bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pilot istraživanje smanjenja dentalne anksioznosti i zadovoljstva pacijenata muzikoterapijom
Authors: Neuberg Marijana , Cikač Tina , Herak Ivana , Križaj Mateja , Kudelić Petra
Published: August 2021

Uvod: Muzikoterapija se odnosi na korištenje glazbe ili elemenata glazbe kod jedne osobe ili grupe s ciljem unapređenja komunikacije i učenja te poboljšanja zdravstvenog stanja. Dentalna anksioznost podrazumijeva nenormalan strah od posjeta stomatologu i stomatoloških zahvata. Najčešće korišten pristup kod dentalne anksioznosti, osim farmakoloških metoda i psihoterapeutskih intervencija, je nefarmakološki pristup relaksacije primjenom glazbe. Ciljevi provedenog pilot-istraživanja bili su ispitati utjecaj glazbe na smanjenje nelagode kod pacijenata prilikom dentalnog postupka; prikazati utjecaj glazbe na vrijednost mjerenog pulsa; te ispitati zadovoljstvo pacijenata muzikoterapijom tijekom dentalnog postupka.
Metode: Istraživanje je provedeno u periodu od studenog 2019. godine do travnja 2020. godine. Korištena je modificirana Corah skala dentalne anksioznosti te upitnik za povratnu informaciju nakon muzikoterapije. Sudjelovalo je 30 sudionika koji su dolazili u ordinaciju dentalne medicine „Jolić“ na zakazani dentalni tretman čišćenja zubnog kamenca. Statistička analiza prikupljenih podataka napravljena je u IBM SPSS 23 statističkom programu, a rezultati su prikazani deskriptivno. Hipoteza je testirana t-testom.
Rezultati: Istraživanje je pokazalo da postupak brušenja zubi većina sudionika, njih 46,7 % smatra nelagodnim, dosta ili vrlo nelagodnim; njih 33,3 % tijekom brušenja zubi osjeća se pomalo nelagodno. Ukupno 90 % njih izjavljuje da im je iskustvo s muzikoterapijom bilo odlično, a tek 10 % njih kao dobro. Istraživanjem nije dobivena statistički značajna razlika u vrijednostima pulsa prije, tijekom i nakon čišćenja kamenca te primjeni muzikoterapije.
Rasprava: Većina sudionika dentalne tretmane poput brušenja i poliranja zubi smatra nelagodnima. U ovom istraživanju većina je sudionika navela da se do sada nisu susretala s muzikoterapijom u stomatološkoj ordinaciji te navode da su se osjećali odlično zbog slušanja glazbe tijekom dentalnog tretmana. Glazba im je izolirala sve neugodne zvukove instrumenta i glasnih pacijenata iz čekaonice ili susjedne ordinacije te svi sudionici preporučuju primjenu glazbe u postupku čišćenja kamenca.
Zaključak: Za daljnje istraživanje potrebno je povećati uzorak ispitanika te se konzultirati s pacijentom oko odabira glazbe kako bi se ova terapija što više individualizirala i bila što uspješnija.
Stavovi medicinskih sestara i pacijenata o vidljivim tetovažama
Authors: Crevar Ivana , Kosić Radoslav
Published: August 2021

Cilj: Cilj je istraživanja ispitati i usporediti stavove medicinskih sestara i pacijenata o vidljivim tetovažama na tijelu.
Ispitanici i metode: U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 88 ispitanika (42 medicinske sestre i 46 pacijenata). Istraživanje je provedeno u Službi za internu medicinu Opće bolnice Karlovac. Formiran je prigodni uzorak i kriterij je bio punoljetnost. Korišten je anketni upitnik. Prvi dio upitnika sastoji se od pitanja o sociodemografskim podacima: spol, dob, stručna sprema i mjesto stanovanja. Drugi dio upitnika sadrži stavove ispitanika o tetovažama. Treći dio sastoji se od sedam izjava o pacijentima i medicinskim sestrama s tetovažom koje su ispitanici ocjenjivali u rasponu od 1 do 5 te od šest tvrdnji na koje su ispitanici odgovarali s točno/netočno.
Rezultati: Medicinske sestre imaju pozitivniji stav prema pacijentima s tetovažom od pacijenata prema medicinskim sestrama s tetovažom. Ne postoje razlike u stavovima o tetoviranim osobama s obzirom na posjedovanje tjelesne tetovaže ispitanika, stručnu spremu i mjesto stanovanja.
Zaključak: Medicinske sestre odobravaju tetovaže na pacijentima, dok su mišljenja pacijenata podijeljena. Generalno su pozitivni stavovi o tetovažama obiju skupina ispitanika.
Complications associated with implantation and use of totally implantable venous access port in pediatric and adult patients
Authors: Klanjšek Petra , Grm Katarina , Nerat Jasmina , Cilar Leona
Published: August 2021

Introduction: The use of totally implantable venous access port systems (TIVAPS) is crucial for long-term intravenous treatment in children and adults patients. The purpose of this article is to examine the extent of existing research on complications related to implantation and management of TIVAPS.
Methods: A scoping review was performed from September to December in 2019. The MEDLINE, CINAHL and PubMed databases were used to review and analyze the literature using various combinations of keywords and their English-language synonyms. Quantitative clinical research published from 2010 to December 2019 were included in the analysis. The PRISMA-ScR recommendations were followed.
Results: Out of the 219 search results, 26 studies were included in the final analysis. To identify complications associated with the implantation and handling of TIVAPS, free codes were identified by thematic analysis leading to the development of 17 primary grade descriptive subthemes. For the development of the thematic framework, all secondary level sub-topics were synthesized into three main themes: time-bound complications, infection-related complications, and TIVAPS removal complications.
Discussion: Nurses who use TIVAPS on children and adult patients should be aware of the possible complications associated with TIVAPS. Refinement of surgical techniques and improving care process may improve the longevity of the line. Proper and careful management with TIVADs and more frequent observation by nurses are likely to have positive consequences for patients and positive cost implications for the hospital.
Opioid Use and Its Relationship to Cardiovascular Disease and Brain Health: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association
Authors: Chow Sheryl L. , Sasson Comilla , Benjamin Ivor J. , Califf Robert M. , Compton Wilson M. , Oliva Elizabeth M. , Robson Chester , Sanchez Eduardo J. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association
Published: August 2021

The misuse of opioids continues to be epidemic, resulting in dependency and a recent upsurge in drug overdoses that have contributed to a significant decrease in life expectancy in the United States. Moreover, recent data suggest that commonly used opioids for the management of pain may produce undesirable pharmacological actions and interfere with critical medications commonly used in cardiovascular disease and stroke; however, the impact on outcomes remains controversial. The American Heart Association developed an advisory statement for health care professionals and researchers in the setting of cardiovascular and brain health to synthesize the current literature, to provide approaches for identifying patients with opioid use disorder, and to address pain management and overdose. A literature and internet search spanning from January 1, 2012, to February 15, 2021, and limited to epidemiology studies, reviews, consensus statements, and guidelines in human subjects was conducted. Suggestions and considerations listed in this document are based primarily on published evidence from this review whenever possible, as well as expert opinion. Several federal and institutional consensus documents and clinical resources are currently available to both patients and clinicians; however, none have specifically addressed cardiovascular disease and brain health. Although strategic tools and therapeutic approaches for recognition of opioid use disorder and safe opioid use are available for health care professionals who manage patients with cardiovascular disease and stroke, high-quality evidence does not currently exist. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more research to identify the most effective approaches to improve care for these patients.
A Fourteenth-Century Scholastic Dispute on Astrological Interrogations
Authors: Nothaft C. Philipp E.
Published: August 2021

This article examines and edits an anonymous text from the late 1330s (Quesitum fuit utrum per interrogationes …), which was written to refute the arguments presented in a lost quaestio disputata by an unknown Parisian philosopher. At the heart of this scholastic dispute was the question whether the astrological branch known as interrogations was an effective and legitimate means of predicting the future. The philosopher’s negative answers to this question as well as the rebuttals preserved in our anonymous text offer valuable new insights into the debate over astrology that raged at the University of Paris during the fourteenth century. Besides arguing at length for the internal coherence and philosophical soundness of interrogations, the text contains a bold defence against the Augustinian view that astrologers consort with demons. This defence was later rebutted as part of an anti-astrological polemic by the astronomer Heinrich Selder, who is known to have studied in Paris during the 1370s.
Bypassing the Technocratic State in South Korea
Authors: Flowers James
Published: August 2021

This article reveals an important, yet hidden, Korean response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 that goes beyond the actions of the state. It focuses on the Korean medicine doctors who were excluded from any government-led public health or treatment plans for COVID-19. Bypassing the state, they used telehealth to provide herbal medicines to 20 percent of COVID-19 patients in South Korea. Traditional medicine doctors volunteered their services and financial resources to fill a gap in COVID-19 care. Most observers attribute Korean success in controlling COVID-19 to the leadership of the technocratic state with buy-in from the population. However, the case of Korea offers an example of bottom-up healthcare in a community where people chose their own native cultural resources and helps to explain how doctors were able to take the initiative to autonomously work with people in the community to help to stop the otherwise rapid transmission of the virus.
Epidemics and Plague in Premodern Chinese Buddhism
Authors: Capitanio Joshua
Published: August 2021

Buddhist scriptures describe the rise of epidemics as a cosmological inevitability and prescribe a variety of methods for preventing and treating epidemic diseases, which focus mainly on purifying negative karma and exorcizing the supernatural beings responsible for their spread. As these ideas were transmitted to China, Chinese Buddhists assimilated them to indigenous beliefs that also portrayed epidemics as retribution for nonvirtuous behavior, enacted by ghostly agents.
Medicine and the Senses: Towards Integrative Practices
Authors: Jordanova Ludmilla
Published: August 2021

Paying attention to the senses has been part of historical practice for some decades and has special resonance in the history of medicine since the senses play a central role in all aspects of health care and medical sciences. Both practitioners and patients rely upon them in complex ways. Using a range of primary and secondary sources, this article reflects on what is gained by a focus on the senses, for our understanding of both medicine and our own historical practices. It advocates a generous, expanded understanding of the senses to include, for example, somatic affinity.
“Flying” or digging? The trapdoor spider genus Neocteniza Pocock, 1895: Redescription of three species, new records from Brazil, notes on natural history and first record of ballooning for Idiopidae (Araneae, Mygalomorphae)
Authors: ROSSI GIULLIA DE F. , GHIROTTO VICTOR M. , GALLETI-LIMA ARTHUR , INDICATTI RAFAEL P. , GUADANUCCI JOSÉ P. L.
Published: August 2021

The Neotropical trapdoor spider genus Neocteniza Pocock, 1895 is distributed throughout Central and South America. The genus currently comprises 18 species and little is known about the biology of these spiders. We provide an amended diagnosis for the genus Neocteniza and the species: N. minima Goloboff, 1987, N. australis Goloboff, 1987 and N. toba Goloboff, 1987, and also redescribe them. We include new records of these species from Brazil and notes on natural history of N. toba, providing data on burrow structure, diet, development and the first record of ballooning behavior for Idiopidae. We propose a terminology for the genitalia and consider homology among genital structures and among possibly stridulatory structures. We also discuss relationships of Neocteniza with other Idiopidae, stressing the uniqueness of the genus and its differences from all other Idiopidae including other Genysinae.
Probability Distributions for Analog-To-Target Distances
Authors: Platzer P. , Yiou P. , Naveau P. , Filipot J.-F. , Thiébaut M. , Tandeo P.
Published: August 2021

Some properties of chaotic dynamical systems can be probed through features of recurrences, also called analogs. In practice, analogs are nearest neighbors of the state of a system, taken from a large database called the catalog. Analogs have been used in many atmospheric applications including forecasts, downscaling, predictability estimation, and attribution of extreme events. The distances of the analogs to the target state usually condition the performances of analog applications. These distances can be viewed as random variables, and their probability distributions can be related to the catalog size and properties of the system at stake. A few studies have focused on the first moments of return-time statistics for the closest analog, fixing an objective of maximum distance from this analog to the target state. However, for practical use and to reduce estimation variance, applications usually require not just one but many analogs. In this paper, we evaluate from a theoretical standpoint and with numerical experiments the probability distributions of the K shortest analog-to-target distances. We show that dimensionality plays a role on the size of the catalog needed to find good analogs and also on the relative means and variances of the K closest analogs. Our results are based on recently developed tools from dynamical systems theory. These findings are illustrated with numerical simulations of well-known chaotic dynamical systems and on 10-m wind reanalysis data in northwest France. Practical applications of our derivations are shown for forecasts of an idealized chaotic dynamical system and for objective-based dimension reduction using the 10-m wind reanalysis data.
Sensitivity of East Asian summer monsoon precipitation to the location of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Seok Soo-Hyun , Seo Kyong-Hwan
Published: August 2021

Recent studies have highlighted that a primary mechanism of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) is the fluid dynamical response to the Tibetan Plateau (TP), that is, orographically forced Rossby waves. With this mechanism in mind, this study explores how changes in the location of the TP affect the EASM precipitation. Specifically, the TP is moved in the four cardinal directions using idealized general circulation model experiments. The results show that the monsoon aspects are entirely determined by the location of the TP. Interestingly, the strongest EASM precipitation occurs when the TP is situated near its current location, a situation in which downstream southerlies are well developed from the surface to aloft. However, southerlies into the EASM region weaken as the TP moves, which in turn reduces the precipitation. Nevertheless, as long as it moves in the east–west direction, the TP is likely to force the stationary waves that induce precipitation over the mid-latitudes (not necessarily over East Asia). In contrast, moving the TP well north of its original location does not induce strong monsoon flows over the EASM region, resulting in the driest case. Meanwhile, although the southward movement of the TP triggers downstream southerlies to some extent, it does not lead to an increase in the precipitation. Overall, these results show that the location of the TP is crucial in determining the EASM precipitation, and the latter is much more sensitive to the displacement of the TP in the meridional direction than in the zonal direction.
Imprint of the Pacific Walker Circulation in Global Precipitation δ18O
Authors: Falster Georgina , Konecky Bronwen , Madhavan Midhun , Stevenson Samantha , Coats Sloan
Published: August 2021

Characterizing variability in the global water cycle is fundamental to predicting impacts of future climate change; understanding the role of the Pacific Walker circulation (PWC) in the regional expression of global water cycle changes is critical to understanding this variability. Water isotopes are ideal tracers of the role of the PWC in global water cycling because they retain information about circulation-dependent processes including moisture source, transport, and delivery. We collated publicly available measurements of precipitation δ18O (δ18OP) and used novel data processing techniques to synthesize long (34 yr), globally distributed composite records from temporally discontinuous δ18OP measurements. We investigated relationships between global-scale δ18OP variability and PWC strength, as well as other possible drivers of global δ18OP variability—including El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and global mean temperature—and used isotope-enabled climate model simulations to assess potential biases arising from uneven geographical distribution of the observations or our data processing methodology. Covariability underlying the δ18OP composites is more strongly correlated with the PWC (r = 0.74) than any other index of climate variability tested. We propose that the PWC imprint in global δ18OP arises from multiple complementary processes, including PWC-related changes in moisture source and transport length, and a PWC- or ENSO-driven “amount effect” in tropical regions. The clear PWC imprint in global δ18OP implies a strong PWC influence on the regional expression of global water cycle variability on interannual to decadal time scales, and hence that uncertainty in the future state of the PWC translates to uncertainties in future changes in the global water cycle.
Begging for Crime? The Effect of State Laws Restricting Access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families on Unsuccessful Completion of Parole
Authors: Sohoni Tracy , Piatkowska Sylwia
Published: August 2021

Transitioning from prison to the community can pose significant hardships as returning individuals seek to support themselves while searching for work and housing. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is one potential service that can help ease this transition, however, in numerous states TANF is not available to many former offenders. We conduct a fixed effects analysis on laws banning TANF assistance and state rates of unsuccessful parole completion between 1994 and 2016. We find that states that imposed restrictions on TANF saw an increase in state rates of unsuccessful parole completion. Furthermore, we find no significant difference between full bans and partial bans of TANF, indicating that even partial bans may undermine efforts to successfully reintegrate former offenders.
The digital divide at school and at home: A comparison between schools by socioeconomic level across 47 countries
Authors: Ma Josef Kuo-Hsun
Published: August 2021

Despite efforts to improve digital access in schools, a persistent digital divide is identified worldwide. Drawing on data from the 2018 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) for 15-year-olds, I examine how students’ digital use for educational purposes (at school and at home) and their perceived digital competence differ between schools by socioeconomic status (SES) and vary across 47 countries. Using multilevel modeling, I find that the second-level digital divide between schools exists even among more developed societies. Students attending high-SES schools are more likely to use computers for schoolwork within and outside of schools, and have more digital competence than those attending low-SES schools. These differences remain substantial and statistically significant even when controlling for school-level resources. Moreover, the between-school digital divide in students’ digital competence is negatively associated with economic development and educational expenditures, and positively associated with income inequality. In conclusion, I discuss implications of the findings and highlight the importance of examining how schools with varying socioeconomic profiles provide different e-learning experiences for individual students, explained by the different institutional settings and cultural features of schools.
“Where I Can Breathe”: Examining the Impact of the Current Racial Climate on Black Students’ Choice to Attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Authors: Williams Janelle L. , Palmer Robert T. , Jones Brandy J.
Published: August 2021

While some in the higher education community have used anecdotal evidence to argue that Black students were attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) because of the broader racial climate due to Donald Trump’s rise as a political figure, few studies have provided empirical evidence to support this notion. Therefore, in this current study, we interviewed 80 Black students, who were engaged in the college search process in 2016 to 2018 to understand to what extent, if any, did the racial climate under Trump’s presidency influence their choice to enroll in HBCUs. Data were collected in the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 from across four diverse HBCUs. Findings indicate that the racial climate under President Trump played a salient role in participants’ selection of HBCUs. Implications for research and practice are provided for both HBCUs and PWIs.
The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Brand Sales: An Accountability Perspective
Authors: Nickerson Dionne , Lowe Michael , Pattabhiramaiah Adithya , Sorescu Alina
Published: August 2021

Consumers are increasingly mindful of corporate social responsibility (CSR) when making purchase and consumption decisions, but evidence of the impact of CSR initiatives on actual purchase decisions is lacking. This article introduces a novel brand accountability–based framework of consumer response to CSR initiatives, which categorizes CSR efforts as “corrective,” “compensating,” or “cultivating goodwill.” Leveraging a database of CSR press releases by leading consumer packaged goods brands, the authors examine the effect of the different types of CSR announcements on brand sales. The findings suggest that CSR initiatives that genuinely aim to reduce a brand's negative externalities (“corrective” and “compensating”) lift sales, whereas CSR actions focused on philanthropy (“cultivating goodwill”) can hurt sales. The authors propose two moderators—CSR reputation and CSR focus on environmental or social causes—and a mechanism for these effects, which they examine under controlled experimental settings. The experimental results show that, conditional on CSR reputation, consumers perceive varying degrees of sincerity in the different CSR types and that sincerity mediates the effect of CSR type on purchase intentions. Overall, the results suggest that consumers are more inclined to reward firms that directly reduce the negative by-products of their own business practices than to be impressed by public goodwill gestures.
Adjustments to gang exposure in early adolescence
Authors: Krakowski Krzysztof
Published: August 2021

The article investigates how exposure to gang-affiliated peers affects social behaviors and attitudes of early adolescents. Much of the literature finds that exposure to gangs contributes to adolescents’ antisocial behaviors. According to other studies, however, gang exposure can also promote prosocial behaviors. The present article re-examines this contradictory evidence, exploring potential complementarity of both reactions to gangs. Using a survey of 1,782 adolescents aged ten to 13 from rural Colombia, I compare adolescents who are and are not in a school class with members of youth gangs. I exploit the fact that schools in rural Colombia are unsegregated. Moreover, the presence of youth gangs across these schools is linked to incidence of historic armed conflict rather than typical forms of social disadvantage. This comparative setting thus allows me to establish an unconfounded relationship between exposure to gang-affiliated classmates and social outcomes. The analysis reveals gender differences in the effect of youth gang exposure. I find that girls react to male gang classmate by increased involvement in prosocial organizations. Boys, by contrast, adjust to male gangs by expressing more antisocial attitudes. There are no gender differences in the effect of gang classmates on alcohol consumption (an indicator of antisocial behavior). The article shows that the well-documented antisocial adjustments to gangs are – population-wide – complemented by prosocial adjustments, with gender being a key moderator. I discuss the implications of these findings for theories of violence and social change after conflict.
The Student Teaching Equity Project: Exploring Teacher Candidates’ Knowledge, Skills, and Beliefs
Authors: Bell Nicholas , Soslau Elizabeth , Wilson Chanelle
Published: August 2021

A quasi-experimental mixed-methods study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of an equity intervention on teacher candidates’ abilities to articulate equity-based beliefs, and demonstrate and apply equity-based skills and knowledge. Three pre/post instruments were utilized. Treatment participants ( N = 35) were exposed to curricular modifications made to the traditional curriculum, including a workshop, panel event, online learning modules, and reflective postconferences. Quantitative findings showed a statistically significant treatment effect for treatment participants compared with candidates in the control group ( N = 83). Qualitative analyses showed that treatment participants articulated more equity-based language when describing their beliefs and intentions for their future classroom communities. Implications for practice and research are provided.
Ventilation via nose cone results in similar hemodynamic parameters and blood gas levels as endotracheal intubation during open chest surgery in rats
Authors: Krutrök Nina , Pehrsson Susanne , Van Zuydam Natalie , Jennbacken Karin , Wikström Johannes
Published: August 2021

Open chest surgery in rodents requires assisted breathing and the most common approach for ventilation is via an endotracheal tube. Even with well-trained operators the endotracheal intubation is technically challenging and may lead to prolonged procedures and endotracheal intubation complications. Nose cone ventilation is a simpler procedure compared to endotracheal intubation and has the potential to improve animal welfare by reducing procedure time and endotracheal intubation associated complications. Rats are obligate nose breathers, and therefore replacing intubation with air supply from a nose cone would be an advantage and a more natural way of breathing. Here, we compared the values for several blood gases, blood pressure and heart rate from rats that were nose cone ventilated with rats that underwent endotracheal intubation at 12 timepoints equally distributed across three surgical stages: baseline, open chest and closed chest. Throughout the monitoring period the hemodynamic and blood gas values for both methods of ventilation were within published, normal ranges for the rat and were biologically equivalent (equivalence test p value ≤ 0.05). Our data showed that nose cone ventilation-maintained blood gases and hemodynamic homeostasis equivalent to endotracheal intubation. Nose cone ventilation can be recommended as an alternative to endotracheal intubation in rat experiments where investigators require airway control.
The Associations of Objectively Measured Physical Activity, Fundamental Motor Skills and Time in Sedentary Behavior in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Carvalho Anderson S. , Bohn Lucimere , Abdalla Pedro P. , Ramos Nilo C. , Borges Franciane G. , Mota Jorge , Machado Dalmo Roberto Lopes
Published: August 2021

Reduced levels of children’s physical activity (PA) and fundamental motor skills (FMS) along with increased sedentary behaviors have been observed in recent years. Yet, associations between these variables are not yet well established. This study aimed to observe the associations between FMS, PA and sedentary time in elementary school children. We evaluated 148 children (70 boys; Mage = 8.7, SD = 1.4 years old) from a private school using the Test of Gross Motor Development – Second Edition (TGMD-2) to measure FMS and examine locomotor, object control, and gross motor skills. We used accelerometry to measure PA performed on weekdays, weekends and total PA. We used descriptive statistics, partial correlations controlling for sex and age, and linear regression adjusted for sex and equivalent motor age to explain the relationships. Total moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) (β: 0.153; p = .009) and weekend MVPA (β: 0.171; p = .003) were significantly associated with FMS, regardless of gender and equivalent motor age. Sedentary time was not significantly associated with FMS ( p = .065). Girls and boys who met PA recommendations (≥60 minutes/day of moderate to vigorous PA) had higher frequencies of high ratings on the TGMD-2 ( p < .001 e p = .001, respectively). MVPA was associated with children’s FMS development, possibly affecting the quality of movement performed in children's daily lives.
The Changing Paradigm of Death and Dying
Authors: Arora Veenat
Published: August 2021

Biologically, death means the cessation of a living being and dying is the process of reaching towards this cessation. However, this biological sameness in medical terms cannot define death completely; it is also a culturally constructed idea. As society transformed from one phase to another, the ways in which the phenomena of death and dying are construed have also undergone a change. This article is a review-based paper that attempts to understand the changing paradigms of death and dying from pre-modern/early modern times to the post-modern era. In primitive times, aborigines attempted to comprehend the reality of death in the light of separation of blood and flesh and accordingly devised practices to deal with it. Gradually, the organised institution of religion evolved and developed very systematic answers to the phenomenon of death. People perceived death and dying, according to their religious orientation and had an attitude of acceptance towards it. Then, modernity heralded and shifted death and dying to the purview of science. From being a part of life, death became an enemy of life. Thereafter, in post-modern times, death has become a ‘spectacle’ which is much more visible but kept at a safe distance.
Family Caregivers’ Psychosocial Well-being in the Context of the Great Recession
Authors: Hodgdon Barbara T. , Wong Jen D.
Published: August 2021

The economic instability of the Great Recession contributed to a rise in multigenerational households as more individuals took on unanticipated care responsibilities for older family members while navigating financial uncertainties. Guided by the life course perspective, this study compared the psychological and social well-being of family caregivers and examined the moderating influences of financial challenges experienced during the Great Recession. Filial and sandwiched caregivers ( N = 138; Mage = 52.80; SDage = 11.25) from the Refresher Cohort of the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) survey provided information on demographics, caregiving, financial challenges, and well-being. Findings from regression analyses showed that sandwiched caregivers exhibited lower environmental mastery and positive relations with others than filial caregivers ( p  = .07). Moderation analyses showed that sandwiched caregivers with fewer than average financial challenges exhibited lower social actualization than the other family caregivers ( p = .01). Study findings underscore the need to support family caregivers’ psychosocial well-being as they navigate caregiving responsibilities and financial disruptions.
Cerebral Venous Thrombosis and Persistent Pulsatile Tinnitus After Sigmoid Sinus Resurfacing Surgery
Authors: Yun Jimin , Cheong Taek Yoon , Jung Keun-Woo , Lee Jeon Mi
Published: August 2021

We report a case with rare complication of cerebral venous thrombosis, as well as an incomplete response, after sigmoid sinus resurfacing surgery for pulsatile tinnitus (PT). A 24-year-old female patient with PT originating from the sigmoid sinus underwent sigmoid sinus resurfacing surgery. The tinnitus was immediately resolved, but it recurred with headache 5 days after surgery. A cerebral venous thrombosis was identified and treated, but PT persisted, although its frequency and loudness decreased. Sigmoid sinus resurfacing surgery is a safe and effective method to treat PT, but in some patients, it can cause serious complications and/or persistent tinnitus. In our patient, factors such as changes in blood viscosity due to warfarin intake or increased blood flow due to weight loss may have influenced the persistence of the tinnitus. It is important to identify the various associated factors and the weight of each of these factors to provide more tailored treatment of PT for individual patients in the future and to reduce complications and increase the effectiveness of sigmoid sinus resurfacing surgery.
The Neural Basis Linking Achievement Motivation With Procrastination: Left Precuneus Connectivity With Right Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Authors: Li Yuhua , Zhang Libin , Zhang Rong , Xu Ting , Feng Tingyong
Published: August 2021

Procrastination adversely affects individual’s learning, working, health, and well-being, which troubles many people around the world. Previous studies have indicated that people with higher achievement motivation tend to have less procrastination. However, how achievement motivation is linked with procrastination at the neural level is still poorly understood. Here, we adopted the voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) methods to study this issue. The VBM analysis revealed that higher achievement motivation was correlated with larger gray matter volumes in left precuneus (lPre). Furthermore, the RSFC results showed that the functional connectivity between lPre and right anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) was positively associated with achievement motivation and negatively correlated with procrastination. More importantly, a mediation analysis demonstrated that achievement motivation fully mediated the relation between lPre–rACC connectivity and procrastination. These findings suggested that lPre–rACC coupling might be the neural correlate underlying the association between achievement motivation and procrastination.
Interdisciplinary Health Care Evaluation Instruments: A Review of Psychometric Evidence
Authors: Kang Hosung (Joel) , Flores-Sandoval Cecilia , Law Benson , Sibbald Shannon
Published: August 2021

Teamwork among health care professionals has been found to improve patient outcomes and reduce burnout. Surveys from individual team members are often used to measure the effectiveness of teamwork performance, as they provide an efficient way to capture various constructs of teamwork. This allows evaluators to better understand team functioning, areas of strength, and to identify potential areas for improvement. However, the majority of published surveys are yet to be validated. We conducted a review of psychometric evidence to identify instruments frequently used in practice and identified in the literature. The databases searched included MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. After excluding duplicates and irrelevant articles, 15 articles met the inclusion criteria for full assessment. Seven surveys were validated and most frequently identified in the literature. This review aims to facilitate the selection of instruments that are most appropriate for research and clinical practice. More research is required to develop surveys that better reflect the current reality of teamwork in our evolving health system, including a greater consideration for patient as team members. Additionally, more research is needed to encompass an increasing development of team assessment tools.
Assessing the credibility of COVID-19 vaccine mis/disinformation in online discussion
Authors: Savolainen Reijo
Published: August 2021

This study examines how the credibility of the content of mis- or disinformation, as well as the believability of authors creating such information is assessed in online discussion. More specifically, the investigation was focused on the credibility of mis- or disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. To this end, a sample of 1887 messages posted to a Reddit discussion group was scrutinised by means of qualitative content analysis. The findings indicate that in the assessment of the author’s credibility, the most important criteria are his or her reputation, expertise and honesty in argumentation. In the judgement of the credibility of the content of mis/disinformation, objectivity of information and plausibility of arguments are highly important. The findings highlight that in the assessment of the credibility of mis/disinformation, the author’s qualities such as poor reputation, incompetency and dishonesty are particularly significant because they trigger expectancies about how the information content created by the author is judged.
From Bricks to Clicks: How Digital Heritage Initiatives Create a New Ecosystem for Cultural Heritage and Collective Remembering
Authors: Burkey Brant
Published: August 2021

Cultural heritage institutions, such as museums, libraries, archives, and historical societies, are increasingly using digital heritage initiatives and social media platforms to connect and interact with their heritage communities. This creates a new memory ecosystem whereby heritage communities are invited to contribute, participate with, and share more of what they are interested in collectively remembering, rather than simply accepting the authoritative narratives of heritage institutions, which raises questions about what this means for cultural heritage writ large and whose versions of the past these heritage communities will hold onto as their digital inheritance. The primary contributions of this article are to provide both an extended view of the issue by building on several qualitative studies involving in-depth interviews and digital observations with eight cultural heritage communities over a five-year period and to better understand how their digital heritage initiatives are creating a new ecosystem for cultural heritage and collective remembering.
An eighth note
Authors: Tsai Meng-Rong , Lee Chiu-Yang , Yang Chih-Yu , Tarng Der-Cherng
Published: August 2021

Venous stenosis is the most common cause of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure in hemodialysis patients. For patients with AVF stenosis, the pressure over the antecedent part of the AVF stenotic lesion will increase if arterial inflow is sufficient. We report a chronic hemodialysis patient who received an angiographic examination for the juxta-anastomosis stenosis of his AVF. A unique feature of a collateral venous branch antecedent to the stenotic lesion was noted, resembling a musical sign as the “eighth note.” After percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, the eighth note attenuated markedly at once. Of note, the eighth note sign is not seen frequently, and thus we postulate that the formation of an eighth note sign on the radiocephalic fistula should fulfill the following requirements, including a sufficient arterial inflow, an adjacent collateral branch close enough to the arteriovenous anastomosis, a severe juxta-anastomotic stenotic lesion, and an intact ulnar venous drainage system.
Effect of muscle strength training in children and adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Merino-Andrés Javier , García de Mateos-López Agustín , Damiano Diane L , Sánchez-Sierra Alberto
Published: August 2021

Objective:

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the effects of strength training program in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy to improve function, activity, and participation.

Data sources:

Five electronic databases (MEDLINE-Pubmed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus) were systematically searched for full-text articles published from inception to 30 June 2021.

Review methods:

Randomized controlled trials were included, who compared: (i) child population with spastic cerebral palsy population between 0 and 22 years; (ii) studies in which a muscle strength training program was performed and included dosing information; (iii) studies comparing strength training with other physical therapy technique(s) or untreated control group. Studies with similar outcomes were pooled by calculating standardized mean differences. Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing the risk of bias and PROSPERO’s registration number ID: CRD42020193535.

Results:

Twenty-seven studies, comprising 847 participants with spastic cerebral palsy. The meta-analyses demonstrated significant standardized mean differences in favor of strength training program compared to other physical therapy technique(s) or untreated control group(s) for muscle strength at the knee flexors, at the knee extensor, at the plantarflexors, maximum resistance, balance, gait speed, GMFM (global, D and E dimension) and spasticity.

Conclusion:

A strength training program has positive functional and activity effects on muscle strength, balance, gait speed, or gross motor function without increasing spasticity for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy in Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I, II, and III when adequate dosage and specific principles are utilized.
Robotic-assisted laparoscopy is a feasible method for resection of deep infiltrating endometriosis, especially in the rectosigmoid area
Authors: Hiltunen Janika , Eloranta Marja-Liisa , Lindgren Auni , Keski-Nisula Leea , Anttila Maarit , Sallinen Hanna
Published: August 2021

Objective

This study aimed to compare outcomes of mini-invasive surgical treatment of endometriosis, especially conventional laparoscopy with robotic-assisted laparoscopy, and to evaluate the quality of life.

Methods

One hundred three consecutive patients with endometriosis who had surgery from 2014 to 2017 owing to an indication of pain were enrolled in this retrospective study. The majority (n = 77, 75%) of patients underwent conventional laparoscopy and 18 (17%) had robotic-assisted laparoscopy. The quality of life was postoperatively assessed with a questionnaire.

Results

The rates of parametrectomy (76% vs. 45%,) and rectovaginal resection (28% vs. 4%) were significantly higher in robotic-assisted laparoscopy than in laparoscopy. Additionally, the rate of bowel operations (50% vs. 17%), especially the shaving technique, was higher in robotic-assisted laparoscopy surgery than in laparoscopy (39% vs. 8%). There was no difference in the rate of postoperative complications between laparoscopy and robotic-assisted laparoscopy. Most (91%) of the patients who answered the questionnaire felt that surgical treatment had relieved their pain. In the laparoscopic and robotic-assisted groups, 88% of respondents felt that their quality of life had improved after surgery.

Conclusions

This study suggests that robotic-assisted laparoscopy is a feasible method to resect deep infiltrating endometriosis, especially in the rectosigmoid area.
Imaging observation of percutaneous compression plate use in promoting femoral neck fracture healing
Authors: Chen Yong , Li Haifeng , Dai Liansheng , Yin Qudong , Li Dong , Wang Xinming
Published: August 2021

Objective

To examine the imaging evidence of the use of percutaneous compression plate (PCCP) in promoting femoral neck fracture healing compared with cannulated screws (CS).

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled patients with femoral neck fractures undergoing internal fixation procedures. The patients were divided into a PCCP group and a CS group with imaging as the primary outcome and Harris hip score (HHS) as the secondary outcome.

Results

This study included 162 patients: 80 in the PCCP group and 82  in the CS group. There were no significant differences between the patients in their preoperative baseline characteristics. Patient follow-up ranged from 24–56 months (mean 30.7 months). Differences in reduction quality, screw slipping, neck shortening and avascular necrosis (AVN) were not significant between the two groups. There were significant differences between the treatment groups in bone absorption, nonunion, healing time, screw withdrawal and fixation failure in favour of the PCCP group. Postoperative HHS at 6 and 12 months were significantly better for the PCCP group than the CS group, but the differences were not significant at 24 months and last follow-up.

Conclusion

Stable internal fixation with dynamic compression was the key to PCCP promoting femoral neck fracture healing.
Tumor treating fields combined with a poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor during radiotherapy for rapidly progressing IDH-wildtype diffuse astrocytoma: a case report
Authors: Wang Zheng , Ren Yi , Du Fangfang , Sun Yafang , Jiang Wei
Published: August 2021

A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed with IDH-wildtype (IDHwt) astrocytoma (World Health Organization grade II) with the molecular characteristics of glioblastoma. She underwent concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy according to the Stupp protocol in combination with a multi-target antiangiogenic drug and additional intrathecal chemotherapy using methotrexate. During treatment, the patient’s tumor showed rapid progression. The chemotherapy with temozolomide was stopped and replaced with radiotherapy combined with tumor treating fields (TTF), the poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor niraparib, and anlotinib. After the radiotherapy was completed, the symptoms of increased intracranial pressure and epilepsy were well controlled. Considering the patient’s tolerance to the treatment, the combined therapy of TTF and anlotinib was continued, and osimertinib, a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor–tyrosine kinase inhibitor with good permeability of the blood–brain barrier, was added. The patient was regularly followed up and had no obvious adverse drug reactions. Head magnetic resonance imaging (plain scan + enhanced scan) suggested that the lesions were stable. For rapidly progressing glioblastomas or histological grade II/III IDHwt astrocytomas, the combination of TTF and a PARP inhibitor during radiotherapy may have a synergistic effect on tumor control and is well tolerated by patients.
Carcinosarcoma of the stomach with alpha-fetoprotein-producing hepatoid adenocarcinoma: an unexpected combination of two rare subtypes of gastric cancer in one tumor
Authors: Li Zhongqi , Zhou Quan , Lu Jun , Zhang Haibin , Teng Lisong
Published: August 2021

Carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm comprising both epithelial and mesenchymal components. Hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC) is another rare type of cancer. To date, there are only four reported cases of concurrent carcinosarcomas with HAC across all tumor types, all of which were observed in uterine tumors. Here, we report an unusual case of gastric carcinosarcoma associated with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing HAC in a 76-year-old woman. Upon admission, the patient had an elevated serum AFP concentration (448 µg/L), a necrotic polypoid tumor of the central gastric cardia revealed by endoscopy, and no evidence of distant metastasis indicated by computed tomography (CT). Owing to malignancy indicated by biopsy, the patient underwent proximal subtotal gastrectomy. The resected tumor was composed of both an HAC component and a sarcoma component, microscopically. The sample was positive for AFP, hepatocyte paraffin (Hep-Par) 1, glypican-3, SALL4, CDX2, cytokeratin (CK) (pan), CK18, desmin, and vimentin staining immunohistochemically. In summary, the tumor was diagnosed as carcinosarcoma of the stomach with AFP-producing HAC. To our knowledge, this is the first report of gastric carcinosarcoma with AFP-producing HAC in the English literature describing gastric tumors.