bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lazy Network: A Word Embedding‐Based Temporal Financial Network to Avoid Economic Shocks in Asset Pricing Models
Authors: Adosoglou George , Park Seonho , Lombardo Gianfranco , Cagnoni Stefano , Pardalos Panos M.
Published: April 2022

Public companies in the US stock market must annually report their activities and financial performances to the SEC by filing the so‐called 10‐K form. Recent studies have demonstrated that changes in the textual content of the corporate annual filing (10‐K) can convey strong signals of companies’ future returns. In this study, we combine natural language processing techniques and network science to introduce a novel 10‐K‐based network, named Lazy Network, that leverages year‐on‐year changes in companies’ 10‐Ks detected using a neural network embedding model. The Lazy Network aims to capture textual changes derived from financial or economic changes on the equity market. Leveraging the Lazy Network, we present a novel investment strategy that attempts to select the least disrupted and stable companies by capturing the peripheries of the Lazy Network. We show that this strategy earns statistically significant risk‐adjusted excess returns. Specifically, the proposed portfolios yield up to 95 basis points in monthly five‐factor alphas (over 12% annually), outperforming similar strategies in the literature.
IoT-Based Health Monitoring System Development and Analysis
Authors: Khan Mohammad Monirujjaman , Alanazi Turki M. , Albraikan Amani Abdulrahman , Almalki Faris A.
Published: April 2022

This paper presents the design and implementation of a health monitoring system using the Internet of Things (IoT). In present days, with the expansion of innovations, specialists are always looking for innovative electronic devices for easier identification of irregularities within the body. IoT-enabled technologies enable the possibility of developing novel and noninvasive clinical support systems. This paper presents a health care monitoring system. In particular, COVID-19 patients, high blood pressure patients, diabetic patients, etc., in a rural area in a developing country, such as Bangladesh, do not have instant access to health or emergency clinics for testing. Buying individual instruments or continuous visitation to hospitals is also expensive for the regular population. The system we developed will measure a patient’s body temperature, heartbeat, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) levels in the blood and send the data to a mobile application using Bluetooth. The mobile application was created via the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) inventor app and will receive the data from the device over Bluetooth. The physical, logical, and application layers are the three layers that make up the system. The logical layer processes the data collected by the sensors in the physical layer. Media access management and intersensor communications are handled by the logical layer. Depending on the logical layer’s processed data, the application layer makes decisions. The main objective is to increase affordability for regular people. Besides sustainability in the context of finance, patients will have easy access to personal healthcare. This paper presents an IoT-based system that will simplify the utilization of an otherwise complicated medical device at a minimum cost while sitting at home. A 95 percent confidence interval with a 5 percent maximum relative error is applied to all measurements related to determining the patient’s health parameters. The use of these devices as support tools by the general public in a certain situation could have a big impact on their own lives.
Passant Connection Screw of Dental Implants: An In Vitro SEM Preliminary Study
Authors: Cervino Gabriele , Germanà Antonino , Fiorillo Luca , D’Amico Cesare , Abbate Francesco , Cicciù Marco
Published: April 2022

The use of dental implants in oral rehabilitations has become increasingly common, thanks to the safety and predictability of these rehabilitations. Unfortunately, dental implants, being alloplastic devices, are not free from biomechanical complications, especially in the case in which the connections are complex and involve several components. The aim of the study is to highlight what could be surface alterations using different screwing torques, or by repeating the screwing process several times. In this study, 40 passant screws (Osstem®, South Korea Dental Implant Ebony Gold®) were examined under a Zeiss EVO LS 10 scanning electron microscope (SEM), operating with an accelerating voltage of 20 kV. Passant screws were subdivided into 4 groups: 30 Nmm tightening torque; maximum tightening torque; 2 times 30 Nmm tightening torque; no screwing, new ones (control group). There are no significant differences in the surfaces of the passant screws in SEM images, and the 100% of the passant screws is free of defects or fractures. Surely, further studies and investigations will certainly be needed to allow improvement of these devices.
Fluid Resuscitation Aggravates the Cellular Injury in a Hemorrhagic Shock Model
Authors: Vardar Kubra , Can Kubra , Aksu Ugur
Published: April 2022

Background: Resuscitation is the initial step for hemorrhagic shock. However, there is still controversy as to which fluid achieves the best results clinically and experimentally. Aim: It was aimed to investigate the effects of 0.9% NaCl (sodium chloride) and 6% HES (hydroxyethyl starch) on the kidney and blood environment. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were assigned as control, shock, and resuscitated (colloid: 6% HES and crystalloid: 0.9% NaCl) groups. Besides hemodynamics (mean arterial pressure and shock index) monitoring and kidney function evaluation, hemolysis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and glycocalyx degradation were evaluated in the plasma and kidney. Results: (1) Macrohemodynamics were successfully restored by both fluids. (2) Although 3 times more crystalloid volume was applied compared to the colloid resuscitation, similar hematocrit levels were found in both resuscitation strategies (32.8 ± 2.3 vs. 33.3 ± 1.0). (3) NaCl resuscitation led to increases in the hemolytic index, catalytic iron, and sialic acid compared to control, while HES administration increased the levels of malondialdehyde, ischemia-modified albumin, and sialic acid. (4) However, both fluid resuscitation strategies could inhibit inflammation and oxidative stress in the kidney and restore kidney function parameters. Conclusion: Although both NaCl and HES resuscitation showed protection of the kidney function against oxidative stress and inflammation, these fluids initiated the injury process.
Safety of Bronchoscopy after Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Soumagne Thibaud , Paradis Jean-Michel , Lacasse Yves , Fortin Marc
Published: April 2022

Background: Bronchoscopy is a safe procedure which is frequently performed for the investigation of respiratory diseases. Current guidelines recommend to delay bronchoscopy for 4–6 weeks after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), as this period is theoretically considered at risk for new onset of ACS. We therefore aimed to evaluate the safety and the tolerance of bronchoscopy in patients with ACS (≤30 days) and to compare outcomes with matched controls. Methods: All consecutive patients who had a bronchoscopy performed in the first 30 days after an ACS in the bronchoscopy suite were included. A group of patients with ACS who did not undergo bronchoscopy (controls) were also included and matched for age, sex, type of ACS, and severity of ACS (GRACE score). Results: Of the 13,646 patients who underwent bronchoscopy between 2010 and 2019, 2,181 had an history of ACS and among those, 87 patients had an ACS (19 with STEMI, 52 with NSTEMI, and 16 unstable angina). Mean interval between ACS and bronchoscopy was of 10.1 ± 8.9 days. Systolic blood pressure and heart rate significantly increased and oxygen saturation significantly decreased during bronchoscopy. The most frequent adverse event was desaturation which occurred in 26% of patients. Reinfarction rate (1.1% vs. 2.3% p = 1.00) and all-cause 30-day mortality (2.3% vs. 4.6%; p = 0.68) were similar in patients who underwent bronchoscopy and in matched controls (n = 87). Conclusion: Our study reinforces the safety of bronchoscopy after ACS. When clinically indicated with potential benefits outweighing risks, ACS should not contraindicate bronchoscopy.
Self-Assessment Questionnaire on Patient-Physician Concordance on Nevus Self-Count and Models Development to Predict High-Risk Phenotype >50 Nevi
Authors: Mannino Maria , Sollena Pietro , Esposito Maria , Fargnoli Maria Concetta , Peris Ketty , Nagore Eduardo
Published: April 2022

Background: Cutaneous melanoma accounts for the majority of skin cancer-related deaths. Readily identifiable phenotypic characteristics and total body nevus count (TBNC) >50 are among the most important risk factors for cutaneous melanoma. Implementation of nevus self-count procedures and self-assessment of phenotypic traits as part of skin self-examination could be an excellent screening tool for identifying an at-risk target population. Objectives: Objectives of the study were to assess the skills of a central Italian and eastern Spanish population sample to recognize their skin lesions via the submission of a self-assessment questionnaire and to explore which self-assessment questionnaire item combination best predicts the high-risk condition of TBNC >50. Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years filled a self-assessment questionnaire, autonomously and prior to the dermatological visit. Subsequently, dermatologists performed total body skin examination and reported patients’ skin lesions on a separate questionnaire. Results: We reported fair to moderate patient-dermatologist agreement for skin lesion self-assessment. The item number of nevi on the back was the single questionnaire item most accurately predicting TBNC >50. The high-sensitivity and high-specificity classification and regression tree models for the prediction of TBNC >50 displayed different items combinations; the item nevus on the back was always the first and most important predictor in both our models. Conclusions: Patients were partially able to provide correct estimation of their whole-body nevus self-count. The item nevi on the back seems to be the first and most important predictor of TBNC >50 across our models. Delivery of high-sensitivity and high-specificity prediction models based on our questionnaire item combination may help defining a high-risk target population.
Uveitis in entzündlich-rheumatischen Erkrankungen
Authors: Pleyer Uwe
Published: April 2022

Background: Uveitis is one of the most frequent ophthalmologic manifestations in rheumatology. Uveal inflammation can underlie a systemic inflammatory rheumatic disease (SIRD) in approximately 30% of cases with a significant burden on the quality of life since it represents a cause of blindness in up to 20% of cases in Western countries. Methods: In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology of uveitis associated with SIRDs. According to our literature survey on the epidemiology of uveitis among SIRDs, spondyloarthritides, Behçet’s disease and sarcoidosis get the major impact. Results: In Behçet’s uveitis, the key players are highly polarized Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes, natural killer T cells and γδ T cells. All contribute to a great destructive inflammatory environment with the most serious visual damage resulting from the involvement of the posterior segment of the eye. In contrast, spondyloarthritides-related uveitis derives from a complex interaction between genetic background and extra-ocular inflammatory mediators originating from enthesitis, arthritis, psoriatic lesions and microbiome pro-inflammatory alterations. In such conditions, the immune infiltration of CD4+ T cells, Th17 and natural killer cells along with pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α among all, leads to intraocular inflammation. Lastly, granuloma formation represents the primary hallmark lesion in sarcoid uveitis. This suggests a profound link between the innate system that mainly recruits activated macrophages and adaptive system involving by Th1, Th17 and Th17.1 cells. Conclusions: Awareness among rheumatologists of a potential severe ocular involvement generates new insights into targeted therapeutic approaches and personalized treatments for each patient.
CoronaVac/Sinovac COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Hypersensitivity Reactions and Second-Dose Vaccine Administration: Tertiary Allergy Center Experience
Authors: Gumusburun Reyhan , Dalgıc Ceyda Tunakan , Mete Gokmen Emine Nihal , Sin Aytul Zerrin
Published: April 2022

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global health crisis. To prevent the disease, the Ministry of Health of Turkey gained approval for the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use as the first-line. This study aimed to evaluate patients who developed hypersensitivity reactions (HRs) due to the CoronoVac vaccine and to share our experience of administering the second dose of vaccine to these patients. Methods: The study group included the patients who presented to the Ege University Allergy and Immunology Division between January and May 2021. Demographic data, atopic status, allergic reactions to the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and the route of second-dose vaccine administrations were recorded. Results: A total of 7 patients (four healthcare professionals), 6 (86%) of whom were women, with an average age of 53.4 years, were included in the study. The rate of allergic reactions among Ege University health workers was 0.036% (2/5,558). Six of our patients had a history of additional allergic diseases and comorbid diseases. None had any allergic reactions to previous vaccinations and latex allergy. Reactions developed commonly on the skin, as generalized urticaria/angioedema and pruritus. The severity of the reactions was evaluated as mild in 2, moderate in 3, and severe in 2 cases. The second-dose CoronaVac was safely administered by using a gradually increase dose in a total of 6 patients. Conclusion: In patients with HRs due to Sinovac in the first dose, the second dose can be safely performed using a gradually increased dose.
Ein fallbasierter Ansatz für neue Richtungen in der Ernährungstherapie bei Morbus Crohn: ein Denkanstoß
Authors: Levine Arie , El-Matary Wael , Van Limbergen Johan
Published: April 2022

Neuere Evidenz deutet darauf hin, dass Morbus Crohn aus einer Dysbiose des Mikrobioms und anderen Umweltfaktoren herrühren könnte. Einer der stärksten Risikofaktoren im Zusammenhang mit der Immunaktivierung scheint in der Ernährung zu liegen. Es hat sich gezeigt, dass Diäten bei 70 bis 80% der therapienaiven Kinder zu Krankheitsbeginn Entzündungen lindern und eine Remission induzieren, und bei Patienten, die auf die derzeit empfohlene medizinische Therapie nicht mehr ansprechen oder ein Rezidiv entwickelt haben, eine Remission induzieren. Jüngste Studien brachten auch die diätetische Modulation des Mikrobioms mit der klinischen Remission in Verbindung, während die Wiederaufnahme der vorher gewohnten Diät zu einer Reaktivierung der Entzündungsreaktion und zu einer Reversion der Dysbiose führte. Während die Ernährungstherapie in der Regel im Rahmen einer Erstlinientherapie als Brücke zu Immunmodulatoren Anwendung fand, deuten neuere Erkenntnisse darauf hin, dass neue Behandlungsparadigmen, die eine Ernährungstherapie beinhalten, unterschiedliche Behandlungsstrategien ermöglichen könnten. In dieser fallbasierten Analyse der Fachliteratur wird die Morbus-Crohn-Ausschlussdiät (Crohn’s disease exclusion diet, CDED) als Monotherapie, Kombinationstherapie mit Medikamenten, als Rescue-Behandlung bei Patienten mit refraktärer Erkrankung und als Behandlung mit dem Ziel der Reduzierung der medikamentösen Therapie diskutiert.
A COVID-19-Related Retinopathy Case Report
Authors: Riotto Eleonora , Mégevand Vladimir , Mégevand Alexis , Marti Christophe , Pugin Jerome , Stangos Alexandros N. , Pournaras Constantin J. , Sunaric Mégevand Gordana
Published: April 2022

The recent outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the WHO. Within various multi-organ involvements, several ocular manifestations have been described. We report the case of a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 who presented with a progressive increase of bilateral cotton wool spots over a 1-week period, despite quick and complete recovery of systemic signs of the disease and no ocular symptoms. We followed the evolution of such lesions over a 3-month period. Here, we underline the importance of retinal screening even if no ocular symptom is reported. Furthermore, we demonstrate the essential role of fundus examination as a reflection of systemic vascular changes.
Small-Fiber Neuropathy Possibly Associated with COVID-19
Authors: Burakgazi Ahmet Z.
Published: April 2022

COVID-19 has caused several neurological complications by affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems (PNS). Studies on the PNS involvement in COVID-19 are limited. These complications are likely unreported, given the difficulty of obtaining further diagnostic information, such as expert neurologist evaluation, electrodiagnostic testing, and skin biopsy. Herein, we report 2 cases of possible COVID-19-related small-fiber neuropathy (SFN). These cases are reported to increase awareness of a possible link between COVID-19 and SFN. Additional investigation, including neurology consultation, nerve conduction studies, and skin biopsy, should be considered in patients who develop paresthesia during and after COVID-19 infection. Further research is also needed to determine a possible underlying neuropathology mechanism and the role of immunomodulatory treatment, such as intravenous immunoglobulin, in COVID-19-related SFN.
Pediculid: Literature Review with Case Presentation
Authors: Nouh Ahmed H.
Published: April 2022

Introduction: ID reactions are infrequent disorders which are often misdiagnosed because they developed as acute dermatitis after days or weeks at skin locations distant from the initial inflammatory or infectious/infestations site. For now, several causes have been described to trigger such reactions which includes infection with dermatophytosis, Mycobacterium, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Pediculid nowadays is forgotten entity in dermatology daily practice as well as major dermatology textbooks. Case Presentation: We present an illustrative case report of pediculid that is an ID reaction to Pediculosis capitis in 6 y.o. girl with acute generalized eczematous dermatitis successfully treated by elimination of pediculosis. Also, there is description of relapsing the condition with reinfestation. Discussion/Conclusion: During discussion and literature review, comprehensive description was made to the ID reaction as entity and its diagnostic criteria. In conclusion, we want to highlight that being aware of such possibility is important (especially in pediatric patients) to reach a correct diagnosis quickly and avoid unnecessary treatment and examinations.
Coexistence of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension with Unilateral Duane Retraction Syndrome Type 1 in an Adult Female
Authors: Almater Abdullah I. , Alwatban Jawaher Jehad , Alromaih Arwa Z. , Alarfaj Motazz , Al-Obailan Majed
Published: April 2022

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a poorly understood condition, and its presentation can coexist with other diseases. Simultaneous IIH and Duane retraction syndrome (DRS) type 1 have never been reported to coexist in an adult patient. Herein, we report a 32-year-old obese female with a history of chronic renal failure who had a renal transplant rejection 6 years prior to presentation and was treated with oral steroids and immunosuppressive medications. She began to experience signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (morning headache and binocular horizontal diplopia) and had limited abduction of one eye on examination. The case was later diagnosed as IIH with DRS type 1.
Occupational Chronic Contact Dermatitis Successfully Treated with Dupilumab: A Case Series
Authors: Slodownik Dan , Levi Assi , Lapidoth Moshe , Moshe Shlomo
Published: April 2022

Background: Occupational contact dermatitis may progress to a chronic course with an unfavorable prognosis. Dupilumab has been shown to be effective as a treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis as well as other types of dermatitis. Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe cases of chronic recalcitrant occupational contact dermatitis treated with dupilumab and with long-term follow-up. Methods: A retrospective review of 6 patients treated with dupilumab for chronic occupational contact dermatitis for periods of up to 30 months was performed. Results: All 6 patients had a positive and sustainable response, with dermatitis clearance and the ability to sustain work tasks. Conclusions: We report a case series of atopic and nonatopic workers with occupational chronic contact dermatitis who failed to achieve remission under various systemic modalities but did so using dupilumab. We suggest considering dupilumab treatment for recalcitrant occupational contact dermatitis.
Pentraxin-3 Promotes LPS-Induced Pyroptosis in Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells
Authors: Gu Yaya , Shen Jinye
Published: April 2022

The aim of this study was to explore the function of Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) in cell viability, pyroptosis, inflammation, osteogenic differentiation, and oxidative stress of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). In the study, hPDLSCs were stimulated by LPS from Porphyromonas gingivalis to establish an in vitro inflammatory cellular model. Protein expression was measured using Western blotting. mRNA levels were evaluated by qRT-PCR. Cell viability, inflammatory cytokine production, and caspase-1 activity was measured with commercially available kits. Oxidative stress was assessed by examining reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide production. We found that PTX3 was upregulated in LPS-stimulated hPDLSCs. PTX3 overexpression aggravated LPS-induced cell viability loss, inflammatory cytokine production, and oxidative stress, as well as suppressed the osteogenic differentiation in hPDLSCs, while silencing PTX3 had the opposite effects. Further, PTX3 overexpression promoted NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome overactivation and pyroptosis, evidenced by increased protein levels of NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and N-terminal gasdermin D (GSDMD-N). Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome and/or caspase-1 partially attenuated the effects of PTX3 on LPS-stimulated hPDLSCs. This study indicated that PTX3 promotes LPS-induced pyroptosis and inflammation in hPDLSCs through activation of the caspase-1-dependent NLRP3 inflammasome.
Vampire Worms; A revision of Galapagomystides (Phyllodocidae, Annelida), with the description of three new species
Authors: PEARSON KAILA A. M. , ROUSE GREG W.
Published: April 2022

Galapagomystides is an exclusively deep-sea group of Phyllodocidae, originally erected for Galapagomystides aristata from hydrothermal vents of the Galapagos Rift. In this study, Phyllodocidae collected from hydrothermal vents and methane seeps from the Pacific Ocean, including specimens from vents of the East Pacific Rise identified as Galapagomystides were studied using morphology (light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) and DNA sequence data. Phylogenetic analysis of the newly generated molecular data (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and 28S rRNA) combined with an already available extensive dataset for Phyllodocidae resulted in a monophyletic Galapagomystides comprising five species. Galapagomystides aristata was found to occur on the East Pacific Rise vents as well as the Galapagos Rift and is redescribed. Two new species were from hydrothermal vents in the West Pacific, G. bobpearsoni n. sp., and G. kathyae n. sp., as well as one new species from a cold seep in the eastern Pacific, G. patricki n. sp. These new species are formally described, and a previously known vent species, Protomystides verenae, is redescribed and transferred to Galapagomystides. Galapagomystides verenae n. comb. was found to occur in both vents and seeps in the eastern Pacific, from Oregon to Costa Rica. The diagnosis of Galapagomystides is amended and the biogeography and habitat evolution of the five species of Galapagomystides is discussed.
Revision of Chloeia Savigny in Lamarck, 1818 from tropical American seas (Annelida, Amphinomidae)
Authors: YÁÑEZ-RIVERA BEATRIZ , SALAZAR-VALLEJO SERGIO I.
Published: April 2022

The species of Chloeia Savigny in Lamarck, 1818 include some of the most colorful amphinomid annelids in tropical seas. Their pigmentation patterns can be diagnostic but because some pigments may fade after ethanol preservation, they have been disregarded as useful taxonomic characters. In this contribution we revise the tropical American species of Chloeia, and we confirm stability of pigmentation patterns, the presence of cirriform branchiae along a few anterior chaetigers, and emphasize the size of eyes and of ventral cirri as diagnostic characters. Five species are redescribed and two ones are newly described; the redescribed species are C. entypa Chamberlin, 1919 from Western Mexico, C. euglochis Ehlers, 1887 from the Grand Caribbean (reinstated), C. pinnata Moore, 1911 from Southern California (extended southwards in Western Mexico), C. pseudeuglochis Augener, 1922 from Pacific Costa Rica (includes several records for a colorful shallow water species in the Eastern Pacific), and C. viridis Schmarda, 1861 from the Grand Caribbean, which is restricted to specimens having a single, dorsal longitudinal T-shaped band. New species are Chloeia nuriae sp. n. from the Gulf of California, and C. paulayi sp. n. from the Gulf of Mexico . Two other species previously recorded for the region, C. conspicua Horst, 1910 and C. flava (Pallas, 1766) are briefly characterized in order to avoid future misidentifications. Further, C. candida Kinberg, 1857 from the Virgin Islands, is regarded as indeterminable. A key to identify tropical American species of Chloeia is also included.
Lagrangian Vertical Spreading and Its Relation to Diapycnal Diffusivity
Authors: Qian Yu-Kun , Peng Shiqiu , Wen Xixi , Zhang Hua
Published: April 2022

The present study provides a theoretical linkage between the Lagrangian dispersion diffusivity and the diapycnal diffusivity in the context of vertical mixing, although previous studies have demonstrated their equivalence under the assumptions of stationary, homogeneous, and stratified turbulence. This is achieved in a new coordinate in which the fluid density is adiabatically sorted in the vertical direction. In the density-sorted coordinate, 1) the vertical motion of Lagrangian particles is solely subjected to irreversible diffusion process; 2) relations between Lagrangian dispersion diffusivity, diapycnal diffusivity, and the generalized Osborn diffusivity are exact; and 3) a generalization of the classical Munk balance between vertical advection and diffusion is also illustrated in an exact sense. Since the adiabatic sorting of the fluid does not require the turbulence to be statistically stationary, homogeneous, and stably stratified, the present solution eliminated these requirements and is thus more general than previous studies. Upon this, a new Lagrangian diagnostic is proposed to quantify the local, instantaneous, and irreversible mixing. Applications are demonstrated in a turbulent scenario of internal wave breaking induced by current–topography interaction, in which the turbulence is intermittent, nonstationary, and inhomogeneous.
The Death Anxiety Experienced by Cardiac Patients in the Covid-19 Pandemic and Its Affecting Factors
Authors: Tülüce Derya , Kaplan Serin Emine
Published: April 2022

The study was conducted to determine the death anxiety experienced by heart patients and the affecting factors in the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted with 148 patients hospitalized in the cardiology clinic of a university hospital between April and August 2021 in the southeast in Turkey. The data were collected with the personal information form, death anxiety scale, coronavirus anxiety scale and Covid-19 fear scale developed by the researchers. Data analysis was performed by using IBM SPSS Statistics 25. Descriptive statistics were used in the analysis of the data. Correlation and regression analysis were performed to determine the relationship between scales. The mean age of the patients was 64.99+15.56 years and 56.1% were male. 57.4% of them were hospitalized with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease. During the pandemic, it was determined that 74.3% of the patients followed social distance, 71.6% wore masks, 58.8% used disinfectants. The patients had moderate death anxiety, low coronavirus anxiety, and high covid 19 fear. A positive linear correlation was found between anxiety and fear scale and death anxiety total and sub-dimensions. As a result, the fear of COVID-19 may increase the fear of death in individuals with heart disease. Patients who are worried about being infected with Covid 19 during the pandemic process have more fear of death.
“The Course of Love Never Did Run Smooth”: Ex-Inmates’ Attitudes Toward Heterosexual Romantic Relationships
Authors: Granot Noa , Einat Tomer
Published: April 2022

This study examines the attitudes of 15 male ex-inmates toward heterosexual romantic relationships during imprisonment as viewed retrospectively. The interviewees expressed ambivalence regarding these intimate partnerships, which were a source of difficulty in prison and upon reentry into society. We conclude that prison services could better help inmates to improve these relationships, thus reducing the pains of imprisonment and enhancing their successful social reintegration.
Figuring Things Out: Contemplating Drug Addiction and Disclosure In and Out of the Field
Authors: Revier Kevin
Published: April 2022

From 2017 to 2019, I conducted fieldwork on the opioid crisis in upstate New York. As part of my research, I interviewed people who use/d opioids. Interviewees discussed their beginning use, escalating use, and, for many, eventual sobriety. Throughout research, I reflected on my own drug consumption and attempts at moderation and abstinence—mostly regarding my heavy use of alcohol. I tracked my reflections in a field diary, writing over 200 entries. Yet, like many ethnographers, I extracted the notes out of my final research write-up. In part, my lack of disclosure was perhaps due to my being in what James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente refer to as the contemplation stage of change: I was unsure how to identify myself as a person who uses/struggles with drugs and alcohol, and I was not ready to commit to long-term sobriety. Whether I disclosed or not, such contemplation did affect my fieldwork: it shaped my motivation to pursue drug research and advocacy; my relationships and interactions with participants; and ways I navigated harm reduction and sober support spaces. After over 2 years of being out of the field (and now in a state of long-term sobriety), I revisit my field diary through autoethnographic exploration. In doing so, I place contemplation within the growing conversation on reflexivity and disclosure in critical drug studies.
The Role of Prison Climate and Work Climate in Understanding Subjective Safety Among Correctional Staff
Authors: Palmen Hanneke , Sentse Miranda , Van Ginneken Esther F. J. C. , Bosma Anouk Q.
Published: April 2022

To perform their work effectively, correctional officers should feel safe. Yet, research explaining officers’ subjective safety is scarce and overlooked the context in which these feelings arise. This study explores the impact of shared perceptions of prison climate and work climate. Survey and administrative data of incarcerated individuals and staff from the Dutch Life in Custody Study were used. Multilevel analyses on 1,427 correctional officers (135 prison units) showed that (a) almost 20% of the variance in officers’ subjective safety was clustered at the prison unit level; (b) both prison climate (satisfaction with activities and visits, relations with peers, and meaningful activities) and work climate factors (organizational satisfaction and workload) contributed to officers’ safety; (c) the relative importance of work climate was high in comparison to prison climate. These findings indicate that officers’ subjective safety is to a substantial extent a matter of climate rather than an individual trait.
Engagement of Military Peacekeepers in Brazilian Politics (2011–2021)
Authors: Villa Rafael Duarte , Passos Anais M.
Published: April 2022

Peacekeepers are seen as a UN tool for promoting domestic changes in host countries, but little is known about the political consequences when officers return home. During the last 10 years, Brazilian presidents appointed a significant number of former peacekeepers to key political functions. How and why do former peacekeepers end up so involved in government affairs? To answer this question, this paper focuses on the array of skills acquired by peacekeepers in domestic missions and reinforced abroad. Drawing on a set of semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to military, former political decision-makers, and researchers, as well as other primary and secondary sources, this paper details how political articulation, experience in conflict management, and prestige empowered Brazilian military officers to resume their tradition of intervention in politics. This paper also shows that peace operations can produce deleterious outcomes for troop-contributing countries in the Global South.
Investigating the Relationship Between Access to Intercity Bus Transportation and Equity
Authors: Javid Ramina , Sadeghvaziri Eazaz
Published: April 2022

Intercity bus transportation provides essential public transit service, mainly to long-distance passengers and residents of rural areas. Although the intercity bus system can be beneficial to increase equity by providing such services to low-income people from remote rural areas, it suffers from a problem. The problem is that the socio-demographic characteristics of those disadvantaged individuals are still not crystal clear. This study aims to examine the relationship between access to intercity bus transportation and the socio-demographic characteristics of the region. This study addresses these problems through data integration and multiple regression analysis using a combination of socio-demographic variables across the U.S. The results showed that changes in the percentages of households with zero vehicles and households with an income of less than $50,000 are significantly associated with changes in the access to intercity bus transportation, and different levels of income affect access to intercity bus transportation. Among the significant variables in the model, the number of intercity bus stops can be controlled by policymakers to optimize access to intercity bus transportation. The findings demonstrate the importance of public transit for low-income households and imply that increasing bus access could help shift the spatial distribution of poverty and create more equal and inclusive communities.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Mental Health of First-Year Undergraduate Students Studying at a Major Canadian University: A Successive Cohort Study
Authors: King Nathan , Pickett William , Rivera Daniel , Byun Jin , Li Melanie , Cunningham Simone , Duffy Anne
Published: April 2022

Objective

To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on first year undergraduate student mental health.

Methods

As part of the Queen’s University U-Flourish Student Well-Being and Academic Success study, three successive cohorts of students entering undergraduate studies in 2018 (pre-pandemic), 2019 (transitional), and 2020 (during pandemic) completed electronic surveys at entry and completion of first year. Validated self-report measures were used to assess mental health status including symptom levels of anxiety, depression, and insomnia, self-harm and frequency of substance use. Propensity matching and multivariable log-binomial regression were used in comparisons of mental health indicators across the cohorts.

Results

Clinically significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and self-harm were reported more frequently in the 2020–2021 cohort, coincident with remote learning and pandemic restrictions. In female students, screen positive rates for anxiety and depression, and suicidal ideation increased from about one-third to just under one-half in association with the pandemic (χ2, p < .01), while increases in mental health concerns were less pronounced among males. Among females, increases in clinically significant symptoms over first year appeared greatest during the pandemic year, while striking decreases in alcohol consumption in both females and males were reported in that same year. Studying under pandemic conditions had a negative impact on student well-being, social relationships and school connectedness, quality of learning experience, leisure activities, and optimism about future prospects.

Conclusions

Mental health concerns including anxiety, depression and sleep problems increased in first year students during the pandemic, especially among females, while alcohol use declined. These findings highlight the negative mental health impact associated with studying under pandemic restrictions involving remote learning and social distancing.
Promoting Spatial Language and Ability Among SLD Children: Can Robot Programming Make a Difference?
Authors: Brainin Einat , Shamir Adina , Eden Sigal
Published: April 2022

Spatial language and ability play important roles in children’s cognitive development. Spatial ability in kindergarten predicts achievement in reading, math, science, and technology in primary school and therefore constitutes an important skill set in preparation for school entrance. Good spatial thinking skills are required for learning in school. The study’s purpose was to examine the contribution of robot programming to an intervention aimed at promoting spatial language (spatial vocabulary) and spatial ability (mental rotation, visual-spatial memory) among preschool children at risk for Specific learning disability (SLD). The sample of 84 preschool children participating in the study was randomly assigned to three groups: (1) intervention group with robot programming, (2) intervention group without robot programming, and (3) a control group. The findings indicate that children exposed to the robot-based intervention exhibited the greatest improvement in spatial vocabulary and mental rotation tests when compared to the children who participated in either the intervention without robot programming or in the control group. No significant differences between the groups were found in post-intervention visual-spatial memory. The findings indicate that robot programming activity contributes unique added value in attempts to foster spatial vocabulary and mental rotation.
Working Memory Content Is Distorted by Its Use in Perceptual Comparisons
Authors: Fukuda Keisuke , Pereira April E. , Saito Joseph M. , Tang Ty Y. , Tsubomi Hiroyuki , Bae Gi-Yeul
Published: April 2022

Visual information around us is rarely static. To perform a task in such a dynamic environment, we often have to compare current visual input with our working memory (WM) representation of the immediate past. However, little is known about what happens to a WM representation when it is compared with perceptual input. To test this, we asked young adults ( N = 170 total in three experiments) to compare a new visual input with a WM representation prior to reporting the WM representation. We found that the perceptual comparison biased the WM report, especially when the input was subjectively similar to the WM representation. Furthermore, using computational modeling and individual-differences analyses, we found that this similarity-induced memory bias was driven by representational integration, rather than incidental confusion, between the WM representation and subjectively similar input. Together, our findings highlight a novel source of WM distortion and suggest a general mechanism that determines how WM interacts with new visual input.
Prestige of the Decision Ecology and Risk-taking in R&D Project in the Biopharmaceutical Sector
Authors: Malik Tariq Hussain , Kabiraj Sajal , Lestan Filip
Published: April 2022

Knowledge-based organizations pose an innovation project ‘scope–risk paradox’ in their innovation projects. On the one hand, the uncertainty of the broader scope avails them opportunities to delegate responsibilities to the environment; on the other hand, an elevated risk–reward evaluation hampers their aspirations. This article suggests a solution: the prestige of the decision ecology inflates rewards and deflates risks in the scope decision. This decision ecology of the research and development (R&D) project consists of five prestige factors: (a) technological, (b) organization-specific, (c) nationality, (d) temporality and (f) structural. High prestige of these contextual elements implies that they influence the perceived reward to risk ratio. High prestige predicts high risk-taking, leading to a broader scope of the innovation project. The evidence supports that the technological prestige, organizational prestige, temporal prestige and structural prestige contribute to the broader scope decision of the R&D project in the clinical trial. However, the project nationality shows no difference. Overall, we conclude that the interpretative decisions based on the situation prestige influence the R&D project in the biopharmaceutical sector; therefore, the prestige of these ecological factors should matter in other disciplines. Other disciplines that draw value from the social context will show more pronounced effects of the prestige on decisions. Hence, this study sets a foundation for the theory and practice in other projects, organizations, sectors and nations.
Design of a Novel Orthodontic Appliance to Prevent Pedicle Trauma in Patients Undergoing Double-Opposing Buccal Flaps for Palatal Lengthening
Authors: Hill Sarah E. , Ickow Ilana M. , He Waverley , Buckley Rae A. , Steinberg Jordan P.
Published: April 2022

Objective

To describe a novel orthodontic appliance to prevent pedicle trauma in patients undergoing double-opposing buccal flap surgery for secondary palatal lengthening.

Design

Case series.

Setting

Cleft and craniofacial clinic, Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

Patients, Participants

Four patients undergoing double-opposing buccal flap surgery for repair of velopharyngeal insufficiency.

Interventions

Patients were fitted with the device, which consists of a lower lingual holding arch with acrylic bite blocks.

Main Outcome Measure

Presence of pedicle trauma postsurgery and tolerability of the device.

Results

The appliance was well tolerated in all 4 patients and no biting trauma to the pedicles was observed.

Conclusions

A reliable appliance has been developed to prevent biting trauma to the pedicles in patients undergoing double-opposing buccal flap surgery in the permanent dentition stage.
Assessing Somatic Symptoms With the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15) in Syrian Refugees
Authors: Schlechter Pascal , Hellmann Jens H. , Morina Nexhmedin
Published: April 2022

Somatic symptoms are common among Syrian refugees. To quantify somatic symptom load, sum score models derived from the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15) have been frequently applied without psychometric justification. Across two studies (total N = 776), we (a) tested different PHQ-15 factor solutions in Syrian refugees, (b) investigated measurement invariance (MI) of the factor solutions compared with German residents, and (c) scrutinized whether sum score models adequately represent the data and differ in associations with external validators compared with factor scores. One-factor, three-factor, four-factor, and a reduced one-factor solution all displayed acceptable to good model fit. The four-factor solution showed the best fit, enabling differential symptom analyses. Sum score models often had poor model fit, necessitating independent investigations before applying them. For all factor solutions, (partial) strict MI between residents and refugees could be established. All scoring methods displayed high and comparable associations with functional impairment, depressive, and anxiety symptoms.
Mathematical modeling and partial feedback linearization control of a constrained and underactuated space tether
Authors: Fenili André
Published: April 2022

This paper investigates the application of the nonlinear control technique called collocated partial feedback linearization to the position and stretching control of a planar underactuated mechanical system. This system is designed to emulate under certain conditions the behavior of a space tether connected to one mass (representing a satellite) at each of its extremities. The flexible cable is approximated by two rigid bodies (thin rods) with springs and dampers attached to represent the cable stiffness and structural damping. The control objective is to move both satellites to its desired positions and to guarantee that on the final configuration the tether is completely stretched. The stability of the closed-loop system is verified and it is proved that the system has global asymptotic stability. The performance of the proposed nonlinear control technique is analyzed via numerical simulations for two cases: one case considering three different values for the damping coefficients and one case considering three different values for the stiffness coefficients. The simulation results show that the collocated partial feedback linearization plus a proportional-derivative control is able to move the satellites to the desired positions and to keep the cable stretched.
Civatte Bodies in Pediatric Esophageal Biopsies: Does Lichen Esophagitis Pattern Occur in Children?
Authors: Saab-Chalhoub Mario W. , Correa Hernán , Anderson Julia L. , Kovach Alexandra E. , Salaria Safia N.
Published: April 2022

Purpose and context

Civatte bodies (CB) are associated with cutaneous and mucosal lichen planus in adults. They are a distinct feature of Lichen Esophagitis Pattern, which is not well described in children. We characterized clinicopathologic associations of archival esophageal CB at our Children’s Hospital to determine whether lichen planus or Lichen Esophagitis Pattern occurs in children.

Method

Pathology records were queried for pediatric esophageal biopsy diagnoses containing “CB,” “apoptosis, “necrosis,” or “dyskeratosis.” Cases with concurrent eosinophilic/acute esophagitis were excluded. H&E slides and clinical reports were reviewed.

Key results

Biopsies with CB or similar were identified from 19 patients and had been termed “dyskeratotic cells” in 8 reports. Patients had variable age and presenting symptoms, male predominance (74%), and frequent clinical history of polypharmacy (47%), Crohn disease (42%), and/or celiac disease (21%). Civatte bodies were prominent in the distal esophagus (95%), as few isolated cells (63%), and with variable chronic inflammation (absent, pauci-inflammatory, and lichen planus-like in approximately one-third of cases each).

Conclusions

We show that esophageal CB from pediatric patients are under-recognized and may have different features and implications compared to Lichen Esophagitis Pattern in adults. Recognition and documentation of pediatric esophageal CB is needed to understand their clinical significance.