bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Body image in children with gender incongruence
Authors: Verveen Anouk , Kreukels Baudewijntje PC , de Graaf Nastasja M , Steensma Thomas D
Published: March 2021

Background:

In the DSM-5 diagnosis of childhood Gender Dysphoria, two of the eight criteria focus on body satisfaction of the child. Nevertheless, this subject is understudied. This study aims to describe the body image of children with gender incongruence (GI) in relation to birth assigned sex and the intensity of GI.

Method:

Self-report and parent-report measures on body satisfaction and gender incongruence were obtained from 207 children (<12 years) who were referred to the Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location VUmc, between 2010 and 2016. First, a general description of body satisfaction in children who took part in this study is provided. Secondly, body image of birth assigned boys and girls are compared using chi-square tests and univariate ANCOVA’s. Thirdly, the association between intensity of GI and body image is examined using multiple linear regression analyses.

Results:

Of the 207 children with GI, 50% reported dissatisfaction with their gender-specific characteristics. Overall, children were less dissatisfied with their neutral body characteristics. Birth assigned girls report greater dissatisfaction with their body characteristics than birth assigned boys. Intensity of GI was significantly related to satisfaction with gender specific body characteristics where a greater intensity of GI relates to more body dissatisfaction.

Conclusion:

Mental health practitioners should be aware of the diversity in body dissatisfaction in this group. Furthermore, evaluation of body image should be an important topic in the counseling of these children. Future research should focus on the relation of body dissatisfaction and the development of gender incongruent feelings in children with GI.
The hermeneutics of recovery: Facilitating dialogue between African and Western mental health frameworks
Authors: Kong Camillia , Campbell Megan , Kpobi Lily , Swartz Leslie , Atuire Caesar
Published: March 2021

The widespread use of faith-based and traditional healing for mental disorders within African contexts is well known. However, normative responses tend to fall within two camps: on one hand, those oriented towards the biomedical model of psychiatry stress the abuses and superstition of such healing, whilst critics adopting a more ‘local’ perspective have fundamentally challenged the universalist claims of biomedical diagnostic categories and psychiatric treatments. What seemingly emerges is a dichotomy between those who endorse more ‘universalist’ or ‘relativist’ approaches as an analytical lens to the challenges of the diverse healing strands within African contexts. In this article, we draw upon the resources of philosophy and existing empirical work to challenge the notion that constructive dialogue cannot be had between seemingly incommensurable healing practices in global mental health. First, we suggest the need for much-needed conceptual clarity to explore the hermeneutics of meaning, practice, and understanding, in order to forge constructive normative pathways of dialogue between seemingly incommensurable values and conceptual schemas around mental disorder and healing. Second, we contextualise the complex motives to emphasise difference amongst health practitioners within a competitive healing economy. Finally, we appeal to the notion of recovery as discovery as a fruitful conceptual framework which incorporates dialogue, comparative evaluation, and cross-cultural enrichment across divergent conceptualisations of mental health.
Admissions to Norwegian Hospitals during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Helgeland Jon , Telle Kjetil E. , Grøsland Mari , Huseby Beate M. , Håberg Siri , Lindman Anja S. E.
Published: March 2021

Background:

In mid-March 2020, the Norwegian government implemented measures to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and hospitals prepared to handle an unpredictable inflow of patients with COVID-19.

Aim:

The study was performed to describe the changes in hospital admissions during the first phase of the pandemic.

Methods:

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health established a national preparedness register with daily updates on COVID-19 cases and the use of health services. We used individual-level information on inpatients from the electronic journal systems for all hospitals in Norway to estimate daily hospital admissions.

Results:

Before the onset of the pandemic in March, there was an average of 2400 inpatient admissions per day in Norway, which decreased to approximately 1500 in the first few days after lockdown measures were implemented. The relative magnitudes of the decreases were similar in men and women and across all age groups. The decreases were substantial for both elective (54%) and emergency (29%) inpatient care. The admission rate gradually increased and reached pre-pandemic levels in June. However, the reductions in admissions for pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease seemed to persist.

Conclusions:

The elective and emergency inpatient admission rates were substantially reduced a few days after the pandemic response measures were implemented. The ways in which the lack or postponement of care may have affected the health and well-being of patients is an important issue to be addressed in future research.
Balancing risks: Qualitative study of attitudes, motivations and intentions about attending for mammography during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kirkegaard Pia , Edwards Adrian , Andersen Berit
Published: March 2021

Aims:

To explore attitudes, motivations and intentions about attending for mammography among women who cancelled or postponed breast cancer screening, which had remained open in Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

A telephone interview study was conducted at the end of April 2020. A qualitative, phenomenological approach was chosen to identify themes and concepts and a semi-structured interview guide was developed. The analysis was structured according to constructs from the theory of planned behaviour, including attitudes to breast cancer screening, norms and motivations to comply with breast cancer screening, perceived control and anticipated regret.

Results:

Interviews were carried out with 33 women aged 50–69 (mean 62) years. The women felt that screening was of secondary importance during the height of the pandemic and they felt low perceived control over transportation to the screening clinic and over the screening situation itself, where social distancing was impossible. They perceived messages from the authorities as conflicting regarding the request for social distancing and a lack of recommendations about using face masks at the screening clinic.

Conclusions:

Women who postponed or cancelled breast cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic felt that public recommendations appeared contradictory. Uncertainty about the ‘new norm(al)’ of COVID-19 made them stay at home, although the screening clinics remained open. The findings point to the importance of addressing perceived inconsistency between recommendations from the World Health Organization and the national management of these recommendations, and to secure univocal information from the authorities about the recommended use of healthcare services in a time of crisis.
Nonlinear Vibration of Axially Loaded Railway Track Systems Using Analytical Approach
Authors: Bayat Mahmoud , Pakar Iman , Ziehl Paul
Published: March 2021

In this paper, the nonlinear vibration of railway track systems resting on elastic foundation has been studied. An axially loaded simply supported Euler–Bernoulli beam resting on a flexible foundation has been considered to provide a mathematical representation of the railway track system. Winkler springs have been used to model the elastic foundation. Nonlinear partial differential equation of the system has been presented and solved. A new approximate analytical solution called Improved Amplitude–Frequency Formulation (IAFF) is proposed to obtain nonlinear frequency of the system and an accurate analytical solution for the whole domain. The first iteration of the IAFF leads to a highly accurate solution in comparison with the exact frequency of the problem. The exact frequency of the problem is also presented, and the results of IAFF are compared and verified. Sensitive analysis of the soil stiffness and loading condition is studied for different parameters. A full comparison of the IAFF and exact solution results are illustrated. It has been proved that the IAFF can be potentially extended to highly nonlinear conservative problems.
Considerations for vertical control with microimplants in a idiopathic condylar resorption patient: A case report
Authors: Noh Hyung-Kyu , Park Hyo-Sang
Published: March 2021

Idiopathic condylar resorption (ICR) is a rare, destructive temporomandibular joint disease characterised by progressive resorption of the condyles. This case report presents a record of an orthodontically treated patient with ICR with favourable posttreatment remodelling of the condyles. An 18-year-old woman sought treatment for ICR. A severe Class II high-angle facial pattern with resorption of bilateral condyles was evident. The treatment plan was determined after careful examination of condylar radiographs and comprised forward rotation of the mandible through full-arch intrusion with microimplants after extraction of the four premolars. The treatment was completed in 35 months, and the patient was noted to have a straight profile, good interdigitation and slightly increased condylar volume. Two years after retention, the condyles were stable, and the patient’s profile and occlusion remained acceptable despite a mild relapse of the mandibular position. ICR was successfully corrected with orthodontic treatment. Counter-clockwise mechanics applied during the ICR remission period not only improved facial aesthetics but were also suitable for condylar unloading.
Speculating on Steam: Consumption in the gamblified platform ecosystem
Authors: Zanescu Andrei , Lajeunesse Marc , French Martin
Published: March 2021

The rise of platforms as the premier model of videogame distribution has led to a number of changes in the business models of producers and distributors. Consumers are constantly hailed by games platforms through freemium business models that offer cosmetic items contained in loot boxes or recurring subscriptions. Thus far, game studies and consumer studies have been unable to account for the totality of how these new and dynamic platforms circumvent legal barriers and attract potential consumers. This paper argues that a hybrid research model combining platform studies, socio-cultural critique of gamblification, and political economy is required in order to theorize and explicate how these platforms operate. The platformized and gamblified model for game distribution seeks to regulate and configure networks of association between consumers and producers with the ultimate aim of eliciting participation on platforms.
Multi-field coupling prediction for improving aeroacoustic performance of muffler based on LES and FW-H acoustic analogy methods
Authors: Guo H , Wang YS , Zhu F , Liu NN , Yang C
Published: March 2021

Based on the large eddy simulation (LES) and Ffowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equation, a multi-field coupling method is presented for aeroacoustic prediction of a muffler with high-speed and high-temperature exhaust gasflow. A three-dimensional finite-volume model of the muffler is established by using the LES and FW-H acoustic analogy (FW-H-AA) methods. Experimental validations of the simulated results suggest a good accuracy of the combined LES and FW-H-AA approach. Some factors influencing on noise attenuation, such as the gasflow velocity, temperature and the structural parameters of the muffler are analyzed. The results show that the aerodynamic noise and turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) are mainly attributed to the structural mutations in the muffler. The outlet sound pressure level (SPL) increases with the inlet gasflow velocity and decreases with temperature. According to the factor analysis results, the target muffler is modified by adding a fillet transition to the end of inserted tube and redesigning the structures where the TKE concentrated for improving the aerodynamic performance. In terms of the outlet SPL, the inner TKE and the backpressure of the muffler, the modified muffler is significantly improved by the maximum reductions of 3-5dB in SPL, 10–20% in TKE and 0.5–2.5 kPa in backpressure. The presented method might be extended to other kinds of muffler for aeroacoustic calculation and improvement design.
Damage assessment of a titanium skin adhesively bonded to carbon fiber–reinforced plastic omega stringers using acoustic emission
Authors: Saeedifar Milad , Saleh Mohamed Nasr , Nijhuis Peter , de Freitas Sofia Teixeira , Zarouchas Dimitrios
Published: March 2021

This study is devoted to the use of acoustic emission technique for a comprehensive damage assessment, that is, damage detection, localization, and classification, of an aeronautical metal-to-composite bonded panel. The structure comprised a titanium panel adhesively bonded to carbon fiber–reinforced plastic omega stringers. The panel contained a small initial artificial debonding between the titanium panel and one of the carbon fiber–reinforced plastic stringers. The panel was subjected to a cyclic increasing in-plane compression load, including loading, unloading, and then reloading to a higher load level, until the final fracture. The generated acoustic emission signals were captured by the acoustic emission sensors, and digital image correlation was also used to obtain the strain field on the surface of the panel during the test. The results showed that acoustic emission can accurately detect the damage onset, localize it, and also trace its evolution. The acoustic emission results not only were consistent with the digital image correlation results, but also managed to detect the damage initiation earlier than digital image correlation. Finally, the acoustic emission signals were clustered using particle swarm optimization method to identify the different damage mechanisms. The results of this study demonstrate the capability of acoustic emission for the comprehensive damage characterization of aeronautical bi-material adhesively bonded structures.
Seizing After Freezing: Layer-, Site-, and Cell-Type-Specific Rewiring Mediates Epileptogenesis Following Cortical Freeze Lesion in Mouse
Authors: Buchanan Gordon
Published: March 2021

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Ya Era Tiempo (It’s About Time): Latinas/os Training to be Counselors Share the Meaning of Obtaining Recognition for their Spanish Proficiency
Authors: Estrada Fernando , Angèle Brianna , Martinez Fannie
Published: March 2021

In the current study, an initiative that focuses on bilingual proficiency among masters-level counseling students provided the opportunity to qualitatively answer the question: For Latina/o bilingual graduate students who are training to be licensed counselors, what is the meaning behind pursuing and obtaining recognition of their Spanish language proficiency? The thematic findings from ten interviews illuminate topics related to bilingualism in post-baccalaureate education with respect to programing and scholarship.
Life-Threatening Non-Allergic Drug Hypersensitivity Reaction as a Very Rare Side Effect of Rivaroxaban Administration in the Netherlands
Authors: Hakkenbrak Nadia A. G. , Truijers Maarten
Published: March 2021

Background:

Anticoagulant therapy is indicated for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disease. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are frequently prescribed and Rivaroxaban is the most frequently administered DOAC in the Netherlands. Most side effects relate to hemorrhagic complications, however, also non-hemorrhagic side effect may be potentially life threatening.

Case presentation:

A 74-year-old man presented at the emergency department with a ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm for which open aneurysm repair was performed. Postoperatively, the patient developed neurological deficit, respiratory and circulatory failure following rivaroxaban administration, initiated for atrial fibrillation. Even though, the clinical signs resembled an anaphylactic reaction, the skin-prick test was negative and complications most likely resulted from a non-allergic drug hypersensitivity reaction.

Conclusion:

This case report shows that non-allergic drug hypersensitivity reactions may mimic an anaphylactic reaction and can be potentially life threatening. In addition, severe non-hemorrhagic complications after rivaroxaban administration do occur and should be considered in case of acute clinical deterioration.
Endovascular Aortic Repair With Castor Single-Branched Stent-Graft in Treatment of Acute Type B Aortic Syndrome and Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery
Authors: Pang Xinyan , Qiu Shi , Wang Chen , Liu Kai , Zhao Xin , Fang Changcun
Published: March 2021

Objective:

In this retrospective study, we presented the results of Castor single-branched stent-graft in a small series of patients with acute type B aortic syndrome and aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA).

Methods:

Between January 2019 and November 2019, 5 patients were diagnosed with acute type B aortic syndrome and ARSA (4 patients with intramural hematoma and ARSA, 1 patient with type B aortic dissection and ARSA). All the patients underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) using Castor single-branched stent-graft. In-hospital and 3-month outcomes were collected.

Results:

The mean operative time was 116 ± 20.43 minutes (range 90-145). All the TEVAR procedures were successfully performed without conversion to open surgery (100% success rate). All the ARSAs of the 5 patients were revascularized in situ by Castor single-branched stent-grafts. No deaths and complications were observed in the 3-month follow-up. The maximal diameters of diseased aortas in the 4 patients with IMH decreased 3 months after TEVAR. The false lumen in the graft-covered segment was completely thrombosed in the patient with type B aortic dissection.

Conclusions:

Castor single-branched stent-graft may be a good choice in treatment of acute type B aortic syndrome and aberrant right subclavian artery.
Silent Voices, Absent Bodies, and Quiet Methods: Revisiting the Processes and Outcomes of Personal Knowledge Production Through Body-Mapping Methodologies Among Indigenous Youth
Authors: Morton Darrien , Bird-Naytowhow Kelley , Hatala Andrew R.
Published: March 2021

At the interface of Western and Indigenous research methodologies, this paper revisits the place of the “personal” and “autobiographical” self in qualitative visual research. We outline a community and partnership-based evaluation of a theater program for Indigenous youth using arts-based body-mapping approaches in Saskatoon, Canada, and explore the methodological limitations of the narrator or artist’s voice and representations to translate personal visual-narratives and personal knowledges they hold. In so doing, we describe how body-mapping methods were adapted and improvised to respond to the silent voices and absent bodies within personal visual-narratives with an epistemological eclecticism handling the limitations of voice and meaningfully engaging the potentiality of quietness. Extending the conceptual and methodological boundaries of the “personal” and “autobiographical” for both narrator and interlocutor, artist and observer, we contribute to debates on the processes and outcomes of personal knowledge production by articulating a generative, ethical, and culturally-grounded project mobilizing body-mapping as a quiet method that pursues self-work—the passionate and emergent practices of working on one’s self and making self appear in non-representational and ceremonial ways.
Extracorporeal sheath shunt technique in trauma: A different vascular shunt in civilian trauma
Authors: F. Antunes Luís , Botelho Mafalda , Fonseca Manuel
Published: March 2021

Background/Objective

Temporary intravascular shunts are widely used in military surgery, representing a bridging until definitive vascular reconstruction. In civilian practice, shunts are mainly used as damage control and as a temporary measure until orthopaedic fixation. The objective of this report is to illustrate a new approach to the temporary restoration of perfusion during open management of extremity arterial injury.

Methods

The authors present a technique that uses sheaths introducers, instead of commercial or purpose-built shunts, which can be used through surgical or percutaneous approaches. Three clinical cases are presented where this technique was performed. Results/Conclusion: In the presented cases, this technique reduced time of shunt construction by avoiding artery surgical approach. This technique can facilitate the creation of an intravascular shunt among other than vascular surgeons.
Successful treatment of acquired arteriovenous fistula following iliac vein thrombosis
Authors: Ke Zunxiang , Li Qin , Yang Chao
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Cases of arteriovenous fistula following iliac vein thrombosis are uncommon. The pathogenesis of its formation remains unclear. We present the efficacy of left common iliac vein recanalization in acquired arteriovenous fistula treatment.

Methods

A 71-year-old man presented with severe lower left limb edema and was diagnosed with acquired arteriovenous fistula following iliac vein thrombosis. Treatment by recanalizing the left common iliac vein with bare stents was selected over embolizing the arteriovenous fistula, leading to an excellent clinical outcome. Results and Conclusions: Acquired arteriovenous fistula should be considered in some patients with post-thrombotic syndrome. Endovascular recanalization without embolization of the arteriovenous fistula can effectively treat iliac vein thrombosis associated with arteriovenous fistula.
Face and content validity of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT), and feasibility of the CSNAT intervention, for carers of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Micklewright Kerry , Farquhar Morag
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Informal carers of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have unmet support needs. Evidence relating to carers’ support needs in chronic conditions informed version 3 of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) which forms part of an intervention to identify and address carer support needs. Aim of study: to establish the face and content validity of CSNAT v3 for use with COPD carers and explore their views on delivery of the CSNAT Intervention in practice.

Methods

Focus groups conducted September-October 2019 in non-clinical settings recruited eleven COPD carers (two to six participants per group). COPD patients ( n = 2) attended one group to facilitate carer attendance, the impact of which is discussed. Most participating carers were female ( n = 10); carers’ ages ranged 52–79 years.

Results

CSNAT v3 was easy to understand and complete, and all 15 domains were considered relevant and appropriate, suggesting good face and content validity. The demeanour, relational skills, and knowledge of the CSNAT facilitator appeared more important to carers than being a certain practitioner type.

Discussion

COPD carers considered the CSNAT Intervention an acceptable way of identifying and responding to their needs. The intervention could potentially be delivered through a range of services.
The Law of the Excluded Middle: Discourse as Casualty of the Post-Truth Extremist Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic
Authors: Hendlin Yogi Hale
Published: March 2021

The unprecedented World Health Organization orchestrated lockdown and public health measures in response to the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic were enacted by virtually every government worldwide. In many countries, but especially the United States, long-standing political animosities congealed into a discourse of dehumanization between liberal establishment adherents and anti-state revolutionaries. Left out from the field were the plural voices fitting neither camp. Mikhail Bakhtin’s lens of Ideologiekritik offers a diagnosis, and the symbolic destabilizing tool of the carnivalesque provides a discursive tool to soften the political polarization and depoliticized technocracy of the coronavirus pandemic state of exception. The conflagration of the global coronavirus governmental response and the often violent counter-responses warrants examining the democratic dangers of dualistic discourses. Disrupting this explosive polarization requires reintroducing plural discursive spaces which widen the conversation to include liminal and oblique perspectives via spectacle and jest—the carnival—providing a potential nonviolent path forward.
Adult bilinguals outperform monolinguals in theory of mind
Authors: Navarro Ester , Conway Andrew RA
Published: March 2021

Theory of mind (ToM) is an essential ability for social competence and communication, and it is necessary for understanding behaviours that differ from our own. Research on bilingual children has reported that 3- and 4-year-old bilinguals outperform monolinguals in ToM tasks. Research suggests that adult bilinguals also might outperform monolinguals; nevertheless, this effect has yet to be established. Here, we tested bilingual and monolingual adults on the director task. Results showed that bilingual adults outperformed monolinguals in response to perspective-dependent trials of the director task, but not in response to control trials. This suggests that bilingualism is associated with individuals’ ability to take into account the perspective of another person. In addition, the number of cultures that participants were exposed to, regardless of whether the participant was bilingual or not, was also associated with ToM performance. Overall, the findings suggest that linguistic and cultural experience have an impact on ToM.
‘Back to better’: amplifying health equity, and determinants of health perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ndumbe-Eyoh Sume , Muzumdar Pemma , Betker Claire , Oickle Diane
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

Equity and social justice have long been key tenets of health promotion practice, policy and research. Health promotion foregrounds the pertinence of social, economic, cultural, political and spiritual life in creating and maintaining health. This necessitates a critical structural determinants of health perspective that actively engages with the experiences of health and wellbeing among diverse peoples. The inequitable impacts of pandemics are well documented, as are calls for improved pandemic responses. Yet, current pandemic and emergency preparedness plans do not adequately account for the social and structural determinants of health and health equity.

Methods:

Through five one-hour online conversations held in April 2020, we engaged 13 practice, policy, research and community leaders on the intersections of COVID-19 and gender, racism, homelessness, Indigenous health and knowledge, household food insecurity, disability, ethics and equitable futures post-COVID-19. We conducted a thematic analysis of speaker and participant contributions to investigate the impacts and influence of COVID-19 related to the structural and social determinants of health. We analyzed which policies, practices and responses amplified or undermined equity and social justice and identified opportunities for improved action.

Findings:

Analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed four broad themes: • oppressive, unjust systems and existing health and social inequities; • health and social systems under duress and non-responsive to equity; • disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 driven by underlying structural and socioeconomic inequity; and • enhanced momentum for collective mobilization, policy innovations and social transformation.

Discussion:

There was a strong desire for a more just and equitable society in a post-COVID-19 world, going ‘back to better’ rather than ‘back to normal.’ Our analysis demonstrates that equity has not been well integrated into pandemic planning and responses. Social movement and systems theories provide insight on ways to build on existing community mobilization and policy openings for sustained social transformation.
Depressive Symptoms, External Stress, and Marital Adjustment: The Buffering Effect of Partner’s Responsive Behavior
Authors: Pietromonaco Paula R. , Overall Nickola C. , Powers Sally I.
Published: March 2021

Guided by theory emphasizing that partner responsiveness underlies well-functioning romantic relationships, we examined whether partners’ responsive behavior buffered the degree to which a personal vulnerability (depressive symptoms) and external stress predicted declines in relationship adjustment. Using an existing data set, we tested whether individuals’ depressive symptoms and stress interacted with observer-coded partner responsive behavior during marital conflict discussions to predict change in marital adjustment at the next time point ( N = 195 couples Time 1 [T1]–Time 2 [T2], 158 couples T2–Time 3 [T3]). Individuals experiencing greater (a) depressive symptoms or (b) stress showed sharper declines in marital adjustment. However, as predicted, the negative effects of both depressive symptoms and stress were attenuated when partners displayed high behavioral responsiveness. These findings underscore the importance of adopting a dyadic perspective to understand how partners’ responsive behavior can overcome the harmful effects of personal and situational vulnerabilities on relationship outcomes.
Using a fingerstick test for haematological monitoring in patients treated with clozapine
Authors: Atkins Matthew , McGuire Philip , Balgobin Bhirundra , Patel Pravinkumar , Taylor David
Published: March 2021

Background

Treatment with clozapine requires regular blood monitoring in order to minimise the risk of agranulocytosis. The demands on patients and clinicians associated with monitoring may be reduced by using point-of-care, as opposed to lab-based assessments. We assessed the utility of a device that can measure white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts by capillary fingerstick blood.

Method

The performance of a small, portable device (HemoCue® WBC DIFF System) was compared with that of a widely used laboratory analyser (ADVIA® 2120i) for measuring WBC and neutrophil counts. Patients with schizophrenia who were being treated with clozapine ( n = 201) provided a fingerstick capillary sample and a venous sample for the respective assays.

Results

WBC counts and neutrophil counts from venous blood as determined by ADVIA 2120i, ranged from 3.0 × 109/l to 19.5 × 109/l, and 1.2 × 109/l to 15.9 × 109/l, respectively. There was a strong correlation between the results from venous and the capillary sample methods (WBC: R = 0.89, neutrophil: R = 0.92). By Passing–Bablok regression analysis, the slope of the association between ADVIA® 2120i and HemoCue WBC DIFF for WBC was 1.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.944–1.086], with intercept at −0.9 (95% CI −1.43 to −0.45). For neutrophils, the slope was 0.870 (95% CI 0.817–0.923), with intercept at −0.19 (95% CI −0.43 to 0.02). Overall, mean biases of −0.95 × 109/l for WBC, and −0.91 × 109/l for neutrophils were observed for the capillary blood method compared with the venous blood method. Below the clinical cutoff intervals for clozapine monitoring WBC (<3.5 × 109/l) and neutrophils (<1.5 × 109/l) these biases were −1.1 × 109/l for WBC, and −0.25 × 109/l for neutrophils.

Conclusion

Results from the capillary blood HemoCue WBC DIFF analyser compared well with the venous blood ADVIA 2120i analyser for determining WBC and neutrophil counts. There was a slight overall bias, with the capillary method reporting lower values for both measures. Fingerstick point-of-care analysis is suitable for monitoring blood counts in patients on clozapine, although confirmatory standard venous testing is recommended for test results falling below accepted thresholds.
Right ventricular ejection fraction as predictor of outcome in acute heart failure using RV ellipsoid model: A retrospective analysis of a prospective cross-sectional study
Authors: Ashcroft Eshan , Lazariashvili Otar , Belsey Jonathan , Berrill Max , Sharma Pankaj , Baltabaeva Aigul
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The right ventricular (RV) function is an important prognostic factor in acute and chronic heart failure (HF). Echocardiography is an essential imaging modality with established parameters for RV function which are useful and easy to perform. However, these fail to reflect global RV volumes due to reliability on one acoustic window. It is therefore attractive to calculate RV volumes and ejection fraction (RVEF/E) using an ellipsoid geometric model which has been validated against MRI in healthy adults but not in the HF patients.

Design

This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective cross-sectional study enrolling 418 consecutive patients with symptoms of HF according to a predefined study protocol. All patients underwent echocardiographic assessment of RV function using Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) and RV fractional area change (RVFAC) and RVEF/E.

Setting

Single centre study with multiple locations for acute in-patients including high dependency units.

Participants

Patients with acute or exacerbation of chronic HF older than 18 y.o.

Main outcome measures

Ability of RVEF/E to predict patient outcomes compared with two established parameters of RV function over two-year follow-up period. Primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality.

Results

RVEF/E is equal to TAPSE & RVFAC in predicting outcome (p ≤ 0.01 vs p ≤ 0.01) and provides additional benefit of RV volume estimation based on standard 2D echo measurements.

Conclusions

In this study we have shown that RVEF/E derived from ellipsoid model is not inferior to well established measures of RV function as a prognostic indicator of outcome in the acute HF.
Hereditary geniospasm in a mother and son treated with botulinum toxin injection: A case report
Authors: Perkins Clare , Jia Wei , Rainsbury James , Lux Andrew
Published: March 2021

Hereditary geniospasm is a rare and benign disorder that can cause distress and social embarrassment to patients. There are only a handful of possible treatment options available. Due to the rarity of the condition, practices differ across the world and the results are varied. These include beta-blockers, benzodiazepines and anti-epileptics. These treatments can have significant side-effects when used long term. However, botulinum toxin injections have been successfully used in a handful of cases. We report a successful botulinum treatment of hereditary geniospasm in a mother and son, with the injection protocols.
Evaluating nursing competence with the Nurse Competence Scale from an ontological and contextual point of view: An integrative literature review
Authors: Lejonqvist Gun-Britt , Kajander-Unkuri Satu
Published: March 2021

Evaluating nursing competence is challenging and among many instruments the Nurse Competence Scale is one of the most used. This integrated literature review aimed to describe how ontological and contextual nursing competence becomes evident in evaluations done with it and the value of using it for professional development in nursing. The starting point was a former systematic review and additional searches were carried out using electronic databases with keywords and Boolean operators. The search followed the PRISMA search strategy and the articles were appraised against the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. Thirty-four original research articles published between January 2004 and April 2020 were included. The data were displayed and analyzed descriptively. Results showed that the Nurse Competence Scale covers both ontological and contextual competence, that the competence profiles vary in different cultures, cohorts and contexts, but that it is suitable for evaluating and following up competence development in nursing.
HSV encephalitis after successful minimally invasive debridement for infected pancreatic necrosis: A case of rare central nervous system complication
Authors: Lu Bei , Cai Yang , Yin Junjie , Wang Jingrui , Jia Zhong , Hu Wei , Fang Jianhua
Published: March 2021

Patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) often suffer tough complications, some of which are fatal. The early diagnosis and definite treatment of central nervous system (CNS) complications have not been fully achieved yet, which seriously affects the mortality of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). We present a case of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) in a 62-year Chinese man who developed acute herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) after favorable minimally invasive retroperitoneal approaches (MIRAs). The patient was successfully treated with 115 days stayed in our hospital. The MIRAs included image-guided retroperitoneal percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD), nephroscopic pancreatic necrosectomy (NPN), and ultrasonic pneumatic lithotripsy system (UPLS) assisted non-narcotic sinus track necrosectomy (NSN). HSE is relatively rare and potentially life threatening. We attempt to discuss the probable risk factors and how the relatively rare HSE are related to the patients of SAP with latent HSV.
Enhancing FDA’s Reach to Minorities and Under-Represented Groups through Training: Developing Culturally Competent Health Education Materials
Authors: Spinner Jovonni R. , Haynes Eboni , Nunez Cariny , Baskerville Shakia , Bravo Katherine , Araojo RADM Richardae
Published: March 2021

Health communications may not reach intended populations due to cultural and language barriers. These barriers may prohibit consumers from understanding information needed to make informed health decisions. It is important to ensure everyone—especially racial and ethnic minorities and under-served and under-represented populations—has access to information on medical products. One strategy to address this issue is to develop trainings and resources to better understand how cultural competency affects the ability to communicate effectively with racial/ethnic minorities. The FDA’s Office of Minority Health & Health Equity developed a 3-module training to (1) increase staff knowledge of the role that cultural competency plays in determining health communication messages and channels and (2) provide tools to assist them in creating culturally-competent strategies and action plans. Offered on 4 occasions, the 4.5-h interactive training, grounded in adult learning and project-based learning theories, and used curricula, case studies, and multimedia to guide the discussion and group work. Participants also completed an action plan to guide their current work. Cultural competency knowledge was assessed pre- and post-training and training satisfaction was assessed post-training. Among the 53 individuals who completed the training, average knowledge increased by 13.6%. The training was a success based on anecdotal and evaluation feedback. The majority of participants indicated that they would refer their colleagues to the training and apply what they learned in their work. Participants felt the training was meaningful, applicable to their work, and provided an opportunity to learn and engage with their peers. Becoming culturally competent is a process that should be supported through ongoing training to help build a strong communications and health educator workforce with expertise in developing culturally competent messages to meet their constituents’ needs.
Transforming Interprofessional Roles During Virtual Health Care: The Evolving Role of the Medical Assistant, in Relationship to National Health Profession Competency Standards
Authors: Rokicki-Parashar Jesse , Phadke Anuradha , Brown-Johnson Cati , Jee Olivia , Sattler Amelia , Torres Elise , Srinivasan Malathi
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

Medical assistants (MAs) were once limited to obtaining vital signs and office work. Now, MAs are foundational to team-based care, interacting with patients, systems, and teams in many ways. The transition to Virtual Health during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a further rapid and unique shift of MA roles and responsibilities. We sought to understand the impact of this shift and to place their new roles in the context of national professional competency standards.

Methods:

In this qualitative, grounded theory study we conducted semi-structured interviews with 24 MAs at 10 primary care sites at a major academic medical center on their experiences during the shift from in-person to virtual care. MAs were selected by convenience sample. Coding was done in Dedoose version 8.335. Consensus-based inductive and deductive approaches were used for interview analysis. Identified MA roles were compared to national MA, Institute of Medicine, physician, and nursing professional competency domains.

Results:

Three main themes emerged: Role Apprehension, Role Expansion, and Adaptability/Professionalism. Nine key roles emerged in the context of virtual visits: direct patient care (pre-visit and physical care), panel management, health systems ambassador, care coordination, patient flow coordination, scribing, quality improvement, and technology support. While some prior MA roles were limited by the virtual care shift, the majority translated directly or expanded in virtual care. Identified roles aligned better with Institute of Medicine, physician, and nursing professional competencies, than current national MA curricula.

Conclusions:

The transition to Virtual Health decreased MA’s direct clinical work and expanded other roles within interprofessional care, notably quality improvement and technology support. Comparison of the current MA roles with national training program competencies identified new leadership and teamwork competencies which could be expanded during MA training to better support MA roles on inter-professional teams.
Who Likes What Kind of News? The Relationship Between Characteristics of Media Consumers and News Interest
Authors: Kaspar Kai , Fuchs Lisa Anna Marie
Published: March 2021

Stimulated by the uses-and-gratification approach, this study examined the joint relation of several consumer characteristics to news interest. In total, 1,546 German-speaking participants rated their interest in 15 major news categories and several personal characteristics, including gender, age, the Big Five personality traits, self-esteem, as well as general positive and negative affect. Regression analyses examined the amount of interindividual variance in news interest that can be explained by this set of consumer characteristics. Overall, the amount of explained variance differed remarkably across news categories, ranging from 4% for entertainment-related news to 25% for news about technology. The most powerful explaining variables were participants’ gender, age, openness to experiences, and their amount of general positive affect. The results suggest that news interest should be defined and operationalized as a concept with multiple facets covering a huge range of content. Also, the results are important for media producers and journalists with respect to the conflict between increased need gratification of consumers and information filtering via personalized news content.
“I Hate It Here”: Mental Health Changes of College Students Living With Parents During the COVID-19 Quarantine
Authors: Hall Scott S. , Zygmunt Eva
Published: March 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and college campus closure in early 2020, students returned to live at home in unprecedented circumstances. A sample of 336 college students reported about their experiences living at home and the extent to which they perceived their mental health declining during the stay-at-home order (quarantine). Multiple regression analysis indicated that being a freshman (compared to a senior), having more negative interaction with a parent, fearing for one’s own and one’s family’s health, perceiving less parental acceptance about being home, having low autonomy, and displaying less positive coping (not working to improve one’s self and strengthen family relationships, more idleness) associated with self-reported decreases in mental health during quarantine. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses suggested that students viewed the quarantine as relevant to their mental health, especially because of positive or negative family experiences, and to a lesser degree disruption of education and work norms.
Miguel Caballero: Marketing Strategy of Colombian Bulletproof Fashion Brand
Authors: Ahmed Jashim Uddin , Tarannum Tasnim , Ahmed Asma , Mim Kazi Pushpita
Published: March 2021

Miguel Caballero is the epitome of what can be called a ‘Fashionable Protective Wear’. The brand was named after its brainchild Miguel Caballero himself during the raging times in Columbia. Back in the 1990s specifically, the political beliefs were compartmentalized into different violent groups in the country. Miguel envisioned this as a fancy business opportunity with a little bit of trick up his sleeve. His idea was to add fashion and pliability to a category of apparel that was once deemed to have been nothing more than a baggy, ugly-looking and inconvenient piece of must wear; not to mention the noticeability of the clothing and how it magnified the ones wearing it even more to the eyes of the oppressor. Although it was part of a graduation project, yet it turned into a whole business model. This case discloses Miguel Caballero’s journey and evolution of the brand throughout the decades. The brand has now become a state-of-the-art enterprise with a global value chain, and it is also standing at the top of its industry because of its unique strategy execution of engagement marketing. The company is the trendsetter and holds a massive market share with distinguishing strategies which exemplifies a perfect paradigm of the contemporary business world.
Two Strands of Nationalism: A Narrative on the Mizo War of Independence
Authors: Zarzosanga
Published: March 2021

The Mizo War of Independence, also labelled as the Mizo Insurgency Movement, spanned over a period of nearly 20 years, during which significant events and developments occurred, which greatly shaped and moulded the socio-political landscape of the state. Accounts and narratives of what took place during those turbulent years are aplenty. However, not much literature or narrative could be found about the ideological dimension of the movement and its ramifications. Hence, the main aim of the article is to emphasize on the underlying two strands of nationalism, that is, the nationalistic ideals pursued by the Mizo National Front (MNF) as an organization, on the one hand, and the strand of nationalism championed by its president and leader, Laldenga, on the other hand. The first part of the article examines the strand of nationalism of the MNF, the main perpetrator of the independence movement and the role of its founding president, Laldenga, in formulating that ideology. The second section of the article traces and analyses the so-called ‘Laldenga’s nationalism’. Finally, the article attempts to draw conclusion on how the two strands of nationalism impacted the outcome of the Mizo War of Independence as a whole.