastic or small right heart chambers should arouse the suspicion of TASVC. The severity of symptoms and the age of presentation depend highly on mixing at the atrial level across the atrial septal defect. The amount of mixing also decides the growth of the right atrium, right ventricle, main and branch pulmonary arteries. Adequately sized right heart chambers and tricuspid annulus with good mixing at the atrial level facilitate complete correction and event-free survival. Prompt diagnosis is possible with contrast echocardiography performed both from upper and lower limb veins, cath study, and cardiac computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. However, it is not uncommon to note that even in the era of advancement in echocardiography, the complete miss diagnosis of this entity as single ventricle physiology and denial to the patient of possible complete surgical correction. We are reporting here a case of successfully treated TASVC with interrupted inferior vena cava in an adolescent.
Selective inhibition of activated protein C anticoagulant activity protects against hemophilic arthropathy in mice
Authors: Magisetty Jhansi , Kondreddy Vijay , Keshava Shiva , Das Kaushik , Esmon Charles T. , Pendurthi Usha R. , Rao L. Vijaya Mohan
Published: February 2022

Recurrent spontaneous or trauma-related bleeding into joints in hemophilia leads to hemophilic arthropathy (HA), a debilitating joint disease. Treatment of HA consists of preventing joint bleeding by clotting factor replacement, and in extreme cases, orthopedic surgery. We recently showed that administration of endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR) blocking monoclonal antibodies (mAb) markedly reduced the severity of HA in factor VIII (FVIII)−/− mice. EPCR blocking inhibits activated protein C (APC) generation and EPCR-dependent APC signaling. The present study was aimed to define the role of inhibition of APC anticoagulant activity, APC signaling, or both in suppressing HA. FVIII−/− mice were treated with a single dose of isotype control mAb, MPC1609 mAb, that inhibits anticoagulant, and signaling properties of APC, or MAPC1591 mAb that only blocks the anticoagulant activity of APC. Joint bleeding was induced by needle puncture injury. HA was evaluated by monitoring joint bleeding, change in joint diameter, and histopathological analysis of joint tissue sections for synovial hypertrophy, macrophage infiltration, neoangiogenesis, cartilage degeneration, and chondrocyte apoptosis. No significant differences were observed between MPC1609 and MAPC1591 in inhibiting APC anticoagulant activity in vitro and equally effective in correcting acute bleeding induced by the saphenous vein incision in FVIII−/− mice. Administration of MAPC1591, and not MPC1609, markedly reduced the severity of HA. MAPC1591 inhibited joint bleed–induced inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 expression and vascular leakage in joints, whereas MPC1609 had no significant effect. Our data show that an mAb that selectively inhibits APC’s anticoagulant activity without compromising its cytoprotective signaling offers a therapeutic potential alternative to treat HA.
Posttransplant cyclophosphamide for prevention of graft-versus-host disease: results of the prospective randomized HOVON-96 trial
Authors: Broers Annoek E. C. , de Jong Cornelis N. , Bakunina Katerina , Hazenberg Mette D. , van Marwijk Kooy Marinus , de Groot Marco R. , van Gelder Michel , Kuball Jürgen , van der Holt Bronno , Meijer Ellen , Cornelissen, Jan J.
Published: February 2022

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is the most important complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT). We performed a prospective randomized, multicenter, phase 3 trial to study whether posttransplant cyclophosphamide (PT-Cy) combined with a short course of cyclosporine A (CsA) would result in a reduction of severe GVHD and improvement of GVHD-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) as compared with the combination of CsA and mycophenolic acid (MPA) after nonmyeloablative (NMA) matched related and unrelated peripheral blood alloHSCT. Between October 2013 and June 2018, 160 patients diagnosed with a high-risk hematological malignancy and having a matched related or at least 8 out of 8 HLA-matched unrelated donor were randomized and allocated in a 1:2 ratio to CsA/MPA or PT-Cy/CsA; a total of 151 patients were transplanted (52 vs 99 patients, respectively). The cumulative incidence of grade 2 to 4 acute GVHD at 6 months was 48% in recipients of CsA/MPA vs 30% following PT-Cy/CsA (hazard ratio [HR], 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29-0.82; P = .007). The 2-year cumulative incidence of extensive chronic GVHD was 48% vs 16% (HR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.21-0.64; P < .001). The 1-year estimate of GRFS was 21% (11% to 32%) vs 45% (35% to 55%), P < .001. With a median follow-up of 56.4 months, relapse incidence, progression-free survival, and overall survival were not significantly different between the 2 treatment arms. PT-Cy combined with a short course of CsA after NMA matched alloHSCT significantly improves GRFS due to a significant reduction in severe acute and chronic GVHD.