bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of attitudes to media representation of mental illness between journalists and mental health professionals in Russia with German-speaking countries of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria
Authors: Eichenberg Christiane , Strobl Lilian , Jaeger Tina , Kirsha Alla , Laugharne Richard , Shankar Rohit
Published: December 2022

Background:

The media are an important source of information on mental health. They are often implicit in reinforcing negative stereotypes of people with mental health problems. There are no studies in German-speaking countries or Russia on media attitudes to mental health and mental health professionals’ (MHP) attitudes to the media.

Aims:

This study explored journalists and MHPs attitudes to mental health media reporting in the German speaking countries of Switzerland, Germany, and Austria and in Russia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional online internet survey, of ten Likert scale statements to ascertain perceptions of stigma, role, and training needs following the STROBE guidance was conducted among journalists and MHPs via their professional organizations. A non-discriminatory exponential snowballing technique leading to non-probability sampling was used. Descriptive statistics, Kruskal-Wallis, and a post hoc Dunn’s multiple comparisons test using Bonferroni adjustment were used to analyze data.

Results:

A total of 106 German-speaking and 78 Russian journalists, 109 German-speaking, and 82 Russian MHPs fully answered the survey. Journalists felt the media were more balanced about mental health than MHPs, and MHPs were wary of engagement with the media. Small minorities of journalists had engaged with mental health training, similarly few MHPs had engaged with media training, but both groups were interested in doing so in the future. Significant differences between German and Russian speaking respondents were found on a range of issues (e.g. stigmatization, image about psychotherapy, the media/MHPs, and their own role in engaging with the media/MHPs). Russians were more likely to know specialized (media/mental health awareness) training compared to German-speaking MHPs and journalists.

Conclusion:

There are potential opportunities to engage journalists and MHPs in training about each other’s worlds and reducing stigma toward mental illness through engaging MHPs with the media.
Beyond Income: Dynamic Consumer Financial Vulnerability
Authors: Salisbury Linda Court , Nenkov Gergana Y. , Blanchard Simon J. , Hill Ronald Paul , Brown Alexander L. , Martin Kelly D.
Published: December 2022

This research challenges the entrenched belief that financial vulnerability affects only low-income consumers. Instead, most consumers across the socioeconomic spectrum experience varying degrees of financial vulnerability at different points during their lives, whether sporadically or chronically; vulnerability is dynamic and heterogeneous. The authors propose a novel, theory-driven definition of consumer financial vulnerability (CFV) as the risk of incurring future harm, given the consumer's current access to various financial resources. A new conceptual framework decouples “vulnerability” from “harm” to distinguish the state of CFV, its determinants (access to various interdependent financial resources), and the constructs it foreshadows (multiple interconnected forms of realized harm). Five research propositions follow: (1) financial resource volatility plays a vital role in CFV, (2) recovering from harm requires more financial resources than preventing harm, (3) a multiperiod lens is needed to assess CFV accurately, (4) greater financial resource access can increase CFV, and (5) generalized financial literacy is not a panacea for mitigating CFV. The propositions and their implications for marketing strategy, public policy, and consumer well-being offer a rich research agenda. The authors propose a measure of CFV—the probability that financial resources are insufficient to meet or exceed a harm threshold—for future empirical investigations.
Respiratory sequelae of dengue fever
Authors: Mehmood Asad , Afzal Muhammad Waqas , Ahmad Muhammad , Mufti Mahreen , Malik Jahanzeb , Zaidi Syed Muhammad Jawad
Published: December 2022

Dengue viral illness is endemic in many tropical countries with temperate climates. The haematological and cardiovascular sequelae of dengue are well known; however, respiratory manifestations are still an area of active medical research. We conducted a literature search on PubMed, Medline CINAHIL, EMBASE and found 64 articles on respiratory sequelae of dengue. All relevant original articles and case reports were included and the relevant information regarding the respiratory manifestations of dengue was retrieved from the relevant eligible articles. Respiratory manifestations of dengue range from mild pleural effusion to acute respiratory distress syndrome. The former was the most common complication, seen in 5.1% of patients, followed by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 1.7%, pneumonia in 0.5%, respiratory distress in 0.3%, pulmonary hemorrhage in 0.1%, and haemothorax in 0.01%. Involvement of the respiratory system indicates severe disease and is difficult to manage. Therefore its early detection is important.
‘Put students’ dreams first’: Student perspectives on secondary school climate improvement in Mongolia
Authors: Enkhtur Oyundelger , Gruman Diana H , Munkhbat Michidmaa
Published: December 2022

Involving students in school improvement can yield many benefits for students and promote meaningful change in educational practices and policies. In this qualitative study, we centered the voices of Mongolian adolescents by soliciting their suggestions for improving safety and support in their schools. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyze written comments from 810 Mongolian secondary students grades 8 through 12, yielding five themes related to student voice, food, security, relationships, and holistic development. The aims of the study were to (a) identify similarities and differences between Mongolian student experiences and Western-based school climate research and (b) contribute to the dialogue about school improvement in Mongolia and other non-Western countries. Findings point to recommendations for providing adequate nutrition, ensuring safety, and meeting the basic psychological needs of students in Mongolian secondary schools.
Young voters, older candidates and policy preferences: Evidence from two experiments
Authors: Lees Charles , Praino Rodrigo
Published: December 2022

Recent elections around the world have seen young voters come out in large numbers to support young leaders running for office, such as New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern in October 2020. At the same time, however, young voters have shown strong support for relatively older candidates such as Jeremy Corbyn in the United Kingdom and Bernie Sanders in the United States. While the former is consistent with the descriptive representation literature, the latter is not. This article deploys an experimental design involving 1000 young participants to analyse young voter support for older candidates. We find that young voters are significantly more likely to support older candidates if they are aware that these candidates champion general left-wing policies, but the same is not true for young candidates. We also find that ceteris paribus younger voters do not prefer younger candidates to older candidates.
Cultural Expression of Anxiety Symptoms in Kannada Language: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Sowmya H R  , Ghani Sarah , Sreedaran Priya , Sahu Manoj K , Mysore Ashok , Sharan Pratap
Published: December 2022

Background:

In anxiety disorders, culture is important in symptom presentation and help-seeking. Most tools for anxiety disorders are not validated in India and thus might not capture culture-specific aspects of anxiety. This study aims to identify and generate culturally specific terms to describe symptoms of anxiety as part of the development of the Kannada version of the Panic and Anxiety National Indian Questionnaire (PANIQ). The PANIQ is a tool under development to identify anxiety and panic in Indian settings.

Methods:

This study used qualitative methods like focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) to identify and generate items related to anxiety and panic in Kannada from stakeholders like individuals with anxiety disorders, their caregivers, healthcare workers, and mental health professionals who treat individuals with anxiety and panic disorders. Five FGDs ( n = 28), one triad ( n = 3), and 34 IDIs ( n = 34) were conducted.

Results:

The mean age of the participants was 38.9 (standard deviation: 12.28) years; 57.1% were from rural areas. We generated 615 Kannada items. These were classified into 21 domains and facets. Items in domains like Somatic symptoms, Fear, and Impairment in day-to-day life were higher than those noted in existing tools for anxiety that focus more on cognitive symptoms of anxiety.

Conclusions:

This study generated culturally specific items of anxiety through a qualitative process of tool development incorporating subjective experiences of persons with anxiety disorders and other stakeholders. This is among the first steps toward the development of PANIQ.
Visual impairment in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Awoke Nefsu , Tekalign Tiwabwork , Teshome Guta Mistire , Lenjebo Tsegaye Lolaso , Dendir Getahun , Obsa Mohammed Suleiman , Asinake Gedion , Lambebo Afwork Alemu , Bekele Mebratu Legesse
Published: December 2022

WHO Prevention of Blindness Program launched ‘‘VISION 2020” in 1999 to reduce visual impairment and eradicate avoidable blindness by the year 2020. Ethiopia launched the “VISION 2020” initiative in 2002. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to present the national prevalence of visual impairment at the end of “VISION 2020”. Electronic search was conducted on the PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, Google scholar databases for including articles. This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Endnote reference manager was used for downloading, organizing, and citing articles. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) quality appraisal tool for prevalence studies. Statistical analysis was done using the STATA™ software version 14. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, 18 studies involving 14,953 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of visual impairment in Ethiopia after correction for publication bias by Duval and Tweedie’s trim and fill analysis was estimated to be 6.24% (95% confidence interval [CI] = [2.66, 9.82]). The pooled prevalence of visual impairment among school children and adults in Ethiopia was 6.13% (95% CI = [4.27, 7.98]) and 19.89% (95% CI = [10.85, 28.93]), respectively. The most common causes of visual impairment in decreasing order of prevalence were refractive error, cataract, trachoma, glaucoma, and corneal opacity. Amblyopia was the cause of visual impairment among school-age child. The prevalence of visual impairment in Ethiopia was still significant at the end of “VISION 2020” program. Therefore, the program of “VISION 2020” should be extended and other large-scale programs were needed to reduce the prevalence of vision impairment in Ethiopia.
Applying the community readiness model to identify and address inequity in end-of-life care in South Asian communities
Authors: Moss Rachael H , Hussain Jamilla , Islam Shahid , Small Neil , Dickerson Josie
Published: December 2022

Background:

Individuals from minoritised ethnic backgrounds are less likely than individuals from the dominant ethnic group to access palliative care services and to have documented Advance Care Plans. They are more likely to be admitted to hospital in the last months of life.

Aim:

To use the Community Readiness Model to identify the barriers that influence how South Asian communities access and use two new palliative care services.

Design:

The Community Readiness Model is a validated tool that measures the readiness of a community. Key stakeholders were asked to: (i) complete a questionnaire to assess South Asian communities’ readiness to engage in advance care planning and, (ii) attend a focus group to explore their views on the communities’ understandings of palliative and end-of-life care.

Setting/participants:

Ten key stakeholders who held a variety of occupations within palliative and end-of-life care services were recruited from the community.

Findings:

The South Asian communities were found to be at the ‘pre-planning’ stage of readiness, despite initiatives to improve awareness. The readiness of the health system was found to be limited, with a narrow medical focus during advance care planning, poor integration of voluntary and community services and limited understanding of what people consider a ‘good’ death.

Conclusions:

The Community Readiness Model allowed insight into the South Asian communities’ awareness of and readiness (to use) palliative care services. Using the Community Readiness Model before service implementation allowed steps to be taken to avoid widening inequities in access and use of new services.
Admittance control design and system testing of industrial robot polishing operation
Authors: Zhou Kun , Wang Shuai , Zhou Rui , Wang Binrui
Published: December 2022

The control strategy is established with position control as the inner loop and admittance control the outer loop to solve the smooth contact force problem in faucet polishing operation. To avoid the excessive polishing, the parameter sensitivity is also introduced. Firstly, the system model and the controller are presented, the sensitivity of the parameter is calculated, and the effect of the admittance parameters on the output of the system is analyzed. Secondly, through the simulation of position control and admittance control, the change of the contact force between the robot end actuator and the external environment is analyzed, which shows that the proposed control strategy improves the accuracy of position control by 3.0% and guarantees that the contact force between the manipulator and the environment is close to the expected value. Finally, the polishing experiment is carried out on an industrial robot. The experimental results show that the control strategy can well control the contact force in the polishing process of the faucet.
The effect of severe cryogenic plastic deformation and change in strain path on nanostructured copper through multistep cross rolling
Authors: Raja C Pradeep , T Ramesh
Published: December 2022

The trade-off between strength, ductility, and electrical conductivity of pure copper restricts its application in recent technologies and hence modification of microstructure through plastic deformation at cryogenic temperature was used to address this contradiction. In this research article, commercially available pure copper was subjected to cryogenic severe plastic deformation to obtain ultra-fine grains (UFG) through a multistep cross rolling process. The change in strain path and deformation at cryogenic temperature has a strong impact on the mechanical properties and microstructure of the rolled copper plates since rolling at cryogenic temperature suppresses the dynamic recovery and enables grain refinement. Mechanical properties such as yield strength (Ys), ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and microhardness increased by 158%, 80%, and 57% respectively. A very good optimum combination of electrical conductivity of 86% IACS and formability of 10.49 I.E. was obtained. A weak brass (Bs) oriented texture was observed due to continuous change of strain path.
Online measurement method for roundness of large aluminum alloy ring based on laser ranging principle
Authors: Lu Zheng , Zhang Kaiyue , Zhang Xinyu , Wu Xijun , Zhang Yungang
Published: December 2022

Aluminum alloy rings are widely used in aerospace, energy, petrochemical, and equipment applications. The loss of roundness often occurs because of the weak rigidity and unstable plasticity of aluminum alloy rings. Therefore, an online measurement technique for the roundness of aluminum alloy rings is critical for ensuring the processing quality of aluminum alloy rings. In this paper, an online roundness measurement method based on the laser ranging principle and improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) is proposed with the aid of the rotation of the ring during the rolling process. First, the distance from the outer surface of the ring to the laser rangefinder was measured using a triangular laser rangefinder with the help of the rotation of the ring in the rolling process. Second, the distance data were denoized using an improved Kalman filter algorithm to reduce the influence of random noise on the measurement results. Finally, the roundness and geometric center were evaluated using the IPSO algorithm combined with the minimum zone circle (MZC) method and compared with the results obtained using the standard particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, genetic algorithm (GA), and least square (LS) algorithm. The experimental results show that the roundness measured by the IPSO algorithm is less than 0.06 mm, demonstrating better performance in the roundness evaluation. The measurement method for roundness proposed in this paper is suitable for the online evaluation of large aluminum alloy rings, avoiding the influence of ring size on roundness measurement.
Attributes of Hall current and radiation absorption in unsteady tangent hyperbolic nanofluid flow over a stretching surface with activation energy: A numerical study
Authors: Das Manik , Kumbhakar Bidyasagar
Published: December 2022

This work describes the effects of Hall current and radiation absorption on magnetohydrodynamic tangent hyperbolic nanofluid flow over a stretching sheet considering binary chemical reaction with activation energy and heat source. Convective heat is applied to the sheet from the bottom, whereas a zero mass flux condition is imposed on the surface. Furthermore, the radiative heat transfer is considered in view of Rosseland’s approximation. A nonlinear set of ordinary differential equations, in non-dimensional form, is obtained by employing appropriate transformations to the governing equations. The built-in bvp4c function in MATLAB is used to find the numerical solution of the system of ordinary differential equations. A data comparison for a limiting case with previously reported results is presented to validate the numerical findings. Further, the flow, as well as heat and mass transfer characteristics, are shown graphically as a result of the impacts of various flow factors. It is noticed that the fluid flow is accelerated with the rise of the Hall current parameter. The thermophoresis parameter and activation energy have an ascending influence on the concentration profile. Moreover, Biot number and radiation absorption parameter can uplift heat transfer rate. This study has applications in nuclear power reactors, gas turbines, oil reservoirs, reactor safety, and heat insulation.
Towards adaptive and transformative finance for urban areas? A framework to analyse the responsiveness of adaptation finance to urban challenges in the global South
Authors: Forino Giuseppe , Fraser Arabella , Tandarić Neven
Published: December 2022

Funds-based mechanisms for urban adaptation finance are still underexplored. Addressing this gap, as well as the need for greater learning about ‘how’ urban adaptation finance operates, this paper proposes a conceptual framework for such analysis that considers complexity, uncertainty, transformation and vulnerability. We analyse 39 urban projects financed by Climate Adaptation Funds (CAFs) using a qualitative approach. The findings indicate the ongoing dominance of national governments at all stages of the funding cycle, and of a focus on “hard” adaptation measures, but also a diverse set of stakeholder relationships involved in CAF finance which offers potential for greater multi-stakeholder and multisectoral management of complexity. Few projects, however, address the management of uncertainty. While upscaling from projects is a common preoccupation, catalysing effects across sectors are limited, and transformative mechanisms for addressing vulnerability are limited to consultation with vulnerable groups. Innovations are highlighted which merit further exploration through case study analysis.
First dating of a rock painting in Ẓufār (Sultanate of Oman): Low energy plasma oxidation radiocarbon sampling
Authors: Rowe Marvin W , Le Quellec Jean-Loïc , Jones Shelby A , Blinman Eric , Welte Caroline , Duquesnoy Frédérique , Charpentier Vincent , al-Mashani Ali , al-Kathiri Ali Aḥmed
Published: December 2022

We successfully measured four radiocarbon dates on two specimens of a black geometric rock painting with a fragment in jeopardy of naturally spalling off in the wall of a rock shelter in the Ẓufār region, in the south of the Sultanate of Oman. Extraction of carbon dioxide (CO2) for radiocarbon dating of the binder in the black pigment of the rock painting specimen was conducted in the plasma oxidation laboratory at the Office of Archeological Studies in Santa Fe, NM. The radiocarbon content was measured on the Swiss ETH-Zürich accelerator mass spectrometer MICADAS. The dates obtained agreed with one another within the statistical uncertainty and the average date of the four samples was 1500 ± 35 radiocarbon years BP. The calendric equivalents of the average date results in calendric calibration date ranges that span the mid-fifth through mid-seventh centuries (440–453 CE, 478–496 CE, and 534–646 CE). This research demonstrates that it is possible to date the black paintings of the Jebel al-Qara’ area of Oman; this is the first pictogram that was dated using radiocarbon dating in the region.
Exploring Factors Associated with Intimate Partner Violence Survivors’ Use of Financial Safety Planning Strategies
Authors: Johnson Laura , Nikolova Kristina , Hoge Gretchen L. , Postmus Judy L.
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to explore financial strategies that intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors undertake when engaging in safety planning and to examine the relationship between these strategies and various survivor characteristics. As part of the cross-sectional study, a total of 425 female survivors of IPV were surveyed. To examine the relationship between financial safety planning strategies and participants’ demographic characteristics, abuse experiences, and financial knowledge, binomial logistic regression analyses were conducted. Factors associated with financial safety planning varied by strategy; ethnicity and nativity were often significantly associated. Implications for practice and areas for future research are discussed.
Novel opportunities for intercultural music education: Integrating singing and a language-aware approach in Learn-Finnish-by-Singing choirs
Authors: Lehtinen-Schnabel Johanna
Published: December 2022

The topic of language awareness in intercultural music education has received surprisingly little attention in discussions on meaningful and responsive musical practices, despite language being an ubiquitous issue that every music educator encounters when entering a multilingual learning environment. This study explores a language-aware perspective that is embedded in a dynamic and dialogical choir practice drawing on the direct social needs of adult choir participants with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The analysis sets the practitioner experiences, planning, and implementation of the choir practice against the theorisation of activity systems and the concepts of boundary object and boundary crossing, in particular. The theoretical exploration considers how a dual meaning choir practice (a) integrates musical and linguistic activity, (b) crosses boundaries between the disciplines of music and language education, and (c) justifies change in music educational thinking. The study suggests that a dual meaning choir practice provides meaningful musical activity for adult immigrants, expanding the understanding of musical practice and the profession of music educator by blurring the dichotomous thinking of music and music education as being either instrumentalized or existing only for purely musical purposes. The study further advocates that a hybrid musical practice can widen professional understanding with novel insights, out-of-the-box perspectives, and new opportunities.
Online identities in and around organizations: A critical exploration and way forward
Authors: Barros Marcos , Alcadipani Rafael , Coupland Christine , Brown Andrew D
Published: December 2022

The construction, performance, and regulation of identities in the online world have deep implications for individuals, organizations, and society, particularly as digital technologies become increasingly omnipresent in our daily lives. In the last decades, analyses of online identities’ processes have moved from the exploration of identity play, through identity performance, toward a growing identity regulation through algorithmic management and the monetization of personal data. Despite a significant tradition of critical management and organization studies literature on identity, online identities have to date received only scant attention. This Special Issue explores what critical management and organization studies can contribute to research on online identities. Drawing on empirical analysis of virtual forums, social media, and platforms, the six papers included here highlight the struggles that accompany identity processes in the online environment and their implications for workers, activists, and other organized selves. In this introduction, we contextualize these contributions with reference to online identities studies and metaphors of the internet as a place, a tool, and a way of being. We comment on the contributions they make relating to the role of the body, and individual and collective dynamics in online identities processes. Following this, we propose critical ways forward concerning new forms of digital work, multiphrenic context collapse, and online references and sources of identity. We invite researchers to not only critically explore but also to engage with this brave new world that increasingly shapes our individual and collective selves.
Beyond self-Orientalism: Asian masculine landscapes in Chinese and Thai martial arts tourism
Authors: Deng Jiange
Published: December 2022

Martial arts tourism is a burgeoning form of tourism typified by Western ‘martial arts pilgrims’ travelling to Asian ‘martial arts cradles’ for leisure-based learning, training and spectatorship. Despite its growing economic and cultural significance, research on martial arts tourism as a sociocultural practice is scant. This study argues that the intrinsic relationship of martial arts to masculinities and Asian-ness offers the opportunity to study the self-representation of ‘Asian masculine landscapes’ (AMLs) in tourism. By comparing eight destination websites in Thailand and China, this study conceives AMLs as the creative appropriation, transmogrification and hybridisation of divergent images of masculinities circulated at different scales. This conceptualisation speaks to a cultural complexity framework that moves beyond the deterministic and unidirectional paradigm of self-Orientalism by highlighting the productive role of Asian destination ‘image-makers’ as both cultural remediators and improvisers occupying the intermediary position between the homogenising and heterogenising discourses of transnational masculinities.
Diurnal effects of dynamic lighting on alertness, cognition, and mood of mentally fatigued individuals in a daylight deprived environment
Authors: Li Y , Fang W , Guo B , Qiu H
Published: December 2022

This study investigated the non-image forming (NIF) effects of dynamic light on alertness, cognitive performance and mood on mental fatigue, as well as moderation of task difficulty in lighting perception. Sixteen participants completed a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) and two complex cognitive tasks (multi-attribute task battery-II (MATB-II) and n-back) with low, medium and high difficulty levels under dynamic (4000 to 12 000 K, melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance (EDI) = 224 lx to 420 lx) and static (4000 K, melanopic EDI = 224 lx) lighting with illuminance set at 500 lx on the desk. Psychological, behavioural, biochemical and electrophysiological responses to light were assessed. The results showed that exposure to dynamic light had significant benefits on subjective sleepiness, positive mood and task performance, which may be moderated by task difficulty. The intervention effect of dynamic light on fatigue was also found during an electrophysiological activity due to increase in the amount of attentional resources allocated to the tasks by dynamic light, but was not observed in biochemical measures.
Before supporting athletes, evaluate your coach–athlete relationship: Exploring the link between coach leadership and coach–athlete relationship
Authors: Zhao Chen , Jowett Sophia
Published: December 2022

The overall quality of coach–athlete relationship has been shown to positively associate with coach leadership effectiveness on athletes’ outcomes. Nonetheless, others also showed no associations when each subdimension of coach–athlete relationship was separately examined. This study used canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to examine the complete set of correlations between coach transformational leadership (six dimensions) and quality coach–athlete relationship (six dimensions). A total of 213 athletes (122 male; 91 female) from various performance levels and sports completed a multi-section questionnaire. CCA revealed positive, negative and no correlations between the coach transformational leadership and coach–athlete relationship variable sets. For example, the Direct Commitment dimension of the coach–athlete relationship was negatively related to the Individualised Support dimension and positively associated with the High-Performance Expectation dimension of coach transformational leadership. In light of these results, we discuss whether viewing the coach–athlete relationship as an inherent dimension embedded within the conceptualisation of coach leadership is suitable and accurate.
Safety and efficacy of tirofiban in acute ischemic stroke due to tandem lesions undergoing mechanical thrombectomy: A multicenter randomized clinical trial (ATILA) protocol
Authors: Medina-Rodríguez Manuel , Moniche Francisco , de Albóniga-Chindurza Asier , Ortega-Quintanilla Joaquin , Ainz-Gómez Leire , Pardo-Galiana Blanca , Cabezas-Rodríguez Juan Antonio , Aguilar-Pérez Marta , Zamora Aynara , Delgado-Acosta Fernando , Jiménez-Gómez Elvira , Bravo Rey Isabel , Oteros Fernández Rafael , Freijo Guerrero María del Mar , González Díaz Eva , Escudero-Martínez Irene , Morales Caba Lluis , Vielba-Gomez Isabel , Mosteiro Sonia , Castellanos Rodrigo María del Mar , Amaya Pascasio Laura , Hidalgo Carlos , Fernandez Prudencio Luis , Ramirez Moreno Jose María , Díaz Pérez Jose , Sanz-Fernandez Gema , Baena-Palomino Pablo , Gamero-García Miguel Ángel , Jiménez Jorge Silvia , Rosso Fernández Clara , Montaner Joan , González García Alejandro , Zapata-Arriaza Elena
Published: December 2022

Background:

In-stent thrombosis after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) worsen outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to tandem lesions (TL). Although an optimal antiplatelet therapy is needed, the best approach to avoid in-stent thrombosis is yet to be elucidated.

Hypothesis:

Low-dose intravenous tirofiban is superior to intravenous aspirin in avoiding in-stent thrombosis in patients undergoing MT plus carotid stenting in the setting of AIS due to TL.

Methods:

The ATILA-trial is a multicenter, prospective, phase IV, randomized, controlled (aspirin group as control), assessor-blinded clinical trial. Patients fulfilling inclusion criteria (AIS due to TL, ASPECTS ⩾ 6, pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale ⩽2 and onset <24 h) will be randomized (1:1) at MT onset to experimental (intravenous tirofiban) or control group (intravenous aspirin). Intravenous aspirin will be administered at a 500 mg single dose and tirofiban at a 500 µg bolus followed by a 200 µg/h infusion during first 22 h. All patients will be followed up to 3 months. Sample size estimated is 240 patients.

Outcomes:

The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of patients with carotid in-stent thrombosis within the first 24 h after MT. The primary safety outcome is the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Secondary outcomes include functional independence defined as modified Rankin Scale 0–2, proportion of patients undergoing rescue therapy due to in-stent aggregation during MT and carotid reocclusion at 30 days.

Discussion:

ATILA-trial will be the first clinical trial regarding the best antiplatelet therapy to avoid in-stent thrombosis after MT in patients with TL.

Trial registration:

NCT0522596.
VPS dependency after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage and influence of admission hyperglycaemia
Authors: Hostettler Isabel Charlotte , Lange Nicole , Schwendinger Nina , Ambler Gareth , Hirle Theresa , Frangoulis Samira , Trost Dominik , Gempt Jens , Kreiser Kornelia , Meyer Bernhard , Winter Christof , Wostrack Maria
Published: December 2022

Introduction:

Hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) is a common complication which may lead to insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). Our aim is to evaluate a possible influence of specific clinical and biochemical factors on VPS dependency with special emphasis on hyperglycaemia on admission.

Patients and methods:

Retrospective analysis of a monocentric database of aSAH patients. Using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis we evaluated factors influencing VPS dependency, with a special focus on hyperglycaemia on blood sample within 24 h of admission, dichotomised at 126 mg/dl. Factors evaluated in the univariable analysis were age, sex, known diabetes, Hunt and Hess grade, Barrow Neurological Institute scale, treatment modality, extra-ventricular drain (EVD) insertion, complications (rebleeding, vasospasm, infarction, decompressive craniectomy, ventriculitis), outcome variables and laboratory parameters (glucose, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin).

Results:

We included 510 consecutive patients treated with acute aSAH requiring a VPS (mean age 58.2 years, 66% were female). An EVD was inserted in 387 (75.9%) patients. In the univariable analysis, VPS dependency was associated with hyperglycaemia on admission (OR 2.56, 95%CI 1.58–4.14, p < 0.001). In the multivariable regression analysis after stepwise backward regression, factors associated with VPS dependency were hyperglycaemia >126 mg/dl on admission (OR 1.93, 95%CI 1.13–3.30, p = 0.02), ventriculitis (OR 2.33, 95%CI 1.33–4.04, p = 0.003), Hunt and Hess grade (overall p-value 0.02) and decompressive craniectomy (OR 2.68, 95%CI 1.55–4.64, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Hyperglycaemia on admission was associated with an increased probability of VPS placement. If confirmed, this finding might facilitate treatment of these patients by accelerating insertion of a permanent draining system.
Type 2B von Willebrand disease mutations differentially perturb autoinhibition of the A1 domain
Authors: Legan Emily R. , Liu Yi , Arce Nicholas A. , Parker Ernest T. , Lollar Pete , Zhang X. Frank , Li Renhao
Published: December 2022

Type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD) is an inherited bleeding disorder in which a subset of point mutations in the von Willebrand factor (VWF) A1 domain and recently identified autoinhibitory module (AIM) cause spontaneous binding to glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) on the platelet surface. All reported type 2B VWD mutations share this enhanced binding; however, type 2B VWD manifests as variable bleeding complications and platelet levels in patients, depending on the underlying mutation. Understanding how these mutations localizing to a similar region can result in such disparate patient outcomes is essential for detailing our understanding of VWF regulatory and activation mechanisms. In this study, we produced recombinant glycosylated AIM-A1 fragments bearing type 2B VWD mutations and examined how each mutation affects the A1 domain’s thermodynamic stability, conformational dynamics, and biomechanical regulation of the AIM. We found that the A1 domain with mutations associated with severe bleeding occupy a higher affinity state correlating with enhanced flexibility in the secondary GPIbα-binding sites. Conversely, mutation P1266L, associated with normal platelet levels, has similar proportions of high-affinity molecules to wild-type (WT) but shares regions of solvent accessibility with both WT and other type 2B VWD mutations. V1316M exhibited exceptional instability and solvent exposure compared with all variants. Lastly, examination of the mechanical stability of each variant revealed variable AIM unfolding. Together, these studies illustrate that the heterogeneity among type 2B VWD mutations is evident in AIM-A1 fragments.
Benchmarking full-length transcript single cell mRNA sequencing protocols
Authors: Probst Victoria , Simonyan Arman , Pacheco Felix , Guo Yuliu , Nielsen Finn Cilius , Bagger Frederik Otzen
Published: December 2022

Background

Single cell mRNA sequencing technologies have transformed our understanding of cellular heterogeneity and identity. For sensitive discovery or clinical marker estimation where high transcript capture per cell is needed only plate-based techniques currently offer sufficient resolution.

Results

Here, we present a performance evaluation of four different plate-based scRNA-seq protocols. Our evaluation is aimed towards applications taxing high gene detection sensitivity, reproducibility between samples, and minimum hands-on time, as is required, for example, in clinical use. We included two commercial kits, NEBNext® Single Cell/ Low Input RNA Library Prep Kit (NEB®), SMART-seq® HT kit (Takara®), and the non-commercial protocols Genome & Transcriptome sequencing (G&T) and SMART-seq3 (SS3). G&T delivered the highest detection of genes per single cell. SS3 presented the highest gene detection per single cell at the lowest price. Takara® kit presented similar high gene detection per single cell, and high reproducibility between samples, but at the absolute highest price. NEB® delivered a lower detection of genes but remains an alternative to more expensive commercial kits.

Conclusion

For the tested kits we found that ease-of-use came at higher prices. Takara can be selected for its ease-of-use to analyse a few samples, but we recommend the cheaper G&T-seq or SS3 for laboratories where a substantial sample flow can be expected.
New insights into genome annotation in Podospora anserina through re-exploiting multiple RNA-seq data
Authors: Lelandais Gaëlle , Remy Damien , Malagnac Fabienne , Grognet Pierre
Published: December 2022

Background

Publicly available RNA-seq datasets are often underused although being helpful to improve functional annotation of eukaryotic genomes. This is especially true for filamentous fungi genomes which structure differs from most well annotated yeast genomes. Podospora anserina is a filamentous fungal model, which genome has been sequenced and annotated in 2008. Still, the current annotation lacks information about cis-regulatory elements, including promoters, transcription starting sites and terminators, which are instrumental to integrate epigenomic features into global gene regulation strategies.

Results

Here we took advantage of 37 RNA-seq experiments that were obtained in contrasted developmental and physiological conditions, to complete the functional annotation of P. anserina genome. Out of the 10,800 previously annotated genes, 5’UTR and 3’UTR were defined for 7554, among which, 3328 showed differential transcriptional signal starts and/or transcriptional end sites. In addition, alternative splicing events were detected for 2350 genes, mostly due alternative 3’splice sites and 1732 novel transcriptionally active regions (nTARs) in unannotated regions were identified.

Conclusions

Our study provides a comprehensive genome-wide functional annotation of P. anserina genome, including chromatin features, cis-acting elements such as UTRs, alternative splicing events and transcription of non-coding regions. These new findings will likely improve our understanding of gene regulation strategies in compact genomes, such as those of filamentous fungi. Characterization of alternative transcripts and nTARs paves the way to the discovery of putative new genes, alternative peptides or regulatory non-coding RNAs.
The impact of Helicobacter pylori infection and eradication therapy containing minocycline and metronidazole on intestinal microbiota
Authors: Cui Meng-Yan , Cui Zhen-Yu , Zhao Meng-Qi , Zhang Meng-Jie , Jiang Qiao-Li , Wang Jing-Jing , Lu Lun-Gen , Lu Ying-Ying
Published: December 2022

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with remodeling of gut microbiota. Many studies have found H. pylori infection and eradication therapy can alter the gut microbiota. However, few studies explored the impact of eradication therapy containing minocycline and metronidazole on gut microbiota.

Aim

The objective of the present study was to explore the changes of gut microbiota after H. pylori infection. Besides, learn more about the dynamic changes of gut microbiota during different stages of eradication treatment containing minocycline, metronidazole, bismuth agents and proton pump inhibitors.

Methods

Sixty stool samples from the patients with H. pylori infection before eradication, 14 and 42 days after eradication, and ten stool samples from non-infected individuals were collected. Subsequently, we performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to analyze these samples, and the results were evaluated by using alpha diversity, beta diversity and microbial composition analyses. Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States was also used to predict the metabolic pathways according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database.

Results

The alpha and beta diversity of the microbiota changed significantly in H. pylori infected individuals, but returned to baseline 42 days after eradication therapy. At the genus level, the abundances of Bacteroidetes, [Ruminococcus]_gnavus_group, Ruminococcaceae_Incertae_Sedis, Tuzzrealla, Butyricicoccus were significantly lower in the H. pylori infected group. Bacterial abundance was also dynamically changing during eradication treatment. In addition, PICRUST analysis found the levels of uronic acid metabolism, uncharacterized transport system, and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids were higher in H. pylori infected individuals than in the non-infected group.

Conclusions

Intestinal microbiota diversity, composition, functional predictions altered significantly after H. pylori infection, and gradually returned to healthy control levels after the application of eradication therapy containing minocycline and metronidazole in one month and a half.
The minimum effective concentration (MEC90) of ropivacaine for ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block for analgesia after cesarean delivery: a dose finding study
Authors: Cao Rong , Li Xuehan , Yang Jing , Deng Lingmei , Cui Yu
Published: December 2022

Background

Quadratus lumborum block was recently proposed as an alternative technique for post-cesarean delivery analgesia. However, there is not a definite optimum concentration of local anesthetics. A biased coin design up-and-down method was used to explore the minimum effective concentration of ropivacaine in quadratus lumborum block for satisfactory analgesia after cesarean delivery.

Methods

Fifty-six patients weighing 60–80 kg after cesarean section and with ages between 18 and 40 years were recruited. For the posterior quadratus lumborum block, a volume of 25 ml of the assigned concentration of ropivacaine was injected bilaterally.

The concentration administered to each patient depended on the response to the previous dose. The first patient received 0.25%. If a successful block was observed, the next patient was randomized to receive the same ropivacaine concentration (with a probability of 0.89) or 0.025% less (with a probability of 0.11). After any block failure, the concentration was always increased by 0.025% for the next. The study ended when 45 successful blocks were obtained.

We defined effective quadratus lumborum block as a resting visual analog score ≤ 3 and the absence of a need for rescue anesthetics.

Results

The 90% minimum effective concentration of ropivacaine was 0.335% (95% CI 0.306 to 0.375%), and the 99% minimum effective concentration was 0.371% (95% CI 0.355 to 0.375%). The sufentanil consumption was 11 (11,13) and 24 (22,27) μg at 12 and 24 hours after quadratus lumborum block, respectively.

Conclusions

The optimum dosage of ropivacaine is a 25 ml volume of 0.335% for quadratus lumborum block after cesarean delivery.

Trial registration

The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (No. ChiCTR2000040415).
Racial or ethnic differences on treatment adherence and persistence among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases initiated with biologic therapies
Authors: Cai Qian , Ding Zhijie , Fu Alex Z. , Patel Aarti A.
Published: December 2022

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease with the potential for significant morbidity in case of suboptimal treatment (e.g. low treatment adherence). In spite of immense research in IBD, literature on association of IBD with race/ethnicity is fragmented. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between race/ethnicity and treatment adherence and persistence among patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) initiated with biologic therapies.

Methods

This observational, retrospective study utilized the Optum Clinformatics (Optum) Extended Data Mart Socioeconomic Status (SES) database. Adult patients with ≥ 2 medical claims for CD or UC diagnosis, ≥ 1 medical or pharmacy claim for corresponding FDA-approved biologic therapy, and a ≥ 12-month pre-index (index date: date of the first biologic medical/pharmacy claim) continuous health plan enrollment were included. Treatment adherence was measured as the proportion of days covered of ≥ 80% and treatment persistence by the number of days from the index date to the biologics discontinuation date. Switching among biologics was allowed for both treatment adherence and treatment persistence. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between race/ethnicity and treatment adherence/persistence.

Results

Among patients with CD (N = 1430) and UC (N = 1059) included, majority were White (CD: 80.3%, UC: 78.3%), followed by African Americans (AA; CD: 10.5%, UC: 9.7%). Among patients with CD, AA were significantly less likely to adhere to biologics (adjusted OR [95%CI]: 0.61 [0.38; 0.99]) and more likely to discontinue biologics earlier (adjusted HR [95%CI]: 1.52 [1.16; 2.0]) during the follow-up period compared to Whites, after adjusting for other patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Among patients with UC, no significant differences in the treatment adherence/persistence were observed between different races/ethnicities.

Conclusions

Patients with CD were found to display racial differences in the treatment adherence and persistence of biologics, with significantly lower adherence and earlier discontinuation in AA compared to Whites. Such differences were not observed in patients with UC. Future studies are warranted to understand the possible reasons for racial differences, particularly in patients with CD.