bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Letters of S.P. Timoshenko to V.I. Vernadsky recently discovered at Columbia University’s library, with analysis of his attitudes
Authors: Elishakoff Isaac
Published: July 2021

This paper reproduces the translation of letters sent by Stephen P. Timoshenko—well known specialist in elasticity, vibrations, stability, and structures, in the 20th century—to his colleague Vladimir I. Vernadsky. Letters originated from the USA where Timoshenko resided at the time, and were directed to France, where Vernadsky was working while also looking to come to the USA having left Russia after the Bolshevik Revolution. By a twist of fate, these letters turned out to be housed at the Library of Columbia University, in New York City. This happened since the first five letters were acquired by Bakhmeteff Archive at Columbia University where Boris Bakhmeteff, formerly the Ambassador of the Russian Provisional Government to the USA, was employed as a professor of civil engineering during the years 1931–1951. Timoshenko could not have imagined that these private and candid letters would be available for public viewing at the library, and especially, in the country that he criticized harshly. Each letter is accompanied with a discussion. It appears that these letters shed some light on Timoshenko’s personality in addition to what can be inferred by reading his autobiography As I Remember. The motivation of this study is two-fold: (a) to bring to the attention of readers the translations of letters of S.P. Timoshenko, addressed to V.I. Vernadsky, and to provide (b) discussion on his attitudes, on the one hand, to the Jews, and anti-Semitism in the USA as compared with Ukraine, and on the other, to the USA.
The impact of spontaneous echo contrast on tunneled dialysis catheter patency
Authors: Özyalçın Sertan , Topçu Hülya
Published: July 2021

Background:

Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is an ultrasonographic image of swirling blood flow resembling a dynamic, cigarette smoke-like image. It is mostly observed during the insertion of tunneled dialysis catheters (TDC) into internal jugular veins with ultrasound guidance, often different levels of SEC can be seen. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of SEC detected during TDC insertion on the patency of the catheter.

Methods:

Patients who had a TDC insertion in our clinic between January 2015 and December 2020 were prospectively evaluated. The patients were grouped into five groups according to the sec level and followed.

Results:

A total of 226 patients were examined, among which 107 were male (47.3%). The mean age of all patients was 63.1 ± 9.5 years. SEC grade and catheter occlusion was evaluated, it was observed that higher SEC grades were correlated with faster catheter thrombosis postinsertion. During the follow-up period, it was found that, compared to the SEC 0 group, catheter thrombosis occurred 3.22 times faster in the SEC 1 group, 2.66 times faster in the SEC 2 group, 5.80 times faster in the SEC 3 group, and 26.33 times faster in the SEC 4 group. (HR: 3.22, 2.66, 5.80, 26.33, respectively). Hematological parameters were evaluated by regression analysis, it was observed that hemoglobin, fibrinogen, and platelet count were not risk factors for SEC formation and SEC grade.

Conclusion:

Significant relationship was found between SEC grade detected during catheter insertion and catheter thrombosis in patients undergoing hemodialysis with a TDC.
Are good institutions required to import economic growth? The case of tourism
Authors: Belgodere Antoine , Giannoni Sauveur , Noblet Sandrine
Published: July 2021

Does a country need good institutions to use tourism as an economic development activator? From a sample of non-organisation for economic co-operation and development countries, this article aims to assess the feasibility of tourism-led growth in different institutional settings. The results not only suggest that a tourism shock is good for gross domestic product growth but that inclusive institutions enhance the ability of a country to convert tourism into growth. It also emphasises that beyond tourism that remains a major transmission channel for growth, inclusive countries largely benefit from growth in their neighbouring countries. They are more able to import economic growth from abroad.
Race and the digital face: Facial (mis)recognition in Gemini Man
Authors: Allison Tanine
Published: July 2021

Ang Lee’s 2019 film Gemini Man features the most realistic digital human to grace the cinematic screen, specifically a computer-generated version of young Will Smith who battles his more aged self throughout the film. And for the first time in film history, this photorealistic digital human is Black. This essay explores why this groundbreaking achievement has not been acknowledged or celebrated by the film's production or publicity teams. I argue that Will Smith’s particular “post-racial” identity mediates contemporary concerns related to the racialized implications of facial recognition and other digital imaging technologies, as well as to the future of the film industry in the digital age. In the second half of the essay, I examine how the appearance of Will Smith in deepfake parody videos illustrates how race circulates on screens of various media formats. I conclude with a call to use digital visual effects, deepfake tools, and other advanced technologies to further racial justice instead of repeating the problematic usage of the past.
Family narratives of lives with persistent physical symptom conditions
Authors: Friedner Kimberley , Solomons Wendy , Flannery Halina , Harrington Jenna
Published: July 2021

Background

Literature reviews revealed no existing research on family narratives of living with multigenerational persistent physical symptom (PPS) conditions. The current study examined the personal and family narratives of one such family, from a relational/systemic perspective.

Method

This research employed a qualitative research design, specifically using narrative methodologies to explore the experiences of a single family comprising two parents and their three children. All the children and their mother had a diagnosis of Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) but are specifically afflicted with PPS. The father is in good health. Using narrative inquiry, the family members were interviewed together and then individually. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using narrative analysis in NVivo.

Findings

Overarching narratives were stories of loss and sacrifice and stories of family unity. An exploration of the family’s negotiation of roles and identities is presented in the context of stigmatised illness.

Discussion

Novel findings are presented in the context of the central role of the mother, the importance of family cohesion and the impact to family life resulting from living with stigmatised illness. Lastly, clinical implications and future research ideas are discussed.
Sociocultural context and autistics’ quality of life: A comparison between Québec and France
Authors: Caron Vicky , Jeanneret Nuria , Giroux Mathieu , Guerrero Lucila , Ouimet Mélanie , Forgeot d’Arc Baudouin , Soulières Isabelle , Courcy Isabelle
Published: July 2021

Quality of life is important for the development and evaluation of interventions for autistic people. It is a multidimensional concept, anchored in a sociocultural context and based on a person’s subjective assessment of their life. The aim of this study is to examine whether the determinants of perceived quality of life vary by country (or culture) by comparing two groups of French-speaking autistic adults ( n = 430), one in France and the other in Québec (Canada). A cross-sectional survey was conducted to provide information on the quality of life (Autism Quality of Life Measure—ASQoL), diagnosis and health conditions, self-evaluation of autistic traits (Autism-Spectrum Quotient—AQ10), and sociodemographic characteristics of these two samples. The results of our comparison of French-speaking autistic adults in France and Québec suggest that sociocultural context has an impact on autistic people’s quality of life ( r2 = 0.280). The Québec group reported a superior quality of life. The social experience of autism-related stigmatization emerges as a strong predictor of lower quality of life in both groups. However, the two groups differ with other predictors. This study demonstrates the importance of considering sociocultural context in measuring quality of life in autistic adults. It emphasizes the need for awareness programs and public campaigns aimed at identifying and countering stigmatization processes.

Lay abstract

What is already known about the topic? Quality of life refers to how people perceive aspects of their life such as physical health, material security, and interpersonal relationships. Studies have reported lower quality of life among autistic individuals than in the general population. What does this article contribute? This article contributes to a better understanding of quality of life and its measures from the point of view of autistic adults. By comparing two groups of French-speaking autistic adults from two different places (France and Québec—Canada), this research shows that the perception of quality of life and its determining factors differ for autistic adults living in each country. The Québec group reported a superior quality of life, and some quality of life predictors were different in each group. The social experience of autism-related stigmatization, however, was a powerful predictor of quality of life for all. Implications for practice, research, and policy To promote a higher quality of life for autistic people, it is important to consider the sociocultural context and implement awareness programs and public campaigns aimed at identifying and countering stigmatization processes.
Welcoming immigrants in Istanbul: Gendering faith-based and professionalised hospitality
Authors: Şenses Nazlı , Farahani Fataneh
Published: July 2021

This article examines the hospitality practices of pro-migrant civil society organisations in Istanbul. Drawing from qualitative interviews, we focus on intersecting gendered, professionalised and faith-based aspects of pro-migrant activities and explore the ways that politically and morally charged ambivalences of hospitality practices are articulated and negotiated. Moreover, by contextualising Turkey’s religious and geopolitical particularity as a gatekeeper of Europe, we work with Derrida’s concept of plural laws to investigate hospitality practices towards refugees in Istanbul. Civil actors’ intentions and attempts to be good citizens, Muslims, and care providers expose the intimate aspects of hospitality – a segue into discourses of displaced subjects’ (gendered) deservingness. By portraying how macro–micro, global–local and public–private relations condition hospitality practices, we observe how globalisation is lived intimately, influencing perceptions of deservingness and the prioritisation of displaced subjects’ needs.
Orthodontic treatment consent forms: A readability analysis
Authors: Meade Maurice J , Dreyer Craig W
Published: July 2021

Objective:

To evaluate the readability of orthodontic treatment informed consent forms (ICFs).

Design:

A cross-sectional observational investigation.

Methods:

An online search strategy was adopted to identify ICFs for orthodontic treatment. The text of each form that satisfied inclusion criteria was modified to a standardised protocol. The readability was evaluated using three validated instruments. GraphPad Software (GraphPad Software Inc., La Jolla, CA, USA) was used for statistical analyses.

Results:

A total of 59 ICFs were evaluated. The majority were available on the websites of orthodontists (66.1%) and general dentists (27.1%). The scores recorded from the three instruments indicated that the content of 93.2%–98.3% of ICFs was difficult to read. A strong correlation was observed between the Simple Measure of Gobbledegook (SMOG) and the Flesch Kincaid Grade level (FKGL) instruments (r = 0.9782; P < 0.0001). The mean SMOG score for all assessed forms was 11.19 (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.85−11.54). The ICFs authored by the manufacturers of orthodontic appliances provided by clinicians recorded a mean Flesch Reading (FRE) score of 40.14 (95% CI 33.91−46.37) out of a maximum 100. An analysis of the SMOG scores indicated that the content of ICFs authored by national orthodontic societies was more difficult to read than those written by all other authors ( P=0.01; 95% CI −1.6 to −0.2)

Conclusion:

The readability of the ICFs was too difficult for a significant number of the population. Many patients will be unable to validly consent to treatment based solely on reading of the content of the evaluated ICFs. A greater effort is required to improve the readability of ICFs to help ensure patient autonomy regarding orthodontic treatment decision-making and management.
Physician use of the phrase “due to old age” to address complaints of elderly symptoms in Japanese medical settings: The merits and drawbacks
Authors: Asai Atsushi , Okita Taketoshi , Tanaka Masashi , Bito Seiji , Ohnishi Motoki
Published: July 2021

In everyday medical settings in Japan, physicians occasionally tell an elderly patient that their symptoms are “due to old age,” and there is some concern that patient care might be negatively impacted as a result. That said, as this phrase can have multiple connotations and meanings, there are certain instances in which the use of this phrase may not necessarily be indicative of ageism, or prejudice against the elderly. One of the goals in medical care is to address pain and suffering that develops with age in elderly individuals, and whether or not aging is a disease is inconsequential. However, assuming that an individualized and thorough examination has been performed, there are some conditions that can be attributed only to age. Accordingly, physicians must acknowledge the merits and drawbacks of using the phrase “due to old age,” and exercise caution when using it. Both physicians and their elderly patients must share a common awareness of the incomplete and limited nature of modern medicine and its scope, and physicians must help their elderly patients accept and live with the aging phenomenon.
Horrors of the Great Banal
Authors: McMain Emma Minke , Edwards-Schuth Brandon
Published: July 2021

The iPhone 62 has just been released. Political gridlock and the governmentally approved process of locking immigrant children in cages continue ad infinitum. Public schools resort to primarily remote learning as pandemic viruses ebb and flow. University students study post-postmodernism on campuses that remain on stolen Indigenous land. In this year of 2071, where humans remain desperately attached to “normalcy,” suffering continues beneath the fear that transformation would surely be devastating. Unknowns horrify privileged communities, eased only by the comfortability of a level of “bad” with which they are at least familiar. The world has settled into the Great Banal, an age of blind faith that tomorrow’s problems can be answered with solutions of yester-today.

Written as an “e-seance” Zoom conversation among “ghost-scholars of the future,” we explore the horrors of a future in which the “normalities” of 2021 all persist. This is not a dystopian nightmare in which climate disasters wreak unparalleled havoc on vulnerable communities and new fascist regimes sink their claws into education, nor is it a utopic imagining of a society that has made great bounds toward social-ecological justice. In this seemingly absurd imaginary of no substantial change at all, we draw from (eco)critical, Indigenous, and feminist frameworks to ask: What might education look like in a world that has adamantly resisted radical transformation for fear of the worst, in exchange for all hopes of the best?
The Educational Quality of Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy Videos on YouTube
Authors: Moctezuma-Velázquez Paulina , Santes Oscar , Sainz-Hernández Juan C. , Álvarez-Bautista Franciso E. , Bravo Héctor E. , Salgado-Nesme Noel , Moctezuma-Velázquez Carlos
Published: July 2021

Introduction. Surgical technique videos are an important part of surgical fellows’ education. YouTube has been identified as the preferred source of educational videos among trainees . The aim of this article is to objectively evaluate the quality of the 50 most viewed videos on YouTube concerning right laparoscopic hemicolectomy using LAParoscopic surgery Video Educational GuidelineS (LAP-VEGaS). We hypothesized that the number of likes or views will not necessarily reciprocate with the educational content. Materials and methods. This observational study started with a YouTube search under the words “laparoscopic right hemicolectomy”, “right colectomy”, and “right hemicolectomy”. The 50 most viewed videos with an English title were chosen. Video characteristics and LAP-VEGaS score were analyzed by four colorectal surgery fellows from a tertiary center in Mexico City. Results. Right hemicolectomy videos were reviewed; there was no correlation between the LAP-VEGaS score and the view ratio, the like ratio, or the video power index. The LAP-VEGaS score was significantly higher among videos uploaded by medical associations, journals, or commercial when compared with videos uploaded by doctors/physicians or academic associations. Conclusion. Educational quality in right laparoscopic hemicolectomy videos did not reciprocate with their educational quality, but it agrees significantly with the video uploading source. Low educational quality was identified among the videos underscoring the need to endorse peer-reviewed video channels.
Preoperative Patient Optimization in Total Joint Arthroplasty—The Paradigm Shift from Preoperative Clearance: A Narrative Review
Authors: MacMahon Aoife , Rao Sandesh S. , Chaudhry Yash P. , Hasan Syed A. , Epstein Jeremy A. , Hegde Vishal , Valaik Daniel J. , Oni Julius K. , Sterling Robert S. , Khanuja Harpal S.
Published: July 2021

Background: Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States. Outcomes of this elective procedure may be improved via preoperative optimization of modifiable risk factors. Purposes: We sought to summarize the literature on the clinical implications of preoperative risk factors in TJA and to develop recommendations regarding preoperative optimization of these risk factors. Methods: We searched PubMed in August 2019 with an update in September 2020 for English-language, peer-reviewed publications assessing the influence on outcomes in total hip and knee replacement of 7 preoperative risk factors—obesity, malnutrition, hypoalbuminemia, diabetes, anemia, smoking, and opioid use—and recommendations to mitigate them. Results: Sixty-nine studies were identified, including 3 randomized controlled trials, 8 prospective cohort studies, 42 retrospective studies, 6 systematic reviews, 3 narrative reviews, and 7 consensus guidelines. These studies described worse outcomes associated with these 7 risk factors, including increased rates of in-hospital complications, transfusions, periprosthetic joint infections, revisions, and deaths. Recommendations for strategies to screen and address these risk factors are provided. Conclusions: Risk factors can be optimized, with evidence suggesting the following thresholds prior to surgery: a body mass index <40 kg/m2, serum albumin ≥3.5 g/dL, hemoglobin A1C ≤7.5%, hemoglobin >12.0 g/dL in women and >13.0 g/dL in men, and smoking cessation and ≥50% decrease in opioid use by 4 weeks prior to surgery. Surgery should be delayed until these risk factors are adequately optimized.
A review of features and characteristics of smart medication adherence products
Authors: Faisal Sadaf , Ivo Jessica , Patel Tejal
Published: July 2021

Background:

Smart medication adherence products (smart MAPs) capture and transmit real-time medication intake by using various means of connectivity, allowing for remote monitoring. Numerous such products with different features are available to address medication nonadherence. A comparison of the features of these products is needed for clinical decision-making. Therefore, the objective of this review was to compare smart MAPs available for in-home use.

Methods:

We searched grey and published literature and videos to identify smart MAPs. To be considered smart, products required 2 features: connectivity (the ability for collected data to exist outside the physical device) and automaticity (the ability for data to be analyzed or processed automatically). Products were excluded if product descriptions were not available in English, not for in-home use and unable to dispense medications.

Results:

Of the 51 products identified, 38 commercially available and 13 prototypes met the definition. Of these, 75% ( n = 38) contained alarms, 24% ( n = 12) were unit-dose, 63% ( n = 32) were multidose, 43% ( n = 22) had locking features, 41% ( n = 21) were portable and 88% ( n = 45) sent notifications to patients. The cost of marketed products, excluding subscriptions, ranged from $10 to $1500 USD. Some products required a monthly ( n = 16) or yearly ( n = 1) subscription ranging from $10 to $100 USD.

Discussion:

There is a growing market of smart MAPs for in-home patient use with variable features. Clinicians can use these features to identify and recommend products according to the specific needs of their patients to address medication adherence. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2021;154:xx-xx.
On the design of early-phase Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials with cerebrospinal fluid tau outcomes
Authors: Nuño Michelle M , Grill Joshua D , Gillen Daniel L ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2021

Background/Aims:

The focus of Alzheimer’s disease studies has shifted to earlier disease stages, including mild cognitive impairment. Biomarker inclusion criteria are often incorporated into mild cognitive impairment clinical trials to identify individuals with “prodromal Alzheimer’s disease” to ensure appropriate drug targets and enrich for participants likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease dementia. The use of these eligibility criteria may affect study power.

Methods:

We investigated outcome variability and study power in the setting of proof-of-concept prodromal Alzheimer’s disease trials that incorporate cerebrospinal fluid levels of total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated (p-tau) as primary outcomes and how differing biomarker inclusion criteria affect power. We used data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative to model trial scenarios and to estimate the variance and within-subject correlation of total and phosphorylated tau. These estimates were then used to investigate the differences in study power for trials considering these two surrogate outcomes.

Results:

Patient characteristics were similar for all eligibility criteria. The lowest outcome variance and highest within-subject correlation were obtained when phosphorylated tau was used as an eligibility criterion, compared to amyloid beta or total tau, regardless of whether total tau or phosphorylated tau were used as primary outcomes. Power increased when eligibility criteria were broadened to allow for enrollment of subjects with either low amyloid beta or high phosphorylated tau.

Conclusion:

Specific biomarker inclusion criteria may impact statistical power in trials using total tau or phosphorylated tau as the primary outcome. In concert with other important considerations such as treatment target and population of clinical interest, these results may have implications to the integrity and efficiency of prodromal Alzheimer’s disease trial designs.
Mostly Credible and Transparent: Audience Perceptions of News Stories Produced With Traditional and Multiplatform Newsgathering Technologies
Authors: Auger Giselle A. , Tanes Zeynep , Gee Charlie
Published: July 2021

This multistage project explored new territory by evaluating news stories produced by multiplatform journalism using different technologies and among viewers from different generations. Mixed results were found between the controlled laboratory setting and the nationwide deployment. Lack of significant differences in perception of transparency or credibility of news produced using traditional technologies and new technologies provides promising implications for those concerned with media economics and the benefits of multiplatform journalistic production.
The Pedagogical Approaches to Teaching Journalistic Interviewing Competencies
Authors: Miller Serena , Cepak Anthony , Peng Zhao
Published: July 2021

Teachers shape how aspiring journalists collect and evaluate information. The primary method journalists employ to gather this information is through the interviewing method. However, research has yet to be conducted on how this important competency is taught in university settings. This study sought to identify the instructional approaches used by print and broadcast journalism educators through qualitative interviews. The results revealed that a variety of exercises and pedagogical approaches (i.e., observation, simulation, direct experience, and reinforcement) are employed by educators to teach students the complexities of the interviewing process. We also highlighted classroom exercises, identified challenges, and shared teaching strategies concerning the teaching of both broadcast and print journalistic interviewing.
Is Ellen DeGeneres a “DeGenerate?”: How TV’s First Out Lesbian Connects to Public Support for Same-Sex Marriage
Authors: Armstrong Cory L. , Hou Jue , McLeod Kylie
Published: July 2021

This study examines media treatment of Ellen DeGeneres over a 26-year period, focusing on how she served as a surrogate for the same-sex marriage debate during that time. The study suggests that coverage of DeGeneres followed a similar path to that of a protest group, challenging the status quo, and therefore, suffering critical and negative treatment from media. Findings indicated that even after common gender-related variables such as female sources and mentions were controlled, the major contributing variable was the level of public support for same-sex marriage. Implications for both protest-related literature and scholarship on public opinion were discussed.
Drowning Out the Message: How Online Comments on News Stories About Nike’s Ad Campaign Contributed to Polarization and Gatekeeping
Authors: Lee Jinhee , Zaher Zulfia , Simpson Edgar , Erzikova Elina
Published: July 2021

This study examined audience commentary on Fox News, Cable News Network, and MSNBC’s YouTube and Facebook platforms associated with news stories on Nike’s selection of controversial former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick as the spokesman for its 2018 campaign. The study, using the theory of gatekeeping as a starting point, sought evidence for a drowning effect, in which the audience strayed from the primary message of the journalism presented to it. Content analysis revealed a significant drowning effect across platforms and outlets.
Striking the Balance: The Portrayal of Male and Female Athletes on NBC’s Primetime Television Broadcast of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games
Authors: Smith Lauren Reichart , MacArthur Paul J.
Published: July 2021

All 63.5 hours of NBC’s 2018 primetime Winter Olympic broadcast from PyeongChang were analyzed to determine differences between the network’s treatment of male and female athletes. For the first time in any Winter Olympiad studied, women received more athlete mentions than men and women accounted for the majority of the most mentioned athletes. A woman was the most mentioned athlete, the first time this finding has appeared on an NBC Winter Olympic broadcast. When individual sports were examined, however, men received more mentions in nine of the 15 winter sports, and a male was the most mentioned athlete in 10 winter sports. Analysis of NBC announcer dialogues revealed significant differences in only three areas, differing from past findings in previously studied Olympiads. Longitudinal context is articulated.
Do Metrics Drive News Decisions? Political News Journalists’ Exposure and Attitudes Toward Web Analytics
Authors: Lamot Kenza , Paulussen Steve , Van Aelst Peter
Published: July 2021

As newsrooms are increasingly using web analytics to monitor news behavior, journalism is likely to become increasingly “metrics-driven.” Research suggests that analytics are commonly used by web editors to decide on the distribution and promotion of news stories, but how does this affect the news practices of journalists? To what extent are audience metrics taken into account by individual journalists and reporters who work in a specific news beat? This paper explores this question through a survey of political journalists in Belgium. The study examines the level of access that political news journalists have to audience metrics, and to what extent their level of exposure to and use of metrics affects their attitudes toward analytics in news work. Results show that while three quarters of the political news journalists are nowadays exposed to audience metrics on a regular basis, more than half of them report to never make direct use of web metrics in their daily work. Younger journalists are more likely to be exposed and to use web metrics than their senior colleagues, but journalists working for commercial media do not use metrics more intensely than journalists from public service media. Journalists who actively use metrics themselves tend to hold more positive attitudes toward web metrics, whereas the passive exposure to metrics seems to make journalists more skeptical or negative about them.
Virtual Group Appointments Reduce Distress and Improve Care Management in Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Bisno Daniel I. , Reid Mark W. , Fogel Jennifer L. , Pyatak Elizabeth A. , Majidi Shideh , Raymond Jennifer K.
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of virtual group appointments (VGA) on self-reported health-related outcomes and care activities for young adults (YA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods:

Fifty-three YA (ages 18-25 years) with T1D participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Colorado Young Adults with T1D (CoYoT1) Clinic intervention, encompassing telehealth (TH) with or without VGA. Both new patients ( n = 32) and those who participated in a pilot phase ( n = 26) were randomized to CoYoT1 Clinic (TH+VGA; n = 23) or TH-only ( n = 35) and followed for 1 year. YA completed the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS), Diabetes Strengths and Resilience (D-STAR), Self-Efficacy in Diabetes (SED), Self-Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescence (SMOD-A), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D), and EuroQol (EQ-5D) scales at baseline and study end.

Results:

YA were 67% female, 84% white, 10% Latinx, and the mean age was 20.4 years old. At study end, participants in CoYoT1 Clinic reported significantly reduced diabetes distress compared to those in TH-only, who reported increased levels [Effect Size (ES) = −0.40, P = .02]. Specifically, CoYoT1 Clinic participants reported relative reductions in Physician (ES = −2.87, P = .02) and Regimen-related distress (ES = −0.35, P = .01). In addition, participants in CoYoT1 Clinic reported improved self-management of T1D-related problem solving (ES = 0.47, P = .051) and communication with care providers (ES = 0.39, P = .07).

Conclusions:

Virtual group attendance in CoYoT1 Clinic was associated with significant improvements in diabetes-related distress. Long-term exposure to VGA should be investigated in YA with T1D and other pediatric chronic conditions.
Evaluation of superior layer configuration of titanium Ti-6Al-4V and aluminium 2024-T3 against soft projectiles
Authors: Senthil K , Sharma R , Rupali S , Thakur A , Iqbal MA , Gupta NK
Published: July 2021

The manuscript is focussed on the prediction of superior layer configuration on titanium and aluminium plates through numerical investigations using ABAQUS/Explicit finite element software. The target plate of titanium Ti-6Al-4V (Ti) and aluminium Al 2024-T3 (Al) were studied against 7.62 mm diameter soft lead core projectiles. The Johnson-Cook (JC) material model was employed to simulate the behaviour of the target as well as projectile material. The results thus predicted from the numerical simulations in terms of deformed profile, residual velocity and ballistic limit were compared with the experimental results available in literature. Overall, the results were found in good agreement with the experimental results. The simulations were performed on the target of 10, 12.7 and 15 mm thickness with three, five and ten layers in order to predict the superior layer configuration. In the case of Ti-6Al-4V, the difference in performance between three layers and monolithic was quite high, however the use of five or ten layers of equivalent thickness is not advisable as performance is reduced. For Al2024-T3, the performance of layer targets was quite similar to that of monolithic targets. It is also observed the resistance of TiTiAl target configuration found to be better as compared to AlTiTi target configuration. It is concluded that the Al plate as back layer has more efficiency for ballistic resistance of layered configuration. It is also concluded that with respect to thickness, the capacity of titanium target is approximately 1.5 times higher than aluminium target against given lead core projectile.
Do electronic reminders alter recorded diagnoses in primary care office-hours practices of health centers: A register-based study in a Finnish city
Authors: Lehto Mika , Pitkälä Kaisu , Rahkonen Ossi , Laine Merja K , Raina Marko , Kauppila Timo
Published: July 2021

Objectives:

One purpose of electronic reminders is improvement of the quality of documentation in office-hours primary care. The aim of this study was to evaluate how implementation of electronic reminders alters the rate and/or content of diagnostic data recorded by primary care physicians in office-hours practices in primary care health centers.

Methods:

The present work is a register-based longitudinal follow-up study with a before-and-after design. An electronic reminder was installed in the electronic health record system of the primary health care of a Finnish city to remind physicians to include the diagnosis code of the visit in the health record. The report generator of the electronic health record system provided monthly figures for the number of various recorded diagnoses by using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, and the total number of visits to primary care physicians, thus allowing the calculation of the recording rate of diagnoses on a monthly basis. The distribution of diagnoses before and after implementing ERs was also compared.

Results:

After the introduction of the electronic reminder, the rate of diagnosis recording by primary care physicians increased clearly from 39.7% to 87.2% (p < 0.001). The intervention enhanced the recording rate of symptomatic diagnoses (group R) and some chronic diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes and other soft tissue disorders. Recording rate of diagnoses related to diseases of the respiratory system (group J), injuries, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (group S), and diseases of single body region of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (group M) decreased after the implementation of electronic reminders.

Conclusion:

Electronic reminders may alter the contents and extent of recorded diagnosis data in office-hours practices of the primary care health centers. They were found to have an influence on the recording rates of diagnoses related to chronic diseases. Electronic reminders may be a useful tool in primary health care when attempting to change the behavior of primary care physicians.
Otitis media with effusion as an initial manifestation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis
Authors: Djerić Dragoslava , Perić Aleksandar , Pavlović Bojan , Folić Miljan , Bontić Ana , Baralić Marko , Pavlović Jelena , Radović Milan
Published: July 2021

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis is a systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology, characterized by necrotizing granulomas. It is an autoimmune disease affecting small- and medium-sized vessels of upper and lower respiratory tract, kidneys, and other organs. We described a case of a patient with otitis media with effusion as the first manifestations of granulomatosis with polyangiitis. A 54-year-old female presented as an urgent case with history of a severe otalgia, hearing loss, vertigo, and fever. The patient was treated with diagnosis of otitis media with effusion and acute rhinosinusitis, but without significant success. She developed an acute kidney dysfunction as a sign of glomerulonephritis with rapidly progressive renal failure. Diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis was confirmed after the histopathological analysis of kidney tissue, not by analysis of middle ear and paranasal sinus mucosa specimens. The patient was treated according to generally accepted protocol, and over time, there was an almost complete recovery.
Necrotizing fasciitis in a 5-week-old infant: An unusual presentation
Authors: Lodhia Jay , Chussi Desderius , Ngowi Elisamia , Laizer Loreen , Leonard Leanji , Mchaile Deborah
Published: July 2021

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare and life-threatening soft-tissue infection characterized by rapidly spreading inflammation and subsequent necrosis of the fascial planes and surrounding tissue. These children should be managed promptly with broad-spectrum antibiotics and possible surgical debridement. Here, we present a 5-week-old female infant who presented with fever and ulcer on right lower jaw. She had a sudden onset of darkening of the right lower jaw, which progressed to reddish discoloration, and then an ulcer developed in the middle of this area of discoloration. She had a tender swelling extending from the right pre-auricular area to the right upper neck, crossing the right jaw and extending toward the right cheek and maxillary area. Swelling had areas of hyperpigmentation with an ulcer measuring 2 by 3 cm at the center of the lesion, oozing purulent fluid, and Staphylococcus aureus was cultured. The surgeons conducted incision and debridement in theater after suspecting necrotizing fasciitis of the jaw and the baby was kept on intravenous antibiotics, antiretroviral therapy and was dressed daily. The child fared well thereafter.
Investigating the relationship between multi-scale perfusion and white matter microstructural integrity in patients with relapsing-remitting MS
Authors: Sisco Nicholas J , Borazanci Aimee , Dortch Richard , Stokes Ashley M
Published: July 2021

Background

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by the formation of central nervous system demyelinating lesions with microvasculature inflammation.

Objective

Evaluate how lesion cerebral perfusion relates to white matter microstructural integrity in patients with RRMS using perfusion MRI and myelin-related T1-weighted to T2-weighted (T1w/T2w) ratios.

Methods

Forty-eight patients with RRMS were imaged with dynamic susceptibility contrast imaging using SAGE (spin- and gradient-echo) to calculate global and capillary-sized perfusion parameters, including cerebral blood flow (CBF), volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT). T1w/T2w ratios were used to indirectly assess white matter microstructural integrity.

Results

For global perfusion metrics, CBF was reduced 28.4% in lesion regions of interest (ROIs) compared to normal appearing white matter (NAWM), CBV was reduced 25.9% in lesion ROIs compared to NAWM, and MTT increased 12.9%. For capillary perfusion metrics (via spin-echo (SE)), CBF-SE was reduced 35.7% in lesion ROIs compared to NAWM, CBV-SE was reduced 35.2% in lesion ROIs compared to NAWM, and MTT-SE increased 9.1%. Capillary-level CBF was correlated (ρ = 0.34, p = 0.024) with white matter microstructural integrity in lesion ROIs.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that lesion perfusion is reduced at both the global and capillary level and capillary-associated hypoperfusion is associated with reduced white matter microstructural integrity in RRMS.
Extremely low 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the brain of a patient with metastatic neuroblastoma and its recovery after chemotherapy: A case report
Authors: Hoshino Yutaka , Sugiyama Minako , Hirata Kenji , Honda Shohei , Saito Hitoshi , Manabe Atsushi , Kudo Kohsuke
Published: July 2021

Commonly, physiological 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the brain can be observed in 18F-FDG positron emission tomography. Abnormal uptake of 18F-FDG in the brain suggests disorders of central nervous system. Here, we present a case of extremely low 18F-FDG uptake in the brain of a 4-year-old girl with whole-body metastatic neuroblastoma. Almost missing of physiological 18F-FDG uptake in the brain was ascribed at least partly to the metastatic neuroblastoma. The brain could regain physiological 18F-FDG uptake after chemotherapy.
CD4+ and CD8+ T cells infiltration of the polyp tissue in a series of Greek patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Gougousis Spyridon , Domvri Kalliopi , Porpodis Konstantinos , Besli Ioanna , Karkos Petros , Vliagoftis Harissios , Constantinidis Ioannis
Published: July 2021

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) presents with two basic phenotypes, CRS with (CRSwNP) or without nasal polyps (CRSsNP). The present study’s objective was to evaluate the clinical characteristics in a Greek population of CRSwNP patients and their relation to the frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as the CD4+/CD8+ ratio as prognostic biomarkers. Thirty-three adult CRSwNP patients were recruited at the ENT Department of “G. Papanikolaou” General Hospital of Thessaloniki. Tissue samples from nasal polyps were collected during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Hadley’s nasal endoscopy scores, preoperative Lund-Mackay CT scores, and 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test, were recorded for each patient. The presence of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes was evaluated in tissue sections by immunohistochemistry. Blood eosinophil and neutrophil counts were also included in the analysis. All data were analyzed with SPSS (version 21.0). Twenty-one males and 12 females were included in the analysis with mean age of 49.5 ± 14.5. LMS ( P < 0.001, r = 0.961) and HES ( P = 0.001, r = 0.54) were both positively correlated with SNOT 22. Hadley’s endoscopic score was also positively correlated with Lund-Mackay CT score ( P < 0.001, r = 0.674). Absolute count and percentage of eosinophils were positively correlated with LMS ( P = 0.003, r = 0.513, P = 0.002, r = 0.527 respectively) and HES ( P < 0.001, r = 0.622, P = 0.004, r = 0.497 respectively). Ιn a subgroup analysis, CRSwNP patients with blood eosinophils >5%, LMS and SNOT 22 were negatively correlated to CD4+ cells ( P = 0.029 r = −0.654, P = 0.043, r = −0.618, respectively). In CRSwNP patients with CD4+/CD8+ ratio <0.3, CD8+ T cells were positively correlated with the absolute count and percentage of eosinophils ( P = 0.042, r = 0.684, P = 0.036, r = 0.699 respectively). In this study, we recognized the potential importance of nasal CD8+ T cells in the pathophysiology of CRSwNP patients, also characterized by eosinophil accumulation. Furthermore, the patients’ clinical characteristics were also positively correlated with the eosinophilic inflammation and the severity of the disease.
Is Indoor Air Pollution From Different Fuel Types Associated With the Anemia Status of Pregnant Women in Ethiopia?
Authors: Andarge Sewitemariam Desalegn , Areba Abriham Sheferaw , Kabthymer Robel Hussen , Legesse Miheret Tesfu , Kanno Girum Gebremeskel
Published: July 2021

Background

Indoor air pollution from different fuel types has been linked with different adverse pregnancy outcomes. The study aimed to assess the link between indoor air pollution from different fuel types and anemia during pregnancy in Ethiopia.

Method

We have used the secondary data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data. The anemia status of the pregnant women was the dichotomous outcome variable and the type of fuel used in the house was classified as high, medium, and low polluting fuels. Logistic regression was employed to determine the association between the exposure and outcome variables. Adjusted Odds Ratio was calculated at 95% Confidence Interval.

Result

The proportion of anemia in the low, medium, and high polluting fuel type users was 13.6%, 46%, 40.9% respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, the use of either kerosene or charcoal fuel types (AOR 4.6; 95% CI: 1.41-18.35) and being in the third trimester (AOR 1.72; 95% CI: 1.12-2.64) were significant factors associated with the anemia status of the pregnant women in Ethiopia.

Conclusion

According to our findings, the application of either kerosene or charcoal was associated with the anemia status during pregnancy in Ethiopia. An urgent intervention is needed to reduce the indoor air pollution that is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as anemia.
Infrastructure and Trade: An Empirical Study Based on China and Selected Asian Economies
Authors: Rahman Imran Ur , Shafi Mohsin , Junrong Liu , Fetuu Enitilina Tatiani M.K. , Fahad Shah , Sharma Buddhi Prasad
Published: July 2021

We empirically determine the role of different forms of infrastructure on a country’s trade. We use an augmented gravity model that incorporates infrastructure in the estimation of merchandise trade flows. We take panel data, including China and 21 selected Asian economies, from 1999 to 2018. We find that the panel ordinary least squares (OLS) and poisson pseudo maximum likelihood (PPML) model estimations prove to be significant. Proxies for Transport Infrastructure including roads, railways, and sea transport, and Proxies for information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure consisting of mobile, electricity, and internet connections show a strong and positive impact on trade while air transport and landline phone connection have an unexpected negative effect on trade. The positive estimates for quality of infrastructure signify that high standards of Transport and ICT infrastructures lead to increased trade flows of the exporting and importing countries. Results also show that cultural similarity leads to increased trade flows between China and its trading partners in Asia.
Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of Barriers to Promoting Critical Thinking Skills in the Classroom
Authors: Khalid Lulwa , Bucheerei Jawaher , Issah Mohammed
Published: July 2021

Critical thinking is an important life skill that needs to be nurtured in young minds during the primary education years. This study explored pre-service teachers’ perception of barriers to their efforts in promoting critical thinking skills in classrooms, and further explored possible solutions to overcome these perceived barriers. The study used an exploratory mixed-method research design. Data were collected through an online survey and subsequently a focus group discussion to explore further the results of the quantitative data. Twenty-two pre-service teachers responded to the online survey, and subsequently seven pre-service teachers were selected for the focus group discussion. Issues related to teacher preparedness to assess pupils’ critical thinking skills, inadequate background knowledge on critical thinking, and lack of appropriate resources emerged as barriers to promoting the development of critical thinking skills in classrooms. The study suggests changes in teaching methods courses offered in teacher preparatory programs and changing perceptions toward critical thinking skills as possible measures to promote the development of critical thinking skills in the classroom.