bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
[Retracted] Pinosylvin Extract Retinari™ Sustains Electrophysiological Function, Prevents Thinning of Retina, and Enhances Cellular Response to Oxidative Stress in NFE2L2 Knockout Mice
Authors: Tamminen Toni , Koskela Ali , Toropainen Elisa , Gurubaran Iswariyaraja Sridevi , Winiarczyk Mateusz , Liukkonen Mikko , Paterno Jussi J. , Lackman Petri , Sadeghi Amir , Viiri Johanna , Hyttinen Juha M. T. , Koskelainen Ari , Kaarniranta Kai
Published: December 2021

Chronic oxidative stress eventually leads to protein aggregation in combination with impaired autophagy, which has been observed in age‐related macular degeneration. We have previously shown an effective age‐related macular degeneration disease model in mice with nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor‐2 (NFE2L2) knockout. We have also shown pinosylvin, a polyphenol abundant in bark waste, to increase human retinal pigment epithelium cell viability in vitro. In this work, the effects of commercial natural pinosylvin extract, Retinari™, were studied on the electroretinogram, optical coherence tomogram, autophagic activity, antioxidant capacity, and inflammation markers. Wild‐type and NFE2L2 knockout mice were raised until the age of 14.8 ± 3.8 months. They were fed with either regular or Retinari™ chow (141 ± 17.0 mg/kg/day of pinosylvin) for 10 weeks before the assays. Retinari™ treatment preserved significant retinal function with significantly preserved a‐ and b‐wave amplitudes in the electroretinogram responses. Additionally, the treatment prevented thinning of the retina in the NFE2L2 knockout mice. The NFE2L2 knockout mice showed reduced ubiquitin‐tagged protein accumulation in addition to local upregulation of complement factor H and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 and catalase. Therefore, the treatment in the NFE2L2 KO disease model led to reduced chronic oxidative stress and sustained retinal function and morphology. Our results demonstrate that pinosylvin supplementation could potentially lower the risk of age‐related macular degeneration onset and slow down its progression.
A Case Study of Thaumasite Sulfate Attack in Tunnel Engineering
Authors: Xu Chongbang , Zhou Xingyu , Wang Hualao , Gao Xiaojing , Li Xuefeng
Published: December 2021

There existed ever‐increasing structural diseases in the Dugongling tunnel after the completion of the construction. Systematic research was carried out based on the information of tunnel engineering geology, disease development, mineral composition of surrounding rock and concrete, and laboratory tests. Results showed that (1) the concrete structure from the Dugongling tunnel suffered from a typical thaumasite sulfate attack (TSA); (2) tunnel diseases developed under the influence of multiple geological factors such as groundwater, karst, gypsum bearing stratum, and geological tectonics. Groundwater aggravated the appearance of engineering defects of various geological factors and accelerated the softening and swelling of surrounding rock. Moreover, the additional load of supporting structure increased, and the concrete structure was prone to sulfate attack; (3) the development of tunnel diseases showed long‐cycle and large‐scale characteristics, and the types of diseases are heterogeneous. The tunnel diseases develop rapidly in the third year after the construction. The structure collapse disease, one of the most serious diseases of tunnel lining, occurred in the fifth year after construction; and (4) according to the conditions of TSA, technical treatment measures were proposed. These measures included blocking the flow of , improving the impermeability of concrete structures, and decreasing the diffusion of external ions and groundwater. This work provides a solution for the treatment of similar tunnel disease and mechanism analysis.
An Intelligent Optimization Strategy Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning for Step Counting
Authors: Sun Zhoubao , Chen Pengfei , Zhang Xiaodong
Published: December 2021

With the popularity of Internet of things technology and intelligent devices, the application prospect of accurate step counting has gained more and more attention. To solve the problems that the existing algorithms use threshold to filter noise, and the parameters cannot be updated in time, an intelligent optimization strategy based on deep reinforcement learning is proposed. In this study, the counting problem is transformed into a serialization decision optimization. This study integrates the noise recognition and the user feedback to update parameters. The end-to-end processing is direct, which alleviates the inaccuracy of step counting in the follow-up step counting module caused by the inaccuracy of noise filtering in the two-stage processing and makes the model parameters continuously updated. Finally, the experimental results show that the proposed model achieves superior performance to existing approaches.
Disparities in Chronic Kidney Disease Progression by Medicare Advantage Enrollees
Authors: Diamantidis Clarissa Jonas , Zepel Lindsay , Wang Virginia , Smith Valerie A. , Hudson Scholle Sarah , Tamayo Loida , Maciejewski Matthew L.
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Medicare beneficiaries has quadrupled in the past 2 decades, but little is known about risk factors affecting the progression of CKD. This study aims to understand the progression in Medicare Advantage enrollees and whether it differs by provider recognition of CKD, race and ethnicity, or geographic location. In a large cohort of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees, we examined whether CKD progression, up to 5 years after study entry, differed by demographic and clinical factors and identified additional risk factors of CKD progression. Methods: In a cohort of 1,002,388 MA enrollees with CKD stages 1–4 based on 2013–2018 labs, progression was estimated using a mixed-effects model that adjusted for demographics, geographic location, comorbidity, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, clinical recognition via diagnosed CKD, and time-fixed effects. Race and ethnicity, geographic location, and clinical recognition of CKD were interacted with time in 3 separate regression models. Results: Mean (median) follow-up was 3.1 (3.0) years. Black and Hispanic MA enrollees had greater kidney function at study entry than other beneficiaries, but their kidney function declined faster. MA enrollees with clinically recognized CKD had estimated glomerular filtration rate levels that were 18.6 units (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.5–18.7) lower than levels of unrecognized patients, but kidney function declined more slowly in enrollees with clinical recognition. There were no differences in CKD progression by geography. After removal of the race coefficient from the eGFR equation in a sensitivity analysis, kidney function was much lower in all years among Black MA enrollees, but patterns of progression remained the same. Discussion/Conclusions: These results suggest that patients with clinically recognized CKD and racial and ethnic minorities merit closer surveillance and management to reduce their risk of faster progression.
Evidence for the Association between Chronotype and Lifelong Premature Ejaculation
Authors: Onen Efe , Onen Sinay
Published: December 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), severity of disease, and chronotype in lifelong premature ejaculation (PE). Materials and Methods: Evaluation was made of 114 males with PE and 103 healthy individuals, and comparisons were made of self-estimated IELT, Arabic Index of Premature Ejaculation (AIPE), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Results: The frequency of morningness chronotype (78.1%) was significantly higher, and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) scores were negatively correlated with both IELT (r = −0.490, p < 0.001) and Arabic Index of Premature Ejaculation (AIPE) scores (r = −0.639, p < 0.001) in the PE group. MEQ scores significantly predicted IELT (t = −2.465, p = 0.015) and AIPE scores (t = −4.003, p = 0.000) in the PE group but not in the control group. Conclusion: It can be asserted that morningness chronotype is more common, and ejaculatory latency time and PE severity are associated with chronotype in males with PE.
Associations of Adverse Childhood Experiences with Frailty in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Authors: Mian Oxana , Anderson Laura N. , Belsky Daniel W. , Gonzalez Andrea , Ma Jinhui , Sloboda Deborah M. , Bowdish Dawn M.E. , Verschoor Chris P.
Published: December 2021

Introduction: Frailty in older adults, characterized by a decline in multiple physiological systems and increasing vulnerability to loss of independence, disability, and death, is a public health priority in developed countries. Etiology of frailty extends across the lifespan and may begin in early life, but empirical evidence for this association is scarce. In this study, we examined whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with frailty in later life. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data for a population-based sample of 27,748 adults aged 45–85 years from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The frailty index (FI) was computed with 76 health-related characteristics of physical and cognitive performance, self-rated health, chronic conditions, visual and hearing ability, activities of daily living, and well-being. Self-reported exposure to ACEs included physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, and witnessing intimate partner violence prior age of 16 and parental death, divorce, and living with a family member with mental illness prior age of 18. Generalized linear regression models with gamma error distribution and identity link function, adjusted for age and sex, were used to examine associations of each ACE type and the number of ACE types (0, 1, 2, or 3+) reported by an individual with FI. All models were adjusted for income, education, smoking, and alcohol consumption in sensitivity analysis. Results: Individuals exposed to ACEs had elevated levels of FI (mean = 0.13, SD = 0.09) than those unexposed, with the largest difference observed for neglect (B [95% CI]: 0.05 [0.04, 0.06]) and the smallest for parental death and divorce (0.015 [0.01,0.02]). The ACE count was associated with frailty in a graded manner, with the FI difference reaching 0.04 [0.037, 0.044] for participants exposed to 3+ ACE types. The association between ACEs and frailty tended to be stronger for women than men and for men aged 45–64 years than older men. Conclusions: Our study supports previous studies showing that exposure to ACEs is associated with frailty in adults. Our findings suggest that screening for ACEs involving childhood maltreatment may be useful for identifying individuals at risk of frailty and prevention of ACEs may have long-term benefits for healthy aging.
G-8 Geriatric Screening Tool Independently Predicts Progression-Free Survival in Older Ovarian Cancer Patients Irrespective of Maximal Surgical Effort: Results of a Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Anic Katharina , Birkert Sophie , Schmidt Mona Wanda , Linz Valerie Catherine , Heimes Anne-Sophie , Krajnak Slavomir , Schwab Roxana , Schmidt Marcus , Westphalen Christiane , Hartmann Erik Kristoffer , Hasenburg Annette , Battista Marco Johannes
Published: December 2021

Background: We evaluated the prognostic impact of various global health assessment tools in patients older than 60 years with ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: G-8 geriatric screening tool (G-8 score), Lee Schonberg prognostic index, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) were determined retrospectively in a consecutive cohort of elderly patients with OC. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses and Kaplan-Meier method were performed to analyze the impact of the preoperative global health status on survival. Results: 116 patients entered the study. In multivariate analysis adjusted for clinical-pathological factors, only the G-8 score retained significance as a prognostic parameter of progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.970; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.056–3.677]; p = 0.033). Fifty-six patients were classified as G-8-nonfrail with an increased PFS compared to 50 G-8-frail patients (53.4% vs. 16.7%; p = 0.010). A higher CCI was associated with decreased PFS (45.1% vs. 22.2%; p = 0.012), but it did not influence the risk of recurrences or death (p = 0.360; p = 0.111). The Lee Schonberg prognostic index, the ECOG, and age were not associated with survival. Conclusions: The G-8 score independently predicted PFS in elderly OC patients regardless of maximal surgical effort. Thus, it could be useful to assess surgical treatment based on frailty rather than age alone.
Association of Abdominal Aorta Calcium and Coronary Artery Calcium with Incident Cardiovascular and Coronary Heart Disease Events in Black and White Middle‐Aged People: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study
Authors: Jurgens Paul T. , Carr John J. , Terry James G. , Rana Jamal S. , Jacobs David R. , Duprez Daniel A.
Published: December 2021

Background

Assessing coronary artery calcium (CAC) is among AHA/ACC prevention guidelines for people at least 40 years old at intermediate risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). To study enhanced risk stratification, we investigated the predictive value of abdominal aorta calcium (AAC) relative to CAC for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CHD events in Black and White early middle‐aged participants, initially free of overt CVD.

Methods and Results

In the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study, a multi‐center, community‐based, longitudinal cohort study of CVD risk, the CAC and AAC scores were assessed in 3011 participants in 2010–2011 with follow‐up until 2019 for incident CVD and CHD events. Distributions and predictions, overall and by race, were computed. During the 8‐year follow‐up, 106 incident CVD events (55 were CHD) occurred. AAC scores tended to be much higher than CAC scores. AAC scores were higher in Black women than in White women. CAC predicted CVD with HR 1.77 (1.52–2.06) and similarly for AAC, while only CAC predicted CHD. After adjustment for risk factors and calcium in the other arterial bed, the association of CAC with CVD was independent of risk factors and AAC, while the association of AAC with CVD was greatly attenuated. However, AAC predicted incident CVD when CAC was 0. Prediction did not vary by race.

Conclusions

AAC predicted CVD nearly as strongly as CAC and could be especially useful as a diagnostic tool when it is an incidental finding or when no CAC is found.
Phosphorus Supplementation Mitigates Perivascular Adipose Inflammation–Induced Cardiovascular Consequences in Early Metabolic Impairment
Authors: Dwaib Haneen S. , Ajouz Ghina , AlZaim Ibrahim , Rafeh Rim , Mroueh Ali , Mougharbil Nahed , Ragi Marie‐Elizabeth , Refaat Marwan , Obeid Omar , El‐Yazbi Ahmed F.
Published: December 2021

Background

The complexity of the interaction between metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular complications has long been recognized to extend beyond simple perturbations of blood glucose levels. Yet, structured interventions targeting the root pathologies are not forthcoming. Growing evidence implicates the inflammatory changes occurring in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) as early instigators of cardiovascular deterioration.

Methods and Results

We used a nonobese prediabetic rat model with localized PVAT inflammation induced by hypercaloric diet feeding, which dilutes inorganic phosphorus (Pi) to energy ratio by 50%, to investigate whether Pi supplementation ameliorates the early metabolic impairment. A 12‐week Pi supplementation at concentrations equivalent to and twice as much as that in the control diet was performed. The localized PVAT inflammation was reversed in a dose‐dependent manner. The increased expression of UCP1 (uncoupling protein1), HIF‐1α (hypoxia inducible factor‐1α), and IL‐1β (interleukin‐1β), representing the hallmark of PVAT inflammation in this rat model, were reversed, with normalization of PVAT macrophage polarization. Pi supplementation restored the metabolic efficiency consistent with its putative role as an UCP1 inhibitor. Alongside, parasympathetic autonomic and cerebrovascular dysfunction function observed in the prediabetic model was reversed, together with the mitigation of multiple molecular and histological cardiovascular damage markers. Significantly, a Pi‐deficient control diet neither induced PVAT inflammation nor cardiovascular dysfunction, whereas Pi reinstatement in the diet after a 10‐week exposure to a hypercaloric low‐Pi diet ameliorated the dysfunction.

Conclusions

Our present results propose Pi supplementation as a simple intervention to reverse PVAT inflammation and its early cardiovascular consequences, possibly through the interference with hypercaloric‐induced increase in UCP1 expression/activity.
Clinical and Imaging Indicators of Hemorrhagic Transformation in Acute Ischemic Stroke After Endovascular Thrombectomy
Authors: Tian Bing , Tian Xia , Shi Zhang , Peng Wenjia , Zhang Xuefeng , Yang Pengfei , Li Zifu , Zhang Xiaoxi , Lou Min , Yin Congguo , Zhang Yongwei , Lu Jianping , Liu Jianmin ,   for the DIRECT-MT Investigators
Published: December 2021

Background:

Prior studies have investigated the clinical and imaging factors for hemorrhagic transformation (HT), especially symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH); however, whether alteplase increases the risk of HT after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is unknown. This study aimed to assess clinical and imaging features associated with HT, sICH, and parenchymal hematoma (PH) in patients with acute ischemic stroke after EVT, with and without intravenous alteplase in DIRECT-MT (Direct Intraarterial Thrombectomy to Revascularize Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients with Large Vessel Occlusion Efficiently in Chinese Tertiary Hospitals: a Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial).

Methods:

The DIRECT-MT trial is a randomized trial of EVT alone versus intravenous thrombolysis combined with EVT. HT, sICH, and PH was evaluated on follow-up computed tomography. Multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to test the association of stepwise selected determinants with HT, sICH, and PH.

Results:

In total, 633 patients were analyzed; 261 (41.2%) had HT; 34 (5.4%) had sICH; and 85 (13.4%) had PH. The median age was 69, and 56.7% were men. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 18, and 320 patients were in combination-therapy group. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was associated with higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.06 [95% CI, 1.10–1.12]) and higher glucose level at hospital arrival (adjusted OR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.00–1.29]). No association was found between alteplase treatment and HT, sICH, or PH. The independent predictor of sICH was higher baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (adjusted OR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.01–1.18]) in EVT alone group, and history of anticoagulant drugs (adjusted OR, 3.75 [95% CI, 1.07–13.06]), higher glucose level at hospital arrival (adjusted OR, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.03–1.38]), >3 passes of device (adjusted OR, 4.42 [95% CI, 1.36–14.32]) in combination-therapy group.

Conclusions:

In DIRECT-MT, independent predictors of sICH were baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and glucose level at hospital arrival. Alteplase treatment did not increase the risk of HT, sICH, or PH after EVT. The independent predictor of sICH was different in EVT alone group and combination-therapy group.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03469206.
SİNEMADA NOSTALJİ: LA BELLE EPOQUE FİLMİ ÜZERİNE BİR OKUMA PRATİĞİ
Authors: ŞİMŞEK Atacan
Published: December 2021

Nostalji kavramı ilk başta tıp alanına ait bir terimken, daha sonra yapı bozuma uğrayarak hastalık tanımından çıkmıştır. Bugün hastalık olarak tanımlanmayan bu kavram, geçmişteki çocukluk ve gençlik çağlarına özlem duyan, yaşadığı mekânları ve geçmişteki dönemleri özleyen insanları tanımlamak için kullanılmıştır. Sinema ve nostalji arasında yakın bir ilişki göze çarpmaktadır. Özellikle bilim kurgu filmleriyle insanlara zamanda yolculuk yaptıran nostaljik filmler, insanların geçmişe olan özlem duygusunu bir nevi tatmin etmektedir. Bu çalışmada nostalji kavramının ve sinema ile nostalji arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışma nitel bir çalışma olup, kavram bağlamında La Belle Epoque (Yeni Baştan) filmi betimsel analiz yöntemine göre analiz edilecektir. Nostaljiyi tanımlamak için kavram içerisinde dile getirilen birçok durumun filme yansıdığı sonucuna ulaşılmış, nostaljik film olarak adlandırabileceğimiz filmler oluşturulurken nostalji kavramından yararlanıldığı görülmüştür.
CİZYE DEFTERİNE GÖRE FERECİK KAZASINDA KIPTÎLER VE GAYRİMÜSLİMLER (1848)
Authors: DURDU Mustafa
Published: December 2021

Cizye defterleri, bir yerleşim yerinde sâkin cizye mükellefi gayrimüslim ve Kıptîler hakkında veriler sunan önemli vesikalardır. Bu makalede, Osmanlı Arşivinde bulunan Maliye Nezareti Varidat Muhasebesi Cizye Defterleri fonundaki 932 numaralı cizye defterine göre, Edirne eyaleti içerisindeki Ferecik kazasında sâkin cizye mükellefi Kıptî ve reayanın demografik, sosyal ve iktisadî durumları analiz edilmiştir. Buna göre Ferecik kazasında yerli ve yabancı toplam 3602 cizye mükellefi reaya ile 146 cizye mükellefi Kıptî yaşamaktadır. Reaya ve Kıptî mükelleflerin kahir ekseriyeti 11-30 yaş aralığındadır. Her iki kesimin de çekirdek tipi bir aile yapısına sahip oldukları görülmüştür. Ödedikleri cizye sınıfına göre, mükelleflerin orta seviyede bir gelire sahip oldukları anlaşılmıştır. Makalede adı geçen cizye defterinden başka nüfus defterleri ve diğer bazı kaynaklardan da istifade edilmiştir.
FAŞİZMDE PALİNGENESİS MİT
Authors: ERYÜCEL Ertuğrul
Published: December 2021

Bu çalışmada, faşizmin mitsel nüvesini oluşturan palingenesis söylem incelenmektedir. I. Dünya Savaşı’ndan sonra faşizmin hâkim olduğu ülkelerdeki palingenesis söylemin içeriğinin çözümlenmesi, çalışmanın temel amacıdır. Palingenesis mitin çözümlenmesi, faşizmin yükselişinin ve aldığı toplumsal desteğin anlaşılabilmesi açısından son derece önemlidir. Çalışma, palingenesis söylemin çöküş/yıkım olarak adlandırılan bir sürecin sonunda, kitleleri milli hedefler doğrultusunda yeniden mobilize etmek üzere kurgulandığı tezi üzerine kuruludur. Çalışmada, palingenesis mitin İtalya’da tarih ve kültür üzerinden, Almanya’da ırksal hâkimiyet üzerinden inşa edildiği iddia edilmektedir. Çalışma, Almanya ve İtalya örneklerinin incelenmesi ile sınırlıdır. Para-faşist rejimler gerek iktidarı ele geçirme gerekse iktidarda uzun süre kalıp toplumu topyekûn dönüştürme konusunda başarısız oldukları için çalışmanın kapsamı dışındadır.
Ottoman Archival Documents on the Shrines of Karbala, Najaf, and the Hejaz (1660s-1720s): Endowment Wars, the Spoils System, and Iranian Pilgrims
Authors: Güngörürler Selim
Published: December 2021

This study introduces and publishes an array of Ottoman archival documents on the shrines of Ahl al-Bayt imams in Iraq, the endowments dedicated to these shrines, and the Shiite-Iranian pilgrims visiting these sites as well as the Kaaba and the shrine of Muhammad in the Hejaz. Focusing on the later seventeenth and the early eighteenth centuries, it discusses the political-economic function of Islamic endowments, interconfessional contacts resulting from pilgrimage by Shiites in Sunni territory, and the potential use of Ottoman archives to enrich our knowledge on trans-Ottoman themes.
Esotericism in Botswana
Authors: Podolecka Agnieszka , Nthoi Leslie
Published: December 2021

The article argues that “esotericism” can usefully be applied to a number of religious currents in Southern Africa. With a focus on Botswana, we survey a range of practices, from traditional “shamanic” healing to Pentecostal NRM s to New Age spiritualities and neoshamanism, some presented here for the first time. The term esotericism is useful for analysing the religious situation in Southern African contexts for three reasons. First, through a typological understanding of esotericism as initiation-based knowledge systems, we define one part of the landscape (usually termed “shamanism”) as constituting a form of “indigenous esotericism”. Second, through the European colonial expansion, this indigenous esotericism faced a violent rejection campaign that parallels the construction of “rejected knowledge” in Europe. While this forced many practices underground, they have resurfaced within Southern African Christianity. Third, “western” esoteric currents have recently been imported to Southern Africa and enter into dialogues with the “indigenous” forms.
Intertextual Agōnes in Archaic Greek Epic: Penelope vs. the Catalogue of Women
Authors: Nelson Thomas J.
Published: December 2021

Archaic Greek epic exhibits a pervasive eristic intertextuality, repeatedly positioning its heroes and itself against pre-existing traditions. In this article, I focus on a specific case study from the Odyssey: Homer’s agonistic relationship with the Catalogue of Women tradition. Hesiodic-style catalogue poetry has long been recognized as an important intertext for the Nekyia of Odyssey 11, but here I explore a more sustained dialogue across the whole poem. Through an ongoing agōn that sets Odysseus’s wife against catalogic women, Homer establishes the pre-eminence of his heroine and—by extension—the supremacy of his own poem.
A qualitative investigation of the digital literacy practices of doctoral students
Authors: Bell Diane Louise
Published: December 2021

Academic libraries are currently part of a landscape where there is a rapid growth of digital technologies and electronic resources and they have responded to this by developing their research services. Some of the most specialised and complex research in higher education is conducted by doctoral students and the effective use of digital tools and skills is often crucial to their research workflow and success. The need for digital literacy has been further emphasised during the global pandemic of 2020-21 which has required the maximisation of online working and digital skills to ensure the continuation of education, services and research productivity. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative research study in a UK university exploring factors influencing differences in the digital literacy skills of doctoral students. The literature included has been updated as digital skills and technologies are a constantly changing area of research.
Distinct Off-Equatorial Zonal Wind Stress and Oceanic Responses for EP- and CP-Type ENSO Events
Authors: McGregor Shayne , Dommenget Dietmar , Neske Sonja
Published: December 2021

This study utilizes observations and a series of idealized experiments to explore whether eastern Pacific (EP)- and central Pacific (CP)-type El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events produce surface wind stress responses with distinct spatial structures. We find that the meridionally broader sea surface temperatures (SSTs) during CP events lead to zonal wind stresses that are also meridionally broader than those found during EP-type events, leading to differences in the near-equatorial wind stress curl. These wind spatial structure differences create differences in the associated pre- and post-ENSO event WWV response. For instance, the meridionally narrow winds found during EP events have (i) weaker wind stresses along 5°N and 5°S, leading to weaker Ekman-induced pre-event WWV changes; and (ii) stronger near-equatorial wind stress curls that lead to a much larger post-ENSO event WWV changes than during CP events. The latter suggests that, in the framework of the recharge oscillator model, the EP events have stronger coupling between sea surface temperatures (SST) and thermocline (WWV), supporting more clearly the phase transition of ENSO events, and therefore, the oscillating nature of ENSO than CP events. The results suggest that the spatial structure of the SST pattern and the related differences in the wind stress curl, are required along with equatorial wind stress to accurately model the WWV changes during EP- and CP-type ENSO events.
Case of Infected Urachal Cyst in an Adult Presenting as an Incarcerated Umbilical Hernia
Authors: Corsello Jenalee , Morris Mariah , Denning David , Munie Semeret
Published: December 2021

The urachus is a remnant of the allantois. Failure to obliterate can result in one of four anomalies, urachal cyst being most common. Urachal cysts are relatively rare, especially in adults. This paper presents a patient with an umbilical hernia and a ruptured urachal cyst. A 39-year-old male presented with concern for umbilical hernia, but he also noted drainage. Computed tomography scan showed a urachal cyst and umbilical hernia. The urachal cyst was excised and umbilical hernia closed primarily. The incidence of an urachal cyst is unknown, but persists in roughly 2% of adults. Diagnosis is with ultrasound or CT scan. Management is excision due to risk of urachal carcinoma, which is present in over 50% of specimens. Review of literature did not reveal any other cases of a patient with both an urachal cyst and an umbilical hernia, thus making this case a unique presentation for this condition.
Intraoperative Diagnosis of Gallbladder Agenesis
Authors: Winters Maryselle , Clar Derek T. , Van Fossen Kelly
Published: December 2021

Gallbladder agenesis is a congenital anomaly that often presents with symptoms of biliary colic. Due to the rarity of this condition, it is often difficult to diagnose pre-operatively. Here we present a case of a 33-yo female with a 6-month history of right upper quadrant abdominal pain and associated nausea. With false-positive imaging findings of cholelithiasis on ultrasound examination, an incidental intraoperative diagnosis of gallbladder agenesis was made during a routine elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This finding was confirmed with postoperative magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. The primary aim in reporting this case is to further promote awareness of this rare condition out of concern for increased risk of iatrogenic operative injury in the setting of a condition where conservative management is recommended.
Outcome Disparities and Resource Utilization Among Limited English Proficient Patients After Tonsillectomy
Authors: Plocienniczak Michal , Rubin Batsheva R. , Kolli Alekha , Levi Jessica , Tracy Lauren
Published: December 2021

Objective:

There is evidence to suggest adverse outcomes on patients’ medical and surgical care when there is language discordance in patient-physician relationships. No studies have evaluated the impact of limited English proficiency (LEP) on complications after common surgical procedures in otolaryngology. Furthermore, no studies have evaluated how patients with LEP utilize remote resources to connect with otolaryngology providers to better triage such complications. The purpose was to evaluate the incidence of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) comparing patients with LEP to those with English proficiency (EP). Patients with PTH were retrospectively evaluated to identify preceding telephone encounters, a marker of resource utilization.

Methods:

Demographics, English proficiency, and PTH management (surgical vs non-surgical) were evaluated in addition to PTH-associated triage telephone encounters with otolaryngology providers.

Results:

Of 2466 tonsillectomies, there were 141 episodes of reported hemorrhage (50 LEP vs 91 EP) in the 5 years studied. Rates were not significantly different between LEP and EP patients (4.9% vs 6.3%, P = .127). There was no statistically significant difference in rate of preceding telephone encounters between LEP and EP patients (24% vs 40%, P = .062). Of patients presenting directly to the Emergency Department without a triage telephone encounter, there was no difference in operative versus non-operative management when comparing LEP versus EP patients. However, patients presenting directly to the Emergency Department were nearly twice as likely to undergo operative intervention compared to patients with preceding telephone encounters (RR = 1.79).

Conclusion:

Patients with limited English proficiency are not at increased risk for developing PTH. There is equitable access to remote otolaryngologic triage care, although overall the utilization rate of this resource was low for both cohorts.
Art Activities in Long-Term Care: A Scoping Review
Authors: Durocher Evelyne , Njelesani Janet , Crosby Emily
Published: December 2021

Background: Outcomes of using art in therapy overlap with goals of occupational therapy with older adults in long-term care, which include improving and maintaining health and well-being through engagement in occupations. There is a lack of evidence about how art activities could complement or inform occupational therapy. Purpose: The purpose of this scoping review is to map existing literature about how art activities are used in long-term care. Methods: Six electronic databases were searched. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed to identify patterns and discrepancies. Findings: The analysis suggests art activities can contribute to well-being by improving mood, promoting communication and reminiscence, and supporting the development and deepening of social relationships. Implications: Occupational therapists should consider incorporating art activities as these offer therapeutic benefits and can be adapted to individual strengths and preferred type and level of participation.
An Exploratory Study of Environmental Stress in Four High Violent Crime Cities: What Sets Them Apart?
Authors: Smith Sven , Ferguson Christopher J. , Henderson Howard
Published: December 2021

Understanding the social contexts of violent crime remains controversial in the literature. In the current study, we examine common social contexts in four cities (Houston, TX, Baltimore, MD, Jackson, MS, Wilmington, DE). Data were examined in two studies. In the first, each city was compared to national county-level data on health outcomes. In the second, communities within the four cities were examined for correlates of crime. Results suggest that some common social contexts emerge: high STD rates, air pollution, single-parent homes, insufficient food resources and sleep, residential segregation, housing cost burdens, comparatively few older adults and comparatively more females, were common among the four high-violence cities. By contrast, all four cities unexpectedly had uncommonly low suicide rates compared to the national average. At the community level, unemployment, community stress, median household income, and population density all correlated with criminal outcomes. High-violence cities tended to have higher proportions of Black residents, however community level evaluations suggested that class-related issues, not race per se, was correlated with violent crime.
Drug-Drug Interaction Between Orally Administered Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen and Inhalation of Cannabis Smoke: A Case Report
Authors: Bindler Ross Jason , Watson Christy J. W. , Lyons Abram J. , Skeiky Lillian , Lewis Jamie , McDonell Michael , Lazarus Philip , Wilson Marian
Published: December 2021

Objective:

To determine if a 2-day protocol measuring pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics can demonstrate drug-drug interactions when smoked cannabis is added to orally administered hydrocodone/acetaminophen combination products.

Case Summary:

A 51-year-old non-Hispanic white male with chronic pain diagnoses participated in a 2-day pilot protocol. The participant attended two 7-hour in-lab days where he received 10 blood draws each day and completed self-administered pain and anxiety surveys. For both days, the participant took his prescribed dose of hydrocodone/acetaminophen (1/2 tablet of 7.5 mg/325 mg combination product) with the addition of 1 smoked pre-rolled marijuana cigarette (labeled as 0.5 g; 22.17% Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol; 0.12% cannabidiol) on Day 2. Blood specimens were analyzed using mass spectrometry to quantify the difference of plasma hydrocodone levels between Day 1 and Day 2.

Results:

Compared to Day 1, lower levels of pain and anxiety were reported during Day 2 with the addition of cannabis to oral hydrocodone/acetaminophen. Day 2 pharmacokinetic analysis also revealed more rapid absorption and overall lower levels of hydrocodone in plasma.

Discussion:

Lower hydrocodone plasma levels in Day 2 may indicate cannabis’s effect on metabolism and reduce the risk of opioid toxicity. The quicker absorption rate of hydrocodone could explain lower pain and anxiety scores reported on the second day.

Conclusion and Relevance:

A 2-day protocol was able to capture differences across time in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic measurements. Larger studies can be designed to better characterize the potential drug-drug interaction of cannabis and opioids.
Book review: S. Levitsky & D. Ziblatt, How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future; D. Acemoglu & J.A. Robinson, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty and D. Roy Chowdhury & J. Keane, To Kill a Democracy: India’s Passage to Despotism
Authors: Singh Mahendra Prasad
Published: December 2021

S. Levitsky & D. Ziblatt, How Democracies Die: What History Reveals About Our Future. New York: Penguin Random House UK, 2018, £ 9.99.

D. Acemoglu & J.A. Robinson, Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty. London: Crown, 2013 (South Asian Edition), ₹699.

D. Roy Chowdhury & J. Keane, To Kill a Democracy: India’s Passage to Despotism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021, £20.00; $25.95.
Wellbeing of Employees During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study of Innovative HR Practices of Organisations
Authors: Jain Neetu , Aggarwal Shilpee
Published: December 2021

The whole world has been battling through the COVID-19 pandemic which has resulted in the prevailing global crisis. There has been an adverse impact of this pandemic on economic, physical and psychological/mental wellbeing of the people. Many researchers have found that COVID-19 related anxiety is leading to psychological and behavioural changes. Most reported psychological changes are depression, psychological distress, worry, anxiety about being infected, subjective wellbeing and reduced quality of life. These behavioural and psychological changes are reducing the effectiveness of the workforce which is eventually taking a toll on the overall productivity. Several organisations have implemented a number of strategies to deal with the unforeseen challenges faced by their employees. These interventions have helped the employees restore their mental wellbeing. This article attempts to identify and underscore some important HR initiatives that organisations have taken to maintain and enhance the motivation of their workforce during this COVID-19 pandemic.
On the Mis-Education of Teachers of Color: A Letter to Teacher Educators
Authors: Teacher of Color Collective The , Souto-Manning Mariana
Published: December 2021

Although teacher education researchers have long claimed their commitment to successfully preparing teachers to educate students of Color—a growing majority in U.S. schools—notably absent from their attempts are the voices of teachers of Color. This silence often results in pathological portrayals, positioning teachers of Color as the problem while obscuring the pervasive, problematic, and harmful Whiteness of teaching and teacher education. In this context, inspired by James Baldwin’s letter-essays and centering truthtelling as theoretical framework, eight tenured New York City public school teachers of Color and a teacher educator of Color engaged in collective analysis of a truthtelling exercise focused on what practitioners and institutions of teacher education can and should learn from teachers of Color to develop an antidote to the overwhelming Whiteness of teaching and teacher education, which has been shown to disproportionately disadvantage students of Color. Herein, we offer a composite counter-story—a letter to White teacher educators and, in fact, teacher educators of any racial identification who are in any way aligned with protecting and upholding Whiteness—revisiting our own nuanced memories of becoming and being teachers, unveiling teacher education’s epistemic violence, and issuing a call to action.
Evidence of an Indirect Effect of Generativity on Fear of Death Through Ego-Integrity Considering Social Desirability
Authors: Busch Holger
Published: December 2021

Recent research has shown an indirect effect of generativity on fear of death through ego-integrity in older adults. The present paper aims at demonstrating that the indirect effect is valid even when controlling for social desirability. For that purpose, participants ( N = 260 German adults) in study 1 provided self-reports on generativity, ego-integrity, fear of death, and social desirability. Analyses confirmed the indirect effect when the tendency for socially desirable responding was statistically controlled. In study 2, participants ( N = 133 German adults) also reported on their generativity and ego-integrity. Fear of death, however, was assessed with a reaction time-based measure (i.e., the Implicit Associations Test). Again, the indirect effect could be confirmed. Taken together, the studies lend further credibility to the extant findings on the indirect effect of generativity on fear of death through ego-integrity.
How Views on Death and Time Perspectives Relate to Palliative Care Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Terminal Care?
Authors: Uno Akari
Published: December 2021

This study’s purpose was to explore how palliative care nurses’ views on death and time perspectives are related to their terminal care attitudes. A questionnaire survey—consisting of the Death Attitude Inventory, Experiential Time Perspective Scale, and the Japanese version of the Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale—was administered to 300 individuals. Cluster analysis was conducted to categorize the way nurses perceive death, which revealed four types: Avoidant, middle, accepting, and indifferent. As a result of the analysis of variance on the terminal care attitudes, based on the types of views on death and time attitudes, it was found that the middle and accepting types, as well as the adaptive formation of time attitudes, were related to positive terminal care attitudes. In conclusion, more effective improvements in attitudes toward terminal care can be expected by incorporating time perspective, in addition to the conventional approaches focusing on death.
The Long-Term Effects of Solitary Confinement From the Perspective of Inmates
Authors: Tayer Liat , Einat Tomer , Antar Anat Yaron
Published: December 2021

This qualitative study analyzes the effects of solitary confinement on prisoners and the strategies used by them to cope with its difficulties. The findings indicate that solitary confinement is perceived as unfair and as intensifying hostile emotions and physical aggression, and that it is related to a range of long-term physiological, mental, and behavioral disorders. Three strategies are used to cope with the difficulties of solitary confinement: keeping to a ritualistic routine, a religious lifestyle, and physical exercise. We conclude that solitary confinement exacerbates the difficulties of detention and affects prisoners’ health and well-being for short and long terms.
Inpatients’ Perception of Patient-Centered Care in Guangdong Province, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhou Ling-ming , Xu Richard Huan , Xu Yan-hua , Chang Jing-hui , Wang Dong
Published: December 2021

This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of patient-centered care (PCC) among inpatients in Guangdong Province (GD), China. Based on these perspectives, we sought to understand existing PCC practices in medical institutions and identify the impacts of inpatients’ sociodemographic status on their perceived PCC. A self-developed PCC questionnaire was used to investigate inpatients’ perceptions of PCC. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in nine tertiary-level hospitals across five cities in GD. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the levels of PCC in GD. The differences in PCC levels across different sociodemographic groups were assessed using analysis of variance and multivariate linear regression. Valid responses were provided by 1863 inpatients. The mean overall PCC score was 8.58 (standard deviation [SD] = 1.36); inpatients from the Pearl River Delta and eastern GD area reported significantly higher scores than those from western and northern GD area ( P<.01). Inpatients from rural areas tended to report lower PCC scores than their urban counterparts. Among the PCC questionnaire sub-domains, inpatients scored highest and lowest in “patient experience” (mean = 8.96, SD = 1.34) and “medical insurance” (mean = 7.93, SD = 2.05), respectively. This study provided a comprehensive overview of inpatients’ perceptions of PCC in the public healthcare system in GD, China. Our findings highlighted that a majority of inpatients were satisfied with the PCC in public healthcare system; however, a significant discrepancy between inpatients with different sociodemographic status remained.
Is Healthcare Employment Resilient and “Recession Proof”?
Authors: Dillender Marcus , Friedson Andrew , Gian Cong , Simon Kosali
Published: December 2021

Conventional wisdom often holds that the healthcare sector fares better than other sectors during economic downturns. However, little research has examined the relationship between local economic conditions and healthcare employment. Understanding how the healthcare sector responds to economic conditions is important for policymakers seeking to ensure an adequate supply of healthcare workers, as well as for those directing displaced workers into new jobs. We examine the impact of macroeconomic conditions on both the healthcare labor market and the pipeline of healthcare workers receiving healthcare degrees during 2005–2017 (the pre-COVID era). Our results indicate that the healthcare sector is stable across past business cycles. If anything, when areas experience more severe local economic downturns, healthcare employment increases. Much remains unknown about how the healthcare sector will fare during the current recession. Our study represents an important backdrop as policymakers consider ways to sustain the healthcare sector during current economic and public health turbulence.
Effectiveness of Forensic Assertive Community Treatment on Forensic and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Goulet Marie-Hélène , Dellazizzo Laura , Lessard-Deschênes Clara , Lesage Alain , Crocker Anne G. , Dumais Alexandre
Published: December 2021

Given the increasing literature on forensic assertive community treatment (FACT), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the effectiveness of FACT among justice-involved individuals with severe mental illness. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Sixteen studies were included in the systematic review, six of which were included in the meta-analyses for a total of 1,246 participants. Mixed results regarding health-related outcomes were found. The pre-post FACT analysis and comparison with control groups did not yield significant results other than increased outpatient service use. Results on forensic outcomes were more compelling. Both the narrative review and the meta-analysis highlighted that FACT programs may improve justice outcomes such as the number of days spent in jail. More high quality and multisite randomized controlled trials are needed to consolidate findings. Further research is needed to examine other psychosocial factors related to FACT program success.