bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Punishing Fieldwork: Penal Domination and Prison Ethnography
Authors: Gibson-Light Michael , Seim Josh
Published: June 2020

Ethnographic studies inside prisons are especially difficult to execute. In addition to facing amplified challenges in gaining site access, earning subjects’ trust, and tolerating the exhaustion of fieldwork, researchers who collect participant observation and in-depth interview data behind bars must confront an explicit asymmetrical power relation. Prison ethnographers penetrate, to varying levels of depth, a social universe where staff dominate prisoners and where prisoners, largely in response to the pains of their imprisonment, carve paths to dignity. This paper considers how and where non-staff and non-incarcerated ethnographers can awkwardly fit into (or fail out of) this space. Drawing on insights from two ethnographic studies in the United States, the authors detail their particular and common experiences across three phases: access, collection, and exit. These experiences motivate a description of prison ethnography as “punishing fieldwork.” Such research is not only exacting, it is also significantly contained and directed by penal power.
Using Paradata to Evaluate Youth Participation in a Digital Diary Study
Authors: Tienda Marta , Koffman Dawn
Published: June 2020

We analyze recruitment, access, and longitudinal response paradata from a yearlong intensive longitudinal study (mDiary) that used a mobile-optimized web app to administer 25 biweekly diaries to youth recruited from a birth cohort study. Analyses investigate which aspects of teen recruitment experiences are associated with enrollment and longitudinal response patterns; whether compliance behavior of teens who require multiple invitations to enroll differs from that of teens who enroll on the first invitation, and what personal and social circumstances are associated with different longitudinal compliance patterns. Latent class analysis (LCA) is used to derive longitudinal compliance classes. mDiary’s person-survey response rate of 70% is noteworthy considering reports that response rates for smartphone studies trail those administered via telephone or personal computers. Conditional on agreeing to participate, teens with texting capability were over 6 times as likely to enroll as their peers lacking access, and they also completed six to seven more diaries. Youth who required multiple prods to register not only were less likely to enroll than their peers who registered at the first invitation but also tended to attrite early. Compared with teens who completed all 25 surveys, those who attrited early had less access to texting capability, home Internet service, and also had low-education mothers. Consistent with studies of adults, nonparticipants were disproportionately Black males from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Human rights referendum: Dissonance between ‘the will of the people’ and fundamental rights?
Authors: Nugraha Ignatius Yordan
Published: June 2020

Referendums and popular initiatives have proliferated in many parts of the world as part of the effort to improve the quality of democracy and enhance citizen participation in policy making. However, even before the surge of populist nationalism in the 2010s, referendums have become a sort of weapon to restrict various rights. Furthermore, the juxtaposition between ‘the will of the people’ and human rights has once again brought back the classical criticism against direct democracy that it constitutes ‘a tyranny of the majority’ that could erode minority rights. With these concerns in mind, this paper is written to analyse the dissonance between human rights referendums and international human rights law through a positivist lens. The overall goal is to determine whether States have an ex ante obligation to prevent a referendum on a subject matter that is contrary to human rights.
Processes of socio-spatial exposures and isolations among Polish labour migrants in rural Norway: Exploring social integration as a lived experience
Authors: Stachowski Jakub
Published: June 2020

The recent significant inflow of international migrants into rural areas in Europe has raised questions about the integration of migrants into the rural host localities. Amidst the growing literature, there are, however, few comprehensive analyses of processes of migrants’ social integration. Drawing on the lived experience of Polish migrants in a rural area in Norway and applying the theoretical framework of social exposures, the article illustrates the important role of the migrants’ position on the local labour market, the socio-demographics of the receiving locality and the material and geographical properties of the area for the dynamics of their social integration. Findings show how migrants’ desires to engage in migrant/non-migrant relationships are challenged by the increasingly ethnically divided local labour market, amidst growing migration to the location and by the geographical structure of the locality. The changing and intersecting character of those domains fosters conditions that promote primarily social exposure of the migrants to their own co-ethnics, isolating them from the local community. At the same time, the study illustrates that mutual engagement of the migrants and the local inhabitants, as well as having children, play a significant role in diversifying migrants’ local social contacts.
Cefiderocol: A Siderophore Cephalosporin
Authors: El-Lababidi Rania M. , Rizk John George
Published: June 2020

Objective:

This article reviews the available data on the chemistry, spectrum of activity, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, clinical efficacy, and potential place in therapy of cefiderocol.

Data Sources:

A literature search through PubMed, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted (2009 to March 2020) using the search terms cefiderocol and S-649266. Abstracts presented at recent conferences, prescribing information, and information from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the manufacturer’s website were reviewed.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

All relevant published articles, package inserts, and unpublished meeting abstracts on cefiderocol were reviewed.

Data Synthesis:

Cefiderocol is the first siderophore antibiotic to be approved by the FDA. It was shown to be active against a wide range of resistant Gram-negative pathogens, including multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacteriaceae, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Cefiderocol was studied in the treatment of adult patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) and nosocomial pneumonia and was well tolerated. In a recently completed prospective study, higher mortality was observed with cefiderocol in the treatment of serious infections caused by carbapenem-resistant (CR) Gram-negative pathogens.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice:

The approval of cefiderocol provides a new option in the treatment of cUTIs and potentially treatment of nosocomial pneumonia caused by resistant Gram-negative pathogens. Given the higher mortality observed with cefiderocol, its use in the treatment of CR Gram-negative infections should be carefully considered.

Conclusion:

Cefiderocol shows promising activity against MDR Gram-negative pathogens. Its use in the treatment of serious infections caused by CR Gram-negative bacteria needs further evaluation in phase III clinical studies.
A new approach to minimize torque ripple and noise in model predictive control of permanent magnet synchronous motor drives
Authors: Sivaprakasam Arumugam , Ramya Lekshmanan N
Published: June 2020

Model predictive control widely advocates in the better performance control technique for permanent magnet synchronous motor drives for its exceptional flexibility of incorporating nonlinear parameters. However, the higher ripples in torque and harmonics in stator current are the major criticisms in this method. Enlightened by the idea of including nonlinear constraints in the cost function, this article proposes a novel cost function with reduced ripples in torque, stator flux, and current harmonics. The improvised cost function uses torque tracking, maximum torque per ampere, minimization of switching losses, and system constraints. This approach attains effectiveness in the minimization of the ripples in torque, stator flux, and stator current harmonics and also reduces the acoustic noise of the system. The claims of the proposed work are supported by the quantitative comparison of the simulated response with the standard model predictive torque control that uses errors in the stator flux and electromagnetic torque in its cost function. The compared simulation results prove the effectiveness of the proposed control technique.
Tryptophan Metabolites Along the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis: An Interkingdom Communication System Influencing the Gut in Health and Disease
Authors: Bosi Annalisa , Banfi Davide , Bistoletti Michela , Giaroni Cristina , Baj Andreina
Published: June 2020

The ‘microbiota-gut-brain axis’ plays a fundamental role in maintaining host homeostasis, and different immune, hormonal, and neuronal signals participate to this interkingdom communication system between eukaryota and prokaryota. The essential aminoacid tryptophan, as a precursor of several molecules acting at the interface between the host and the microbiota, is fundamental in the modulation of this bidirectional communication axis. In the gut, tryptophan undergoes 3 major metabolic pathways, the 5-HT, kynurenine, and AhR ligand pathways, which may be directly or indirectly controlled by the saprophytic flora. The importance of tryptophan metabolites in the modulation of the gastrointestinal tract is suggested by several preclinical and clinical studies; however, a thorough revision of the available literature has not been accomplished yet. Thus, this review attempts to cover the major aspects on the role of tryptophan metabolites in host-microbiota cross-talk underlaying regulation of gut functions in health conditions and during disease states, with particular attention to 2 major gastrointestinal diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both characterized by psychiatric disorders. Research in this area opens the possibility to target tryptophan metabolism to ameliorate the knowledge on the pathogenesis of both diseases, as well as to discover new therapeutic strategies based either on conventional pharmacological approaches or on the use of pre- and probiotics to manipulate the microbial flora.
Development and tribo-mechanical properties of functional ternary nitride coatings: Applications-based comprehensive review
Authors: Ghufran Muhammad , Uddin Ghulam Moeen , Arafat Syed Muhammad , Jawad Muhammad , Rehman Abdul
Published: June 2020

Friction and wear are very crucial aspects of the performance, service life, and the operational costs for a mechanical component or equipment. To reduce the friction and wear at the interface of the sliding or mating parts, different conventional binary coatings like TiN, CrN, TiC, etc., have been used in the last two decades. But ternary nitride coatings have replaced the binary coatings due to better tribo-mechanical properties. Now, ternary nitride coatings are being extensively used in several fields such as cutting tools, machinery parts, orthopedic implants, microelectronics, marine equipment, decorative purposes, automotive, aerospace industry, etc. Many researchers have developed and investigated the ternary nitride coatings for different applications. Nonetheless, there is a huge research potential in the development and optimization of the tribo-mechanical properties of the ternary nitride coatings. Therefore, tribo-mechanical studies of the ternary nitride coatings are needed for fostering the new industrial applications. This paper is focused to summarize and compare the tribo-mechanical properties of the ternary nitride coatings comprehensively and aims to explore the novel research directions in the development of the ternary nitride coatings.
Sexual identities and reproductive orientations: Coming out as wanting (or not wanting) to have children
Authors: Pralat Robert
Published: June 2020

In the context of growing visibility, recognition and acceptance of lesbian motherhood and gay fatherhood in countries such as Britain, it is important to ask how younger generations of sexual minorities approach the possibility of becoming a parent. Drawing on interviews with lesbians and gay men who do not have children but may have them in the future, I explore how people become aware that having children is an option. By attending to how this consciousness manifests in conversations and how conversations shape the consciousness, I illuminate specific dynamics that raising the topic of parenthood creates in intimate interactions. My data show that it is often unclear to men and women who form same-sex relationships whether they are socially expected to have children. I argue that this ambiguity requires a kind of ‘coming out’ through which feelings about parenthood are made explicit. Using the concept of coming out, I ask: What if we were to think of people in terms of their ‘reproductive orientations’ rather than sexual identities? I suggest that, similar to expressing sexual identities, articulating reproductive orientations involves aligning with particular life trajectories based on binary logic. However, with ambiguous expectations about parenthood, neither having children nor remaining childfree is explicitly normative. As such, unlike coming out as lesbian or gay, which transgresses norms surrounding sexuality, coming out as wanting or not wanting to have children challenges normativity itself. I reflect on how this ‘normative challenge’ makes it possible to imagine parenthood and ‘childfreedom’ as intimacies of equal value.
Rethinking the digital democratic affordance and its impact on political representation: Toward a new framework
Authors: Deseriis Marco
Published: June 2020

This article advances a new theory of the digital democratic affordance, a concept first introduced by Lincoln Dahlberg to devise a taxonomy of the democratic capacities of digital media applications. Whereas Dahlberg classifies digital media affordances on the basis of preexisting democratic positions, the article argues that the primary affordance of digital media is to abate the costs of political participation. This cost-reducing logic of digital media has diverging effects on political participation. On an institutional level, digital democracy applications allow elected representatives to monitor and consult their constituents, closing some gaps in the circuits of representation. On a societal level, digital media allow constituents to organize and represent their own interests directly. In the former case, digital affordances work instrumentally in the service of representative democracy; in the latter, digital democratic affordances provide a mobilized public with emerging tools that put pressure on the autonomy of representatives.
The value of Muslim and non-Muslim life: A comparative content analysis of elite American newspaper coverage of terrorism victims
Authors: Elmasry Mohamad Hamas , el-Nawawy Mohammed
Published: June 2020

A spate of terrorist attacks in the Muslim-majority world and the non-Muslim-majority West has sparked debates about an alleged double standard in Western news coverage of terrorism victims, with critics alleging Western news outlets are less concerned with Muslim victims than non-Muslim victims. This content analysis comparatively examined American newspaper framing of two terror attacks occurring in the non-Muslim West with three attacks occurring in the Muslim-majority world. Findings show American papers covered attacks in non-Muslim-majority societies prominently and framed them as acts of terrorism, and covered attacks in Muslim-majority societies scantily and framed them as internal conflicts.
Investigation on spray cyclic variations under idle operation of engine using optical diagnostics and statistical methods
Authors: Zhou Yifan , Qi Wenyuan , Zhang Yuyin , Zhang Peinan
Published: June 2020

Under idle operations of a spark-ignition direct-injection engine, issues such as misfire, unstable combustion, and power imbalance between individual cylinders are often encountered, which worsen the fuel economy and tailpipe emissions. These undesired phenomena have close relations with cyclic variations of the fuel sprays in the cylinder. In this article, the spray cyclic variations under idle operations have been investigated at a constant volume chamber using ultraviolet/visible laser absorption/scattering imaging technique and Mie scattering optical diagnostics combined with different statistical methods such as probability presence image, intersection over union, and edge fluctuation length. The variations in spray morphology of liquid/vapor phases and vapor mass distributions have been characterized. It was found that the cyclic spray variation after the end of injection is too large to ignore, implying that this cyclic variation should be taken into consideration when matching the spray to a combustion chamber or numerical modeling. The effects of injection pressure and fuel temperature on spray cyclic variations have been quantitatively examined. The results show that the higher injection pressure or the higher fuel temperature is, the larger variation in spray morphology and vapor mass distributions was observed, indicating that adopting an appropriately lower injection pressure or lower fuel temperature is helpful to a stable ignition and combustion under idle conditions for a non-homogeneous spark-ignition direct-injection engine.
Sense of coherence in adults with congenital heart disease in 15 countries: Patient characteristics, cultural dimensions and quality of life
Authors: Moons Philip , Apers Silke , Kovacs Adrienne H , Thomet Corina , Budts Werner , Enomoto Junko , Sluman Maayke A , Wang Jou-Kou , Jackson Jamie L , Khairy Paul , Cook Stephen C , Chidambarathanu Shanthi , Alday Luis , Oechslin Erwin , Eriksen Katrine , Dellborg Mikael , Berghammer Malin , Johansson Bengt , Mackie Andrew S , Menahem Samuel , Caruana Maryanne , Veldtman Gruschen , Soufi Alexandra , Fernandes Susan M , White Kamila , Callus Edward , Kutty Shelby , Luyckx Koen ,   the APPROACH-IS consortium and the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD)
Published: June 2020

Background

Previous studies have found that sense of coherence (SOC) is positively related to quality of life (QoL) in persons with chronic conditions. In congenital heart disease (CHD), the evidence is scant.

Aims

We investigated (i) intercountry variation in SOC in a large international sample of adults with CHD; (ii) the relationship between demographic and clinical characteristics and SOC; (iii) the relationship between cultural dimensions of countries and SOC; and (iv) variation in relative importance of SOC in explaining QoL across the countries.

Methods

APPROACH-IS was a cross-sectional, observational study, with 4028 patients from 15 countries enrolled. SOC was measured using the 13-item SOC scale (range 13–91) and QoL was assessed by a linear analog scale (range 0–100).

Results

The mean SOC score was 65.5±13.2. Large intercountry variation was observed with the strongest SOC in Switzerland (68.8±11.1) and the lowest SOC in Japan (59.9±14.5). A lower SOC was associated with a younger age; lower educational level; with job seeking, being unemployed or disabled; unmarried, divorced or widowed; from a worse functional class; and simple CHD. Power distance index and individualism vs collectivism were cultural dimensions significantly related to SOC. SOC was positively associated with QoL in all participating countries and in the total sample, with an explained variance ranging from 5.8% in Argentina to 30.4% in Japan.

Conclusion

In adults with CHD, SOC is positively associated with QoL. The implementation of SOC-enhancing interventions might improve QoL, but strategies would likely differ across countries given the substantial variation in explained variance.
A Systematic Review on Classification, Identification, and Healing Process of Burn Wound Healing
Authors: Abazari Morteza , Ghaffari Azadeh , Rashidzadeh Hamid , Badeleh Safa Momeni , Maleki Yaser
Published: June 2020

Because of the intrinsic complexity, the classification of wounds is important for the diagnosis, management, and choosing the correct treatment based on wound type. Generally, burn injuries are classified as a class of wounds in which injury is caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, or radiation. On the other hand, wound healing is a complex process, and understanding the biological trend of this process and differences in the healing process of different wounds could reduce the possible risk in many cases and greatly reduce the future damage to the injured tissue and other organs. The aim of this review is to provide a general perspective for the burn wound location among the other types of injuries and summarizing as well as highlighting the differences of these types of wounds with emphasizing on factors affecting thereof.
GJB4andGJC3variants in non-syndromic hearing impairment in Ghana
Authors: Adadey Samuel M , Esoh Kevin K , Quaye Osbourne , Amedofu Geoffrey K , Awandare Gordon A , Wonkam Ambroise
Published: June 2020

The contribution of GJB4 and GJC3 gene variants to hearing impairment in Africa has not yet been studied. Here, we investigated the contribution of these genes to autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment in Ghanaian children. Hearing-impaired children from 141 simplex and 59 multiplex families were enrolled from 11 schools for the deaf in Ghana. The coding regions of GJB4 and GJC3 were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed for the study participants previously found to be negative for GJB2 and GJB6 variants. Seven GJB4 and one GJC3 variants were identified. One out of the seven GJB4 variants was classified as likely pathogenic, while the others were either benign or synonymous. The likely pathogenic variant (p.Asn119Thr/rs190460237) was predicted to be likely associated with hearing impairment. We modeled the wild-type and mutant proteins of this variant (p.Asn119Thr) to evaluate the effect of the mutation on protein structure and ligand-binding properties. The mutant and not the wild type had the potential to bind N-Ethyl-5ʹ-Carboxamido Adenosine (DB03719) which was due to a slight structural change that was observed. No clinically relevant variant was identified in the GJC3 gene. We report for the first time a likely pathogenic GJB4 variant that may be associated with non-syndromic hearing impairment in Ghana; the finding will add to the body of evidence of the contribution of GJB4 to hearing impairment cases around the world.

Impact statement

Although connexins are known to be the major genetic factors associated with HI, only a few studies have investigated GJB4 and GJC3 variants among hearing-impaired patients. This study is the first to report GJB4 and GJC3 variants from an African HI cohort. We have demonstrated that GJB4 and GJC3 genes may not contribute significantly to HI in Ghana, hence these genes should not be considered for routine clinical screening in Ghana. However, it is important to study a larger population to determine the association of GJB4 and GJC3 variants with HI.
The reemergence of the disappeared, the role of remains and the forensic gaze
Authors: Collins Cath
Published: June 2020

This essay examines what happens when the disappeared, reappear. Using examples from various Latin American contexts, Northern Ireland and Spain, the text contrasts the divergent truth regimes, truth claims and sources of knowing that arise. Following Gatti, it discusses the various catastrophes – of language and of meaning – that may persist even when a forcibly disappeared person is discovered alive. The piece considers, in turn, how disappearances are administered, how they end, and the failure of restitution of remains or identity to fully dissipate radical uncertainty. Controversies arising from the paradoxical bestowing of enhanced visibility on the absent disappeared, and the victim hierarchies this creates, are discussed. So too is the question of the positionality of the forensic expert, and the credence given to forensic expertise. I argue that any mission to turn the disappeared back into still living persons, or safely deceased bodies, is in a certain sense doomed to fail.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in telomere length-related genes are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma risk in the Chinese Han population
Authors: Huang Peng , Li Rong , Shen Lin , He Weizhou , Chen Shuo , Dong Yu , Ma Jiancang , Chen Xi , Xu Meng
Published: June 2020

Background:

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in telomere-related genes are associated with a high risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the SNPs of telomere length-related genes and their correlation with HCC risk in the Chinese Han population.

Materials and methods:

A total of 473 HCC patients and 564 healthy volunteers were recruited. Overall, 42 SNPs distributed in telomere-related genes were selected and identified. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results:

We found rs6713088 (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.07–1.52, p = 0.007), rs843711 (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.09–1.54, p = 0.004) and rs843706 (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.09–1.55, p = 0.003) in the ACYP2 gene, rs10936599 (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.02–1.44, p = 0.032) in the TERC gene and rs7708392 (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.00–1.52, p = 0.042) in the TNIP1 gene were associated with high HCC risk (OR > 1). In contrast, rs1682111 (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.64–0.94, p = 0.008) in the ACYP2 gene, rs2320615 (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.64–0.99, p = 0.038) in the NAF1 gene, rs10069690 (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.59–0.96, p = 0.021) and rs2242652 (OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.55–0.90, p = 0.004) in the TERT gene were associated with low HCC risk (OR < 1). Based on genotype frequency distributions, rs6713088, rs843645, rs843711 and rs843706 located in the ACYP2 gene as well as rs10936599 in the TERC gene were associated with a high incidence of HCC ( p < 0.05). In addition, SNPs in these genes could form a linkage imbalance haplotype. Specifically, the haploid ‘GC’ formed by rs10069690 and rs2242652 within the TERT gene increased the risk of HCC ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

SNPs in ACYP2, TERC, TERT and other genes were correlated with HCC risk in the Chinese Han population. These data may provide new insights into early diagnosis and screening of HCC.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring Decreases Hypoglycemia Avoidance Behaviors, but Not Worry in Parents of Youth With New Onset Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Youngkin Erin M. , Majidi Shideh , Noser Amy E. , Stanek Kelly R. , Clements Mark A. , Patton Susana R.
Published: June 2020

Background:

Existing research shows that hypoglycemia fear (HF) is common in parents of children with established type 1 diabetes (T1D). We examined parental HF in the T1D recent-onset period and evaluated whether continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) adoption relates to improved outcomes of parental HF.

Methods:

In TACKLE-T1D, a prospective study of five- to nine-year olds with recent-onset T1D, parents completed the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-Parents (HFS-P) at baseline (T1) and 6 (T2) and 12 (T3) months post-baseline. The HFS-P measures worry about hypoglycemia (HFS-Worry score) as well as hypoglycemia avoidance behaviors (HFS-Behavior score). We recorded CGM start dates for youth during the same time period through medical record review.

Results:

Between T1 and T2, 31 youth (32.3%) initiated CGM therapy, and between T2 and T3, an additional 17 youth (17.7%) began using CGM, leaving 48 youth who never initiated CGM therapy (50%) in the recent-onset period. Parents reported moderate HFS-Worry scores at T1 (32.9 ± 11.9), which increased between T1 and T2 (37.6 ± 11.4, P < .001) and plateaued between T2 and T3 (37.7 ± 12.4, P = .89). In contrast, parental HFS-Behavior scores decreased between T1 (33.1 ± 5.8) and T2 (32.2 ± 6.0, P = .005) and plateaued between T2 and T3 (32.2 ± 6.0, P = .95). Baseline HFS-Behavior and Worry scores were associated with increased adoption of CGM between T1-T2 and T2-T3, respectively. Parents of children initiating CGM therapy between T1 and T2 showed the largest decrease in HFS-Behavior ( P = .03).

Conclusions:

Initiating CGM therapy within the first 12 months of T1D may help reduce parents’ use of hypoglycemia avoidance behaviors, but has little effect on parents’ hypoglycemia worry.
Seasonal and Circadian Rhythm of a 1,8-Cineole Chemotype Essential Oil of Calycolpus goetheanus From Marajó Island, Brazilian Amazon
Authors: dos Santos Edimara L. , Lima Ananda M. , Moura Vilmara Fabrícia dos S. , Setzer William N. , da Silva Joyce Kelly R. , Maia José Guilherme S. , Carneiro João da Silva , Figueiredo Pablo Luis B.
Published: June 2020

Chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) of Calycolpus genus have been reported in the literature. However, there is only 1 report about volatile profile from Calycolpus goetheanus. This work aims to evaluate the seasonal and circadian influences on EO composition and yield of C. goetheanus collected in Marajó Island, Brazilian Amazon. For the circadian study, the leaves were collected in January (rainy season) and July (dry season) every 3 hours during a period of 15 hours. The EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation and their chemical compositions analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and flame ionization detectors. The major compound identified in all EO samples was 1,8-cineole with amounts ranged from 14.4% (January, 6 am) to 33.0% (July, 3 pm). The highest average of 1,8-cineole was obtained during circadian study of the dry season (25.5% ± 5.8%) and the lowest during the circadian study of the rainy season (15.6% ± 1.5%). The multivariate analysis grouped the samples into 2 different groups: Group I characterized by the lowest amounts of 1,8-cineole (16.0%-18.7%), and Group II characterized by a higher content of 1,8-cineole (24.0%-33.0%). The oil yield and chemical composition did not show relationship with climate parameters (solar radiation, humidity, and temperature). Therefore, there was only quantitative variability in the EOs compositions during the circadian rhythm evaluated on dry and rainy seasons.
Stentless hypospadias repair: The way forward
Authors: Sandlas Gursev , Tiwari Charu , Bothra Jyoti , Jadhav Bhushan , Shah Hemanshi
Published: June 2020

Background:

Stentless repair of hypospadias has been previously described in the literature for distal penile hypospadias repair. This was a prospective non-randomized study with the aim of assessing the efficacy of stentless repair in our health-care system.

Methods:

A total of 104 patients managed prospectively for hypospadias over a 30-month period who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study and underwent a stentless modified tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty repair (with a slight modification described subsequently) by three surgeons and were followed up for a minimum period of six months.

Results:

The median age at surgery was eight months. The site of meatus was glanular in 20 patients, coronal in 36 patients, sub-coronal in 38 patients and mid-penile in 10 patients. The median operative time was 47 minutes (range 32–76 minutes). The median time to first micturition was 140 minutes (range 10–300 minutes). Voiding difficulty was encountered in two patients, requiring catheterization. Three patients had superficial surgical site infections which were conservatively managed. All patients were discharged on the second postoperative day, except for the three patients with surgical site infection. On follow-up, two patients had a fistula.

Conclusion:

Stentless repair of hypospadias is the future and the new standard of care and should be used in every case where a modified TIP repair is feasible. This decreases complications from urethral stenting and decreases the duration of hospital stay. Both patient and parents are comfortable with this procedure. Level of evidence Level 2.
E-Government Services Adoption: An Extension of the Unified Model of Electronic Government Adoption
Authors: Mensah Isaac Kofi , Zeng Guohua , Luo Chuanyong
Published: June 2020

This study proposed and validated an extension of the unified model of electronic government adoption (UMEGA). The data analysis was conducted with a structural equation modeling technique using Smart PLS 3.0. The results have demonstrated contrary to expectations that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence do not predict the attitude toward the use of e-government services. Facilitating conditions, however, were found to significantly determine both the behavioral intention to use and effort expectancy of e-government services. Also, perceived service quality and trust in government were found to positively predict, respectively, the intention to use and recommend the adoption of e-government services. The implications of these and other result findings of this study are thoroughly interrogated.
Authoritarian survival strategies and elite churn: The case of North Korea
Authors: Ishiyama John , Kim Taekbin
Published: June 2020

How do autocrats interact with authoritarian elites? This is a question that has gained increasing scholarly attention over the past decade. In this article, using the case of North Korea we develop a set of theoretical expectations for “elite churn” or changes in the composition of the elite (either in terms of promotions, demotions, or new entrants) resulting from moving around elites from office to office (or “elite shuffle”) and bringing in new elites. We test a number of theoretical expectations derived from the existing literature on elite management in autocracies and then examine these expectations using a panel data set of 351 members of the North Korean elite from 1948–2017. Taking into account leadership characteristics, threats to the regime (both internal and external), external opportunities, and structural factors, we find that the explanation for elite churn in North Korea is very leader specific, and is much more pronounced under Kim Jong Un than his predecessors. This suggests that Kim Jong Un’s position was much more tenuous than his father’s and grandfather’s and likely continues to be so.
Atypical Presentation of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient
Authors: Bose Subhasish , Adapa Sreedhar , Konala Venu Madhav , Gopalreddy Hemapriya , Sohail Salim , Naramala Srikanth , Kondakindi Hema , Muppidi Vijayadershan , Ramachandran Manoj V. , Juran Peter J. , Aeddula Narothama Reddy
Published: June 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a rapidly spreading disease causing increased morbidity and mortality across the globe. There is limited available knowledge regarding the natural history of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Other factors that are also making this infection spread like a pandemic include global travelers, lack of proven treatment, asymptomatic carriers, potential reinfection, underprepared global health care systems, and lack of public awareness and efforts to prevent further spread. It is understood that certain preexisting medical conditions increase the risk of mortality with COVID-19; however, the outcome of this disease in traditionally vulnerable chronic illnesses such as end-stage renal disease is not well documented. We present a case of a 56-year-old African American lady with end-stage renal disease on the peritoneal dialysis who presented predominantly with nausea, vomiting, and subsequently found to have COVID-19. We use this case to illustrate an atypical presentation of the COVID-19 in a vulnerable patient and discuss the literature.
Ascending Paralysis in a 36-Year-Old Woman With Bipolar Disorder and Recent Aspiration Pneumonia
Authors: Varma-Doyle Aditi Vian , Garvie Kristen , Walvekar Seema , Igi Mae , Garikepati Radha Mayuri
Published: June 2020

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy affecting both motor and sensory peripheral nerves. Typically presenting after a gastrointestinal or a respiratory tract infection, it manifests as ascending paralysis with concomitant areflexia in patients. Cytoalbuminologic dissociation is a supportive finding on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis. Due to variability in presentation, misdiagnosis and delay in treatment can occur, and consequently, GBS can become life threatening due to respiratory failure. We report ascending paralysis in a 36-year-old woman with known history of bipolar disorder who recently recovered from aspiration pneumonia following a drug overdose event. Given her psychiatric history, she was initially misdiagnosed as conversion disorder. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy was initiated at our hospital due to strong suspicion of GBS, based on history and physical examination findings consistent with flaccid quadriparesis and impending respiratory failure. CSF analysis and radiological findings subsequently supported our clinical suspicion and clinical findings. Concurrent IVIG therapy, pain management, aggressive physical and respiratory therapy, and monitoring resulted in symptom improvement. One must have a high index of suspicion for GBS when presented with acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathies in patients who present with ascending paralysis. Early initiation of therapy is key and can prevent life-threatening complications.
Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection: A Great Imitator?
Authors: Seecheran Rajeev Virender , Dookie Taarik , Seecheran Valmiki Krishna , Persad Sangeeta Anjali , Marsang Bryan-Lee , Rampersad Fidel , Maharaj Paramanand , Seecheran Naveen Anand
Published: June 2020

In isolated partial anomalous pulmonary venous connections (PAPVCs), an abnormal vein connects venous blood from the pulmonary circulation to the systemic circulation, resulting in an extracardiac shunt. A single aberrant pulmonary vein (PV) is usually hemodynamically insignificant, and affected patients are generally asymptomatic. We describe a young Caribbean-Black woman with an isolated, singular PAPVC from the left inferior PV to the left innominate (brachiocephalic) vein that was hemodynamically significant, obfuscated by recurrent pleural effusions from catamenial pleural endometriosis.
The Consequences of Living in a Small-town Food Desert: Mixed Methods Evidence from a Quasi-Experiment
Authors: Campbell Colin , Calderón Pinedo Mónica María , Midgette Willa , Vieira Justin
Published: June 2020

Past research finds that living in a food desert is associated with an unhealthy diet and poor health; however, more recent studies of urban food deserts suggest that these findings may be spurious. In this article, we leverage the flooding and subsequent closing of the only grocery store in a small town to examine the effects of living in a small-town food desert. Using difference-in-difference methods, we find that opening a grocery store in a small-town food desert is not associated with changes in diet, but we find that opening a grocery store in a food desert is associated with improved food access. Findings from in-depth interviews shed further light on how residents of a small-town food desert decide where to shop and how routine activities provide access to a range of nonlocal grocery stores. Moreover, we find that the absence of a grocery store negatively affects social relationships. While the findings add to growing skepticism about food desert effects on diet, the findings reveal important food desert effects on food access and also the social consequences of living in a food desert.
IL-1B rs2853550 polymorphism contributes to esophageal cancer susceptibility in Chinese Han population of Northwest China
Authors: Zhao Ruimin , Chen Xin , Ren Wanli , Dai Hao , Li Huajing , Li Honghui , Jia Ai , Wu Yue , Han Peng , Shao Yuan
Published: June 2020

Background

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common human cancers, with a particularly aggressive behavior and increased incidence worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-1B with the risk of EC in a northwest Chinese Han population.

Methods

In order to evaluate the correlations between IL-1B polymorphisms and EC risk, an Agena MassARRAY platform was used to determine the genotype of the candidate SNPs among 384 EC patients and 499 controls. The associations between IL-1B variants and EC risk were examined using logistic regression analysis with adjustment for gender and age. Haplotype construction and analysis were performed to detect the potential associations between haplotypes within IL-1B and EC susceptibility. Additionally, bioinformatics databases were used for gene expression analysis and SNP functional prediction.

Results

A significant relationship was found between IL-1B rs2853550 and an increased risk of EC in the allele model [odds ratio (OR) = 1.38, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.01–1.89, p = 0.041), the codominant model (A/G, OR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.10–2.42, p = 0.011), and the dominant model (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.02–2.18, p = 0.041). Functional analysis revealed the potential effects of rs2853550, which further reinforced its influence on EC susceptibility. However, there were no statistically significant differences for other SNPs or haplotypes between EC cases and healthy controls. Expression analysis conducted with dataset indicated that the expression level of IL-1B was higher in EC cases than that in normal samples.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that rs2853550 in IL-1B might increase EC susceptibility in the Chinese Han population of Northwest China.
Genetic Dissection and Functional Differentiation of ALKa and ALKb, Two Natural Alleles of the ALK/SSIIa Gene, Responding to Low Gelatinization Temperature in Rice
Authors: Chen Zhuanzhuan , Lu Yan , Feng Linhao , Hao Weizhuo , Li Chuang , Yang Yong , Fan Xiaolei , Li Qianfeng , Zhang Changquan , Liu Qiaoquan
Published: June 2020

Background

ALK is the key gene controlling rice gelatinization temperature (GT), which is closely associated with the eating and cooking quality (ECQ) in rice (Oryza sativa L.). To date, at least three ALK alleles are thought to be responsible for the diversity of GT among rice cultivars. The ALKc/SSIIai allele with high activity of the soluble starch synthase IIa (SSIIa) controls high GT, but the accurate functional difference between ALKa and ALKb alleles, both controlling low GT, is not clearly elucidated. Thus, we generated rice near-isogenic lines (NILs) by introducing different ALK alleles into the japonica cultivar Nipponbare (Nip) to clarify the discrepant effects of the two low-GT ALK alleles.

Results

The results showed that the function of two low-GT alleles (ALKa and ALKb) was different, and a much lower GT was observed in NIL(ALKb) rice grains compared with that of Nip(ALKa). Moreover, the starches of NIL(ALKb) grains had a higher degree of branching, higher setback, consistence and higher cool pasting viscosity than those of Nip(ALKa). The lower expression level of ALKb, compared with ALKa, resulted in depleted intermediate chains and increased short chains of amylopectin, thus affected the thermal and pasting properties of NILs’ grains. Also, the data revealed both low-GT alleles were mainly found in temperate japonica, but more ALKb was found in other subpopulations such as indica as compared to ALKa.

Conclusions

Overall, all the results suggested that the function between two low-GT alleles was different, and the distribution of ALKb was much wider than that of ALKa among the subpopulations of cultivated rice.
Analysis of QTL for Grain Size in a Rice Chromosome Segment Substitution Line Z1392 with Long Grains and Fine Mapping of qGL-6
Authors: Zhang Ting , Wang Shiming , Sun Shuangfei , Zhang Yi , Li Juan , You Jing , Su Tian , Chen Wenbo , Ling Yinghua , He Guanghua , Zhao Fangming
Published: June 2020

Background

Grain size affects not only rice yield but is also an important element in quality of appearance. However, the mechanism for inheritance of grain size is unclear.

Results

A rice chromosome segment substitution line Z1392, which harbors three substitution segments and produces grains of increased length, was identified. The three chromosome segments were located on chromosomes 1, 5, and 6, and the average length of the substitution segment was 3.17 Mb. Cytological analysis indicates that the predominant cause of increased grain length in Z1392 could be cell expansion in the glumes. Seven quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for grain size related traits were identified using the secondary F2 population produced by Nipponbare/Z1392. The inheritance of grain length in Z1392 was mainly controlled by two major QTLs, qGL-5 and qGL-6. qGL-6 was localized on a 1.26 Mb region on chromosome 6, and OsARF19 may be its candidate gene. Based on QTL mapping, three single-segment substitution lines (S1, S2, and S3) and two double-segment substitution lines (D1 and D2) were selected, and the mapping accuracy for qGL-5 and qGL-6 was further verified using three single-segment substitution lines. Analysis of QTL additive and epistatic effects revealed that the additive effect of alleles qGL-5 and qGL-6 from ‘Xihui 18’ was estimated to increase grain length of Z1392 by 0.22 and 0.15 mm, respectively. In addition, a positive epistatic interaction between qGL-5 and qGL-6 was detected, which indicates that the pyramiding of qGL-5 and qGL-6 for grain length produces a novel genotype with longer grains.

Conclusions

Inheritance of grain length in the triple-segment substitution line Z1392 is mainly controlled by two major QTLs, qGL-5 and qGL-6. qGL-6 was found to be located in a 1.26 Mb region on chromosome 6, and OsARF19 may be its candidate gene. A positive epistatic interaction between qGL-5 and qGL-6 results in longer grains. The present results can be used to facilitate cloning of the qGL-5 and qGL-6 genes and contribute to improvement of grain yield in rice.
Hemoglobin concentration; a pathway to frailty
Authors: Steinmeyer Zara , Delpierre Cyrille , Soriano Gaelle , Steinmeyer Armand , Ysebaert Loic , Balardy Laurent , Sourdet Sandrine
Published: June 2020

Background

Frailty and hemoglobin concentration, above what would be considered clinical anemia, are two common findings in older patients that lead to an increased risk of negative health outcomes. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether hemoglobin concentration is an independent predictor of frailty and investigate possible causal pathways with a focus on the relationship between inflammation or nutrition and hemoglobin concentration.

Methods

1829 community-dwelling participants aged 65 years or older who visited the Toulouse frailty day hospital during 2011 and 2016 were included in this analysis. Patients underwent a comprehensive geriatric assessment and had a blood sample taken.

A series of multivariate logistic regression models were performed after minimizing potential influence from age, gender, kidney function, inflammation, cognition, nutritional status and certain socio-economic factors.

Results

Hemoglobin concentration and frailty are significantly associated after minimizing potential influence from other covariates (p < 0.005). An increase in one point of hemoglobin concentration is associated with a 14% risk reduction of being frail (OR = 0.86, 95%IC = 0.79–0.94). There was no evidence of a significant causal relationship between inflammation and nutritional status in the relationship between hemoglobin concentration and frailty status (p > 0.005).

Conclusions

Hemoglobin concentration is strongly associated with frailty in older adults. These results can have potentially important implications for prevention policies targeting frailty by identifying potential patients with high risk of adverse outcomes and functional outcomes.