bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Owner evaluation of quality of life and mobility in osteoarthritic cats treated with amantadine or placebo
Authors: Shipley Hilary , Flynn Kristi , Tucker Laura , Wendt-Hornickle Erin , Baldo Caroline , Almeida Daniel , Allweiler Sandra , Guedes Alonso
Published: October 2020

Objectives

The aim of the study was to determine if amantadine improves owner-identified mobility impairment and quality of life associated with osteoarthritis in cats.

Methods

Using a blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover design, 13 healthy client-owned cats with clinical and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis and owner-identified mobility impairment were studied. Cats received 5 mg/kg amantadine or placebo q24h PO for 3 weeks each with no washout period in between. Locomotor activity was continuously assessed with a collar-mounted activity monitor system, and owners chose and rated two mobility-impaired activities using a client-specific outcome measures (CSOM) questionnaire on a weekly basis. Locomotor activity on the third treatment week was analyzed with two-tailed paired t-tests. The CSOM scores were analyzed using a mixed-effect model and the Bonferroni post-hoc test. Owner-perceived changes in quality of life were compared between treatments using the χ2 test. Statistical significance was set at P <0.05.

Results

Mean ± SD activity counts during the third week of each treatment were significantly lower with amantadine (240,537 ± 53,880) compared with placebo (326,032 ± 91,759). CSOM scores assigned by the owners were significantly better with amantadine on the second (3 ± 1) and third (3 ± 1) weeks compared with placebo (5 ± 2 and 5 ± 1, respectively). A significantly greater proportion of owners reported improvement in quality of life with amantadine compared with placebo.

Conclusions and relevance

Amantadine significantly decreased activity, but improved owner-identified impaired mobility and owner-perceived quality of life in cats with osteoarthritis. Amantadine appears to be an option for the symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis in cats.
Failure and Futurity: The Transformative Potential of Queer Skateboarding
Authors: Geckle Bethany , Shaw Sally
Published: October 2020

Skateboarding has been thought to possess a certain alternative ‘potential’ to challenge prevalent inequalities in sport. However, skateboarding remains a largely hetero-masculine domain. As such, queer identities have been marginalized and relegated to a peripheral space. Nevertheless, radical scenes of young queer skateboarders are offering alternative definitions and possibilities for what it means to be a skateboarder and do skateboarding. Through Jack Halberstam’s concept of queer failure and José Esteban Muñoz’s queer futurity and utopianism, I investigate how queer skateboarders are tapping into a queer potential that persists in the practice and aesthetic of skateboarding through the symbolism of the child and camp. They use this potential to affirm their identities as simultaneously queer and skaters. In so doing, today’s young queer skateboarders are changing the landscape of skateboarding by queering and claiming space for themselves within the largely heteronormative dominant industry and culture.
Use of ultra-wide field retinal imaging and optical coherence tomography angiography in the diagnosis of incomplete Susac syndrome
Authors: Alba-Linero Carmen , Liscombe-Sepúlveda John Paul , Llorenç Victor , GiraltJosa Joan , Adán Alfredo
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

To describe clinical findings through ultra-wide field (UWF) images and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), in Susac’s syndrome (SS).

Methods:

SS patients were retrospectively analyzed in a single center. Clinical features, ultra-wide-field retinographies (UWF-PR), UWF fluorescein angiographies (UWF-FA), and optical coherence tomography angiography & en face (OCT-A/EF) were reviewed.

Results:

Twelve eyes from six patients with a mean follow-up of 35.66 months ± SD 36.88 were included. UWF-PR showed areas of retinal whitening and cotton-wool spots in all the eyes after acute attack. Segmentary mid peripheral arteriolitis could be observed in five eyes by UWF-FA in acute and convalescent stages. OCT-A revealed capillary density changes in all of the affected eyes. During the acute phase there was a well-preserved superficial capillary network, while deep retinal plexus showed a lower density in the affected areas. OCT-A/EF revealed deep retinal plexus drop-out and surrounding edematous retina in acute attacks, becoming atrophic over time. Conversely, superficial plexus was much less affected. Perifoveal reperfusion was seen in seven eyes after the acute attack.

Conclusions:

UWF-PR/FA and OCT-A/EF might be helpful to stablish an early diagnosis and to monitor SS progression.
Pterygium Surgery with Conjunctival Autograft Fixation Using Bipolar Electrocauterization
Authors: Costa Fernando Quadros , Costa Ricardo Quadros , Barbosa José Bonifácio , Gomes José Álvaro Pereira
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

To report a case series of pterygium surgery with conjunctival autograft fixation using bipolar electrocautery.

Design:

A noncomparative, retrospective, interventional case series of pterygium surgery with follow-up longer than 12 months to assess recurrence and other complication rates.

Participants:

Fifty-six eyes of 37 patients were treated between April 2011 and January 2018, either for primary ( n = 53 cases) or recurrent ( n = 3 cases) pterygia.

Intervention:

After pterygium excision, free conjunctival grafts from the inferior bulbar conjunctiva of the same eye were harvested and fixated with the use of bipolar electrocautery.

Main outcome measure:

Recurrence of the pterygium and complications.

Results:

The mean follow-up was 41 months (range 12 to 81 months). There were no intraoperative complications. Recurrence of the lesion was seen in three eyes (5.36%). There were no other postoperative complications such as graft detachment, or formation of dellen or granulomas.

Conclusion:

Conjunctival autograft fixation using bipolar electrocautery seems to be a fast, costly and safe procedure that can be applied in most cases of pterygium surgery.
Mega Fistulae! A case series
Authors: Gardezi Ali I , Mawih Mustafa , Alrawi Ezzideen B , Karim Muhammad S , Aziz Fahad , Chan Micah R
Published: October 2020

A mega fistula can be defined as generalized aneurysmal dilatation of arteriovenous fistula. Mega fistulae can lead to complications like high output cardiac failure, steal syndrome, skin ulceration and rupture. We describe a series of ten patients who were referred to our interventional nephrology practice for evaluation of mega fistula which had not been in use for a long time. Nine out of ten patients were post-transplant while one was pre dialysis. Five patients had Radiocephalic while four had Brachiocephalic and one had Brachial artery to Median Cubital vein fistula. All except one patient had severe outflow stenosis. The most common site of stenosis in Radiocepahlic and Brachiocepahlic fistula was cephalic vein at the elbow and cephalic arch respectively. Half of the patients had chronic total occlusion of the outflow vein. Successful angioplasty was done in only two patients. Seven patients underwent ligation while one had spontaneous thrombosis of the fistula. None of the patients had regular surveillance of their access for a long time as they were not on dialysis. Unrecognized and uncorrected outflow stenosis over a long time period can lead to creation of mega fistula. Once a mega fistula develops there are not many treatment options other than ligation. This leads to loss of the access which might be needed in future. Continuous access surveillance in patients who are not on dialysis is important to prevent complications like mega fistula.
Referenced reflections to my wurrumay (son): awareness of the impact of colonisation
Authors: Smallwood Reakeeta Louise
Published: October 2020

Yaama (Hello)! This article will take you on a journey, through my eyes and my experiences. I hope you are ready to hear, explore and come to understand the context that I am positioned within as a Gamilaroi yinarr (woman) from Australia. I acknowledge Elders, past, present and future. For they have forged the way before us, and they have inspired me to articulate my experiences. In this article I share my Indigenous voice within the academic space with the aim to draw attention to the issue of colonisation and enable cross-cultural understanding. Throughout this article, I have utilised my voice to reference my reflections on the challenges related to colonisation in two distinct formats: an open letter to my sons (as they are my future) and a paper for you, the reader. Within this space, I acknowledge my accountability to myself as a Gamilaroi yinarr, guni (mother) and researcher.
Combining Genetic Mutation and Expression Profiles Identifies Novel Prognostic Biomarkers of Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liu Yun , Liu Fu , Hu Xintong , He Jiaxue , Jiang Yanfang
Published: October 2020

Motivation:

Although several prognostic signatures for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have been developed, they are mainly based on a single-omics data set. This article aims to develop a novel set of prognostic signatures by combining genetic mutation and expression profiles of LUAD patients.

Methods:

The genetic mutation and expression profiles, together with the clinical profiles of a cohort of LUAD patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), were downloaded. Patients were separated into 2 groups, namely, the high-risk and low-risk groups, according to their overall survivals. Then, differential analysis was performed to determine differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and mutated genes (DMGs) in the expression and mutation profiles, respectively, between the 2 groups. Finally, a prognostic model based on the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm was developed by combining the expression values of the DEGs and the mutation times of the DMGs.

Results:

A total of 13 DEGs and 7 DMGs were recognized between the 2 groups. Their prognostic values were validated using independent cohorts. Compared with several existing signatures, the proposed prognostic signatures exhibited better prediction performance in the testing set. In addition, it is found that 1 of the 7 DMGs, GRIN2B, is mutated much more frequently in the high-risk group, showing a potential value as a therapy target.

Conclusions:

Combining multi-omics data sets is an applicable manner to identify novel prognostic signatures and to improve the prognostic prediction for LUAD, which will be heuristic to other types of cancers.
Unattended Mental Health Needs in Primary Care: Lebanon’s Shatila Palestinian Refugee Camp
Authors: Segal Steven P , Khoury Vicky C , Salah Ramy , Ghannam Jess
Published: October 2020

Aims:

This study examines factors potentially contributing to unattended mental health needs among primary care patients in Lebanon’s Shatila Palestinian Refugee Camp in order to understand the prevalence of such needs and improve clinical practice with refugees and other vulnerable groups.

Methods:

Data collection (2012-13) involved researcher administered structured surveys of primary healthcare-clinic patients (n = 254) using the K6, the PC-PTSD, and the Modified-MINI mental illness screens. Chi. Sq., ANOVA and Principal Component analysis evaluate associations and differences in sample characteristics; Logistic regression evaluates factors associated with unattended-positive-mental-health-screens.

Results:

The sample (n = 254) included 55% females and 45% males; aged 18 to 89, M = 40.4 (±13). About 51.6% (n = 132) screened positive for mental illness, for these individuals only 11.4% (15 of 132) spoke to their physician about mental illness or had an acknowledged record of psychological problems. Thus 88.6% (n = 117) of those who screened positive, had unattended positive-screens. Univariate tests indicated that patients with “negative-screens,” those with “attended positive-screens,” and those with “unattended positive-screens” differed in their social and psychological characteristics as well as their relationship with the primary care setting. Overall multivariable Logistic results indicated that patients with unattended positive-screens were 34% less likely to have higher SES scores for each step up in status [OR = 0.66; CI: 0.48-0.89] and 58% less likely to have access to a provider for advice or assistance [OR = 0.42; CI: 0.20-0.88]. They were 2.2 times more likely to be females [OR = 2.20; CI: 1.22-3.95], and 5.26 times more likely to attribute their mental illness to a physical illness [OR = 5.26; CI: 2.36-11.74].

Conclusion:

Large numbers of patients screen positive for mental illness who do not have their mental health need addressed during their primary care visit. This seems an issue rooted in a lack of psychoeducation about what is mental versus physical illness, female specific access to care, stigma toward mental illness, and cross-SES-communication. Improved communication in primary care, especially as it serves vulnerable refugee populations might significantly reduce the prevalence of untreated mental illness.
Dissensual Leadership: Rethinking democratic leadership with Jacques Rancière
Authors: Barthold Charles , Checchi Marco , Imas Miguel , Smolović Jones Owain
Published: October 2020

The democratic leadership literature emphasises those leadership practices that involve dialogue and communication within the frame of reference of existing organizational structures, discourses and hierarchies. Our contribution is to problematise this approach to democracy from the perspective of the work of Jacques Rancière, which highlights the importance of dissensus, that is to say a breaking away from organizational structures and hierarchies. We argue that this allows us to conceptualise collective leadership in a postfoundational way that connects a critique of individual and organization-bound leadership to a democratic logic, in particular through Rancière’s analysis of the myth of the murder of the shepherd. This also enables us to study radically disruptive, non-hierarchical and pre-dialogic dimensions of leadership that may destruct as well as construct. Two democratic leadership practices are outlined: contingent acts of leadership and the practice of radical contestation. Our argument is that both practices of democratic leadership can be deployed as radical ruptures and disruptions of organizational orders, beyond dialogue.
Age-related adverse events of disease-modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis: A meta-regression
Authors: Prosperini Luca , Haggiag Shalom , Tortorella Carla , Galgani Simonetta , Gasperini Claudio
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To verify the hypothesis of an age-dependent increase of infections and neoplasms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) under disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) with different mechanisms of action.

Methods:

We extracted relevant data from 45 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on currently licensed DMTs. We fitted inverse-variance weighted meta-regressions with random-effects models to estimate whether age and/or mechanism of action (immunomodulatory, sequestrating, and depletive) of currently licensed DMTs influenced the difference between experimental arm and control arm in the incidence of specific adverse events, namely, overall infections, opportunistic infections, and neoplasms.

Results:

A higher incidence of overall infections was observed in RCTs with depletive DMTs (event-rate ratio = 1.25, p < 0.001). Herpetic infections were more frequently observed in RCTs with both depletive (event-rate ratio = 3.51, p < 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, sequestrating DMTs (event-rate ratio = 1.52, p = 0.078). The interaction of age with depletive DMTs was associated with higher incidence of neoplasms ( p = 0.017), especially above 45 years of age.

Discussion:

Our study supports a detrimental effect of age on the safety profile of depletive DMTs, with an increased incidence of neoplasms especially over 45 years of age. We failed to demonstrate an age-related increased incidence of infections, possibly due to latency in their occurrence.
The streaming network: Conceptualizing distribution economy, technology, and power in streaming media services
Authors: Colbjørnsen Terje
Published: October 2020

Despite there being more than a decade since the introductions of Netflix’ and Spotify’s online services, few attempts have been made to thoroughly examine and conceptualize streaming and streaming services across culture and media industries. The argument proposed here is that streaming constitutes a distinct form of digital media distribution network, what I refer to as the streaming network. The article asks what constitutes the parts or nodes of such a streaming network, and further what the power relationships between the various parts are. The analysis uses Spotify, Apple Music, Netflix, and Kindle Unlimited as examples, building on a wide array of primary and secondary document sources. The analysis contains a stepwise discussion and visualization of how human and nonhuman actors in this streaming network are connected by way of flows of content, data, and money, as well as by relationships of control, access, and exposure. The argument draws on theories of network power, platform power, and algorithmic power. The analysis highlights the asymmetrical relationships between, on the one hand, users and content providers, and on the other, streaming providers and device and software makers. No single actor in the network is able to exercise full control, but users and content originators are seen as particularly vulnerable. Streaming providers and device and software makers are able to maneuver the network to strengthen their relative position.
Mumbod? A comparison of body image and dietary restraint among women with younger, older, and no children
Authors: Yager Zali , Prichard Ivanka , Hart Laura , Damiano Stephanie R
Published: October 2020

Pregnancy and the postpartum period are times of significant body, and body image changes for women. Adult women ( N = 885) aged 21 to 47 years old completed an online questionnaire. Mothers of young children (0–5 years) had significantly lower levels of body shame, self-objectification, and dietary restraint than women without children, and women with school-aged (6–10 years) children had significantly lower self objectification than women without children, once we controlled for age. BMI predicted body shame more than motherhood status. This research has implications for the development of appropriate body image interventions for adult women.
The role of perceived organisational justice in the experience of pain among male and female employees
Authors: McParland Joanna L , Gasteen Anne , Steultjens Martijn
Published: October 2020

This study examined the association of organisational justice with pain among employees of a large organisation. Employees ( n = 1829) completed measures of pain, fair pay, organisational justice, job satisfaction and stress. Logistic regression analyses found that organisational justice was unrelated to pain among women, but men with higher perceptions of fair pay were more likely to report chronic pain as were men with lower perceptions of distributive justice. This is the first study indicating that fair pay and distributive justice are both unique predictors of chronic pain in men. The findings have implications for supporting employees with chronic pain.
The COVID-19 Own Risk Appraisal Scale (CORAS): Development and validation in two samples from the United Kingdom
Authors: Jaspal Rusi , Fino Emanuele , Breakwell Glynis M.
Published: October 2020

Perceived risk is an important determinant of the adoption of preventive behaviours. In this article, the psychometric properties of the COVID-19 Own Risk Appraisal Scale (CORAS), including its development and validation in two samples in the United Kingdom, are described. The CORAS is a measure of perceived personal risk of contracting the disease, incorporating primarily intuitive with some analytic risk estimates. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on data from 470 participants in the United Kingdom who completed the CORAS, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the COVID-19 Preventive Behaviours Index. Results showed that a unidimensional, six-item model fits the data well, with satisfactory fit indices, internal consistency and high item loadings onto the factor. We found no statistically significant differences by age, gender or ethnicity. The CORAS correlated positively with the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and the COVID-19 Preventive Behaviours Index, suggesting good concurrent validity.
Ettore’s song: The hero who had the courage to fight Achilles
Authors: Giordano Filippo , Rutigliano Chiara , Muggeo Paola , Fusaro Tommaso , Santoro Nicola
Published: October 2020

End-of-life accompaniment requires even greater care of the patient and their family by the multi-disciplinary team, which requires a clear, wellorganized interdisciplinary and interprofessional approach. Musictherapy (MT) is often use as a complementary approach to improve a person’s quality of life by helping to relieve symptoms, addressing psychological needs, offering support and comfort, facilitating communication, and meeting spiritual needs.

Through songwriting, Ettore, a teenager was able to make choices and act on his own will. Songwriting represented a channel for effective and powerful communication and expression. The song became the means by which the relationship with the team was maintained and deepened; it became something tangible, a product with its own consistency, a further bond that unites Ettore to his family to this day.
Insomnia subtypes and clinical impairment in hospitalized children with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Taylor Briana J , Reynolds Charles F , Siegel Matthew
Published: October 2020

Insomnia subtypes have not been characterized in severely affected youth with autism spectrum disorder. We examined indices of clinical impairment (i.e. length of hospital stay, autism severity, nonverbal intelligence quotient, and adaptive and maladaptive behaviors) across insomnia subtypes in 427 psychiatrically hospitalized children with autism spectrum disorder (mean age = 12.8 ± 3.4; 81.3% male). Multivariate analysis with Bonferroni adjustment tested for differences in clinical impairment across insomnia subtypes adjusting for age and sex. Per parent report, 60% (n = 257) of children had at least one form of insomnia. The distribution of subtypes was sleep onset (26.1%, n = 67), sleep maintenance (24.9%, n = 64), early morning waking (4.3%, n = 11), and combined (44.7%, n = 115). There was a significant multivariate effect of insomnia subtypes on clinical impairment (Pillai’s Trace = 0.25, F = 2.78, p < 0.001). Sleep maintenance and early morning waking were associated with longer hospital stays. Early morning waking was also associated with greater autism symptom severity. In general, children with sleep-maintenance or combined insomnias scored lower on adaptive behaviors and higher on maladaptive behaviors. Sleep-maintenance and combined insomnias appear to be more indicative of or consequential for impaired behavioral functioning.

Lay abstract

Insomnia subtypes are not well understood in the most severely affected children with autism spectrum disorder. We examined length of hospital stay, autism severity, nonverbal intelligence quotient, and behavioral functioning across insomnia subtypes in 427 psychiatrically hospitalized children with autism spectrum disorder (mean age = 12.8 ± 3.4; 81.3% male). Per parent report, 60% (n = 257) of children had at least one type of insomnia. The distribution of subtypes was difficulty falling asleep (26.1%, n = 67), difficulty staying asleep (24.9%, n = 64), early morning awakening (4.3%, n = 11), and multiple insomnia symptoms (44.7%, n = 115). Difficulty staying asleep and early morning awakenings were associated with longer hospital stays. Early morning awakening was also associated with higher autism symptom severity. In general, children with difficulty staying asleep or multiple insomnia symptoms scored lower on adaptive behaviors (e.g. communication, self-care, socialization) and higher on maladaptive behaviors (e.g. irritability, hyperactivity, emotional reactivity, and emotional dysphoria). Difficulty staying asleep or having multiple insomnia symptoms appears to be most strongly related to impaired behavioral functioning. Conversely, early morning awakenings may be more closely tied with autism spectrum disorder itself. Further research is needed regarding insomnia subtypes at the severe end of the autism spectrum.
Low cyclic loading tests and fatigue damage models of concrete bridge piers reinforced with high-strength rebar
Authors: Zhuo Wei-ding , Wu Suiwen , Liu Zhao , Zang Hua
Published: October 2020

Reinforced concrete bridge piers are extremely vulnerable to damage during long-duration ground excitations or main shock-aftershock type earthquakes due to accumulated damage caused by a great number of reversed excursions in elastic-plastic range. However, few studies on fatigue damage of piers can be found in literature. Low-cyclic loading tests of four identical RC bridge piers with high-strength rebar HRB600E (yield strength about 600 MPa) were carried out in this study. One of specimens was taken as the benchmark and was subjected to a conventional load protocol, and the rest was subjected to one, two and three times yield displacement, respectively. The research results showed that the fatigue strength of RC bridge piers tended to drop drastically at about ten cycles and then slowed down gently. It was found that strength degradation rate increased significantly with the displacement amplitude for fatigue tests while the fatigue life decreased dramatically with the displacement amplitude. In particular, when the cyclic loading displacement exceeded 2 times the yield displacement, the fatigue life dropped dramatically. Based on the experimental data, an exponential-type damage model was proposed with the peak lateral force at the first cycle as the coefficient, the cycle count as the base and factor of the loading displacement amplitude as the exponent, which could accurately predict the degraded lateral force of the bridge piers at different constant drifts. An accumulative fatigue damage index was established to evaluate the damage level of bridge piers.
A distance coefficient-multi objective information fusion algorithm for optimal sensor placement in structural health monitoring
Authors: Cao Xiangyu , Chen Jianyun , Xu Qiang , Li Jing
Published: October 2020

Optimal sensor placement (OSP) plays a key role in the construction and implementation of an effective structural health monitoring system (SHM). In this study, a novel and effective method named the distance coefficient-multi objective information fusion algorithm (D-MOIF), which is different from the conventional method and easier to be implemented, is developed to select the best sensor location for large-scale structures. An integrated information matrix including mode independence, damage sensitivity and modal strain energy is deduced from the structural motion equation to meet multiple needs of SHM. A European distance derived from the analytic geometry is proposed to overcome the information redundancy between sensors. Based on the principle of information entropy, an optimized objective function is constructed, which could balance the sensitivity and robustness of the algorithm. A computational case of a high arch dam is implemented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the modified algorithm, and three classical evaluation criteria are used to estimate the comparison between the D-MOIF algorithm and four traditional OSP methods. Finally, the optimization of the number of sensors based on different algorithms is discussed in detail. Results indicate that the proposed D-MOIF algorithm could generate more applicable sensor configurations for large-scale structures.
Dividing air handling loads into different grades and handling air with different grade energies
Authors: Zheng Gonghang , Li Xianting
Published: October 2020

In traditional air-conditioning system, low-temperature chilled water is used to cool air. Generally, the temperature difference between air to be operated and the chilled water is high, and majority of air can be operated using water at higher temperatures. Therefore, this paper proposes the concept of grade of load and the method of dividing cooling/heating load into different grades. A traditional air cooling/heating load and energy consumption of fresh air handling unit (FAHU) in Beijing, were compared with cooling/heating loads with different grades and energy consumption of FAHU with different grade energies. The results indicate that cooling and heating loads, handled by the lowest and highest water temperatures of 9.5°C and 37.5°C, account for 27% and 25% of cooling and heating loads in design conditions, respectively. The cumulative cooling/heating load handled by water temperature with highest grade, only accounts for 47%/35% of the total cumulative cooling/heating load. As compared to traditional air handling process, the energy-saving rate of FAHU using different grade energies is 16.4% in summer and 25.6% in winter. This study shows that handling air with different grade energies has significant energy-saving potential for air-conditioning system.
Regional variations in the treatment of gallstone disease may affect patient outcome: a large, population-based register study in sweden
Authors: Lindqvist Lisa , Sandblom Gabriel , Nordin Pär , Hemmingsson Oskar , Enochsson Lars
Published: October 2020

Background:

The lack of studies showing benefit from surgery in patients with symptoms of gallstone disease has led to a divergence in local practices and standards of care. This study aimed to explore regional differences in management and complications in Sweden. Furthermore, to study whether population density had an impact on management.

Methods:

Data were collected from the Swedish National Register for Gallstone Surgery and Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (GallRiks). Cholecystectomies undertaken for gallstone disease between January 2006 and December 2017 were included. Age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, intra- and post-operative complications, and the proportion of patients with acute cholecystitis who underwent surgery within 2 days of hospital admission were analyzed. The 21 different geographical regions in Sweden were compared, and each variable was analyzed according to population density.

Results:

A total of 139,444 cholecystectomies cases were included in this study. There were large differences between regions regarding indications for surgery and intra- and post-operative complications. In the analyses, there were greater divergences than would be expected by chance for most of the variables analyzed. Age of the cholecystectomized patients correlated with population density of the regions (R2 = 0.310; p = 0.0088).

Conclusions:

There are major differences between the different regions in Sweden in terms of the treatment of gallstone disease and outcome, but these did not correlate to population density, suggesting that local routines are more likely to have an impact on treatment strategies rather than demographic factors. These differences need further investigation to reveal the underlying causes.
Involuntary childlessness online: Digital lifelines through blogs and Instagram
Authors: Stenström Kristina
Published: October 2020

Platformed sociality has become an elemental part of existential processes and struggles. Previous research has shown that digital contexts offer lifelines of support and a sense of belonging based on shared vulnerabilities. By combining phenomenological and ethnographic approaches, this article explores involuntary childlessness (IC) online in so-called trying-to-conceive (TTC) contexts on Instagram and in blogs. The analysis is driven by the following questions: What are the particularities of digital lifeline communication in the context of IC? Can lifeline communication shape what is coming into being in the context of wished-for children and/or motherhood? Can (digital) life be challenged, extended, or created in this context? Drawing on interviews and online posts from 260 Instagram accounts and three blogs, I argue that digital lifeline communication in TTC environments facilitates digital existence and “digital life” as the notions of motherhood and longed-for and lost children attain a form of digital materiality through posts and discussions.
The relevance of biographic narratives for social workers’ professional memory, reflexivity and identity
Authors: Silva Pedro Gabriel
Published: October 2020

The present article is about the use of biographic methods and oral history, and its contribution to developing processes of critical reflection and reflexivity. It is based on a set of oral data collected from Portuguese social workers who played an active role in the revolutionary phase during the transition from dictatorship to democracy in Portugal (following the 25th April 1974 military coup). The article explores how the use of biographic methods (integrated within a historical methodological framework), other than simply producing accounts of past experiences, allowed interviewees to re-capture, re-interpret and re-signify their own experiences in the light of changing professional paradigms and socio-political arrangements. It will demonstrate how resorting to oral history methods can contribute to produce critical self-reflective accounts, allowing intra-professional tensions, self-expectations, beliefs and disenchantment, as well as professional identification and deidentification to surface. Three examples will be presented that reveal how favouring an approach based on oral history, biographic methods and narrative analysis allows perceiving individual dispositions, its construction and the influence they have on the subjects’ relation with the canons of professional practice, while showing the ambiguities around professional representations and identification.
Study on spudcan reinstallation next to a footprint using large deformation finite element method
Authors: Yin Qilin , Zhai Jinjin , Dong Sheng
Published: October 2020

Safety problems may occur to the jack-up rig when it is installed near the old footprint. In this study, three-dimensional large deformation finite element simulations using the Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) method have been carried out on the spudcan–footprint interaction problem. The correctness of the CEL method is verified through comparison with existing centrifuge tests. Uniform and non-uniform clays with different shear strength profiles encompassing the typical strength range of practical interest are considered as the subsea soil. The principle of thermo-mechanical coupled analysis is provided, after which this method is used to realize the updating of clay strength profiles in non-uniform clays. The influences of initial penetration depth, offset distance and shear strength profile on horizontal and moment loads are investigated. Distributions of soil load on the spudcan are presented, and their effect on the resulted inclined loads during spudcan reinstallation is analyzed. In both uniform and non-uniform clays, two peak values are obtained on the horizontal and moment load profiles during the reinstallation near the footprint. The relationship between the normalized maximum value of the horizontal load and initial penetration depth is described as a combination of linear and quadratic equations. While for the peak moment load, the offset distance is the main influencing factor. Finally, failure mechanisms of the surrounding soil during the penetration influenced by the footprint are discussed by defining four failure mechanism stages.
Vibration analysis of stiffened plates with initial geometric imperfections
Authors: Jafarpour Shahed , Khedmati Mohammad Reza
Published: October 2020

This paper presents the vibration analysis of stiffened plates with initial imperfections, using both conventional and super finite element methods. Von Karman theory was utilized so as to formulate the plate element. Eccentricity of the stiffeners is also taken into account and they are not limited to be placed on nodal lines. Consequently, any configuration of plate and stiffeners can be modelled. Nonlinear finite element equations are solved using arc-length method and backbone curve is extracted accordingly. The accuracy of proposed methodology is established in comparison with previous results. Finally, the effect of geometric imperfection on vibration characteristics of stiffened plates is studied extensively.
Business education as if people and the planet really matter
Authors: Hoffman Andrew J
Published: October 2020

Mounting concern over capitalism’s inability to address systemic challenges in our natural world (i.e. climate change) and social world (i.e. income inequality) is prompting reexamination of capitalism within business groups. This article argues that a concurrent reexamination must also take place within the foundations and philosophy of business education. As such, this essay explores nine broad themes for such a transformational reexamination: (1) instill an ethos of management as a calling, (2) rebuild the business school on a system of aspirational principles, (3) de-emphasize the core, (4) move beyond simply monetary measures, (5) train stewards of the market, (6) reexamine the purpose of the corporation, (7) discard misguided metrics and models, (8) bring the government back in, and (9) pay proper attention to citizenship. The article also discusses obstacles to such a grand revisioning, and offers examples that change is underway.
Examination of college student achievement within an ecological framework
Authors: Mangus Lauren , Somers Cheryl , Yoon Jina , Partridge Ty , Pernice Francesca
Published: October 2020

This study examined the extent to which variance in college student achievement was explained by self-efficacy, motivation, study habits, extracurricular activity involvement, perceptions of social support and perceptions of support from faculty, as well as perceptions of university support. Participants were 195 college students from a large, urban university. Self-efficacy and organizational study habits played a significant role in college student achievement. Implications to help improve student outcomes are discussed.
Validation and Living Learning Communities: An Evaluation Case Study
Authors: Anderson Sophia Gehlhausen , Blankenberger Bob
Published: October 2020

In this program evaluation study, we analyzed the impact of interpersonal validation and participation in living-learning communities (LLC) on retention and GPA via regression and propensity score matching. The LLCs were designed to improve outcomes for underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students at a Midwestern regional public university. Employing data from the widely used Mid-Year Student Assessment™, we created a validation score. This student validation score was significantly associated with retention in semester three, and third semester and sixth semester GPA. In the matched pair analyses, we found mixed results with significantly improved retention for participants in just one LLC compared to their matched peers, and significantly improved GPA for a combined group of LLC participants.
Tribological behavior and wear mechanism of Cu/CF/phenolic resin sandwich composites under current
Authors: Dai Enhao , Li Guangzhen , Lu Guixia , Wang Wen , Han Zhengde , Song Ziyu , Zhang Quan , Yuan Hua , Zhang Xiaoyu
Published: October 2020

The catenary system was an important part of electrified railway, which provided traction power for electric trains. Cu/CF/phenolic resin contact strip (CFRCS) had been designed with excellent mechanical strength and electrical conductivity. The properties of CFRCS and the pure carbon contact strip (PCCS) were also compared. It could be found that CFRCS not only had higher impact strength than PCCS, but also had lower resistivity, which was favorable for current transmission. This paper analyzed the wear behavior of contact strips from two aspects of wear data and abrasive dust, which was mainly determined by the current and its components. The current-carrying wear mechanism of CFRCS was mainly arc erosion wear, oxidation wear and adhesive wear, while that of PCCS was oxidation wear and arc erosion wear.
A Quest for New Cancer Diagnosis, Prognosis and Prediction Biomarkers and Their Use in Biosensors Development
Authors: Ramirez-Valles Eda G. , Rodríguez-Pulido Alicia , Barraza-Salas Marcelo , Martínez-Velis Isaac , Meneses-Morales Iván , Ayala-García Víctor M. , Alba-Fierro Carlos A.
Published: October 2020

Traditional techniques for cancer diagnosis, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasound and tissue analysis, require sophisticated devices and highly trained personnel, which are characterized by elevated operation costs. The use of biomarkers has emerged as an alternative for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and prediction because their measurement in tissues or fluids, such as blood, urine or saliva, is characterized by shorter processing times. However, the biomarkers used currently, and the techniques used for their measurement, including ELISA, western-blot, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or immunohistochemistry, possess low sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, the search for new proteomic, genomic or immunological biomarkers and the development of new noninvasive, easier and cheaper techniques that meet the sensitivity and specificity criteria for the diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of this disease has become a relevant topic. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview about the search for new cancer biomarkers, including the strategies that must be followed to identify them, as well as presenting the latest advances in the development of biosensors that possess a high potential for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and prediction, mainly focusing on their relevance in lung, prostate and breast cancers.
Identification of CDC25C as a Potential Biomarker in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Xun Ruifeng , Lu Hougen , Wang Xianwang
Published: October 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most aggressive type of gastrointestinal tumor, with a high rate of mortality. However, identifying biomarkers for the treatment of HCC remains to be developed. We aimed to determine whether cell division cycle 25C (CDC25C) could be used as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker in HCC. Expression of CDC25C in HCC was analyzed by using GEPIA (Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis) and UALCAN databases. GEPIA and CBioPortal databases were applied to analyze patients’survival and CDC25C mutations, respectively. PPI (Protein-Protein Interaction) network was further built by STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes) and Metascape Web portals. To the best of our knowledge, the novel observations identified in the present study reveal that the expression of CDC25C in HCC was significantly enhanced when compare to that in normal liver tissues (P < 0.001). A higher CDC25C expression resulted in a remarkably shorter disease free survival as well as overall survival. Moreover, the expression of CDC25C in HCC was related to HCC patients’grade and race, but not gender. The expression levels of CDC25C elevated gradually from stage 1 to 3 but decreased in stage 4. The specific gene mutations V41A, L87 H, N222 K and X309-splice of CDC25C occurred in HCC samples and these unique mutations were not detected in any other tumor tissues. Finally, PPI networks and GO enrichment analysis suggested that CDC25C might be associated with cell cycle and p53 signaling pathway. Taken together, bioinformatics analysis revealed that CDC25C might be a potential diagnostic predictor for HCC.
Effects of Cystatin C on Cognitive Impairment in Older Chinese Adults
Authors: Cui Zhizhen , Cao Guizhen , Wang Youyi , Ma Qinghua , Wang Congju , Xu Yong , Sun Hongpeng , Ma Yana
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To find a suitable dividing value to classify cystatin C and evaluate the association between cognition and levels of cystatin C.

Methods:

Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, We conducted a longitudinal analysis of a prospective cohort of 6,869 middle-aged and older Chinese without cognitive impairment at baseline. Levels of cystatin C were categorized into 2 groups by method of decision tree. Logistic regression models evaluated whether cystatin C was related to cognitive impairment.

Results:

Respondents were categorized as lower levels of cystatin C and higher levels of cystatin C, cut-point was 1.11 mg/L. Higher levels of cystatin C was associated with the odds of cognitive impairment (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.10-2.22) after multivariable adjustment. Respondents with higher levels of cystatin C had worse cognition scores.

Conclusions:

We found a suitable dividing value of cystatin C in middle-aged and older Chinese.
Feasibility of Beans/Bran Enriching Nutritional Eating For Intestinal Health & Cancer Including Activity for Longevity: A Pilot Trial to Improve Healthy Lifestyles among Individuals at High Risk for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Leach Heather J. , Baxter Bridget A. , Beale Melanie N. , Smith Hillary V. , Rao Sangeeta , Hibbs-Shipp Sarah , Ryan Elizabeth P.
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

Examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of a lifestyle intervention of rice bran plus navy bean supplementation, and physical activity (PA) education on intake of fiber and whole grains, and PA levels.

Design:

Randomized-controlled, single-blinded.

Setting:

Academic institution and free-living.

Subjects:

Adults >18 years, with ≥1 adenomatous polyp removed within 3 years.

Intervention:

Participants received powder and pre-prepared meals and snacks that contained either rice bran (30 g/day) plus navy bean (30 g/day), or Fibersol-2® (10 g/day), for 12-weeks. All participants received a 1-hour (PA) education session.

Measures:

Feasibility was assessed by recruitment and retention rates, and compliance to the study foods and procedures. Three-day food logs were analyzed using Nutritionist Pro™ to estimate fiber intake, and the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour (ASA24®) Dietary Assessment Tool calculated Healthy Eating Index (HEI) whole grain and total scores. PA was measured using an ActivPAL™ accelerometer.

Analysis:

Continuous data were summarized as median, range, and percent change from baseline to post-intervention.

Results:

N = 20 (86.9%) completed the intervention. Compliance was 92% in the rice bran plus navy bean versus 89% in Fibersol-2®. Navy bean consumption increased from 2 g/day to 30 g/day, and rice bran from 0 g/day to 30 g/day. Fiber intake (g/day) increased by 73% versus 82%, HEI whole grain improved by 270% versus 37%, and HEI total improved by 10% versus 9.1% in rice bran plus navy bean and Fibersol-2®, respectively. Total PA (MET-hours/day) showed minimal change for intervention (+0.04%) and control (+4%).

Conclusion:

Findings merit a larger trial of rice bran plus navy bean and PA to evaluate efficacy for dietary and cancer prevention-related outcomes.
Doctor, Why Can’t You Pick the Right Medication for My Epilepsy?
Authors: Nickels Katherine
Published: October 2020

[Box: see text]