bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing a Future-Ready Enterprise: The Digital Transformation of DBS Bank
Authors: Sia Siew Kien , Weill Peter , Zhang Nila
Published: March 2021

Many organizations are embarking on digital transformation to be future-ready. However, there is a lack of conceptual clarity on the underlying design logic of a future-ready enterprise. A digitally transformed enterprise must be ready to respond to unpredictable dynamism and pervasive digitalization. Such an enterprise must incorporate the duality of exploitation and exploration as well as the fusion between business and technology into its organizational design. This article presents a framework based on the digital transformation journey of DBS Bank and draws new managerial insights for driving digital transformation strategically.
Development of a Pharmacist-Led Opt-Out Cessation Treatment Protocol for Combustible Tobacco Smoking Within Inpatient Settings
Authors: Trapskin Philip J. , Sheehy Ann , Creswell Paul D. , McCarthy Danielle E. , Skora Amy , Adsit Rob T. , Rose Anne E. , Bishop Candace , Bugg Jessica , Iglar Emily , Zehner Mark E. , Shirley Daniel , Williams Brian S. , Hood Adam J. , McElray Krista , Baker Timothy B. , Fiore Michael C.
Published: March 2021

Background: Although people who smoke cigarettes are overrepresented among hospital inpatients, few are connected with smoking cessation treatment during their hospitalization. Training, accountability for medication use, and monitoring of all patients position pharmacists well to deliver cessation interventions to all hospitalized patients who smoke. Methods: A large Midwestern University hospital implemented a pharmacist-led smoking cessation intervention. A delegation protocol for hospital pharmacy inpatients who smoked cigarettes gave hospital pharmacists the authority to order nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) during hospitalization and upon discharge, and for referral to the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line (WTQL) at discharge. Eligible patients received the smoking cessation intervention unless they actively refused (ie, “opt-out”). The program was pilot tested in phases, with pharmacist feedback between phases, and then implemented hospital-wide. Interviews, surveys, and informal mechanisms identified ways to improve implementation and workflows. Results: Feedback from pharmacists led to changes that improved workflow, training and patient education materials, and enhanced adoption and reach. Refining implementation strategies across pilot phases increased the percentage of eligible smokers offered pharmacist-delivered cessation support from 37% to 76%, prescribed NRT from 2% to 44%, and referred to the WTQL from 3% to 32%. Conclusion: Hospitalizations provide an ideal opportunity for patients to make a tobacco quit attempt, and pharmacists can capitalize on this opportunity by integrating smoking cessation treatment into existing inpatient medication reconciliation workflows. Pharmacist-led implementation strategies developed in this study may be applicable in other inpatient settings.
Hierarchical classification method of electricity consumption industries through TNPE and Bayes
Authors: Gu Zi-Wen , Li Peng , Lang Xun , Shen Xin , Cao Min , Yang Xiao-Hua
Published: March 2021

As the multi-daily electricity consumption behaviors have the strong characteristics of dynamicity, nonlinearity and locality caused by temporal manifold structure, the existing methods are difficult to fine-grained and accurately classify it. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a hierarchical classification method based on the temporal extension of the neighborhood preserving embedding algorithm (TNPE) and Bayes. The input data are multi daily-load curves of a single consumer, including power-hour-day three dimensions, which contains the full information of the user’s consumption behaviors not only in hours, but also in days. Firstly, electricity consumption behaviors are divided into routine and non-routine types by k-means clustering algorithm. Secondly, the load feature mapping matrix of different industries is extracted through the TNPE, and each TNPE model can regard as one binary classifier, so the multi-classifier is constructed through multiple TNPE models. Finally, by converting the feature similarity between samples into probabilities, a Bayesian model is established to realize which the power consumption type belongs to. The case results show that this method can effectively recognize the local dynamic features in the temporal load data, and obtain a higher classification accuracy through a smaller number of training samples.
Ways to care: Forms and possibilities of compassion within UK food banks
Authors: Surman Emma , Kelemen Mihaela , Rumens Nick
Published: March 2021

Food banks are organisations which occupy an uncomfortable position, being seen both as a manifestation of caring communities as well as an undesirable feature of neoliberal government. By focusing on the encounters between volunteers and food bank users within these organisations, we excavate their caring side to find three forms of compassion: compassion ‘for’, compassion ‘with’ and compassion ‘within’. We show that while compassion ‘for’ can lead to countless selfless acts, it remains embedded within neoliberal discourses. This can serve to reinforce distance and inequalities between giver (volunteer) and receiver (food bank user), creating a chain of indebtedness as compassion becomes part of a transactional exchange offered to those seen as worthy. Compassion ‘with’ others focuses on the person rather than the problem of food poverty and manifests itself in expressions of connection and responsibility which can, however, become possessive at times. Compassion ‘within’ is a form of compassion that, although less visible and demonstrative in response to the immediate suffering of others, provokes ethical and political reflection for individual volunteers who at times may challenge the very need for food banks. By grounding compassion in a specific social and organisational context, we highlight its relational nature and the dynamic and uncomfortable relation between different forms of compassion in the context of UK food banks. We conclude that compassion is a socially embedded and differentiated relationship which can activate affective, ethical and political responses to food poverty.
The Search for Racially Diverse Schools: Understanding How a Diverse State Lacks Diverse Campuses
Authors: Tooley Paige , Atwood Erin
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this research is to examine the prevalence of racially diverse high schools in order to understand the conditions that create or inhibit the existence of diverse and equitable schools. We analyzed Texas state demographic data for schools in order to understand the scarcity of racially diverse campuses. We then utilized mapping and Critical Race Spatial Analysis (CRSA) to better understand the context, geography, and history that creates or eliminates space for diverse high schools. This work highlights the need for race-conscious policies around attendance, zoning, and choice programs that promote diversity and equitable practices.
Activation of astroglial CB1R mediates cerebral ischemic tolerance induced by electroacupuncture
Authors: Yang Cen , Liu Jingjing , Wang Jingyi , Yin Anqi , Jiang Zhenhua , Ye Shuwei , Liu Xue , Zhang Xia , Wang Feng , Xiong Lize
Published: March 2021

There are no effective treatments for stroke. The activation of endogenous protective mechanisms is a promising therapeutic approach, which evokes the intrinsic ability of the brain to protect itself. Accumulated evidence strongly suggests that electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment induces rapid tolerance to cerebral ischemia. With regard to mechanisms underlying ischemic tolerance induced by EA, many molecules and signaling pathways are involved, such as the endocannabinoid system, although the exact mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we employed mutant mice, neuropharmacology, microdialysis, and virus transfection techniques in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model to explore the cell-specific and brain region-specific mechanisms of EA-induced neuroprotection. EA pretreatment resulted in increased ambient endocannabinoid (eCB) levels and subsequent activation of ischemic penumbral astroglial cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1R) which led to moderate upregulation of extracellular glutamate that protected neurons from cerebral ischemic injury. These findings provide a novel cellular mechanism of EA and a potential therapeutic target for ischemic stroke.
Comparative Evaluation of Antibacterial Effects of Nanoparticle-Incorporated Orthodontic Primer: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Meher Vineesha Cheepurupalli , Varma D Praveen Kumar , Bhupathi P Arun , Priya CV Padma , Anoosha M , Harsha GVD
Published: March 2021

Aim and Objectives:

To compare and evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of various nanoparticles incorporated in orthodontic primer with that of conventional antimicrobial agents at different concentrations on Streptococcus mutans ( S. mutans) strain.

Materials and Methods:

Transbond XT Primer was mixed with 2.5% and 5% benzalkonium chloride (BAC), 0.2% and 2.5% chlorhexidine, 1% and 3% titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles, 0.2% and 0.5% nanohydroxyapatite, and 0.2% and 0.5% silica-doped nanohydroxyapatite powders. Antibacterial activity against S. mutans for all the materials was evaluated by the disk diffusion method for periods of 48 (T1) and 72 (T2) hours.

Results:

There was a significant increase in the antimicrobial activity of the orthodontic primer modified by the addition of antibacterial agents. The highest zone of inhibition against S. mutans was observed for silica-doped nanohydroxyapatite of 0.5% (11.03 mm) among all the nanoparticles, which was similar to the conventional antibacterial agents used in our study.

Conclusions:

• Among all the groups, BAC at 5% concentration showed the highest antimicrobial activity, and the least activity was exhibited by 1% TiO2 nanoparticles. • Silica-doped nanohydroxyapatite at 0.5% expressed the greatest antibacterial activity among all the nanoparticles. • All the materials showed sustained antibacterial activity even after 72 hours.
Indenter misalignment in impression creep test: Uncertainty, correction and recommendation
Authors: Li Suo , Deng Dean , Sun Wei
Published: March 2021

The impression creep test (ICT) method, as a miniature specimen test technique, has been used extensively to determine the in-service creep properties of power plant components. However, the experiment results of the ICT can be affected by some uncertainties associated with the inaccuracies of measurement, which have not been studied before. This paper presents some results of finite element analyses, to evaluate the effect of indenter misalignment on the results of the ICT, such as the steady-state creep deformation rate and the conversion parameters. The results obtained have shown that the angular misalignments of the indenter around horizontal directions have a relatively significant influence on the conversion parameters, and the misalignment around vertical direction has a much less significant effect. Empirical formulas were developed for the possible correction of the conversion factors. Finally, some recommendations on the control of the indenter and specimen alignment were given.
Multi-step real-time wind speed prediction based on convolution memory network
Authors: Cai Guowei , Yang Yuqing , Pan Chao , Wang Dian , Yu Fengjiao , Li Runyu
Published: March 2021

Multi-step real-time prediction based on the spatial correlation of wind speed is a research hotspot for large-scale wind power grid integration, and this paper proposes a multi-location multi-step wind speed combination prediction method based on the spatial correlation of wind speed. The correlation coefficients were determined by gray relational analysis for each turbine in the wind farm. Based on this, timing-control spatial association optimization is used for optimization and scheduling, obtaining spatial information on the typical turbine and its neighborhood information. This spatial information is reconstructed to improve the efficiency of spatial feature extraction. The reconstructed spatio-temporal information is input into a convolutional neural network with memory cells. Spatial feature extraction and multi-step real-time prediction are carried out, avoiding the problem of missing information affecting prediction accuracy. The method is innovative in terms of both efficiency and accuracy, and the prediction accuracy and generalization ability of the proposed method is verified by predicting wind speed and wind power for different wind farms.
Using Deep Learning to Understand Travel Demands in Different Urban Districts
Authors: Bai Shunhua , Jiao Junfeng
Published: March 2021

Travel demand forecast plays an important role in transportation planning. Classic models often predict people’s travel behavior based on the physical built environment in a linear fashion. Many scholars have tried to understand built environments’ predictive power on people’s travel behavior using big-data methods. However, few empirical studies have discussed how the impact might vary across time and space. To fill this research gap, this study used 2019 anonymous smartphone GPS data and built a long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network (RNN) to predict the daily travel demand to six destinations in Austin, Texas: downtown, the university, the airport, an inner-ring point-of-interest (POI) cluster, a suburban POI cluster, and an urban-fringe POI cluster. By comparing the prediction results, we found that: the model underestimated the traffic surge for the university in the fall semester and overestimated the demand for downtown on non-working days; the prediction accuracy for POI clusters was negatively related to their adjacency to downtown; and different POI clusters had cases of under- or overestimation on different occasions. This study reveals that the impact of destination attributes on people’s travel demand can vary across time and space because of their heterogeneous nature. Future research on travel behavior and built environment modeling should incorporate the temporal inconsistency to achieve better prediction accuracy.
In Vitro Effects of Bupivacaine on the Viability and Mechanics of Native and Engineered Cartilage Grafts
Authors: Oyadomari Sarah , Brown Wendy E. , Kwon Heenam , Otarola Gaston , Link Jarrett M. , Athanasiou Kyriacos A. , Wang Dean
Published: March 2021

Background:

Although the toxic effects of bupivacaine on chondrocyte monolayer culture have been well described, its cellular and mechanical effects on native and engineered articular cartilage remain unclear. For the repair of articular cartilage defects, fresh autologous and allogenic cartilage grafts are commonly used, and engineered cell-based therapies are emerging. The outcome of grafting therapies aimed at repairing damaged cartilage relies largely on maintaining proper viability and mechanical suitability of the donor tissues.

Purpose:

To investigate the in vitro effects of single bupivacaine exposure on the viability and mechanics of 2 cartilage graft types: native articular cartilage and engineered neocartilage.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Articular cartilage explants were harvested from the bovine stifle femoral condyles, and neocartilage constructs were engineered from bovine stifle chondrocytes using the self-assembling process, a scaffold-free approach to engineer cartilage tissue. Both explants and neocartilage were exposed to chondrogenic medium containing a clinically applicable bolus of 0.5%, 0.25%, or 0% (control) bupivacaine for 1 hour, followed by fresh medium wash and exchange. Cell viability and matrix content (collagen and glycosaminoglycan) were assessed at t = 24 hours after treatment, and compressive mechanical properties were assessed with creep indentation testing at t = 5 to 6 days after treatment.

Results:

Single bupivacaine exposure was chondrotoxic in both explants and neocartilage, with 0.5% bupivacaine causing a significant decrease in chondrocyte viability compared with the control condition (55.0% ± 13.4% vs 71.9% ± 13.5%; P < .001). Bupivacaine had no significant effect on matrix content for either tissue type. There was significant weakening of the mechanical properties in the neocartilage when treated with 0.5% bupivacaine compared with control, with decreased aggregate modulus (415.8 ± 155.1 vs 660.3 ± 145.8 kPa; P = .003), decreased shear modulus (143.2 ± 14.0 vs 266.5 ± 89.2 kPa; P = .002), and increased permeability (14.7 ± 8.1 vs 6.6 ± 1.7 × 10−15 m4/Ns; P = .009). Bupivacaine exposure did not have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of native cartilage explants.

Conclusion:

Single bupivacaine exposure resulted in significant chondrotoxicity in native explants and neocartilage and significant weakening of mechanical properties of neocartilage. The presence of abundant extracellular matrix does not appear to confer any additional resistance to the toxic effects of bupivacaine.

Clinical Relevance:

Clinicians should be judicious regarding the use of intra-articular bupivacaine in the setting of articular cartilage repair.
Assessing the Cushion Effect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Role of Obesity in Motor Vehicle Injuries and Fatalities
Authors: Hoebee Shelby , Ron Eyal , Alattar Zana , Kang Paul , vanSonnenberg Eric
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

A systematic review and meta-analysis were done to evaluate the effect of obesity in injury and mortality due to motor vehicle accidents.

Materials & Methods:

The systematic review consisted of 20 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis was conducted on these studies to analyze obesity as a risk factor for specific injuries, as well as overall injury and mortality compared to non-obese patients.

Results:

The data revealed that obesity was associated with increased lower extremity injuries (odds ratio [OR] = 1.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19-1.69, P ≤ 0.05), neck injuries (OR = 3.38, 95% CI = 1.58-5.19, P ≤ 0.05), and overall mortality (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.40-1.61, P ≤ 0.05). When stratified for obesity class with class I as BMI >30.1-34.9, class II BMI 35-39.9, and class III BMI >40, only class II (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.15-1.24, P ≤ 0.05) and class III (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.30-1.68, P ≤ 0.05) were associated with increased mortality risk. No significant differences were seen with head, upper extremity, thoracic, abdominal, or pelvic injuries.

Conclusion:

Obesity is a risk factor in motor vehicle accidents for fatality and injury, specifically lower extremity and neck injuries.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for Severe COVID-19 ARDS
Authors: Häberle Helene , Magunia Harry , Lang Peter , Gloeckner Henning , Körner Andreas , Koeppen Michael , Backchoul Tamam , Malek Nisar , Handgretinger Rupert , Rosenberger Peter , Mirakaj Valbona
Published: March 2021

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic reached Germany in spring 2020. No proven treatment for SARS-CoV-2 was available at that time, especially for severe COVID-19-induced ARDS. We determined whether the infusion of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) would help to improve pulmonary function and overall outcome in patients with severe COVID-19 ARDS. We offered MSC infusion as an extended indication to all critically ill COVID-19 patients with a Horovitz index <100. We treated 5 out of 23 patients with severe COVID-19 ARDS with an infusion of MSCs. One million MSCs/kg body weight was infused over 30 minutes, and the process was repeated in 3 patients twice and in 2 patients 3 times.

Result:

Four out of 5 MSC-treated patients compared to 50% of control patients (9 out of 18) received ECMO support (80%). The MSC group showed a higher Murray score on admission than control patients, reflecting more severe pulmonary compromise (3.5 ± 0.2 versus 2.8 ± 0.3). MSC infusion was safe and well tolerated. The MSC group had a significantly higher Horovitz score on discharge than the control group. Compared to controls, patients with MSC treatment showed a significantly lower Murray score upon discharge than controls. In the MSC group, 4 out of 5 patients (80%) survived to discharge and exhibited good pulmonary function, whereas only 8 out of 18 patients (45%) in the control group survived to discharge.

Conclusion:

MSC infusion is a safe treatment for COVID-19 ARDS that improves pulmonary function and overall outcome in this patient population.
Historical Research: Conditions of Boarded Out Babies of Wet-Nurses, Colonial Australia
Authors: Thorley Virginia
Published: March 2021

Wet-nurses themselves rarely left written accounts. In this article, I have reconstructed their experiences and work situations breastfeeding other women’s infants in colonial Australia through examining available sources concerning their employment situations and the fate of their infants when they were boarded out, as they commonly were. The employment of wet-nurses by royal households or prominent families has long been the topic of historical accounts, whereas the situation of the more numerous wet-nurses further down the social spectrum has received disproportionately little examination. In this article, I do not discuss informal, altruistic wet nursing by family or neighbors but, rather, the situation of those women for whom it was an occupation, by its very nature short term. Primary material sighted for this study included a considerable number of advertisements for positions placed by employers, their intermediaries (e.g., family physicians) and wet-nurses themselves, and newspaper reports when the wet-nurse’s children came to the attention of the courts. Death for boarded-out infants who succumbed to inappropriate feeding and substandard care was typically ascribed to “natural causes.”
The dangers of blind trust: Examining the interplay among social media news use, misinformation identification, and news trust on conspiracy beliefs
Authors: Xiao Xizhu , Borah Porismita , Su Yan
Published: March 2021

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation has been circulating on social media and multiple conspiracy theories have since become quite popular. We conducted a U.S. national survey for three main purposes. First, we aim to examine the association between social media news consumption and conspiracy beliefs specific to COVID-19 and general conspiracy beliefs. Second, we investigate the influence of an important moderator, social media news trust, that has been overlooked in prior studies. Third, we further propose a moderated moderation model by including misinformation identification. Our findings show that social media news use was associated with higher conspiracy beliefs, and trust in social media news was found to be a significant moderator of the relationship between social media news use and conspiracy beliefs. Moreover, our findings show that misinformation identification moderated the relationship between social media news use and trust. Implications are discussed.
Evaluating Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) treatment duration in hematology/oncology patients receiving concurrent non-CDI antibiotics
Authors: Keats Kelli R , Stitt Tia M , Chastain Daniel B , Jivan Bhaumik P , Matznick Elizabeth , Waller Jennifer L , Clemmons Amber B
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To determine the impact of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) treatment duration on CDI recurrence in hematology/oncology patients receiving concurrent non-CDI antibiotics.

Patients and methods

This multi-site, retrospective study examined hematology/oncology patients age ≥18 years hospitalized with active CDI who received ≥1 dose of concurrent non-CDI antibiotics between September 2013 and June 2019. All patients were classified by two definitions for statistical analysis: standard (10-14 days) versus prolonged (>14 days) duration of CDI treatment and non-extended (≤24 hours after stopping non-CDI antibiotics) versus extended (>24 hours after stopping non-CDI antibiotics) CDI treatment. Primary outcome was CDI recurrence within 180 days of completing CDI treatment. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS) as well as mortality and incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) infections at 180 days.

Results

Of the 198 patients included, 112 were classified as prolonged versus 86 standard duration and 138 were classified as extended versus 60 non-extended duration. After accounting for demographic differences, no difference existed in the primary outcome of CDI recurrence in either prolonged versus standard or extended versus non-extended analysis (all p > 0.05). Patients who received prolonged versus standard CDI treatment had longer LOS (p < 0.0001) while no difference existed in extended versus non-extended (p > 0.05). No difference in mortality existed in prolonged versus standard (p > 0.05) while those who received extended versus non-extended CDI treatment had significantly lower mortality (p = 0.0008).

Conclusions

Neither prolonging CDI treatment beyond standard duration nor extending duration beyond end of non-CDI antibiotics was associated with decreased CDI recurrence rate.
Never Screened: Understanding Breast Cancer Nonadherence in Puerto Rico
Authors: Ayala-Marín Alelí M. , Colón-López Vivian , Vélez-Álamo Camille , Fernández-Espada Natalie , Pattatucci Angela , Fernández María E.
Published: March 2021

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women in Puerto Rico (PR). The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with never screened status among a sample of women nonadherent to the 2013 American Cancer Society guidelines. The inclusion criteria for this study were being a woman (1) aged ≥40 years old and (2) nonadherent to breast cancer screening guidelines. We used baseline data from participants ( N = 300; aged ≥40 years old) enrolled in the intervention trial Cultivando la Salud, implemented in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, from 2012 to 2014. We used multivariate logistic regression models to identify factors associated with never screening status, adjusting by sociodemographical variables and psychosocial constructs about mammography (self-efficacy, beliefs about mammography pros [benefits] and cons [disadvantages], and subjective norms) as well as by health care insurance, usual source of care, and Pap test adherence. Among nonadherent women, 18.0% reported never having a mammography. Never screened women were significantly younger than previously screened women (adjusted prevalence odds ratio [aPOR] = 7.32, 95% confidence interval (CI): [2.38, 22.50]) and almost four times as likely to have the governmental health plan (GHP; aPOR = 3.78, 95% CI: [1.15, 12.46]). In addition, never screened women perceived more cons (disadvantages) to mammography than previously screened women (aPOR = 1.81, 95% CI: [1.18, 2.78]). We found that women who were younger, had GHP insurance, and had higher levels of beliefs against mammography were more likely to have never been screened. Results from this study can be used to target never screened women with health education messages addressing perceived cons of mammography. Additionally, women with GHP insurance may experience disparities in health care access and should be targeted with policies that facilitate access to mammography screening.
Astigmatism correction with toric implantable collamer lens in low and high astigmatism groups
Authors: Cano-Ortiz Antonio , Sánchez-Ventosa Álvaro , Membrillo Alberto , Castillo Rosa , Gomera Aurora , López-Pérez María Dolores , Villarrubia Alberto
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

To analyze the target induced astigmatism (TIA), surgically induced astigmatism (SIA), difference vector (DV), and correction index (CI) in the correction of astigmatism with phakic lenses, and its influence on visual acuity, and to analyze the safety and efficacy indexes of the correction of high and low power astigmatism with toric phakic lenses.

Design:

Retrospective comparative study.

Methods:

The medical records of patients that were operated on at the research center during the period were analyzed. Results were divided into Low Astigmatism Group – LAG (33 eyes) and High Astigmatism Group – HAG (93 eyes) according to the implanted toric ICL lens power. Preoperative refraction and resultant postoperative refraction were analyzed by vector analysis. Visual acuity pre and postop, with and without optical correction, were compared.

Results:

A total of 126 eyes were studied. The average preop refraction was −5.02 D sphere with −2.61 D cylinder. The average ICL lens power implanted was −8.31 D sphere +2.77 D cylinder. Refractive remaining was −0.01 ± 0.11 D sphere −0.15 ± 0.28 D cylinder. The arithmetic average angle of error in the astigmatism correction was 1.08°. The resultant cylinder was −0.03 ± 0.12 D and −0.19 ± 0.30 D in the low and high astigmatism groups, respectively, with a mean UDVA −0.01 ± 0.10 and 0.01 ± 0.16 and CDVA −0.03 ± 0.08 and −0.01 ± 0.17 for each group. The safety and efficacy indexes for the low astigmatism group were 1.09 ± 0.16 and 1.05 ± 0.17, respectively, with 1.11 ± 0.17 and 1.06 ± 0.16 for the high astigmatism group.

Conclusions:

The correction of astigmatism by the implantation of toric phakic lenses of the posterior chamber is safe and effective, independently of the amount of cylinder corrected.
Adenocarcinoma NOS arising from accessory lacrimal glands: A case report and a review of the literature
Authors: Blasi Maria Antonietta , Maceroni Martina , Musarra Teresa , Sammarco Maria Grazia , Pagliara Monica Maria , Petrone Gianluigi
Published: March 2021

Primary malignant epithelial tumours arising from accessory lacrimal glands (ALGs) are extremely rare, with only few cases reported in literature. They generally appear as gradually increasing masses of the upper or the lower eyelid. Only one case of primary adenocarcinoma or adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (ACNOS) from ALGs has been reported in literature. Herein, we describe a case of ACNOS arising from ALGs with an atypical clinical presentation and review prior cases of ALGs epithelial malignancies reported in the literature. A 78-year-old man referred to our Ocular Oncology Unit for adjuvant therapy after the excision of a conjunctival tumour of the left eye with a histological diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. He underwent topical chemotherapy with MMC and during follow up he presented a multinodular iris mass in his left eye. The MRI of the orbit showed an ocular mass infiltrating orbital soft tissues of the inferior palpebral region with an involvement of the corresponding zygomatic cutis. We performed orbital exenteration and histological studies revealed an epithelial neoplasm with a solido-glandular growth pattern with lumens containing an eosinophilic material positive for PAS and PAS-D. The immunohistochemical findings confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma NOS from ALGs. Although ALGs epithelial malignancies are extremely uncommon, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ocular tumours. A vigilant approach towards these entities is required, since they can be clinically insidious and locally aggressive.
Gender inequalities during COVID-19
Authors: Fisher Alexandra N. , Ryan Michelle K.
Published: March 2021

The onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic put a halt to progress toward gender equality and, instead, exacerbated existing gender inequalities across domains—from gendered divisions of labour to economic stability. In this paper we document some of the most glaring gender inequalities that have arisen in the COVID-19 pandemic and discuss how social psychological theories and research—including work on gender stereotypes and roles, responses to threat, precarious masculinity, perceptions of risk, and backlash—can help to explain the roots of these inequalities. In doing so, we use a broad definition of gender and consider relevant intersections of identity. Finally, we present three key considerations for research on gender inequalities moving forward. Namely, the need for social psychologists to (a) challenge binary conceptualizations of gender, (b) broaden the focus of research on gender inequalities, and (c) adopt an intersectional lens to address systemic inequalities in the wake of COVID-19.
Social attitudes and behavior in the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence and prospects from research on group processes and intergroup relations
Authors: Krings Victoria C. , Steeden Ben , Abrams Dominic , Hogg Michael A.
Published: March 2021

The impact of COVID-19 on our way of life is yet to be fully understood. However, social psychology theory and research offer insights into its effect on social attitudes and behaviors, and here we gather the views of a unique group of experts in group processes and intergroup relations. Group processes and intergroup relations are major factors in social resilience and change arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. This special issue was developed to foreground the crucial role of group processes and intergroup relations in the COVID-19 pandemic. This article provides an overview of the areas explored in the special issue. First, we focus on the impact on societies, covering the evolution of intergroup processes during the pandemic, leadership, social connectedness, cultural differences in responses, and social development. Second, we turn to intergroup inequality and focus on gender inequality, ageism, xenophobia, and racial bias during COVID-19. Third, we explore worldviews during the pandemic, specifically conspiracy theories, science skepticism, and existential threat. Finally, we focus on the pandemic’s impact on behaviors, covering virtual working, social activism, virtual ostracism, and conformity and deviance. We finish with a discussion of the value of social psychology in helping us understand the impact of COVID-19 on social attitudes and behavior. As this special issue shows, group processes and intergroup relations are central to the ways that individuals and society is dealing with the challenges of this pandemic.
The experience of bereavement on family caregivers of people with dementia in China
Authors: Zhang Xiubin , Clarke Charlotte L , Ding Rong
Published: March 2021

Background and objectives

Despite many studies on ‘life after care’ for family caregivers with dementia in Western societies, little is known about the bereavement experiences of family caregivers in China. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of bereavement on family members of people with dementia in China. It also hopes to inform end-of-life care within communities, providing a theoretical basis for improving the quality of life of bereaved family caregivers.

Methods

Interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was adapted for this study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit former family caregivers of people with dementia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 bereaved family caregivers were collected. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

Findings

Five themes were identified: recalling the past life, lack of support, uncertainty of the future, social withdrawal and acceptance and release.

Conclusion

The experiences of bereavement on family members of people with dementia in China are socially and culturally complex. This article recommends that bereavement should be supported throughout the palliative process of community services and healthcare services. Providing all-round support and education on death and dying can help the family caregivers to pass through grief and help them to maintain their normal life.
Sentencing multiple conviction offenders
Authors: Drápal Jakub
Published: March 2021

Sentenced offenders who re-offend prior to serving their previously imposed sentence (multiple conviction offenders) are situated between multiple and repeat offenders. This article examines how they should be sentenced based on censure, consequentialist and desert theories. I conclude that these aims cannot be achieved if they are treated as repeat offenders, and neither can the requirement of proportionality. Censure is, similarly, communicated primarily via hard treatment not via sentence pronouncement. I further analyse all continental European penal codes; half of them do not have any provision governing the sentencing of multiple conviction offenders (tacitly treating them as repeat offenders) and only two countries provide detailed sentencing guidance. I conclude by offering recommendations for the principled sentencing of multiple conviction offenders.
From Clinic to Community: Adapting Evidence-Based Weight Management for Overweight Latinx Children to Better Address Social Determinants
Authors: DeCamp Lisa Ross , Acosta Jennifer , Guerrero Vazquez Monica , Polk Sarah
Published: March 2021

Background

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends referral of all obese children to intensive weight management programs. When available, programs are limited to clinical settings and do not address social determinants of health barriers to healthy weight among Latinx immigrant families. Active and Healthy Families, a Spanish-language, culturally tailored group visit intervention has demonstrated effectiveness in decreasing child body mass index but does not address barriers to frequent engagement with the health care system nor social determinants other than immigration. Adapting the intervention for community-based delivery, and to address additional social determinants, may facilitate participation and increase acceptability and engagement among Latinx immigrant families.

Purpose

To engage a stakeholder network in planning adaptations of an evidence-based weight management intervention for community-based implementation.

Method

Guided by the intervention mapping-adapt process, we solicited feedback from a stakeholder network from August 2018 to March 2020. The stakeholder network assessed fit, planned adaptations and identified essential intervention components using photovoice, a Participatory Action Research method, and meetings incorporating user-centered design approaches.

Results

The stakeholder network membership included Latinx immigrant families, community leaders, health care delivery experts, and researchers. Planned adaptations included curriculum changes to discuss social determinants barriers to behavior change and goal setting to mitigate them.

Conclusions

We successfully engaged a stakeholder network and, using a systematic process, identified adaptations of an evidence-based weight management intervention to allow for community-based implementation. Sustainably addressing obesity disparities for Latinx children also requires addressing structural factors to reduce social determinants of health barriers at the population level.
The Application of Schneider’s Critical Discourse Analysis Framework for a Study of Spirituality in Nursing
Authors: Cooper Katherine L. , Luck Lauretta , Chang Esther , Dixon Kathleen
Published: March 2021

Using a critical discourse analysis approach in analyzing data is useful in exploring meanings and the wider social, political, and historical context of the meanings. However, analyzing data using a critical discourse analysis approach can be difficult and complex. Hence there is a need for well-defined explicit approaches for discourse analysts to follow. The aim of this paper was to explore a clearly explained framework as a method for data analysis in a study investigating spirituality in nursing. Schneider’s method provided the researcher with such a clearly structured framework underpinned by critical discourse analysis that was used in the analysis of a series of interviews conducted with Australian registered nurses involved in the development of practice standards and those applying them in clinical practice. Schneider’s work steps provided a means of applying Fairclough’s and Chilton’s approaches to critical discourse analysis in a systematic and efficient manner to the analysis of the interview texts. The application of this method enabled the generation of findings that revealed the participants’ discursive constructions of spirituality.
The role of pre-emptive Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt in acute variceal bleeding: a literature review
Authors: Manning Charelle , Elzubeir Amera , Alam Syed
Published: March 2021

The development of portal hypertension has serious implications in the natural history of liver cirrhosis, leading to complications such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and variceal bleeding. The management of acute variceal bleeding has improved in the last two decades, but despite the advances in endoscopic methods the overall prognosis remains poor, particularly within a subgroup of patients with more advanced disease. The role of Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPSS) is a well-established method of achieving haemostasis by immediate portal decompression; however, its use in an emergency setting as a rescue strategy is still associated with high mortality. It has been shown that ‘early’ use of TIPSS as a pre-emptive strategy in a patient with acute variceal bleed in addition to the standard of care confers superior survival outcomes in a subgroup of patients at high risk of treatment failure and death. The purpose of this review is to appraise the literature around the indications, patient selection, utility, complications and economic considerations of pre-emptive TIPSS.
Association of core body temperature and peripheral blood flow of the hands with pain intensity, pressure pain hypersensitivity, central sensitization, and fibromyalgia symptoms
Authors: Casas-Barragán Antonio , Molina Francisco , Tapia-Haro Rosa María , García-Ríos María Carmen , Correa-Rodríguez María , Aguilar-Ferrándiz María Encarnación
Published: March 2021

Our aim was to analyse body core temperature and peripheral vascular microcirculation at skin hypothenar eminence of the hands and its relationship to symptoms in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). A total of 80 FMS women and 80 healthy women, matched on weight, were enrolled in this case–control study. Thermography and infrared thermometer were used for evaluating the hypothenar regions and core body temperature, respectively. The main outcome measures were pain pressure thresholds (PPTs) and clinical questionnaires. Significant associations were observed between overall impact [ β = 0.033; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.003, 0.062; p = 0.030], daytime dysfunction ( β = 0.203; 95%CI = 0.011, 0.395; p = 0.039) and reduced activity ( β = 0.045; 95%CI = 0.005, 0.085; p = 0.029) and core body temperature in FMS women. PPTs including greater trochanter dominant ( β = 0.254; 95%CI = 0.003, 0.504; p = 0.047), greater trochanter non-dominant ( β = 0.650; 95%CI = 0.141, 1.159; p = 0.013), as well as sleeping medication ( β = −0.242; 95%CI = −0.471, −0.013; p = 0.039) were also associated with hypothenar eminence temperature. Data highlighted that FMS women showed correlations among body core temperature and hand temperature with the clinical symptoms.
Healthcare professionals’ perceptions of palliative care quality in a combined acute oncology-palliative care unit: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Olsson Cecilia , Sandsdalen Tuva , Wilde-Larsson Bodil , Eriksson Eva , Rognsvåg Mikaela , Larsson Maria
Published: March 2021

It is a challenge to ensure high-quality palliative care. The aim was to investigate the perceptions of health care professionals (HCPs) working in a combined acute oncology-palliative care unit regarding the quality of the palliative care received by the patients and how important the care was to the patients. A Swedish total-survey cross-sectional study including 41 HCPs (54% response rate) was conducted with the 52 items Quality from the Patient’s Perspective – Palliative Care instrument, answered in two different ways: as actual care received and subjective importance. The STROBE-checklist was used. The areas for improvements were related to symptom relief, spiritual and existential needs, information, patient participation, continuity of care, care planning, cooperation and coordination of care, as subjective importance scores were higher than corresponding scores for care received ( p ≤ .025). Providing high-quality palliative care alongside curative treatments for cancer patients is known to be challenging and could explain the results in this study. Implementation of a person-centred palliative care model based on the hospice philosophy could be a solution.
Educational Entrepreneurship in an Intensive English Program in Thailand: A Case Study
Authors: Nanni Alexander
Published: March 2021

This case study investigates educational entrepreneurship in an intensive English as a foreign language (EFL) program at a major Thai university. Using a qualitative case study approach, the study draws on data collected in interviews, a focus group, and curriculum documents to investigate educational entrepreneurship in this context. The major findings were as follows: Applications of educational technology result in innovation and enhanced learning, EFL is a competitive tool for Thai students, use of project-based learning fosters content and language learning, and collaboration among teachers drives innovation.
The Impact of Age-Diverse Workforce on Organization Performance: Mediating Role of Job Crafting
Authors: Bashir Mohsin , Hameed Ammarah , Bari Muhammad Waseem , Ullah Raza
Published: March 2021

The present study explores the impact of the age-diverse workforce (young and old employees) on organization’s performance (financial and non-financial) and how job crafting mediates the relationship between age-diverse workforce and organization’s performance. By following the administrative survey approach, a total of 450 questionnaires were distributed to the employees of the Pakistan Post Office; however, 288 properly filled questionnaires (64%) were received back. The partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used for data analyses. The outcomes of this study explain that there is a significant relationship between both age groups of employees (young and old) and an organization’s financial and non-financial performance. In addition, job craft partially mediates the relationship between young-age employees and organization’s financial and non-financial performance. However, job crafting fails to mediate the association between old-age employees and organization’s financial and non-financial performance. Implications, limitations, and future direction are discussed in the last sections of this study.