bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diffusion kurtosis imaging assessment of the response to radiotherapy in a VX2 bone tumor model: an animal study
Authors: Guo Jia , Dong Cheng , Wu Zengjie , Sun Weikai , Li Xiaoli , Zhou Ruizhi , Xu Wenjian
Published: February 2021

Background

Neoadjuvant radiotherapy plays a vital role in the treatment of malignant bone tumors, and non-invasive imaging methods are needed to evaluate the response to treatment.

Purpose

To assess the value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) for monitoring early response to radiotherapy in malignant bone tumors.

Material and Methods

Treatment response was evaluated in a rabbit VX2 bone tumor model (n = 35) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), DKI, and histopathologic examinations. Subjects were divided into three groups: pre-treatment, post-treatment, and control groups. The post-treatment group was subclassified into good response and poor response groups according to the results of histopathologic examination. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and DKI parameters (mean diffusion coefficient [MD] and mean kurtosis [MK]) were recorded. The relationship between ADC, DKI parameters, and histopathologic changes after radiotherapy was determined using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The diagnostic performance of these parameters was assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results

MD in the good response group was higher after treatment than before treatment ( P < 0.001) and higher than that in the poor response group ( P = 0.009). MD was highly correlated with tumor cell density and apoptosis rate (r = −0.771, P < 0.001 and r = 0.625, P < 0.001, respectively). MD was superior to other parameters for determining the curative effect of radiotherapy, with a sensitivity of 75.0%, specificity of 100.0%, and area under the curve of 0.917 ( P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The correlations between MD, tumor cell density, and apoptosis suggest that MD could be useful for assessing the early response to radiotherapy in rabbit VX2 malignant bone tumors.
High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging for depicting imaging features of unruptured intracranial vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms
Authors: Sui Binbin , Bai Xiaoyan , Gao Peiyi , Lin Yan , Zhang Yisen , Liang Jia , Yang Xinjian
Published: February 2021

Objective

To demonstrate the application value of high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (HR-VW-MRI) for depicting the imaging features of unruptured intracranial vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms (VBDAs).

Methods

HR-VW-MRI data of 49 patients with suspected unruptured VBDAs were retrospectively analyzed. The presence of intramural hematomas (IMH), double lumens, intimal flaps, and outer diameter enlargements were recorded. Specificity and sensitivity were calculated for both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) sequences. Additionally, IMH volumes were measured and posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) involvement was analyzed.

Results

Thirty-five VBDAs were confirmed in 34 patients. The overall sensitivity and specificity were 0.889 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.730–0.964) and 0.769 (95% CI: 0.460–0.938) for 2D sequences, and 0.917 (95% CI: 0.764–0.978) and 0.846 (95% CI: 0.537–0.973) for 3D sequences, respectively. Intimal flaps were detected in 57.1%, 87.5%, and 71.4% of all cases on 2D pre-contrast T1-weighted, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted, and 3D T1-weighted black-blood (BB) images, respectively. There was no significant difference in IMH volume between 3D T1-weighted BB and magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo sequences. PICA involvement was best visualized using 3D T1 sequences.

Conclusion

3D T1-weighted BB MRI provided good visualization of VBDA features, with large coverage, and was useful for detecting dissection flaps.
Frequency, severity, and impact on daily life of delayed and intercycle chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and retching
Authors: Gonella Silvia , Di Massimo Dino S. , Mistrangelo Marinella , Numico Gianmauro , Berchialla Paola , Di Giulio Paola
Published: February 2021

Introduction:

Chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and retching (CINVR) remains a common side effect of treatment. Most previous studies have focused on vomiting control; nausea and retching have been less explored. This study aimed at describing the incidence, severity, and impact on daily life (IDL) of CINVR in the acute (0–24 hours), delayed (>24–120 hours), and overall (0–120 hours) postchemotherapy periods and beyond 120 hours (until next chemotherapy administration); and the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic strategies adopted by patients to relieve symptoms.

Methods:

This was a single-center, cross-sectional study of 60 patients undergoing chemotherapy. Participants reported the frequency, severity, and IDL of CINVR from the day of chemotherapy administration up to 120 hours thereafter and nausea and vomiting that occurred beyond 120 hours, as well as pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic remedies used.

Results:

Forty-seven (78.3%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 66.4–86.9), 37 (61.7%, 95% CI 49.0–72.9), and 35 (58.3%, 95% CI 45.7–69.9) patients reported no nausea (Numeric Rating Scale ⩽1), vomiting, or retching in the acute, delayed, and overall periods, respectively. Nausea was more frequent, more severe, and had a greater IDL than did vomiting and retching across the overall observation period; beyond 120 hours, 11 (18.3%, 95% CI 10.6–29.9) patients reported nausea and none reported vomiting, with a median IDL of 1/10 (interquartile range: 0.75–5.00; 95% CI 0–7.6). Metoclopramide (n = 57 administrations), dexamethasone (n = 28), eating small servings of food (n = 13), and aloe (n = 11) were the most commonly used rescue therapies.

Conclusions:

Future studies should set hard outcomes, such as the absence of any symptoms, as a primary end point, and these should be assessed across and beyond the 120-hour period.
Sensing defects: Collaborative seeing in engineering work
Authors: Sargent Adam , Vinson Alexandra H , Stevens Reed
Published: February 2021

This paper explores how professional engineers recognize and make sense of product defects in their everyday work. Such activities form a crucial, if often overlooked, part of professional engineering practice. By detecting, recognizing and repairing defects, engineers contribute to the creation of value and the optimization of production processes. Focusing on early-career engineers in an advanced steel mill in the United States, we demonstrate how learning specific ways of seeing and attending to defects take shape around the increasing automation of certain aspects of engineering work. Practices of sensing defects are embodied, necessitating disciplined eyes, ears, and hands, but they are also distributed across human and non-human actors. We argue that such an approach to technical work provides texture to the stark opposition between human and machine work that has emerged in debates around automation. Our approach to sensing defects suggests that such an opposition, with its focus on job loss or retention, misses the more nuanced ways in which humans and machines are conjoined in perceptual tasks. The effects of automation should be understood through such shifting configurations and the ways that they variously incorporate the perceptual practices of humans and machines.
Randomized, controlled trial of lasmiditan over four migraine attacks: Findings from the CENTURION study
Authors: Ashina Messoud , Reuter Uwe , Smith Timothy , Krikke-Workel Judith , Klise Suzanne R , Bragg Sonja , Doty Erin G , Dowsett Sherie A , Lin Qun , Krege John H
Published: February 2021

Background

We present findings from the multicenter, double-blind Phase 3 study, CENTURION. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of and consistency of response to lasmiditan in the acute treatment of migraine across four attacks.

Methods

Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to one of three treatment groups – lasmiditan 200 mg; lasmiditan 100 mg; or a control group that received placebo for three attacks and lasmiditan 50 mg for either the third or fourth attack. The primary endpoints were pain freedom at 2 h (first attack) and pain freedom at 2 h in ≥2/3 attacks. Secondary endpoints included pain relief, sustained pain freedom and disability freedom. Statistical testing used a logistic regression model and graphical methodology to control for multiplicity.

Results

Overall, 1471 patients treated ≥1 migraine attack with the study drug. Both primary endpoints were met for lasmiditan 100 mg and 200 mg ( p < 0.001). All gated secondary endpoints were met. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was highest during the first attack. The most common TEAEs with lasmiditan were dizziness, paresthesia, fatigue, and nausea; these were generally mild or moderate in severity.

Conclusions

These results confirm the early and sustained efficacy of lasmiditan 100 mg and 200 mg and demonstrate consistency of response across multiple attacks. Trial Registration Number: NCT03670810
Post-traumatic Growth in Women With Histories of Addiction and Victimization Residing in a Sober Living Home
Authors: Edwards Katie M. , Siller Laura , Ullman Sarah E. , Lee Katherine D. M. , Murphy Sharon B.
Published: February 2021

Research consistently documents the deleterious sequelae of interpersonal trauma, including domestic and sexual violence (DSV). More recently, however, researchers and practitioners have focused on positive outcomes, such as post-traumatic growth (PTG), in survivors of DSV. Although research has begun to document the prevalence and correlates of PTG, no study to our knowledge has explored PTG in a sample of women with histories of addiction and victimization residing in a trauma-informed sober living home (SLH). The purpose of the current study was to examine this gap in the literature. Participants were 59 women (89.8% White; 86.4% heterosexual; mean age = 41.6) who completed a survey while residing in a SLH. Most women reported moderate to high levels of PTG. At the bivariate level PTG was related to less depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and financial worries, and greater active coping, and sense of community. PTG was also related to the absence of past 6-month physical intimate partner violence. In regression analyses, PTG was related to less depression and greater sense of community. These data offer insights into modifiable factors such as fostering a sense of community while also promoting mental health treatment that could be the focus of interventions to increase PTG in women with histories of addiction and victimization residing in SLHs.
Intimate Partner Abuse Among Rohingya Women and Its Relationship With Their Abilities to Reject Husbands’ Advances to Unwanted Sex
Authors: Islam M Mofizul , Khan Md Nuruzzaman , Rahman Md Mashiur
Published: February 2021

Currently, around a million Rohingya refugees live in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Displacement from homelands and restrictions on movement in the refugee camps may exacerbate intimate partner abuse (IPA) against refugee women and their abilities to reject husbands’ advances to unwanted sex. This study examines Rohingya refugee women’s attitudes toward and experience of intimate partner abuse (IPA) and their impact on the abilities to reject husbands’ advances to unwanted sex. A survey was conducted among Rohingya refugee women in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Women’s attitudes toward IPA, and experience of IPA were the exposure variables. Women’s abilities to say “no” to husbands’ advances to unwanted sexual intercourse was the outcome variable. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the relationships. Participants’ median age was 22 years (range: 13-41). Most women perceived hitting/beatings by their husbands in certain situations as justifiable, 72% had experienced such abuse and 56.5% had to engage in unwanted sexual intercourse with their husbands. Women with increasing leniency towards hitting/beatings and those who had experienced such abuse were less likely to be able to say “no” to husbands’ advances to unwanted sexual intercourse. Rohingya women’s attitudes toward and experience of IPA are associated with their abilities to say “no” to husbands’ advances to unwanted sex. Intervention is needed to denormalize the current practice of IPA, create awareness against IPA, and ensure formal education for girls.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes of people living with HIV hospitalized with COVID-19: a nationwide experience
Authors: Ceballos Maria Elena , Ross Patricio , Lasso Martin , Dominguez Isabel , Puente Marcela , Valenzuela Pablo , Enberg Margarita , Serri Michel , Muñoz Rodrigo , Pinos Yazmin , Silva Macarena , Noguera Matías , Dominguez Angelica , Zamora Francisco ,   on behalf of Chilean HIV/COVID-19 Study Group
Published: February 2021

In this prospective, multicentric, observational study, we describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of people living with HIV (PLHIV) requiring hospitalization due to COVID-19 in Chile and compare them with Chilean general population admitted with SARS-CoV-2. Consecutive PLHIV admitted with COVID-19 in 23 hospitals, between 16 April and 23 June 2020, were included. Data of a temporally matched-hospitalized general population were used to compare demography, comorbidities, COVID-19 symptoms, and major outcomes. In total, 36 PLHIV subjects were enrolled; 92% were male and mean age was 44 years. Most patients (83%) were on antiretroviral therapy; mean CD4 count was 557 cells/mm3. Suppressed HIV viremia was found in 68% and 56% had, at least, one comorbidity. Severe COVID-19 occurred in 44.4%, intensive care was required in 22.2%, and five patients died (13.9%). No differences were seen between recovered and deceased patients in CD4 count, HIV viral load, or time since HIV diagnosis. Hypertension and cardiovascular disease were associated with a higher risk of death ( p = 0.02 and 0.006, respectively). Compared with general population, the HIV cohort had significantly more men (OR 0.15; IC 95% 0.07–0.31) and younger age (OR 8.68; IC 95% 2.66–28.31). In PLHIV, we found more intensive care unit admission (OR 2.31; IC 95% 1.05–5.07) but no differences in the need for mechanical ventilation or death. In this cohort of PLHIV hospitalized with COVID-19, hypertension and cardiovascular comorbidities, but not current HIV viro-immunologic status, were the most important risk factors for mortality. No differences were found between PLHIV and general population in the need for mechanical ventilation and death.
Speaking out against everyday sexism: Gender and epistemics in accusations of “mansplaining”
Authors: Joyce Jack B. , Humă Bogdana , Ristimäki Hanna-Leena , Almeida Fabio Ferraz de , Doehring Ann
Published: February 2021

In everyday interaction, subtle manifestations of sexism often pass unacknowledged and become internalised and thus perceived as “natural” conduct. The introduction of new vocabularies for referring to previously unnamed sexist conduct would presumably enable individuals to start problematising hitherto unchallengeable sexism. In this paper, we investigate whether and how these vocabularies empower people to speak out against sexism. We focus on the use of the term “mansplaining” which, although coined over 10 years ago, remains controversial and contested. Using Conversation Analysis and Membership Categorisation Analysis, this paper excavates the interactional methods individuals use to formulate, in vivo, some prior spate of talk as mansplaining. In doing so, speakers necessarily reformulate a co-participant’s social action to highlight its sexist nature. Accusations of mansplaining are accomplished by invoking gender (and other) categories and their associated rights to knowledge. In reconstructing another’s conduct as mansplaining, speakers display their understanding of what mansplaining is (and could be) for the purpose at hand. Thus, the paper contributes to the well-established body of interactional research on manifestations of sexism by documenting how the normativity of epistemic rights is mobilised as a resource for bringing off accusations of mansplaining.
Age differences in secular trends in black–white disparities in mortality from systemic lupus erythematosus among women in the United States from 1988 to 2017
Authors: Guo Qianyu , Liang Meie , Duan Jiaoniu , Zhang Liyun , Kawachi Ichiro , Lu Tsung-Hsueh
Published: February 2021

Objective

To examine the age differences in secular trends in black–white disparities in mortality from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among women in the United States from 1988 to 2017.

Methods

We used mortality data to calculate age-specific SLE and all-causes (as reference) mortality rates and black/white mortality rates ratios among women from 1988 to 2017. Annual percent change was estimated using joinpoint regression analysis.

Results

We identified 10,793 and 4,165,613 black women and 19,455 and 31,129,528 white women who died between 1988 and 2017 from SLE and all-causes, respectively. The black/white SLE mortality rate ratio according joinpoint regression model was 6.6, 7.2, 4.4, and 1.4 for decedents aged 0–24, 25–44, 45–64, and 65+ years in 1988 and was 7.2, 5.9, 4.1, and 1.9, respectively in 2017. No significant decline trend was noted and the annual percent change was 0.3%, –0.7%, –0.2%, and 1.0%, respectively. On the contrast, the black/white all-causes mortality rate ratio was 2.0, 2.5, 1.8, and 1.0, respectively in 1988 and was 1.7, 1.3, 1.5, and 0.9, respectively in 2017, a significant decline trend was noted in each age group.

Conclusions

Black adults, youths and adolescents had four to seven times higher SLE mortality rates than their white counterparts and the black–white disparities persisted during the past three decades. On the contrast, black women had less than two times higher all-causes mortality rates than their white counterparts and black–white disparities significantly diminish during the past three decades.
Compulsive Buying Behaviour of Credit Card Users and Affecting Factors Such as Financial Knowledge, Prestige and Retention Time: A Cross-sectional Research
Authors: Khandelwal Rahul , Kolte Ashutosh , Veer Nitin , Sharma Pratik
Published: February 2021

A leading concern in client and vender relations is that the rising new situation of influence deploying of the credit card market. This situation is accountable for compulsive buying, which has disapprovingly exaggerated consumers, leading to impossible debt levels. Financial counsellors search for why and how individuals get themselves into financial debt. Compulsive buying behaviour and credit card could have a powerful effect on consumers’ financial stability. Further, in place of comprehending credit card usage and compulsive buying, this study correlates them with wealth attitudes such as power-prestige, financial knowledge and retention time. A cross-sectional descriptive research design using convenience sampling and non-probability sampling with quota samples of 313 credit cardholders was surveyed. The outcome showed that those with power-prestige money attitudes are likely to have free usage of credit cards through compulsive spending. Results also showed that those with a higher financial understanding have lower compulsive spending off the credit card.
Magnetorheological elastomers — An underestimated class of soft actuator materials
Authors: Böse Holger , Gerlach Thomas , Ehrlich Johannes
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the results of various investigations on the viscoelastic and magnetic properties of magnetorheological elastomers (MRE) in magnetic fields of variable strength, are reported. These characteristics have a strong influence on the behavior of MRE in various applications such as vibration damping and tunable vibration absorbers. Moreover, the actuation capabilities of MRE with different kinds of deformation in a magnetic field are considered. The degree of deformation depends on the magnetic field strength and its gradient and can reach about 10%. When removing the magnetic field, the MRE body relaxes back to its initial shape. MRE materials can be used for linear actuators, where the MRE body is deformed due to the attraction by a magnetic circuit acting from one side. Such linear actuators may be applied for haptic feedback and pumps. However, ring-shaped MRE bodies can also deform radially around their cylindrical axis, if the magnetic field is oriented correspondingly. This unusual type of deformation allows the realization of a proportional valve, whose opening is controlled by the magnetic field strength. Similar configurations can be used for controllable seals, for locking devices and even for inchworm drives. Various versions of this actuation principle are discussed in the paper.
Low Serum Albumin Level Is a Risk Factor for Delayed Methotrexate Elimination in High-Dose Methotrexate Treatment
Authors: Kataoka Tatsuo , Sakurashita Hiroshi , Kajikawa Kazuya , Saeki Yasuyuki , Taogoshi Takanori , Matsuo Hiroaki
Published: February 2021

Background

In high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) therapy, delayed elimination of MTX from plasma leads to severe adverse effects. However, the risk factors for the delayed elimination of plasma MTX are still unclear.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to the delayed MTX elimination in HD-MTX monotherapy.

Methods

This retrospective study was performed on patients who received HD-MTX monotherapy between April 2009 and March 2019 at the Hiroshima University Hospital. Patients were divided into a “Normal” and a “Delayed” group according to their MTX plasma concentration at 48 or 72 hours after administration. Patient characteristics, dose of HD-MTX, MTX plasma concentration, and adverse effects were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups.

Results

A total of 74 patients were included in this study. Logistic analysis of patient baseline characteristics was performed to identify risk factors for delayed MTX elimination. Serum albumin (ALB) was detected as a risk factor. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that low ALB level (<3.7 g/dL) and type of cancer were associated with delayed MTX elimination (univariate analysis: odds ratio [OR] = 6.00, P = 0.004, and OR = 4.33, P = 0.039, respectively; multivariate analysis: adjusted OR [AOR] = 6.45, P = 0.006, and AOR = 8.11, P = 0.018, respectively). Adverse effects were not significantly different between the 2 groups, excluding renal impairment.

Conclusions and Relevance

Our study showed that low ALB is a risk factor for delayed MTX elimination in HD-MTX monotherapy. Pharmacokinetic analysis is needed to establish the dose of HD-MTX in patients with a low ALB level.
Measuring Democratic Listening: A Listening Quality Index
Authors: Scudder Mary F.
Published: February 2021

Recent political theory in the area of deliberative democracy has placed listening at the normative core of meaningfully democratic deliberation. Empirical research in this area, however, has struggled to capture democratic listening in a normatively relevant way. This paper presents a new, theoretically informed instrument for measuring and assessing listening in deliberation. Here, I tackle the observational challenge of measuring the act of listening itself, as opposed to either the preconditions or outcomes of listening. Reviewing existing measures, I show that each, in isolation, fails to capture the most democratically meaningful aspects of listening. The paper argues, however, that existing and novel measures can be usefully combined to allow researchers to capture different degrees of democratic listening. Using Rawls’s concept of “lexical priority,” I aggregate relevant components of listening into a normatively significant lexical scale. The paper describes this novel measurement and highlights how it can be used in empirical research on democratic deliberation.
Family Function, Quality of Life, and Well-Being in Parents of Infants With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Authors: Mussatto Kathleen A. , Van Rompay Maria I. , Trachtenberg Felicia L. , Pemberton Victoria , Young-Borkowski Lisa , Uzark Karen , Hollenbeck-Pringle Danielle , Dunbar-Masterson Carolyn , Infinger Patricia , Walter Patricia , Sawin Kathleen
Published: February 2021

Survival for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) has improved dramatically. Little is known about early family function, quality of life (QOL), or well-being/adjustment for parents of infants with HLHS. Parent/family outcomes over time, predictors, and differences in 143 mothers and 72 fathers were examined. Parents reported better family function compared with published norms, but 26% experienced family dysfunction. QOL and well-being were significantly lower than adult norms. QOL scores generally declined over time, whereas self-reported well-being improved. Responses from mothers and fathers showed different trends, with mothers having worse scores on most measures and at most time points. Being a single parent was a risk factor for poorer family function, but not for lower individual QOL or well-being. Family characteristics, stress, and coping skills were predictive of outcomes. Parents’ psychosocial responses to the challenges of life with infants with HLHS change over time. Individually tailored psychosocial support is needed.
Trauma and Maternal Caregivers as Risks for Executive Function Deficits Among Youth Who Have Sexually Harmed
Authors: Brown Adam , Yoder Jamie , Fushi Kristina
Published: February 2021

Despite robust research linking trauma events to the commission of sexual harm by youth, the majority of victims do not become victimizers, imploring us to study potential interceding influences. Some research indicates that intermediary factors like attachment characteristics, trauma symptomatology, and executive functioning may be critical in understanding sexual harm committed by youth. This study explored relationships between trauma events, trauma symptoms, and attachment characteristics, and their relationship to executive functioning in a sample of 196 youth who committed sexual harm. Results revealed bivariate associations between trauma events, symptomatology, and maternal attachment characteristics. Structural equation modeling revealed numerous direct and indirect effects on the path to deficits in executive functioning, and that sexual abuse, above and beyond other forms of traumatic events, contributed to executive functioning deficits via trauma symptoms. The results are contextualized and implications are discussed.
Comparison of serum and plasma SDMA measured with point-of-care and reference laboratory analysers: implications for interpretation of SDMA in cats
Authors: Baral Randolph M , Freeman Kathleen P , Flatland Bente
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) reflects the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in people, dogs and cats. Initial assays used a liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) technique. A veterinary immunoassay has been developed for use in commercial laboratories and point-of-care (POC) laboratory equipment. This study sought to: determine POC and commercial laboratory (CL) SDMA assay imprecision; determine any bias of the POC assay compared with the CL assay; calculate observed total error of the POC assay and compare with analytical performance goals; and calculate dispersion and sigma metrics (σ) for POC and CL SDMA methods.

Methods

Two separate studies were performed that assessed: (1) imprecision, determined by evaluation of pooled feline plasma or serum; and (2) bias, assessed by comparing pooled plasma and serum results, as well as paired analyses of clinical samples from a single venepuncture measured using both analysers. Results were assessed in relation to performance goals. Dispersion and σ were calculated for both analysers.

Results

Bias between CL and POC analysers was consistent and high numbers of clinical results were outside performance goals across both studies. Imprecision was poor for both analysers for study 1 and improved to within quality goals for the CL analyser for study 2. Dispersion was at least 40%, meaning a measured result of 14 μg/dl represents a range of possible results from 8 μg/dl to 20 μg/dl.

Conclusions and relevance

Clinicians should be careful ascribing medical significance to small changes in SDMA concentration, as these may reflect analytical and biological variability. Analyser-specific reference intervals are likely required.
Elevated Intestinal Inflammation in Preterm Infants With Signs and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Authors: Shelly Colleen E. , Filatava Evgenia J. , Thai Julie , Pados Britt F. , Rostas Sara E. , Yamamoto Hidemi , Fichorova Raina , Gregory Katherine E.
Published: February 2021

Objectives:

Reflux is common in infancy; however, persistent signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal distress are often attributed to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this pilot study, we aimed to characterize associations between signs and symptoms of suspected GERD and noninvasive markers of intestinal inflammation in preterm infants.

Methods:

We reviewed Electronic Medical Record (EMR) data to identify clinical signs and symptoms among case patients (n = 16). Controls (n = 16) were matched on gestational age. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to compare fecal calprotectin and urinary intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) levels between cases and controls.

Results:

We found no differences in baseline characteristics between cases and controls. In the multivariate regression analysis controlling for the proportion of mother’s milk, cases had higher fecal calprotectin levels than controls, with no differences in I-FABP levels between cases and controls.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that preterm infants with signs and symptoms of GERD have higher levels of intestinal inflammation as indicated by fecal calprotectin compared to their controls. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of intestinal inflammation in signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal distress and whether fecal calprotectin might have predictive value in diagnosing GERD.
Abrasive wear behaviour of orange peel (biowaste) particulate reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Naik Prajapati , Acharya Samir K. , Sahoo Prasanta , Pradhan Smitirupa
Published: February 2021

The development of lightweight materials has drawn more attention in the last decade in the field of household, construction and automobile sectors in place of conventional materials. New environmental policies are forcing researchers to design and develop new lightweight materials that are environmentally friendly. The development of bio-composites in place of synthetic fibre composites is one of the solutions for this. This article deals with an experimental investigation of tribological properties of orange peel particulate (a biowaste) epoxy composites. The hand layup technique is used to fabricate the composite material by varying the filler loading from 0 to 30% with a variation of 10%. The abrasive wear behaviour of the fabricated composite was analysed by using a pin-on-disc set up under dry sliding conditions with varying loads at different sliding velocities. Based on the experiments, it is observed that the wear behaviour of neat epoxy material has enhanced significantly with the addition of the orange peel particulates as filler materials. The characterisation of orange peel particulates was done using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The surface morphology study of the worn surface with respect to wear mechanism indicates plastic deformation and development of cracks at optimum filler concentration (20 wt%). With a higher filler concentration (30 wt%), brittle failure of the composite was noticed.
A longitudinal study of the influence of concerns about contagion on negative affect during the COVID-19 lockdown in adults: The moderating effect of gender and resilience
Authors: Megías-Robles Alberto , Gutiérrez-Cobo María José , Cabello Rosario , Gómez-Leal Raquel , Fernández-Berrocal Pablo
Published: February 2021

The COVID-19 global pandemic has had psychological consequences worldwide. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of concerns about contagion on negative affect (NA) according to resilience, gender and age by using a longitudinal methodology that evaluated the participants 4 months before the COVID-19 outbreak and during the resulting lockdown situation imposed by the Spanish government. About 102 participants from a community sample were assessed. The results revealed higher levels of NA during the lockdown, as well as a positive relationship between age and the increase in NA. In addition, we found that a positive relationship between contagion concern and increase in NA was only observed in women with low resilience.
‘Ruined’ lives: Mediated white male victimhood
Authors: Banet-Weiser Sarah
Published: February 2021

When the hashtag #metoo began to circulate in digital and social media, it challenged a familiar interpretation of those who are raped or sexually harassed as victims, positioning women as embodied agents. Yet, almost exactly a year after the #metoo movement shot to visible prominence, a different, though eerily similar, story began to circulate on the same multi-media platforms as #metoo: a story about white male victimhood. Powerful men in positions of privilege (almost always white) began to take up the mantle of victimhood as their own, often claiming to be victims of false accusations of sexual harassment and assault by women. Through the analysis of five public statements by highly visible, powerful men who have been accused of sexual violence, I argue that the discourse of victimhood is appropriated not by those who have historically suffered but by those in positions of patriarchal power. Almost all of the statements contain some sentiment about how the accusation (occasionally acknowledging the actual violence) ‘ruined their life’, and all of the statements analyzed here center the author, the accused white man, as the key subject in peril and the authors position themselves as truth-tellers about the incidents. These statements underscore certain shifts in the public perception of sexual violence; the very success of the #metoo movement in shifting the narrative has meant that men have had to defend themselves more explicitly in public. In order to wrestle back a hegemonic gender stability, these men take on the mantle of victimhood themselves.
Mechanism of strength evolution of seawater OPC pastes
Authors: Zhang Yangyang , Sun Yanjie , Zheng Haibing , Cai Yamei , Lam Wing Lun , Poon Chi Sun
Published: February 2021

This work investigated the strength degradation mechanisms of seawater ordinary Portland cement (OPC) pastes. Two types of specimens were prepared ((i) OSD sample (i.e. OPC was mixed with seawater, and then cured in deionized (DI) water) and (ii) ODD sample (i.e. OPC was mixed with DI water, and then cured in DI water, as the reference system)). The use of seawater in preparing OPC pastes effectively increased the hydration rate and early-age mechanical strength, but lowered the mechanical strength at the later age. The higher hydration degree and larger amounts of carbonates with a smaller crystal size enabled the seawater OPC pastes to exhibit a higher early-age mechanical strength, increasing by 13.0%–17.0% compared with the DI water OPC pastes. While the formation of Friedel’s salt and the formation of calcium-silicate-hydrate (C-S-H) gel with a lower polymerization degree and mean molecular chain length resulted in the deterioration of the pore structure and negatively affected the later-age strength development of the seawater OPC paste, decreasing by 5.8%–11.9% compared with the DI water OPC pastes.
Fracture analysis of plastically graded material with thermo-mechanical J-integral
Authors: Gajjar Margi , Pathak Himanshu
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the influence of plasticity graded property and thermal boundary conditions have been investigated on the fracture parameter, i.e. J-integral using the extended finite element method. A complete computational methodology has been presented to model elasto-plastic fracture problems with geometrical and material nonlinearities. For crack discontinuity modeling, a partition of unity enrichment concept was employed with additional mathematical functions like Heaviside and branch enrichment for crack discontinuity and stress field gradient, respectively. The modeling of the stress–strain relationship of the material is implemented using the Ramberg–Osgood material model and geometric nonlinearity is modeled using an updated Lagrangian approach. The isotropic hardening and von-Mises yield criteria are considered to check the plasticity condition. The elastic predictor–plastic corrector algorithm is employed to capture elasto-plastic stress in a cracked domain. The variation in plasticity properties for plastically graded material is modeled by exponential law. Furthermore, the nonlinear discrete equations are numerically solved using a Newton–Raphson iterative scheme. Various cracked problem geometries subjected to thermal (adiabatic and isothermal conditions) and thermo-mechanical loads are simulated for stress contours and J-integrals using the elasto-plastic fracture mechanics approach. A comparison of the results obtained using extended finite element method with literature and the finite element analysis (FEA) package shows the accuracy and effectiveness of the presented computational approach. A component-based problem, i.e. a Brazilian disc subjected to thermo-mechanical loading, has been solved to show the adaptability of this work.
Home care in dementia: The views of informal carers from a co-designed consultation
Authors: Dalgarno Elizabeth L , Gillan Vincent , Roberts Amy , Tottie Jean , Britt David , Toole Cecilia , Clarkson Paul
Published: February 2021

Background

In the United Kingdom, there is a current priority for high-quality dementia care provided at home. However, home care or domiciliary care is an area where problems have been reported, in terms of a lack of consistency, coordination and appropriate responses to the specific needs of those with dementia. The views of informal carers, who often must respond to these problems when supporting relatives, are crucial in shedding light on the issues and in seeking to promote solutions.

Methods

This study explored the views of informal carers of those with dementia concerning home care, through a consultation using an electronic survey. The survey questions were designed by informal carers, through a public involvement group within an existing programme of dementia research. The survey elicited responses from 52 informal carers in 2017/18. The data were analysed qualitatively using framework analysis.

Findings

Carers’ views focused on the need for investment into meaningful personalisation, recognising the value of providing care and valuing formal carers, systemic failings of care coordination and provision and the importance of ongoing collaboration and care planning.

Conclusion

Based on a framework drawn from the views of informal carers themselves, this study articulated issues of concern for home care and its delivery for people with dementia. Attempts should be made to make dementia home care more consistently personalised, inclusive and collaborative with informal carers and key others involved. Further areas to explore include working conditions of formal carers and current models utilised in homecare provision.
Evaluation of Aortic Zone 2 Proximal Landing Accuracy During Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Following Carotid-Subclavian Revascularization
Authors: Choi Sally H. J. , Yang Gary K. , Baxter Keith , Gagnon Joel
Published: February 2021

Background:

Adequate seal for thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) commonly requires landing in zone 2, but can prove to be challenging due to the tortuous and angulated anatomy of the region.

Objectives:

Our objective was to determine the proximal landing accuracy of zone 2-targeted TEVARs following carotid-subclavian revascularization (CSR) and its impact on clinical outcomes.

Methods:

Retrospective review of patients that underwent CSR for zone 2 endograft delivery at a tertiary institute between January 2008 and March 2018 was conducted. Technical outcomes were assessed by examining the incidence of intraoperative corrective maneuvers, 1a endoleaks and reinterventions. Distance to target and incidence of LSA stump filling were examined as radiographic markers of landing accuracy.

Results:

Zone 2-targeted TEVAR with CSR was performed in 53 patients for treatment of dissections (49%), aneurysms (30%) or trauma (21%). Nine (17%) cases required intraoperative corrective procedures: 5 (9%) proximal cuffs due to type 1a endoleak and 4 (8%) left common carotid artery (LCCA) stenting due to inadvertent coverage. Cases performed using higher resolution hybrid fluoroscopy machine compared to mobile C-arm were associated with increased proximal cuff use (OR 8.8; 95% CI 1.2-62.4). Average distance between the proximal edge of the covered graft to LCCA was 8 ± 1 mm and larger distances were not associated with higher rates of 1a endoleak. Twenty-eight (53%) cases of antegrade LSA stump filling were noted on follow-up imaging, but were not associated with higher rates of reinterventions (OR 0.8, 95% CI [0.2-4.6]). Three (6%) patients had a stroke within 30 days and 4 (8%) patients expired within 1 month. Intraoperative corrective maneuvers, post-operative 1a endoleak and reinterventions were not associated with higher rates of stroke or mortality.

Conclusion:

Using current endografts and imaging modalities, zone 2-targeted TEVARs have suboptimal technical accuracy.
A video steganalysis method based on coding cost variation
Authors: Liu Jianyi , Zhang Cong , Zhang Ru , Li Yi , Cheng Jie
Published: February 2021

Aiming at the problems existing in existing steganalysis algorithms, this article proposes Motion Vector Coding Cost Change video steganalysis features based on Improved Motion Vector Reversion-Based features and Subtractive Probability of Coding Cost Optimal Matching features based on Subtractive Probability of Optimal Matching features from the perspective of the change of coding cost. Motion Vector Coding Cost Change features can be well consistent with the coding cost before recoding by analyzing the sub-pixel coding cost of recoding. By counting the sub-pixel coding costs of motion vectors before and after video recoding, the Sum of Absolute Difference values of motion vectors instead of predicted residuals are applied to steganalysis and detection, and the steganographic algorithm based on motion vectors is effectively detected. Experiments show that Motion Vector Coding Cost Change features have higher detection accuracy than Add-or-Subtract-One, Improved Motion Vector Reversion-Based, and other typical features in various steganography methods, and Subtractive Probability of Coding Cost Optimal Matching features have higher detection effect and better robustness than Subtractive Probability of Optimal Matching features.
A multi-objective model for resource allocation in disaster situations to enhance the organizational resilience and maximize the value of business continuity with considering events interactions
Authors: Ostadi Bakhtiar , Seifi Mohammad Mahdi , Husseinzadeh Kashan Ali
Published: February 2021

Industry-related risks are increasing due to the growing expansion of industries. Each of these risks can have a natural origin (such as earthquakes, flood, and fire) or human origin (such as terrorist attacks, contagious diseases, and intentional or inadvertent mistakes of staff). In this regards, business Continuity Management (BCM) is a comprehensive method to identify risks and reduce the consequent impacts on the organizations’ activities. Essential aspects of BCM includes retrieval of products after disruptive events and resource allocation. Obviously, in each organization, the fundamental objective is to allocate the least amount of resources for retrieving operations and minimizing costs, as well as, restoring activities to the tolerance threshold, so that the disruptive events do not stop the critical activities. In this paper, a quantitative model is presented to allocate resources in the shortest possible time capable of minimizing the loss of organizations’ resilience and maximizing the Business Continuity Value (BCV), simultaneously. In case of facing disruption, the interaction of disruptive events and reactive actions is an underlying assumption which is also applied in the current proposed model. After solving the model with a numerical experiment, the results of the model were described, and it was found that disruptive events were recovered before the threshold of tolerance. Also, the results of the model were compared in the two following scenarios: (1) without considering the interaction of disruptive events and (2) with considering the interaction of disruptive events, respectively. In the second scenario, it was found that the activities were later retrieved and the possibility of stop activities was a higher amount.
CARE: an observational study of adherence to home nebulizer therapy among children with asthma
Authors: Zhao Deyu , Chen Dehui , Li Ling , Zou YingXue , Shang Yunxiao , Zhang Chonglin , Zhang Li , Pan Jiahua , Chen Qiang , Ai Tao , Ni Qian
Published: February 2021

Background:

The prevalence of pediatric asthma in China is approximately 3%, and asthma remains poorly controlled in many of these patients. This study assessed the rate of adherence to home nebulizer treatment in paediatric patients in China.

Methods:

The CARE study was a 12-week, multicentre, prospective, observational study across 12 tertiary hospitals in China. Patients were aged 0–14 years, clinically diagnosed with asthma and prescribed home nebulizer inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy for ⩾3 months. The primary endpoint was electronically monitored treatment adherence. Patients attended onsite visits at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks to assess asthma control, severity and treatment adherence (recorded by electronic monitoring devices and caregivers).

Results:

The full analysis set included 510 patients. Median treatment adherence reported by electronic monitoring devices was 69.9%, and median caregiver-reported adherence was 77.9%. The proportion of patients with well-controlled asthma increased from 12.0% at baseline to 77.5% at visit 4. Increased time between asthma diagnosis and study enrolment was a significant predictor for better adherence [coefficient: 0.01, p = 0.0138; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.00, 0.01] and asthma control (odds ratio = 1.001, p = 0.0498; 95% CI: 1.000, 1.002). Negative attitude to treatment by the caregiver was associated with poorer asthma control.

Conclusions:

Adherence to home nebulization, a widely used treatment for asthma, was high among Chinese pediatric patients. Asthma control improved with increasing treatment duration. These results suggest that home nebulization of ICS is an effective and recommendable long-term treatment for paediatric patients with asthma. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03156998 The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.