bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors related to pregnancy status and unwanted pregnancy among lebanese women during the COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Haddad Chadia , Malhab Sandrella Bou , Sacre Hala , Malaeb Diana , Azzi Joelle , Khachman Dalia , Lahoud Nathalie , Salameh Pascale
Published: February 2022

Background

Home confinement and lockdowns have created challenges and vulnerabilities, causing relevant changes in sexual health and couple stability, particularly in women. The objective of this study was to evaluate the socio-economic and psychological factors related to current pregnancy status and unwanted pregnancy among Lebanese women during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

A cross-sectional online study conducted between June 8 and August 1, 2020, enrolled 369 Lebanese women using the snowball technique for data collection. All married women between 18 and 51, with access to the internet and currently living with their partners, were eligible to participate. Current pregnancy status and unwanted pregnancy were assessed using binary questions. The SPSS software 25 was used for data analysis, and multivariable analysis was performed, taking the pregnancy status and unwanted pregnancy as the dependent variables. The statistical significance was set at a p-value < 0.05.

Results

Our results showed that 11.1% of women were pregnant, of whom 22.0% reported unwanted pregnancies. Having children (ORa = 0.183) and taking contraceptives (ORa = 0.231) were significantly associated with a reduced chance of becoming pregnant. Higher psychological violence would negatively affect pregnancy, but the association was not significant (p = 0.065). Regular visits to the physician for routine checks were also linked to a decreased risk of unwanted pregnancy (ORa = 0.053). Higher psychological violence would affect unwanted pregnancy; however, the association was insignificant (p = 0.056).

Conclusion

The study findings showed that having children and taking contraceptives are associated with a reduced pregnancy. Additionally, psychological violence was found to be related to current pregnancy status and unplanned pregnancy. During a pandemic, vulnerable women should be identified and given adequate care, knowledge, and awareness regarding their reproductive health.
Exploring factors that determine the innovation of micro and small enterprises: the role of entrepreneurial attitude towards innovation in Woldia, Ethiopia
Authors: Kassa Erstu Tarko , Getnet Mirete Tilahun
Published: February 2022

To transform micro and small enterprises to large companies, owners need to strive to launch new methods, systems, ways and innovations. Accordingly, innovation helps micro-enterprises to bounce to achieve fundamental change in their businesses. Micro and small enterprises are exposed by different factors to innovating new products and services. This study, therefore, focused on exploring factors that determine the innovation of service and manufacturing MSEs: the role of entrepreneurial attitude towards innovation in Woldia city administration. The researchers used a cross-sectional research design and followed a quantitative approach. The data were collected by using a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analysed by using SPSS v-25 and Amos graphics to conduct descriptive, factor, correlation, regression and path analysis. The study finding revealed that government support, access to infrastructure, entrepreneurial training, entrepreneurial attitude and the leadership of the owners significantly affected the innovation of service and manufacturing MSEs. Entrepreneurial training and leadership of the owners directly and indirectly affected the innovation of services and manufacturing MSEs through the mediating variable of entrepreneurial attitude.
The impact of post-traumatic stress on quality of life and fatigue in women with Gulf War Illness
Authors: Shastry Nandan , Sultana Esha , Jeffrey Mary , Collado Fanny , Kibler Jeffrey , DeLucia Christian , Fletcher Mary Ann , Klimas Nancy , Craddock Travis J. A.
Published: February 2022

Background

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multi-symptomatic disorder characterized by fatigue, muscle pain, cognitive problems, insomnia, rashes, and gastrointestinal issues affecting an estimated 30% of the ~ 750,000 returning military Veterans of the 1990–1991 Persian Gulf War. Female Veterans deployed to combat in this war report medical symptoms, like cognition and respiratory troubles, at twice the rate compared to non-deployed female Veterans of the same era. The heterogeneity of GWI symptom presentation complicates diagnosis as well as the identification of effective treatments. This is exacerbated by the presence of co-morbidities. Defining subgroups of the illness may help alleviate these complications. One clear grouping is along the lines of gender. Our aim is to determine if women with GWI can be further subdivided into distinct subgroups based on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom presentation.

Methods

Veterans diagnosed with GWI (n = 35) and healthy sedentary controls (n = 35) were recruited through the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Health Center. Symptoms were assessed via the RAND short form health survey, the multidimensional fatigue inventory, and the Davidson trauma scale. Hierarchal regression modeling was performed on measures of health and fatigue with PTSD symptoms as a covariate. This was followed by univariate analyses conducted with two separate GWI groups based on a cut-point of 70 for their total Davidson trauma scale value and performing heteroscedastic t-tests across all measures.

Results

Based on the distinct differences found in PTSD symptomology regarding all health and trauma symptoms, two subgroups were derived within female GWI Veterans. Hierarchical regression models displayed the comorbid effects of GWI and PTSD, as both conditions had measurable impacts on quality of life and fatigue (ΔR2= 0.08–0.672), with notable differences in mental and emotional measures. Overall, a cut point analysis indicated poorer quality of life and greater fatigue within all measures for women with GWI and PTSD symptoms in comparison to those women with GWI without PTSD symptoms and healthy controls.

Conclusions

Our current findings support the understanding that comorbid symptoms of GWI and PTSD subsequently result in poorer quality of life and fatigue, along with establishing the possibility of varying clinical presentations.
LncRNA CASC15 upregulates cyclin D1 by downregulating miR-365 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma to promote cell proliferation
Authors: Zhu Minhui , Zhang Caiyun , Zhou Peng , Chen Shicai , Zheng Hongliang
Published: February 2022

Background

This study investigated the role of lncRNA CASC15 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).

Methods

This study included 58 LSCC patients. Both tumor (LSCC) and adjacent (within 3 cm around tumors) non-tumor tissues from 3 different sites of each patient were collected. CCK-8 assay was used to determine cell proliferation. The expression levels of proteins and mRNAs were determined by Western blotting analysis and qRT-PCRs, respectively.

Results

CASC15 was upregulated in LSCC and high expression levels of CASC15 predicted poor survival. In LSCC tissues, CASC15 was negatively correlated with miR-365 but positively correlated with cyclin D1. In LSCC cells, overexpression of CASC15 resulted in downregulation of miR-365 and upregulation of cyclin D1. Overexpression of miR-365 did not affect the expression of CASC15 but downregulated cyclin D1. Overexpression of Cyclin D1 did not affect the expression of miR-365 and CASC15. Overexpression of CASC15 and cyclin D1 led to promoted, while overexpression of miR-365 led to inhibited LSCC cell proliferation. In addition, overexpression of miR-365 reduced the effects of overexpression of CASC15.

Conclusion

Therefore, CASC15 upregulates cyclin D1 by downregulating miR-365 in LSCC to promote cell proliferation.
Fashion designer’s identity self-verification through social media engagement on Instagram
Authors: Cheung Tin Chun , Choi Sun Young
Published: February 2022

In recent years, online identity and social media engagement have been areas of study that have garnered a lot of interest. However, studies have yet to pinpoint empirical and theoretical connections between engagement and identity. Moreover, current research lacks holistic methods for measuring engagement rate and identity. Our multifaceted study examines how fashion designers use Instagram as a resource to self-verify their complex identities through social media analysis, body and face detection programmes such as Face++ and manual content identification. One-way and two-way ANOVA and t-tests were employed to determine the correlation in engagement rate between designers, image type and influence tier variables. By engaging with followers, designers verify their self-identities, which ultimately reinforces the fashion social identity online. We found variation in followers’ engagement behaviour when different identity types, image types, and designers of varying influence levels are presented. According to the result, images that reflected designers’ personal identity, such as selfies, body image, and miscellaneous images, drew higher engagement than role identity-related images. Among all image types, the full-body and upper torso more gained follower’s attention than a selfie, advertisement and product images in every influence tier. Therefore, fashion designers should consider posting body images as a meaningful form of identity and medium conveying their dressing aesthetic. Our findings suggest managerial implications for designers to strategise their content according to their tiers of influence.
Natural bone-mimicking nanopore-incorporated hydroxyapatite scaffolds for enhanced bone tissue regeneration
Authors: Kim Chansong , Lee Jin Woong , Heo Jun Hyuk , Park Cheolhyun , Kim Dai-Hwan , Yi Gyu Sung , Kang Ho Chang , Jung Hyun Suk , Shin Hyunjung , Lee Jung Heon
Published: February 2022

Background

A considerable number of studies has been carried out to develop alloplastic bone graft materials such as hydroxyapatite (HAP) that mimic the hierarchical structure of natural bones with multiple levels of pores: macro-, micro-, and nanopores. Although nanopores are known to play many essential roles in natural bones, only a few studies have focused on HAPs containing them; none of those studies investigated the functions of nanopores in biological systems.

Method

We developed a simple yet powerful method to introduce nanopores into alloplastic HAP bone graft materials in large quantities by simply pressing HAP nanoparticles and sintering them at a low temperature.

Results

The size of nanopores in HAP scaffolds can be controlled between 16.5 and 30.2 nm by changing the sintering temperature. When nanopores with a size of ~ 30.2 nm, similar to that of nanopores in natural bones, are introduced into HAP scaffolds, the mechanical strength and cell proliferation and differentiation rates are significantly increased. The developed HAP scaffolds containing nanopores (SNPs) are biocompatible, with negligible erythema and inflammatory reactions. In addition, they enhance the bone regeneration when are implanted into a rabbit model. Furthermore, the bone regeneration efficiency of the HAP-based SNP is better than that of a commercially available bone graft material.

Conclusion

Nanopores of HAP scaffolds are very important for improving the bone regeneration efficiency and may be one of the key factors to consider in designing highly efficient next-generation alloplastic bone graft materials.
A clinico-statistical study of factors associated with intraoperative bleeding in orthognathic surgery
Authors: Sugahara Keisuke , Koyama Yu , Koyachi Masahide , Watanabe Akira , Kasahara Kiyohiro , Takano Masayuki , Katakura Akira
Published: February 2022

Background

Excessive bleeding is a major intraoperative risk associated with orthognathic surgery. This study aimed to investigate the factors involved in massive bleeding during orthognathic surgeries so that safe surgeries can be performed. Patients (n=213) diagnosed with jaw deformities and treated with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery (Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy) in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Suidobashi Hospital, Tokyo Dental College between January 2014 and December 2016 were included. Using the patients’ medical and operative records, the number of cases according to sex, age at the time of surgery, body mass index (BMI), circulating blood volume, diagnosis of maxillary deformity, direction of maxillary movement, operative duration, incidence of bad split, injury of nasal mucosa, and blood type were analyzed.

Results

The results revealed that BMI, circulating blood volume, nasal mucosal injury, and operative time were associated with the risk of intraoperative massive bleeding in orthognathic surgeries. Chi-square tests and binomial logistic regression analyses showed significant differences in BMI, circulating blood volume, direction of maxillary movement, operative duration, and injury to the nasal mucosa. Operative duration emerged as the most important risk factor. Furthermore, a >4-mm upward migration of the posterior nasal spine predicted the risk of massive bleeding in orthognathic surgery.

Conclusions

The upward movement of the maxilla should be recognized during the preoperative planning stage as a risk factor for intraoperative bleeding, and avoiding damage to the nasal mucosa should be considered a requirement for surgeons to prevent massive bleeding during surgery.
Long-term adjuvant administration of temozolomide impacts serum ions concentration in high-grade glioma
Authors: Zhong Liyun , Yang Pei , Zhang Chuanbao , Wang Zheng , Jiang Tao , Chen Baoshi , Shan Xia , Qiu Xiaoguang
Published: February 2022

Background

Adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy with standard regimen remarkably improves survival in patients with high-grade glioma (HGG). However, the influence of long-term TMZ chemotherapy on serum ions concentration is unclear.

Methods

One hundred and thirty-eight patients with HGG were included. Their blood samples were collected for blood biochemistry and routine test. The alteration in serum ions concentration, total protein, albumin, globin, and blood cells counts were used to identify the impact of long-term TMZ chemotherapy.

Results

Through the comparation of quantitative value of diverse parameters among different chemotherapy cycles, we identified that serum potassium concentration had a downward trend after TMZ administration (1st vs. 6th, p < 0.001; 1st vs. 12th, p < 0.001). Additionally, the correlation analysis showed that platelets was negatively correlated with chemotherapy cycles (r = − 0.649, p = 0.023). The hematological adverse events mainly centered on grade 1 to 2.

Conclusion

Long-term administration of TMZ may lead to serum ions disturbance. Besides the myelosuppression, we should pay attention to the alteration in serum ions concentration, and give patients proper symptomatic treatment when necessary.
Is it time for Africa to adopt primaquine in the era of malaria control and elimination?
Authors: Mwaiswelo Richard O. , Kabuga Hamis , Kweka Eliningaya J. , Baraka Vito
Published: February 2022

Primaquine is a gametocytocidal drug known to significantly reduce malaria transmission. However, primaquine induces a dose-dependent acute hemolytic anemia (AHA) in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency that has led to a limited use of the drug especially in Africa where the condition is common. The World Health Organization (WHO) now recommends a single low dose (SLD) of primaquine (0.25 mg/kg) as P. falciparum gametocytocidal without the need for prior screening of G6PD status. Adoption and implementation of SLD primaquine in Africa may probably reduce malaria transmission, a pre-requisite for malaria elimination. This review therefore, focused on the safety of primaquine for control of malaria in Africa. The literature search was performed using online database Google Scholar, PubMed, HINARI, and Science Direct. Search terms used were “malaria”, “primaquine”, “safety”, “G6PD deficiency”, “large scale” or “mass administration”. Clinical trials in many African countries have shown SLD primaquine to be safe especially in a milder African G6PD A- variant. Likewise, large-scale primaquine administrations outside Africa involving hundreds of thousands to tenths of millions of participants and with severe variants of G6PD deficiency have also shown primaquine to be safe and well-tolerated. Fourteen deaths associated with primaquine have been reported globally over the past 6 decades, but none occurred following the administration of SLD primaquine. Available evidence shows that the WHO-recommended SLD primaquine dose added to effective schizonticides is safe and well-tolerated even in individuals with G6PD deficiency, and therefore, it can be safely used in the African population with the mildest G6PD A- variant.
Role of MRI special diffusion weighted imaging/diffusion tensor imaging techniques in the assessment of perianal fistula activity
Authors: ElSharbatly Radwa , Halim Manal , Shaker Fady , Mashhour Abdrabou N. , Azzam Heba
Published: February 2022

Background

Pre-operative MRI examination is currently considered as an evolving tool for assessment of perianal fistula types, extensions, and complications to achieve proper treatment plan. Proper assessment of fistula activity can also have a major contributing role to the treatment plan, through deciding the type of prescribed medications, proper surgical approach as well as the proper operative intervention timing. Reviewing literature, only few studies have mentioned the importance of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) sequences in diagnosing perianal fistula activity, yet many studies have discussed the perianal fistula activity assessment using other diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) sequences. In the present study, the main objective was to prove the MRI quantitative DTI sequences’ ability of diagnosing perianal fistulae inflammatory activity.

Results

This study was a prospective analysis in which fistular activity was confirmed by intra-operative findings (considered as the standard reference). The cases included in the study were divided into two groups, based on their surgical findings, positive inflammatory and negative inflammatory groups. Both groups were pre-operatively assessed using MRI imaging and additionally used diffusion weighted and tensor imaging (DWI and DTI) sequences by special post-processing quantitative assessment of DTI FA and ADC values. There was significant statistical difference between the mean ADC value of the PIA and NIA groups in the track, edema, ipsilateral and contralateral sphincter areas with P values (P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.002 and 0.000 respectively). There was also significant difference between the mean FA value of the PIA and NIA groups in the track, edema, ipsilateral and contralateral sphincter areas with P values (P = 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.008 respectively).

Conclusion

This study results revealed that FA are relatively lower in positive inflammatory activity lesions than in negative inflammatory activity lesions while the ADC values were relatively higher in positive inflammatory activity lesions than in negative inflammatory activity lesions and the differences were statistically significant having a fundamental role in the assessment of perianal fistula activity especially at the track area being of highest sensitivity and specificity. Unlike conventional MRI sequences which revealed only high specificity being a good negative modality.
Impact of Limited E-Health Literacy on the Overall Survival of Patients With Cancer
Authors: Heudel Pierre E. , Delrieu Lidia , Dumas Elise , Crochet Hugo , Hodroj Khalil , Charrier Isabelle , Chvetzoff Gisèle , Durand Thierry , Blay Jean-Yves
Published: February 2022

PURPOSE

Digitalization of the health care system is transforming cancer patient care. Although many studies have investigated the determinants of a limited digital health literacy, the association between frailty factors and overall survival (OS) of these patients has never been assessed.

METHODS

A retrospective noninterventional study included 15,244 adult patients with cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017, and treated at the Centre Léon Bérard. Limited e-health literacy was defined as the absence of an e-mail address in the electronic patient record. An Inverse Probability of Treatment-Weighted Kaplan-Meier estimate and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model including interaction terms were used to adjust for confounding on measured covariates.

RESULTS

In total, 15,244 adults with cancer were included: 55% women, with a median age of 62 years (19-103), and 35.5% had a metastatic disease. More than half (n = 8,771, 57.5%) had entered their e-mail address in their electronic patient record, and 4,020 (26.4%) opened their own patient portal. The median follow-up was 3.6 years (range: 0-6.8). Inverse Probability of Treatment-weighted Kaplan-Meier estimates showed a significantly better OS for patients with an e-mail address ( P < .001). In multivariate analysis integrating interaction terms, male gender (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.27; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.41; P < .001), older age (HR = 1.02; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.03; P < .001), de novo metastatic setting (HR = 2.63; 95% CI, 2.47 to 2.79; P < .001), and no e-mail address (HR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.00; P < .001) were significantly associated with worse OS.

CONCLUSION

Our results support a strong association between the limited level of literacy and OS. A more in-depth study integrating variables such as socioeconomic level and location of residence would enrich these results.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Patterns of Care and Outcome of Head and Neck Cancer: Real-World Experience From a Tertiary Care Cancer Center in India
Authors: Venkatasai Jeyaanth , John Christopher , Kondavetti Satish Srinivas , Appasamy Mallika , Parasuraman Lakshminarasimhan , Ambalathandi Ravichandran , Masilamani Hemavathi
Published: February 2022

PURPOSE

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented health, social, and economic unrest globally, particularly affecting resource-limited low-middle–income countries. The resultant curfew had made the access to and delivery of cancer care services an arduous task. We have reported the patterns of care and 1-year outcome of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treatment before and during COVID-19 lockdown at our institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent radiation therapy (RT) for nonmetastatic HNSCC between March 1, 2020, and July 31, 2020, were included in the COVID-RT group, and those who were treated between October 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020, were included in the preCOVID-RT group.

RESULTS

A total of 25 patients were in the COVID-RT group, and 51 patients were in the preCOVID-RT group. An increase in the incidence of locally advanced cancers across all subsites was observed in the COVID-RT group. There was a steep increase in the median overall RT treatment duration (52 v 44) and median break days during RT (10 v 2) in the COVID-RT group. The median follow-up period of all patients was 18 months. The progression-free survival at 1 year in the COVID-RT group and preCOVID-RT group was 84% and 90%, respectively ( P = .08), and overall survival at 1 year was 86% and 96%, respectively ( P = .06).

CONCLUSION

Our study elucidates the adverse impact of the COVID-19 curfew on cancer care and has demonstrated safe delivery of RT for HNSCC without major acute adverse effects. Despite a significant increase in treatment breaks, early outcome data also suggest that 1-year progression-free survival and overall survival are comparable with that of the pre–COVID-19 times; however, longer follow-up is warranted.
Shape-free theory for the self-assembly kinetics in macromolecular systems
Authors: Trugilho L. F. , Rizzi L. G.
Published: February 2022

Although temperature-dependent self-assembly kinetics is usually described by approaches which assume that the macromolecular aggregates have a definite shape, sometimes that assumption might be inappropriate, as in the case of several colloidal and biopolymeric systems. Here we consider a simple model for particle aggregation which displays a first-order phase transition in order to illustrate a rate theory based on microcanonical thermostatistics that allows one to obtain a shape-free description of its thermally induced self-assembly kinetics. Stochastic simulations are performed to validate our approach and demonstrate how the equilibrium thermostatistics properties of the system can be related to the temperature-dependent rate constants. As a model-independent kinetic approach, it may provide experimentalists with a reliable method to extract information about free-energy profiles and microcanonical entropies from kinetic data.
Probing the electronic, elastic, mechanical and anisotropic features of ZrTiX4 alloys via density functional theory
Authors: Uğur Gökay , Uğur Şule , Özdemir Alptuğ , Güler Melek , Güler Emre
Published: February 2022

Zr-Ti-X ternary alloys are striking materials of the latest technology because of their excellent and desired mechanical aspects. Therefore, electronic, elastic, mechanical and anisotropic properties of ZrTiX4 (X = Cr, Mo, W) alloys were probed in this work for the first time via density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The computed electronic band structures disclose the metallic nature of all alloys. Further, the calculated elastic stiffness constants and linking mechanical data of all alloys demonstrate mechanical stability. All surveyed alloys display ductile mechanical character where ZrTiCr4 and ZrTiMo4 alloys are found to be more ductile than ZrTiW4. On the other hand, ZrTiW4 was determined to be approximately two times harder than the ZrTiCr4 and ZrTiMo4 alloys with a Vickers Hardness value of 8.47 GPa. Both numerical and three-dimensional (3D) analyses reveal the presence of elastic anisotropy in ZrTiX4 (X = Cr, Mo, W) alloys.
Subcutaneous Infusion of rhPTH1-34 During Pregnancy and Nursing in a Woman With Autosomal Dominant Hypoparathyroidism 1
Authors: Shulman Dorothy
Published: February 2022

We report a successful pregnancy in a young woman with autosomal dominant hypoparathyroidism type 1 (ADH1) due to an activating mutation of the calcium sensing receptor (CASR) (c.2519C>T; p.Ala840Val) who was treated with recombinant human parathyroid hormone (rhPTH)1-34 delivered via continuous subcutaneous infusion using an OmniPod pump. She experienced no tetany or hospitalizations during the pregnancy. Serum calcium levels ranged from 7.2 to 9.8 mg/dL. Due to mild preeclampsia, her infant was delivered at 37 weeks. There were no physical anomalies. The patient continued pump therapy while nursing her daughter, who was ultimately confirmed to have the same CASR mutation. Breastfeeding appeared to protect the infant from significant hypocalcemia without the need for calcium or calcitriol supplementation until weaning at a year of age. A role for parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is suggested.
Austen, Gaskell, and the Politics of Domestic Fiction
Authors: Sussman Matthew
Published: February 2022

This essay offers a significant reconceptualization of Jane Austen’s influence on political novelists of the mid-nineteenth century by examining Elizabeth Gaskell’s extensive use of Pride and Prejudice (1813) in her novel North and South (1855). At a moment when the political dimensions of Austen’s fictions were fading to obscurity, Gaskell drew on Austen’s portrayal of domestic relationships to underscore their relevance to “public” problems. On this view, the Austenian courtship plot does not contain political anxieties so much as animate them, with the logic of complementary coupling providing a formal and thematic model for the dialectical engagements necessary for navigating social conflict. At the same time, Gaskell uses Austenian motifs to dramatize the “marriageability” of different generic frameworks during a time of regional fragmentation while also envisioning Austen as a parental figure whose legacy called for continuing negotiation.
Everybody’s Autotheory
Authors: Cavitch Max
Published: February 2022

This essay historicizes the emergence of the term autotheory as the signifier of a mode of autobiographical writing and reading based primarily on intersubjective histories and relational ontologies. Instead of trying to define autotheory as a neatly circumscribed “subgenre” of autobiography, it argues that the term stands for a contemporary disturbance in the entire autobiographical field—a disturbance that, thanks in large part to the queer and feminist genealogies that inform it, helps disrupt the close association of autobiography and the prizing of ontological certainty and reorients the autobiographical pursuit of (self-)recognition away from the scripts of neoliberal individualism and toward the self’s more radical and formative intersubjectivity.
“Bringing Humanity Full Circle Back into the Sea”
Authors: Rozwadowski Helen M.
Published: February 2022

Futurists have recognized the ocean’s depths as resembling space in its promise as a setting for human success, survival, or redemption. Imagined futures of the ocean have been intertwined with reflections on human evolution and what it means to be human. In 1962 Jacques Cousteau announced Homo aquaticus, a vision involving both technological intervention and natural adaptation to intentionally evolve a species of human to live underwater. The story of Homo aquaticus reveals the extent to which humanity’s future has become tied to the ocean. This article historicizes the casual and common understanding that humans are connected to the sea by investigating the precursors to the Homo aquaticus idea, the attempts to realize this prediction through technology, and the legacies emerging from it. Homo aquaticus and its allied visions, while animated by older traditions, flourished in the historical context of intensely optimistic post–World War II hopes for human exploitation of the ocean, especially its depths. In the face of environmental change and awareness, subsequent versions reflect yearnings merely for survival of the human species. The origin, shape, and fate of the Homo aquaticus idea offer insights into our human relationship with the rapidly changing ocean environment, while its persistence may reflect hope for prospective solutions to encroaching, human-caused disasters.
Persuasion with Correlation Neglect: A Full Manipulation Result
Authors: Levy Gilat , Barreda Inés Moreno de , Razin Ronny
Published: February 2022

We consider an information design problem in which a sender tries to persuade a receiver that has “correlation neglect,” i.e., fails to understand that signals might be correlated. We show that a sender with unlimited number of signals can fully manipulate the receiver. Specifically, the sender can induce the receiver to hold any state-dependent posterior she wishes to. If the sender only wishes to induce a state-independent posterior, she can use fully correlated signals, but generally she needs to design more involved correlation structures. (JEL D82, D83)
Centralized Matching with Incomplete Information
Authors: Fernandez Marcelo Ariel , Rudov Kirill , Yariv Leeat
Published: February 2022

We study the impacts of incomplete information on centralized one-to-one matching markets. We focus on the commonly used Deferred Acceptance mechanism (Gale and Shapley 1962). We show that many complete-information results are fragile to a small infusion of uncertainty about others’ preferences. (JEL C78, D11, D21, D47)
Off-Site Distortion and Color Compensation of Underwater Archaeological Images Photographed in the Very Turbid Yellow Sea
Authors: Jung Young-Hwa , Kim Gyuho , Yoo Woo Sik
Published: February 2022

Underwater photographing and image recording are essential for pre-excavation survey and during excavation in underwater archaeology. Unlike photographing on land, all underwater images suffer various quality degradations such as shape distortions, color shift, blur, low contrast, high noise levels and so on. Outcome is very often heavily photographing equipment and photographer dependent. Excavation schedule, weather conditions, and water conditions can put burdens on divers. Usable images are very limited compared to the efforts. In underwater archaeological study in very turbid water such as in the Yellow Sea (between mainland China and the Korean peninsula), underwater photographing is very challenging. In this study, off-site image distortion and color compensation techniques using an image processing/analysis software is investigated as an alternative image quality enhancement method. As sample images, photographs taken during the excavation of 800-year-old Taean Mado Shipwrecks in the Yellow Sea in 2008-2010 were mainly used. Significant enhancement in distortion and color compensation of archived images were obtained by simple post image processing using image processing/analysis software (PicMan) customized for given view ports, lenses and cameras with and without optical axis offsets. Post image processing is found to be very effective in distortion and color compensation of both recent and archived images from various photographing equipment models and configurations. Merits and demerit of in-situ, distortion and color compensated photographing with sophisticated equipment and conventional photographing equipment, which requires post image processing, are compared.
A Comparative Functionality Evaluation of Paulownia Wood Storage Boxes and Acid-free Archival Boxes to Store the Annals of Joseon Dynasty - Indoor and Outdoor Temperature and Relative Humidity Controls, and Heat Release Rate -
Authors: Park Hae Jin , Kim Seong Eun , Lee Jin Kyung , Chung Yong Jae
Published: February 2022

A paulownia wood has been widely used with various advantages as its low weight, permeability, convenient workability and aesthetic patterns for a long time. However, the related empirical researches and simultaneous evaluations of functionality are insufficient compared with acid-free archival boxes for now. In this study, the indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity control and heat release rate were evaluated under the controlled and uncontrolled circumstance in 2018. The paulownia wood storage box showed superior control effect of relative humidity than the acid-free archival box in constantly uncontrolled environment. Also, the possibility of the flame diffusion from the surface of the materials was higher for the paulownia materials, and the acid-free archival box showed more dangerous patterns in the early stages of the fire.
Depressive symptoms and their sociodemographic determinants among people living with HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Rabeya Rokshana , Alam Nur , Sonia Zannatul Ferdous , Mohajon Dipa Rani , Arafat Yasin , Hasan Md. Kamrul , Hawlader Mohammad Delwer Hossain
Published: February 2022

Background: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh.  

Methods: This cross-sectional study, which took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from July to December 2020, included 338 HIV-positive people. The method used was a simple random sampling technique. The Beck Depression Inventory assessed depression in HIV-positive people (BDI). 

Results: More than 62 percent of the 338 people surveyed had severe depression, 30.5 percent had moderate depression, 5.6 percent had mild depression, and 1.8 percent had no depression at all. Age, being a man, being married, and having a low monthly income were all significant predictors of depression. 

Conclusions: This study found that depressive symptoms are highly prevalent among HIV-positive patients in Bangladesh. The authors recommend that health care providers address depressive disorders for people with HIV/ AIDS comprehensively.
Using social annotation to construct knowledge with others: A case study across undergraduate courses
Authors: Morales Esteban , Kalir Jeremiah H. , Fleerackers Alice , Alperin Juan Pablo
Published: February 2022

Background: Social annotation (SA) is a genre of learning technology that enables the addition of digital notes to shared texts and affords contextualized peer-to-peer online discussion. A small body of literature examines how SA, as asynchronous online discussion, can contribute to students’ knowledge construction (KC)—or a process whereby learners collaborate through shared socio-cognitive practices. This case study analyzed how SA enabled student participation in seven KC activities, such as interpretation and elaboration.

Methods: We analyzed 2,121 annotations written by 59 students in three undergraduate courses at a Canadian University in the Winter 2019 semester. Using a method of open coding and constant comparison, we coded each annotation for evidence of KC activities.

Results: Results showed a range of KC activities in students’ SA. Across courses, interpretation was the most common KC activity (40%), followed by elaboration (20%). Annotations that were part of peer-to-peer discussion included all seven types of KC activities, but some activities, such as consensus building, support, and conflict, were almost exclusively found in replies to others.

Conclusions: This study suggests that SA is a productive form of online learning through which undergraduate students in multiple disciplinary contexts can interact with peers, make sense of academic content, and construct knowledge by reading and writing together.
Nomogram to predict changes in semen parameters following clomiphene citrate therapy for males with abnormal semen parameters
Authors: Alasmi Raed , Lau Susan , Ji Xinge , Kattan Michael W , Jarvi Keith A
Published: February 2022

Background: Clomiphene citrate (CC) is known to improve semen quality for men with infertility, but there are no published algorithms to predict the changes in an individual’s semen parameters following CC therapy. Since there are multiple options to treat men with infertility, a model to predict the outcomes of CC therapy would allow men to make a more informed decision on their treatment choices. 

Methods: This is a prospective study on a cohort of 121 infertile men being treated empirically with CC 25 mg every other day for a minimum of three months. Men were included if they did not have other active fertility therapies other than the use of supplements. Semen samples and a hormone profile (including total testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and leutinizing hormone (LH)) were provided prior to and at least three months after initiation of therapy. The patient age, pre-CC hormone values and semen parameters were used to develop a nomogram to predict the post-CC hormone values and semen parameters. The model was developed with predictors selected using backward selection methods by minimizing root mean square error evaluated on 500 bootstrap runs. A zero-inflated negative binomial modeling (ZINB) approach was used to model sperm concentration and sperm motility. A generalized linear model for the Gamma distribution was used to model testosterone. A linear model was used to model log transformed LH, FSH and semen volume.

Results: Post-CC sperm parameters and hormone values were predicted by the pre-CC sperm concentration, hormone values and patient. Nomograms were developed to predict the outcomes of CC therapy based on pre-CC parameters.

Conclusion: These new models will help physicians personalize care by predicting the outcomes of therapy and allow clinicians to tailor the treatment to the individual couple.
The second wave: estimating the hidden asymptomatic prevalence of COVID-19 in Ireland as we plan for imminent immunisation
Authors: Comiskey Catherine , Snel Anne , Banka Prakashini
Published: February 2022

Since the first case of COVID-19 in Ireland was recorded policy makers have introduced mitigation measures to control the spread of infection. Infection is spread by both known cases and hidden, undetected asymptomatic cases.  Asymptomatic individuals are people who transmit the virus but display no clinical symptoms. Current evidence reveals that this population is a major contributing factor to the spread of the disease. There is little or no knowledge of the scale of the hidden prevalence of all infections both asymptomatic and symptomatic in Ireland. Furthermore, as governments plan for the roll out of imminent immunisation programmes, the need to know the scale of the hidden prevalence and hence knowledge of the level of immunisation required is essential.

We describe and analyse the numbers of reported cases of COVID-19 in Ireland from the first case in February 2020 to mid-December 2020. Using the method of back-calculation we provide estimates of the asymptomatic prevalence of cases from June to December 2020.

The descriptive analysis highlighted two epidemic waves of known cases in the time period. Wave two from June to December included twice as many cases as wave one and cases were significantly younger. The back-calculation estimates of asymptomatic prevalence during this time period revealed that for every case known there was an additional unknown case and total prevalence in wave two was estimated to be approximately 95,000 as opposed to the reported 48,390 cases.

As prevalence in wave two is known to be spreading within and from younger age groups the role of mixing patterns on spread needs to be disseminated to the wider public to adequately inform them how personal modifications in behaviour can contribute to the control of the epidemic. While universally imposed lockdowns and mitigation measures may be essential, personal behavioural mixing choices are powerful protectors.
A systematic review of effective quality feedback measurement tools used in clinical skills assessment
Authors: Alsahafi Akram , Ling Davina Li Xin , Newell Micheál , Kropmans Thomas
Published: February 2022

Background:

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a valid tool to assess the clinical skills of medical students. Feedback after OSCE is essential for student improvement and safe clinical practice. Many examiners do not provide helpful or insightful feedback in the text space provided after OSCE stations, which may adversely affect learning outcomes. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the best determinants for quality written feedback in the field of medicine.  

Methods:

PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINHAL, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for relevant literature up to February 2021. We included studies that described the quality of good/effective feedback in clinical skills assessment in the field of medicine. Four independent reviewers extracted determinants used to assess the quality of written feedback. The percentage agreement and kappa coefficients were calculated for each determinant. The ROBINS-I (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions) tool was used to assess the risk of bias.

Results:

14 studies were included in this systematic review. 10 determinants were identified for assessing feedback. The determinants with the highest agreement among reviewers were specific, described gap, balanced, constructive and behavioural; with kappa values of 0.79, 0.45, 0.33, 0.33 and 0.26 respectively. All other determinants had low agreement (kappa values below 0.22) indicating that even though they have been used in the literature, they might not be applicable for good quality feedback. The risk of bias was low or moderate overall.

Conclusions:

This work suggests that good quality written feedback should be specific, balanced, and constructive in nature, and should describe the gap in student learning as well as observed behavioural actions in the exams.  Integrating these determinants in OSCE assessment will help guide and support educators for providing effective feedback for the learner.
Individual-level variations in malaria susceptibility and acquisition of clinical protection
Authors: Valletta John Joseph , Addy John W.G. , Reid Adam J. , Ndungu Francis M. , Bediako Yaw , Mwacharo Jedida , Mohammed Khadija Said , Musyoki Jennifer , Ngoi Joyce Mwongeli , Wambua Joshua , Otieno Edward , Berriman Matt , Bejon Philip , Marsh Kevin , Langhorne Jean , Newbold Chris I. , Recker Mario
Published: February 2022

After decades of research, our understanding of when and why individuals infected with Plasmodium falciparum develop clinical malaria is still limited. Correlates of immune protection are often sought through prospective cohort studies, where measured host factors are correlated against the incidence of clinical disease over a set period of time. However, robustly inferring individual-level protection from these population-level findings has proved difficult due to small effect sizes and high levels of variance underlying such data. In order to better understand the nature of these inter-individual variations, we analysed the long-term malaria epidemiology of children ≤12 years old growing up under seasonal exposure to the parasite in the sub-location of Junju, Kenya. Despite the cohort’s limited geographic expanse (ca. 3km x 10km), our data reveal a high degree of spatial and temporal variability in malaria prevalence and incidence rates, causing individuals to experience varying levels of exposure to the parasite at different times during their life. Analysing individual-level infection histories further reveal an unexpectedly high variability in the rate at which children experience clinical malaria episodes. Besides exposure to the parasite, measured as disease prevalence in the surrounding area, we find that the birth time of year has an independent effect on the individual’s risk of experiencing a clinical episode. Furthermore, our analyses reveal that those children with a history of an above average number of episodes are more likely to experience further episodes during the upcoming transmission season. These findings are indicative of phenotypic differences in the rates by which children acquire clinical protection to malaria and offer important insights into the natural variability underlying malaria epidemiology.
Proceso de gentrificación de un espacio degradado convertido en escaparate cultural. El caso del Centro Histórico de Málaga.
Authors: Castro-Noblejas Hugo , Sortino-Barrionuevo Juan Francisco , Reyes-Corredera Sergio
Published: February 2022

El Centro Histórico de Málaga ha estado sufriendo una serie de profundas transformaciones arquitectónicas, funcionales y sociales en las últimas décadas. Estos procesos no han sido analizados aún de forma sistemática, pese a que el estudio de los procesos urbanos como el de la gentrificación es un tema de máxima actualidad. Este trabajo pretende determinar si el Centro Histórico de Málaga ha presentado un proceso de gentrificación desde el último tercio del siglo XX hasta inicios del siglo XXI. Se ha procedido a la obtención de una serie de indicadores demográficos, socioeconómicos e inmobiliarios y al análisis de los mismos. Los resultados obtenidos indican la existencia de un proceso de gentrificación avanzado. Este estudio establece la base para una vía de investigación más amplia de este espacio urbano malagueño.