bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Top-Down Crawl: a method for the ultra-rapid and motif-free alignment of sequences with associated binding metrics
Authors: Cooper Brendon H , Chiu Tsu-Pei , Rohs Remo
Published: September 2022

Several high-throughput protein–DNA binding methods currently available produce highly reproducible measurements of binding affinity at the level of the k-mer. However, understanding where a k-mer is positioned along a binding site sequence depends on alignment. Here, we present Top-Down Crawl (TDC), an ultra-rapid tool designed for the alignment of k-mer level data in a rank-dependent and position weight matrix (PWM)-independent manner. As the framework only depends on the rank of the input, the method can accept input from many types of experiments (protein binding microarray, SELEX-seq, SMiLE-seq, etc.) without the need for specialized parameterization. Measuring the performance of the alignment using multiple linear regression with 5-fold cross-validation, we find TDC to perform as well as or better than computationally expensive PWM-based methods.

Availability and implementation

TDC can be run online at https://topdowncrawl.usc.edu or locally as a python package available through pip at https://pypi.org/project/TopDownCrawl.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
SNCA inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition and correlates to favorable prognosis of breast cancer
Authors: Zhou Lin-xi , Zheng Hong , Tian Yuan , Luo Ke-fei , Ma Shu-juan , Wu Zi-wei , Tang Peng , Jiang Jun , Wang Ming-hao
Published: September 2022

Alpha-synuclein (SNCA) is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, known to be involved in cancer occurrence and development; however, its specific effects in breast cancer remain unknown. Data from 150 patients with breast cancer were retrieved from tissue microarray and analyzed for SNCA protein level using immunohistochemistry. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to investigate the potential role of SNCA in breast cancer. SNCA-mediated inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was confirmed with western blotting. The effects of SNCA on invasion and migration were evaluated using transwell and wound-healing experiments. Furthermore, the potential influence of SNCA expression level on drug sensitivity and tumor infiltration by immune cells was analyzed using the public databases. SNCA is lowly expressed in breast cancer tissues. Besides, in vitro and in vivo experiments, SNCA overexpression blocked EMT and metastasis, and the knockdown of SNCA resulted in the opposite effect. A mouse model of metastasis verified the restriction of metastatic ability in vivo. Further analysis revealed that SNCA enhances sensitivity to commonly used anti-breast tumor drugs and immune cell infiltration. SNCA blocks EMT and metastasis in breast cancer and its expression levels could be useful in predicting the chemosensitivity and evaluating the immune microenvironment in breast cancer.
Living Alone During Old Age and the Risk of Dementia: Assessing the Cumulative Risk of Living Alone
Authors: Shaw Benjamin A , Yang Tse-Chuan , Kim Seulki
Published: September 2022

Objectives

This study examines the association between living alone during old age and dementia. Whereas most previous studies on this topic utilize measures of living alone status that were obtained at a single point in time, we compare this typical approach to one that measures long-term exposure to living alone among older adults and assesses whether dementia is more likely to occur within individuals with more accumulated time living alone.

Methods

Data come from the Health and Retirement Study, with a follow-up period of 2000–2018. A total of 18,171 older adults were followed during this period, resulting in 78,490 person-waves analyzed in a series of multi-level logistic models. Contemporaneous living alone was recorded when a respondent’s household size was equal to 1 in a given wave. Cumulative living alone was calculated by adding the number of living alone statuses up to a given wave.

Results

Contemporaneous living alone was either not associated (male-only subsample), or inversely associated (female-only subsample) with dementia. By contrast, a one-unit (i.e., one wave) increase in cumulative living alone was associated with about a 10% increase in the odds of dementia for both men (odds ratio [OR] = 1.111) and women (OR = 1.088), net of several covariates, including marital status, age, social activities, and social support.

Discussion

Living alone during late life is an important risk factor for dementia, but the cognitive effects of solitary living probably do not take hold immediately for most older adults and potentially demonstrate a dose–response relationship.
The Impact of Living in Housing With Care and Support on Loneliness and Social Isolation: Findings From a Resident-Based Survey
Authors: Beach Brian , Willis Paul , Powell Jillian , Vickery Alex , Smith Randall , Cameron Ailsa
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives

Housing with care is often lauded as a way to combat loneliness and social isolation in later life. This study examined whether housing with care created better outcomes for residents in terms of loneliness and social isolation than they might expect if they were living in the community.

Research Design and Methods

A survey was distributed to residents of housing with care as part of the Diversity in Care Environments project. It was designed to enable comparison with the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Propensity score matching was applied to identify the effect of housing with care residence on loneliness and social isolation.

Results

People living in housing with care had lower levels of loneliness than would be expected if they lived in the general community, with an average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) of −0.407 (95% CI = −0.601, −0.214). In contrast, social isolation was found to be slightly higher for residents than would be expected if they were in the community (ATT = 0.134 [95% CI = 0.022, 0.247]). Higher social isolation appears driven by less frequent contact with friends and reduced organizational membership rather than any difference in contact with family and children.

Discussion and Implications

Our research has shown a positive impact on subjective social experiences from housing with care residence, despite a slight increase in objective social isolation. The findings underscore the importance of looking at loneliness and social isolation as distinct concepts as well as the effectiveness of housing with care at improving later-life outcomes.
Establishment and management of a workplace health promotion network in rural areas: a case study
Authors: Hente Luisa , Hodeck Alexander , Schlesinger Torsten
Published: September 2022

Health is an increasingly important issue in the workplace, but the dissemination of health-promoting interventions in companies, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), remains limited. Inter-organizational networks seem to be a promising approach to promote and implement workplace health management (WHM) in SMEs. This study analyses the establishment and coordination of the network ‘ERZgesund—Healthy Companies in the Ore Mountains’ for WHM in SMEs in a rural area of Germany. The case study, which builds on a mixed method approach (expert interviews, participant observations and document analysis), finds that ERZgesund evolved from a top-down approach (politically initiated, regionally anchored and financed from promotional funds). The network’s hierarchy is disproportionately vertical, and the project group has limited decision-taking power and limited opportunities to act, which has reduced their overall engagement in the network. We conclude that although long and stable relationships are important for successful networks, change—especially at the leadership level—can lead to increased engagement of network participants if the hierarchy within the network is horizontally aligned. The findings of this explorative case study contribute to the planning process, the development and implementation of network structures, and successful WHM interventions.
Activation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 by muramyl dipeptide negatively regulates Toll-like receptor 9-mediated colonic inflammation through the induction of deubiquitinating enzyme A expression
Authors: Masuta Yasuhiro , Minaga Kosuke , Kurimoto Masayuki , Sekai Ikue , Hara Akane , Omaru Naoya , Okai Natsuki , Otsuka Yasuo , Takada Ryutaro , Yoshikawa Tomoe , Masaki Sho , Kamata Ken , Honjo Hajime , Arai Yasuyuki , Yamashita Kouhei , Kudo Masatoshi , Watanabe Tomohiro
Published: September 2022

Mutations in nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 (NOD2) are associated with Crohn’s disease (CD). Although NOD2 activation contributes to the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis through the negative regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine responses mediated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs), the effects of NOD2 activation on interferon (IFN)-α responses induced by TLR9 have been poorly defined. To explore the cross-talk between NOD2 and TLR9, human monocytes or dendritic cells (DCs) were stimulated with NOD2 and/or TLR9 ligands to measure IFN-α production. The severity of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis was compared in mice treated with NOD2 and/or TLR9 ligands. Expression of IFN-α and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) was examined in the colonic mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). NOD2 activation reduced TLR9-induced IFN-α production by monocytes and DCs in a deubiquitinating enzyme A (DUBA)-dependent manner. Activation of DUBA induced by the co-stimulation of TLR9 and NOD2 inhibited Lys63-linked polyubiquitination of TRAF3 and suppressed TLR9-mediated IFN-α production. NOD2 activation in hematopoietic cells protected mice from TLR9-induced exacerbation of DSS-induced colitis by down-regulating IFN-α responses and up-regulating DUBA expression. Colonic mucosa of patients with active and remitted IBD phases was characterized by the enhanced and reduced expression of ISGs, respectively. Expression levels of IFN-α and IL-6 positively correlated in the active colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis and CD, whereas DUBA expression inversely correlated with that of IFN-α in patients with CD. Collectively, these data suggest that DUBA-dependent negative effect of NOD2 on TLR9-mediated IFN-α responses contributes to the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis.
Paeoniflorin combined with norfloxacin ameliorates drug-resistant Streptococcus suis infection
Authors: Li Jinpeng , Fan Qingying , Zuo Jing , Xue Bingqian , Zhang Xiaoling , Wei Ying , Sun Liyun , Grenier Daniel , Yi Li , Hou Xiaogai , Wang Yang
Published: September 2022

Background

The increased resistance of bacterial pathogens to fluoroquinolones (FQs), such as norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin, supports the need to develop new antibacterial drugs and combination therapies using conventional antibiotics. The LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing (QS) system can regulate the complex group behaviour of Streptococcus suis and impact its susceptibility to FQs.

Objectives

We investigated the combination of paeoniflorin and norfloxacin as a novel and effective strategy against FQ-resistant S. suis.

Methods

FIC, AI-2 activity assay, real-time RT–PCR and biofilm inhibition assays were performed to investigate the in vitro effect of paeoniflorin combined with norfloxacin. Mouse protection and mouse anti-infection assays were performed to investigate the in vivo effect of paeoniflorin combined with norfloxacin.

Results

FIC results showed that paeoniflorin and norfloxacin exert a synergistic bactericidal effect. Evidence was brought that paeoniflorin reduces the S. suis AI-2 activity and significantly down-regulates the transcription of the FQ efflux pump gene. In addition, paeoniflorin can inhibit biofilm formation, thereby promoting the ability of norfloxacin to kill S. suis. Finally, we showed in a mouse model that paeoniflorin in association with norfloxacin is effective to treat S. suis infections.

Conclusions

This study highlighted the inhibitory potential of paeoniflorin on the LuxS/AI-2 QS system of S. suis, and provided evidence that it can inhibit the FQ efflux pump and prevent biofilm formation to cooperate with norfloxacin in the treatment of resistant S. suis-related infections.
Take on transplant: human-centered design of a patient education tool to facilitate informed discussions about lung transplant among people with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Hartzler Andrea L , Bartlett Lauren E , Hobler Mara R , Reid Nick , Pryor Joseph B , Kapnadak Siddhartha G , Berry Donna L , Lober William B , Goss Christopher H , Ramos Kathleen J ,   for the Take on Transplant Study Group, Dunitz Jordan , Saavedra Milene , Pilewski Joseph M , Brown Cynthia D , Jia Shijing , Sears Edmund H , Neuringer Isabel , Polenakovik Hari M , Tsai Cynthia
Published: September 2022

Objective

Lung transplant (LTx) saves lives in cystic fibrosis (CF). However, many potential candidates express uncertainty about LTx and die before receiving this treatment. CF guidelines recommend LTx education and clinical discussions well before the need for LTx arises, but limited patient resources exist.

Materials and Methods

We engaged people with CF and CF physicians in human-centered design of “Take On Transplant” (TOT), a web-based education tool to prepare patients for LTx discussions. Across 3 phases, needs assessment, design groups, and iterative user testing of TOT, we refined TOT from wireframe prototypes, to an interactive website, to a fully functional intervention ready for clinical trials.

Results

Fifty-five people with CF and 105 physicians identified information needs to prepare for LTx discussions. Design groups (n = 14 participants) then established core requirements: didactic education (“Resource Library”), patient narratives (“CF Stories”), frequently asked questions (“FAQ”), and self-assessment to tailor content (“My CF Stage”). Iterative usability testing (n = 39) optimized the design of CF Stories and prototype layout. We then developed the TOT website and demonstrated feasibility and preliminary efficacy of use through 2-week field testing (n = 9).

Discussion

Our human-centered design process provided guidance for educational tools to serve the evolving needs of potential LTx candidates. Our findings support the process of patient deliberation as a foundation for shared decision-making in CF, and inform educational tools that could potentially translate beyond LTx.

Conclusion

TOT fills a critical gap in preparing people with CF for shared decision-making about LTx and may serve as a model for educational tools for other preference-sensitive decisions.
Using event logs to observe interactions with electronic health records: an updated scoping review shows increasing use of vendor-derived measures
Authors: Rule Adam , Melnick Edward R , Apathy Nate C
Published: September 2022

Objective

The aim of this article is to compare the aims, measures, methods, limitations, and scope of studies that employ vendor-derived and investigator-derived measures of electronic health record (EHR) use, and to assess measure consistency across studies.

Materials and Methods

We searched PubMed for articles published between July 2019 and December 2021 that employed measures of EHR use derived from EHR event logs. We coded the aims, measures, methods, limitations, and scope of each article and compared articles employing vendor-derived and investigator-derived measures.

Results

One hundred and two articles met inclusion criteria; 40 employed vendor-derived measures, 61 employed investigator-derived measures, and 1 employed both. Studies employing vendor-derived measures were more likely than those employing investigator-derived measures to observe EHR use only in ambulatory settings (83% vs 48%, P = .002) and only by physicians or advanced practice providers (100% vs 54% of studies, P < .001). Studies employing vendor-derived measures were also more likely to measure durations of EHR use (P < .001 for 6 different activities), but definitions of measures such as time outside scheduled hours varied widely. Eight articles reported measure validation. The reported limitations of vendor-derived measures included measure transparency and availability for certain clinical settings and roles.

Discussion

Vendor-derived measures are increasingly used to study EHR use, but only by certain clinical roles. Although poorly validated and variously defined, both vendor- and investigator-derived measures of EHR time are widely reported.

Conclusion

The number of studies using event logs to observe EHR use continues to grow, but with inconsistent measure definitions and significant differences between studies that employ vendor-derived and investigator-derived measures.
Separation of Nonivamide and Capsaicin by Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography for Routine Analysis of Capsaicinoids in Capsicum Products
Authors: Yang Jinchuan , Pointer Ben , Rainville Paul
Published: September 2022

Background

Baseline separation of nonivamide (NON) and capsaicin (CAP) has not been achieved by using the existing liquid chromatography (LC) methods for the capsaicinoid analysis. This could lead to large errors in the determination of capsaicinoids for capsicum products.

Objective

The development of an ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method that simultaneously separates NON and CAP as well as other capsaicinoids for the routine analysis of capsaicinoids in capsicum products.

Method

Capsaicinoids were separated on a Waters CORTECSTM T3 Column (2.1 mm i.d. × 150 mm, 1.6 μm particle size) that was maintained at 45°C on a UHPLC system with a 3-step gradient elution using a binary mobile phase system consisting of water and acetonitrile. Florescence detection was set at 280 nm excitation wavelength and 325 nm emission wavelength.

Results

The UHPLC method was able to simultaneously separate NON and CAP, with a minimum resolution of 1.5, as well as other seven capsaicinoids with a total run time of 27 min. Method selectivity, robustness, accuracy, and precision were evaluated, and excellent performance was achieved.

Conclusions

The UHPLC method for NON and CAP and other seven capsaicinoids has been successfully developed and found suitable for the routine analysis of capsaicinoids.

Highlights

For the first time, NON and CAP are well separated (Rs >1.5) in a 27 min LC separation. This UHPLC method offers a suitable solution for the determination of nine capsaicinoids in QC labs.
Burn Injury and Augmented Renal Clearance: A Case for Optimized Piperacillin-Tazobactam Dosing
Authors: Torian Sterling C , Wiktor Arek J , Roper Sara E , Laramie Kate E , Miller Matthew A , Mueller Scott W
Published: September 2022

Patients with burn injuries are at high risk for infection as well as altered antimicrobial pharmacokinetics. Patients suffering from a burn injury, generally encompassing a total body surface area (TBSA) ≥ 20%, have been cited as at risk for augmented renal clearance (ARC). Our case report describes an obese patient with 3.2% TBSA partial thickness burns who suffered from burn wound cellulitis with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Measured CLcr documented the presence of ARC, and 22.5 grams daily continuous infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam was initiated. Therapeutic monitoring of piperacillin at steady state was 78 mcg/mL, achieving the prespecified goal piperacillin concentration of 100% 4-times the minimum inhibitory concentration assuming MIC for susceptible P. aeruginosa at 16/4 mcg/mL per Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Available literature suggests younger critically ill patients with lower organ failure scores, and for a burn injury, a higher percentage of TBSA, are most likely to exhibit ARC which does not entirely align with the characteristics of our patient. In addition, piperacillin-tazobactam has been associated with altered pharmacokinetics in ARC, burn, and obese populations, demonstrating failure to meet target attainment with standard doses. We suggest a continuous infusion of piperacillin-tazobactam be used when ARC is identified. This case report describes the unique findings of ARC in a non-critically ill burn patient and rationalizes the need for further prospective research to classify incidence, risk factors, and appropriate antimicrobial regimens for burn patients with ARC.
Data-based dynamic compartment model: Modeling ofE. colifed-batch fermentation in a 600 m3 bubble column
Authors: Bisgaard Jonas , Zahn James A , Tajsoleiman Tannaz , Rasmussen Tue , Huusom Jakob K , Gernaey Krist V
Published: September 2022

Mathematical modeling is a powerful and inexpensive approach to provide a quantitative basis for improvements that minimize the negative effects of bioreactor heterogeneity. For a model to accurately represent a heterogeneous system, a flow model that describes how mass is channeled between different zones of the bioreactor volume is necessary. In this study, a previously developed compartment model approach based on data from flow-following sensor devices was further developed to account for dynamic changes in volume and flow rates and thus enabling simulation of the widely used fed-batch process. The application of the dynamic compartment model was demonstrated in a study of an industrial fermentation process in a 600 m3 bubble column bioreactor. The flow model was used to evaluate the mixing performance by means of tracer simulations and was coupled with reaction kinetics to simulate concentration gradients in the process. The simulations showed that despite the presence of long mixing times and significant substrate gradients early in the process, improving the heterogeneity did not lead to overall improvements in the process. Improvements could, however, be achieved by modifying the dextrose feeding profile.
Effects of long-term phosphorus addition on soil ratios of phosphomonoesterase to phosphodiesterase in three tropical forests
Authors: Mori Taiki , Wang Senhao , Wang Cong , Chen Ji , Peng Cheng , Zheng Mianhai , Huang Juan , Wang Faming , Liu Zhanfeng , Mo Jiangming , Zhang Wei
Published: September 2022

Soil microorganisms in tropical forests can adapt to phosphorus (P)-poor conditions by changing the activity ratios of different types of phosphatases. We tested whether microorganisms in P-poor tropical forest soils increased the phosphomonoesterase (PME) to phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity ratio, because a one-step enzymatic reaction of monoester P degradation might be more adaptive for microbial P acquisition than a two-step reaction of diester P degradation. A continuous 10-year P addition experiment was performed in three tropical forests. The activities of PME and PDE, and their ratio in soil, were determined under the hypothesis that the P-fertilized plots where P shortage is relieved would have lower PME:PDE ratios than the unfertilized controls. We demonstrated that long-term P addition in tropical forest soil did not alter the PME:PDE ratio in primary and secondary forests, whereas P fertilization elevated the PME:PDE ratio in planted forest. These results were in contrast to previous results. The long-term, large-scale P fertilization in our study may have reduced litter- and/or throughfall-derived PDE, which negated the lowered PME:PDE ratio via exogenous P inputs.
Surgical resection of arteriovenous malformation of the pancreatic head with acute pancreatitis: a case report
Authors: Hakoda Hiroyuki , Kawaguchi Yoshikuni , Miyata Yoichi , Togashi Junichi , Nagai Motoki , Suzuki Yoshio , Nomura Yukihiro
Published: September 2022

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are uncommon in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in the pancreas. AVMs cause complications, including gastrointestinal bleeding, portal hypertension and pancreatitis. Therefore, a treatment strategy is not yet established. Surgical treatment or transcatheter arterial embolization is performed in patients with AVM, considering their conditions. A 54-year-old man presented with acute abdominal pain was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis due to AVM of the pancreatic head using dynamic computed tomography. Endoscopic ultrasonography further revealed meandering blood vessels in the pancreatic head. The patient underwent subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Histological examination revealed AVM of the pancreatic head with chronic pancreatitis. The patient had a good postoperative clinical course and was discharged on postoperative day 22. He remained asymptomatic. Pancreaticoduodenectomy can be considered an effective treatment method for selected cases of symptomatic AVM of the pancreatic head.
Solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence imperfectly tracks the temperature response of photosynthesis in winter wheat
Authors: Chen Ruonan , Liu Xinjie , Chen Jidai , Du Shanshan , Liu Liangyun
Published: September 2022

Solar-induced fluorescence (SIF) is a promising proxy for photosynthesis, but it is unclear whether it performs well in tracking the gross primary productivity (GPP) under different environmental conditions. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of the two parameters from October 2020 to June 2021 in field-grown winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and found that the ability of SIF to track GPP was weakened at low temperatures. Accounting for the coupling of light and temperature at a seasonal scale, we found that SIF yield showed a lower temperature sensitivity and had a lower but broader optimal temperature range compared with light-use efficiency (LUE), although both SIF yield and LUE decreased in low-temperature conditions. The discrepancy between the temperature responses of SIF yield and GPP caused an increase in the ratio of SIF/GPP in winter, which indicated the variation in the relationship between them during this period. The results of our study highlight the impact of low temperature on the relationship between SIF and GPP and show the necessity of reconsidering the dynamics of energy distribution inside plants under changing environments.
Hyperspectral mapping of the response of grapevine cultivars to Plasmopara viticola infection at the tissue scale
Authors: Oerke Erich-Christian , Juraschek Lena , Steiner Ulrike
Published: September 2022

Resistance of grapevine to Plasmopara viticola is associated with the hypersensitive reaction, accumulation of stilbenoids, and formation of callose depositions. Spectral characterization of infected leaf tissue of cvs ‘Regent’ and ‘Solaris’ with resistance genes Rpv 3-1 and Rpv 10 and Rpv 3-3, respectively, suggested that resistance is not dependent on large-scale necrotization of host tissue. Reactions of the resistant cultivars and a reference susceptible to P. viticola were studied using hyperspectral imaging (range 400–1000 nm) at the tissue level and microscopic techniques. Resistance of both cultivars was incomplete and allowed pathogen reproduction. Spectral vegetation indices characterized the host response to pathogen invasion; the vitality of infected and necrotic leaf tissue differed significantly. Resistance depended on local accumulation of polyphenols in response to haustorium formation and was more effective for cv. ‘Solaris’. Although hypersensitive reaction of some cells prevented colonization of palisade parenchyma, resistance was not associated with extensive necrotization of tissue, and the biotrophic pathogen survived localized death of penetrated host cells. Hyperspectral imaging was suitable to characterize and differentiate the resistance reactions of grapevine cultivars by mapping of the cellular response to pathogen attack on the tissue level and yields useful information on host–pathogen interactions.
Slovak Tales and the Collections of Pavol Dobšinský
Authors: Piroščáková Jana
Published: September 2022

This chapter focuses on the collections Slovak Tales and Simple National Slovak Tales, which were edited and published by the most important Slovak collector of folk tales, Pavol Dobšinský (1828–1885). Although the tales in these collections are not authentic folk tales and do not paint a genuine picture of folk prose, they are considered the foundation of knowledge on the Slovak oral folk tale tradition and exerted significant influence on this tradition. Dobšinský was influenced by Romantic conceptions of national art. The tales in his collections display a distinctive style that resulted from his purposeful adaptations of Slovak folk tale variants employing the compilation-stylization method. This chapter examines the characteristic style of these tales, how Dobšinský achieved it, how and why his preference for certain types of magic tales was reflected in his collections, and how they were interpreted to express Slovak nationalism. The international ATU Tale-Type Index is utilized to catalogue the Slovak folk tales discussed.
Subcultures
Authors: Force William Ryan
Published: September 2022

This chapter provides an overview of subculture as an empirical topic and unique concept in symbolic interactionist sociology. This includes a description of the social and historical origins of subcultural studies in postwar United States and United Kingdom, a summary of the theoretical traditions of the Chicago and Birmingham Schools, and a survey of the contemporary landscape of subcultural practice. Key concepts in the interactionist approach to subculture are defined and unpacked. A central focus of SI is how youth use subculture as both the site of meaning-making and as a set of resources for managing interactional troubles and institutional problems. Particular consideration is given to the dynamics of class, race, gender, and sexuality as they shape subcultural experience and identity. Finally, the chapter takes up the question of subculture’s ongoing existence.
Anointed Saviors or Oppressive Enslavers?
Authors: Smith-Christopher Daniel L.
Published: September 2022

Any discussion of ancient Hebrew attitudes toward Persian rule in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., sixth to fourth centuries bce) is complicated by two other intertwined issues. First, the political “use” of ancient Persia continues in contemporary debates between Iran and Western countries. Second, however, is the long legacy of the discipline of Western classics taking a strong “pro-Hellenist” (and indeed, often pro-Roman) position vis-à-vis ancient Persia. This has resulted in a reaction that attempts to be more “neutral” toward the Achaemenid Empire. A good illustration of these intertwined debates is the wide use of the famous “Cyrus Cylinder” in contemporary debate, classical studies, and biblical studies. This chapter takes three biblical texts, and one non-biblical text, that often “trigger” discussion of Hebrew attitudes toward Persian rule, namely Isaiah 45:1 (proclaiming Cyrus a “Messiah”); Nehemiah 9:36–37 (“We are slaves …”); Diaspora stories such as Daniel and Esther, and Ahiqar in the Elephantine texts. Questions are raised about the assumptions of positive attitudes toward the Persians, which tend to support arguments that any negative attitudes must certainly be later redactions from the Hellenistic period. But from a postcolonial perspective, particularly informed by the work of James Scott, it is possible to propose a number of instances in the text where Hebraic “attitudes” toward Persian rule were anything but positive, even if not usually openly hostile (which would have been largely suicidal in any case).
A Biographer’s Angle on Jane Addams’s Feminism
Authors: Knight Louise W.
Published: September 2022

Was Jane Addams a feminist? Scholars of many disciplines have chosen various adjectives to capture the kind or kinds of feminist she was. This chapter uses a biographical approach. It explores the experiences that led her to probe the tensions between the ideals of patriarchy and democracy. It also establishes when she first adopted the language of “patriarchy” and “feminism.” When she was young, she struggled with her father’s expectations of a daughter’s duty to family because those expectations set limits on her ambition. Eventually, after her father’s death, she resolved the contradiction by deciding she was like her father. That was the moment she became a reformer and made it her life’s goal to advance what she called “social democracy.” Beginning with the founding of Hull House in 1889, she increasingly sought for women of all classes and backgrounds to have an equal voice in the family and in the nation’s civic life. At the same time, under the influence of contemporary, intellectual debates and her experiences with the labor union movement—especially the Pullman Strike—the suffrage movement, and the peace movement, her understanding deepened of the challenges involved in achieving such a revolution. In time she embraced the language of “patriarchy” and “feminism” as useful when interpreting the struggles women faced to stand as men’s equals at home, in politics, and in history.
Jane Addams and Settlement Sociology
Authors: Oakley Ann
Published: September 2022

This chapter examines Jane Addams’s writings on the role of settlements in contributing to a new science of social reform. It places her work in the context of a transnational settlement sociology movement that evolved an original epistemology and methodology for connected and participatory social research. The work of American settlements is compared with research carried out by British women researchers in the early twentieth century. The settlement sociology movement is neglected in most histories of sociology which construct a narrative privileging university-based, theoretical, and teaching work. Accounts of settlement sociological work have been mainly focused on the United States, with little attention paid to developments in other countries and to transnational linkages and networks.
Intersections of Race, Gender, and Class in Jane Addams’s Political Friendships
Authors: Walker Moskop Wynne
Published: September 2022

Jane Addams insisted that “propinquity” to the poor and oppressed—meaning living and working with them to address their needs—inform the goals and ethics of pragmatist political friendships she developed with immigrant groups around Chicago’s Hull House (1895). The importance she attributed to propinquity to the poor points to cross-class relations as the framework that underlies her diverse political friendships, which also crossed lines of race, ethnicity, and gender. However, propinquity to the poor is not always visible in Addams’s political friendships—not in her political friendships with either African American leaders and organizations or activists in the women’s international peace movement. Were cross-class relations and propinquity to the poor less important in friendships where race or gender was more visible? Or, were they not as important generally as Addams thought? To consider these questions, this chapter compares Addams’s political friendships with immigrants at Hull House, with African American leaders and organizations, and with women peace activists, asking in each case about the extent to which collaborations included communities of poor people. The comparison illuminates different ways in which class hierarchy intersects and overlaps with hierarchies of ethnicity, race, and gender in different contexts. In addition, it suggests why weaving ties with the poor into political friendships with a largely racial, ethnic, or gender base remains important, and how such ties can be developed and maintained when propinquity to the poor does not seem possible.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain
Authors: Edwards Karlyn A. , Vowles Kevin E.
Published: September 2022

Chronic pain, defined as pain that persists for 3 months or longer, is a common and costly health care concern. Psychological approaches to the treatment of chronic pain have a longstanding and robust evidence base of positive effectiveness. This article briefly reviews the history of these approaches and focuses on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for chronic pain, one of the most distinctive examples of the recently developed treatment approaches. ACT’s theoretical model as it pertains to chronic pain is outlined, as is the evidence base regarding its measures, methods, treatment outcomes, and mechanisms. The article concludes with a discussion of key clinical issues and the identification of key avenues for future development.
A hydrophobic layer prepared by cyclic grafting of polydimethylsiloxane on magnesium: improved corrosion resistance and biocompatibility
Authors: Shen Xiaolong , Zhang Hao , Li Xin , Li Peichuang , Zhao Yuancong , Wang Yunbing , Wang Jin
Published: September 2022

Magnesium and its alloys have been widely studied as absorbable coronary stent materials. However, the rapid corrosion rate in the intravascular environment inhibits the application of magnesium-based stents. In order to endow magnesium-based stent with appropriate degradation rate and biocompatibility, a hydrophobic layer was constructed by in situ cyclic grafting 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and aminopropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane on pure magnesium. SEM-EDS, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and water contact angle were detected to analyze the chemical composition of the layer. The amino groups were confirmed to be introduced on the surface which provide a platform for subsequent modification. The contact angle value of the modified surface is 132.1°, indicating a hydrophilic surface. The electrochemical measurements and immersion tests demonstrated that the hydrophobic layer significantly improved the anti-corrosion ability of the substrate. Besides, the biocompatibility of the hydrophobic surface was examined by platelet adhesion, cytocompatibility in vitro and subcutaneous implantation in vivo. Immunological and histological results indicated that the hydrophobic layer had excellent biocompatibility. Therefore, the presented study might be a promising method for the surface modification of biomedical magnesium-based stent.
Improved sensitivity of the skin pathergy test with polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine antigens in the diagnosis of Behçet disease
Authors: Deniz Rabia , Emrence Zeliha , Yalçınkaya Yasemin , Artım Esen Bahar , İnanç Murat , Öcal Mahdume Lale , Gül Ahmet
Published: September 2022

Objective

The skin pathergy test (SPT) is an important tool in the diagnosis of Behçet disease (BD), but its decreasing sensitivity over years has resulted in less frequent use in the clinical practice. This study aimed to improve the sensitivity of the SPT without compromising its specificity.

Methods

BD patients, patients with other inflammatory diseases, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, and healthy controls comprised the study group. The SPT was conducted using 20G needle and 21G lancet pricks, or with additional application of 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PS-23), Alum, or ATP to the prick site. Development of erythema and induration at 24 h/48 h were evaluated by the same observer. Induration (≥2 mm) with erythema at 48 h was accepted as a positive reaction. Proinflammatory cytokine production following stimulation with lipopolysaccharide or PS-23 was investigated by whole-blood assay (WBA) in a subgroup.

Results

Stimulation of the forearm skin by PS-23 and a 20G needle prick showed the highest sensitivity and specificity in BD (64.3% and 100%, respectively), especially in patients with active disease (80.3% and 100%, respectively), compared with a sensitivity of 4.8% in all and 6.1% in active patients using a single 20G prick. A positive result was associated with active disease and no use of immunosuppressives. In WBA, increased IL-1β and IL-1Ra production in response to PS-23 was observed in the group with active BD, while the cytokine response to lipopolysaccharide was similar in all groups.

Conclusions

The SPT conducted using a 20G needle prick and PS-23 antigens was shown to be a promising tool for the diagnosis of BD owing to its improved sensitivity compared with the standard approach.
Dietary Inflammatory Index and sleep quality and duration among pregnant women with overweight or obesity
Authors: Wirth Michael D , Liu Jihong , Wallace McKenzie K , McLain Alexander C , Turner-McGrievy Gabrielle M , Davis Jean E , Ryan Nicole , Hébert James R
Published: September 2022

Study Objectives

Sleep disturbances, which can worsen during pregnancy, have been linked to inflammatory processes. This study tested the hypothesis that more pro-inflammatory diets during pregnancy are associated with a decrease in sleep quality and shorter sleep duration.

Methods

The Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum study promoted a healthy lifestyle in pregnant women with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity (n = 207). Data from <16 weeks and 32 weeks gestation were used. Sleep was measured using BodyMedia’s SenseWear® armband. Diet was assessed using two 24-hr dietary recalls. Energy-density Dietary Inflammatory Index (E-DIITM) scores were calculated from micro and macronutrients. Linear mixed-effects models estimated the impact of the E-DII score on sleep parameters.

Results

Women with more pro-inflammatory diets, compared to those with more anti-inflammatory diets, were more likely to be nulliparous (51% vs. 25%, p = 0.03), frequent consumers of fast food (29% vs. 10% consuming on 4–6 days during the previous week, p = 0.01), ever-smokers (21% vs. 6%, p = 0.02), and younger (mean age 29.2 vs. 31.3 years, p = 0.02). For every one-unit increase (i.e., more pro-inflammatory) in the E-DII score, sleep latency increased by 0.69 min (p < 0.01). Among European Americans only, every one-unit higher E-DII was associated with a 2.92-min longer wake-after-sleep-onset (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

An E-DII score that is 5 points lower (i.e., more anti-inflammatory) would equate to about 105 min of additional sleep per week among European American women. Anti-inflammatory diets may help to counteract detriments in sleep during pregnancy, especially among European American women. Additional work is needed among African American women.

Clinical Trials Identifier

Name: Promoting Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum (HIPP); URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02260518; Registration Identifier: NCT02260518
One-stage Spine-shortening Osteotomy Treated Severe Spinal Deformity Associated With Spinal Cord Malformations
Authors: Yang Jingfan , Sui Wenyuan , Deng Yaolong , Yang Junlin , Huang Zifang
Published: September 2022

Study Design:

Retrospective case series.

Objective:

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of spine-shortening using 1-stage 3-column osteotomy for a severe rigid spinal deformity with a spinal cord malformation (SCM).

Summary of Background Data:

One-stage spine-shortening osteotomy has been suggested for the treatment of a tethered spinal cord. However, the safety and efficacy of 1-stage spine-shortening osteotomy for the treatment of a severe spinal deformity with an SCM is not known.

Methods:

The records of 32 patients with a severe spinal deformity and SCM treated with spine-shortening using 3-column osteotomy from January 2010 to December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring was used in all cases. Imaging parameters and neurological complications were analyzed to evaluate clinical safety and efficacy.

Results:

Spine-shortening using a 3-column osteotomy was conducted successfully in all 32 patients. The mean main coronal curve and maximum kyphotic angle were corrected from 119.8 and 119.1 degrees to 58.6 and 53.9 degrees, respectively, with the corrective rate of 51.4% and 54.3%. The mean correction loss of the major coronal curve and maximum kyphosis was 2.3 and 2.6 degrees, respectively, at a mean follow-up of 73.6 months. Intraoperative monitoring events occurred in 9 patients; of these 9 patients, 3 suffered transient SC injury, and all recovered within 1 year without suffering permanent paralysis.

Conclusions:

Spine-shortening using a 3-column osteotomy seems to be safe and efficacious for treating a severe spinal deformity with an SCM. A deep understanding of the method and intensive intraoperative neuromonitoring improved the safety of this challenging and complex surgical procedure.
The Anatomical Subunit Approach to Managing Tessier Numbers 3 and 4 Craniofacial Clefts
Authors: Van Slyke Aaron C. , Burge Jonathan , Bos Ria , Parker Gary , Chong David K.
Published: September 2022

Background:

Patients with atypical facial clefts are rare, and there is a paucity of literature outlining the surgical approach to managing these patients. The anatomical subunit approach to the surgical correction of the cleft lip has revolutionized cleft care. Here, we outline our approach and operative technique to treating Tessier clefts 3 and 4 using a novel technique based on the anatomical subunit approach.

Methods:

All cases of Tessier facial clefts 3 and 4 between 2019 and 2021 from the senior author’s practice were reviewed retrospectively. Patient demographics, clinical presentation, procedure details, and complications are reported. The senior author’s technique is described in detail.

Results:

Five patients underwent treatment by the senior author during the study period. One patient had bilateral Tessier 4 clefts, one patient had bilateral Tessier 3 clefts, two patients had a unilateral Tessier 4 cleft, and one patient had a unilateral Tessier 3 cleft. Two of the patients had their clefts treated as secondary procedures. The surgical complication profile was a lost nasal stent in one patient. Treatment principles of the senior author’s technique are presented.

Conclusions:

The anatomical subunit approach to managing atypical facial clefts provides a structured approach to a complex problem for the cleft and craniofacial surgeon. The technique of repair presented here can assist surgeons attempting to treat patients with Tessier 3 and 4 clefts.
Factors Associated With Referral of Children With a Femur Fracture to a Social Worker by an Orthopedist for Suspected Child Abuse
Authors: Yonai Yaniv , Ben Natan Merav , Finkel Binyamin , Klein Adi , Berkovich Yaron
Published: September 2022

Objectives

This article explores factors associated with referral of children with a femur fracture to a social worker by an orthopedist for suspected child abuse.

Methods

This retrospective chart review study included 131 children younger than 5 years who sustained a femur fracture and were hospitalized in a major 495-bed hospital located in the northern-central Israel from 2009 to 2021. Data on children who were referred to a social worker by the treating orthopedist and those who were not were compared.

Results

More than half the children studied (58.8%, n = 77) were referred to a social worker by an orthopedist for suspected child abuse. However, only a fifth of these cases were eventually reported to the authorities. Male sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.44), younger age of the child (OR, 0.95), and spiral femur fracture type (OR, 5.30) increased the likelihood of referral. In addition, treatment of the child by an orthopedic specialist (as compared with an orthopedic resident; OR, 3.12) and lengthier professional experience of the treating orthopedist (OR, 1.08) increased the likelihood of referral.

Conclusions

Younger male children presenting with a spiral femur fracture have a higher likelihood to be referred to a social worker because of suspected child abuse by treating orthopedic specialists with lengthier professional experience. The findings point to the need to improve the capacity of orthopedic residents to report child abuse.