bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Floristic inventory of Djurdjura National Park, northern Algeria: a first checklist of its vascular flora
Authors: MEDDOUR RACHID , SAHAR OUAHIBA
Published: March 2021

This study provides a first checklist of the native vascular plant taxa of Djurdjura National Park, based on collections and field visits (2011–2015), with an analysis of its composition and species diversity. The results of floristic analysis outlines the main characteristics of the ﬂora of Djurdjura National Park. It hosts a remarkable species diversity of 757 plant taxa (including 659 species, 95 subspecies, 2 varieties, and 1 forma) belonging to 381 genera in 88 families. Despite covering ca. 0.008% of the total area of Algeria, this national park protects about 17% of the vascular plants of the country. The most represented families are Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Rosaceae, and Brassicaceae, while the most represented genera are Trifolium (with 15 taxa) and Silene (12). Hemicryptophytes (37.25%) and therophytes (30%) are the most represented life forms among the local flora, a pattern typical of mountainous areas. Mediterranean taxa comprise 64.6%, followed by North African taxa (14%), European (7.53%), and widely distributed taxa (13.87%), which reveals the Mediterranean character of the mountain’s flora. The endemic flora of Djurdjura National Park contains 106 taxa (14%), of which 20 are endemic to Algeria. In addition, six are exclusive and range-restricted to the Djurdjura National Park. Hence, we emphasized a large number of priority taxa (30) of high conservation value. The presence of exclusive endemics, and threatened species, along with high floristic diversity, strengthen the importance of plant conservation in the studied area.
Three New Species of Burmeistera (Campanulaceae) Endemic to Ecuador
Authors: MUCHHALA NATHAN , MASHBURN BROCK
Published: March 2021

Three species of Burmeistera discovered during fieldwork in Ecuador are described here. Burmeistera velutina and Burmeistera catulum are unusual in being nearly completely covered in indumentum, short and velvety in the former and remarkably long (up to 4 mm) and silky in the latter. Burmeistera jostii possesses bright red corollas, rare in a genus typically characterized by dull green flowers, and yellow to tan strigose hairs. We provide a discussion of each species’ etymology, phenology, and ecology, a list of all specimens examined, and distribution maps and photos.
Novelties in Phoradendron killipii (Viscaceae): an endemic and rare species from Colombia
Authors: MURILLO-SERNA JHON S. , DETTKE GRETA A. , CARMONA-GALLEGO ISABEL , ALZATE FERNANDO
Published: March 2021

Phoradendron killipii is an endemic species from Colombia, initially known only from the original material. Ten herbarium sheets of this species were found during taxonomic studies of Colombian Viscaceae, allowing to figure out some aspects that remained unclear since P. killipii was published, until now. The morphology of P. killipii fruits and staminate inflorescences is described here for the first time, confirming its generic identity. Evidence of the dioecy of the species and some aspects of its distribution and ecology are also discussed.
New species and new records in American Acanthocinini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae)
Authors: SANTOS-SILVA ANTONIO , DEVESA SERGIO
Published: March 2021

Two new species are described: Cobelura prenai, from Costa Rica, included in a new key to species of the genus; and Paranisopodus thalassinus, from Costa Rica, included in a previous key to species of the genus. Notes on Cobelura peruviana (Aurivillius, 1920) are provided and the holotype of Cobelura vermicularis Kirsch, 1889 is illustrated for the first time. Also, new geographical records are provided: Leptostylus orbiculus Bates, 1880, new country record for Costa Rica; Leptostylus quintalbus Bates, 1885, new country record for Mexico; and Anisopodus scriptipennis Bates, 1872, new state record in Mexico, and new province records in Costa Rica and Panama.
The new Belostoma fittkaui species group with supplemental descriptions of B. fittkaui De Carlo and B. sayagoi De Carlo
Authors: STEFANELLO FABIANO
Published: March 2021

The giant water bug fauna from tropical South America remains poorly known. Three species of Belostoma Latreille (Belostoma fittkaui De Carlo, B. sayagoi De Carlo and B. hirsutum Roback & Nieser) have been cited only a few times in the literature. These three species are remarkable since they represent an extreme variation for the genus, with article II of the labium distinctly shorter than article III. Here, the synonymy of B. hirsutum with B. sayagoi is proposed based on examination of type material and additional specimens. Further, B. fittkaui and B. sayagoi are redescribed, including discussion about comparative morphology with congeners. A new species group is proposed for these species and a key to the Belostoma species groups is provided. Distribution records are also updated.
Developing and Validating Heat Exposure Products Using the U.S. Climate Reference Network
Authors: Rennie J. Jared , Palecki Michael A. , Heuser Sean P. , Diamond Howard J.
Published: March 2021

Extreme heat is one of the most pressing climate risks in the United States and is exacerbated by a warming climate and aging population. Much work in heat health has focused only on temperature-based metrics, which do not fully measure the physiological impact of heat stress on the human body. The U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) consists of 139 sites across the United States and includes meteorological parameters that fully encompass human tolerance to heat, including relative humidity, wind, and solar radiation. Hourly and 5-min observations from USCRN are used to develop heat exposure products, including heat index (HI), apparent temperature (AT), and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT). Validation of this product is conducted with nearby airport and mesonet stations, with reanalysis data used to fill in data gaps. Using these derived heat products, two separate analyses are conducted. The first is based on standardized anomalies, which place current heat state in the context of a long-term climate record. In the second study, heat events are classified by time spent at various levels of severity of conditions. There is no consensus as to what defines a heat event, so a comparison of absolute thresholds (i.e., ≥30.0°, 35.0°, and 40.0°C) and relative thresholds (≥90th, 95th, and 98th percentile) will be examined. The efficacy of the product set will be studied using an extreme heat case study in the southeastern United States. While no heat exposure metric is deemed superior, each has their own advantages and caveats, especially in the context of public communication.
Filifactor alocis: Recent Insights and Advances
Authors: Aja E. , Mangar M. , Fletcher H.M. , Mishra A.
Published: March 2021

Filifactor alocis, a fastidious Gram-positive obligate anaerobic bacterium, is a newly appreciated member of the periodontal community that is now proposed to be a diagnostic indicator of periodontal disease. Its pathogenic characteristics are highlighted by its ability to survive in the oxidative stress–rich environment of the periodontal pocket and to significantly alter the microbial community dynamics by forming biofilms and interacting with several oral bacteria. Here, we describe the current understanding of F. alocis virulence attributes, such as its comparative resistance to oxidative stress, production of unique proteases and collagenases that can cause structural damage to host cells, and dysregulation of the immune system, which enable this bacterium to colonize, survive, and outcompete other traditional pathogens in the inflammatory environment of the periodontal pocket. Furthermore, we explore the recent advancements and future directions for F. alocis research, including the potential mechanisms for oxidative stress resistance and our evolving understanding of the interactions and mechanisms of bacterial survival inside neutrophils. We also discuss the current genetic tools and challenges involved in manipulating the F. alocis genome for the functional characterization of the putative virulence genes. Collectively, this information will expedite F. alocis research and should lead to the identification of prime targets for the development of novel therapeutics to aid in the control and prevention of periodontal disease.
The Enduring Greatness: The Mahāpuruşha Paradigm—An Indian Perspective
Authors: Raina Maharaj K.
Published: March 2021

Greatness, a relative concept, has been historically approached in different ways. Considering greatness of character as different from greatness of talents, some cultures have conceptualized greatness as an expression of human spirit leading to transcending existing patterns and awakening inner selves to new levels of consciousness, rising above times and circumstances, and to change the direction of human tide. Individuals characterized by such greatness working with higher selves, guided by moral and ethical imperatives, and possessing noble impulses of human nature are considered to be manifesting spiritual greatness. Examining such greatness is the goal of this article. Keeping Indian tradition in focus, this article has studied how greatness has been conceptualized in that particular tradition and the way in which life and times have shaped great individuals called Mahāpuruşha who exhibited extraordinary moral responsibility relentlessly in pursuit of their visions of addressing contemporary major issues and changing the direction of human life. Four Mahāpuruşha, who possessed such enduring greatness and excelled in their thoughts and actions to give a new positive direction to human life, have been profiled in this article. Suggestions have also been made for studies on moral and spiritual excellence to help realize our true human path and purpose.
Survey participation effects in conflict research
Authors: De Juan Alexander , Koos Carlo
Published: March 2021

Do survey participants in conflict zones respond differently if they have been interviewed before? Academic and policy interest in postwar political opinion has increased tremendously. One unexpected consequence of this surge of survey research is a growing probability that individuals will be interviewed multiple times. However, if participating in one survey causes respondents to change their attitudes or behavior, their subsequent survey responses may be biased in comparison to the rest of the sample population. Our article aims to investigate such ‘survey participation effects’ in conflict contexts. We draw on original survey data collected in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In our representative sample, 18% of respondents report that they have been interviewed before. Multivariate analyses demonstrate that their stated attitudes on social relations, political institutions, gender norms, and wartime victimization differ substantively from the responses of first-time interviewees. Moreover, our analyses indicate that experienced respondents have specific response styles – in particular, a tendency to support extreme response options. While substantive bias in multivariate analyses seems to be rather rare, our findings indicate that researchers should be aware of the footprints of data collection efforts in areas frequently targeted by household and opinion surveys.
‘Where the state freaks out’: Gentrification, Queerspaces and activism in postwar Beirut
Authors: Nagle John
Published: March 2021

In this article I illuminate the production and erasure of Queerspaces in Beirut as part of postwar gentrification. A dual Beirut has emerged within assemblages of sectarian power, sexual citizenship and political economy. Commercial Queerspaces tacitly incorporated into the neoliberal and sectarian state exist while the ‘Queer unwanted’– spaces and people deemed transgressive to the moral order – are violently erased by state and non-state actors. These dual spaces expose the limits on life for Queer communities. To analyse these dynamics, I turn to the testimonies of LGBTQ activists in Beirut in relation to the possibilities offered by Queerspace. While activists note the exclusions – class, gender and sexuality – of commercial Queerspace that restrain political agency, they have powerfully asserted radical intersectional politics into recent revolutionary anti-sectarian waves of protest. This politics is marked by articulating Queerness as a project of connecting marginality for all excluded groups in Lebanon’s postwar order and by a queering of sectarian/neoliberal space that has hitherto cleansed undesirable LGBTQ bodies. This article draws on extensive fieldwork in Beirut (2011 to 2020), thus permitting longitudinal research of LGBTQ activism.
How do tax-based revitalisation policies affect urban property development? Evidence from Bronzeville, Chicago
Authors: Kim Minjee
Published: March 2021

Fiscal incentives are frequently used to stimulate property development in distressed communities but the efficacy and impacts of this approach have been contested. In this study, a theory of real estate production was utilised to evaluate the Opportunity Zones (OZ) policy in the USA. Qualitative data collected from interviews and fieldwork are analysed to understand how the property development scene of a predominantly African-American neighbourhood had been affected by the OZ designation. Interviewees, including black local developers, represented diverse types and scales of real estate production. It was found that new investment capital was flowing into Bronzeville but not into projects proposed by small, local developers and community organisations. This was largely for two reasons: first, the less experienced and resource-constrained players had insufficient resources and expertise to connect with the OZ-induced investors. Second, when they were connected, their projects were deemed highly risky and thus unattractive. The perception of risk was likely amplified in Bronzeville, a historically marginalised black neighbourhood. For tax-based urban revitalisation policies to increase marginalised communities’ access to capital, appropriate public interventions must be accompanied to level out the playing field for the under-resourced and historically marginalised players of real estate production. One such intervention might be to create and support a network of financial intermediaries that specialise in connecting capital to projects proposed by black developers, other non-profit developers and community organisations. Without such measures, policies such as OZ are likely to exacerbate existing inequalities rather than uplifting disadvantaged communities.
A review of research on dynamic thermal comfort
Authors: Cao Shuanghua , Li Xin , Yang Bing , Li Fan
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, people’s requirements for comfort are getting higher and higher, and traditional steady-state thermal comfort environment sometimes cannot meet people’s requirements. Dynamic thermal comfort is considered to meet people's requirements for comfort better than traditional thermal comfort, and it is also conducive to the health of occupants and building energy conservation. Therefore, this article reviews the literature on dynamic thermal comfort. First, this article briefly describes the transition from a steady-state thermal environment to a dynamic thermal environment. Next, this article reviews the research related to dynamic thermal comfort, such as the frequency of airflow fluctuations, simulation of natural wind, thermal prediction models, the use of intelligent detection equipment, and personal environmental control. This article summarizes the related research and development of dynamic thermal comfort from the aspects of dynamic airflow parameters, indoor thermal environment regulation, thermal experience, etc. This article aims to illustrate the necessity of the development of dynamic thermal comfort and its current results. The results show that under the trend of the artificial intelligence era, dynamic thermal comfort still has broad development potential. This article It can provide some research ideas for subsequent thermal comfort research.

Practical application: This paper summarizes the research and development of dynamic thermal comfort from dynamic airflow, indoor thermal environment control, thermal experience, etc., and makes appropriate extensions and prospects accordingly. At the same time, the necessity of combining thermal comfort with AI trends is emphasized. This paper can provide references and ideas for thermal research on thermal comfort.
Comparison of Endoscopic Cartilage Myringoplasty in Dry and Wet Ears With Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media
Authors: Yang Juanmei , Lyu Jihan , Wang Yanmei , Chen Binjun , Xu Jianghong , Ren Dongdong
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

This study compared the rate of graft success, as well as hearing improvement and dry ear time between dry ears and wet ears with otomycosis or without otomycosis in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) after endoscopic cartilage myringoplasty.

Methods:

This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Shanghai. In total, 83 patients with CSOM (43 with dry ears and 40 with wet ears) were included. Among the 40 patients with CSOM and wet ears, 25 exhibited otomycosis. All patients underwent endoscopic myringoplasty, and perforations were repaired using tragal cartilage with a single-sided perichondrium. Patients were followed up for at least 6 months. Pure-tone hearing was examined preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively. The graft uptake rate, hearing improvement, and dry ear time were compared between the groups.

Results:

The graft success rate did not differ significantly between the dry-ear and wet-ear groups (95.35% and 90.00%, respectively). Furthermore, the graft success rate also did not differ significantly between patients with wet ears and otomycosis and those with wet ears without otomycosis (92.00% and 86.67%, respectively). Hearing gain did not differ significantly between the dry-ear and wet-ear groups. No significant difference in hearing gain was also found in patients with wet ears with or without otomycosis. However, the time to dry ear was significantly longer in the wet-ear group than in the dry-ear group.

Conclusion:

Patients with CSOM and wet ears required more time to achieve a completely healthy status. However, the graft success rate and hearing improvement were not affected by a wet middle ear and otomycosis. Thus, endoscopic myringoplasty using tragus cartilage is an effective treatment for refractory CSOM in patients with wet ears and otomycosis.
Economic Ripple Effect: The Effect of Public Transfer Payment Policy in Malaysia
Authors: Amirullah Muhammad Adli , Estrada Mario Arturo Ruiz , Aslam Mohamed
Published: March 2021

This article models the interconnection between the public transfer payment policy in Malaysia and the overall Malaysian economy using an inter-linkage coordinate space. This space is represented graphically, with the public transfer payment distribution in the centre and the number of periods plotted along rays (axes) that are drawn from the centre, each of which can have as many windows as required at the predetermined perimeter levels. Using this model, this article evaluates whether and how the implementation of public transfer payment policy in Malaysia can simultaneously affect the overall Malaysian economy through selected macroeconomic indicators. Finally, this article proposes the use of computer graphical animation when sufficient data are available to provide a more accurate measurement and visual representation of the economic ripple effect in the same graphical space.

JEL: C00, E60, H53
Testing the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Neurological Fatigue Index-Stroke
Authors: Ho Lily YW , Lai Claudia KY , Ng Shamay SM
Published: March 2021

Objective:

To test the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the Neurological Fatigue Index-Stroke (C-NFI-Stroke) in stroke survivors.

Design:

This was a validation study. Cross-cultural adaptation of the scale was conducted according to standard guidelines. Reliability, validity, responsiveness, and interpretability were measured.

Setting:

Self-help groups and a community center.

Subjects:

One hundred and twelve Chinese stroke survivors and 65 healthy Chinese older people living in the community.

Interventions:

Not applicable.

Main measures:

The C-NFI-Stroke, Fatigue Severity Scale, Mental Fatigue Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, and Geriatric Depression Scale were used.

Results:

Cronbach’s α coefficients were 0.69–0.88; the item-level agreement was 70.4%–88.9%; the weighted Kappa value was 0.47–0.79; and the intra-class correlation coefficients were 0.88–0.93. The C-NFI-Stroke had no ceiling and floor effects. It had good content validity and had two factors, “lack of energy” and “tiredness/weakness.” The confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit to the model. The C-NFI-Stroke significantly correlated with existing fatigue scales ( rs = 0.55–0.63), self-efficacy ( rs = −0.31 to −0.37), and depressive symptoms ( rs = 0.53–0.60). The C-NFI-Stroke could discern differences between stroke survivors and healthy older people.

Conclusions:

The C-NFI-Stroke is a reliable and valid tool for clinical and research use on people who have been diagnosed with stroke for a year or more, although its factor structure differs from that of the original English version.
A systematic review of quality improvement initiatives for continuous sedation until death
Authors: Robijn Lenzo , Deliens Luc , Scherrens Anne-Lore , Pauwels Nele S , Pype Peter , Rietjens Judith , Chambaere Kenneth
Published: March 2021

Background:

Extensive debate surrounds the practice of continuous sedation until death within end-of-life care.

Aim:

To provide insight into existing initiatives to support the practice of continuous sedation until death and assess their feasibility and effectiveness.

Design:

Systematic review and narrative synthesis, registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020149630).

Data sources:

Records were searched through MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and Web of Science from inception to April 16 2020. Peer-reviewed studies reporting original data on initiatives to support the practice of continuous sedation were included for review.

Results:

Twenty-one studies met the criteria and were included. Initiatives were focused on assessment tools of consciousness and discomfort (9), the use of guidelines and protocols (8), and expert consultation (3). All initiatives were reported as useful, acceptable, and feasible. Studies on the use of monitoring devices showed that a small proportion of patients were found to be awake, despite the patient being unresponsive according to the observer-based sedation scales. However, the wide range of values of these monitoring devices for comfortable and adequately sedated patients seems to hamper its overall implementation in daily clinical practice. Physicians reported changes in practice conform to guideline recommendations but the shift was modest at best. Expert consultation was regarded as supportive when sufficient expertise is lacking and helpful in avoiding possibly unnecessary sedations.

Conclusions:

The reviewed initiatives may contribute to improvement of continuous sedation until death, though their evidence base is rather limited. More insight is needed into their feasibility, preconditions for effective implementation and impact in actual practice.
Segmenting or Summing the Parts? A Scoping Review of Male Suicide Research in Canada
Authors: Oliffe John L. , Kelly Mary T. , Montaner Gabriela Gonzalez , Links Paul S. , Kealy David , Ogrodniczuk John S.
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Suicide in Canadian men is high and rising. Research consistently indicates increased suicide risk in male subgroups including sexual minority, Indigenous, middle-aged, and military men. The current scoping review addresses the research question: Among male subgroups featured in Canadian suicide research, what are the key findings to inform suicide prevention efforts?.

Method:

A scoping review was undertaken in accord with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Structured searches were conducted in CIHAHL, Medline, PsychInfo, and Web of Science to identify studies reporting suicidality (suicidal ideation, plans and/or attempts) and suicide among men in Canada. Inclusion criteria comprised primary empirical studies featuring Canadian male subgroups published in English from 2009 to 2020 inclusive.

Results:

Sixty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria, highlighting significant rates of male suicidality and/or suicide in 3 categories: (1) health inequities ( n = 29); (2) age-specific ( n = 30); and (3) occupation ( n = 9). The health inequities category included sexual minority men, Indigenous, and other marginalized males (i.e., homeless, immigrant men, and men who use opiates). Age-specific men focused on adolescents and youth, and middle-aged and older males. Active military, veterans, and first responders featured in the occupation category. Studies compared at risk male subgroups to females, general male populations, and/or other marginalized groups in emphasizing mental health disparities and increased suicide risk. Some men’s suboptimal connections to existing mental health care services were also highlighted.

Conclusion:

While male subgroups who are vulnerable to suicidality and suicide were consistently described, these insights have not translated to tailored upstream suicide prevention services for Canadian boys and men. There may be some important gains through integrating social and mental health care services for marginalized men, implementing school-based masculinity programs for adolescent males, orientating clinicians to the potential for men’s mid-life suicide risks (i.e., separation, bereavement, retirement) and lobbying employers to norm help-seeking among activate military, veterans, and first responder males.
Characterizing Traumatic Brain Injury and Its Association with Losing Stable Housing in a Community-based Sample
Authors: Stubbs Jacob L. , Thornton Allen E. , Gicas Kristina M. , O’Connor Tiffany A. , Livingston Emily M. , Lu Henri Y. , Mehta Amiti K. , Lang Donna J. , Vertinsky Alexandra T. , Field Thalia S. , Heran Manraj K. , Leonova Olga , Sahota Charanveer S. , Buchanan Tari , Barr Alasdair M. , MacEwan G. William , Rauscher Alexander , Honer William G. , Panenka William J.
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is increasingly recognized as a common and impactful health determinant in homeless and precariously housed populations. We sought to describe the history of TBI in a precariously housed sample and evaluate how TBI was associated with the initial loss and lifetime duration of homelessness and precarious housing.

Method:

We characterized the prevalence, mechanisms, and sex difference of lifetime TBI in a precariously housed sample. We also examined the impact of TBI severity and timing on becoming and staying homeless or precariously housed; 285 precariously housed participants completed the Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire in addition to other health assessments.

Results:

A history of TBI was reported in 82.1% of the sample, with 64.6% reporting > 1 TBI, and 21.4% reporting a moderate or severe TBI. Assault was the most common mechanism of injury overall, and females reported significantly more traumatic brain injuries due to physical abuse than males (adjusted OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.14 to 1.39, P < 0.0001). The first moderate or severe TBI was significantly closer to the first experience of homelessness ( b = 2.79, P = 0.003) and precarious housing ( b = 2.69, P < 0.0001) than was the first mild TBI. In participants who received their first TBI prior to becoming homeless or precariously housed, traumatic brain injuries more proximal to the initial loss of stable housing were associated with a longer lifetime duration of homelessness (RR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.02 to 1.06, P < 0.0001) and precarious housing (RR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.04, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

These findings demonstrate the high prevalence of TBI in this vulnerable population, and that aspects of TBI severity and timing are associated with the loss and lifetime duration of stable housing.
“You’re So Exotic Looking”: An Intersectional Analysis of Asian American and Pacific Islander Stereotypes
Authors: Azhar Sameena , Alvarez Antonia R. G. , Farina Anne S. J. , Klumpner Susan
Published: March 2021

We applied critical race theory’s concept of intersectionality to analyze the experiences of discrimination among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in the United States, across race, gender, and sexuality. We collected tweets from October 2016 through December 2017 using the hashtag #thisis2016 on the social media platform, Twitter. Data were scoped down to 3,156 tweets and were coded by four members of our research team—all of whom identify as Asian American female social workers. Only intersectional themes related to the convergence of race, gender, and sexuality among APIs are reported in this article. These six themes include the following: (1) API women are perceived to be exotic and are overtly sexualized, (2) API women are expected to be passive, (3) API men are perceived to be weak and asexual, (4) Both API men and women are the objects of racialized violence and sexual harassment, (5) Queer APIs have unique experiences of sexualized harassment and violence, and (6) APIs are the subjects of neocolonialist attitudes. Taken together, these themes portray an intersectional understanding of the Asian American experience that counteracts stereotypes of Asians as the “model minority,” who do not experience racialized, sexualized, and gendered microaggressions.
Electroacupuncture inhibits IL-17/IL-17R and post-receptor MAPK signaling pathways in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Zhang Xin-Fang , Xiang Shui-Ying , Lu Jing , Li Yin , Zhao Shu-Jun , Jiang Chuan-Wei , Liu Xiang-Guo , Liu Zi-Bing , Zhang Jie
Published: March 2021

Objective:

Interleukin (IL)-17, as a T-helper 17 cell (Th17) cytokine, plays a key role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) pathophysiology including chronic inflammation and airway obstruction, which lead to decreased pulmonary function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture on IL-17, its receptor (IL-17R) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, in a rat model of COPD.

Methods:

The COPD model was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by exposure to cigarette smoke for 12 weeks. The model rats were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at BL13 and ST36. The lung function and histology of the rats were observed. IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-10 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and in plasma. The leukocytes and macrophages in the BALF were counted. The expression levels of IL-17R were assayed in lung tissue by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. MAPK signaling pathway molecules including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and p38, and their phosphorylated forms, were observed in the lung by western blotting.

Results:

Compared with the control group rats, lung function decreased and there was a severe inflammatory infiltration of the pulmonary parenchyma in the COPD rats. EA effectively improved lung function and alleviated the inflammatory infiltration in the lungs of COPD rats. EA also reversed the elevated total leukocyte and macrophage counts, the high levels of IL-17 and TNF-α, and the low IL-10 content in COPD rats. Meanwhile, EA downregulated the increased mRNA and protein expression of IL-17R, and significantly inhibited the elevated levels of phosphorylated JNK, ERK1/2, and p38 in the lungs of COPD rats.

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that the protective effects of acupuncture therapy on the lungs of COPD rats are likely related to inhibition of IL-17/IL-17R and the post-receptor MAPK signaling pathways.
Teaching Sustainability: From Monism and Pluralism to Citizenship
Authors: Obeng-Odoom Franklin
Published: March 2021

The current pandemic might temporarily slow down environmentally destructive economic growth. However, claiming that we are flattening the curve of (un)sustainability is dangerous. The global sustainability crisis is not just being driven by uneconomic growth but also increasing global inequality and social stratification. Teaching this key lesson requires widening the repertoire of sustainability pedagogy from the conventional wisdom of pedagogical monism to the radical approach centred on both pluralism and pedagogical citizenship.
‘Localitis’ in State Diplomacy: A Study on Cultural Immersion and its Effects on the Indian Foreign Service
Authors: Komath Ashwath
Published: March 2021

Literature in Diplomatic Studies often reference a phenomenon where diplomats sent for too long to another country develop an affinity for their assigned country, sometimes to the detriment of their home country. This has profound implications when we examine diplomatic agents as personalities in their own right and their ability to perform as state agents. This article investigates the basis of such a claim by examining the Indian diplomatic corps as a case study to verify its validity and enlist the factors that influence this phenomenon. This article relies on interviews given by former diplomats of the Indian Foreign Service to highlight the structures that influence behaviour of diplomatic agents and the implications it may have on training for future diplomats and preparing them for the evolution of diplomacy in the technological age.
Investigating Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in Women of Reproductive Age and Factors Affecting It
Authors: Gümüşsoy Süreyya , Öztürk Ruşen , Kavlak Oya , Hortu İsmet , Yeniel Ahmet Özgür
Published: March 2021

This descriptive study was designed to investigate the pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS) of women aged 18 to 49 years and to examine the factors that may have an effect on PFMS. The study was conducted on 258 women who visited a gynecology outpatient clinic between January 2019 and January 2020, who met the research criteria, and who agreed to participate in the study. The data were collected using the Sociodemographic Characteristics Information Form. The Modified Oxford Scale (MOS) and a perineometer were used to evaluate the PFMS of the women. The mean PFMS value measured using the perineometer was 31.56 ± 12.17 cmH2O (moderate pressure). The PFMS values were 20.00 to 29.9 cmH2O (weak pressure) and 30.00 to 39.9 cmH2O (moderate pressure) in 23.6% of the women, respectively. The PFMS values measured with MOS were of grade 3 strength (moderate pressure) in 23.6% of the women and grade 2 strength (weak pressure) in 23.3%. A statistically significant strong correlation was found between the perineometer measurement and the women’s MOS values. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the PFMS values measured with the perineometer, MOS scores, and women’s age groups, educational status, marital status, employment status, income status, persistent cough, use of nicotine, alcohol and coffee consumptions, chronic constipation, history of frequent urinary tract infections, regular exercise, body mass index, history of pregnancy, mode of delivery, use of episiotomy at birth, perineal rupture at birth, use of forceps vacuum at birth, multiple pregnancies, delivery of a baby weighing ≥4,000 g, treatment during pregnancy, hysterectomy, menopause, frequency of sexual intercourse, and pain during sexual intercourse ( p < .05). We conclude that most of the women in the study had weak to moderate PFMS, that the evaluation of PFMS with the MOS positively overlapped with the perineometric measurements, and that a number of sociodemographic and obstetric variables act as risk factors that affect PFMS. The PFMS of all women should be assessed as part of their routine gynecological examinations.
Skeletal and Dental Correction and Stability Following LeFort I Advancement in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate With Mild, Moderate, and Severe Maxillary Hypoplasia
Authors: Wangsrimongkol Buddhathida , Flores Roberto L. , Staffenberg David A. , Rodriguez Eduardo D. , Shetye Pradip. R.
Published: March 2021

Objective:

This study evaluates skeletal and dental outcomes of LeFort I advancement surgery in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) with varying degrees of maxillary skeletal hypoplasia.

Design:

Retrospective study.

Method:

Lateral cephalograms were digitized at preoperative (T1), immediately postoperative (T2), and 1-year follow-up (T3) and compared to untreated unaffected controls. Based on the severity of cleft maxillary hypoplasia, the sample was divided into 3 groups using Wits analysis: mild: ≤0 to ≥−5 mm; moderate: <−5 to >−10 mm; and severe: ≤−10 mm.

Participants:

Fifty-one patients with nonsyndromic CLP with hypoplastic maxilla who met inclusion criteria.

Intervention:

LeFort I advancement.

Main Outcome Measure:

Skeletal and dental stability post-LeFort I surgery at a 1-year follow-up.

Results:

At T2, LeFort I surgery produced an average correction of maxillary hypoplasia by 6.4 ± 0.6, 8.1 ± 0.4, and 10.7 ± 0.8 mm in the mild, moderate, and severe groups, respectively. There was a mean relapse of 1 to 1.5 mm observed in all groups. At T3, no statistically significant differences were observed between the surgical groups and controls at angle Sella, Nasion, A point (SNA), A point, Nasion, B point (ANB), and overjet outcome measures.

Conclusions:

LeFort I advancement produces a stable correction in mild, moderate, and severe skeletal maxillary hypoplasia. Overcorrection is recommended in all patients with CLP to compensate for the expected postsurgical skeletal relapse.
A Systematic Review of Professionals’ Views About Community Management Policies for Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses
Authors: Christensen Larissa S. , Sánchez de Ribera Olga , Trajtenberg Nicolás
Published: March 2021

A contentious criminal justice policy issue in recent times has been community management policies for individuals convicted of sexual offenses. This systematic review attained professionals’ views, areas of concern, and recommendations for community management policies. It went beyond the extant literature by exploring perceptions of heterogenous professional groups involved in the criminal justice system. Of the 25 studies, 12 were quantitative, nine qualitative, and four mixed methods, and included custodial and community correctional officers, probation officers, psychologists, police officers, prosecutors, lawmakers, and academics. Overall, professionals mostly supported the policies, but had less support for public registries and community notification. Four key issues associated with the policies were apparent: problems with actuarial risk assessment tools, difficulties accessing information with partner agencies, limited resources, and lack of education among the public. Within this, four recommendations were identified. These findings offer a valuable resource for researchers, along with government and policy professionals tasked with overseeing community management policies.
Serologic and urinary survey of exposure to Leptospira species in a feral cat population of Prince Edward Island, Canada
Authors: Bourassi Emilia , Savidge Christine , Foley Peter , Hartwig Sunny
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Recent studies show that cats could play an important role in the transmission of Leptospira species. There are few reports of leptospirosis on Prince Edward Island (PEI) and none in cats. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of serum antibodies against Leptospira serovars and of Leptospira DNA in the urine of a population of free-roaming cats.

Methods

Paired blood and urine samples were collected from 200 cats brought to a trap–neuter–return program. Antibody titers against six Leptospira serovars (Bratislava, Canicola, Gryppotyphosa, Hardjo, Pomona, Icterohaemorrhagiae) were determined by microscopic agglutination test. PCR was performed on urine samples to identify urine shedding of Leptospira DNA.

Results

Antibodies were detected in 20/200 cats (10%) for at least one serovar, with titers ranging from 1:50 to 1:6400 (all serovars tested, except Hardjo). Urine samples of 7/200 cats (3.5%) were PCR-positive.

Conclusions and relevance

Feral cats in PEI had a higher than expected exposure to leptospirosis and can shed DNA from pathogenic Leptospira species in urine. Further studies are needed to determine the prevalence of exposure to leptospirosis in other species on PEI and the potential role of feral cats in transmission of the disease.
Quantitative assessment of infusion pump-mediated haemolysis in feline packed red blood cell transfusions
Authors: Blasi-Brugué Carles , Sanchez Ignacio M , Ferreira Rui RF , de Matos Augusto JF , Ruiz de Gopegui Rafael
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Haemolysis caused by the use of peristaltic infusion pumps (PIPs) has been described in human and canine packed red blood cells (pRBCs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different linear PIPs on the haemolysis of feline pRBC units stored for a long time.

Methods

Feline pRBC units stored with adenine, dextrose, mannitol and sodium chloride (SAGM) were manufactured. After 35–42 days of storage at 2–4°C, a line administration system with a 180 µm filter was attached to every pRBC bag, the system was drained by gravity alone (8 drops/min) and a 1.3 ml sample was collected (G). A NIKI V4 pump was then used at a flow rate of 25 ml/h, the flow was stopped when the infusion system was filled with blood coming from the infusion pump and another 1.3 ml sample was collected (NK). Finally, an Infusomat FmS pump was evaluated, collecting another 1.3 ml sample (IM). Packed cell volume (PCV) was measured in all samples by microhaematocrit centrifugation, total haemoglobin (HGB) was measured using a specific haemoglobin analyser and, after centrifugation, free HGB was determined by spectrophotometry. The percentage of haemolysis was calculated. Friedman’s test was used to compare the samples.

Results

Fifteen feline pRBC units were evaluated. The average degree of haemolysis for sample G (gravity-assisted) was 1.12%. Comparison of the degree of gravity-assisted haemolysis with haemolysis in PIP NK (1.13%) and IM (1.14%) samples revealed no significant differences, with differences of only 0.01% and 0.02%, respectively.

Conclusions and relevance

The results of this study demonstrate that the use of two common PIPs in veterinary hospitals does not produce levels of haemolysis that are significantly different than that caused by gravity alone during transfusion of feline pRBCs at a rate of 25 ml/h.
Optic nerve and macular optical coherence tomography in recovered COVID-19 patients
Authors: Burgos-Blasco Barbara , Güemes-Villahoz Noemi , Vidal-Villegas Beatriz , Martinez-de-la-Casa Jose Maria , Donate-Lopez Juan , Martín-Sánchez Francisco Javier , González-Armengol Juan Jorge , Porta-Etessam Jesus , Martin Jose Luis R , Garcia-Feijoo Julian
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

To investigate the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), macular RNFLT, ganglion cell layer (GCL), and inner plexiform layer (IPL) thickness in recovered COVID-19 patients compared to controls.

Methods:

Patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19 were included, while healthy patients formed the historic control group. All patients underwent an ophthalmological examination, including macular and optic nerve optical coherence tomography. In the case group, socio-demographic data, medical history, and neurological symptoms were collected.

Results:

One hundred sixty patients were included; 90 recovered COVID-19 patients and 70 controls. COVID-19 patients presented increases in global RNFLT (mean difference 4.3; CI95% 0.8 to 7.7), nasal superior (mean difference 6.9; CI95% 0.4 to 13.4), and nasal inferior (mean difference 10.2; CI95% 2.4 to 18.1) sectors of peripapillary RNFLT. Macular RNFL showed decreases in COVID-19 patients in volume (mean difference −0.05; CI95% −0.08 to −0.02), superior inner (mean difference −1.4; CI95% −2.5 to −0.4), nasal inner (mean difference −1.1; CI95% −1.8 to −0.3), and nasal outer (mean difference −4.7; CI95% −7.0 to −2.4) quadrants. COVID-19 patients presented increased GCL thickness in volume (mean difference 0.04; CI95% 0.01 to 0.07), superior outer (mean difference 2.1; CI95% 0.8 to 3.3), nasal outer (mean difference 2.5; CI95% 1.1 to 4.0), and inferior outer (mean difference1.2; CI95% 0.1 to 2.4) quadrants. COVID-19 patients with anosmia and ageusia presented an increase in peripapillary RNFLT and macular GCL compared to patients without these symptoms.

Conclusions:

SARS-CoV-2 may affect the optic nerve and cause changes in the retinal layers once the infection has resolved.
Getting the Right Shade of Ochre: Valuation of a Building’s Historicity
Authors: Halauniova Anastasiya
Published: March 2021

This article examines the praise and controversy that a change in color to the façade of the Główny railway station in Wrocław, Poland, provoked during 2010–2012. Ethnographically following the definitions and makings of a “historical” color during the reconstruction process, it pinpoints two contrasting and conflicting ways of valuing and devaluing historicity: the “scientifically accurate” historicity versus the “familiar” one. Examining urban experts’ practices of valuating the historicity of this building, the valuation devices urban experts relied upon, and the versions of historicities they consequentially produced, this article shows that the “good” of historicity is not a given but is discovered and learned about by various actors during the very activities that constitute valuation.
What makes modern Britain laugh? How semiotics helped the BBC bridge the Humor Gap
Authors: Arning Chris
Published: March 2021

In 2018, BBC Marketing and Audiences approached semiotic agencies with a challenging brief. They wanted to know the following: What makes modern Britain laugh? The BBC’s younger audiences have been steadily drifting to other platforms and broadcasters to satisfy their need for “funny stuff.” Brands that successfully leverage humor really resonate with this new modern mainstream audience, for example, Netflix, BuzzFeed, YouTube, Snapchat, and so on. The BBC, as part of its remit to continue to be a modern evolving brand, wanted to address this trend by understanding what types of comedy content convey a relatable sense of humor and how to best achieve this. The BBC required insight on the following key objectives: Identify key characteristics of content that younger audiences find funny; Explain how this compares with the preferences of the BBC’s older audiences; Estimate how far the BBC brand can stretch in humor content across platform; Assess the need for innovation across BBC platforms to accommodate fresh content.

The project involved a multi-methodology approach, the centerpiece of which was a content analysis of 800 data points of consumer generated content derived from WhatsApp diaries. The semiotic analysis, informed by foundational thinking on humor schools and humor psychology, used an innovative hashtagging system to create a nuanced taxonomy of the mostly memes and viral videos with the primary types (e.g., #cringe, #pastiche, #awkwardness, #black humour, #satire, #schadenfreude etc.). The BBC received a comprehensive taxonomy of more than 50 humor types, a digest of levers of engagement for operationalising the humour, and maps for strategic channel positioning. The work has helped the BBC innovate in three core areas: rethinking their use of metadata for tagging comedy content on the iPlayer platform, modifying their tone of voice across all parts of the business, and in commissioning original comedy podcasts for the BBC Sounds app.