bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aggression in ADHD: relation to salivary cortisol
Authors: El Ghamry Reem H. , Mohamed Mona M. , Azzam Hanan M. , Elhabiby Mahmoud M. , Hasan Haytham M. , Hashish Adel F. , Elhamshary Mohammed M. , Barakat Doaa M. H.
Published: May 2021

Background

Study of cortisol levels in patients with ADHD in correlation with aggressive behaviors associated with ADHD has received limited research attention. This factor is essential for comprehending the psychopathophysiology of ADHD and its comorbidities. The present study aimed to investigate the cortisol level in ADHD children and its relation to severity of symptoms and associated aggressive behavior in those children. The sample consisted of 129 patients and 80 healthy controls evaluated by administering the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children, The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Conners’ parent rating scale, problem scale of C.B.C.L., and Socioeconomic Status Scale. Salivary cortisol was measured using radio-immune assay.

Results

Salivary cortisol level in our ADHD subjects was significantly lower (11.826 ng/ml) than in the control group (19.619 ng/ml with P-value 0.001). Our results failed to find any correlation between ADHD symptoms severity and salivary cortisol levels. Severity of delinquent, aggressive, and externalizing behaviors of ADHD children positively correlated with cortisol salivary levels.

Conclusion

Salivary cortisol levels are lower in children with ADHD relative to age- and sex-matched healthy controls. In addition, there is no obvious correlation between severity of ADHD symptoms and basal salivary cortisol levels. We also concluded that there is positive correlation between delinquent, aggressive, and externalizing behaviors in children with ADHD and their basal salivary cortisol levels.
Neglected reactive arthritis complicated by bilateral hip and temporomandibular joints ankylosis after a suspected tetanus infection: a case report
Authors: Mahran Mohamed A. , Khalifa Ahmed A. , Elsherif Mohamed Eslam , Refai Omar
Published: May 2021

Background

Reactive arthritis had been reported to occur after various vaccinations, including the tetanus toxoid vaccine; here, we report a case of ankylosing arthropathy suggested to be a complication of missed neglected reactive arthritis after tetanus infection.

Case presentation

A healthy 20-year-old woman presented with subtrochanteric right femoral fracture; imaging studies showed bilateral ankylosed hip, kyphoscoliosis, bilateral fused temporomandibular joints, and normal sacroiliac joints bilaterally. Laboratory investigations for a rheumatic or autoimmune disease were all within normal ranges. Detailed history revealed admission of the patient to an ICU unit (1 year before the trauma) for a month as she was diagnosed as having tetanus infection, after which she was unable to walk or feed herself. At the final follow-up, the patient started walking with a moderate limb after having a series of surgeries including femoral fracture fixation, temporomandibular joint excision arthroplasty, and bilateral total hip arthroplasty.

Conclusion

Unusual complications after tetanus infection can occur in the form of joint ankylosis, which could be presented after prolonged immobilization possibly due to improper management of reactive arthritis.
3D hybrid imaging based on gravity migration and regularized focusing inversion to predict the Poyang Basin interface
Authors: Xu Zhengwei , Wang Rui , Xiong Wei , Wang Jian , Wang Dian
Published: May 2021

Describing and understanding the basement relief of sedimentary basins is vital for oil and gas exploration. The traditional method to map an interface in each spatial direction is based on 3D modeling of gravity Bouguer anomalies with variable lateral and vertical density contrasts using a priori information derived from other types of geoscience data sets as constraints (e.g., well and/or seismic data). However, in the preexploration stage, vertical gravity [Formula: see text], which is sometimes the only available geophysical data, is typically used to recover smooth density contrast distributions under a generic set of constraints. Apparently, the use of the [Formula: see text] component is not sufficient to produce geologically reasonable interpretations with high resolution. To address this, we have developed a novel process of hybrid inversion, combining gravity migration and inversion using the same [Formula: see text] data set, to distinguish the complicated interface between basement and sedimentary basin rocks from a full-space inverted density distribution volume. First, a 3D-migrated model delineating the basic sedimentary basin structure is derived using a focusing gravity iterative migration method, where a priori information is not necessary. Subsequently, under the framework of the regularized focusing conjugate inversion algorithm, a high-resolution density contrast model is inverted for delineation of the basement boundary by integrating the 3D-migrated density model as a priori information. We examine the method using one synthetic example and a field data case, of which a transformed resolution density matrix is developed from logarithmic space to qualitatively evaluate the practical resolutions. The high resolution of the density distribution of the Cretaceous basement with a clear interface is achieved and verified by limited seismic data and strata markers in limited wells.
Fluid and lithofacies prediction based on integration of well-log data and seismic inversion: A machine-learning approach
Authors: Zhao Luanxiao , Zou Caifeng , Chen Yuanyuan , Shen Wenlong , Wang Yirong , Chen Huaizhen , Geng Jianhua
Published: May 2021

Seismic prediction of fluid and lithofacies distribution is of great interest to reservoir characterization, geologic model building, and flow unit delineation. Inferring fluids and lithofacies from seismic data under the framework of machine learning is commonly subject to issues of limited features, imbalanced data sets, and spatial constraints. As a consequence, an extreme gradient boosting-based workflow, which takes feature engineering, data balancing, and spatial constraints into account, is proposed to predict the fluid and lithofacies distribution by integrating well-log and seismic data. The constructed feature set based on simple mathematical operations and domain knowledge outperforms the benchmark group consisting of conventional elastic attributes of P-impedance and [Formula: see text] ratio. A radial basis function characterizing the weights of training samples according to the distances from the available wells to the target region is developed to impose spatial constraints on the model training process, significantly improving the prediction accuracy and reliability of gas sandstone. The strategy combining the synthetic minority oversampling technique and spatial constraints further increases the F1 score of gas sandstone and also benefits the overall prediction performance of all of the facies. The application of the combined strategy on prestack seismic inversion results generates a more geologically reasonable spatial distribution of fluids, thus verifying the robustness and effectiveness of our workflow.
The Golden Hour: Sustainability and Clinical Outcomes of Adequate Time to Antibiotic Administration in Children with Cancer and Febrile Neutropenia in Northwestern Mexico
Authors: Gonzalez Miriam L. , Aristizabal Paula , Loera-Reyna Adriana , Torres Dara , Ornelas-Sánchez Mario , Nuño-Vázquez Laura , Aguilera Marco , Sánchez Alicia , Romano Mitzy , Rivera-Gómez Rebeca , Relyea George , Friedrich Paola , Caniza Miguela A.
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE

Time to antibiotic administration (TTA) is a commonly used standard of care in pediatric cancer settings in high-income countries. Effective interventions to improve outcomes in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) often address timely and appropriate antibiotic administration. We assessed the effectiveness of a locally adapted multimodal strategy in decreasing TTA in a resource-constrained pediatric cancer center in Mexico.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective observational study between January 2014 and April 2019. A three-phase (phase I: execution, phase II: consolidation, phase III: sustainability) multimodal improvement strategy that combined system change, FN guideline development, education, auditing and monitoring, mentoring, and dissemination was implemented to decrease TTA in inpatient and ambulatory areas. Sustainability factors were measured by using a validated tool during phases I and III.

RESULTS

Our population included 105 children with cancer with 204 FN events. The baseline assessment revealed that only 50% of patients received antibiotics within 60 minutes of prescription (median time: inpatient, 75 minutes; ambulatory, 65 minutes). After implementing our improvement strategy, the percentage of patients receiving antibiotics within 60 minutes of prescription increased to 88%. We significantly decreased median TTA in both clinical areas during the three phases of the study. In phase III (sustainability), the median TTA was 40 minutes ( P = .023) in the inpatient area and 30 minutes ( P = .012) in the ambulatory area. The proportion of patients with sepsis decreased from 30% (baseline) to 5% (phase III) ( P = .001).

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that locally adapted multimodal interventions can reduce TTA in resource-constrained settings. Mentoring and dissemination were novel components of the multimodal strategy to improve FN-associated clinical outcomes. Improving local infrastructure, ongoing monitoring systems, and leadership engagement have been key factors to achieving sustainability during the 5-year period.
Prevalence of Targetable Mutations in Black Patients With Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Costa Philippos A. , Saul Eduardo E. , Paul Yonette , Iyer Sunil , da Silva Laercio Lopes , Tamariz Leonardo , Lopes Gilberto
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE:

Inferior outcomes of Black patients with lung cancer compared with other racial groups are often linked to socioeconomic factors. It is crucial to determine whether a varying prevalence of targetable mutations limits treatments and contributes to disparities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We conducted a meta-analysis on the prevalence of lung cancer EGFR, ALK, ROS-1, and BRAF mutations in Black patients compared with White, Hispanic, and Asian patients. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Google Scholar, and clinicaltrials.gov databases. We selected studies reporting the prevalence of at least one mutation in the Black population. We calculated the pooled prevalence of mutations using fixed effects, exact binomial distributions, and Freeman-Turkey double arcsine transformation to stabilize the variances.

RESULTS:

Twenty studies with 11,867 patients were included. In Black patients, EGFR was the most prevalent mutation (6%; 95% CI, 5 to 7), followed by BRAF (1%; 95% CI, 0 to 2), ALK (1%; 95% CI, 0 to 2), and ROS-1 (0%; 95% CI, 0 to 1). Black patients had a lower prevalence of EGFR mutations than White, Hispanic, and Asian patients ( P < .01). BRAF mutations were less prevalent in Black compared with White patients ( P < .05), and ALK mutations were less prevalent when compared with Hispanic patients ( P < .05).

CONCLUSION:

EGFR is the most frequent mutation found in Black patients, although its prevalence is lower than that in other races. Black patients have a low overall prevalence of ALK, ROS-1, and BRAF mutations. Given that disproportional eligibility for targeted therapies may be contributing to inferior outcomes, research focused on the Black population is needed to evaluate specific tumor characteristics and therapeutic strategies.
Perceived Institutional Barriers Among Clinical and Research Professionals: Minority Participation in Oncology Clinical Trials
Authors: Niranjan Soumya J. , Wenzel Jennifer A. , Martin Michelle Y. , Fouad Mona N. , Vickers Selwyn M. , Konety Badrinath R. , Durant Raegan W.
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE:

In general, participation rates in cancer clinical trials are very low. However, participation rates are especially low among the socially disadvantaged and racial and ethnic minority groups. These groups have been historically under-represented in cancer clinical trials. Although many patient-related barriers have been studied, institutional factors that are essential for building clinical research infrastructure around the clinical trial enterprise in academic medical centers have been underexplored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We assessed perspectives of cancer center professional stakeholders on the institutional factors that can potentially influence racial and ethnic minority recruitment for cancer clinical trials. Ninety-one qualitative interviews were conducted at five US cancer centers among four stakeholder groups: cancer center leaders, principal investigators, referring clinicians, and research staff. Qualitative analyses examined response data focused on institutional factors related to minority recruitment for cancer clinical trials.

RESULTS:

Four prominent themes emerged regarding institutional barriers among clinical and research professionals. (1) There are no existing programs currently being used to recruit or retain minorities to clinical trials. (2) Institutional efforts are needed to increase trial participation and are not specific to potential minority participants. (3) Access to cancer clinical trials and navigation within an Academic Medical Center need to be simplified to better facilitate recruitment of minority patients. (4) Community outreach by cancer centers will increase clinical research awareness in the community.

CONCLUSION:

Our research highlights the need to address institutional barriers to improve the success of minority recruitment. To increase participation among minority populations, medical centers must address mutable institutional barriers such as setting specific minority recruitment goals for cancer clinical trials, ensuring that cancer clinical trials are accessible, especially to minority patients, and supporting sustained community outreach programs to increase clinical research awareness.
Fragmentation of Care Among Black Women With Breast Cancer and Comorbidities: The Role of Health Systems
Authors: Doose Michelle , Sanchez Janeth I. , Cantor Joel C. , Plascak Jesse J. , Steinberg Michael B. , Hong Chi-Chen , Demissie Kitaw , Bandera Elisa V. , Tsui Jennifer
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE:

Black women are disproportionately burdened by comorbidities and breast cancer. The complexities of coordinating care for multiple health conditions can lead to adverse consequences. Care coordination may be exacerbated when care is received outside the same health system, defined as care fragmentation. We examine types of practice setting for primary and breast cancer care to assess care fragmentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of Black women diagnosed with breast cancer in New Jersey who also had a prior diagnosis of diabetes and/or hypertension (N = 228). Following breast cancer diagnosis, we examined types of practice setting for first primary care visit and primary breast surgery, through medical chart abstraction, and identified whether care was used within or outside the same health system. We used multivariable logistic regression to explore sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with care fragmentation.

RESULTS:

Diverse primary care settings were used: medical groups (32.0%), health systems (29.4%), solo practices (23.7%), Federally Qualified Health Centers (8.3%), and independent hospitals (6.1%). Surgical care predominately occurred in health systems (79.8%), with most hospitals being Commission on Cancer–accredited. Care fragmentation was experienced by 78.5% of Black women, and individual-level factors (age, health insurance, cancer stage, and comorbidity count) were not associated with care fragmentation ( P > .05).

CONCLUSION:

The majority of Black breast cancer survivors with comorbidities received primary care and surgical care in different health systems, illustrating care fragmentation. Strategies for care coordination and health care delivery across health systems and practice settings are needed for health equity.
Cancer Disparities and Black American Representation in Clinical Trials Leading to the Approval of Oral Chemotherapy Drugs in the United States Between 2009 and 2019
Authors: Ajewole Veronica B. , Akindele Oyinkansola , Abajue Uzoamaka , Ndulue Okwuoma , Marshall Jazzmin J. , Mossi Yhenew T.
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE:

Over the past 10 years, oral chemotherapy made up about half (45.6%) of all US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved oncolytic and hematologic medications. Given the disparity in incidence and mortality rate because of certain cancers among Black Americans (BAs) in the United States, a review of BA’s representation in the clinical trials that lead to the development and FDA approval of oral chemotherapy drugs becomes imperative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reporting of race and inclusion of BA in clinical trials that led to the approval of oral chemotherapy medications by the FDA from 2009 to 2019 in the United States. Additionally, we evaluated the inclusion of BAs in clinical trials of three cancer types with the highest disparity rates among BAs (lung, breast, and prostate).

METHODS:

A retrospective review of all FDA-approved oral chemotherapy drug from 2009-2019 was obtained using the FDA’s Hematology/Oncology Approvals & Safety Notifications website. Reports of racial and demographics inclusion were obtained from the clinical trials registry.

RESULTS:

Primary outcome: 142 clinical trials led to FDA approval of 81 oral chemotherapy agents between 2009 and 2019, among which 74 (52%) reported on at least one race and were included in our analysis. 35,933 participants were enrolled in these 74 clinical trials, among which 25,684 (71.47%), 6,061 (16.87%), 889 (2.47%), and 826 (2.30%) were White, Asian, Black, and Hispanic, respectively. BAs were also under-represented in the clinical trials of three cancer types with the highest disparity rates among this population.

CONCLUSION:

BAs were under-represented in clinical trials leading to FDA approval of oral chemotherapy drugs. There should be more BAs in cancer clinical trials to increase the generalizability of the results, improve outcomes, and eventually close the health disparity gap among this patient population.
Barriers to and Facilitators of Recruitment of Adult African American Men for Colorectal Cancer Research: An Instrumental Exploratory Case Study
Authors: Rogers Charles R. , Matthews Phung , Brooks Ellen , Le Duc Nathan , Washington Chasity , McKoy Alicia , Edmonson Al , Lange LaJune , Fetters Michael D.
Published: May 2021

PURPOSE:

Racial and ethnic minorities remain underrepresented in research and clinical trials. Better understanding of the components of effective minority recruitment into research studies is critical to understanding and reducing health disparities. Research on recruitment strategies for cancer-specific research—including colorectal cancer (CRC)—among African American men is particularly limited. We present an instrumental exploratory case study examining successful and unsuccessful strategies for recruiting African American men into focus groups centered on identifying barriers to and facilitators of CRC screening completion.

METHODS:

The parent qualitative study was designed to explore the social determinants of CRC screening uptake among African American men 45-75 years of age. Recruitment procedures made use of community-based participatory research strategies combined with built community relationships, including the use of trusted community members, culturally tailored marketing materials, and incentives.

RESULTS:

Community involvement and culturally tailored marketing materials facilitated recruitment. Barriers to recruitment included limited access to public spaces, transportation difficulties, and medical mistrust leading to reluctance to participate.

CONCLUSION:

The use of strategies such as prioritizing community relationship building, partnering with community leaders and gatekeepers, and using culturally tailored marketing materials can successfully overcome barriers to the recruitment of African American men into medical research studies. To improve participation and recruitment rates among racial and ethnic minorities in cancer-focused research studies, future researchers and clinical trial investigators should aim to broaden recruitment, strengthen community ties, offer incentives, and use multifaceted approaches to address specific deterrents such as medical mistrust and economic barriers.
Similar Stage-dependent Survival and Outcome in Sporadic and Hereditary Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Raue Friedhelm , Bruckner Thomas , Frank-Raue Karin
Published: May 2021

Context

Long-term data are scarce on large cohorts with sporadic (sMTC) and hereditary medullary thyroid carcinoma (hMTC).

Objectives

To compare long-term disease-specific survival (DSS) and outcomes between sMTC and hMTC groups.

Design

Retrospective analysis.

Setting

German tertiary referral center.

Patients

A total of 673 patients with MTC that underwent surgery from January 1974 to July 2019.

Intervention

None (observational study).

Main Outcome Measure

Differences between sMTC and hMTC in long-term, stage-dependent survival and outcomes.

Results

Surgery was performed at median ages of 49 years for sMTC (n = 477, 44% male) and 29 years for hMTC (n = 196, 43% male; P < 0.0001). The mean follow-up times were 9.2 ± 8.0 (sMTC) and 14.6 ± 10.3 years (hMTC). Age and tumor stage at diagnosis were significantly different between the 2 groups (P < 0.0001). The sMTC and hMTC groups had different overall DSS (log rank, P = 0.0183), but similar stage-dependent DSS (log rank, P = 0.1242-0.8981). In a multivariate analysis, sMTC and hMTC did not differ in DSS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.56; 95% CI, 0.94-2.57), but in both groups, a worse DSS was significantly associated with age at diagnosis (HR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.05), male sex (HR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.32–0.76), and stages III and IV at diagnosis (HR = 20.00; 95% CI, 2.74-145.91 and HR = 97.47; 95% CI, 13.07-726.67, respectively). The groups had significantly different (P < 0.0001) outcomes (i.e., cured, minimal residual disease, structural detectable disease, and death), but similar stage-dependent outcomes (P = 0.9449-0.0511), except for stage III (P = 0.0489).

Conclusion

Patients with sMTC and hMTC had different ages of onset, but similar stage-dependent DSS and outcomes after the MTC diagnosis. This finding suggested that tumor behavior was similar in sMTC and hMTC.
Development of an Automated Technology Platform for Preoperative Triage and Patient Preparation
Authors: Feng Aiden Y. , Kang Daniel , Hepner David L. , Bader, Angela M.
Published: May 2021

A proof of concept study was conducted to implement an automated preoperative triage and preparation service with 2 components: (1) triage between preoperative visits and phone screens, and (2) delivery of preoperative instructions to patients. The study enrolled 2604 patients, of whom 75.7% completed the preoperative triage questionnaire and 47.6% were triaged to preoperative phone screens. For the preoperative preparation component, 90.8% of patients viewed surgery preparation instructions, and average patient satisfaction score was 9.3/10. An automated preoperative triage and preparation service can facilitate preoperative triage using patient self-reported information and guide patient preparation with instructions delivered at relevant times.
Pedagogy to Disrupt the Echo Chamber
Authors: Traester Mary , Kervina Chris , Brathwaite Noel Holton
Published: May 2021

This article addresses the challenges of fake news and echo chambers in the digital age by exploring the possibility that susceptibility to misinformation derives not from an inevitable fault in the medium of digital publishing but, rather, from the slower development and adoption of pedagogies that leverage digital tools for reading. The authors examined student annotations and argue that focusing on reading using collaborative digital annotation can stimulate knowledge acquisition and personal belief formation and, further, can assist educators to evaluate the effectiveness of instruction and intervene where needed. Digital annotation tools promote affective and cognitive engagement with texts and enable both instructor-to-peer and peer-to-peer modeling of reading strategies.
N1-acetylspermidine is a determinant of hair follicle stem cell fate
Authors: Allmeroth Kira , Kim Christine S. , Annibal Andrea , Pouikli Andromachi , Koester Janis , Derisbourg Maxime J. , Andrés Chacón-Martínez Carlos , Latza Christian , Antebi Adam , Tessarz Peter , Wickström Sara A. , Denzel Martin S.
Published: May 2021

Stem cell differentiation is accompanied by increased mRNA translation. The rate of protein biosynthesis is influenced by the polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine, which are essential for cell growth and stem cell maintenance. However, the role of polyamines as endogenous effectors of stem cell fate and whether they act through translational control remains obscure. Here, we investigate the function of polyamines in stem cell fate decisions using hair follicle stem cell (HFSC) organoids. Compared to progenitor cells, HFSCs showed lower translation rates, correlating with reduced polyamine levels. Surprisingly, overall polyamine depletion decreased translation but did not affect cell fate. In contrast, specific depletion of natural polyamines mediated by spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT; also known as SAT1) activation did not reduce translation but enhanced stemness. These results suggest a translation-independent role of polyamines in cell fate regulation. Indeed, we identified N1-acetylspermidine as a determinant of cell fate that acted through increasing self-renewal, and observed elevated N1-acetylspermidine levels upon depilation-mediated HFSC proliferation and differentiation in vivo. Overall, this study delineates the diverse routes of polyamine metabolism-mediated regulation of stem cell fate decisions.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Does the choosiness of female crickets change as they age?
Authors: Sarmiento-Ponce Edith Julieta , Rogers Stephen , Hedwig Berthold
Published: May 2021

For crickets, which approach singing males by phonotaxis, the female choosiness hypothesis postulates that young females should be more selective of male calling song patterns than older individuals. However, there is no information about the behavioural preferences of females over their complete adulthood. We analysed phonotaxis in female Gryllus bimaculatus throughout their entire adult lifetime and measured the impact of sound amplitude, carrier frequency and the temporal pattern of test songs on their auditory response. Females of all ages demonstrated their best responses to male calling songs with a pulse period of 34–42 ms, a carrier frequency of 4.5 kHz and a sound pressure level of 75 dB. The response profile to somewhat less optimal song types did vary with age, but not in a manner consistent with a simple loosening of selectiveness in older females. Age, however, had an effect on the overall strength of phonotaxis, as very old females showed an overall diminishing response to all song types. Our data suggest that although there are minor changes in the relative preferences of crickets to individual song elements as they age, the breadth of song patterns to which they will perform phonotaxis remains similar across age groups.
Uropathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern: A retrospective study in a district level hospital in Western Nepal
Authors: Ghimire Manoj , Adhikari Sudeep , Ghimire Kalpana , Tiwari Bishal , Koju Soni , Poudel Sajana , Khanal Sulab
Published: May 2021

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common cause of hospital visits. There is an increasing trend of resistance of uropathogens to antibiotics worldwide. The aim of this study was to identify the common uropathogens, along with their antimicrobial susceptibility.

Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2018 to April 2020 at Beni hospital. All patients with urinary tract infection visiting Beni hospital during this time and who had urine culture sensitivity tests done were included in this study. Urine samples were first cultured on cystine lactose electrolyte-deficient agar by a semi-quantitative technique, and then incubated aerobically for 18–24 h at 37 °C. The identified bacterial isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility by the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion technique.

Results: Of the 1173 samples, 164 (14%) samples showed significant growth. Escherichia coli (74%) was the most common causative organism. E. coli was sensitive in 113 cases (95%) out of 119. Amikacin was tested in 87 isolates that showed 99% sensitivity. Other commonly used antimicrobial agents had lower sensitivity rates: gentamicin (83%), ciprofloxacin (75%), ceftriaxone (59%), cefixime (56%), cotrimoxazole (55%), cefotaxime (41%), and ampicillin (38%).

Conclusions: E.coli is the most common pathogen associated with urinary tract infection. Nitrofurantoin and amikacin can be good empirical agents for treating UTI in patients coming to Beni hospital.
The discrepancy between Clove and Non-Clove Cigarette Smoke-Promoted Candida albicans Biofilm Formation with precoating RNA-aptamer
Authors: Bachtiar Boy Muchlis , Gani Basri A. , Deviana Astri , Utami Nastiti Rilo , Andriyani Anissa Dien , Bachtiar Endang Winiati
Published: May 2021

This study explores the influence of precoating aptamer (Ca-apt1) on C. albicans viability while the fungus was growing in the presence of exposing condensed cigarette smoke (CSC), prepared from clove (CCSC) and non-clove (NCSC) cigarettes, for 48 h. Using qPCR, we found that mRNA expression of adhesion-associated genes (ALS3 and HWP1) was impaired by precoating C. albicans yeast cells with the aptamer. Conversely, the gene transcription was upregulated when aptamer-uncoated yeast was pre-treated with either CSC. In addition, by analysing the result of MTT ([3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] assay, we found that the presence of added CCSC or NCSC in growth medium for 48 h was significantly enhanced C. albicans biofilm development. However, the presence of precoated aptamer was significantly impaired biofilm development accelerated by the NCSC. The inhibitory effect of the Ca-apt1 was not dependent on the precoated aptamer (1 and 10%). Interestingly, we noted that the enhancer effect of treated CCSC was no longer effective when the yeast had been precoated with 10% aptamer tested. Additionally, light microscopy analysis revealed that precoating aptamer alleviates morphological changes of C. albicans (from yeast to hypha formation) that are enhanced by adding CCSC or NCSC in the growth medium.

In conclusion, these results suggest that administration on Ca-ap1 exhibits a significant protective effect on CSC-induced biofilm formation by C. albicans.
What stresses adolescents? A qualitative study on perceptions of stress, stressors and coping mechanisms among urban adolescents in India
Authors: Nagabharana TK , Joseph Shama , Rizwana Azeez , Krishna Murali , Barker Mary , Fall Caroline , Kumaran Kalyanaraman , Krishnaveni GV
Published: May 2021

Background: In India, stress levels are increasing steadily among youth. We aimed to explore the factors that contribute to psychological stress and coping strategies among adolescents in Mysore, India to inform the development of an intervention.

Methods: We recruited 16 volunteers in Mysore, India including 6 younger (12-15 years; 3 girls) and 10 older adolescents/ young adults (17-25 years; 5 girls) using a purposive sampling technique. Older adolescents were recruited from ongoing birth cohort study, and the younger adolescents by word-of-mouth from the community. Individual in-depth interviews were carried out based on a semi-structured interview guide comprising open-ended questions. The interviews were analysed to derive themes and emerging constructs related to stress and coping strategies. 

Results: Adolescents generally perceived stress in their daily lives. Family conflicts and academic pressures were the main triggers for increased stress. Issues around peer relationships, and social position were also important contributors. Adolescents reported that they had robust coping strategies. These included stress release through rationalising and acceptance of the situation, distraction activities, spirituality, and self-comforting methods. However, they felt the need for further support from their family, and the society in general. In particular they expressed the need for a space to share their concerns and obtain guidance through healthy discussions with adults.     

Conclusions: Our study indicates that adolescents in India are exposed to a wide range of stressors in their daily lives. The conflict between ‘traditional’ society’s opinions of what adolescents should do and the new age adolescents’ aspirations for autonomy to find ‘informed’ solutions for their issues may hinder the stress management efforts. Moving forward, we propose to develop a culturally acceptable intervention tool that accommodates adolescents’ perspectives and psychosocial context.
Methods for Forming Financial Literacy in Preschoolers and Younger Schoolchildren
Authors: Dmitriev Yu. , Zyuzina T.
Published: May 2021

At the present time, the question of the financial literacy of the younger generation is becoming relevant, this is due to the emergence of more and more financial instruments, the complication of the range of financial services and other factors. The low level of financial literacy, the lack of financial education among Russian citizens negatively affects both personal well-being and the economy itself as a whole. This article discusses the basics of understanding financial literacy and methods of its development among preschoolers and primary schoolchildren. The main problems of financial education in modern schools are analyzed.
Witold Taszycki w dyskusji o pochodzeniu polskiego języka literackiego
Authors: Kwaśnicka-Janowicz Agata
Published: May 2021

Witold Taszycki in the Discussion on the Origin of the Polish Literary Language

The article presents the position of Witold Taszycki in the debate, which was the most intensive in 1940s and 1950s, on the origin of the Polish literary language. Taszycki was a supporter of the extreme thesis according to which the literary Polish originated from Lesser Poland, where it developed in the mid-16th century. In opposition to the Greater Poland theory, the extreme views of Witold Taszycki on the time and place of shaping the Polish literary language resulted not only from the author’s beliefs, but also from a different terminology and research method used by the researcher.
Assessment and prevention of medical adhesive-related skin injuries
Authors: Downie Fiona
Published: May 2021

Although largely avoidable, medical adhesive-related skin injuries, which cause patients harm and can take a long time to heal, are all too common. This handout aims to raise awareness of these often-overlooked skin injuries. It describes how to assess a patient's risk of medical adhesive-related skin injury and prevent its occurrence
Navigating Academia in the ‘Welfare-class’
Authors: Penney Emma , Lovejoy Laura
Published: May 2021

The growing field of working-class studies provides a valuable narrative of the experiences of working-class academics, illustrates commonalities among such experiences and provides a space for dismantling the structural class-based disenfranchisement which proves detrimental to working-class scholars’ careers. Recent articles in The Journal of Working-class Studies have identified and named the specific experiences of alienation faced by working-class scholars, which include issues of financial disenfranchisement, issues of taste, accent, and ‘respectability’ (Attfield 2016), issues of ‘passing’, the imposter syndrome, and feelings of class betrayal (Warnock 2016). However, as Nicola Wilson (2016) and others have noted, ‘working-class is a fluid category and grouping’. For many scholars living in or emerging from a background of poverty, the term ‘working-class’ is limited. The term ‘welfare-class’ more appropriately describes the experience of some poor and welfare-reliant scholars. Considering the welfareclass as a distinct category within the working or poor classes, this article documents some of the specific experiences of alienation which pertain to being welfare-class in academia by focusing on the lived experiences of the authors, two academics at postgraduate and postdoctoral level. The article aims to contribute to the representation of poor and welfare-class academics among the growing body of autobiographical and autoethnographic knowledge (Warnock 2016) in working-class studies.
The Poverty of Academia: My Life as NonTenure Track Faculty
Authors: Prior Sarah
Published: May 2021

Non-tenure track (NTT) positions include faculty who teach full and part-time and are not on the tenure-track. These positions include full-time lecturers, fixed-term faculty, etc. Positions such as these are typically on one-year contracts, though some may be on 1 - 3 year contracts. While the title, pay and status, among other things, varies by institutions, it is undeniable that universities and colleges have been shifting in recent years to this kind of contingent labor force. These positions also include part-time adjuncts including professionals teaching a class here and there, and professional teachers who may teach at many institutions. Individuals who are not on the tenure-track often find themselves with little job security, an often inequitable distribution of labor (in terms of class preps, class size, etc.), and in positions that pay significantly less than their tenure-track counterparts’ salaries.
Fishing for a Career: Alternative Livelihoods and the Hardheaded Art of Academic Failure
Authors: Cleland Deb
Published: May 2021

Charting the course: The world of alternative livelihood research brings a heavy history of paternalistic colonial intervention and moralising. In particular, subsistence fishers in South East Asia are cyclical attractors of project funding to help them exit poverty and not ‘further degrade the marine ecosystem’ (Cinner et al. 2011), through leaving their boats behind and embarking on non-oceanic careers. What happens, then, when we turn an autoethnographic eye on the livelihood of the alternative livelihood researcher? What lexicons of lack and luck may we borrow from the fishers in order to ‘render articulate and more systematic those feelings of dissatisfaction’ (Young 2002) of an academic’s life’s work and our work-life? What might we learn from comparing small-scale fishers to small-scale scholars about how to successfully ‘navigate’ the casualised waters of the modern university? Does this unlikely course bring any ideas of ‘possibilities glimmering’ (Young 2002) for ‘exiting’ poverty in Academia?
Brutal Youth: Colin MacInnes and the Architecture of the Welfare State
Authors: Lee Simon
Published: May 2021

Colin MacInnes’ London trilogy is known for its prominent focus—unusual in British fiction of the time—on class and racial conflict in mid-century London. Comprised of City of Spades (1957), Absolute Beginners (1959), and Mr Love and Justice (1960), the trilogy plots the complicated enactment of the new welfare-state’s reconstruction strategies from the post-war resurgence of slum clearance, to the forced evictions of suburban migration, to the development and erection of alienating council flats. In doing so, MacInnes offers a distinctive take on Londoners’ responses to these strategies, demonstrating the way mindful urban planning was shouldered aside by quixotic and hurried resolutions. As part of a vibrant wave of mid-century British writing sensitive to issues of class, race, and gender, MacInnes’ fiction scrutinized postwar urban displacement as it happened and without any of the benefit of hindsight. This article, then, highlights the distinctively nuanced perspectives that socially-attuned and classconscious literature can offer in terms of understanding the tangible impact of space on social stratification.
The Moral Economy of Department Stores’ Working-Class and their Class Identity
Authors: Marambio-Tapia Alejandro
Published: May 2021

Globalised capitalism has changed the landscape of the working-class in different ways both in the Global North and in the Global South, including identities, moral frames, working places, and livelihood strategies. However, these transformations do not imply the disappearance of the working class. Precarity and insecurity is expanding (Zweig 2016), even reaching the middle-class (Standing 2014), and the core of the social and economic relations between labour and capital pervades. In this article, I use data collected from two sources; firstly, 40 interviews with the head of households/budget planners of working-class families from two cities in Chile, Santiago, the capital, and Copiapó, a mining town in the North, and secondly, secondary data on class self-identification. I want to bring attention to different ways in which the workingclass identity, culture and consciousness can be performed by the use of different categories in discourses which migrate from political or market sphere to the everyday lives of workingclass families, in particular of those who work in the retail sector for big companies. A social structure is characterised by objective-material positions, but also by how this structure is portrayed, enacted and legitimised (Crompton 1997). Therefore, together with the structural conditions of a financialized consumption, low-productivity services economy and debt economy, these ‘middle-classness’ discourses make sense in the moral economy of the socalled ‘services proletariat’.
The Making of the Heiltsuk Working Class: Methodism, Time Discipline, and Capitalist Subjectivities
Authors: Harkin Michael
Published: May 2021

The Heiltsuk,1 a First Nation group in British Columbia, first encountered Europeans around the beginning of the 19th century. By the 1830s, they were thoroughly engaged in the trans-Pacific fur trade and the burgeoning commercial economy of the region. The fur trade generated considerable wealth for Heiltsuk traders, who maintained autonomy as providers of an important commodity. However, by the 1880s, many Heiltsuk were employed as wage-laborers, working at a nearby cannery, or as part of logging or commercial fishing crews. This shift to a wage-labor economy was accompanied by ideological shifts, a product of formal education and, in particular, the teachings of Methodist missionaries. Using E.P. Thompson’s study of the English working class in the early Industrial Revolution, and his concept of ‘time discipline,’ these ideological transformations are viewed as components of capitalist subjectivities.
Puns, Politics, and Pork Chops: The ‘insignificant magnitude’ of T-Bone Slim
Authors: Clayton Owen
Published: May 2021

Hobos have been idealised for their supposed freedom from social restraints. A notable exception to this romantic tendency was the work of the Finnish-American anarchist newspaper columnist, songwriter and member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), T-Bone Slim (Matt Valentine Huhta). T Bone Slim’s writings were radical interventions in debates around class, labour and exploitation in 1920s and 1930s America. His work was deeply satirical, with a scathing wit reminiscent of Mark Twain. Focussing on his representation of food, fame, and the body, this article argues that Slim’s work represents a challenge to the idealistic portrayal of the hobo that appears in many contemporary autobiographies and in later academic scholarship.
A case report of moyamoya disease in children treated with encephalo-duro-myo-arterio-pericranial synangiosis
Authors: July Julius
Published: May 2021

Moyamoya disease that manifests during childhood may pose a special challenge for surgeons. We report a case of a 10-year-old girl who suffered from moyamoya disease and was successfully treated with encephalo-duro-myo-arterio-pericranial synangiosis (EDMAPS). She presented with a recurrent transient ischemic attack that worsened for 1 year. She was aphasic globally (sensory and motor) and had slightly weak right extremities. Her magnetic resonance angiography and computed tomography angiography showed the typical features of moyamoya disease with bilateral stenosis at the terminal internal carotid artery, bilaterally abnormal vascular networks, and a left ischemic event involving the temporoparietal region. She was recovered well after underwent bilateral EDMAPS, fully regained her language function after 3 months, and gathered her strength back. Therefore, EDMAPS could be a good, safe, and effective treatment for moyamoya disease in children.
Design and analysis of trench-assisted dual-mode multi-core fiber with large-mode-field-area
Authors: Zhang Yuqin , Lian Yudong , Wang Yuhe , Yang Mengxin , Wang Jingbo , Luan Nannan , Wang Yulei , Lu Zhiwei
Published: May 2021

A novel trench-assisted dual-mode multi-core fiber with large-mode-field-area is proposed. The structure consists of 17 conventional cores and two air holes according to a regular hexagon, which can realize strict dual-mode transmission. The structural parameters’ effect on mode transmission characteristics, mode-field-area, and bending loss are analyzed systematically. By optimizing the structural parameters, the mode-field-area of the fundamental mode can reach

2100.619

µ

m

2

. The introduction of the trench with a lower refractive index than cladding can reduce the bending loss to

9.88

×

10

−
4

d
B

/

m

when the bending radius is 2.3 cm. Besides, the structural design is flexible, and the manufacturing process is simple, which has broad application prospects.
Simplified sensitivity analysis of coherent beam combining in a tiled aperture architecture
Authors: Jabczyński Jan K. , Gontar Przemysław , Gorajek Łukasz , Żendzian Waldemar
Published: May 2021

We propose a simple analytical–numerical model for simplified sensitivity analysis of coherent beam combining of several dozens of emitters arranged in 2D tiled architecture. The main findings are as follows: (i) regarding phase/piston error, the performance does not depend on the number of emitters and particular amplitude profiles and fulfills the Maréchal formula; (ii) regarding tilt mismatch, the performance does not depend on the number of emitters; however, the effect of amplitude profile has to be taken into account; and (iii), regarding wavefront aberration, the Strehl ratio drop is dominant and fulfills the Maréchal formula as well.
Achromatic flat lens performance limits
Authors: Engelberg Jacob , Levy Uriel
Published: May 2021

In recent years there has been a lot of interest in flat lenses, a category that includes diffractive lenses and metalenses. These lenses have the potential of reducing the size and cost of optical systems by replacing conventional refractive optical elements. A major obstacle to the widespread use of flat lenses is their inherent large chromatic aberration, associated with diffraction effects. To meet this challenge, achromatic diffractive lenses and metalenses have been developed. In this paper we review previously reported metalens performance limits, derive limits on the performance of achromatic diffractive lenses, and compare the two. We show that such lenses can support a wide spectral range, limited only by loss of efficiency caused by manufacturing limitations related to feature depth and size. On the other hand, we show that these lenses can provide near-diffraction-limited performance only at very low Fresnel numbers, i.e., they cannot provide large focusing power and broadband response simultaneously. We then go on to compare the limits of achromatic metalenses and diffractive lenses, in attempt to understand the potential of different types of flat lenses. Our findings facilitate better understanding of flat lens capabilities and limitations, and the exploration of novel design concepts and applications.