bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Early Life War Exposure on Mental Health among Older Adults in Northern and Central Vietnam
Authors: Kovnick Miles O. , Young Yvette , Tran Nhung , Teerawichitchainan Bussarawan , Tran Toan Khanh , Korinek Kim
Published: October 2021

Most Vietnamese young adults who experienced the American War were exposed to war-related violence, which can exert a lifelong impact. We analyze survey data collected among northern and central Vietnamese older adults in the 2018 Vietnam Health and Aging Study (N = 2,447) to examine the association between various war traumas, psychological distress, and suicidal ideation. Informed by life course and stress process perspectives, we use structural equation models with multiple mediators to analyze the relationship between mental health outcomes and five types of wartime stress exposure: loss of family and friends, witnessing death, malevolent living conditions, life threat, and moral injury. Our findings reveal enduring mental health impacts of war among survivors. Wartime stress exposure’s influence on mental health is mediated by recent comorbidities and stressful life events. Loss of family members, witnessing death, and malevolent living conditions during war are particularly salient risks for psychological distress.
Open Government Data: Usage trends and metadata quality
Authors: Quarati Alfonso
Published: October 2021

Open Government Data (OGD) have the potential to support social and economic progress. However, this potential can be frustrated if these data remain unused. Although the literature suggests that OGD data sets’ metadata quality is one of the main factors affecting their use, to the best of our knowledge, no quantitative study provided evidence of this relationship. Considering about 400,000 data sets of 28 national, municipal and international OGD portals, we have programmatically analysed their usage, their metadata quality and the relationship between the two. Our analysis has highlighted three main findings. First, regardless of their size, the software platform adopted, and their administrative and territorial coverage, most OGD data sets are underutilised. Second, OGD portals pay varying attention to the quality of their data sets’ metadata. Third, we did not find clear evidence that data sets’ usage is positively correlated to better metadata publishing practices. Finally, we have considered other factors, such as data sets’ category, and some demographic characteristics of the OGD portals, and analysed their relationship with data sets’ usage, obtaining partially affirmative answers.
Neuropathology Evaluation in Juvenile Toxicity Studies in Rodents: Comparison of Developmental Neurotoxicity Studies for Chemicals With Juvenile Animal Studies for Pediatric Pharmaceuticals
Authors: Bolon Brad , Dostal Lori A. , Garman Robert H.
Published: October 2021

The developmental neuropathology examination in juvenile toxicity studies depends on the nature of the product candidate, its intended use, and the exposure scenario (eg, dose, duration, and route). Expectations for sampling, processing, and evaluating neural tissues differ for developmental neurotoxicity studies (DNTS) for chemicals and juvenile animal studies (JAS) for pediatric pharmaceuticals. Juvenile toxicity studies typically include macroscopic observations, brain weights, and light microscopic evaluation of routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections from major neural tissues (brain, spinal cord, and sciatic nerve) as neuropathology endpoints. The DNTS is a focused evaluation of the nervous system, so the study design incorporates perfusion fixation, plastic embedding of at least one nerve, quantitative analysis of selected brain regions, and sometimes special neurohistological stains. In contrast, the JAS examines multiple systems, so neural tissues undergo conventional tissue processing (eg, immersion fixation, paraffin embedding, H&E staining only). An “expanded neurohistopathology” (or “expanded neuropathology”) approach may be performed for JAS if warranted, typically by light microscopic evaluation of more neural tissues (usually additional sections of brain, ganglia, and/or more nerves) or/and special neurohistological stains, to investigate specific questions (eg, a more detailed exploration of a potential neuroactive effect) or to fulfill regulatory requests.
Living with hate relationships: Familiar encounters, enduring racisms and geographies of entrapment
Authors: Clayton John , Donovan Catherine , Macdonald Stephen J
Published: October 2021

This paper utilises the concept of ‘hate relationships’ in conversation with the literature on geographies of encounter to explore experiences of racism for those entrapped by racist encounters with those who are familiar. In so doing, we attend to the uneven and harmful risks involved in some forms of everyday urban encounter. We draw upon case notes collated by a hate advocacy service in North East England, UK, to illustrate the cumulative damaging force of enduring hate relationships. By drawing parallels with work on domestic violence, we suggest hate relationships evident in our data exhibit distinct temporalities of routinisation, whereby harmful ‘low level’ violence, often under the radar of the criminal justice system, gains force through repeated neighbourhood-based encounters. In so doing, we also highlight both the situated and relational spatialities at work; localised encounters marked by familiarity, racialised territoriality and experiences of fear and immobility, but also relations of entrenched disadvantage and institutional failures that sustain harm. Concerted acts of resistance look to confront and/or escape these relationships, but as forms of resolution, where additional burdens are placed on victim/survivors, these are constrained by the same violent conditions through which such relationships are allowed to take shape.
The Marketing System of Exchange Between Regulatory and Political Entrepreneurs Engaging in Arbitrage
Authors: Zeiss Jessica , Carlson Les
Published: October 2021

After receiving cease and desist letters in 2018, Bird strategically developed hospitable relationships with politicians that allowed the scooter-sharing firm to continue operating. Bird acts as a regulatory entrepreneur in seeking unfair legal treatment and the politicians brokering the legal deal as political entrepreneurs. The business models for unfairly changing or applying law represents entrepreneurial arbitrage. A mixed methods approach examines the structure of relationships between regulatory and political entrepreneurs through the Bootleggers and Baptists conceptual lens. Like Bird solving traffic and pollution problems for city leaders, Baptists served as a moral cover for illegal liquor vendors. Guided by a general systems theory, it is found that the micro-level, relational exchanges both assign value to as well as uses intellectual commodities to establish expectations guiding ongoing exchanges. Therefore, a marketing system is uncovered. This research also finds relationships structured by favors in sharp contrast to political markets governed by threats.
The encoding of race during face processing, an event-related potential study
Authors: Zhu Haidong , Wang Anqi , Collins Heather R. , Yue Yaqi , Xu Shuhui , Zhu Xun
Published: October 2021

It is well known that adults spontaneously classify people into social categories and this categorization in turn guides their cognition and behavior. A wealth of research has examined how people perceive race and investigated the effect of race on social behavior. But what about race encoding? Although considerable behavioral research has investigated the encoding of race, that is, the social categorization by race, the neural underpinning of it is largely underexplored. To investigate the time course of race encoding, the current study employed a modified category verification task and a multivariate analyzing approach. We found that racial information became decodable from event-related potential topographies as early as about 200 ms after stimulus onset. At this stage, the brain can differentiate different races in a task-relevant manner. Nonetheless, it is not until 100 ms later that racial information is encoded in a socially relevant manner (own- versus other-race). Importantly, perceptual differentiation not only occurs before the encoding of the race but actually influences it: the faces that are more easily perceptually categorized are actually encoded more readily. Together, we posit that the detection and the encoding of race are decoupled although they are not completely independent. Our results provide powerful constraints toward the theory-building of race.
Evaluating Self-Control Theory Among the Deaf Community
Authors: Smith Tony R. , Scott Jason D. , Porter Judy L. , McQuiller Williams LaVerne
Published: October 2021

This study evaluates the generality of self-control theory with a previously untested cultural group rarely studied by criminologists, the Deaf community. Survey data ( n = 428) from participants attending a university that houses a college for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing were compared with a sample of “hearing” students. The findings support Gottfredson and Hirschi’s cultural invariance thesis as self-control was consistently able to predict a wide range of rule-breaking behaviors among the culturally distinct groups examined. However, several unexpected results challenge the parental management thesis. In particular, exposure to effective parenting techniques was a significant contributor to variations in self-control for the hearing, but not the Deaf sample. Additionally, self-control did not fully mediate the relationship between child-rearing experiences and norm violating behaviors for the Deaf sample. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Prison Misconduct and the Use of Alternative Resolutions by Correctional Officers in Therapeutic Communities and Other Custody Units
Authors: Weinrath Michael , Tess Caroline , Willows Erika
Published: October 2021

This mixed methods study uses official records and interviews with inmates and staff to compare misconduct in therapeutic communities (TC’s) and the use of alternative resolutions (in lieu of formal charges by correctional officers) to other prison units. Prisoner misconduct has been studied using individual self-reports or aggregate prison rates, but unit level differences between TC’s and other prison wings are often overlooked. Restorative justice and diversion approaches are much studied in the community corrections literature but correctional officer use of alternatives to charging, such as mediation, is not well understood. The study examines differences in prisoner behavior by unit function by comparing misconduct over a 24 month period in therapeutic communities to general population, worker, protective custody, mental health, and high risk units. Study findings show lower misconduct in TC’s, including more serious misconduct such as fights. Furthermore, a significant proportion of overall charges were diverted into alternative resolution (AR)s, particularly within therapeutic communities. Interviewees reported a different approach taken in the TC toward discipline with a greater use of interaction, informal warnings, and application of AR, as opposed to formal charges. Future research is recommended using qualitative research strategies to appraise the alternative resolution decision process and prisoner-staff perceptions of discipline.
“I Felt Powerful and Confident”: Women’s Use of What They Learned in Feminist Sexual Assault Resistance Education
Authors: Crann Sara E. , Senn Charlene Y. , Radtke H. Lorraine , Hobden Karen L.
Published: October 2021

Research on women’s response and resistance to sexual assault risk has informed the development of interventions to improve women’s ability to effectively resist sexual assault. However, little is known about how women anticipate, navigate, and respond to risk following participation in sexual assault risk reduction/resistance education programs. In this study, we examined the information and skills used by university women who had recently completed the effective Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act (EAAA) sexual assault resistance program. We analyzed responses from 445 women using descriptive statistics and content and thematic analysis. Just under half (42%) of women used at least one EAAA strategy in the following 2 years. Most women reported that their efforts were successful in stopping an attack. Women’s responses included strategies both to preempt sexual assault threat (e.g., avoiding men who display danger cues, communicating assertively about wanted and unwanted sex) and to interrupt or avoid an imminent threat (e.g., yelling, hitting, and kicking). Women’s use of resistance strategies worked to subvert gendered social norms and socialization. The results suggest that counter to criticisms that risk reduction/resistance programs blame women or make them responsible for stopping men’s violence, women who took EAAA typically positioned themselves as agentic and empowered in their resistance.
Association of the Psychological Response to the ACL-SPORTS Training Program and Self-reported Function at 2 Years After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Zarzycki Ryan , Arhos Elanna , Failla Mathew , Capin Jacob , Smith Angela H. , Snyder-Mackler Lynn
Published: October 2021

Background:

Psychological readiness to return to sport has emerged as an important factor associated with outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Psychological factors are potentially modifiable during the course of rehabilitation, and improving them may lead to better outcomes.

Purpose:

To determine whether athletes with a positive psychological response after participation in a neuromuscular training and second injury prevention program had better self-reported function and activity outcomes compared with athletes who did not have a meaningful change.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

After ACLR and the completion of formal rehabilitation, 66 level I/II athletes completed the following self-reported measures at enrollment (pretraining): the Anterior Cruciate Ligament–Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scale, the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective knee form, and the 5 subscales of the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Participants completed these measures after 10 sessions of agility, plyometric, and progressive strength training and at 1 and 2 years after ACLR. Participants who displayed an increase in the ACL-RSI score from pretraining to posttraining that exceeded the minimal clinically important difference (≥10 points) were defined as having a positive psychological response (responders) to training, and those who did not were defined as nonresponders. A mixed-model analysis of variance was used to determine if group differences in IKDC and KOOS scores existed over the 4 time points (pretraining, posttraining, and the 1- and 2-year follow-ups).

Results:

The responders reported better self-reported function compared with the nonresponders, regardless of time, on the IKDC form ( P = .001), KOOS–Sport and Recreation ( P = .014), KOOS-Pain ( P = .007), and KOOS-Symptoms ( P = .002) but not on the KOOS–Quality of Life ( P = .078). Overall, 77% of responders and 67% of nonresponders returned to their previous level of sport by 1 year after ACLR ( P = .358), and 82% of responders and 78% of nonresponders returned to their previous level of sport by 2 years after ACLR ( P = .668).

Conclusion:

Ultimately, 59% of the athletes in this study displayed a meaningful improvement in their psychological outlook over the course of the training program. Responders demonstrated persistently better self-reported function at posttraining and at 1 and 2 years after ACLR, but there were no between-group differences in return-to-sport rates.
Prototypical Resilience Projects for Postdisaster Recovery Planning: From Theory to Action
Authors: Zhai Wei , Peng Zhong-Ren , Bai Xueyin
Published: October 2021

Rebuilding communities requires an actionable approach to explicitly translate the concept of resilience into postdisaster recovery planning. Through clustering analysis using project titles and project summary, 940 resilience projects are grouped into infrastructure prototypes, economic development prototypes, housing prototypes, and environmental prototypes among the Hurricane Matthew Resilient Redevelopment Plans. This research evaluated the characteristics of all prototypes based on the robustness-rapidity-inclusiveness framework. It also assessed the economic and environmental impacts, community involvement, and governance of identified prototypes. By posing a series of questions for practitioners, this research is a starting point for practitioners to build resilience in postdisaster recovery planning.
Psychological Reactions to Different Types of Gender-Based Violence in Women Survivors of Violence in the Context of a Developing Country
Authors: Akter Farzana , Deeba Farah
Published: October 2021

Literature on the psychological effects on women survivors of violence (WSV) suggests there may be a relationship between the specific type of gender-based violence and patterns in the development of mental health consequences. Understanding these relationships would support early targeted (or early specialist) intervention. Since violence against women in families is a common social health problem in developing countries, the study attempted to explore the abuse specific reaction patterns within such a context. A total of 600 WSV ( mean age = 26.86, SD = 7.47) were recruited from different social service organizations working for WSV in Bangladesh. To identify the type of gender-based violence (i.e., physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and economic violence) experienced and psychiatric sequelae (i.e., post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse) in WSV, multiple reliable and valid measures were used. The results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that amongst the various different types of violence, only psychological, sexual, and economic violence have a significant independent predictive ability on PTSD, anxiety, and depression in the Bangladeshi WSV. Violence related factors such as witnessing violence in childhood among parents and history of childhood abuse had the unique predictive ability on suicidal ideation and substance abuse, respectively. Our result suggested that accepting physical and emotional abuse at any stage of life is very common for Bangladeshi women. This study suggested that non-physical forms of violence have the most significant independent predictive ability in the development of psychiatric symptoms. It is suggested that to develop appropriate support services for WSV within this socio-cultural context, further research is required which focuses on the psychological impact of non-physical forms of violence.
Gender and Legitimacy in Personal Service Occupations: The Case of End-of-Life Doulas and Death Midwives
Authors: Francis Ara A.
Published: October 2021

The emerging occupations of end-of-life doula and death midwife are part of a growing sector of personal service jobs. Designed to support, educate, and empower dying people and their loved ones, these new roles entail both the commodification of women’s unpaid labor and a repositioning of the paid work typically done by marginalized women. This study examines the identity talk of 19 occupational pioneers and focuses on the relationship between gender, class, race, and efforts to secure occupational legitimacy. Findings suggest that, in an effort to mitigate tensions stemming from the professionalization of feminized work, these pioneers strategically embrace a feminine occupational identity in ways that code their labor as White and middle class.
The Signaling Power of Unexcused Absence from School
Authors: Pyne Jaymes , Grodsky Eric , Vaade Elizabeth , McCready Bo , Camburn Eric , Bradley Dominique
Published: October 2021

State and national school accountability policies situate preventing chronic absenteeism on par with meeting state standardized test benchmarks. We question relying on school attendance as both a component of accountability policies and a means of enhancing equity in schools. Our research suggests out-of-school factors unrelated to missed instruction account for most of the associations between absences and test score achievement—with unexcused absences driving those associations. Excessive absences—and particularly unexcused absences—don’t harm students mainly through missed instruction. Instead, they reflect out-of-school harms students endure that have produced inequalities for years—and will continue to do so even if students show up or parents call in.
Determination of thermal degradation for high-performance thermoplastic composites manufactured by laser-assisted automated fibre placement
Authors: Zhao Dacheng , Liu Weiping , Yue Guangquan , Song Qinghua , Chen Jiping , Pan Lijian
Published: October 2021

In in situ consolidation of thermoplastic composites by laser-assisted automated fibre placement (AFP), high laser irradiation temperature can improve the fluidity of the resin matrix, which usually enhances the performances of composites. However, it leads to a tendency for thermal degradation as the resin matrix of the composites is exposed to high temperatures for a long time. The thermal degradation behaviours of continuous carbon fibre (CF)-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) composites during in situ consolidation by laser-assisted AFP were studied. A thermogravimetric analysis shows that the thermal degradation of CF/PPS composites is quite complex, with multi-step reactions. The thermal degradation of the composites was further analysed via kinetic methods. A thermal degradation kinetic model of the resin matrix was obtained and verified. According to the kinetic model, the thermal degradation of the composites under different placement conditions was predicted. The results were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. With the combination of the kinetic model, AFP in situ consolidation, and characterisation techniques, processing parameters such as laser irradiation temperature and placement speed can be adjusted and optimised.
Adaptive robust control of moving-target tracking for marching tank based on constraint following
Authors: Ma Yuze , Yang Guolai , Sun Qinqin , Wang Xiuye , Sun Quanzhao
Published: October 2021

This paper is devoted to the constraint-following scheme for the moving-target tracking control problem of tank on move. The mission of tank on the battlefield is to find and shoot the armored vehicle, both conditions are required to accomplish this task: complete the process from finding a moving target (time-varying constraints) to pointing to it; keep the barrel stable under highly nonlinear disturbance (which is caused by the battlefield environment). Considering modeling uncertainty and initial condition deviation, an adaptive robust strategy based on Udwadia-Kalaba scheme is presented to solve the matters of target tracking and stable following. Considering the limitation of the analytical model, a tracking system model and a target movement model are built in virtual prototyping environment, complicated road condition, and real target motion state are restored by this method. The model-based control system and the three-dimensional model are combined to verify the feasibility of the control algorithm by the method of RecurDyn/Matlab. By this way, the barrel responds and follows the movement of the target stably within [Formula: see text] s under the action of the stabilization system, and the constraints are approximately satisfied under complex perturbations.
Historical environmental changes in the Poyang Lake basin (Yangtze River, China) and impacts on agricultural activities
Authors: He Maofeng , Bu Fengxian , Delang Claudio O , Xie Jialin , Ye Quan , Zhao Hongfei , He Qilin , He Wenming
Published: October 2021

Climate change and human activities have been an important part of studies regarding historical environmental changes in China over the past 2000 years. In this study, we focused on environmental changes, that is, natural disasters and human activities, in the Poyang Lake Basin over the past 2000 years, to analyze interactions between land use cover changes and human activities from the perspective of regional sustainable development. We collected historical records of climate and hydrology, floods and droughts, and rivers and lakes in the Poyang Lake area, and established time sequences for the floods and droughts, lake water level and lake area, amount of farming land, and population, in order to discuss interactions between changes in the environment and the climate, with emphasis on the impacts of extreme events on lake and river basin environment changes. The following results were obtained. First, climate changes in historical periods had wide-ranging and far-reaching impacts on agricultural production, especially disasters caused by climate change. Among the changes in the Poyang Lake basin environment, including river network systems, lake water levels, etc., changes in lake water volume are direct evidence of climate change, adaptation to climate change, and obvious phased characteristics. Second, in the process of changes to the lake and river network in the Poyang Lake Basin, social and economic development is accompanied by evolution of the lake. Increases and decreases in population, the scale of agricultural production, and lake environment changes have direct and significant interactions. Third, the Poyang Lake basin’s environmental changes during the historical period are mainly reflected in the pressure feedback mode of “population–agriculture” in the lake environment.
Beamforming using non-equidistant linear array for acoustic source localization
Authors: Gao Qiang , Jeon Jun Young , Park Gyuhae , Kong Yeseul , Shen Yunde , Xiang Jiawei
Published: October 2021

Beamforming is widely used in structural health monitoring (SHM) systems for impact or damage localization. Beamforming directionality is achieved by the constructive interference of sensor wavefronts, which results in a significant amplification of the measured signal in a particular direction. For beamforming applications, the cost per sensor is typically significant, because of the sensor itself, and the associated electronics. Therefore, in order to minimize the cost of SHM in practice, it is highly desirable to reduce the number of sensors. Beamforming with an array of sensors requires an advanced signal processing technique to detect the direction-of-arrival (DOA). In addition, by deploying more sensors, better detection accuracy can be achieved. In this paper, the non-equidistant linear sensor array is proposed, to obtain lower costs while guaranteeing reasonable detection accuracy. In addition, the proposed sensor deployment scheme is able to reduce the effects of “spatial aliasing,” which phenomenon is typically encountered in the equidistant linear sensor array layout. To validate the performance of the proposed non-equidistant linear array technique in SHM applications, several finite element models (FEM) simulation and experimental investigations are carried out. Different sensor array layouts are also compared to optimize the performance of the non-equidistant linear array.
The maximum entropy method for data fusion and uncertainty quantification in multifunctional materials and structures
Authors: Gao Wei , Miles Paul R , Smith Ralph C , Oates William S
Published: October 2021

The quantification of uncertainty in intelligent material systems and structures requires methods to objectively compare complex models to measurements, where the majority of cases include multiple model outputs and quantities of interests given multiphysics coupling. This creates questions about constructing appropriate measures of uncertainty during fusion of data and comparisons between data and models. Novel materials with complex or poorly understood coupling can benefit from advanced statistical analysis to judge models in light of multiphysics data. Here, we apply the Maximum Entropy (ME) method to more complicated ferroelectric single crystals containing domain structures and soft electrostrictive membranes under both mechanical and electrical loading. Multiple quantities of interest are considered, which requires fusing heterogeneous information together when quantifying the uncertainty of lower fidelity models. We find that parameters, which were initially unidentifiable using a single quantity of interest, become identifiable using multiple quantities of interest. We also show that posterior densities may broaden or narrow when multiple data sets are fused together. This is likely due to conflict or agreement, respectively, between the different quantities of interest and the multiple model outputs. Such information is important to advance our predictions of intelligent materials and structures from multi-model inputs and heterogeneous data.
Openness to Experience and the Career Adaptability of Refugees: How Do Career Optimism and Family Social Support Matter?
Authors: Newman Alexander , Dunwoodie Karen , Jiang Zhou , Nielsen Ingrid
Published: October 2021

The present study examines the antecedents of the career adaptability of people from a refugee background. Drawing on career construction theory, it specifically examines whether openness to experience fosters career adaptability through enhancing career optimism. In addition, it examines whether family social support moderates the relationship between openness to experience and career optimism, and moderates the mediated relationship between openness to experience and career adaptability through career optimism. Analysis of three waves of data from people from a refugee background seeking employment in metropolitan Australia found support for the hypothesized relationships. In particular, career optimism was found to fully mediate the relationship between openness to experience and career adaptability. In addition, family social support was found to substitute for low levels of openness to experience.
Association of First Metatarsal Pronation Correction With Patient-Reported Outcomes and Recurrence Rates in Hallux Valgus
Authors: Conti Matthew S. , Patel Tamanna J. , Zhu Jiaqi , Elliott Andrew J. , Conti Stephen F. , Ellis Scott J.
Published: October 2021

Background:

The purpose of this study was to determine if a postoperative decrease in first metatarsal pronation on 3-dimensional imaging was associated with changes in patient-reported outcomes as measured by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) physical function, pain interference, and pain intensity domains or recurrence rates in patients with hallux valgus (HV) who undergo a first tarsometatarsal fusion (modified Lapidus procedure).

Methods:

Thirty-nine consecutive HV patients who met the inclusion criteria and underwent a modified Lapidus procedure had preoperative and ≥2-year postoperative PROMIS scores and had first metatarsal pronation measured on preoperative and at least 5-month postoperative weightbearing CT scans were included. Multivariable regression analyses were used to investigate differences in the change in PROMIS domains preoperatively and 2 years postoperatively between patients with “no change/increased first metatarsal pronation” and “decreased first metatarsal pronation.” A log-binomial regression analysis was performed to identify if a decrease in first metatarsal pronation was associated with recurrence of the HV deformity.

Results:

The decreased first metatarsal pronation group had a significantly greater improvement in the PROMIS physical function scale by 7.2 points ( P = .007) compared with the no change/increased first metatarsal pronation group. Recurrence rates were significantly lower in the decreased first metatarsal pronation group when compared to the no change/increased first metatarsal pronation group (risk ratio 0.25, P = .025).

Conclusion:

Detailed review of this limited cohort of patients who underwent a modified Lapidus procedure suggests that the rotational component of the HV deformity may play an important role in outcomes and recurrence rates following the modified Lapidus procedure.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Meeting the Challenges in Cancer Care Management During the SARS-Cov-2 Pandemic: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Rasschaert Marika , Vanclooster Pieterjan , Depauw Laura , Mertens Tim , Roelant Ella , Coenen Elke , Anguille Sebastien , Janssens Annelies , Van Dam Peter , Peeters Marc
Published: October 2021

Background

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has overwhelmed the capacity of healthcare systems worldwide. Cancer patients, in particular, are vulnerable and oncology departments drastically needed to modify their care systems and established new priorities. We evaluated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the activity of a single cancer center.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of (i) volumes of oncological activities (2020 vs 2019), (ii) patients’ perception rate of the preventive measures, (iii) patients’ SARS-CoV-2 infections, clinical signs thereof, and (iv) new diagnoses made during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Results

As compared with a similar time frame in 2019, the overall activity in total numbers of outpatient chemotherapy administrations and specialist visits was not statistically different ( P = .961 and P = .252), while inpatient admissions decreased for both medical oncology and thoracic oncology (18% ( P = .0018) and 44% ( P < .0001), respectively). Cancer diagnosis plummeted (−34%), but no stage shift could be demonstrated. Acceptance and adoption of hygienic measures was high, as measured by a targeted questionnaire (>85%). However, only 46.2% of responding patients regarded telemedicine, although widely deployed, as an efficient surrogate to a consultation. Thirty-three patients developed SARS-CoV-2, 27 were hospitalized, and 11 died within this time frame. These infected patients were younger, current smokers, and suffered more comorbidities.

Conclusions

This retrospective cohort analysis adds to the evidence that continuation of active cancer therapy and specialist visits is feasible and safe with the implementation of telemedicine. These data further confirm the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on cancer care management, cancer diagnosis, and impact of infection on cancer patients.
Impact of Breast Tumor Onset on Blood Count, Carcinoembryonic Antigen, Cancer Antigen 15-3 and Lymphoid Subpopulations Supported by Automatic Classification Approach: A Pilot Study
Authors: Baselice Simona , Castaldo Rossana , Giannatiempo Rosa , Casaretta Giovanni , Franzese Monica , Salvatore Marco , Mirabelli Peppino
Published: October 2021

Background

Recent observations showed that systemic immune changes are detectable in case of breast cancer (BC). In this preliminary study, we investigated routinely measured peripheral blood (PB) parameters for malignant BC cases in comparison to benign breast conditions. Complete blood count, circulating lymphoid subpopulation, and serological carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) levels were considered.

Methods

A total of 127 female patients affected by malignant (n = 77, mean age = 63 years, min = 36, max = 90) BC at diagnosis (naïve patients) or benign breast conditions (n = 50, mean age = 33 years, min = 18, max = 60) were included in this study. For each patient, complete blood count and lymphoid subpopulations (T-helper, T-cytotoxic, B-, NK-, and NKT-cells) analysis on PB samples were performed. Hormonal receptor status, Ki-67 expression, and serological CEA and CA15-3 levels were assessed in the case of patients with malignant BC via statistical analysis.

Results

Women with malignant BC disclosed increased circulating T-helper lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio in PB when compared to those affected by benign breast conditions (2.345 vs 1.894, P < .05 Wilcoxon rank-sum test). In the case of malignant BC patients, additive logistic regression method was able to identify malignant BC cases with increased CA15-3 levels (CA15-3 >25 UI/mL) via the hematocrit and neutrophils/lymphocytes ratio values. Moreover, in the case of women with aggressive malignant BC featured by high levels of Ki-67 proliferation marker, an increasing number of correlations were found among blood count parameters and lymphocytes subpopulations by performing a Spearman’s correlation analysis.

Conclusions

This preliminary study confirms the ability of malignant BC to determine systemic modifications. The stratification of malignant BC cases according to the Ki-67 proliferation marker highlighted increasing detectable alterations in the periphery of women with aggressive BC. The advent of novel and more sensitive biomarkers, as well as deep immunophenotyping technologies, will provide additional insights for describing the relationship between tumor onset and peripheral alterations.
Nomogram Incorporating Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasonography Predicting Time to the Development of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Zhao Yun-xin , Yao Guang-li , Sun Jian , Wang Xiao-lian , Wang Ying , Cai Qiu-qiong , Kang Hui-li , Gu Li-ping , Yu Jia-shun , Li Wen-min , Zhang Bei , Wang Jian , Mei Jiang-jun , Jiang Yi
Published: October 2021

Background:

It is valuable to predict the time to the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa). This study aimed to build and validate a nomogram incorporating the clinicopathologic characteristics and the parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) to predict the time to CRPC after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

Methods:

Patients with PCa were divided into the training (n = 183) and validation cohorts (n = 37) for nomogram construction and validation. The clinicopathologic characteristics and CEUS parameters were analyzed to determine the independent prognosis factors and serve as the basis of the nomogram to estimate the risk of 1-, 2-, and 3-year progress to CRPC.

Results:

T stage, distant metastasis, Gleason score, area under the curve (AUC), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) nadir, and time to PSA nadir were the independent predictors of CRPC (all P < 0.05). Three nomograms were built to predict the time to CRPC. Owing to the inclusion of CEUS parameter, the discrimination of the established nomogram (C-index: 0.825 and 0.797 for training and validation datasets) was improved compared with the traditional prediction model (C-index: 0.825 and 0.797), and when it excluded posttreatment PSA, it still obtained an acceptable discrimination (C-index: 0.825 and 0.797).

Conclusions:

The established nomogram including regular prognostic indicators and CEUS obtained an improved accuracy for the prediction of the time to CRPC. It was also applicable for early prediction of CRPC when it excluded posttreatment PSA, which might be helpful for individualized diagnosis and treatment.
Prediction of multiple sclerosis outcomes when switching to ocrelizumab
Authors: Zhong Michael , van der Walt Anneke , Stankovich Jim , Kalincik Tomas , Buzzard Katherine , Skibina Olga , Boz Cavit , Hodgkinson Suzanne , Slee Mark , Lechner-Scott Jeannette , Macdonell Richard , Prevost Julie , Kuhle Jens , Laureys Guy , Van Hijfte Liesbeth , Alroughani Raed , Kermode Allan G , Butler Ernest , Barnett Michael , Eichau Sara , van Pesch Vincent , Grammond Pierre , McCombe Pamela , Karabudak Rana , Duquette Pierre , Girard Marc , Taylor Bruce , Yeh Wei , Monif Mastura , Gresle Melissa , Butzkueven Helmut , Jokubaitis Vilija G
Published: October 2021

Background:

Increasingly, people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) are switched to highly effective disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) such as ocrelizumab.

Objective:

To determine predictors of relapse and disability progression when switching from another DMT to ocrelizumab.

Methods:

Patients with RRMS who switched to ocrelizumab were identified from the MSBase Registry and grouped by prior disease-modifying therapy (pDMT; interferon-β/glatiramer acetate, dimethyl fumarate, teriflunomide, fingolimod or natalizumab) and washout duration (<1 month, 1–2 months or 2–6 months). Survival analyses including multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify predictors of on-ocrelizumab relapse within 1 year, and 6-month confirmed disability progression (CDP).

Results:

After adjustment, relapse hazard when switching from fingolimod was greater than other pDMTs, but only in the first 3 months of ocrelizumab therapy (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.57–11.11, p = 0.004). The adjusted hazard for CDP was significantly higher with longer washout (2–6 m compared to <1 m: HR = 9.57, 95% CI = 1.92–47.64, p = 0.006).

Conclusion:

The risk of disability worsening during switch to ocrelizumab is reduced by short treatment gaps. Patients who cease fingolimod are at heightened relapse risk in the first 3 months on ocrelizumab. Prospective evaluation of strategies such as washout reduction may help optimise this switch.
Mechanical and thermal performance of additively manufactured copper, silver and copper–silver alloys
Authors: Robinson John , Arjunan Arun , Baroutaji Ahmad , Stanford Mark
Published: October 2021

On-demand additive manufacturing (three-dimensional printing) offers great potential for the development of functional materials for the next generation of energy-efficient devices. In particular, novel materials suitable for efficient dissipation of localised heat fluxes and non-uniform thermal loads with superior mechanical performance are critical for the accelerated development of future automotive, aerospace and renewable energy technologies. In this regard, this study reports the laser powder bed fusion processing of high purity (>99%) copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and novel copper–silver (CuAg) alloys ready for on-demand additive manufacturing. The processed materials were experimentally analysed for their relative density, mechanical and thermal performance using X-ray computed tomography, destructive tensile testing and laser flash apparatus, respectively. It was found that while Ag featured higher failure strains, Cu in comparison showed a 109%, 17% and 59% improvement in yield strength ([Formula: see text]), Young’s modulus ( E) and ultimate tensile strength, respectively. As such the [Formula: see text], E and ultimate tensile strength for laser powder bed fusion Cu is comparable to commercially available laser powder bed fusion Cu materials. CuAg alloys, however, significantly outperformed Ag, Cu and all commercial Cu materials when it came to mechanical performance offering significantly superior performance. The [Formula: see text], E and ultimate tensile strength for the novel CuAg composition were 105%, 33% and 94% higher in comparison to Cu. Although slightly different, the trend continued with a 106% and 91% rise for [Formula: see text] and ultimate tensile strength, respectively, for CuAg in comparison to industry-standard Cu. Unfortunately, E values for industry-standard Cu alloys were not available. When it came to thermal performance, laser powder bed fusion Ag was found to offer a 70% higher thermal diffusivity in comparison to Cu despite the variation in density and porosity. CuAg alloys however only showed a 0.8% variation in thermal performance despite a 10–30% increase in Ag. Overall, the study presents a new understanding regarding the three-dimensional printing and performance of Cu, Ag and CuAg alloys.
Unemployment insurance in the Global South since 1950: Drivers of policy adoption
Authors: Obinger Herbert , Schmitt Carina
Published: October 2021

Until 1945, Western countries were the only ones to have introduced unemployment insurance programs. Since their adoption was extremely controversial, almost all Western nations introduced income support for the unemployed only in the wake of national emergencies such as war and economic depression. This article examines the determinants of program adoption in the Global South, which commenced after the Second World War. With the exception of military conflict, we find that the introduction of unemployment insurance was shaped by factors deviating from the driving forces of program adoption in the Western world. More specifically, we provide evidence that international factors such as war, the activities of the ILO and policy diffusion were more important than domestic factors.
On staying: Extended temporalities, relationships and practices in community engaged scholarship
Authors: Mason Will
Published: October 2021

This article examines the complexity and affordances of staying in ‘the field’. Time as a resource for qualitative research is widely experienced as diminishing. Yet increasingly, academic emphasis is also being placed on the merits of time intensive approaches, like participatory scholarship. This tension raises critical questions about the ethics and practices of collaboration within arguably narrowing parameters. Taking a view from the edges of conventional research practice, this article focuses on staying beyond the formal completion of a sociological research project. Drawing on over 10-years of collaboration with youth service providers in an English city, I examine the dynamics and complexities of staying, where temporalities, relationships and practices extend beyond research. In doing so, this article contributes to methodological debates about research exit and participation, by introducing staying as a practice that affords new collaborative freedoms and possibilities.
The Imperative Need for Criminological Research on the European Roma: A Narrative Review
Authors: Molnar Lorena
Published: October 2021

Except for the knowledge that the Roma people endure harsh conditions and are victims of discrimination, scarce criminological research has given detailed attention to further victimisation or offending among the Romanies. Identifying articles in the browsers Web of Science, Google Scholar and Google, we reviewed European publications (1997–2020) in English, French, Romanian or Spanish that addressed the Roma’s victimisation or offending. The 44 studies that matched our criteria suggested that (1) Roma people are victims of hate crimes with devastating consequences; (2) Roma children and women are victims of domestic violence to a greater degree than other groups, although the Roma tend to oppose violence against women; (3) forced early marriages exist among some Romanies and may cause serious problems in adulthood; (4) youth delinquency among the Roma does not differ from that of the non-Roma, although Roma adolescents face more deprivation; (5) Roma men and women are overrepresented in prison and face many difficulties in re-entering society once they are released and (6) there are organised criminal activities in some Roma groups that are supported by their community. Further rigorous post-positivist research, particularly quantitative, is needed to generalise the findings and replicate former studies. Areas of special interest are the causes of anti-Roma discrimination other than ethnicity, the victimisation of children, the Roma’s lack of institutional trust and the relation between victimisation and offending. Conducting comparisons with the general population is essential, and we propose that victims’ surveys and self-reported delinquency studies include questions on ethnicity.