bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acrometastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a case report
Authors: Jiang Shuai , Zhou Haiying , Ma Feixia , Shen Hui , Lu Hui
Published: May 2020

Acrometastasis is an exceedingly rare condition and is often misdiagnosed or overlooked. We herein describe a 50-year-old patient who developed acrometastasis in the big toe from nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The treatment consisted of amputation through the proximal phalanx, and the patient recovered well. To our knowledge, only one case of acrometastasis from this origin has been reported in the literature to date. Acrometastasis indicates a poor prognosis, and we should choose appropriate treatment to relieve symptoms and benefit the patient.
A rare case of accessory maxilla: a case report and literature review of Tessier no. 7 clefts
Authors: Sun Ming , Lv Na , Xiao Ya , Li Jiabin , Guan Guangzhao
Published: May 2020

Bilateral Tessier no. 7 clefts are rarely reported in the literature. Here, we describe the presence of accessory maxilla with supernumerary teeth in a patient who exhibited bilateral Tessier no. 7 clefts; the diagnosis was established based on the patient’s history, clinical presentation, and computed tomography images. A review of the available literature revealed 24 patients with Tessier no. 7 clefts from 2000 to 2020, including our patient. The most common clinical manifestation in patients with Tessier no. 7 clefts comprises bilateral facial clefts. Additionally, Tessier no. 7 clefts are more frequently found in boys or men, rather than in girls or women. The presence of an accessory maxilla with supernumerary teeth in a patient with bilateral Tessier no. 7 clefts is extremely rare. Early detection of craniofacial abnormalities is important, because it may influence patient prognosis and management.
Synovial Cysts and Myxomas in 16 Cats
Authors: Craig Linden E. , Krimer Paula M. , O’Toole Alicia D.
Published: May 2020

This report describes the clinical and pathologic characteristics of cystic and myxomatous lesions of synovial joints in 16 cats. The average age was 13.4 years. The elbow was most commonly affected (12/16), and all lesions were unilateral. Degenerative joint disease was a frequent concurrent but bilateral condition. The lesions consisted of fluid-filled cysts lined by synoviocytes (3 cases), solid foci of stellate cells in a myxomatous matrix (2 cases), or a combination of the two (11 cases). In some cases there were areas of transition between the cystic and myxomatous lesions. Mitoses and other features of malignancy were rare to nonexistent. In the 13 cats with follow-up information, the lesion gradually increased in size over a period of years. None of the cats died or were euthanized because of this lesion. We propose that some cats with degenerative joint disease develop synovial cysts, which have the potential to transform to a synovial myxoma.
Herpesvirus Encephalitis in a Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor)
Authors: Tuxbury Kathryn A. , Innis Charles J. , Thaiwong Tuddow , Wise Annabel G. , Maes Roger , Garner Michael M. , Kiupel Matti
Published: May 2020

An 11-day-old little blue penguin ( Eudyptula minor) died unexpectedly. Prior to hatching, the egg experienced trauma and resultant defects were repaired. The chick hatched without complication and was clinically normal prior to death. Necropsy revealed congested lungs. Histologic examination showed moderate nonsuppurative encephalitis with focally extensive neuronal necrosis and intranuclear inclusions in neurons within necrotic foci. Herpesvirus DNA was detected in brain tissue with a generic herpesvirus polymerase chain reaction. Sanger sequencing demonstrated 100% and 98% sequence homology to sphenicid alphaherpesvirus 1 and penguin herpesvirus 2, respectively. In situ hybridization demonstrated large amounts of herpesvirus nucleic acid in intranuclear inclusions and neuronal nuclei. Combined histology, polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing, and in situ hybridization results were most consistent with herpesviral encephalitis, most likely caused by sphenicid alphaherpesvirus 1. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a herpesvirus infection causing encephalitis in a penguin and the first report of herpesvirus in this species.
Emotions of music listening in Finland and in India: Comparison of an individualistic and a collectivistic culture
Authors: Saarikallio Suvi , Alluri Vinoo , Maksimainen Johanna , Toiviainen Petri
Published: May 2020

Music is appreciated for emotional reasons across cultures, but knowledge on the cross-cultural similarities and differences of music-evoked emotions is still sparse. The current study compared music-evoked emotions in Finland and in India, contextualizing them within the perceived psychological functionality of music in an individualistic versus collectivistic culture. Participants ( N = 230) answered an online survey on music-evoked emotions and related personal meanings. A mixed-method approach using factor analysis and qualitative content analysis was used to identify the concepts for cross-cultural comparison. Results show that both cultures value music for positive emotional experiences, but the prevalence of more detailed emotional nuances and underlying meanings is distinctively different. The highest-scoring emotion factor for Finns was Power-Empowerment while for Indians it was Peaceful-Transcendence. For Finns, the personal relevance of music was distinctively related to self-enhancement, self-reflective insights, and self-expression, while for Indians the relevance was particularly related to using music as a mood management tool for reaching positive, relaxed, and motivated affective states. Both cultures found music important for experiencing social connection. The results partly reflect the individualistic-collectivistic dimensionality of cultures and emphasize the relevance of contextualizing music psychological knowledge of music-evoked emotions in individuals’ culturally bound meaning-making processes.
The Biomechanical Effect of Bone Grafting and Bone Graft Remodeling in Patients With Anterior Shoulder Instability
Authors: Sigrist Bastian , Ferguson Stephen , Boehm Elisabeth , Jung Christian , Scheibel Markus , Moroder Philipp
Published: May 2020

Background:

Individual constitutional differences in glenoid shape and bone remodeling require a patient-specific and longitudinal approach to evaluate the biomechanical effects of glenoid bone grafting in patients with anterior shoulder instability.

Purpose:

To quantify the longitudinal, in vivo, biomechanical effects of bone grafting, bone graft remodeling, and glenoid shape in patients with anterior shoulder instability by means of patient-specific finite element models.

Study Design:

Descriptive laboratory study.

Methods:

In total, 25 shoulders of 24 patients with anterior shoulder instability and anterior glenoid bone loss underwent an arthroscopic iliac crest bone graft transfer (ICBGT) procedure with either autologous or allogenic bone. Patient-specific finite element simulations based on preoperative, postoperative, and follow-up computed tomography scans were used to quantify the bone-mediated stability ratio (SR) and the distance to dislocation. Additionally, the relationship between glenoid morphological parameters and the SR was assessed.

Results:

The ICBGT procedure significantly increased the SR and distance to dislocation in the 2-, 3-, and 4-o’clock directions immediately after the surgical intervention ( P < .01) in both the autograft and the allograft groups. Although the SR and distance to dislocation decreased subsequently, autografts showed long-term effects on SR and dislocation distance in the 3-o’clock direction ( P < .01) and on SR in the 4-o’clock direction ( P < .01). Allografts showed no significant effect on SR and dislocation distance in long-term follow-up ( P > .05). Overall, glenoid retroversion as well as cavity depth predicted stability in all 4 dislocation directions, with glenoid cavity depth showing the highest correlation coefficients ( R = 0.71, 0.8, 0.73, and 0.7 for 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-o’clock, respectively).

Conclusion:

The autologous ICBGT procedure biomechanically improved anterior shoulder stability in long-term follow-up, whereas the use of allografts did not show any bone-mediated biomechanical effect at follow-up due to resorption. Furthermore, in addition to measurements of defect extent, the glenoid depth and version seem to be useful parameters to determine the biomechanical effect and need for glenoid bone grafting in patients with shoulder instability.

Clinical Relevance:

This study proposes the use of autologous bone grafts for a successful long-term stabilization effect. Additionally, this study proposes additional glenoid morphological measures to predict shoulder stability.
Antidepressant Use around Conception, Prepregnancy Depression, and Risk of Ectopic Pregnancy
Authors: Wall-Wieler Elizabeth , Robakis Thalia K. , Cesta Carolyn E. , Masarwa Reem , Lyell Deirdre J. , Liu Can , Platt Robert W. , Carmichael Suzan L.
Published: May 2020

Objective:

To compare the risk of ectopic pregnancy among women with and women without antidepressant prescriptions around conception and examine whether this risk differs by prepregnancy depression status.

Methods:

We conducted a cohort study of all pregnancies between November 1, 2008, and September 30, 2015, identified in the nationwide (American) IBM® MarketScan® Databases. At least one day’s supply of antidepressants in the 3 weeks after a woman’s last menstrual period defined active antidepressant use around conception. At least one depression diagnosis in the year before the last menstrual period defined prepregnancy depression. Relative risk (RR) of ectopic pregnancy was estimated using unadjusted and inverse probability of treatment (IPT)-weighted log-binomial models.

Results:

Of the 1,703,245 pregnancies, 106,788 (6.3%) women had a prepregnancy depression diagnosis. Among women with a depression diagnosis, 40,287 (37.7%) had an active antidepressant prescription around conception; the IPT-weighted risk of ectopic pregnancy was similar among women who did and did not fill an antidepressant prescription around conception (IPT-weighted RR = 1.01; 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.10). Overall, the risk of ectopic pregnancy was higher among women who had a prepregnancy depression diagnosis than women who did not have a prepregnancy depression diagnosis (IPT-weighted RR = 1.09; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.15).

Conclusions:

This study’s findings suggest that women who have a prepregnancy depression diagnosis are at a slightly increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, and among women who have a prepregnancy depression diagnosis, the use of antidepressants around conception does not increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Determining Growth Sensitivity of Star Math With a Latent Growth Curve Model
Authors: Johnson Kristin N. , Thompson Kenneth L. , Farmer Ryan L.
Published: May 2020

Repeated measurements of student ability (i.e., progressing monitoring) is an essential element of informed decision-making when adjusting instruction. An important characteristic of progress monitoring measures is frequent administration to identify areas of concern and to evaluate academic growth. The purpose of this study was to determine if STAR Math is sensitive to small incremental growth across a semester. Within two southern school districts, 114 fifth grade students’ progress monitoring data were collected weekly, and a latent growth curve was used to estimate students’ change in math ability. Results indicated STAR Math is sensitive to small incremental growth, with a statistically significant and positive slope, suggesting students using STAR Math showed improvement in ability over the semester.
Maternal Intimate Partner Violence Exposure and Autonomic Reactivity: Associations With Positive Parenting
Authors: Molina Abigail Palmer , Skowron Elizabeth A. , Hackman Daniel A.
Published: May 2020

Intimate partner violence (IPV) can negatively impact parenting, posing a threat both to the wellbeing of mothers and their young children. Parenting may also be influenced by emotion regulation (ER), which can support parents’ ability to navigate relational challenges or buffer against the influence of adverse experiences on parenting. Changes in maternal respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) during parent–child interactions have been conceptualized as a psychophysiological index of ER. Competing theoretical models posit that RSA response may mediate or moderate the relation between IPV and parenting or may be independently associated with parenting, however, there is little prior evidence concerning these hypothesized associations. This study examined these associations in a sample of 125 low-income maltreating and comparison mothers and their 3- to 5-year-old children. Dyads completed a moderately challenging laboratory task, and positive parenting and maternal RSA were measured during the task. Maternal verbal IPV exposure, but not physical IPV, was associated with less positive parenting, while greater maternal RSA activation over the task was associated with more positive parenting. Maternal RSA activation did not mediate or moderate the relationship between IPV exposure and parenting, and this association did not differ by whether or not the mother had perpetrated child maltreatment. Consequently, verbal IPV exposure and greater RSA activation independently predicted positive parenting. Results suggest that interventions for IPV-exposed mothers of young children may benefit from ensuring psychological safety and improving maternal ER to promote positive parenting for at-risk children.
An experimental study on the deformation behaviour and fracture mode of recycled aluminium alloy AA6061-reinforced alumina oxide undergoing high-velocity impact
Authors: Nor MK Mohd , Ho CS , Janudin FNA
Published: May 2020

The anisotropic behaviour and the damage evolution of recycled aluminium alloy-reinforced alumina oxide are investigated in this paper using Taylor impact test. The test is performed at various impact velocity ranging from 190 to 360 m/s by firing a cylindrical projectile towards anvil target. The deformation behaviour and the fracture modes are analysed using the digitized footprint of the deformed specimens. The damage initiation and the progression are observed around the impact surface and the surface 0.5 cm from the impact area using the scanning electron microscope. The deformed specimens showed several ductile fracture modes of mushrooming, tensile splitting and petalling. The critical impact velocity is defined below 280 m/s. The specimens showed a strong strain-rate dependency due to the damage evolution that is driven by severe localized plastic-strain deformation. The scanning electron microscope analysis showed the damage mechanism progress via voids initiation, growth and coalescence in the material. The micrograph within the footprint surface shows the presence of alumina oxide particles within the specimen. The microstructure analysis shows a significant refinement of the specimen particle at the surface located 0.5 cm above the impact area. ImageJ software is adopted in this work to measure the average size of voids within this surface. Non-symmetrical (ellipse-shaped) footprint around the footprints showed plastic anisotropic behaviour. The results in this paper provide a better understanding of the deformation behaviour of recycled materials subjected to dynamic loading. This information on mechanical response is crucial before any potential application can be established to substitute the primary sources.
Numerical simulations and experimental measurements on flow features in a patient-specific upper airway model with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Yan Weiwei , Zhang Shenbo , Liu Yang , Li Guozhan
Published: May 2020

In this article, the turbulent flow features in a patient-specific upper airway model with obstructive sleep apnea before and after surgery are numerically and experimentally studied by applying the large eddy simulation and laser Doppler anemometry. Two three-dimensional anatomically accurate numerical models are reconstructed based on the CT-scan of one severe obstructive sleep apnea patient for both pre- and post-surgery. Two experimental models of the same upper airway are established by using the three-dimensional printing technique according to the numerical models. The first direct comparison of flow velocity profiles between measurement and simulation at different locations and cross-sections is conducted in two upper airway models. The simulated result indicates that the especially large axial velocity and negative pressure appear in the narrowest cross-section before surgery, but they either reduce or vanish after surgery. Both measurement and simulation can capture the “pharyngeal jet” flow and the reversed flow in two upper airway models, and the agreement between the measured and calculated velocity profiles at different locations and cross-sections is excellent, which gives us great confidence that the large eddy simulation can be a reliable method for predicting the flow features associated with obstructive sleep apnea airway. Although this work represents significant advance, there still exists some limitations, such as the discrepancies between measurement and simulation in the interface of main stream velocity and reverse velocity due to the flow complexity, in the reversed flow region owing to the uncertainty of laser Doppler anemometry measurement at low velocity range, and the incapability of capturing flow near the wall due to the intrinsic feature of laser Doppler anemometry measurement. Besides, it is very difficult to find the corresponding locations exactly between experimental and numerical models, which could also cause the deviation between experiment and simulation.
Chromium nitride-coated copper beryllium as a cam tappet material candidate
Authors: Özkan Doğuş , Türküz Cenk
Published: May 2020

Copper beryllium (CuBe) with good mechanical and high electrical conductivity properties is used in metalworking, electronic devices, automotive systems, and aerospace systems. Having low hardness limits its usage in tribosystems such as internal combustion engine valve train systems. In this study, heat-treated CuBe material was coated with CrN under a micron thickness by cathodic arc physical vapor deposition (arc-PVD) to improve wear resistance not only at unlubricated condition but also at the lubricated condition for tribosystem, especially a material candidate for cam tappets. Therefore, CrN-coated CuBe, CuBe, and AISI52100 steel samples were tested by a tribometer at unlubricated and lubricated sliding conditions. Surface morphological changes and tribochemical formation were investigated by optical microscope, optical profilometer, atomic force microscope, and scanning electron microscope. The results showed that CrN increased the wear resistance of the CuBe significantly, and it can be used as cam tappet material both on unlubricated and boundary lubrication regimes.
A novel evaluation method for vehicle and traffic performance of different decision control of automatic lane change based on miniature model
Authors: Wang Yangyang , Chen Guangda , Jiang Yuanxing
Published: May 2020

Research on automatic lane-change decision is mainly limited to simulation validation and lacks real vehicle validation methods because it is limited by experimental site and automatic driving technology on real vehicles. This paper puts forward a miniature traffic model to simulate the actual traffic scene and achieves to verify the decision control of automatic lane-change scene. The miniature intelligent traffic scene contains miniature vehicles, simplified miniature road traffic environment, and wireless network communication. After testing the basic functions of the miniature traffic scene model, such as automatic lane change, lane keeping, and automatic following, a semi-physical simulation test of the traffic flow composed of the model vehicle and the virtual vehicle is carried out. The semi-physical simulation test includes vehicle-following test of hybrid-condition intelligent driver model, lane-change test of lane-change decision two-vehicle gaming model, and minimizing overall braking induced by lane changes. The results show that the feasibility of the method and of the lane-change decision two-vehicle gaming model of automatic lane change is better in terms of traffic safety, traffic efficiency, and homogeneity. Compared to the minimizing overall braking induced by lane-change model test, the test of lane-change decision two-vehicle gaming model improves 2.26% and 1.5% in the average speed and total driving distance, respectively. The standard deviation of the traffic speed of the lane-change decision two-vehicle gaming model was 28.57% lower than the minimizing overall braking induced by lane changes. Compared to pure simulation verification, the method considers the effects of actual sensor signals and actuator control, which is closer to the actual application.
Parametric investigation of the effects of load level on fatigue crack growth in trabecular bone based on artificial neural network computation
Authors: Mouss Marouane El , Zellagui Said , Nasraoui Makrem , Hambli Ridha
Published: May 2020

This study reports the development of an artificial neural network computation model to predict the accumulation of crack density and crack length in cancellous bone under a cyclic load. The model was then applied to conduct a parametric investigation into the effects of load level on fatigue crack accumulation in cancellous bone. The method was built in three steps: (1) conducting finite element simulations to predict fatigue growth of different three-dimensional micro-computed tomography cancellous bone specimens considering input combinations based on a factorial experimental design; (2) performing a training stage of an artificial neural network based on the results of step 1; and (3) applying the trained artificial neural network to rapidly predict the crack density and the crack length growth for cancellous bone under a cyclic loading for a given applied apparent strain, cycle frequency, bone volume fraction, bone density and apparent elastic modulus.
Effect of wavy wall surface on flow structure and thermal characteristics of a turbulent dual jet comprising of a wall jet and an offset jet
Authors: Singh Tej Pratap , Kumar Amitesh , Satapathy Ashok Kumar
Published: May 2020

The fluid flow and thermal characteristics of the dual jet are explored numerically. The dual jet is considered with a wavy wall surface having various amplitudes varying between 0.1 and 0.7 with a fixed number of cycles equal to 10. The offset ratio is also varied from 3 to 15 with an interval of 2. The Reynolds number and Prandtl number are set to 15,000 and 0.71, respectively. The Semi Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equation algorithm is utilised to link the pressure to the velocity. To solve the set of linear algebraic equations Strongly Implicit procedure solver is used. The heat transfer characteristics of the wavy wall surface were studied for two cases: (1) isothermal bottom wall and (2) adiabatic bottom wall. It is found that the wavy wall affects the flow field and heat transfer characteristics drastically. The minimum pressure inside the domain is not found to occur at the vortex centre for all the offset ratios, which is the case of a dual jet with a plane wall. Results also reveal that as the amplitude of the wavy surface increases both local Nusselt number and local heat flux increase near the exit of the nozzle for each offset ratio. Further, it is also noticed that the average Nusselt number increases up to amplitude A = 0.5. Thereafter, it decreases with further increase in the amplitude of the wavy surface. It is found that the wavy surface increases the average Nusselt number by a maximum of 17.6% as compared to the plane wall case.
Anaerobic digestion: Technology for biogas production as a source of renewable energy—A review
Authors: Obileke KeChrist , Nwokolo Nwabunwanne , Makaka Golden , Mukumba Patrick , Onyeaka Helen
Published: May 2020

The authors reviewed the future prospects and previous studies on anaerobic digestion technology for biogas production and highlight the solutions to problems relating to construction and maintenance of biogas digesters, which can now be accessed in a single paper. It is the aim of the review to provide insight into the use, process and application of anaerobic digestion as an appropriate technology for biogas production from peer reviewed literature. Recent studies have shown that the microbial communities and metabolic pathways involves in anaerobic digestion are influenced by temperature. Their metabolic activities increase significantly with increase in temperature. Therefore, the findings of the review reveal that temperature is a major parameter for biogas production due to its influence on metabolic activities involved in anaerobic digestion. Hence, there is the need for insulation as well as external heating to maintain temperature stability and to avoid temperature fluctuations. More also, the anaerobic digestion technology for production of biogas is a viable option that can supplement as well as reduce the usage of non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuel. The detailed information addressed in this study would increase biogas energy mix as well as mitigating climate change. Therefore, the study recommends the use of biogas as a clean energy for the purpose of power generation, cooking and heating.
Lillias Hamilton: Personal physician to the Amir of Afghanistan
Authors: Timmis Christopher
Published: May 2020

Lillias Hamilton trained as a doctor in London, qualified in 1890 and practiced in Calcutta and later in Afghanistan where she was the personal physician to the Amir and the only Western doctor. After six years abroad, she returned to England but owing partly to establishment prejudice was unsuccessful in setting up a London practice and eventually became the Principal of a Women's Agricultural College. Her career illustrates the aspects of medical practice abroad in the 1890s, as well as the difficulties encountered by women doctors in England even after the route to qualification in the UK had been opened.
Relational influences on experiences with assisted dying: A scoping review
Authors: Variath Caroline , Peter Elizabeth , Cranley Lisa , Godkin Dianne , Just Danielle
Published: May 2020

Background:

Family members and healthcare providers play an integral role in a person’s assisted dying journey. Their own needs during the assisted dying journey are often, however, unrecognized and underrepresented in policies and guidelines. Circumstances under which people choose assisted dying, and relational contexts such as the sociopolitical environment, may influence the experiences of family members and healthcare providers.

Ethical considerations:

Ethics approval was not required to conduct this review.

Aim:

This scoping review aims to identify the relational influences on the experiences of family members and healthcare providers of adults who underwent assisted dying and of those unable to access assisted dying due to the loss of capacity to consent.

Methods:

A literature search was conducted in four databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PsycINFO. The search retrieved 12,074 articles, a number narrowed down to 172 articles for full-text screening. Thirty-six articles met the established inclusion criteria. A feminist relational framework guided the data analysis.

Results:

Five key themes on the influences of family members’ and healthcare providers’ experiences throughout the assisted dying process were synthesized from the data. They include (1) relationships as central to beginning the process, (2) social and political influences on decision making, (3) complex roles and responsibilities of family members and healthcare providers, (4) a unique experience of death, and (5) varying experiences following death.

Conclusion:

The feminist relational lens, used to guide analysis, shed light on the effect of the sociopolitical influences and the relationships among patients, families, and healthcare providers on each other’s experiences. Addressing the needs of the family members and healthcare providers is vital to improving the assisted dying process. Including families’ and healthcare providers’ needs within institutional policies and enhancing collaboration and communication among those involved could improve the overall experience.
Why do psychiatrists doubt the value of early intervention? The power of illusion
Authors: McGorry Patrick D , Mei Cristina
Published: May 2020

Objective:

Face validity and the best available evidence strongly support the value of early intervention (EI) for psychotic disorders, and increasingly for other mental illnesses. Yet its value continues to be intensely criticised by some academics and doubted by many psychiatrists. This disconnect is examined through the lens of the ‘clinician’s illusion’.

Conclusions:

A number of sources fuel resistance to EI; however, the cumulative exposure to persistent and disabling illness that dominates the day-to-day experience of psychiatrists may be a key influence. This experience forms the basis of the clinician’s illusion, a hidden bias health professionals develop as a natural consequence of their clinical experiences, which shapes belief and perception of prognosis, and breeds therapeutic nihilism. This bias has been reinforced by grossly under-resourced systems of mental health care, undermining morale and adding a sense of learned helplessness to our mindset.
Interpersonal Communication in Transcultural Nursing Care in India: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
Authors: Larsen Risa , Mangrio Elisabeth , Persson Karin
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Good communication is crucial for safe and effective nursing care and is necessary in building interpersonal relationships with patients. The increase of global interactions in health care adds to the necessity of developing culturally competent communication in nursing. The purpose of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of interpersonal communication as experienced by nurses working in culturally diverse hospitals in India. Method: A descriptive qualitative method, analyzing 12 semistructured interviews conducted with nurses at two hospitals. Results: The study’s themes focus on tools and techniques for working with culturally diverse patients and how to sustain the quality of care in diverse hospital settings. Language resources, language tools, and cultural knowledge were useful aids for nurses when communicating with transcultural patients. It helped the nurses gain confidence and foresee patient needs. Discussion: Highlighting transcultural interpersonal communication techniques within nursing offers a safer and more productive practice of nursing care.
Benchmarking Speech, Velopharyngeal Function Outcomes and Surgical Characteristics Following the Sommerlad Protocol and Palate Repair Technique
Authors: Baillie Lauren , Sell Debbie
Published: May 2020

Objective:

To report speech and velopharyngeal function (VPF) outcomes, and surgical characteristics, at age 5 following early complete palate closure using the Sommerlad protocol.

Design:

A retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional consecutive series.

Setting:

A regional twin site center; a district general hospital and tertiary children’s hospital.

Participants:

Between 1993 and 2006, 877 participants underwent surgery; 712 (81%) were eligible for inclusion; 391 (55%) were included, 321 (45%) excluded. Thirteen percent had bilateral cleft lip and palate (CLP), 40% unilateral CLP, and 47% isolated cleft palate.

Intervention:

Lip and vomerine flap repair at 3 months of age (BCLP, UCLP) with soft palate closure using radical muscle dissection and retropositioning at a mean age of 6.6 months, range 4 to 23 months, as described and undertaken by Sommerlad.

Outcome Measures:

Velopharyngeal Composite (VPC) CAPS-A and articulation summary scores derived from analysis using the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech-Augmented.

Results:

A VPC-SUM CAPS-A score of “0” was found in 97% reflecting adequate VPF; 73% had no cleft articulation difficulties. The BCLP group had the poorest articulation. Secondary speech surgery rate was 2.6% and 10.7% had fistula repair. Levator muscle quality and degree of retropositioning was associated with speech outcomes related to VPF. 2.6% had current features of VPI.

Conclusions:

Complete palate closure by around 6 months of age by the surgeon who described the technique led to excellent perceived VPF and very good speech outcomes at age 5, with less speech therapy and secondary speech surgery than commonly reported. These findings serve as a benchmark for the Sommerlad protocol and technique.
The Use of Gentamicin for Treatment of Urogenital and Extragenital Gonorrhea: A Systematic Review of Efficacy Data
Authors: Burmeister Paul , Su Simon , Smith Alesha J. , Wilby Kyle John
Published: May 2020

Objective:

To evaluate clinical efficacy data for gentamicin in the treatment of gonorrhea.

Data Sources:

A keyword search of PubMed (1966 to April 2020), EMBASE (1947 to April 2020), and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970 to April 2020) was conducted. The electronic search was supplemented with manual screening of references from identified articles and a search of ClinicalTrials.gov to identify ongoing trials.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Comparator and noncomparator studies reporting microbiological outcomes of treatment with gentamicin for gonorrhea in humans were included. Data extracted included study year, authors, aim, setting, population, dosing protocols, and outcome results. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool.

Data Synthesis:

A total of 407 articles were identified, of which 11 met inclusion criteria. Two studies were randomized controlled trials, and 1 additional randomized noncomparator study was identified. All other studies were nonrandomized and noncomparator in nature. The highest quality evidence suggests that gentamicin is not noninferior to ceftriaxone (both in addition to azithromycin) for treatment of gonorrhea but may achieve cure rates >90%. Conflicting evidence exists regarding the efficacy of gentamicin-based regimens for the specific treatment of extragenital gonorrhea.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice:

Results of this review could affect patient care and clinical practice because they clearly demonstrate the role of gentamicin for the treatment of gonorrhea as a second-line agent. Future research should confirm findings, especially for the role of gentamicin in extragenital infections.

Conclusions:

Gentamicin-based regimens should be reserved for second-line treatment of urogenital and extragenital gonorrhea infections.
The Impact of Parents and Teachers on Externalizing Behavior Among Latino/a Adolescents via Academic Achievement: Combining the Mental Health and Educational Perspectives
Authors: Pereyra Sergio B. , Bean Roy A. , Ruiz Julio G. , Velasco Belén
Published: May 2020

Given the Latino adolescents’ heightened risk of externalizing behaviors and academic disparities experienced by Latino adolescents, this study unifies the mental health and educational perspectives to better understand factors that impact the externalizing behavior among them. Eco-developmental theory was used to conceptualize the link between parenting factors, academic factors, and externalizing behavior. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the effects of parental support, parental monitoring knowledge, and the adolescent–teacher relationship on externalizing behavior through academic achievement (mediator), in a pool of 508 Latino adolescents from the West Texas area. Findings show that maternal support, the adolescent–teacher relationship, and academic achievement to be negatively related to externalizing behavior. In addition, maternal support and the adolescent–teacher relationship were positively associated with academic achievement. Finally, the results demonstrated academic achievement as a mediating factor in the inverse relationship between adolescent–teacher relationship and externalizing behaviors. Implications are further discussed.
Long-term Effects of Cheilectomy, Keller’s Arthroplasty, and Arthrodesis for Symptomatic Hallux Rigidus on Patient-Reported and Radiologic Outcome
Authors: Stevens Jasper , de Bot Robin T.A.L. , Witlox Adhiambo M. , Borghans Rob , Smeets Thijs , Beertema Wieske , Hendrickx Roel P. , Schotanus Martijn G.M.
Published: May 2020

Background:

Several operative interventions are available to alleviate pain in hallux rigidus, and the optimal operative technique is still a topic of debate among surgeons. Three of these are arthrodesis, cheilectomy, and Keller’s arthroplasty. Currently, it is unclear which intervention yields the best long-term result. The aim of this study was to assess which of these interventions performed best in terms of patient-reported outcome, pain scores, and disease recurrence at long-term follow-up.

Methods:

These data are the follow-up to the initial study published in 2006. In the original study, 73 patients (n = 89 toes) with symptomatic hallux rigidus were recruited and underwent first metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis (n = 33 toes), cheilectomy (n = 28 toes), or Keller’s arthroplasty (n = 28 toes). Outcome measures were AOFAS hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal (HMI) score, and pain was assessed with a visual analog scale (VAS) at a mean follow-up period of 7 years. Patients of the original study were identified and invited to participate in the current study. Data were collected in the form of AOFAS-HMI score, VAS pain score, Manchester-Oxford Foot Questionnaire (MOXFQ), and Forgotten Joint Score (FJS-12). In addition, a clinical examination was performed and radiographs were obtained. Data were available for 37 patients (45 toes), with a mean follow-up period over 22 years.

Results:

AOFAS-HMI and VAS pain score improved during follow-up only in arthrodesis patients. Furthermore, no statistically significant differences in clinical and patient-reported outcome were detected between groups based on AOFAS-HMI, VAS pain, MOXFQ, or FJS-12. However, clinically important differences in patient-reported outcomes and pain scores were detected, favoring arthrodesis. Radiographic disease progression was more evident after cheilectomy compared with Keller’s arthroplasty.

Conclusion:

Arthrodesis, cheilectomy, and Keller’s arthroplasty are 3 sucessful operative interventions to treat symptomatic hallux rigidus. Because clinically important differences were detected and symptoms still diminish many years after surgery, a slight preference was evident for arthrodesis.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, comparative study.
Understanding Women’s Help-Seeking With Intimate Partner Violence in Tanzania
Authors: Mahenge Bathsheba , Stöckl Heidi
Published: May 2020

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious global health problem affecting millions of women worldwide. Despite increased investments into its reduction, little research has been conducted into how women in low- and middle-income countries deal with IPV. This study seeks to explore this by looking in depth into help-seeking strategies utilized by abused women in Tanzania, using the 2015–2016 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. The prevalence of lifetime physical and/or sexual IPV was 41.6% in this study, but only half of all affected women sought help from anyone. The only clear association found with help-seeking was the severity of IPV.
Engage for Equity: The Role of Trust and Synergy in Community-Based Participatory Research
Authors: Lucero Julie E. , Boursaw Blake , Eder Milton “Mickey” , Greene-Moton Ella , Wallerstein Nina , Oetzel John G.
Published: May 2020

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnerships exist as complex, dynamic relationships that incorporate shared decision that supports trust development between communities and academics. Within CBPR, the interest in understanding the concept of trust has grown with the realization that, without trust, CBPR relationships fracture. A barrier to monitoring the trust health of a partnership is the lack of a shared operationalization of the concept, its antecedents, and measurement tools. To address these barriers, a six-category trust typology was created as a developmental theory of trust progress. To advance the theory, this article reports on the quantitative structural elements of the trust typology, identifies variability in trust correlates, and creates an empirical foundation for the trust types. Using Engage for Equity data, trust covariates included measures of synergy, CBPR principles, participation, and influence. Structural equation models were used to assess associations between trust types and the latent constructs measured by the items in each measure. The findings demonstrate that the six trust types generally operate on a continuum. Specifically, it does appear that trust deficit, role-based trust, functional trust, proxy trust, and reflective trust are on a single continuum from low to high. Scale scores for reflective trust and proxy trust were consistently and statistically significantly higher than those for functional trust, role-based, neutral, and trust deficit. These results support the construct validity of the trust typology as representing “higher levels” of trust phases. Due to the dynamic nature of partnerships, regular monitoring of partnership trust types can serve as a proxy for partnership functioning.
Social Vulnerability and Racial Inequality in COVID-19 Deaths in Chicago
Authors: Kim Sage J. , Bostwick Wendy
Published: May 2020

Although the current COVID-19 crisis is felt globally, at the local level, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected poor, highly segregated African American communities in Chicago. To understand the emerging pattern of racial inequality in the effects of COVID-19, we examined the relative burden of social vulnerability and health risk factors. We found significant spatial clusters of social vulnerability and risk factors, both of which are significantly associated with the increased COVID-19-related death rate. We also found that a higher percentage of African Americans was associated with increased levels of social vulnerability and risk factors. In addition, the proportion of African American residents has an independent effect on the COVID-19 death rate. We argue that existing inequity is often highlighted in emergency conditions. The disproportionate effects of COVID-19 in African American communities are a reflection of racial inequality and social exclusion that existed before the COVID-19 crisis.
Enacting Professional Service Work in Times of Digitalization and Potential Disruption
Authors: Pemer Frida
Published: May 2020

Digitalization has the potential to disrupt many service industries. This is already evident in industries offering standardized business-to-consumer services. Even knowledge-intensive business-to-business (B2B) services have increasingly blended digital technologies. Yet, little is known about how this type of service and its associated service work has changed, as tasks are being increasingly performed by robots or through artificial intelligence. This study fills this void by exploring how frontline workers in two highly knowledge-intensive B2B service industries—auditing and public relations/communication (PR/C) consulting—enact their service work in response to digitalization. Building on an interview study with 50 professionals and taking an interdisciplinary stance we find—contrary to the findings in previous research—that auditing firms embrace digitalization to a larger extent than PR/C firms. Further, we find that the frontline workers’ enactment of their service work is influenced by the fit between technological innovations and the type of intelligence their services are built on, as well as their occupational identities and the service climate within the firms. We conclude the article by developing propositions and a conceptual model, and outline how service firms can support their frontline workers’ infusion of digital technologies in their service work.
Platelet function in cats with hyperthyroidism
Authors: Hiebert Elizabeth C , Panciera David L , Boes Katie M , Bartl Lara
Published: May 2020

Objectives

Cats with hyperthyroidism have been reported to develop thromboembolism, with and without echocardiographic abnormalities consistent with hyperthyroidism. The objective of this study was to compare platelet function in cats with hyperthyroidism with euthyroid age-matched cats. We hypothesized that cats with hyperthyroidism have shortened collagen and adenosine diphosphate (C-ADP) closure times as measured with the platelet function analyzer (PFA-100) in comparison with healthy, age-matched controls.

Methods

Sixteen hyperthyroid and nine euthyroid healthy cats >7 years of age were recruited from the hospital population. Platelet function, measured using the C-ADP closure times by the PFA-100, and platelet count were measured in healthy euthyroid cats and cats with hyperthyroidism.

Results

Mean ± SD closure times were not significantly different between control (66.3 ± 9.6 s) and hyperthyroid cats (65.9 ± 11.5 s; P = 0.75). The mean ± SD closure times of hyperthyroid cats that either were untreated or received methimazole for ⩽3 weeks (n = 6; mean 68.5 ± 15.4 s) was not different than that of cats treated for >3 weeks (n = 10; mean 64.3 ± 8.9 s; P = 0.57). The mean automated platelet count was higher in the hyperthyroid group than in the control group ( P = 0.023).

Conclusions and relevance

Platelet function, as measured by closure time under high shear conditions using C-ADP as an agonist, was not affected by hyperthyroidism in this group of cats. Further research is needed to determine if a hypercoagulable state exists in hyperthyroid cats and the potential roles platelets and von Willebrand factor may have.
Single women’s sexualities across the life course: The role of major events, transitions, and turning points
Authors: Miller Lisa R.
Published: May 2020

Most research on women’s sexualities focuses on a single event or developmental period, often failing to document romantic and sexual trajectories over time. Moreover, life course studies of sexuality have not exclusively examined single women, including major life events that may alter their sexual attitudes and behaviors. Using life story interview data with 60 single, heterosexual women between the ages of 18 and 91, I document five common pathways through romantic and sexual life, including opting out of marital relationships, the development of sexual subjectivity, sexual exploration and maintaining independence, sex positivity and increases in sexual communication, and a maintenance of sexual conservatism. The findings also reveal the role of domestic violence, sexual abuse, relationship dissolution, sexually transmitted illnesses, and menopause in altering sexual attitudes and behaviors. This study has several implications for life course studies of intimate relationships and sexuality.