bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Method for Sleep-Stage Classification Based on Sonification of Sleep Electroencephalogram Signals Using Wavelet Transform and Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Moradi Foad , Mohammadi Hiwa , Rezaei Mohammad , Sariaslani Payam , Razazian Nazanin , Khazaie Habibolah , Adeli Hojjat
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Visual sleep-stage scoring is a time-consuming technique that cannot extract the nonlinear characteristics of electroencephalogram (EEG). This article presents a novel method for sleep-stage differentiation based on sonification of sleep-EEG signals using wavelet transform and recurrent neural network (RNN). Methods: Two RNNs were designed and trained separately based on a database of classical guitar pieces and Kurdish tanbur Makams using a long short-term memory model. Moreover, discrete wavelet transform and wavelet packet decomposition were used to determine the association between the EEG signals and musical pitches. Continuous wavelet transform was applied to extract musical beat-based features from the EEG. Then, the pretrained RNN was used to generate music. To test the proposed model, 11 sleep EEGs were mapped onto the guitar and tanbur frequency intervals and presented to the pretrained RNN. Next, the generated music was randomly presented to 2 neurologists. Results: The proposed model classified the sleep stages with an accuracy of >81% for tanbur and more than 93% for guitar musical pieces. The inter-rater reliability measured by Cohen’s kappa coefficient (κ) revealed good reliability for both tanbur (κ = 0.64, p < 0.001) and guitar musical pieces (κ = 0.85, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The present EEG sonification method leads to valid sleep staging by clinicians. The method could be used on various EEG databases for classification, differentiation, diagnosis, and treatment purposes. Real-time EEG sonification can be used as a feedback tool for replanning of neurophysiological functions for the management of many neurological and psychiatric disorders in the future.
Double Heterozygous Mutations in the BRCA2 and ATM Genes: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Duzkale Teker Neslihan , Eyerci Nilnur
Published: October 2020

Introduction: Germline mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for about a quarter of hereditary breast cancers (BCs). In this study, we aimed to determine the importance of rare double heterozygous (DH) pathogenic variant carriership in BRCA2and ATM genes in a patient diagnosed with BC and pancreas cancer (PC). Case Report: A 54-year-old female patient was diagnosed with BC at the age of 34 years and with PC at the age of 48 years. The multigene panel and next-generation sequencing technique were used to evaluate the status of the patient’s cancer susceptibility genes. Pathogenic variants c.537dup (p.Ile180Tyrfs*3) in the BRCA2 gene and c.5065C>T (p.Gln1689Ter) in the ATM gene were detected as DH in the patient. Co-segregation analysis was performed on the relatives of the patient using Sanger sequencing. Discussion/Conclusion: Multiple primary malignant neoplasms can be encountered more frequently in DH pathogenic variant carriers, and the diagnosis of malignancies can be made at an earlier age through surveillance guided by genetic testing. In this rare case, more patient studies are needed to determine the contribution of DH in BRCA2 and ATM genes to the phenotype.
Utility of Ultra-Wide-Field Imaging for Screening of AIDS-Related Cytomegalovirus Retinitis
Authors: Du Kui-Fang , Chen Chao , Huang Xiao-Jie , Xie Lian-Yong , Kong Wen-Jun , Dong Hong-Wei , Wei Wen-Bin
Published: October 2020

Purpose: To explore the potential use of ultra-wide-field (UWF) imaging for screening of cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) in AIDS patients. Methods: Ninety-four patients whose CD4 count was below 200 cells/μL were enrolled in a prospective study. Each patient underwent UWF imaging and indirect ophthalmoscopy. The main outcome measures were the concordance and detection rates of these 2 approaches and the sensitivity and specificity of UWF imaging. Results: Twenty-seven eyes in 18 patients were diagnosed with CMVR by the indirect ophthalmoscopy. UWF imaging missed the diagnosis in 1 eye because of a zone 3 CMVR lesion. The UWF image showed several CMVR patterns and locations: hemorrhagic necrotizing lesion, granular lesion, frosted branch angiitis, and optic neuropathy lesion. The concordance of the 2 approaches was excellent for the diagnosis of CMVR, classification of CMVR pattern, and location of CMVR. The detection rates of UWF imaging and indirect ophthalmoscopy were 14.0% (26/186; 95% CI 0.089–0.190) and 14.5% (27/186; 95% CI 0.094–0.196), respectively (p = 1.000). The sensitivity and specificity of UWF imaging were 96.3 and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: UWF imaging is capable of documentation of different CMVR lesions and AIDS-related CMVR screening when examination by an ophthalmologist is not available.
Transcriptional Programming in Arteriosclerotic Disease
Authors: Chen Yabing , Zhao Xinyang , Wu Hui
Published: October 2020

Despite successful therapeutic strategies in the prevention and treatment of arteriosclerosis, the cardiovascular complications remain a major clinical and societal issue worldwide. Increased vascular calcification promotes arterial stiffness and accelerates cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Upregulation of the Runx2 (Runt-related transcription factor 2), an essential osteogenic transcription factor for bone formation, in the cardiovascular system has emerged as an important regulator for adverse cellular events that drive cardiovascular pathology. This review discusses the regulatory mechanisms that are critical for Runx2 expression and function and highlights the dynamic and complex cross talks of a wide variety of posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, and O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine modification, in regulating Runx2 stability, cellular localization, and osteogenic transcriptional activity. How the activation of an array of signaling cascades by circulating and local microenvironmental factors upregulates Runx2 in vascular cells and promotes Runx2-mediated osteogenic transdifferentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells and expression of inflammatory cytokines that accelerate macrophage infiltration and vascular osteoclast formation is summarized. Furthermore, the increasing appreciation of a new role of Runx2 upregulation in promoting vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switch, and Runx2 modulated by
O
-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine modification and Runx2-dependent repression of smooth muscle cell-specific gene expression are discussed. Further exploring the regulation of this key osteogenic transcription factor and its new perspectives in the vasculature will provide novel insights into the transcriptional regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switch, reprograming, and vascular inflammation that promote the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis.
Computationally Driven Discovery in Coagulation
Authors: Link Kathryn G. , Stobb Michael T. , Monroe Dougald M. , Fogelson Aaron L. , Neeves Keith B. , Sindi Suzanne S. , Leiderman Karin
Published: October 2020

Bleeding frequency and severity within clinical categories of hemophilia A are highly variable and the origin of this variation is unknown. Solving this mystery in coagulation requires the generation and analysis of large data sets comprised of experimental outputs or patient samples, both of which are subject to limited availability. In this review, we describe how a computationally driven approach bypasses such limitations by generating large synthetic patient data sets. These data sets were created with a mechanistic mathematical model, by varying the model inputs, clotting factor, and inhibitor concentrations, within normal physiological ranges. Specific mathematical metrics were chosen from the model output, used as a surrogate measure for bleeding severity, and statistically analyzed for further exploration and hypothesis generation. We highlight results from our recent study that employed this computationally driven approach to identify FV (factor V) as a key modifier of thrombin generation in mild to moderate hemophilia A, which was confirmed with complementary experimental assays. The mathematical model was used further to propose a potential mechanism for these observations whereby thrombin generation is rescued in FVIII-deficient plasma due to reduced substrate competition between FV and FVIII for FXa (activated factor X).
Low-Carbohydrate Diet Score and Coronary Artery Calcium Progression
Authors: Gao Jing-Wei , Hao Qing-Yun , Zhang Hai-Feng , Li Xiong-Zhi , Yuan Zhi-Min , Guo Ying , Wang Jing-Feng , Zhang Shao-Ling , Liu Pin-Ming
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To investigate whether low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) were associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) progression.

Approach and Results:

We included the participants who completed computed tomography assessment of baseline CAC in 2000 to 2001 (year 15) and follow-up (year 20 or 25) and food frequency questionnaire (years 0, 7, and 20) in the CARDIA study (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults). CAC progression was defined as CAC >0 at follow-up among participants with baseline CAC of 0 and an annualized change of 10 or percent change of ≥10% for those with 0<baseline CAC<100 or baseline CAC≥100, respectively. Among 2226 included participants (age, 40.4±3.5 years; 45.4% men), the carbohydrate intake accounted for 47.8±6.5% of total energy, and 204 (9.2%) had CAC at baseline (year 15). Over a mean follow-up of 8.3 years, 591 (26.5%) participants had CAC progression. After adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and other dietary factors, carbohydrate intake as a percentage of total energy was inversely associated with the risk of CAC progression (hazard ratio, 0.731 [95% CI, 0.552–0.968];
P
=0.029). Furthermore, the animal-based but not plant-based LCD score was significantly associated with a higher risk of CAC progression (animal-based LCD score: hazard ratio, 1.456 [95% CI, 1.015–2.089];
P
=0.041; plant-based LCD score: hazard ratio, 1.016 [95% CI, 0.821–1.257];
P
=0.884; both comparing extreme groups).

Conclusions:

LCDs starting at a young age are associated with an increased risk of subsequent CAC progression, particularly when animal protein or fat are chosen to replace carbohydrates.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT00005130.
Gandhi and the Parable of the Prodigal Son
Authors: Damm Alex
Published: October 2020

This essay seeks to emphasize the important bearing which multiple and quotidian, personal contexts have on the biblical exegesis of Mohandas K. Gandhi. The essay focuses on Gandhi’s interpretation of the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32), asking in particular why Gandhi’s reading departs from the parable’s literal sense. While the most evident reason for Gandhi’s distinctive interpretation is his philosophy of satyagraha or non-violent resistance, there emerge behind this appeal, several more precise contexts that plausibly contributed to Gandhi conceiving of satyagraha as the parable’s interpretive key. These contexts included political exigencies that Gandhi faced in mid-1920; his relationship with his son Harilal; and the profile of one of his interlocutors, Sir Narayan Chandavarkar. This essay emphasizes the importance of such varied and personal contexts that merge to help shape Gandhi’s interpretation, and closes with implications for further study of biblical exegesis by Gandhi and more generally in the global south.
Reconciliation in the Joseph Story
Authors: Jarrard Eric X.
Published: October 2020

This article uses contributions from the field of conflict transformation to illuminate the Joseph story and provide a more nuanced understanding of the type of resolution attained by Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 50. This analysis demonstrates important and revelatory differences between the concepts of forgiveness and reconciliation. Understanding the differences between these terms clarifies certain interpretive aspects of the Joseph story and the history of its authors heretofore overlooked in biblical scholarship. The emphasis of the biblical text on public reconciliation—not the private act of forgiveness—operates as a polemic against egocentricity and reflects an attempt to memorialize intertribal reconciliation. Such concerns provide support for those who assert a monarchic background to Genesis 50.
When Words become too Violent: Silence as a Form of Nonviolent Resistance in the Book of Jeremiah
Authors: Hildebrandt Samuel
Published: October 2020

Throughout the Book of Jeremiah, the prophet is depicted as a victim of verbal and physical violence to which he often responds with fierce imprecations. My study articulates a basic framework in which these troubling passages can be understood and used responsibly by contemporary readers (“Speech as a Response to Violence”) but then argues that Jeremiah’s prayer in Jer 18 violates the balance and boundaries of this framework (“Speech as a Response too Violent”). Inasmuch as this discussion reveals the problems and potential dangers of speech, I offer a reading of Jer 15–16, 26, and 28 that highlights the prophet’s silence as an alternative response to violence. This silence, I argue, is not a form of submissive suffering but an act of public critique and strategic disengagement. Jeremiah’s silence speaks powerfully and peacefully in his own violent context and, by extension, may speak so also in ours.
Hugo Grotius’s De societate publica cum infidelibus, Justifying overseas expansionism or religious toleration?
Authors: de Wilde Marc
Published: October 2020

This article provides an analysis of an unpublished manuscript of Hugo Grotius, entitled De societate publica cum infidelibus, ‘On public partnership with infidels’. In the text, Grotius examines the legal conditions under which Christians may enter into treaties and alliances with non-Christians. Grotius’s text has been interpreted by Peter Borschberg and Martine van Ittersum as a justification of the Dutch commercial and military policies in the East Indies. However, as this article shows, Grotius probably conceived of De societate as a more general treatise, which related not only to the East Indian context, but also to the domestic debate about the legal position of non-Christians in the Dutch Republic. The same arguments that served as a justification for overseas expansionism could thus serve as a justification for religious toleration in the domestic context.
Strategies for Quoting the Holy Scriptures in the Old Polish Biblical-Apocryphal Narrations
Authors: Rojszczak-Robińska Dorota
Published: October 2020

The Old-Polish Biblical-apocryphal narrations are the most extensive manuscripts preserved in the Polish language, the texts very important from the perspective of the beginnings of the Polish literary language. Majority of them have been preserved as copies, quite often copies obtained from other copies. They are based on many different Latin sources, originating from various periods. We can see the creation of a new text from fragments translated into Polish, sometimes quoted, sometimes paraphrased, often combined at the lowest level – within a single sentence. In the paper, I will show how the quotations from The Bible function in those multi-layered and multi-styled medieval texts stemming from many sources.
From Germs Control to Arms Control: Security Negotiations in the Era of Coronavirus
Authors: Baklitskiy Andrey , Shakirov Oleg
Published: October 2020

This essay focuses on three ways the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic influenced arms control and non-proliferation diplomacy. The pandemic affected the way diplomats were able to communicate with each other to negotiate on the arms control and disarmament issues. The initial response — postponing events or hosting them on makeshift platforms — was acceptable as a temporary solution but dedicated channels of communication will be needed to prepare for similar disruptions in the future. COVID-19 also had an impact on the implementation of the agreed arms control and non-proliferation accords. As on-site verification activities became impossible, remote monitoring proved its resilience, which could make it a more prominent arms control tool. Finally, the pandemic raised the profile of global health issues and led to their securitisation. This revived a discussion over international regulation of biological security through existing and new mechanisms.
Report of a new genus Mirigryllus belonging to tribe Modicogryllini, with a new species M. nigrus from Zhejiang, China (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Gryllinae: Modicogryllini)
Authors: HE ZHU-QING , SHEN CHU-ZE , WU XUE , CHEN LIN , LI KAI
Published: October 2020

A new genus (Mirigryllus He gen. nov.) with a new species (M. nigrus He sp. nov.) is reported from Zhejiang, China. The morphology and calling songs of the new species are provided. The features that different from tribe Modicogryllini spp. include long and thin posterior epiphallic lobes, ectoparameron transparent. Two genes, COI and 18S, of 11 Modicogryllini species were sequenced, and phylogenetic tree was reconstructed. The results support the validation of the new species. The type specimens are deposited in Museum of Biology, East China Normal University (ECNU).
Mechanical and thermal properties of a nanocomposite material which epoxy based and reinforced with polyvinyl alcohol nano fibers contained multiwalled carbon nanotube
Authors: Yıldırım Fatih , Ataberk Necati , Ekrem Mürsel
Published: October 2020

In this study, the thermal and mechanical properties of nanocomposite materials were investigated. Produced nanocomposite materials are epoxy-based and reinforced with Multiwalled Carbon Nano Tube dopped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers. Nanofibers were produced by the electrospinning method. Nanofibers were used for reinforcement as 5, 10, and 15 number of layers. These nanocomposite materials were subjected to uniaxial tensile tests at constant tensile speed in accordance with ASTM D882-02 standards. Tensile strength, elasticity modulus, Poisson's ratio, and toughness values were obtained and these values were compared with the values of reference pure epoxy samples without the nanofiber. For obtaining the thermal properties of the samples Thermogravimetric and Differential Thermal Analysis were performed. In order to investigate the damage mechanisms, the fractured tensile test specimens' surfaces were visualized by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Mechanical and thermal properties of the epoxy were improved by using the PVA nanofibers dopped the MWCNT.
What states want: Estimating ideal points from international investment treaty content
Authors: Montal Florencia , Potz-Nielsen Carly , Sumner Jane Lawrence
Published: October 2020

When negotiating investment treaties, states balance two goals: providing strong protections for investors (investor protection), which is thought to attract foreign direct investment, and maintaining the ability to regulate their economies (regulatory autonomy). In this article we argue that treaty content can tell us about the latent preferences that states have over the level of investor protection enshrined in BITs. We use an item response theory (IRT) model and a dataset of 1,144 treaties to estimate latent preferences on this scale for signatory countries. Our measure is of use to scholars interested in studying bilateral investment treaties, international law, and foreign direct investment, and our model is of use to anyone aiming to estimate latent preferences from jointly produced manifestations.
“Dude I’ve Never Felt This Way Towards a Celebrity Death”: Parasocial Grieving and the Collective Mourning of Kobe Bryant on Reddit
Authors: Bingaman James
Published: October 2020

Although research acknowledges the existence of parasocial relationships, if these relationships are possible then, inevitably, these relationships will dissolve. The emotions associated with parasocial breakups, especially that of grieving, are vital to understanding the totality of relationships between spectators and sports figures. After the devastating death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, a content analysis was used to explore the emotional and mental responses of grief posted on Reddit. The results suggest that sadness and shock were the most common responses of grief across Reddit threads, while the use of reminiscing and memorializing was also prevalent across both. Additionally, this study provides evidence to support the notion that like real relationships, emotional responses of grief like sadness dissipate over time, while other emotional responses like love increase. Thus, any study examining parasocial grieving must do so longitudinally as parasocial grief, like real grief, is a process not momentary.
Sport Practice Enhances Athletes’ Observation Capacity: Comparing Scenic Change Detection in Open and Closed Sports
Authors: Grosprêtre Sidney , Gabriel Damien
Published: October 2020

Domain-specific knowledge guides our attention and thus influences our perception. Prior change-blindness research has shown that expert athletes can spot meaningful scene changes more quickly than novices, but less is known of whether this expertise is modulated differentially between open and closed sporting activities. We presented 81 individuals (20 gymnasts, 19 rock climbers, 22 parkour practitioners, and 20 control participants) with alternating sequences of images that corresponded to the habitual training landscapes of each group (gymnasiums, rock cliffs, and urban environments, respectively). We included contextual and non-contextual scenic changes to evaluate whether athletes were generally aware of their environments, or whether their observation strategies only targeted sport-related environmental elements. Among these three athletic endeavors, we found that gymnasts were faster at detecting changes in their environment, irrespective of whether or not these changes were contextual to the sports involved. Expert rock climbers presented a domain-specific expertise that was improved even further for contextual changes. Parkour practitioners presented the fastest reaction times in the urban environment and some of the best reaction times for all types of changes. These results confirm that an ability to read the environment is an integral aspect of practice in open-skilled sports, while skills of athletes in closed-skilled sports are more closely related to motor skill repetitions in constant environments. Thus, open skill training may benefit athletes’ guidance of attention. Our finding that parkour practitioners appeared to have developed the widest perceptual abilities was probably linked to these athletes’ extremely wide range of practice environments and with the constant demands of this sport to find solutions in random natural environments that that are not purposely designed for the sport.
Building student engagement through co-production and curriculum co-design in public administration programmes
Authors: Elliott Ian C , Robson Ian , Dudau Adina
Published: October 2020

Public administration as a field of work and study offers a theoretically rich yet practical tool to enact student engagement and the ideal of students-as-partners: the principles of service co-creation. Public administration, as an interdisciplinary and applied field, promoting and reflecting democratic principles, is a good source of tools for practice. As such we expect it to be particularly suitable for curriculum co-design principles. Our research sets potential benefits and challenges in facilitating a co-designed curriculum for public administration programmes. In doing so we make the case for more co-design and co-production of teaching as a tool to achieve enhanced understanding of these concepts and greater student engagement.
Isolation but Diffusion? A Structural Account of Depression Clustering among Adolescents
Authors: Zhao Jun , Robinson Dawn T. , Wu Chyi-In
Published: October 2020

Depression can cause people to withdraw from friendships or be avoided by others, protecting others from exposure to that depression. Yet, researchers observe depression contagion, particularly among adolescents. We address this empirical puzzle by examining the role of gender in structuring friendship networks and the implications for isolation and the spreading of depression. Using stochastic actor-based models of friendships among 421 adolescents from mixed-gender, all-girls, and all-boys classrooms in six Taiwanese high schools, we find that networks with only girls are characterized by high reciprocity and low transitivity. This, in turn, facilitates the withdrawal of depressed girls from interactions. In contrast, networks with all boys create more opportunities for depression to spread through interconnected pathways. Our computational experiment further demonstrates that local preferences governing friendship choice influence levels of network connectivity. This, coupled with depression withdrawal and peer influence, shapes depression prevalence at the network level. These findings refine our understanding of the mechanisms through which friendships expose boys and girls unequally to health risks of depression.
Arterial switch operation for Taussig-Bing anomaly with aortic arch obstruction
Authors: Fuchigami Tai , Nishioka Masahiko , Shimabukuro Atsuya , Takefuta Kiyotaka , Nagata Nobuhiro
Published: October 2020

Introduction

The short-term survival rate after single-stage correction of Taussig-Bing anomaly with aortic arch obstruction remains favorable. However, some cases are encountered occasionally in which single-stage correction was not performed during the neonatal period. Accordingly, we evaluated the midterm outcomes of different surgical strategies.

Methods

Seven patients who underwent an arterial switch operation and intraventricular rerouting as definitive surgery between 2007 and 2017 were investigated. Of these 7 patients, 3 had undergone previous pulmonary artery banding and aortic arch reconstruction.

Results

The median body weight at definitive surgery was 3.3 kg (range 2.9–8.3 kg). At definitive surgery, the arrest time for single-stage correction (162.3 ± 21.7 min) was significantly shorter than that of staged repair (206.3 ± 5.1 min, p = 0.020). There was no hospital or late death. One patient in both strategy groups underwent aortic reintervention 54 months and 7.1 months after the definitive operation. Neoaortic valve (perinatal pulmonary valve) diameter decreased significantly from the perinatal valve diameter following definitive surgery (median +4.94z and +2.12z, respectively, p = 0.016) but there was no significant difference in the neopulmonary valve (perinatal aortic valve) diameter. Both single-stage correction and staged repair patients showed a similar trend. At the last follow-up, no patient had greater than mild neoaortic or neopulmonary valve regurgitation.

Conclusion

The surgical outcomes of both single-stage correction and staged correction for Taussig-Bing anomaly with aortic arch obstruction are excellent. Both strategies produce similar changes in the diameter and regurgitation grade of the neoaortic and neopulmonary valves.
Large sinus of Valsalva aneurysm presenting as acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Mohammed Rayhaan , Dandekar Uday
Published: October 2020

A sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a rare defect that is usually asymptomatic. We report a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm arising from the left coronary sinus with compression of the left main coronary artery in a 56-year-old man who presented with worsening chest pain. Coronary imaging revealed a 4.6-cm sinus of Valsalva aneurysm with compression of the left main stem, left anterior descending, and proximal circumflex arteries. He underwent aortic root and ascending aortic replacement. Large sinus of Valsalva aneurysms can be life-threatening and can be managed safely surgically.
Gender politics online? Political women and social media at election time in the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand
Authors: Cardo Valentina
Published: October 2020

Digital optimists have claimed that Internet technology, and especially social media, would revolutionise politics and empower previously marginalised groups. The reality is somewhat different: online like offline politics is the preserve of narrow elite of mostly men, while women are still less likely to discuss politics online. This article offers a comparative study of Theresa May, Hillary Clinton and Jacinda Ardern’s political communications. It investigates whether they used digital technologies during elections to feminise politics and evaluates the extent to which women politicians adopt leadership and communicative styles that challenge masculine norms of political behaviour, whether they prioritise policy areas that are likely to make a difference in women’s lives and if they speak on behalf of other women.
A novel measurement to evaluate supraspinatus tendinopathies with strain elastography
Authors: Özel Deniz , Demir Yüksel , Özel Betül Duran , Adaş Müjdat
Published: October 2020

Background

In addition to the traditional strain ratio (STR), a novel measurement termed hard percent of the whole tendon, provided by the device’s software and resembling shear-wave elastography, was included in the study.

Purpose

To evaluate the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and strain elastography findings in cases with rotator cuff tendinopathy, including tears.

Material and Methods

As a prospective study, cases suggestive of rotator cuff tendinopathy were included. After MRI evaluation by two observers, grading of the elastography examination was performed by a third radiologist. For the first measurement, the region of interest (ROI) was chosen from the gray-scale evaluation corresponding to the area showing a MRI pathological signal. Stiffness was assessed with the STR. For the second measurement, the whole visible tendon was measured as the ROI. The hard percent (unaffected areas as a percent) was measured. Correlation coefficients between MRI grade and the two strain value measurements were calculated.

Results

There were 93 cases (31 men, 62 women) with 112 involved tendons. The correlation coefficient between MRI grade and age was calculated as 0.56, between MRI grade and STR it was –0.51, and with the novel measurement the correlation coefficient was –0.53.

Conclusion

This study showed a good association of findings of tendon stiffness with those of tendinopathy on MRI. Using the hard ratio as a novel measurement, its correlation with MRI grade was as reliable as the STR. We also experienced that the benefit of elastography is a challenging issue for defining small ruptures.
A retrospective survey of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection rates in paediatric patients from a single centre in Wuxi, China
Authors: Chen Jie-Ru , Zhou Xiao-Fei
Published: October 2020

Objective

To provide some epidemiological data on Chlamydia pneumoniae infection rates in paediatric patients at a single centre in Wuxi, China.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of serum samples from paediatric patients (<12 years) with a respiratory tract infection (RTI) and who had been admitted to the Department of Paediatrics, Wuxi No.2 People’s Hospital, China, from 01 January 2015 to 31 December 2016. C. pneumoniae IgM antibodies had been analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Of the 3866 children (2073 boys, 1793 girls) with a RTI that provided serum samples, 19% were positive for C. pneumoniae IgM antibodies. Among these children, 56% were positive for other infections.

Conclusions

Children over 6 years of age with a RTI had a higher C.pneumoniae infection rate than younger children and the infection rate was more common in winter months compared with other times of the year.
Mapping global research trends in stem cell therapy for inflammatory bowel disease: a bibliometric analysis from 1991 to 2019
Authors: Chong Yuming , Han Chang , Li Ji , Long Xiao
Published: October 2020

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a series of digestive system abnormalities and parenteral manifestations. Stem cell therapy has been regarded as a promising treatment for IBD.

Methods

We searched Web of Science Core Collection for publications of interest from 1991 to 2019. Publication performance was analyzed using several bibliometric parameters, including Statplanet to reveal the geographic distribution of the publications, VOSviewer to identify the research landscape of hot topics, and CiteSpace to show keywords with the strongest citation bursts.

Results

A total of 1230 publications were identified, of which 674 articles were analyzed further. The United States was the most productive country and Spanish researchers published the highest quality articles. At a journal level, Gastroenterology published the greatest number of articles, while articles from Gut had the highest citation number. Results from the research landscape analysis of hot topics and the top 20 terms with the strongest citation bursts indicated that animal experiments, immunocytes, intestinal epithelial cells, cytokine expression, and clinical efficacy were the main focuses of research.

Conclusion

Stem cell therapy for IBD is currently receiving increasing attention by researchers, with focuses on animal experiments, immunocytes, intestinal epithelial cells, cytokine expression, and clinical efficacy.
The Effects of Online Assignments and Weekly Deadlines on Student Outcomes in a Macroeconomics Course
Authors: Miller Laurie A. , Schmidt James R.
Published: October 2020

This study examined how weekly, externally set deadlines affected the completion of adaptive learning assignments and student outcomes in an introductory macroeconomics course. We imposed different deadline schemes for the same adaptive learning assignments in two sections of the course. One section was given flexible deadlines and the other section was given rigid weekly deadlines. We found that weekly deadlines did not affect assignment completions or total points earned on unit exams. We investigated how the adaptive learning assignments affected student retention of material. A measure of staying on pace in the course provided a positive effect on the comprehensive final exam for students with weekly deadlines. The weekly deadlines may not have influenced assignment completions but consistent engagement with the flow of topics through the course increased student knowledge retention. Regardless of deadline type, completions of adaptive learning assignments positively affected outcomes on the unit exams and final exam.

JEL Classifications: A20, A22
Changes in Neighborhood-Level Concentrated Disadvantage and Social Networks Among Older Americans
Authors: Settels Jason
Published: October 2020

Close social networks provide older persons with resources, including social support, that maintain their well-being. While scholarship shows how networks change over time, a dearth of research investigates changing social contexts as causes of network dynamics. Using the first two waves of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project survey ( N = 1,776), this study shows how rising neighborhood-level concentrated disadvantage through the Great Recession of 2007–2009 was associated with smaller close networks, largely due to fewer new close ties gained, among older Americans. Worsening neighborhood circumstances pose obstacles to older residents’ acquisition of new close ties, including heightened fear, lower generalized trust, stress and depression, and declines in local institutions that attract both residents and nonresidents.
The gender gap in voting in post-conflict elections: Evidence from Israel, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Stockemer Daniel , Wigginton Michael J
Published: October 2020

In this article, we first formulate some theoretical expectations about the development of the gender gap in voting in post-conflict situations. Second, we test these expectations on five cases, including two civil wars, the Ivorian Civil War (2011) and the Malian Civil War (2013–2015), and three major international Israeli conflicts, the Yom Kippur War (1973) and the First and Second Lebanon Wars (1982–1985 and 2006). We do so by comparing women’s and men’s turnout before and after a conflict using individual voting data and find that the sum of the nine factors we identify (i.e. duration of war, type of warfare, end of fighting after ceasefire/peace settlement, change in workforce participation, international involvement in the peace process, international development aid, the militarization of politics and female social movement activism) explain changes in the gender gap in voting after the conflict in three of the five cases we study.
Predictors of Delayed Recognition of Critical Illness in Emergency Department Patients and Its Effect on Morbidity and Mortality
Authors: Goel Neha N. , Durst Matthew S. , Vargas-Torres Carmen , Richardson Lynne D. , Mathews Kusum S.
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

Timely recognition of critical illness is associated with improved outcomes, but is dependent on accurate triage, which is affected by system factors such as workload and staffing. We sought to first study the effect of delayed recognition on patient outcomes after controlling for system factors and then to identify potential predictors of delayed recognition.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Emergency Department (ED) patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) directly from the ED or within 48 hours of ED departure. Cohort characteristics were obtained through electronic and standardized chart abstraction. Operational metrics to estimate ED workload and volume using census data were matched to patients’ ED stays. Delayed recognition of critical illness was defined as an absence of an ICU consult in the ED or declination of ICU admission by the ICU team. We employed entropy-balanced multivariate models to examine the association between delayed recognition and development of persistent organ dysfunction and/or death by hospitalization day 28 (POD+D), and multivariable regression modeling to identify factors associated with delayed recognition.

Results:

Increased POD+D was seen for those with delayed recognition (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.13-2.92). When the delayed recognition was by the ICU team, the patient was 2.61 times more likely to experience POD+D compared to those for whom an ICU consult was requested and were accepted for admission. Lower initial severity of illness score (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.12-0.53) was predictive of delayed recognition. The odds for delayed recognition decreased when ED workload is higher (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.23-0.89) compared to times with lower ED workload.

Conclusions:

Increased POD+D is associated with delayed recognition. Patient and system factors such as severity of illness and ED workload influence the odds of delayed recognition of critical illness and need further exploration.
Thai Police Officers’ Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence and Victim Blaming: The Influence of Sexism and Female Gender Roles
Authors: Kruahiran Piyakrita , Boonyasiriwat Watcharaporn , Maneesri Kakanang
Published: October 2020

Police officers are typically the first responders when victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) report abuse. Therefore, police officers’ attitudes toward IPV and victim blaming are crucial. This study aimed to observe how police officers’ sexist attitudes affect their perspectives on IPV and their victim-blaming attitudes, depending on the gender role exhibited by the victim. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory was used to classify 139 Thai male police officers into four groups of sexism: hostile sexist, benevolent sexist, ambivalent sexist, and nonsexist. Then, the participants were randomly assigned to watch a simulation video, in which a victim of IPV filed a report after being abused by her husband. There were two versions of the video, one in which the victim played a traditional gender role and the other a nontraditional role. Multivariate analysis of variance was employed for data analysis. The results demonstrated statistically significant effects of ambivalent sexism and victim’s gender role on attitudes toward IPV and victim blaming. This study contributes to the growing body of research on police officers’ performances in the context of IPV in Thailand and contributes to existing scholarship. It provides Thai police precincts with information that can equip them to develop new sensitivity training programs and can help legislators improve the effectiveness of victim protection acts.
Quality Assurance in Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Jörres Achim , Lage Cristina , Witowski Janusz , Bender Thorsten O.
Published: October 2020

The present article reviews current treatment targets for peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the various methods for evaluating adequacy with time on PD.
Telemedicine System for Patients on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Nakamoto Hidetomo
Published: October 2020

Over recent decades, rapid progress in information and telecommunications technology has led to the application of these technologies in the medical field. In 1999, we reported on a telemedicine system (version 1.0) that used an automated peritoneal dialysis machine to collect data on patients with end-stage renal disease. After 2002, we focused on using cellular telephones in a new telemedicine system (version 2.0) to monitor patient data at home, including blood pressure (BP), heart rate, body weight, urine volume, and blood glucose. By 2003, we had developed a fully automatic system called I-converter (version 3.0) to collect data from a fully automatic device and send it via cellular telephone. After the fully automatic device measures a patient's BP, I-converter sends the data directly to the main server in our central data center. That server is directly connected to Web site by application service provider (ASP) technology. Recently, to make the system simpler, we developed a new version called D-converter (version 4.0). The telephone used in this new system is a Personal Handy-phone System (PHS). The PHS has several advantages: high-speed data transmission, low power output, little electromagnetic interference with medical devices, and easy locating of patients. The D-converter system uses a small computer and a PHS card called a Dopa card.

Our telemedicine systems monitor continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients at home. For elderly and handicapped patients, these systems are very advantageous because they reduce visits to the outpatient clinic. In addition, data can be monitored at the patient's home in real time. The present paper reports our recent advances in telemedicine systems for CAPD patients.
Peripheral Vascular Disease in Diabetic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Saha Heikki H.T. , Leskinen Yrjö K.J. , Salenius Juha P. , Lahtela Jorma T.
Published: October 2020

In the present article, we review current knowledge of the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of peripheral vascular disease in patients with end-stage renal disease. The main focus is placed on diabetic patients receiving peritoneal dialysis, but studies on patients receiving hemodialysis are also reviewed, because most reports involve this patient group, and the number of reports on peripheral vascular disease in PD patients alone is limited.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients Revisited
Authors: Wang Angela Yee-Moon
Published: October 2020

End-stage renal disease patients are at a heightened risk of developing cardiovascular disease, with contributions from both “traditional” and “nontraditional” cardiovascular risk factors. Some of the nontraditional risk factors, such as extracellular volume overload, inflammation, and hyperphosphatemia, have also been shown to be important predictors of mortality in the dialysis population. This article provides an in-depth review of the evidence that supports the substantial contributions of nontraditional risk factors to adverse cardiovascular outcomes in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients. In addition, it provides evidence to demonstrate how loss of residual renal function may be central to the development of cardiovascular disease in the peritoneal dialysis population.
Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms and their Relevance to Dialysis-Related Infections
Authors: Wong Samson S.Y. , Ho Pak-Leung , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: October 2020

As the survival of patients with end-stage renal failure has improved, their exposure to antibiotics has also increased. Infections, especially peritoneal dialysis–related peritonitis, are unavoidable because of lapses in technique and the slow worsening of systemic and peritoneal defense associated with aging and dialysis. The selective pressure inherent in the use of antibiotics shapes the pattern of antibiotic resistance in the bacteria causing peritonitis and extraperitoneal infections, and vice versa.

Renal function–preserving and non-ototoxic regimens that incorporate double β-lactams (first- and third-generation cephalosporins) for peritonitis have increased the selective pressure in favor of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Enterobacteriaceae. Attempts to use the fluoroquinolones as alternatives to β-lactams was met with rocketing quinolone resistance. The high incidence of MRS led many nephrologists to use empiric vancomycin—until the début of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. The recent emergence of heterogeneous and high-level vancomycin resistance in staphylococci (which are especially prevalent in patients on dialysis) calls for further prudence in the use of vancomycin.

The coming challenges are ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae with carbapenemase, multi-resistant Pseudomonas, and highly virulent community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with Panton–Valentine leukocidin. Antibiotic auditing programs and meticulous patient training by nurses are the only available defense at the moment. Novel approaches such as antibiotic-impregnated Tenckhoff catheters, biocompatible dialysis fluid, and peritoneal immuno-augmentation strategies are eagerly awaited.
Factors Contributing to the Differences in Peritonitis Rates between Centers and Regions
Authors: Stinghen Andrea E. , Barretti Pasqual , Pecoits–Filho Roberto
Published: October 2020

Despite improvements in connectology, peritoneal dialysis (PD)–associated peritonitis contributes significantly to morbidity and modality failure in patients maintained on PD therapy. A broad spectrum of organisms—gram-positive, gram-negative, fungal, anaerobic—are involved in this complication. In addition, a significant percentage of episodes involve polymicrobial and culture-negative infection. Technological advances are being developed to minimize the incidence of access-related complications such as peritonitis. Many traditional factors such as exit-site infection and poor technique have been already identified. In the present review, we discuss the geographic, patient selection, and clinical issues that can affect peritonitis rates in different areas of the world and in different centers in the same area.
A Role for the Asian Peritoneal Dialysis Community in Renal Replacement Therapy Worldwide
Authors: Kawaguchi Yoshindo , Kawanishi Hideki
Published: October 2020

Prevalence and incidence of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in Asia are both increasing, but the increase is not homogenous. In some countries and regions, PD is not used as one of the standard therapeutic modalities, because of either insufficient medico-economic infrastructure or a lack of clinical experience and knowledge—or sometime both. In the present article, we would like to introduce a little “Asian heat” with regard to PD utilization and academic and scientific contributions to the PD community in the world.