bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Route to Graduation: An Exploration of the Association Between Transit Stop Proximity and Pell Recipient Completion Rates at US Commuter Colleges
Authors: Capaldi Matthew J.
Published: March 2023

This study explores the association between having a transit stop within walking distance of campus and Pell Grant recipient completion rates at US commuter institutions, using a novel dataset on transit stop locations and institutional level data. The findings indicate that there is a positive association between transit access and Pell completion rates at commuter colleges in urban environments, but not in non-urban environments, which aligns with theoretical expectations. This study is intended to bring the issue of transit access into the academic student retention conversation, future research is needed to explore the nature of this relationship in greater depth.
Postprocedural Management in Patients After Percutaneous Deep Venous Arterialization: An Expert Opinion
Authors: Huizing Eline , Schreve Michiel A. , Kum Steven , de Borst Gert J. , de Vries Jean-Paul P. M. , Ünlü Çağdaş
Published: March 2023

Deep venous arterialization (DVA) is a new and developing technique with promising outcomes. The DVA procedure can be performed surgically in a hybrid fashion or percutaneously. Over the last years, the hybrid and percutaneous techniques have been further developed and have become a focus of many DVA studies. Between 2017 and 2021, 5 different percutaneous deep venous arterialization (pDVA) techniques, and 2 hybrid procedures have been investigated. In total, 9 cohort studies and 2 case reports have been performed to evaluate their outcomes. Understandably, these studies mainly focused on the technique, patency, and outcomes after DVA. However, postprocedural management can be as challenging as the procedure itself but has not been a priority for further investigation. This review summarizes the different techniques proposed, and the follow-up care provided in literature. Follow-up care includes postoperative medication, edema occurrence and treatment, pain management, patency assessment, reintervention techniques, a staged amputation strategy if necessary, and appropriate wound care. Evidence from literature and own clinical experience was combined to provide recommendations for care after DVA.

Clinical Impact

After percutaneous deep venous arterialization (pDVA), the created arteriovenous circuit needs time to develop. Postprocedural care in patients after pDVA is essential in order to create optimal conditions for maturation of the circuit, and thus save the limb. However, current literature mainly focusses on the procedure itself, making postprocedural care an underexposed topic. Therefore, this study presents an overview of the available literature of postprocedural care of pDVA patients and provides recommendations based on expert opinion when current knowledge is limited.
Mapping the Judicialization of Politics: A Reflection on Methodological Issues in Writing a Social Science Review Paper
Authors: Kawar Leila
Published: March 2023

The research process of authoring a review paper constitutes a uniquely important context for interrogating tacit premises and presuppositions, especially when the review aspires to synthesize a methodologically diverse field of research. This article presents a reflexive recounting of a research experience with mixed methods team-based review paper authorship, showing how the function of a review paper may be differently conceptualized by scholars situated in methodological traditions that place their emphasis on drawing-together knowledge about the social world versus those situated in methodological traditions whose primary aim is to unpack accepted categories. The analysis thus offers insights into dimensions of methodological difference as they operate in practice, while underscoring the significance of reflexivity in the review paper context for purposes of advancing meaningfully inclusive maps of an intellectual community’s self-understanding(s).
Prevalence and risk factors of phlebosclerosis in the great saphenous vein
Authors: Tepelenis Kostas , Papathanakos Georgios , Kitsouli Aikaterini , Barbouti Alexandra , Varvarousis Dimitrios N , Kefalas Athanasios A , Anastasopoulos Nikolaos , Paraskevas Georgios , Kanavaros Panagiotis
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Phlebosclerosis is a fibrous degeneration of the vein wall, predominantly the intima, with or without calcification. The prevalence and etiology of phlebosclerosis of the great saphenous vein are not well documented. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and define the risk factors of phlebosclerosis of the great saphenous vein.

Methods

The study was conducted on 300 volunteers who underwent duplex ultrasound. Volunteers with symptoms and signs of acute or chronic venous disease or known varicose veins, thrombosis, chronic vein insufficiency, and any operation in the lower extremities were excluded. The imaging hallmarks of phlebosclerosis include wall brightness, calcification, and increased wall thickness. Demographics of the volunteers (sex, age, weight, and height), Body Mass Index (BMI) and the presence of smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia were recorded. Data obtained were consolidated and statistically evaluated using SPSS Version 16.

Results

Of the 300 volunteers who underwent duplex ultrasound, 60.3% were females, and 39.7% were males. The mean age was 60 ± 13, while the mean BMI was 26.01 ± 4.76. Moreover, 66.3% were non-smokers, and 62.3%, 81.3%, and 58.7% did not suffer from hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, respectively. The prevalence of phlebosclerosis was found to be 2.3%. Hypertension was a risk factor for the development of phlebosclerosis ( p = 0.045). Moreover, there was a link between phlebosclerosis and age, as volunteers with phlebosclerosis were older than volunteers without phlebosclerosis (74.2 vs 59.11 years, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The prevalence of phlebosclerosis of the great saphenous vein is low, specifically 2.3%. Hypertension and increased age are risk factors for the development of phlebosclerosis. Both sexes are equally affected, while BMI, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia do not contribute to the development of phlebosclerosis.
International students in the lesser-known part of Asia: The mosaic of experiences in a Vietnamese higher education institution
Authors: Kim Khanh Mai Thi , Ngoc Chau Huy
Published: March 2023

The quest for global ranking has motivated higher education institutions (HEIs) in Vietnam to increase the number of international students in their enrolments. However, little is known about experiences of current international students in Vietnamese HEIs. This article offers a mosaic of international student experiences (ISE) in a Vietnamese-taught course offered by a Vietnamese university. The data show that teaching staffs play a crucial role in the satisfaction of international students, however, services and physical facilities are areas that need significant improvement. It also discusses other interactive aspects of ISE before presenting the case of an international student with disability to show how international mobility, aspiration, and personal determination can navigate him through a journey that was nothing short of extraordinary. This article is also to answer the recent scholarly call for a more geographically diverse and transformation-centred ISE literature, which is believed to remain relevant in the future.
Postcoital bleeding
Authors: Ahmed Naila
Published: March 2023

Postcoital bleeding (PCB) is defined as any bleeding or spotting unrelated to menstruation that occurs during or after sexual intercourse. It is a relatively common complaint presenting to general practice, and can sometimes prove challenging to diagnose and manage, due to the number of conditions that can cause PCB. It can cause a lot of distress to the patients, as many will associate such bleeding to a malignant cause. At the same time, some patients will take it lightly and present late. There are no current national guidelines in the UK for PCB, which may contribute to inconsistencies in investigation and management. There are many common and uncommon causes of PCB. This article will explore these with the help of a clinical scenario. An aid to diagnosis and management will be discussed.
The modern classroom chair: Exploring the ‘coercive design’ of contemporary schooling
Authors: Selwyn Neil
Published: March 2023

This paper explores the role of material design as a form of institutional power within contemporary school settings. Drawing on concepts of ‘coercive design’ and ‘hostile architecture’ from design studies, the paper examines three ‘innovative’ designs for classroom chairs – relatively mundane but integral elements of the regulation and disciplining of school space. It is argued that the design intentions of these material objects reveal a number of constrained, conservative intentions to maintain the traditional ordered notion of the classroom as a place where students stay in their seats and engage in work. Tellingly, however, this corporeal manipulation and moderation is now couched in claims around desirable physiological and cognitive conditions for learning – with students’ bodies seen as objects to arrange and constrain in ways deemed conducive for learning. The paper problematises this de-socialised view of classrooms, alongside the underpinning sense of design solutionism and (mis)appropriation of ‘learning science’ by product designers to justify their products’ capacities to somehow cause learning to take place.
An ambivalent story: Queer children’s literature in Israel between 1986 and 2022
Authors: Rudin Shai
Published: March 2023

Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, only 23 Queer literary works have been published for children and adolescents in Hebrew. This paper examines the characteristics of these works in light of the ambivalent and controversial status of the LGBTQ+ community in Israel. The findings show that the few works that have been published and that present same-sex families or LGBTQ+ characters, and the manner in which Queer themes are presented in those texts, are in line with how these issues are perceived and addressed by Israeli society. Moreover, this article divides the Queer Israeli literature for children and youth into three categories: implied Queer literature that hides the Queer existence through the allegoric genre; Queer-phobic literature that seemingly presents the Queer family but in actual fact promotes homophobic stereotypes; and Queer literature that places the LGBTQ+ character or family in the center of the story without passing judgment or criticism.
The Protective Effect of Lycium barbarum Betaine and Effervescent Tablet Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Rats
Authors: Zhai Yuqing , Tang Huaqiang , Zhang Qunhui , Peng Yanfeng , Zhao Linlin , Zhang Benyin , Yang Yongjing , Ma Jing , Zhu Ji , Zhang Dejun
Published: March 2023

The liver is essential for animals and humans. Because of their low side effects and high safety, natural products have recently become a research hotspot for human health-related issues that can damage the liver. In this study, we investigated the protective effects in rats of Lycium barbarum betaine (LBB) and Lycium barbarum betaine Effervescent Tablet (LBBET) against liver injury caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The results showed that LBB and LBBET pretreatment significantly reduced the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase, as well as the liver tissue levels of malondialdehyde. Meanwhile, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase levels were significantly increased in liver tissues. In addition, LBB and LBBET may effectively alleviate CCl4-induced liver injury by a mechanism related to the activation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, LBB and LBBET may serve as potential mitigators of CCl4-induced liver injury. Effervescent Tablet can be used as either a new formulation or practical product for patients who have difficulty swallowing regular tablets or capsules. This study provides a basis and new ideas for the development of functional foods or drugs related to the field of liver protection.
The Variability of Recovery From Pediatric Concussion Using Multimodal Clinical Definitions
Authors: Corwin Daniel J. , Metzger Kristina B. , McDonald Catherine C. , Pfeiffer Melissa R. , Arbogast Kristy B. , Master Christina L.
Published: March 2023

Background:

While concussions are common pediatric injuries, a lack of agreement on a standard definition of recovery creates multiple challenges for clinicians and researchers alike.

Hypothesis:

The percentage of concussed youth deemed recovered as part of a prospective cohort study will differ depending on the recovery definition.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiologic study of a prospectively enrolled observational cohort

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Methods:

Participants aged 11 to 18 years were enrolled from the concussion program of a tertiary care academic center. Data were collected from initial and follow-up clinical visits ≤12 weeks from injury. A total of 10 recovery definitions were assessed: (1) cleared to full return to sports; (2) return to full school; (3) self-reported return to normal; (4) self-reported full return to school; (5) self-reported full return to exercise; (6) symptom return to preinjury state; (7) complete symptom resolution; (8) symptoms below standardized threshold; (9) no abnormal visio-vestibular examination (VVE) elements; and (10) ≤1 abnormal VVE assessments.

Results:

In total, 174 participants were enrolled. By week 4, 63.8% met at least 1 recovery definition versus 78.2% by week 8 versus 88.5% by week 12. For individual measures of recovery at week 4, percent recovered ranged from 5% by self-reported full return to exercise to 45% for ≤1 VVE abnormality (similar trends at 8 and 12 weeks).

Conclusion:

There is wide variability in the proportion of youth considered recovered at various points following concussion depending on the definition of recovery, with higher proportions using physiologic examination-based measures and lower proportions using patient-reported measures.

Clinical Relevance:

These results further emphasize the need for a multimodal assessment of recovery by clinicians as a single and standardized definition of recovery that captures the broad impact of concussion on a given patient continues to be elusive.
Reduced Match Exposure in the Previous 2 Matches Accounts for Hamstring Muscle Injury Incidence in Professional Football Players
Authors: Moreno-Pérez Víctor , Del Coso Juan , López-Del Campo Roberto , Resta Ricardo , Romero-Sangüesa José , Courel-Ibáñez Javier , Méndez-Villanueva Alberto
Published: March 2023

Background:

Hamstring strain injuries are one of the most prevalent injuries in football (soccer). We examined the influence of accumulated match-play exposure on the occurrence of hamstring strain injury in professional football from 2 teams (Spanish 1st Division, LaLiga) over 3 seasons, and determined specific cut-off points as indicators of injury risk.

Hypothesis:

Overloaded players would be more likely to sustain a hamstring injury.

Study Design:

Prospective, controlled, observational study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 2b.

Methods:

Playing time, total running distance, and high-speed running (>24 km/h) distance during official matches of players that sustained a hamstring injury were compared with uninjured, paired controls. Cumulative playing time and running performance of 4 matches before the injury was computed. Relative risk (RR) of injury occurrence was estimated by generalized estimating equations. Diagnostic accuracy was determined by receiver operating characteristics and the area under the curve.

Results:

Thirty-seven hamstring strain injuries occurred, representing 23 ± 18 absence days per injury. Thirty-seven controls (uninjured players) were used as comparators. Low match-play exposures during 1 and 2 matches before injury were likely to explain injury occurrence (RR: 14-53%; P < 0.01). Metrics from the match before the hamstring muscle strain demonstrated the best accuracy to predict injury occurrence: high-speed running distance ≤328 m (sensitivity, 64%; specificity, 84%), playing time ≤64 min (sensitivity, 36%; specificity, 97%), and running distance ≤5.8 km (sensitivity, 39%; specificity, 97%).

Conclusion:

Relatively reduced competitive exposure in the previous 2 matches was associated with higher hamstring injury risk in professional football players.

Clinical Relevance:

Screening simple metrics such as the accumulated match exposure during official matches and considering specific cut-off points for some running variables may be good indicators of injury risk and may assist in better individual injury management in professional soccer players.
A Scoping Review of Artificial Intelligence Research in Rhinology
Authors: Osie Gabriel , Darbari Kaul Rhea , Alvarado Raquel , Katsoulotos Gregory , Rimmer Janet , Kalish Larry , Campbell Raewyn G. , Sacks Raymond , Harvey Richard J.
Published: March 2023

Background

A considerable volume of possible applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of rhinology exists, and research in the area is rapidly evolving.

Objective

This scoping review aims to provide a brief overview of all current literature on AI in the field of rhinology. Further, it aims to highlight gaps in the literature for future rhinology researchers.

Methods

OVID MEDLINE (1946-2022) and EMBASE (1974-2022) were searched from January 1, 2017 until May 14, 2022 to identify all relevant articles. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist was used to guide the review.

Results

A total of 2420 results were identified of which 62 met the eligibility criteria. A further 17 articles were included through bibliography searching, for a total of 79 articles on AI in rhinology. Each year resulted in an increase in the number of publications, from 3 articles published in 2017 to 31 articles published in 2021. Articles were produced by authors from 22 countries with a relative majority coming from the USA (19%), China (19%), and South Korea (13%). Articles were placed into 1 of 5 categories: phenotyping/endotyping (n = 12), radiological diagnostics (n = 42), prognostication (n = 10), non-radiological diagnostics (n = 7), surgical assessment/planning (n = 8). Diagnostic or prognostic utility of the AI algorithms were rated as excellent (n = 29), very good (n = 25), good (n = 7), sufficient (n = 1), bad (n = 2), or was not reported/not applicable (n = 15).

Conclusions

AI is experiencing an increasingly significant role in rhinology research. Articles are showing high rates of diagnostic accuracy and are being published at an almost exponential rate around the world. Utilizing AI in radiological diagnosis was the most published topic of research, however, AI in rhinology is still in its infancy and there are several topics yet to be thoroughly explored.
The contributions of surface features and contour shapes to object slant perception
Authors: Niimi Ryosuke
Published: March 2023

Humans perceive 3D shapes even from 2D images. A slant can be perceived from images of slanted rectangular objects, which include texture gradients and linear perspective contours. How does the visual system integrate and utilize these pictorial depth cues? A new visual illusion that provides some insights into this issue was examined. A box-like object with disk figures drawn on its upper surface was rendered in a linear perspective image. The length of the object's upper surface side line was overestimated, probably due to the foreshortened disks serving as slant cues. This illusory effect occurred even when observers estimated the line length on the image plane, suggesting that the slant perception from the disks was mandatory. Five experiments revealed that multiple depth cues were utilized for the slant perception; the aspect ratio of the disks, texture gradients, trapezium/parallelogram contours, and the side surfaces of the box-like object. However, foreshortened disks outside the object were not utilized as depth cues. These results suggested that various depth cues belonging to the target object are integrated for the slant perception.
Placebo hypoalgesic and nocebo hyperalgesic effects in post-extraction patients—A cross sectional study
Authors: Sampath Kumar Suchithra , Bano Sidra , P Jagan
Published: March 2023

Background and objectives

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that affects people’s physical, mental, and social health. Patients at times present with postoperative pain with no clinical signs after the surgical dental procedures and adequate pharmacological management. This can be due to the amplified emotional component of the individual in their postoperative period. Hence, this study aimed to estimate the association between placebo, nocebo effects, and postoperative pain associated with tooth extraction procedures.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 301 patients attending the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery for tooth extraction. Preoperatively, the expected postoperative pain score was recorded using the “Numerical Rating Scale” (NRS), Anxiety and Depression were assessed using the “Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale” (HADS), and Patients’ expectancy regarding the treatment outcome was assessed using the “Credibility Expectancy Questionnaire” (CEQ). Observed postoperative pain scores at the 6th hour, 24th hour, and peak pain score of the day were recorded using the NRS.

Results

There were statistically significant associations ( p < 0.05) found between expected and observed postoperative pain, preoperative anxiety and observed postoperative pain, preoperative depression and observed postoperative pain, placebo, nocebo effects, and observed postoperative pain.

Interpretation and conclusion

Our study showed a strong association between these variables suggesting that post-extraction pain is a multifaceted condition wherein pain expectation, preoperative anxiety, depression, and expectancy regarding the treatment outcome should be scrutinized before the extraction procedure.
ADHDCoach—a virtual clinic for parents of children with ADHD: Development and usability study
Authors: Păsărelu Costina-Ruxandra , David Daniel , Dobrean Anca , Noje Alexandru , Roxana Șipoș , Predescu Elena
Published: March 2023

Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health problems in childhood. Despite the fact that evidence-based treatments exist, behavioral parent training programs are the gold standard in the care of children with ADHD, a significant percentage of parents of children with ADHD do not access such interventions. Internet-delivered interventions are effective for a range of mental health problems, however, there is limited research conducted on the efficacy of such interventions in the treatment of ADHD.

Objective: The aim of this study is to present the development and feasibility of an Internet-delivered intervention for parents of children with ADHD. Methods: The intervention was based on Behavioral Parent Training and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Participants were mental health specialists ( N = 16) and parents of children diagnosed with ADHD ( N = 24). Results: Our results indicated high usability and parental satisfaction with the intervention. Conclusion: In conclusion, an Internet-delivered intervention addressed to parents of children diagnosed with ADHD is a promising approach. Future research should investigate the efficacy of this Internet-delivered intervention in a randomized controlled trial.
State capacity, political competition and public goods provision: A cross-national comparative study
Authors: Shen Jiali
Published: March 2023

In the research on explaining public goods provision, political competition is usually linked with public goods provision and it is believed that political competition will have a positive or negative impact on public goods provision. However, others suggest that this relationship changes with the influence of other variables. This article which uses data analysis of 165 countries in 2013 to discuss the relationship between state capacity, political competition and public goods provision and its impact on public goods provision. The results show that public goods provision is good when there is only strong state capacity or a high level of political competition, or both. Then, the four cases of Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Laos are selected to illustrate the mechanism by which the interaction of state capacity and political competition affects public goods provision.
Intergenerational Support and Subjective Wellbeing of the Elderly in Mainland China: The Role of Perceived Health
Authors: Li Na , He Mang
Published: March 2023

The purpose was to examine the relationship between intergenerational support, perceived health and subjective wellbeing (SWB) of the elderly’ s in China, and what role perceived health played in this study. Based on data from Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) in 2017 ( N = 1,373), regression analysis was employed to test the mediation effects by software STATA17.0 and Macro PROCESS3.50. The regression results showed that intergenerational support including intergenerational support received and provided had a positive relationship with the elderly’s SWB. And perceived health was positively related to the elderly’s SWB in all models. Providing intergenerational support had a positive impact on the perceived health of elders, but receiving intergenerational support cannot significantly influence it. And the mediating role of perceived health was played in the relationship between the providing intergenerational support and the elderly’s SWB, rather than between the receiving intergenerational support and the elderly’s SWB. Although some limitations were there, the findings contributed to addressing theoretical gaps and giving references for the improvement of policies. Attention should be paid to the effect of intergenerational support on the elderly’s SWB.
A significant burden: A qualitative exploration of the experience of women living with fibroids in St. Kitts and Nevis
Authors: Begho Abi , Waterman Fanta
Published: March 2023

Background:

Our study aimed to understand the illness experience of women living in St Kitts and Nevis who have been affected by fibroids by utilising Leventhal’s commonsense model of illness.

Methods:

Upon receiving ethics approval, females aged between 18 and 55 who were currently a resident in St Kitts and Nevis and who had an experience with fibroids within the last 5 years were recruited to consent and complete 1-hour interviews during which they described the different ways in which fibroids affects them.

Results:

The interview guide incorporated the common-sense model; all interviews were 1:1 and a thematic analysis was conducted. The final sample consisted of 11 women, 10 from St Kitts and 1 from Nevis. Their ages ranged from 23 to 49, and the average age of participants was 39 years. Participants described their fibroids in generally negative terms and noted several physical, emotional, social and professional consequences as a result of their fibroid symptoms.

Conclusions:

Our study revealed the need for a clear strategy for managing patients with symptomatic fibroids—a strategy that includes regular monitoring of patients, good communication between doctor and patient and clear guidance on management for patients.
Evaluating the impact of water protection policy on urban growth: A case study of Jiaxing
Authors: Guan ChengHe , Gómez Jairo A , Tripathy Pratyush , Duque Juan C , Passos Santiago , Cheng Tong , Li Ying , Keith Michael
Published: March 2023

Source water protection can be a greater challenge in cities where the hydric resource is deeply embedded within a rapidly growing urban area. In these types of cities, the delimitation of protection areas along water resources, as one of the main mechanisms for water resource protection, has a direct impact on the way the urban form evolves. On the one hand, narrow protection areas may not be enough to guarantee that the built city does not affect water levels and quality. On the other hand, wide protection areas can result in a fragmented city, with low levels of accessibility and tendencies towards dispersed and disorderly growth. In this article we use the city of Jiaxing, China, as a case study to determine what the optimal size of water protection areas might be. For this, we use two urban growth models and simulate various urban growth scenarios between 2020 and 2040. The results indicate that a protection area of 400 m guarantees a good level of protection of the water resource and a sufficient availability of land that allows an efficient urban growth.
The Differential Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual Behavior of Eligible Couples in Urban and Rural India
Authors: Gupta Shibaji , Bhattacharya Saikat , Banerjee Rudradeep , Chakraborty Arup , Das Debasis , De Abhishek
Published: March 2023

Background:

Intimacy during sexual contact with a person with symptomatic or asymptomatic COVID-19 disease carries the risk of its transmission. COVID-19 has been therefore found to adversely impact the sexual behavior in people in various countries. A discussion on sexual health is often tabooed in India, leading to less research evidence from India.

Aim:

We tried to study and compare the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual behavior of urban- and rural-based eligible couples.

Methods:

Eligible couples were randomly selected from the urban and rural field practice area of a Medical College of West Bengal (India). They were interviewed using a data collection schedule for their sexual practices adopted during the pandemic. Urban vs rural sexual behavior was compared using chi-square test.

Results:

Majority didn’t report any change in sexual desire compared to prepandemic days. However, scope of sexual contact had significantly reduced among urbanites ( P = .036); fear of contracting COVID-19 during sexual intimacy was more among them as well ( P = .047). The rural respondents reported significantly higher desire for parenthood ( P = .018), though their contraceptive behavior was not significantly different from the urban counterparts. Many used means other than sexual intercourse for sexual gratification, which had remained similar to the prepandemic times.

Conclusion:

The sexual behavior of urban and rural participants was found to be significantly different on many fronts, probably due to better COVID-19 awareness among urban residents as well as other prevalent social stigma and restrictions that were less commonly encountered in rural participants.
Teen Pornography: An Emerging Mental Health Challenge
Authors: Chatterjee Surobhi , Kar Sujita Kumar
Published: March 2023

Exposure to pornography is not an uncommon and unusual phenomenon in the digital era, with teens being no exception. Exposure to pornography among teens may happen accidentally, out of curiosity, or intentionally to derive sexual excitement. Many individuals exposed to pornography may later develop pornography addiction. Most parents who are aware that their children view pornography are often worried about such behavior and sometimes seek help from mental health professionals. So, it can be certainly said that exposure to pornography among teens may cause significant distress in them and their parents. As pornography is a major source of sex education for a large number of teens, lots of myth and misguided information are harbored from watching pornography. This article focuses on the mental health aspects of pornography exposure among teens and the possible remedial measures.
Interpreting spatial struggles in the historical record: Indigenous urbanism and erasure in 20th-century Mexico
Authors: Denham Diana
Published: March 2023

This article explores a historical struggle for a right to the city in Oaxaca, Mexico, when a mostly Indigenous-run street market resisted an elite-led urban renewal campaign centered on removing the market from city center. Bringing this case of Indigenous urbanism from Latin America in conversation with work on Indigenous productions of space and the settler colonial city mainly produced in Anglophone contexts, it demonstrates the utility of concepts central to settler colonial theory “dispossession and erasure” for the Latin American urban context. It does so through an exploration of the possibilities and limitations of discourse analysis as an interpretive strategy for uncovering the racial dynamics of such socio-spatial struggles using state archives in Mexico during a time period for which racial identifiers were rarely used. The article shows the dispossession of Indigenous lands and lifeways as not only foundational to the colonial city but also ongoing, produced through different mechanisms in different historical moments. At the same time, by foregrounding an Indigenous struggle against peripheralization and erasure, the project is shown to be perpetually incomplete.
Tackling educational inequality: Lessons from London schools
Authors: Demie Feyisa
Published: March 2023

This research paper explores the lessons from London schools in driving school improvement and addressing inequalities. Drawing upon evidence from trend attainment data by ethnic background, a literature review of academic research, the London Challenge, Ofsted and London Local Authorities publications, and case studies of schools, the paper will identify areas of good practice that contribute to raising achievement in London schools. The overall findings showed that attainment at GCSE (General Certificate for Secondary Education) has risen much faster in London than nationally since the London Challenge school improvement programme was launched to improve outcome. There are several reasons why London schools are bucking the national trend. The paper identified many success factors and strategies which contributed to the raising achievement and tackling inequalities such as effective school leadership, quality of teaching and learning, use of data, use of multi-ethnic workforce that reflect the community, and effective support for ethnic minorities and EAL pupils and targeted interventions. The overall conclusion of this study is that improvement in schools in London is an exceptional achievement and offers a worthwhile example of a success story that policymakers at both national and international levels can learn from. Lessons from London schools in tackling inequality and the policy and research implications are discussed critically in the final section.
Dreamscapes and Monsters, from “Little Boxes” to “Multicultural Suburbs”
Authors: Kim AJ
Published: March 2023

In a departure from historic understandings of immigrant settlement in North America, and the traditional Global City, a cluster of suburban immigrant enclaves in metropolitan Atlanta are highly representative of immigration and migration trends, worldwide. While a post-Trump and authentically “purple” Georgia continues to debate anti-immigrant measures, Asian and Latino households and businesses array themselves in linear fashion along metro Atlanta's ubiquitous highway corridors, and local politics in Atlanta suburbs like Norcross, Doraville, and Clarkston advertise efforts to welcome and integrate immigrant populations. However, each city is also primarily interested in generating higher property taxes and offering increased units of upper-class to luxury housing for a select few. The immigrant suburb still wants boxes, upon boxes, in yellow, pink, and blue.
Impact of Shared Leadership Quality on Agile Team Productivity and Project Results
Authors: Hofman Mariusz , Grela Grzegorz , Oronowicz Magdalena
Published: March 2023

Drawing on leadership theory, this research verified what makes shared leadership an effective form of leadership for agile project teams, and whether using it influences the outcomes achieved by such teams as well as the more distal outcomes. Survey data were collected from 251 members of agile project teams implementing projects of an iterative and incremental character. Structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was adopted to test the hypotheses. Our research confirms that shared leadership is an effective form of leadership for agile project teams whose members are empowered to engage in leadership functions or processes. The findings confirm a positive direct impact of shared leadership on the performance of agile project teams and indirect impact on project efficiency and effectiveness. The research results also confirm the influence of project team–related contextual moderators on shared leadership inputs and outputs. The study contributes to leadership theory in the plural leadership research stream and confirms the shift from individual leadership to collective leadership as a result of the growing popularity of the agility paradigm.
Tumor microenvironment contribution to checkpoint blockade therapy. Lessons learned from Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Carbone Antonino , Gloghini Annunziata , Carlo Stella Carmelo
Published: March 2023

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is characterized by a tumor microenvironment (TME) containing inflammatory/immune cells. Follicular lymphoma, mediastinal grey zone lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, may show a TME containing inflammatory/immune cells, but the TMEs are quite different. In these B-cell lymphomas and cHL, PD-1/PD-L1 blockade drugs differ in their effectiveness in patients with refractory/relapsed disease. Research should still explore innovative assays that could reveal which molecules are influencing the sensitivity or the resistance to therapy in an individual patient.
How I treat erythropoietic protoporphyria and X-linked protoporphyria
Authors: Leaf Rebecca Karp , Dickey Amy K.
Published: March 2023

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an inherited cutaneous porphyria caused by reduced expression of ferrochelatase, the enzyme that catalyzes the final step in heme biosynthesis. The resultant accumulation of protoporphyrin IX leads to severe painful cutaneous photosensitivity, as well as potentially life-threatening liver disease in a small percentage of patients. X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) is similar to EPP clinically, but results from increased activity of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthase 2 (ALAS2), the first step in heme biosynthesis in the bone marrow, and also causes protoporphyrin accumulation. Although historically the management of EPP and XLP (collectively termed protoporphyria) centered around avoidance of sunlight, novel therapies have recently been approved or are in development, which will alter the therapeutic landscape for these conditions. We present three patient vignettes highlighting key treatment considerations in patients with protoporphyria including (1) approach to photosensitivity, (2) managing iron deficiency in protoporphyria, and (3) understanding hepatic failure in protoporphyria.
Opposing effects of KDM6A and JDP2 on glucocorticoid sensitivity in T-ALL
Authors: Levinson Anya L. , Tjoa Karensa , Huang Benjamin , Meyer Lauren K. , Kim Mi-Ok , Brady Samuel W. , Zhang Jinghui , Shannon Kevin , Wandler Anica M.
Published: March 2023

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are the cornerstone of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapy. Although mutations in NR3C1, which encodes the GC receptor (GR), and other genes involved in GC signaling occur at relapse, additional mechanisms of adaptive GC resistance are uncertain. We transplanted and treated 10 primary mouse T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALLs) initiated by retroviral insertional mutagenesis with GC dexamethasone (DEX). Multiple distinct relapsed clones from 1 such leukemia (T-ALL 8633) exhibited discrete retroviral integrations that upregulated Jdp2 expression. This leukemia harbored a Kdm6a mutation. In the human T-ALL cell line CCRF-CEM, enforced JDP2 overexpression conferred GC resistance, whereas KDM6A inactivation unexpectedly enhanced GC sensitivity. In the context of KDM6A knockout, JDP2 overexpression induced profound GC resistance, counteracting the sensitization conferred by KDM6A loss. These resistant “double mutant” cells with combined KDM6A loss and JDP2 overexpression exhibited decreased NR3C1 mRNA and GR protein upregulation upon DEX exposure. Analysis of paired samples from 2 patients with KDM6A-mutant T-ALL in a relapsed pediatric ALL cohort revealed a somatic NR3C1 mutation at relapse in 1 patient and a markedly elevated JDP2 expression in the other. Together, these data implicate JDP2 overexpression as a mechanism of adaptive GC resistance in T-ALL, which functionally interacts with KDM6A inactivation.
Natural history and rate of progression of retinopathy in adult patients with sickle cell disease: an 11-year follow-up study
Authors: Brandsen Rajani P. , Diederen Roselie M. H. , Bakhlakh Siham , Nur Erfan , Schlingemann Reinier O. , Biemond Bart J.
Published: March 2023

Sickle cell retinopathy (SCR) is a complication of sickle cell disease (SCD). Proliferative SCR (PSCR) can lead to severe visual impairment due to vitreous hemorrhage or retinal detachment. Knowledge of risk factors for progression and complications of SCR is limited. The aim of this study is to describe the natural history of SCR and to identify risk factors for progressive SCR and development of PSCR. We retrospectively analyzed disease progression in 129 patients with SCD with a median follow-up period of 11 years (interquartile range, 8.5-12). Patients were divided in 2 groups. The genotypes hemoglobin SS (HbSS), HbSβ0-thalassemia, and HbSβ+-thalassemia were grouped together (n = 83; 64.3%), whereas patients with HbSC (n = 46; 35.7%) were grouped separately. Progression of SCR was observed in 28.7% (37 of 129) of patients. Older age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.073; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.024-1.125; P = .003), HbSC genotype (aOR, 25.472; 95% CI, 3.788-171.285; P ≤ 0.001), and lower HbF (aOR, 0.786; 95% CI, 0.623-0.993; P = .043) were associated with PSCR at end of follow-up. Lack of any SCR at end of follow-up was associated with female sex (aOR, 2.555; 95% CI, 1.101-5.931; P = .029), HbSS/HbSβ0/HbSβ+ genotype (aOR, 3.733; 95% CI, 1.131-12.321; P = .031), and higher HbF levels (aOR, 1.119; 95% CI, 1.007-1.243; P = .037). Differentiated strategies for screening and follow-up of SCR could be considered for patients at low or high risk.
The Allele Catalog Tool: a web-based interactive tool for allele discovery and analysis
Authors: Chan Yen On , Dietz Nicholas , Zeng Shuai , Wang Juexin , Flint-Garcia Sherry , Salazar-Vidal M. Nancy , Škrabišová Mária , Bilyeu Kristin , Joshi Trupti
Published: March 2023

Background

The advancement of sequencing technologies today has made a plethora of whole-genome re-sequenced (WGRS) data publicly available. However, research utilizing the WGRS data without further configuration is nearly impossible. To solve this problem, our research group has developed an interactive Allele Catalog Tool to enable researchers to explore the coding region allelic variation present in over 1,000 re-sequenced accessions each for soybean, Arabidopsis, and maize.

Results

The Allele Catalog Tool was designed originally with soybean genomic data and resources. The Allele Catalog datasets were generated using our variant calling pipeline (SnakyVC) and the Allele Catalog pipeline (AlleleCatalog). The variant calling pipeline is developed to parallelly process raw sequencing reads to generate the Variant Call Format (VCF) files, and the Allele Catalog pipeline takes VCF files to perform imputations, functional effect predictions, and assemble alleles for each gene to generate curated Allele Catalog datasets. Both pipelines were utilized to generate the data panels (VCF files and Allele Catalog files) in which the accessions of the WGRS datasets were collected from various sources, currently representing over 1,000 diverse accessions for soybean, Arabidopsis, and maize individually. The main features of the Allele Catalog Tool include data query, visualization of results, categorical filtering, and download functions. Queries are performed from user input, and results are a tabular format of summary results by categorical description and genotype results of the alleles for each gene. The categorical information is specific to each species; additionally, available detailed meta-information is provided in modal popups. The genotypic information contains the variant positions, reference or alternate genotypes, the functional effect classes, and the amino-acid changes of each accession. Besides that, the results can also be downloaded for other research purposes.

Conclusions

The Allele Catalog Tool is a web-based tool that currently supports three species: soybean, Arabidopsis, and maize. The Soybean Allele Catalog Tool is hosted on the SoyKB website (https://soykb.org/SoybeanAlleleCatalogTool/), while the Allele Catalog Tool for Arabidopsis and maize is hosted on the KBCommons website (https://kbcommons.org/system/tools/AlleleCatalogTool/Zmays and https://kbcommons.org/system/tools/AlleleCatalogTool/Athaliana). Researchers can use this tool to connect variant alleles of genes with meta-information of species.
Estimating sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests using latent class models that account for conditional dependence between tests: a simulation study
Authors: Keddie Suzanne H. , Baerenbold Oliver , Keogh Ruth H. , Bradley John
Published: March 2023

Background

Latent class models are increasingly used to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests in the absence of a gold standard, and are commonly fitted using Bayesian methods. These models allow us to account for ‘conditional dependence’ between two or more diagnostic tests, meaning that the results from tests are correlated even after conditioning on the person’s true disease status. The challenge is that it is not always clear to researchers whether conditional dependence exists between tests and whether it exists in all or just some latent classes. Despite the increasingly widespread use of latent class models to estimate diagnostic test accuracy, the impact of the conditional dependence structure chosen on the estimates of sensitivity and specificity remains poorly investigated.

Methods

A simulation study and a reanalysis of a published case study are used to highlight the impact of the conditional dependence structure chosen on estimates of sensitivity and specificity. We describe and implement three latent class random-effect models with differing conditional dependence structures, as well as a conditional independence model and a model that assumes perfect test accuracy. We assess the bias and coverage of each model in estimating sensitivity and specificity across different data generating mechanisms.

Results

The findings highlight that assuming conditional independence between tests within a latent class, where conditional dependence exists, results in biased estimates of sensitivity and specificity and poor coverage. The simulations also reiterate the substantial bias in estimates of sensitivity and specificity when incorrectly assuming a reference test is perfect. The motivating example of tests for Melioidosis highlights these biases in practice with important differences found in estimated test accuracy under different model choices.

Conclusions

We have illustrated that misspecification of the conditional dependence structure leads to biased estimates of sensitivity and specificity when there is a correlation between tests. Due to the minimal loss in precision seen by using a more general model, we recommend accounting for conditional dependence even if researchers are unsure of its presence or it is only expected at minimal levels.