bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
To thine own self be true: interoceptive accuracy and interpersonal problems
Authors: D’Andrea Wendy , Nieves Nadia , Van Cleave Treva
Published: February 2022

Background

Borderline Personality Disorder involves strong interpersonal disruptions, often associated with early maltreatment. However, the individual capacities which alter BPD-related interpersonal problems are unclear. Here, we examine two contributors to interpersonal functioning: interoceptive accuracy and parasympathetic activity. Interoceptive accuracy is the ability to correctly perceive body states, such as how quickly one’s heart is beating, and has been associated with emotional experience and various crucial social capacities. Similarly, parasympathetic activity is related to social processing and inhibition of impulses. As such, both may contribute to BPD interpersonal symptoms, albeit different types of interpersonal problems.

Method

Sixty-five individuals completed the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory followed by a task to assess interoceptive accuracy, the heart rate monitoring task, in which participants counted their heartbeats while concurrent physiological data was recorded; and an assessment of vagal tone, used as an index of regulatory flexibility.

Results

Participants who reported poor interpersonal boundaries, consistent with borderline personality disorder styles, had worse interoception, whereas those high in aggression had lower vagal tone. Borderline personality symptoms overall were related to IA and significantly to vagal tone.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that interoceptive accuracy is associated with interpersonal problems, where people are overly influenced or enmeshed with others, possibly to compensate for the absence of their physical and emotional awareness.
A 3-year prospective randomized clinical trial of alveolar bone crest response and clinical parameters through 1, 2, and 3 years of clinical function of implants placed 4 months after alveolar ridge preservation using two different allogeneic bone-grafting materials
Authors: Solakoğlu Önder , Ofluoğlu Duygu , Schwarzenbach Heidi , Heydecke Guido , Reißmann Daniel , Ergun Sertan , Götz Werner
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to longitudinally evaluate changes in alveolar bone crest (ABC) levels and differences in resorption rates (RR) between the tested grafting materials following alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) after tooth extraction after 1, 2, and 3 years (T1–T8) of clinical function.

Methods

Patients were randomly assigned to two different bone allografts (group 1 maxgraft®, group 2 Puros®) for ARP. Non-restorable teeth were minimal traumatically extracted. Sockets were augmented with the tested materials and covered with a pericardium membrane. After 4 months of healing, 36 implants were placed and sites were clinically and radiographically monitored in the mesial (ABC-M), the distal (ABC-D, T1–T8), the bucco-lingual (ABC-BL), buccal (ABC-B) and oral (ABC-O) aspect (T1–T4).

Results

Changes in (ABC-M), (ABC-D), (ABC-BL), (ABC-B), and (ABC-O) levels showed statistically highly significant differences between T1 and T2 for both bone allografts (p < 0.001). Changes at the ABC-M and ABC-BL levels between T2 and T3 of group 1 showed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Both groups achieved and maintained increased ABC levels without statistically significant differences throughout the monitoring periods of 1–3 years (T6–T8) of clinical function. No failures or adverse events were observed.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this study is within its limitations the first study to directly compare ABC-changes and differences in RR of two different allogeneic grafting materials for a period of 3 years after ARP. It was demonstrated to be, despite significant differences in RR, a successful method of preserving increased ABC levels through 1, 2, and 3 years of clinical function.

Trial registration DRKS00013010, registered 07/30/2018, http://apps.who.int/trialsearch
FGF2 is overexpressed in asthma and promotes airway inflammation through the FGFR/MAPK/NF-κB pathway in airway epithelial cells
Authors: Tan Yuan-Yang , Zhou Hui-Qin , Lin Yu-Jing , Yi Liu-Tong , Chen Zhuang-Gui , Cao Qing-Dong , Guo Yan-Rong , Wang Zhao-Ni , Chen Shou-Deng , Li Yang , Wang De-Yun , Qiao Yong-Kang , Yan Yan
Published: February 2022

Background

Airway inflammation is the core pathological process of asthma, with the key inflammatory regulators incompletely defined. Recently, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) has been reported to be an inflammatory regulator; however, its role in asthma remains elusive. This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory role of FGF2 in asthma.

Methods

First, FGF2 expression was characterised in clinical asthma samples and the house dust mite (HDM)-induced mouse chronic asthma model. Second, recombinant mouse FGF2 (rm-FGF2) protein was intranasally delivered to determine the effect of FGF2 on airway inflammatory cell infiltration. Third, human airway epithelium-derived A549 cells were stimulated with either HDM or recombinant human interleukin-1β (IL-1β) protein combined with or without recombinant human FGF2. IL-1β-induced IL-6 or IL-8 release levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the involved signalling transduction was explored via Western blotting.

Results

Compared with the control groups, the FGF2 protein levels were significantly upregulated in the bronchial epithelium and alveolar areas of clinical asthma samples (6.70 ± 1.79 vs. 16.32 ± 2.40, P = 0.0184; 11.20 ± 2.11 vs. 21.00 ± 3.00, P = 0.033, respectively) and HDM-induced asthmatic mouse lung lysates (1.00 ± 0.15 vs. 5.14 ± 0.42, P < 0.001). Moreover, FGF2 protein abundance was positively correlated with serum total and anti-HDM IgE levels in the HDM-induced chronic asthma model (R2 = 0.857 and 0.783, P = 0.0008 and 0.0043, respectively). Elevated FGF2 protein was mainly expressed in asthmatic bronchial epithelium and alveolar areas and partly co-localised with infiltrated inflammatory cell populations in HDM-induced asthmatic mice. More importantly, intranasal instillation of rm-FGF2 aggravated airway inflammatory cell infiltration (2.45 ± 0.09 vs. 2.88 ± 0.14, P = 0.0288) and recruited more subepithelial neutrophils after HDM challenge [(110.20 ± 29.43) cells/mm2 vs. (238.10 ± 42.77) cells/mm2, P = 0.0392] without affecting serum IgE levels and Th2 cytokine transcription. In A549 cells, FGF2 was upregulated through HDM stimulation and promoted IL-1β-induced IL-6 or IL-8 release levels (up to 1.41 ± 0.12- or 1.44 ± 0.14-fold change vs. IL-1β alone groups, P = 0.001 or 0.0344, respectively). The pro-inflammatory effect of FGF2 is likely mediated through the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that FGF2 is a potential inflammatory modulator in asthma, which can be induced by HDM and acts through the FGFR/MAPK/NF-κB pathway in the airway epithelial cells.
Moving on trial: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of models of housing and support to reduce risks of COVID-19 infection and homelessness
Authors: Randell Elizabeth , Pell Bethan , Moody Gwenllian , Dyer Calie , Smallman Kim , Hood Kerenza , White James , Aubry Tim , Culhane Dennis , Hume Susannah , Greaves Faye , Rodriguez-Guzman Guillermo , Teixeira Ligia , Mousteri Victoria , Spyropoulos Nick , Cannings-John Rebecca , Mackie Peter
Published: February 2022

Background

It is estimated that around 160,000 households in Britain experience homelessness each year, although no definitive statistics exist. Between March and September 2020, as part of the initial ‘Everyone In’ government response to COVID-19 in England, 10,566 people were living in emergency accommodation and nearly 18,911 people had been moved into settled accommodation. However, some forms of temporary accommodation may not be suitable as shared facilities make it impossible for people to adhere to government guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Methods

This is parallel group, pilot randomised controlled trial. The target is to recruit three local authorities, each of which will recruit 50 participants (thus a total of approximately 150 participants). Individuals are eligible if they are aged 18 and over, in a single-person homeless household, temporarily accommodated by the LA with recourse to public funds. Participants will be randomised to receive settled accommodation (intervention group) or temporary accommodation (control group). The intervention group includes settled housing such as Private Rented Sector (low and medium support), Social Housing (low and medium support), and Housing First (High support). The control group will maintain treatment as usual. The follow-up period will last 6 months. The primary outcome is to assess the feasibility of recruitment, retention, and acceptability of trial processes against progression criteria laid out in a traffic light system (green: all criteria are met, the trial should progress as designed in this pilot; amber: the majority of criteria are met and with adaptations to methods all criteria could be met; red: the minority of criteria are met and the pilot RCT should not proceed). Secondary outcomes include assessment of completeness of data collection at 3 and 6 months and percentage of participants consenting to data linkage, as well as a process evaluation and economic evaluation.

Discussion

This trial will address feasibility questions associated with progression to a fully powered effectiveness trial of models of housing to reduce risk of COVID-19 infection and homelessness.

Trial registration

ISRCTN69564614. Registered on December 16, 2020.
Role of pulsatile growth hormone (GH) secretion in the regulation of lipolysis in fasting humans
Authors: Goldenberg N. , Horowitz J. F. , Gorgey A. , Sakharova A. , Barkan A. L.
Published: February 2022

Background

The increase in growth hormone (GH) secretion during a prolonged fast stimulates lipolytic rate, thereby augmenting the mobilization of endogenous energy at a time when fuel availability is very low.

Study aim

To identify the specific component of GH secretory pattern responsible for the stimulation of lipolytic rate during fasting in humans.

Study protocol

We measured lipolytic rate (using stable isotope dilution technique) after an overnight fast in 15 young, healthy, non-obese subjects (11 men and 4 women), and again on four separate occasions after a 59 h fast. These four prolonged fasting trials differed only by the contents of an infusion solution provided throughout the 59 h fasting period. Subjects were infused either with normal saline (“Control”; n = 15) or with graded doses of a GH Releasing Hormone Receptor Antagonist (GHRHa):10 μg/kg/h (“High”; n = 15), 1 μg /kg/h (“Medium”; n = 8), or 0.5 μg /kg/h (“Low”; n = 6).

Results

As expected, the 59 h fast completely suppressed plasma insulin levels and markedly increased endogenous GH concentrations (12 h vs 59 h Fast; p = 0.0044). Administration of GHRHa induced dose-dependent reduction in GH concentrations in response to the 59 h fast (p < 0.05). We found a strong correlation between the rate of lipolysis and GH mean peak amplitude (R = 0.471; p = 0.0019), and total GH pulse area under the curve (AUC) (R = 0.49; p = 0.0015), but not the GH peak frequency (R = 0.044; p = 0.8) or interpulse GH concentrations (R = 0.25; p = 0.115).

Conclusion

During prolonged fasting (i.e., 2–3 days), when insulin secretion is abolished, the pulsatile component of GH secretion becomes a key metabolic regulator of the increase in lipolytic rate.
Impact of extent of resection of newly diagnosed glioblastomas on survival: a meta-analysis
Authors: AbdelFatah Mohamed A. R. , Kotb Ali , Said Mohamed Ahmed , Abouelmaaty Emad M. H.
Published: February 2022

Background

Because of the continuing practice variation regarding the extent of glioblastoma (GBM) resection, we sought to systematically examine the recent literature to evaluate the impact of the extent of resection of primary GBM on patients’ survival.

Main body of the abstract

We examined all the published studies from January 2009 to January 2020 concerning primary glioblastoma resection and survival. The data synthesis was performed using the random-effects model in Review Manager (version 5.3; Cochrane Collaboration). Eight studies met our selection criteria. The included studies involved a total of 2249 patients. A total of 1247 patients underwent gross total resection (GTR) of the GBM, and 1002 experienced an incomplete resection. The mean progression-free survival for GTR versus incomplete resection was 10 versus 6.3 months, and the mean overall survival (GTR vs. incomplete resection) was 28.7 versus 13.5 months. Using the random-effects model, the outcome results revealed that GTR was insignificantly different than incomplete resection on survival among the included cases (P value: 0.47). The quality of evidence of the available studies was of low certainty.

Conclusion

The outcome results revealed that gross total resection was insignificantly different than incomplete resection on survival among the included cases (P value: 0.47). However, the quality of evidence of the available studies was of low certainty. Additionally, no data on patients’ quality of life were reported across the included studies. Thus, prospective randomized controlled trials are required to investigate both the safety and the survival benefit of GTR of glioblastoma.
The implication of adenosine receptor expression in prediction of methotrexate clinical response in Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Darwish Nivine Fathi , Tabra Samar Abd Alhamed , Baiomy Nivin Naeem , Mahmoud Heba A. , Mariah Reham A. , Hablas Shymaa Ahmed
Published: February 2022

Background

Adenosine signaling is now an accepted explanation for the therapeutic mechanism of Methotrexate (MTX) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Adenosine receptors categorized into four subclasses: adenosine A1 receptor (ADORA1), adenosine 2a receptor (ADORA2a), adenosine 2b receptor (ADORA2B), and adenosine 3 receptor (ADORA3). Our aim is to check the mRNA expression of two adenosine receptors; ADORA2a and ADORA3 in whole blood cell of RA patients and its relation in prediction of MTX clinical response in Egyptian patients.

Results

There was significant correlation between both ADORA2a and ADORA3 gene expression in RA patients as compared with healthy controls. The expression of ADORA2a and ADORA3 was increased in good and moderate response groups compared to no response group. There was significant correlation between both genes in mRNA expression before and after MTX treatment. Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3) concentration was significantly decreased after treatment in good and moderate response groups in comparison to non-responder group.

Conclusion

The inflammatory and clinical responses in RA patients which is demonstrated by DAS28 and suppression of MMP3 were regulated by ADORA2a and ADORA3. Their level of expression can predict MTX response and their agonists may offer a novel and effective therapeutic option for RA patients.
A New Scoring Model to Diagnose COVID-19 Using Lung Ultrasound in the Emergency Department
Authors: Eltahlawi Mohammad , Roshdy Hesham , Walaa Mohammad , Manthou Panagiota , Garaygordobil Diego Araiza , Elshabrawy Mohammad , Elkholy Mohamed , Basha Mohammad Abdelkhalek , Tharwat Marwa , Mansour Waleed
Published: February 2022

Background

Several studies have reported the predictors of the prognosis in COVID-19 patients; however, smoking, X-ray findings of pulmonary congestion, and A-profile and areas of consolidation in LUS are independent predictors for COVID-19 infection. The new score had a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 58% for the prediction of COVID-19. Mortality in COVID-19 patients is significantly correlated with age, fever duration, cardiac history, and B-profile and areas of consolidation in LUS. However, it is negatively correlated with initial O2saturation and ejection fraction. This study aimed to design a new scoring model to diagnose COVID-19 using bedside lung ultrasound (LUS) in the emergency department (ED).

Results

Eighty-two patients were recruited. Fifty patients (61%) were negative for COVID-19, and 32 (39%) were positive. Sixty-four patients (78%) recovered while 18 patients (22%) died. COVID-19 patients had more AB-profile and more areas of consolidation than the non-COVID-19 group (p<0.001). Smoking, congestion in X-ray, A-profile, and abnormal A line in LUS are independent predictors for COVID-19 infection. The score had a sensitivity of 93.8% and a specificity of 58% for the prediction of COVID-19. Mortality in COVID-19 patients is significantly correlated with age, fever duration, cardiac history, and B-profile and areas of consolidation in LUS. However, it is negatively correlated with initial O2saturation and ejection fraction.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the application of our new score can stratify patients presented to ED with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia, considering that it is a good negative test. Moreover, this score may have a good impact on the safety of medical personnel.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govIdentifier: NCT05077202. Registered October 14, 2021 - Retrospectively registered,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05077202
Public green space quantity and distribution in Cairo, Egypt
Authors: Aly Dalia , Dimitrijevic Branka
Published: February 2022

Green spaces are recognised as an important contributor in enhancing the quality of urban life. Many cities are now working on preserving and increasing their green spaces as a part of their sustainable development plans. Unfortunately, green spaces in Cairo are currently being marginalised and the city has been losing significant quantities of its already limited green spaces in favour of other developmental projects. This article analyses the quantities and distribution of existing green spaces in Cairo using official numerical data. The results show recent changes that happened between the years 2017 and 2020. The focus is on public green spaces: amenity green spaces between residential blocks, street green spaces, plant nurseries under public management and public parks. Finally, the trend of disappearing green spaces in Cairo is discussed. The discussion extends the comparison to include data from the years 2000 and 2006 to demonstrate the rapid changes happening in Cairo that are altering the city and affecting many of its residents. The problem of lack of data about green spaces is also examined in the discussion. Documenting green spaces areas and distribution in Cairo is important because no recent published data are available for decision-makers, researchers and planners. Data is also scattered between different sources because of the division of management responsibilities between different public agencies. A larger-scale project is required to accurately survey all green spaces in Cairo and create a comprehensive publicly accessible geographical database that documents all their types, quantities and distribution.
Monitoring CO2 storage using well-casing source electromagnetics
Authors: MacLennan Kris
Published: February 2022

Successful geologic storage of CO2, whether in a carbon capture, utilization, and storage process or as part of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operations, requires careful monitoring of the concentration of CO2 within the reservoir. Because injected CO2 is more electrically resistive than the in-situ brines and pore fluids in most storage sites, electromagnetic (EM) methods are well suited to map the distribution of injected CO2 over time. In particular, utilizing existing metallic well casings as electrodes to channel current to formation depth and measuring the resulting electrical and magnetic fields at the surface is an effective technique to image the deep and thin reservoirs of interest. This paper describes the theory behind the well-casing source EM method and discusses a series of field surveys carried out over a three-year period using the method to measure CO2 concentration at an EOR site in West Hastings, Texas. The surveys identify resistive zones that agree with the injection locations and geologic structure of the reservoir and show an increase in reservoir resistivity related to CO2 concentration between the initial field status and the middle survey. However, they also show an unexpected decrease in the resistivity within the reservoir between the last two surveys, which may be due to changes in survey parameters or CO2 injection patterns during that interval.
Gender differences in quality of life and the course of schizophrenia: national study
Authors: Rotstein Anat , Shadmi Efrat , Roe David , Gelkopf Marc , Levine Stephen Z.
Published: February 2022

Background

Evidence from various sources suggests that females with schizophrenia tend to report lower quality of life than males with schizophrenia despite having a less severe course of the disorder. However, studies have not examined this directly.

Aims

To examine gender differences in the association between quality of life and the risk of subsequent psychiatric hospital admissions in a national sample with schizophrenia.

Method

The sample consisted of 989 (60.90%) males and 635 (39.10%) females with an ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophrenia. Quality of life was assessed and scored using the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life. The course of schizophrenia was assessed from the number of psychiatric hospital admissions. Participants completed the quality of life assessment and were then followed up for 18-months for subsequent psychiatric admissions. Hazard ratios (HR) from Cox proportional hazards regression models were estimated unadjusted and adjusted for covariates (age at schizophrenia onset and birth year). Analyses were computed for males and females separately, as well as for the entire cohort.

Results

A subsample of 93 males and 55 females was admitted to a psychiatric hospital during follow-up. Higher quality of life scores were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with a reduced risk of subsequent admissions among males (unadjusted: HR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.93–0.99; adjusted HR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.93–0.99) but not among females (unadjusted: HR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.93–1.02; adjusted HR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.93–1.02).

Conclusions

Quality of life in schizophrenia is a gender-specific construct and should be considered as such in clinical practice and future research.
Policy Brief 1: Can a behavioural approach help fight corruption?
Authors: Baez Camargo Claudia
Published: February 2022

This Policy Brief summarises the lessons learned from a systematic literature review that explored the feasibility of adopting a behavioural approach to address petty corruption.

The findings point to the importance of developing messages that challenge conventional wisdom about the inevitability of corruption, emphasising the costs of corruption to the welfare of individuals as well as showcasing examples of successful detection and punishment of crimes of corruption.

Accounting for prevailing social norms and beliefs is also key because otherwise anti-corruption interventions may disseminate concepts and promote actions that fail to deliver the desired messages to their intended beneficiaries.
Policy Brief 6: Bringing intelligence and social network analysis together to fight illegal wildlife trade
Authors: Costa Jacopo
Published: February 2022

This policy brief explains how intelligence practitioners within law enforcement authorities and researchers skilled in social network analysis (SNA) can and should cooperate better in the fight against illegal wildlife trade (IWT). 

Intelligence data are crucial for SNA researchers to conduct empirical analysis of illicit activities and dark networks. In turn, these research results can fruitfully feed back into investigations and further intelligence work. The combined effect of research and intelligence can have positive effects on the fight against IWT, and these effects are larger than the simple sum of their components. 

Policymakers and stakeholders who wish to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the fight against IWT and other environmental crimes are advised to promote the systematic cooperation between intelligence practitioners and researchers, in a way that both communities can maximise the benefits of this synergetic strategy. 

This report was funded by PMI IMPACT, a grant award initiative of Philip Morris International (PMI). In the performance of their research, the authors maintained full independence from PMI. The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of PMI. Neither PMI, nor any of its affiliates, nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained herein.
Accumulation of essential (copper, iron, zinc) and non-essential (lead, cadmium) heavy metals in Caulerpa racemosa, sea water, and marine sediments of Bintan Island, Indonesia
Authors: Raza’i Tengku Said , Thamrin . , Nofrizal . , Amrifo Viktor , Pardi Hilfi , Pangestiansyah Putra Imam , Febrianto Try , Fadhli Ilhamdy Aidil
Published: February 2022

Background: Heavy metals are materials naturally occurring in nature and increase with a rise in human activity. Ex-mining areas and domestic waste from human settlements are sources of heavy metal contamination that enter and pollute water, which then accumulates in various organisms including the Caulerpa racemosa community. The accumulation of heavy metals in C. racemosa has a wide impact on the food chain in aquatic ecosystems and humans because this alga is a consumptive commodity.  

Methods: Sampling of C. racemosa was carried out at seven sites on Bintan Island, Indonesia covering the eastern (Teluk Bakau, Beralas Pasir, Malang Rapat), northern (Berakit and Pengudang), western (Sakera), and southern parts (Tg. Siambang). Sampling was carried out during different monsoons, and heavy metals in water and sediment samples were measured to determine the heavy metal concentration. Heavy metals were analyzed by a spectrophotometric method using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry.  

Results: The results showed that heavy metal concentrations fluctuate according to changes in the wind season, which carry currents and spread pollutants into the water. The concentration of metal in the water is also from anthropogenic activities. The heavy metal content of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) in C. racemosa is high in locations close to settlements. Meanwhile, in seawater samples, Fe and Zn metals have the highest concentrations compared to others. 

Conclusions: Ex-bauxite mines are a source of Fe and Zn metal contamination in the environment, especially at Tg. Siambang. The levels of these heavy metals in the sediment are also high, as surface particle deposits accumulate at the bottom of the sediment. In general, the levels of heavy metals Cd, Pb, Cu, Fe, and Zn increase in the northern monsoon because the dynamics of the water transport greater heavy metal pollution.
The cocktail infection: anaerobic and aerobic co-Infections in tubercular vertebral osteomyelitis
Authors: Bhat Shyamasunder N , Kundangar Raghuraj , Ampar Nishanth , Sait Anika , Shenoy Padmaja Ananth , Sukumar Cynthia Amrutha , Saravu Kavitha
Published: February 2022

Background: Anaerobic organisms have been known to have an association with dental infections, bacteremia, endocarditis and soft tissue infections. However, anaerobic isolation from bone and joint infections are relatively rare. Sparse literature has been found on reports of anaerobic osteomyelitis. There is no literature reported on anaerobic osteomyelitis complicating Tuberculosis of spine.

Case Report: We report two cases of tuberculosis of spine complicated by aerobic and anerobic infections. The first is a case of a young female who presented with chronic lower backache and fever. Examination revealed a lumbar scoliosis with paraspinal tenderness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine showed lumbar spondylodiscitis with multiple abscesses. There were air-fluid levels noted in the abscesses. The pus sent for CBNAAT (cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test) was positive. Further the cultures also grew Escherichia coli (aerobic) Bacteroids fragilis and Peptoniphilus asachrolyticus (anaerobic) organisms. She improved with a course of intravenous antibiotics and decompression surgery.

The second case is a middle aged man who presented with chronic neck pain and fever. Examination revealed kyphosis of the neck with spasm of the neck muscles and midline tenderness. MRI showed C4-5 cervical spondylodiscitis with parapharyngeal collections showing air-fluid levels. The pus culture showed Streptococcus constellatus (aerobic) and  Prevotella sps. (anaerobic). The CBNAAT report was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient was treated with intravenous antibiotics and cervical decompression.

Conclusion: Though tubercular vertebral osteomyelitis (TVO) is usually a diagnosis in itself, it should not hinder us from considering secondary infections (both aerobic and anaerobic) complicating the osteomyelitis. Further, the presence of air-fluid levels on imaging studies and the presence of foul smell during operative exploration of the spine must arouse the suspicion of an anaerobic co-infection. Isolation and treatment of these organisms are crucial as they may hamper the clinical outcome of the primary TVO.
Case Report: Placental site trophoblastic tumor revealed by a clinical pelvic abscess
Authors: Nesrine Souayeh , Bettaieb Hajer , Mbarki Wael , Ehsen Ben Brahim , Imen Helal , Mehdi Ben Nasr , Hedhili Oueslati , Najeh Hsayaoui , Mbarki Chaouki
Published: February 2022

We report an uncommon clinical presentation of a placental site trophoblastic tumor. The patient presented initially with abdominal pain with, fever, bleeding and pelvic mass on ultrasonography leading to the wrong diagnosis of a pelvic abscess. Dilation and curettage were performed and pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis. of placental site trophoblastic tumor. Therefore, she underwent abdominal hysterectomy. Four years after surgery, the patient is still disease free. Gestational trophoblastic diseases should be considered in every patient presenting abnormal uterine bleeding after delivery or pregnancy loss despite the associated symptoms being very unusual.
On the Character of Georgian Verse
Authors: Lomidze Tamar
Published: February 2022

Research on the character of Georgian verse started in 1731. Since that time, some researchers have described Georgian verse as syllabic, while others have said that it is syllabotonic. The dispute about the character of Georgian verse became particularly acute in the 20th century. The main text the participants in the dispute analysed was a prominent piece of Georgian poetry of the 12th century – The Knight in the Panther’s Skin by Shota Rustaveli. It consists of 16-syllable monorhymical quatrains that have a special name in Georgian – shairi. There are two varieties of shairi – the so-called high shairi (4 4 4 4) and low shairi (5 3 5 3). The high shairi was the main issue of the dispute. The researchers who regarded Georgian verse as belonging to the syllabotonic system divided high shairi into trochaic feet, while the supporters of the syllabic theory denied the presence of metric trochaic stress in high shairi, believing that the penultimate syllables can be stressed only in two-syllable words but not in words with multiple syllables (due to the dactylic accentuation typical in the modern Georgian language).

Since natural dactylic stress (found in low shairi) reflects the accentuation norms of the language of the later period (including those of modern Georgian), we assume that metric stress in high shairi, which is no longer found in modern Georgian speech, could be a reflection of the natural accentuation of the comparatively earlier period in the development of the Georgian language. Checking this hypothesis by relying on relevant linguistic literature, we reconstructed the archaic movable and phonologically relevant stress in the rhymed words in The Knight in the Panther’s Skin. We found that metric stresses of both high and low shairi in this epic poem are actually archaic linguistic stresses. This conclusion differs from the views expressed in concepts developed earlier. It enables us to take a fresh look at the metrics and rhymes of The Knight in the Panther’s Skin as well as the main principles and specific features of Georgian verse in general.
POLICY OF THE VREMENNOGO PRIAMURSKOGO GOVERN-MENT IN RELATION TO ZEMSTVO SELF-GOVERNMENT BODIES
Authors: Chernaya V. Ekaterina
Published: February 2022

Purpose. The article is devoted to the current topic - territorial self-government institutions. The policy of the Vremennogo Priamurskogo government with regard to zemstvos was the subject of analysis. The author aimed to examine the policy of the government of S.D. Merkulova with regard to the territorial self-government institutions.
Materials and methods. The study was based on published and unpublished sources. Analytical, systematic, comparative-historical, historical-genetic and historical-typological methods were used in the analysis of the material.
Results. The Vremennoe Priamurskoe government had not established a clear and consistent policy with regard to the territorial self-government institutions. Rather, it was forced to immediately respond to events. The government of S.D. Merkulova wanted to deprive the zemstvo of political functions. Zemstvo institutions sharply opposed. As a result, the government accused them of complicity with the communists and the collapse of economic and cultural life in Primorye. Based on this, the merkulovskoe government tried to subjugate the volost administration, eliminating the volost zemstvo unit and replacing it with rural self-government, but failed due to distrust of the population. This led to the fact that the Priamurskoe government decided to restore the territorial self-government system at all levels, but wanted to keep the zemstvo apparatus under full control, for which it changed the electoral legislation. This allowed the election of people loyal to the government to the zemstvo. However, the government of S.D. Merkulova could not agree with the zemstvos on the division of powers. Therefore, the government it actively intervened in zemstvo affairs, and as a result, limited their political, socio-economic, economic and cultural activities.
Practical implications. The results of the study can be applied in the historical science and education.
ETHNOMONITORING OF THE PERCEPTION OF MIGRANTS IN THE JEWISH AUTONOMOUS REGION
Authors: Titova Ekaterina V. , Landik Larisa P.
Published: February 2022

The article analyzes the peculiarities of the perception of migrants by the local society. The main empirical material is a sociological survey conducted by the authors of the study among the host population of the Jewish Autonomous Region. The article is devoted to topical issues of ethnocultural adaptation, which is noted as a two-way process - that is, the involvement in this process both, and migrants and local residents. The interrelation of immigrants with the ethnocultural situation in the region is noted.  The article identifies two main aspects in the interaction of the host community with migrants: the first is directed to developing and maintaining relationships, the second is the position of preserving ethnocultural security, associated with limiting the influx, primarily of labor migrants into the region. The development of peaceful coexistence of people of different confessions and ethnic groups in the context of modern globalization will be the fundamental concept for calling upon equality of all cultures, which have the same right to development.  To search for and collect the necessary research material, the following methods of field work were used: interviewing respondents, observation. Theoretical methods: historical-comparative, historical-systemic, cross-cultural, systemic analysis. Scientific novelty consists in a comprehensive analysis of new field data, namely, the features of the construction of the image of the host community by migrants are highlighted on the basis of regional ethnomonitoring. The scientific idea is substantiated by the need to ensure the national security of modern Russia, to solve the problems of interethnic communication, tensions in the field of interethnic relations.
REFLECTING THE ROLE OF LEISURE AND LEISURE PREFERENCES OF YOUTH IN MODERN SOCIETY
Authors: Mishina Tatyana V.
Published: February 2022

Relevance: the transformations and integration processes taking place in the modern world are undoubtedly reflected in the leisure preferences of society, in the understanding of leisure itself, in the change in the socio-cultural situation in the sphere of leisure. Leisure for young people is one of the primary values, which gives them the opportunity to develop, realize, satisfy certain needs. Understanding of leisure, its role in the formation of personality and significance in society is a prerequisite for understanding the modern sociocultural situation.

Purpose and methods of research: to determine the meaningful characteristics of leisure and leisure preferences of young people in modern society. To achieve this goal, we carried out a theoretical analysis of literary sources, which allows us to define leisure as one of the key values of human life, to identify its meaningful elements. The empirical block of work is presented by sociological research, which allows to determine the understanding of “leisure” and leisure preferences of modern youth.

Results. The results obtained in the course of the study give us the opportunity to conclude that in the modern world there is a certain reassessment of the value of leisure as a philosophical and cultural category in the life of society. Leisure is changing its orientations, transforming from relaxation to the possibility of self-realization and self-development of one’s creative and intellectual potential.

Scope of the results. The results obtained in the course of the research can be taken into account and applied within the framework of educational work in educational institutions, as well as in cultural institutions for organizing relevant events and festive programs.
Faunistic composition of hymenopteran parasitoids in cultivation of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. blake and adjacent areas of Seasonal Semi-deciduous Montana forest situated in the Semi-arid State of Bahia, Brazil
Authors: Paula Rita de Cássia Antunes Lima de , Silva Jennifer Guimarães , Fernandes Daniell Rodrigo Rodrigues , Moreira Aldenise Alves , Dall’Oglio Onice Teresinha , Silva Junior Juvenal Cordeiro , Pérez-Maluf Raquel
Published: February 2022

Hymenopteran parasitoids are insects that play a fundamental role in ecosystems as they reduce the population density of insects that are considered pests in monocultures. However, little is known about the fauna in association to the eucalyptus trees in comparison to adjacent native vegetations. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the fauna of parasitoid wasps that occur in a commercial plantation of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake, as well as in native forest and capoeira environments in the plateau of Conquista, Bahia, a semiarid region of Bahia. The study was conducted for two consecutive years with monthly monitoring using five Malaise traps. The collected insects were sorted and identified at the family level. The faunal indices referring to the families of each area were studied by evaluating the frequency, species richness, shannon diversity and equitability. In total, 5,899 individuals were collected, which were distributed in 24 families and eight superfamilies. The most abundant families were Braconidae, Ichneumonidae and Bethylidae. Capoeira and eucalyptus trees showed greater similarity and equitability when compared to the rest of the forest. Given the diversity of Hymenopteran parasitoid families found in the area, it was concluded that the maintenance of native vegetation environments is important, even at the initial stage of succession.
Kolekcja etnograficzna Muzeum Tatrzańskiego
Authors: Kwiecińska Magdalena
Published: February 2022

Juliusz Zborowski, pierwszy dyrektor Muzeum Tatrzańskiego w latach 1922-1965, swoim zaangażowaniem i prężną działalnością wpisał się w historię polskiego muzealnictwa. W efekcie, w dwudziestoleciu międzywojennym, zakopiańska placówka została uznana za wzorcowe muzeum regionalne. W 1950 roku, po kilku dekadach społecznej działalności, Muzeum zostało upaństwowione co spowodowało zmiany w jego strukturze i zarządzaniu. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest opisanie kolekcji etnograficznej, która znajduje się w Muzeum Tatrzańskim i procesu jej rozbudowy po II wojnie światowej aż do upaństwowienia instytucji. Zborowski nakreślił wówczas kierunki kolekcjonerstwa i zabiegał o wykupienie z prywatnych rąk mniejszych zbiorów i pojedynczych okazów. Chciał ochronić to, co pozostało z najdawniejszych okazów sztuki i ludowego rękodzieła. Stworzył katalog zbiorów, który składa się z ręcznie zapisanych licznych kartek informujących o obiektach do dziś stanowiący ważne źródło wiedzy o obiektach. Prowadził korespondencję z licznymi naukowcami z całej Polski. Stanowi ona zbiór ponad 8000 listów i nadaje interesujący kontekst do prowadzenia analizy w zakresie kolekcjonerstwa tamtych lat. Zborowski konsekwentnie kierował działaniami, które stanowiły kontynuację obranych u zarania muzeum celów, a następnie planów określonych po wojnie. Starał się utrzymywać naukowych charakter, którym palcówka szczyciła się kilka dekad wcześniej. Z perspektywy czasu to imponujące dzieło pioniera muzealnictwa w Polsce bezsprzecznie może być wciąż wzorem i inspiracją
Gamified Challenges in Online Weight-Loss Communities
Authors: Bojd Behnaz , Song Xiaolong , Tan Yong , Yan Xiangbin
Published: February 2022

Gamified challenges, one of the most popular features of online weight-loss communities, enable users to set weight-loss goals and compete with other challenge participants via leaderboards. Using the data from a leading online weight-loss community, we study the effect of gamified challenges on the weight-loss outcome. Our findings indicate that participation in gamified challenges has a positive and significant effect on weight loss. We found that, on average, the participants achieved a weight loss of 0.742 kg by participating in at least one challenge a month. We found that effective challenges do not include a numeric weight goal (e.g., lose 5 kg), focus on exercise-only behavioral goals, and have a large active group size. Further, the results show that the absence (presence) of a numeric weight goal benefits users in exercise (diet) challenges. Moreover, a small active group size can help (hurt) users in exercise (diet) challenges. Our results suggest that gamification elements that induce competition should be used with caution in goal-setting environments, especially when gamifying dietary goals. Online weight-loss communities can recommend a useful combination of numeric weight goals, behavioral goals, and an optimal number of participants in each challenge to induce an encouraging level of social comparison.
A Unified Framework for Bayesian and Non-Bayesian Decision Making and Inference
Authors: Amarante Massimiliano
Published: February 2022

After showing, by means of a series of examples, that paradigms alternative to the Bayesian one obtain by simply replacing the notion of approximation associated with the latter, the paper presents a unified framework for theories of decision making and inference. Given a statistical model, the algebra of bounded random variables on the sample space is mapped homomorphically into an algebra of operators on a certain Hilbert space. Then, the choice of a norm or a divergence function on the latter algebra produces a theory of decision making and inference. Examples include models from the Choquet expected utility class, models from robust statistics, the smooth model, maxmin and maxmax (as limiting cases) as well as a novel theory. The paper also contributes to Bayesian theory, which obtains in correspondence to a Hilbert norm. It shows that Bayes’ theorem can be derived from the fundamental concept of conditional expectation and that it is the only updating rule for which the operations of updating and of calculating the predictive commute.
Robust Satisficing
Authors: Long Daniel Zhuoyu , Sim Melvyn , Zhou Minglong
Published: February 2022

We present a general framework for robust satisficing that favors solutions for which a risk-aware objective function would best attain an acceptable target even when the actual probability distribution deviates from the empirical distribution. The satisficing decision maker specifies an acceptable target, or loss of optimality compared with the empirical optimization model, as a trade-off for the model’s ability to withstand greater uncertainty. We axiomatize the decision criterion associated with robust satisficing, termed as the fragility measure, and present its representation theorem. Focusing on Wasserstein distance measure, we present tractable robust satisficing models for risk-based linear optimization, combinatorial optimization, and linear optimization problems with recourse. Serendipitously, the insights to the approximation of the linear optimization problems with recourse also provide a recipe for approximating solutions for hard stochastic optimization problems without relatively complete recourse. We perform numerical studies on a portfolio optimization problem and a network lot-sizing problem. We show that the solutions to the robust satisficing models are more effective in improving the out-of-sample performance evaluated on a variety of metrics, hence alleviating the optimizer’s curse.

Funding: D. Z. Long is supported by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council [Grant 14207819]. M. Sim and M. Zhou are supported by the Ministry of Education, Singapore, under its 2019 Academic Research Fund Tier 3 [Grant MOE-2019-T3-1-010].

Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2021.2238 .