bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An unusual case of sepsis due to Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden, an emerging pathogen of non-typhoidal salmonellosis
Authors: Gunasena Janitha B , De Silva Shamila T
Published: February 2021

Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden is identified as an emerging pathogen, especially in the South and Southeast Asian regions. A 45-year-old male presented with an acute febrile illness, disoriented and confused. Blood culture became positive for Salmonellae enterica serovar Weltevreden. The patient was started on intravenous Ceftriaxone. Despite aggressive management, he developed acute respiratory distress syndrome with septic shock, which required intubation and mechanical ventilation. On the 11th day of admission, he succumbed due to sepsis from peritonitis with bowel infarction. Severe sepsis due to S. Weltevreden is rare. Diabetes, malignancy, therapeutic immune suppression may predispose to invasive disease. Biochemical similarities to other Salmonella species may lead to S. Weltevreden being overlooked by clinicians. Isolates from around the world remain sensitive to most freely available antibiotics. Emergence of resistance to common antimicrobial agents could pose an obvious public health threat.
Rodent bites in a quadriplegic
Authors: Madke Bhushan , Bute Rajeshwar S
Published: February 2021

Rodent bites are infrequently reported in the medical literature. A rodent bite usually occurs only to individuals with sensory impairment. Rodent saliva can introduce fatal bacterial infections (rat-bite fever, leptospirosis or scrub typhus). We report a case of rodent bite in a patient suffering from post-traumatic quadriplegia.
Jaundice and Thrombocytopenia in an acute abdomen with concurrent Appendicitis and spontaneous Rectal perforation: An unusual presentation of human leptospirosis
Authors: Rajput Deepak , Gupta Amit , Verma Siddharth Shankar , Barabari Geetha Sindhuri , Wani Ajaz A , Kumar Navin
Published: February 2021

Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection attributed to the group leptospira, remains a globally emerging public-health issue in many endemic tropical, subtropical and temperate zones of the world. The burden is expected to inflate with population shifts related to violent storms and urban floods leading to poor housing and inadequate sanitation. Leptospirosis may mimic other illnesses such as influenza, dengue fever, typhoid and malaria due to its myriad presentation ranging from a mild, self-limiting febrile illness to hepatorenal dysfunction, myocarditis, pulmonary haemorrhage, meningitis, optic neuritis and rhabdomyolysis. The classical gastrointestinal manifestation of leptospirosis without hepatorenal dysfunction (Weil’s disease) is a rare entity. We report a rare presentation of concurrent appendicitis and rectal perforation in a patient, whose jaundice and thrombocytopenia led to a suspicion of leptospirosis, confirmed by serology and fulfilment of parameters under the modified Faine’s criteria. The patient was managed successfully and discharged in a stable condition.
Housing Programs for the Poor in Addis Ababa: Urban Commons as a Bridge between Spatial and Social
Authors: Charitonidou Marianna
Published: February 2021

The article presents the reasons for which the issue of providing housing to low-income citizens has been a real challenge in Addis Ababa during the recent years and will continue to be, given that its population is growing extremely fast. It examines the tensions between the universal aspirations and the local realities in the case of some of Ethiopia’s most ambitious mass pro-poor housing schemes, such as the “Addis Ababa Grand Housing Program” (AAGHP), which was launched in 2004 and was integrated in the “Integrated Housing Development Program” (IHDP) in 2006. The article argues that the quotidian practices of communities and their socio-economic and cultural characteristics are related to the spatial attributes of co-housing practices. Drawing upon the idea that there is a mutual correspondence between social and spatial structures, it places particular emphasis on the analysis of the IHDP and aims to show that to shape strategies that take into account the social and cultural aspects of daily life of the poor citizens of Addis Ababa, it is pivotal to invite them to take part in the decision-making processes regarding their resettlement. Departing from the fact that a large percentage of the housing supply in Addis Ababa consists of informal unplanned housing, the article also compares the commoning practices in kebele houses and condominium units. The former refers to the legal informal housing units owned by the government and rented to their dwellers, whereas the latter concerns the housing blocks built in the framework of the IHDP for the resettlement of the kebele dwellers. The article analyzes these processes of resettlement, shedding light of the fact that kebele houses were located at the inner city, whereas the condominiums are located in the suburbs. Despite the fact that the living conditions in the condominium units are of a much higher quality than those in the kebele houses, their design underestimated or even neglected the role of the commoning practices. The article highlights the advantages of commoning practices in architecture and urban planning, and how the implementation of participation-oriented solutions can respond to the difficulties of providing housing. It argues that understanding the significance of the endeavors that take into account the opinions of dwellers during the phase of decision-making goes hand in hand with considering commoning practices as a source of architecture and urban planning frameworks for low-cost housing in this specific context. The key argument of the article is that urban planning and architecture solutions in Addis Ababa should be based on the principles of the so-called “negotiated planning” approach, which implies a close analysis of the interconnections between planning, infrastructure, and land.
The potential effectiveness of the WHO International Health Regulations capacity requirements on control of the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study of 114 countries
Authors: Wong Martin CS , Huang Junjie , Wong Sunny H , Yuen-Chun Teoh Jeremy
Published: February 2021

Objectives

We examined if the WHO International Health Regulations (IHR) capacities were associated with better COVID-19 pandemic control.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

Population-based study of 114 countries.

Participants

General population.

Main outcome measures

For each country, we extracted: (1) the maximum rate of COVID-19 incidence increase per 100,000 population over any 5-day moving average period since the first 100 confirmed cases; (2) the maximum 14-day cumulative incidence rate since the first case; (3) the incidence and mortality within 30 days since the first case and first COVID-19-related death, respectively. We retrieved the 13 country-specific International Health Regulations capacities and constructed linear regression models to examine whether these capacities were associated with COVID-19 incidence and mortality, controlling for the Human Development Index, Gross Domestic Product, the population density, the Global Health Security index, prior exposure to SARS/MERS and Stringency Index.

Results

Countries with higher International Health Regulations score were significantly more likely to have lower incidence (β coefficient −24, 95% CI −35 to −13) and mortality (β coefficient −1.7, 95% CI −2.5 to −1.0) per 100,000 population within 30 days since the first COVID-19 diagnosis. A similar association was found for the other incidence outcomes. Analysis using different regression models controlling for various confounders showed a similarly significant association.

Conclusions

The International Health Regulations score was significantly associated with reduction in rate of incidence and mortality of COVID-19. These findings inform design of pandemic control strategies, and validated the International Health Regulations capacities as important metrics for countries that warrant evaluation and improvement of their health security capabilities.
The Natural History of Parapharyngeal Solitary Fibrous Tumor/Hemangiopericytoma: A Case Report
Authors: Xu Mengyou , Chen Meiqin , Hua Hongzhong , Yin Jie , Yan Senxiang
Published: February 2021

Solitary fibrous tumor/hemangiopericytoma (SFT/HPC) is extremely rare, and most of them are immediately treated for radical resection. However, the information concerning its natural history remains unclear. In this report, we presented a patient with parapharyngeal SFT/HPC, who was not immediately treated with surgical resection at first diagnosis. After approximately 3 years, the tumor volume doubling time (TVDT) and specific growth rate (SGR) could be measured through 3 serial magnetic resonance imagings. The TVDTs in the early and late pretreatment stages were 350 and 180 days, respectively, while the SGRs were 0.002 and 0.003, respectively. The growth rate of this disease entity is generally slow and may accelerate in the disease process.
Human Capital and International Capital Flows: Evidence from China
Authors: Yang Zhenshan , Pan Yinghao , Sun Dongqi , Ma Li
Published: February 2021

The pattern of international capital flows has changed dramatically in the process of globalization. In this study, we argue that human capital (HC) facilitates a region’s reversal from being a net recipient of external resources to being an active contributor in the global market. Using a panel vector autoregressive regression method, we examine the relationships among regional HC, foreign direct investment (FDI), and outward FDI during 2004–2015 in China. Our results show that HC plays a key role in both attracting FDI and generating outward FDI. The findings contribute to research on the dynamic capacity building of regions participating in the global economy, especially strengthening HC for local economies participating in the global economy as either investment recipients or contributors.
Flipping Macbeth: PTSD, gender, and generation in adaptations by Wolfert, Kurzel, and De Man
Authors: Franssen Paul J. C. M.
Published: February 2021

In recent adaptations by Justin Kurzel and Lucas de Man, Shakespeare’s Macbeth is less a play about a courageous warrior driven to murder his king out of ambition than about a soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. This article links these interpretations of Macbeth’s motivation to Stephan Wolfert’s one-man show Cry Havoc!!, which also relates Shakespeare’s plays in general to combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder. This article argues that all three productions are symptomatic of our era in addressing Macbeth from the perspective of current constructions of masculinity as deeply problematic.
Does Locus of Control Influence Parentification and Anxiety in Father–Daughter Relationships?
Authors: Mays Cindy J. , Krueger Lacy E.
Published: February 2021

Parentification is a role-reversal phenomenon in which boundary violations occur such as children being their parents’ physical or emotional caretakers. Researchers have shown that childhood parentification can produce anxiety, but locus of control (LOC) moderates this relationship. We sought to examine the influence of LOC on the parentification-anxiety relationship in father–daughter dyads, as this dyad is under-represented in the parentification literature. One hundred and eighty-one undergraduate women completed an anxiety measure, parentification questionnaire, and an LOC inventory. Higher levels of parentification and lower levels of internal LOC were associated with higher reports of anxiety, but internal LOC did not appear to moderate the anxiety-parentification relationship. For individuals residing at home, parentification predicted anxiety, whereas internal LOC predicted anxiety among those not residing at home. These results further the paternal parentification literature, as well as show the relationship between childhood parentification and women’s anxiety for those currently living at home.
Factors Associated with Changes in Health Perception in Patients with Heart Failure
Authors: Heo Seongkum , Shin Mi-Seung , Jang Albert Youngwoo , Kim Mi Yeong , Lopes Camila Takao , Kim JinShil
Published: February 2021

Determination of modifiable factors associated with changes in health perception can be beneficial for improvement in health perception and health-related quality of life. The purpose of this study was to examine if changes in physical symptoms, functional status, and depressive symptoms were associated with changes in health perception at three months and the mediator effect of physical symptoms. Data were collected at baseline and three months later (N = 65). Process Macro for SPSS was used to analyze the data. Only changes in depressive symptoms (p < .001) were associated with changes in physical symptoms. Then, only changes in physical symptoms (p = .026) were significantly associated with changes in health perception. Changes in physical symptoms played significant roles in changes in health perception directly and also through the mediator role. Clinicians and researchers need to assess and manage these two modifiable factors to improve health perception in this population.
Aerosol Generation During Myringotomy With Tympanostomy Tube Insertion: Implications for Otolaryngology in the COVID‐19 Era
Authors: Campiti Vincent J. , Ye Michael J. , Sharma Dhruv , Matt Bruce H. , Mitchell Ryan M. , Ting Jonathan Y. , Illing Elisa A. , Park Jae Hong , Burgin Sarah J.
Published: February 2021

The risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) transmission to health care workers during myringotomy and tympanostomy tube (MT) insertion is unknown. To determine the need for enhanced precautions to prevent potential spread via aerosolized particles, we used an optical particle sizer to measure aerosol generation intraoperatively during a case series of MT insertion. We also discuss our institutional experience with safe pandemic‐era perioperative practices. There was no measured increase in aerosol particle number during the procedure at a distance of 30 cm from the external auditory canal. These initial data are reassuring regarding the risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission to the operating room team due to aerosol generation, but further study is necessary before making definitive recommendations.
Young Gazan Refugees, Sport and Social Media: Understanding Migration as a Process of Becoming
Authors: Thorpe Holly , Wheaton Belinda
Published: February 2021

Located at the intersection of two key literatures—refugee and sport migration studies—this article offers original insights into the lived and embodied experiences of young men migrating from Gaza to Europe. Drawing upon interviews with young Gazan men throughout the migration process and upon digital ethnography conducted from 2013 to 2018, it explains how these men used their physical prowess in the informal sport of parkour, combined with digital entrepreneurialism, to navigate alternative routes of migration to Europe. In prioritizing the young men’s narratives and offering rich empirical insight into the creative actions and strategic decisions made by youth at various stages throughout migration journeys, we challenge dominant portrayals of young refugees as “victims.” Migration is, thus, revealed as an ongoing and multi-dimensional process of becoming that operates within and across physical and digital spaces and over time. The first to evidence the struggles, creativity, and agency of Gazan youth in their efforts to escape lives of conflict and poverty, the article also prompts conceptual and methodological questions for youth and sport migration research. In particular, it highlights the need to explore the possibilities of digital methodologies for understanding the experiences of those in “hard to reach” places and those “on the move.”
White matter network damage mediates association between cerebrovascular disease and cognition
Authors: Hilal Saima , Liu Siwei , Wong Tien Yin , Vrooman Henri , Cheng Ching-Yu , Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy , Chen Christopher LH , Zhou Juan Helen
Published: February 2021

To determine whether white matter network disruption mediates the association between MRI markers of cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) and cognitive impairment. Participants (n = 253, aged ≥60 years) from the Epidemiology of Dementia in Singapore study underwent neuropsychological assessments and MRI. CeVD markers were defined as lacunes, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), microbleeds, cortical microinfarcts, cortical infarcts and intracranial stenosis (ICS). White matter microstructure damage was measured as fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity by tract based spatial statistics from diffusion tensor imaging. Cognitive function was summarized as domain-specific Z-scores.

Lacunar counts, WMH volume and ICS were associated with worse performance in executive function, attention, language, verbal and visual memory. These three CeVD markers were also associated with white matter microstructural damage in the projection, commissural, association, and limbic fibers. Path analyses showed that lacunar counts, higher WMH volume and ICS were associated with executive and verbal memory impairment via white matter disruption in commissural fibers whereas impairment in the attention, visual memory and language were mediated through projection fibers.

Our study shows that the abnormalities in white matter connectivity may underlie the relationship between CeVD and cognition. Further longitudinal studies are needed to understand the cause-effect relationship between CeVD, white matter damage and cognition.
Cerebral blood volume Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score predicts intracranial hemorrhage after thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke in an extended time window
Authors: Cao Yue-Zhou , Zhao Lin-Bo , Jia Zhen-Yu , Liu Qiang-Hui , Xu Xiao-Quan , Shi Hai-Bin , Liu Sheng
Published: February 2021

Background

Higher baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) was associated with a lower probability of hemorrhagic transformation in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Purpose

To investigate the predictive value of cerebral blood volume (CBV)-ASPECTS of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in AIS treated with thrombectomy selected by computed tomographic perfusion (CTP) in an extended time window.

Material and Methods

A total of 91 consecutive patients with AIS with large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation after thrombectomy in an extended time window were enrolled between January 2018 and September 2019. ICH was diagnosed according to Heidelberg Bleeding Classification. CBV-ASPECTS was assessed by evaluating each ASPECTS region for relatively low CBV value compared with the mirror region in the contralateral hemisphere. Demographic characteristics, clinical data, CBV-ASPECTS, and procedure process and results were compared between patients with ICH and those without.

Results

ICH occurred in 31/91 (34.1%) patients with AIS. Symptomatic ICH (sICH) was observed in 4 (4.4%) patients, while asymptomatic ICH (aICH) was seen in 27 (29.7%). In univariate analysis, both ICH and aICH were associated with high admission NIHSS score ( P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively), more passes of retriever ( P = 0.007 and P = 0.019, respectively), low NCCT-ASPECTS ( P = 0.013 and P = 0.034, respectively), and low CBV-ASPECTS ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). After multivariable analysis, low CBV-ASPECTS remained an independent predictor of ICH (odds ratio [OR] 0.521, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.371–0.732, P < 0.001) and aICH (OR 0.532, 95% CI 0.376–0.752, P < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusion

Low CBV-ASPECTS independently predicts ICH in patients with AIS treated with thrombectomy selected by CTP in an extended time window.
Effect of nutritional risk on cognitive function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Huang Yiben , Ma Jiedong , Jiang Bingqian , Yang Naiping , Fu Fangyi , Chen Xianjing , Liu Chunyan , Miao Xiaqi , Mao Huanhuan , Zheng Rongrong , Wang Jianing , Ding Keke , Zhang Xiaodiao
Published: February 2021

Objective

We aimed to clarify the cognitive function of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and different nutritional status.

Methods

Among 95 patients with COPD in this retrospective study, we administered the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We recorded patients’ clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and laboratory measurements. According to NRS 2002 scores, patients were divided into two groups: no nutritional risk with NRS 2002 < 3 ( n = 54) and nutritional risk, with NRS 2002 ≥ 3 ( n = 41).

Results

We found a negative correlation between NRS 2002 and MMSE scores in participants with COPD ( r = −0.313). Patients with nutritional risk were more likely to be cognitively impaired than those with no nutritional risk. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that malnutrition was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment, after adjusting for confounders (odds ratio [OR] = 4.120, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.072–15.837). We found a similar association between NRS 2002 and MMSE scores at 90-day follow-up using a Pearson’s correlation test ( r = −0.493) and logistic regression analysis (OR = 7.333, 95% CI: 1.114–48.264).

Conclusions

Patients with COPD at nutritional risk are more likely to have cognitive impairment.
Who Are the Compliant Correctional Clients? New Evidence on Protective Factors among Federal Supervised Releases
Authors: DeLisi Matt , Drury Alan , Elbert Michael
Published: February 2021

Protective factors facilitate success on community supervision, but relatively little is known about correctional clients who are highly compliant particularly in the federal system. Drawing on a near population of federal clients on supervised release in the Midwestern United States, the current study examined variables associated with compliant supervision status. One day on supervision contributed to a 1% reduction in the logged odds of supervision compliance. Clients with no drug history had 793% increased odds, clients with sustained remission had 620% increased odds, and clients with early remission had 458% increased odds of compliant supervision status relative to clients actively using drugs. Among the federal Post Conviction Risk Assessment (PCRA) indices, only PCRA Criminal History was significant as clients with less extensive criminal history were more likely to be compliant supervision clients. A one-unit change in PCRA Criminal History status was associated with 25% reduced odds of supervision compliance. Total conditions were inversely associated with compliant supervision status with each additional condition associated with a 19% reduced likelihood of compliant supervision status. None of the demographic variables was significantly associated with compliant supervision status. Implications of the findings for the protective factor paradigm in corrections are discussed.
Modeling Student Effort: Flat Tires and Dead Batteries
Authors: Lewer Joshua J. , Corbett Colin , Marcum Tanya M. , Highfill Jannett
Published: February 2021

This article develops a student effort model that considers several uncertainties students face: the chance of missing an exam as well as the uncertainty associated with translating knowledge into an exam grade. The model suggests that student effort increases when makeup exams are offered and when grading protocols are adopted that reduce knowledge-to-grade frictions; effects on student utility depend on time endowments, and leisure preferences.

JEL Classifications: A20, D81, I21
Externalizing Risk Pathways for Adolescent Substance Use and Its Developmental Onset: A Canadian Birth Cohort Study: Trajectoires de comportements extériorisés et le risque pour l’initiation et l’usage de substances des adolescents : Une étude de cohorte de naissance canadienne
Authors: Cox Sylvia Maria Leonarda , Castellanos-Ryan Natalie , Parent Sophie , Benkelfat Chawki , Vitaro Frank , Pihl Robert O. , Boivin Michel , Tremblay Richard E. , Leyton Marco , Séguin Jean Richard
Published: February 2021

Objective:

Only a minority of drug and alcohol users develops a substance use disorder. Previous studies suggest that this differential vulnerability commonly reflects a developmental trajectory characterized by diverse externalizing behaviors. In this study, we examined the relation between child and adolescent externalizing behaviors and adolescent substance use in a prospectively followed Canadian birth cohort, accounting for the temporal sequence of a wide variety of contributing factors.

Methods:

Two hundred and forty-two adolescents followed since birth (date range: 1996 to 2012) were assessed on externalizing behavior (age 17 months to 16 years), alcohol and cannabis use at age 16, age of alcohol use onset, family history of substance use problems, family functioning (age 11 to 15), sensation seeking (age 16), prenatal substance exposure, socioeconomic status (age 1 to 9), and sex.

Results:

Age of alcohol use onset was predicted by a family history of substance use problems, externalizing traits from ages 6 to 10 and 11 to 16, sensation seeking at age 16, prenatal alcohol and tobacco exposure and family functioning at ages 11 to 15. High frequencies of alcohol and cannabis use at age 16 were both predicted by externalizing traits from ages 11 to 16, a family history of substance use problems and sensation seeking after controlling for other individual, environmental and familial variables. The association between familial substance use problems and substance use during adolescence was partially mediated by externalizing traits from age 11 to 16.

Conclusions:

The present findings provide prospective evidence for a developmental risk pathway for adolescent substance use, potentially identifying those who could benefit from early interventions.
Moderating Factors in Culpability Ratings and Rape Proclivity in Stranger and Acquaintance Rape: Validation of Rape Vignettes in a Community Sample
Authors: Persson Sofia , Dhingra Katie
Published: February 2021

Rape is a serious concern globally. Past research has identified Ambivalent Sexism (AS), Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA), and the victim–perpetrator relationship as key constructs influencing rape blame attributions and rape proclivity. Limitations with methodologies have, however, limited the practical implications of past research, particularly in the context of underpowered samples and a lack of transparency in vignette development and implementation. In the current research, three studies aimed to validate material to be used in research into rape perceptions and to examine the impact of victim–perpetrator relationship, AS, and RMA on victim and perpetrator culpability, and rape proclivity, using an experimental design. On 563 participants, this research developed and validated six rape vignettes which accounted for methodological limitations of past research (Study One) and were found to be believable and realistic by participants; it further found that aggressively sexist attitudes were associated with increased victim culpability and decreased perpetrator culpability (Study Two), and increased rape proclivity (Study Three). Scenarios of a casual acquaintance produced the highest levels of victim culpability and the lowest levels of perpetrator culpability. Victims were ascribed more control than blame, or responsibility. Men reported the highest levels of rape proclivity in scenarios of casual acquaintance, and intimate partner relationships. Contrary to past research, Benevolent Sexism (BS) did not directly impact attributions in rape cases but may maintain and legitimize the attitudes, which do. As some of our findings contradict past research, we suggest that the need for standardized rape vignettes is evident, along with greater transparency and methodological rigor in sexual assault research, as this will improve the practical implications of findings. Reproducible research practices may be useful for this. While limited in diversity, this research has important implications for policy and research practice, particularly in producing validated material that can be reused by future researchers.
The “Best of 2020 List” of Health Promotion Researchers
Authors: Terry Paul E.
Published: February 2021

Each year, the editorial team of the American Journal of Health Promotion selects our “Best of the Year List” of health promotion studies from the prior year. This editorial features the Editor’s picks, the Editor in Chief’s favorites and other award categories for the research and writing published in 2020 in this journal. Our criteria for selection includes: whether the study addresses a topic of timely importance in health promotion, the research question is clearly stated and the methodologies used are well executed; whether the paper is often cited and downloaded; if the study findings offer a unique contribution to the literature; and if the paper is well-written and enjoyable to read. Awardees in 2020 offered new insights into confronting systemic racism, the impact of state health policies on eating behaviors, the role of leaders in influencing employee health practices and the role of physicians in influencing patient health practices. You will see how researchers are studying psychological and emotional resiliency in ever more specific populations.
Enhancing Self-Efficacy During Community Service: Factors Influencing AmeriCorps’ Members’ Change in Self-Efficacy
Authors: Ma Yinglin , Tschirhart Mary
Published: February 2021

Our study uses a social cognitive theory lens to examine the development of AmeriCorps’ members’ context-specific self-efficacy (self-efficacy to perform community service). The analysis uses panel survey data from 189 Ohio State AmeriCorps members collected at the beginning and end of their service terms in 2017–2018 or 2018–2019. Using a random-effects model, the results indicate that generally self-efficacy increased from beginning to end of the service term. Perceptions of having performance accomplishments, having positive role models, and receiving useful feedback significantly increased self-efficacy to perform community service, while experiencing service stress diminished self-efficacy development.
Tribological properties of bismaleimide reinforced with Si-containing benzoxazine monomer
Authors: Yang Ju-xiang , Jia Yuan , Li Pengna , Sun Ping
Published: February 2021

To improve the mechanical and tribological properties of bismaleimide (BMI) resin, a novel Si-containing benzoxazine (Si-BOZ) monomer was synthesized using a solvent process and N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane as a silane coupling agent. The novel Si-BOZ monomer was subsequently blended with BMI to prepare Si-BOZ/BMI polymer alloys. Furthermore, the effect of Si-BOZ content on the mechanical, tribological, and thermal properties of Si-BOZ/BMI alloys was investigated. The results revealed that the addition of Si-BOZ to BMI improved the mechanical properties and wear resistance of Si-BOZ/BMI; moreover, the glass transition temperature of cured Si-BOZ/BMI alloys was lower than that of pure BMI resin. These results confirmed that the increase in wear resistance of Si-BOZ/BMI alloys can be attributed to the increase in thermal resistance and improvement in mechanical performance owing to the addition of Si-BOZ.
Delivering WASH education at scale: evidence from a global MOOC series
Authors: Suter Fabian , Lüthi Christoph
Published: February 2021

The water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector is facing a shortfall of several million appropriately skilled professionals. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) can play a crucial role in addressing this. This paper presents the case study of the MOOC series “Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development”, which has reached over 120,000 learners within six years. It has attracted mainly well-educated, employed learners, under 34 years old, from Asia, Latin America and Africa. Underrepresentation of female learners remains a challenge. While MOOCs have proven excellent for delivering WASH education at scale, some alternative formats (e.g. blended learning, small private online courses) allow more collaborative, interactive learning environments. Three practical examples from Nigeria, Indonesia and Mozambique indicate the potential for synergies among MOOCs and further learning formats. With the global shift towards digital learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MOOCs have gained further traction.
HIV care cascade among cisgender men who have sex with men in a key population-led community center in the Philippines
Authors: Eustaquio Patrick C , Docken Steffen S , Leyritana Katerina T , Wulandari Luh Putu Lila
Published: February 2021

The HIV epidemic in the Philippines is the fastest growing globally, and disproportionately affects cisgender men who have sex with men (cis-MSM) demanding effective strategies for this key population (KP) group. KP-specific and community-based (CB) interventions have improved the HIV response elsewhere, but these have yet to be evaluated locally. We analyzed the HIV care cascade outcomes in a KP-led, CB HIV test-and-treat center and determined factors that affect these by performing a retrospective study of medical records of 3137 patients diagnosed from January 2016 to March 2019 in LoveYourself in Manila, Philippines. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine predictors affecting the likelihood of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and viral load (VL) suppression. As to UNAIDS 90–90–90 targets, LoveYourself had higher rates than national outcomes with 78% initiated ART and 84% achieved VL suppression. Such satisfactory performance is consistent with other studies exploring CB, KP-led approaches among cis-MSM. Patients who presented with WHO Stages 2–4 and those with sexually transmitted infections were less likely to initiate ART. Patients who presented with WHO Stages 2–4 and those whose ART was started late were less likely to be virally suppressed. These findings suggest the need to develop responsive interventions to reach the UNAIDS targets.
Late-Holocene landscape evolution of a delta from foredune ridges: Seyhan Delta, Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey
Authors: Özpolat Emrah , Şahiner Eren , Özcan Orkan , Demir Tuncer , Owen Lewis A
Published: February 2021

The Çukurova Delta Complex, formed by the Seyhan, Ceyhan, and Berdan rivers, is the second-largest delta system in the Mediterranean. The delta complex is a major depocenter that contains sediments transported from the Taurus Mountain belt since the Miocene. Studies on the Quaternary landscape evolution of the Çukurova Delta Complex are scarce, and in particular, the Holocene evolution of the Seyhan Delta section of the Çukurova Delta Complex has been poorly understood. Sedimentological analysis, high-resolution digital elevation models derived using structure from motion, and optically stimulated luminescence dating of the foredune ridges in the Seyhan Delta help define the lesser-known nature of Late-Holocene paleoenvironmental and landscape evolution of the Seyhan section of the Çukurova Delta Complex. The foredune ridges provide evidence that the Akyatan Lagoon, one of Turkey’s largest lagoon, formed at the beginning of the last millennium. The ridges bordering the north and south of Tuzla Lagoon show that the lagoon completed its formation between the 11th and 14th centuries when the ancient delta was to the east. The Seyhan River flowed 10 km east from its current course until at least the 16th Century, and its ancient delta was active until that time. After the 16th Century, the Seyhan River shifted to its current course in the west and began to build the modern delta and the youngest foredune ridges were formed by a combination of aeolian and littoral processes. The contemporary delta continued to prograde until the construction of the Seyhan Dam in AD 1956. Since the construction of the Seyhan Dam, the delta shoreline at the river mouth retreated drastically and foredune formation stopped. In the past few decades, most of the foredune ridges have been eroded away by coastal processes and agricultural activities.
Safety analysis of percutaneous needle electrolysis: a study of needle composition, morphology, and electrical resistance
Authors: Margalef Ramón , Bosque Marc , Minaya-Muñoz Francisco , Valera-Garrido Fermín , Santafe Manel M
Published: February 2021

Background:

Percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) consists of a galvanic current combined with the insertion of a solid needle into the tissues of the musculoskeletal system. The application of a galvanic current through a needle can alter the morphology and composition during treatment application. This procedure may also provoke a localized temperature increase.

Aim:

The aim was to evaluate the safety of the PNE procedure by analyzing possible alterations of the needles employed.

Methods:

Physio Invasiva® and AguPunt EPI® brand needles, commonly used for the application of this technique, were analyzed in response to three different treatment protocols. Temperature changes were evaluated with the needles immersed in a test tube containing Ringer’s solution, and electrical resistance was evaluated with a multimeter. The morphology of the needles, pre- and post-treatment, was examined with a scanning electron microscope (FEI Quanta 600), and the composition of the needles was evaluated using RX diffusion with Oxford Instruments software.

Results:

Ringer’s solution contained in the test tubes examined did not present temperature changes. No changes were observed in the needles under investigation with respect to electrical resistance, morphology, or composition with a protocol applying 3-mA intensity for 3 s and three applications. However, important morphological alterations were observed that affected needle composition after 50 applications (at 3 mA for 3 s).

Conclusion:

PNE, applied according to conventional protocols, appeared to be safe and athermal, and did not provoke a loss of metal particles or modify the morphology of the needles used when studied in vitro.
Development and characterization of sodium alginate/poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) composite films for release behavior of ciprofloxacin hydrogen chloride monohydrate
Authors: Sarwar M Sohail , Ghaffar Abdul , Huang Qingrong
Published: February 2021

Biopolymers, in particular polysaccharides, have attracted considerable interest in the field of drug delivery due to their biodegradable and biocompatible nature. This study is focused on the preparation and characterization of drug delivery devices based on sodium alginate (SA) composite films with poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS). The prepared composite films were characterized for the determination of physiochemical properties, molecular interactions, and drug release behavior. The possible intermolecular hydrogen bonding between SA and PSS was determined by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Surface characterization was done using AFM. Polymeric films consisted of pristine SA and PSS exhibited relatively uniform and flat surfaces. However, the composite films showed phase separation that became more prominent as the concentration of PSS in the composite films was increased up to 40% (w/w). The contact angle (CA) values, using deionized water as a function of time (s), were ranging from 74° to 90°, and a decrease in CA (64° to 76°) was recorded for each composite film till 40 s. These CA values revealed that all the composite films were hydrophobic. It was observed that as the concentration of PSS in the films increased, hydrophobicity slightly varied as compared to the blank films of SA and PSS. Maximum CA (89°) was shown by a composite film having SA/PSS (90/10). Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride monohydrate (CPX), a model drug, loaded in a suitable composite film (cross-linked with 0.3 M CaCl2 solution) and drug release was evaluated in pH 1.2 simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and pH 7.4 phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution. In SGF, around 90% of the model drug was released in 110 min that was approximately 77% in the case of PBS. Therefore, it was concluded that a sustained drug release behavior was exhibited in SGF as compared to PBS solution. These results suggest that these films are a promising and may potentially be subjected to study further their drug delivery behavior in applications like wound dressing.

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Frontiers in Flux: Indo-Tibetan Border: 1946–1948
Authors: Gupta Sonika
Published: February 2021

On the eve of Indian Independence, as Britain prepared to devolve the Crown’s treaties with Tibet to the Indian government, the Tibetan government was debating its future treaty relationship with India under the 1914 Simla Convention and associated Indo-Tibetan Trade Regulations. Soon after Indian independence, Tibetan government made an expansive demand for return of Tibetan territory along the McMahon Line and beyond. This led to a long diplomatic exchange between Lhasa, New Delhi and London as India deliberated its response to the Tibetan demand. This article decodes the voluminous correspondence between February 1947 and January 1948 that flowed between the British/Indian Mission in Lhasa, the Political Officer in Sikkim, External Affairs Ministry in Delhi and the Foreign Office in London, on the Simla Convention and the ensuing Tibetan territorial demand. Housed at the National Archives in New Delhi, this declassified confidential communication provides crucial context for newly independent Indian state’s relationship with Tibet. It also reveals the intricacies of Tibetan elite politics that affected decision-making in Lhasa translating to a fragmented and often contradictory policy in forging its new relationship with India. Most importantly, this Tibetan territorial demand undermined the diplomatic efficacy of Tibet’s 1947 Trade Mission to India entangling its outcome with the resolution of this issue. This was a lost opportunity for both India and Tibet in building an agreement on the frontier which worked to their mutual disadvantage in the future.
Analysis of blood clotting with the total thrombus analysis system in healthy dogs
Authors: Iwanaga Tomoko , Fukushima Ryuji , Nagasato Tomoka , Maruyama Ikuro , Miura Naoki
Published: February 2021

To date, coagulation tests are unable to reflect in vivo coagulation status in the same system, including platelet function, fibrin clot formation, and whole blood flow. The Total Thrombus Analysis System (T-TAS), which is a microfluidic assay that simulates conditions in vivo, measures whole blood flow at defined shear rates under conditions designed to assess platelet function (PL-chip) or coagulation and fibrin clot formation (AR-chip). The T-TAS records occlusion start time, occlusion time, and area under the curve. We evaluated this test in healthy control dogs. We also investigated the effect in vivo of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and the effect in vitro of an anticoagulation drug (dalteparin; low-molecular-weight heparin; LMWH). The CV of the AUC of both chips was good (CVs of 6.45% [PL] and 1.57% [AR]). The inhibition of platelet function by ASA was evident in the right-shift in the PL test pressure curve. The right-shift in the AR test pressure curves showed that the administration of LMWH inhibited both platelets and the coagulation cascade. The T-TAS may be useful in the evaluation of canine blood coagulation.
Scavenging energy from a vibrating building using distributed electromagnetic energy harvesters with nonlinear circuits
Authors: Loong Cheng Ning , Chang Chih-Chen
Published: February 2021

The energy scavenged from a vibrating building installed with distributed electromagnetic energy harvesters under random excitation is analyzed. Each harvester is connected to an energy harvesting circuit made of a full-wave bridge rectifier connecting a resistor in parallel with a capacitor. Statistical linearization is adopted to estimate the stationary response of the harvester-structure system. As an illustrative example, a 20-story building equipped with 16 harvesters on each story is examined. Results show that the scavenged energy mainly concentrates at the higher stories. The vibration mitigation and energy scavenging performance of the harvesters can be enhanced simultaneously with the proper design of harvesters and circuits. Gradient ascent approach with the first-order perturbation approximation is proposed to determine the optimal design of distributed harvesters with nonlinear circuits that maximizes the total mean output power. Results show that output power decreases due to circuit nonlinearity. The maximum total mean output power obtained from the 20-story building under wind excitations with mean speed of 5 m/s is around 1.32–2.17 kW for harvesters having short-circuit damping coefficient ranging 100–300 kNs/m. These results show that scavenging energy from structural vibration is a feasible technology even considering the negative effect of circuit nonlinearity.
Advance Care Planning—Complex and Working: Longitudinal Trajectory of Congruence in End-of-Life Treatment Preferences: An RCT
Authors: Lyon Maureen E. , Caceres Sarah , Scott Rachel K. , Benator Debra , Briggs Linda , Greenberg Isabella , D’Angelo Lawrence J. , Cheng Yao I. , Wang Jichuan ,   for the Palliative Care Consortium
Published: February 2021

Context:

The effect of advance care planning (ACP) interventions on the trajectory of end-of-life treatment preference congruence between patients and surrogate decision-makers is unstudied.

Objective:

To identify unobserved distinctive patterns of congruence trajectories and examine how the typology of outcome development differed between ACP and controls.

Methods:

Multisite, assessor-blinded, intent-to-treat, randomized clinical trial enrolled participants between October 2013 to March 2017 from 5 hospital-based HIV clinics. Persons living with HIV(PLWH)/surrogate dyads were randomized to 2 weekly 60-minute sessions: ACP (1) ACP facilitated conversation, (2) advance directive completion; or Control (1) Developmental/relationship history, (2) Nutrition/Exercise. Growth Mixed Modeling was used for 18-month post-intervention analysis.

Findings:

223 dyads (N = 449 participants) were enrolled. PLWH were 56% male, aged 22 to 77 years, and 86% African American. Surrogates were 56% female, aged 18 to 82 years, and 84% African American. Two latent classes (High vs. Low) of congruence growth trajectory were identified. ACP influenced the trajectory of outcome growth (congruence in all 5 AIDS related situations) by latent class. ACP dyads had a significantly higher probability of being in the High Congruence latent class compared to controls (52%, 75/144 dyads versus 27%, 17/62 dyads, p = 0.001). The probabilities of perfect congruence diminished at 3-months post-intervention but was then sustained. ACP had a significant effect (β = 1.92, p = 0.006, OR = 7.10, 95%C.I.: 1.729, 26.897) on the odds of being in the High Congruence class.

Conclusion:

ACP had a significant effect on the trajectory of congruence growth over time. ACP dyads had 7 times the odds of congruence, compared to controls. Three-months post-intervention is optimal for booster sessions.