bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant for Sickle Cell Disease: PATIENT SELEction and Timing Based on Sickle Cell-Related Multiple Chronic Conditions
Authors: Jang Tim , Mo George , Stewart Connor , Khoury Leen , Ferguson Natalie , Egini Ogechukwu , Muthu John , Dutta Dibyendu , Salifu Moro , Lim Seah H
Published: October 2021

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is the only cure for patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Although most SCD patients experience progressive end-organ damage and shortened lifespans, not all patients follow the same disease course, tempo, or outcome. Therefore, the dilemma facing physicians is weighing the selection of patients and timing for the procedure against donor type and transplant-related mortality and morbidity that go up with increasing age. On the other hand, the dilemma facing the patients and families is how acceptable HSCT that carries some mortality risks to them. We have analyzed the chronic conditions due to SCD in 449 patients to determine whether SCD-related multiple chronic conditions (MCC) can be risk-stratified to identify the group of patients predicted to not only have shortened lifespans but also functional limitation and poor quality of life so that these at-risk patients can be offered HSCT early and before MCC develops. We identified that the age of onset of the first SCD-related chronic conditions strongly predicted for the risks for disease-related MCC. SCD patients who suffered their first disease-related chronic condition before age 30 years developed MCC at a rate of 19.1 times faster than those at a later age. These patients are therefore high-risk patients and should be offered HSCT early in the course of their disease before multiple organ damage intervenes, even if matched-related donors are not available. This patient selection and timing approach provides a forum for an easy-to-understand and real-time discussion, including the choice of donor type, with SCD patients and families when considering HSCT.
Mechanosensitive Non-Coding RNAs in Osteogenesis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Cen Xiao , Pan Xuefeng , Zhang Bo , Huang Wei , Xiong Xiner , Huang Xinqi , Liu Jun , Zhao Zhihe
Published: October 2021

In bone tissue engineering, tailored biomaterials mimicking mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) niche could regulate cell behavior and fate decision. The mechanisms, however, remain obscure. Recently, increasing evidence has shown that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are critical modulators of the mechano-induced MSCs’ responses. Mechanosensitive ncRNAs could convert various physical forces into biochemical signals, and orchestrate signaling networks that regulate the osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in their unique microenvironment. In this review, we focus on the mechanosensitive ncRNAs which could interpret mechanical stimuli during the osteogenesis of MSCs, summarize the signaling pathway networks by which these ncRNAs drive MSCs fate, and point out the limitations and the areas waiting for further exploration.
Diversity, Dissent and Representation: Lessons From The First Minority Judge in the Israeli Supreme Court
Authors: Totry-Jubran Manal
Published: October 2021

This paper seeks to enrich existing empirical research on substantive representation in the judicial system by exploring a case study of the Honorable Justice (retired) Salim Joubran, the first ethnic-minority judge appointed to the Supreme Court of Israel. By employing a dual methodology of qualitative discourse analysis and dissenting quantitative studies, the study investigates when, why and how he dissented in controversial cases, which are defined as cases that resulted in non-unanimous votes. The study shows that a quantitative study on dissenting opinions of a minority judge alone did not provide comprehensive conclusions. The complementary qualitative discourse analysis shows that in cases that challenged state actions that impacted his social group, Joubran employed distinct strategies and reasoning that are akin to feminist judgments approach. Hence, the study adds to existing research on judicial diversity indicating that women and ethnic minorities judges not only share common challenges but might also operate similar reasoning strategies. In light of these insights, the study calls for employing the combined qualitative and quantitative methodology on examining judgments focusing on dissenting opinions of women and ethnic minority judges as it offers a complex understanding of substantive representation and provides answers regarding the socio-legal effects of group affiliation on judgments.
Exploring the Nexus Between Internal Branding and Front-line Employees Performance in Indian Public Sector Banks: Serial Mediation Approach
Authors: Goud V. Madhusudhan , Sheena
Published: October 2021

This research investigates the underpinning mechanism stating how internal branding influences front-line employee performance. Specifically, it investigates the mediation and serial mediation effects of work engagement and job satisfaction between internal branding and organizational citizenship behaviours towards customers (OCBC) from 623 front-line employees within public sector banks of India. Results indicate that work engagement and job satisfaction fully and serially mediate between internal branding and OCBC. Job satisfaction only fully mediates the link between internal branding and OCBC. The research provides valuable insights to academicians and bank managers to adopt internal branding and leverage OCBC through work engagement and job satisfaction.
Surprise Reveals the Affective-Moral Economies in Cancer Illness Narratives
Authors: Plage Stefanie , Olson Rebecca E.
Published: October 2021

Emotions, like joy and sorrow, feature in illness narratives, dramatizing stories of becoming: sick, well, controlled, in control. However, brief emotions, such as surprise, have received limited analytic attention in cancer illness narratives. Drawing on 20 interviews with 11 participants with diverse cancer diagnoses, along with the 455 photographs they produced for this study, we address the complex interactions between discourse, societal expectations, and perceptions in moral-affective economies. Tracing the emergence, deployment, and silencing of surprise provided an avenue to explore connections between affect, morality, advocacy, and philanthropy. We show how surprise works to deny uncertainties couched in individual risk, and situate cancer causation within the logics of anticipation, (re)producing socio-cultural etiology narratives. Attending to surprise reveals how some cancers are situated as individual responsibilities, with restricted access to compassion and collective resources. Thus, we interrogate the affective-moral economy underpinning cancer illness narratives, and surprise’s pivotal role in its analysis.
Culturally Responsive Individualized Education Programs: Building Transition Bridges Between Families and Schools
Authors: Barrio Brenda L.
Published: October 2021

Students with disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds often experience barriers and inequities in transition supports and services due to the cultural mismatch of beliefs, values, and expectations between their families and their schools. Though transition planning was designed for students and families to provide input, there is often a lack of space for the family to share their voice and long-term goals in the decision-making process. Through culturally responsive transition Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), in combination with a person-centered framework, bridging partnerships between the student, family, communities, and schools can be accomplished and built for sustainability. In urban settings and communities, these boundary-crossing collaborations for students with disabilities and their families could be more complex, as additional factors in urban schools are presented. This article presents a practical tool that could guide educators and families from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds into depth and breadth in transition IEP development.
Brain Mechanisms of Conscious Awareness: Detect, Pulse, Switch, and Wave
Authors: Blumenfeld Hal
Published: October 2021

Consciousness is a fascinating field of neuroscience research where questions often outnumber the answers. We advocate an open and optimistic approach where converging mechanisms in neuroscience may eventually provide a satisfactory understanding of consciousness. We first review several characteristics of conscious neural activity, including the involvement of dedicated systems for content and levels of consciousness, the distinction and overlap of mechanisms contributing to conscious states and conscious awareness of transient events, nonlinear transitions and involvement of large-scale networks, and finally the temporal nexus where conscious awareness of discrete events occurs when mechanisms of attention and memory meet. These considerations and recent new experimental findings lead us to propose an inclusive hypothesis involving four phases initiated shortly after an external sensory stimulus: (1) Detect—primary and higher cortical and subcortical circuits detect the stimulus and select it for conscious perception. (2) Pulse—a transient and massive neuromodulatory surge in subcortical-cortical arousal and salience networks amplifies signals enabling conscious perception to proceed. (3) Switch—networks that may interfere with conscious processing are switched off. (4) Wave—sequential processing through hierarchical lower to higher cortical regions produces a fully formed percept, encoded in frontoparietal working memory and medial temporal episodic memory systems for subsequent report of experience. The framework hypothesized here is intended to be nonexclusive and encourages the addition of other mechanisms with further progress. Ultimately, just as many mechanisms in biology together distinguish living from nonliving things, many mechanisms in neuroscience synergistically may separate conscious from nonconscious neural activity.
Pilot Wellness Program With Adapted Social–Emotional Learning and COVID-19 Curriculum for Refugee Youth
Authors: Rosenberg Julia , McDonough Ryan Patricia , O’Brien Caroline , Ganjavi Fereshteh , Sharifi Mona
Published: October 2021

Refugee children are less likely than their non-refugee peers to receive timely diagnoses and treatment for mental and/or behavioral health problems, despite facing multiple risk factors including potential exposure to trauma during premigration, migration, and postmigration experiences. Social–Emotional Learning offers preventive mental health education for children through well-established, evidenced-based curricula. Although there are clear benefits of Social–Emotional Learning curricula, which can help children achieve long-term success emotionally and academically, Social–Emotional Learning curricula are not easily accessible for refugee children, often because of language and socioeconomic barriers. In this pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of an adapted Social–Emotional Learning program that included culturally specific, multilingual, trauma-informed wellness, and physical education during the COVID-19 pandemic: EMPOWER (Emotions Program Outside the Clinic With Wellness Education for Refugees). We used the Intervention Mapping framework which guided the (1) planning, (2) program development, and (3) mixed-method evaluation of the feasibility and acceptability of the EMPOWER pilot. We found that this adaptation was well-received by Afghan refugee families and that COVID-19 safety measures were well-understood after participation. Challenges emerged around videoconferencing connectivity and around finding a common language for discussing emotions. Future iterations of the program and evaluations will require continued partnerships with community members and organizations. As we continue and expand EMPOWER, we aim to evaluate short-term improvement in Social–Emotional Learning competence as well as long-term mental and behavioral health outcomes for children and their families.
SAM++: Porting the E3SM-MMF cloud resolving model using a C++ portability library
Authors: Lyngaas Isaac , Norman Matthew , Kim Youngsung
Published: October 2021

In this work, we demonstrate the process for porting the cloud resolving model (CRM) used in the Energy Exascale Earth System Model Multi-Scale Modeling Framework (E3SM-MMF) from its original Fortran code base to C++ code using a portability library. This porting process is performed using the Yet Another Kernel Library (YAKL), a simplified C++ portability library that specializes in Fortran porting. In particular, we detail our step-by-step approach for porting the System for Atmospheric Modeling (SAM), the CRM used in E3SM-MMF, using a hybrid Fortran/C++ framework that allows for systematic reproduction and correctness testing of gradually ported YAKL C++ code. Additionally, analysis is done on the performance of the ported code using OLCF’s Summit supercomputer.
Lil Watan: Queer patriotism in chauvinistic Lebanon
Authors: Chamas Sophie
Published: October 2021

There exists a robust literature on the impact of the sexualisation of the war on terror as an imperial endeavour on both queer and non-queer subjects in the Middle East. This article explores the consequences for LGBT activism of the localisation of the war on terror in the region and the securitisation of governance, taking Lebanon as its focus. I argue the importance of thinking through the ways in which the war on terror is localised, taken advantage of and used as a means of strengthening state power in the Global South, and the effects of such processes on activism. I explore how LGBT activists in Lebanon have engaged the war on terror as an instrument of local rather than foreign power. The weaponisation of the war on terror as an instrument of governance by the Lebanese state, I argue, has reshaped the field within which LGBT activists in the country articulate and lobby for their rights and has enabled a turn towards what I call proto-homonationalism amongst some LGBT actors in Lebanon – attempts at positioning certain segments of the LGBT population as not only of the nation but beneficial to the security state.
‘Disturbing’ children’s YouTube genres and the algorithmic uncanny
Authors: Balanzategui Jessica
Published: October 2021

Since late 2017, journalists, advocacy groups, and policy-makers have expressed serious concerns about popular genres of video content on YouTube that target child viewers but which are not child-appropriate according to extant definitions and cultural expectations. This article combines a discourse and thematic analysis of 54 news articles and opinion pieces about ‘disturbing’ children’s genres on YouTube with textual analysis of the two genres at the centre of this reportage. The analysis illuminates why the formal, aesthetic, and thematic qualities of these particular child-oriented YouTube genres trouble existing cultural expectations around children’s media. I argue that the genres addressed in the reportage share a key quality that I refer to as the ‘algorithmic uncanny’: common semantic and syntactic features that foster among reporters a perception that algorithms have played a key role in not only distributing the content but in shaping its aesthetic and thematic agendas.
Online learning in the time of the COVID-19 crisis: Implications for the self-regulated learning of university design students
Authors: Mou Tsai-Yun
Published: October 2021

This study investigated the intervention of a weekly learning diary on design students’ self-regulated learning in an online learning environment. A total of 54 undergraduate students from an intermediate and an advanced course respectively participated in this study. In a 7-week period of online learning, the students had to complete a course project on their own. Synchronous online learning with the Microsoft Teams program was adopted for students to have real-time learning as well as recordings for after-class reviewing. The results revealed that the structured weekly diary was helpful for the students’ goal setting, time management, self-monitoring, and self-evaluation. Students with clear strategies of time management mostly had better performance. The students had an upward trend of self-monitoring and self-evaluation. Regarding their self-efficacy, the freshman class did not change greatly over time but the senior class steadily built up confidence in online learning and self-regulated learning. Nevertheless, the process and experiences of online self-regulated learning with the intervention of the learning diary influenced the design students to a certain degree.
Estimation of land-based emissions during container terminal operations in the Ambarlı Port, Turkey
Authors: Kara Gökhan , Emecen Kara Esma Gül , Okşaş Olgay
Published: October 2021

Many types of mobile vehicles are used simultaneously in container terminal operations. Because most of these mobile vehicles have diesel engines, they emit a significant amount of pollutant emissions into the atmosphere during their operation. They are considered as land-based mobile emission sources (MobES) and should be included in the total port emission inventory. The emission inventory is a basic requirement in developing an environmental management strategy to improve emission control. In this context, this study aims to estimate the emission inventories of mobile vehicles used in terminal operations in the Ambarlı container ports located in the city of Istanbul, which is one of the most populous cities in the world. In this respect, the amounts of the emissions of all the container handling equipment with diesel engines in the port areas, including external trucks delivering/receiving containers to/from the port were estimated using an activity-based method. It has been found that approximately 42.39% of the total CO2 emission is owing to terminal tractors and the total annual CO2 value per TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) of MobES is 0.01259 tons. The CO2 value per TEU can serve as a CO2 emission performance indicator for land-based MobES in process of the evaluation of emission inventories in container ports.
Ovarian Function Preservation in Patients With Cervical Cancer Undergoing Hysterectomy and Ovarian Transposition Before Pelvic Radiotherapy
Authors: Jung Wonguen , Kim Yun H. , Kim Kyung S.
Published: October 2021

To examine the factors associated with ovarian failure (OF) and assess the effectiveness of ovarian transposition (OT) before pelvic irradiation for preserving ovarian function in patients with cervical cancer (CC) undergoing hysterectomy. During 2003 to 2017, patients who underwent hysterectomy with preservation of one or both ovaries were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into 4 groups, depending on whether radiotherapy (RT) and OT were performed: group 1, RT(+) and OT(+); group 2, RT(+) and OT(−); group 3, RT(−) and OT(+); group 4, RT(−) and OT(−). OF was defined as serum follicle-stimulating hormone levels of ≥30 mIU/mL. Sixty-six patients (59 [89.4%] invasive CC and 7 [10.6%] cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) were included. The 2-year OF-free survival rate was 61.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 37.8-86.0), 0%, 91.7% (95% CI 76.0-100), and 75.8% (95% CI 58.2-93.4) for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. In groups 1 and 2 receiving RT, OT, and combination of external beam radiotherapy and vaginal brachytherapy were associated with OF on multivariate analysis (MVA) ( P-value  =  .002 and .046, respectively). In groups 3 and 4 without RT, older age (40 years old) and OT did not affect OF; however, the number of remaining ovaries was independently associated with OF in MVA ( P  =  .035). OT could effectively preserve ovarian function in patients treated with adjuvant RT, while OT procedure itself did not affect ovarian failure. OT should be considered in the management of premenopausal cervical cancer patients.
A metabolism-relevant signature as a predictor for prognosis and therapeutic response in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Chen Qiangda , Pu Ning , Yin Hanlin , Zhang Jicheng , Zhao Guochao , Lou Wenhui , Wu Wenchuan
Published: October 2021

Although several altered metabolic genes have been identified to be involved in the tumorigenesis and advance of pancreatic cancer (PC), their prognostic values remained unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore new targets and establish a metabolic signature to predict prognosis and chemotherapy response for optimal individualized treatment. The expression data of PC patients from two independent cohorts and metabolism-related genes from KEGG were utilized and analyzed for the establishment of the signature via lasso regression. Then, the differentially expressed candidate genes were further confirmed via online data mining platform and qRT-PCR of clinical specimens. Then, the analyses of gene set enrichment, mutation, and chemotherapeutic response were performed via R package. As results showed, 109 differentially expressed metabolic genes were screened out in PC. Then a metabolism-related five-gene signature comprising B3GNT3, BCAT1, KYNU, LDHA, and TYMS was constructed and showed excellent ability for predicting survival. A novel nomogram coordinating the metabolic signature and other independent prognostic parameters was developed and showed better predictive power in predicting survival. In addition, this metabolic signature was significantly involved in the activation of multiple oncological pathways and regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment. The patients with high risk scores had higher tumor mutation burdens and were prone to be more sensitive to chemotherapy. In summary, our work identified a new metabolic signature and established a superior prognostic nomogram which may supply more indications to explore novel strategies for diagnosis and treatment.
Behavior of oil-based modeling clay at medium strain rates
Authors: Hernandez Camilo , Buchely Mario F , Casas-Rodriguez Juan P , Maranon Alejandro
Published: October 2021

The modeling clay is an oil-based soft, flowable, and pliable material made from waxes and oils. Besides its primary use for making sculptures, the modeling clay is commonly used to evaluate bulletproof vests and simulate metal manufacturing processes by conformation. In ballistic tests, the clay is used to retain the deformation of the rear face of body armors; and in the study of metal forming processes, it is used as a physical model to provide information on the plastic flow. However, its mechanical dynamic behavior is not entirely understood. In this study, Plastilina Roma No. 1 modeling clay was mechanically characterized using the power-law constitutive model at medium strain rates [Formula: see text]. The material parameters were determined using a penetration model based on the Cavity Expansion Theory and an inverse technique involving the comparison of the model with experimentation. The optimum set of constitutive parameters was found by reducing the difference of the calculated penetration profile and the measurements from a drop test. This optimization process was programmed on the MATLAB–Simulink environment. The determined material parameters were validated by comparing the results from a computational model with three test set-ups. Finite element model results show good concordance with experimental measurements.
Lived Experience of Participants of a Korean Medicine-Based Postpartum Program: A Protocol for a Qualitative Research Study
Authors: Youn Inae , Park Han-Song , Lee Do-Eun , Suh Hyo-Weon , Seo Joohee
Published: October 2021

Background: The postpartum period is the most critical period in the mother’s and child’s lives, and integrative medical approaches, including Korean medicine, are preferred for promoting postpartum recovery and managing postpartum symptoms. The socially disadvantaged class is known to be more vulnerable to postpartum depression, obesity, and bleeding, and the National Medical Center is undertaking Korean medicine-based postpartum health management projects for the socially disadvantaged mothers. However, clinical evidence and research data on integrative medicine-based postpartum care to expand the scope of these postpartum programs to help these women are lacking. Aim: To investigate the barriers, benefits, and limitations of integrative medical postpartum health management programs for the socially disadvantaged mothers and investigate the experiences of this population. Methods: A qualitative research methodology is used, and a semi-structured, open-ended interview will be conducted. The interview will be conducted among 10 or fewer participants, with each interview session lasting for 60–120 min. Data will be analyzed using grounded theory framework proposed by Strauss and Corbin. Significance: This study will shed light on the users’ experiences and benefits, unmet needs, and limitations of Korean medicine-based postpartum management programs for the socially disadvantaged mothers. The findings will be useful for the improvement of postpartum care programs and used as foundational data for the protocols of quantitative studies in the future.
Prediction of thrust force and torque in canal preparation process using Taguchi method and Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Guo Weihao , Wang Liming , Li Jianfeng , Li Wenxiang , Li Fangyi , Gu Yu
Published: October 2021

Root canal preparation is a vital procedure during the treatment of pulposis and periapical periodontitis. However, the improper control of thrust force and torque in root canal preparation will cause nerve damage and cell necrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate and optimize the main factors influencing thrust force and torque and to establish an efficient predictive model for root canal preparation. This study was conducted on fresh bovine bones due to the similarity of structure and density with human teeth. A novel experimental platform was first built to measure the force and torque in canal preparation of different parameters. The effect of the experimental results on thrust force and torque was investigated based on Analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicated that the diameter of instrument, width of root canal, and feed rate are the most significant factors influencing the thrust forces and torque ( p < 0.05). Based on the above experiments, a Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFN) model was established to predict the thrust force and torque in a wider range of parameters. In confirmation tests, RBFN showed an excellent predictive model for prediction of thrust force and torque (error less than 14%) in canal preparation.
Technology facilitated re-victimization: How video evidence of sexual violence contributes to mediated cycles of abuse
Authors: Regehr Kaitlyn , Birze Arija , Regehr Cheryl
Published: October 2021

With the ubiquity of technological devices producing video and audio recordings, violent crimes are increasingly captured digitally and used as evidence in the criminal justice process. This paper presents the results of a qualitative study involving Canadian criminal justice professionals, and asks questions surrounding the treatment of video evidence and the rights of victims captured within such images. We argue that loss of control over personal images and narratives can re-traumatize survivors of sexual violence, creating technologically-facilitated cycles of abuse that are perpetuated each time images are viewed. We find that the justice system has little to no consistent policy or procedure for handling video evidence, or for ameliorating the impact of these digital records on survivors. Subsequently, we assert that the need for a victim-centred evidence-based understanding of mediated evidence has never been greater.
Patient Demographics and Clinical Outcomes Among Type 1 Diabetes Patients Using Continuous Glucose Monitors: Data From T1D Exchange Real-World Observational Study
Authors: DeSalvo Daniel J. , Noor Nudrat , Xie Cicilyn , Corathers Sarah D. , Majidi Shideh , McDonough Ryan J. , Polsky Sarit , Izquierdo Roberto , Rioles Nicole , Weinstock Ruth , Obrynba Kathryn , Roberts Alissa , Vendrame Francesco , Sanchez Janine , Ebekozien Osagie
Published: October 2021

Background:

The benefits of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) on glycemic management have been demonstrated in numerous studies; however, widespread uptake remians limited. The aim of this study was to provide real-world evidence of patient attributes and clinical outcomes associated with CGM use across clinics in the U.S. based T1D Exchange Quality Improvement (T1DX-QI) Collaborative.

Method:

We examined electronic Health Record data from eight endocrinology clinics participating in the T1DX-QI Collaborative during the years 2017-2019.

Results:

Among 11,469 type 1 diabetes patients, 48% were CGM users. CGM use varied by race/ethnicity with Non-Hispanic Whites having higher rates of CGM use (50%) compared to Non-Hispanic Blacks (18%) or Hispanics (38%). Patients with private insurance were more likely to use CGM (57.2%) than those with public insurance (33.3%) including Medicaid or Medicare. CGM users had lower median HbA1c (7.7%) compared to nonusers (8.4%). Rates of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and severe hypoglycemia were significantly higher in nonusers compared to CGM users.

Conclusion:

In this real-world study of patients in the T1DX-QI Collaborative, CGM users had better glycemic control and lower rates of DKA and severe hypoglycemia (SH) events, compared to nonusers; however, there were significant sociodemographic disparities in CGM use. Quality improvement and advocacy measures to promote widespread and equitable CGM uptake have the potential to improve clinical outcomes.
Relationships Between Socioeconomic Status, Insurance Coverage for Diabetes Technology and Adverse Health in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Everett Estelle M. , Wisk Lauren E.
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGM) have many benefits in the management of type 1 diabetes. Unfortunately disparities in technology access occur in groups with increased risk for adverse effects (eg, low socioeconomic status [SES], public insurance).

Research Design & Methods:

Using 2015 to 2016 data from 4,895 participants from the T1D Exchange Registry, a structural equation model (SEM) was fit to explore the hypothesized direct and indirect relationships between SES, insurance features, access to diabetes technology, and adverse clinical outcomes (diabetic ketoacidosis, hypoglycemia). SEM was estimated using the maximum likelihood method and standardized path coefficients are presented.

Results:

Higher SES and more generous insurance coverage were directly associated with CGM use (β = 1.52, SE = 0.12, P < .0001 and β = 1.21, SE = 0.14, P < .0001, respectively). Though SES displayed a small inverse association with pump use (β = -0.11, SE = 0.04, P = .0097), more generous insurance coverage displayed a stronger direct association with pump use (β = 0.88, SE = 0.10, P < .0001). CGM use and pump use were both directly associated with fewer adverse outcomes (β = -0.23, SE = 0.06, P = .0002 and β = -0.15, SE = 0.04, P = .0002, respectively). Both SES and insurance coverage demonstrated significant indirect effects on adverse outcomes that operated through access to diabetes technology (β = -0.33, SE = 0.09, P = .0002 and β = -0.40, SE = 0.09, P < .0001, respectively).

Conclusions:

The association between SES and insurance coverage and adverse outcomes was primarily mediated through diabetes technology use, suggesting that disparities in diabetes outcomes have the potential to be mitigated by addressing the upstream disparities in technology use.
The Effects of the Trifolium Pratense L. Extract on the Leukemia Inhibitory Factor and its Receptor in The Endometrial Epithelial Cell Line
Authors: Kokturk Sibel , Kaya Dagistanli Fatma , Dogan Sibel , Usta Emel , Colgecen Hatice , Tanriverdi Gamze , Atar Havva , Ozdemir Feride
Published: October 2021

Isoflavones have attracted much notice due to their health advantages; however, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of isoflavones on endometrium biology remains undiscovered. The expression and deficiency of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and LIF receptor (LIFR) has been shown to be involved in multiple implantations failures in female infertility. Mechanisms implicated in the failure of implantations require further researches, thus our aim is to investigate the effect of the Trifolium pratense L. isoflavone extract with abundant formononetin content on implantation through assessing LIF and LIFR expressions. The Ishikawa cells were cultured with 20, 30, and 40 µg/mL concentrations of Trifolium pratense L. isoflavone extracts for 24 h and detected staining intensity of LIF and LIFR by immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence staining using image analysis software. As compared with the control and 20 µg/mL Trifolium pratense L. groups, the staining intensity of LIF and LIFR in 30 and 40 µg/mL Trifolium pratense L. groups were significantly increased ( P < .0001). Our findings suggest that Trifolium pratense L. isoflavone extract may alter the endometrium expression of LIF and LIFR in the human endometrial adenocarcinoma cell line.
Marx and the mirage of change: Notes from South Africa
Authors: Narsiah Sagie
Published: October 2021

There is little doubt that the understanding of the dynamics of capitalism has been enriched by Geography. Moreover, geographers utilizing Marxist/Marxian lenses have provided valuable insights into the spatial content of the system. Over the past two decades or so, geographers in no small way have contributed to the demystification of capitalism/capitalist development in its neoliberal incarnation – change as mirage. Furthermore, poverty, inequality, unemployment and related social ills are directly linked to the system. Indeed, they are produced by the system. In this paper, the geographical evolution of the capitalist system in South Africa is examined. Critical thinkers, among them Marxists, influenced the theorization of the relationship(s) between capitalism, apartheid, class and race. In this paper, I focus on the spatial aspects, which in my view have been neglected. I reflect on various historical periods – the apartheid era and the post-apartheid era, in particular. What is apparent is that neoliberalism in South Africa has entered a phase which I label “accumulation by corrupt means”. The class basis of this strategy is examined. Critical (Marxist) geographers are shaped by the direct experiences of material conditions. I describe my experiences in this regard.
Cardiac tamponade as the first presentation of thymoma: A case report during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Parthiban Nirmalatiban , Sani Huzairi
Published: October 2021

We report a case of neoplastic cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening condition, as the initial presentation of an anterior mediastinal malignancy. A 69-year-old gentleman with no known history of malignancy presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath, reduced effort tolerance and chronic cough. Clinically, he was not in distress but tachycardic. He was subjected to echocardiography which revealed large pericardial effusion with tamponade effect. Pericardiocentesis drained 1.5 L of haemoserous fluid. CECT thorax, abdomen and pelvis revealed an anterior mediastinal mass with intrathoracic extension complicated with mass effect onto the right atrium and mediastinal vessels. Ultrasound-guided biopsy histopathology examination revealed thymoma. Due to locally advanced disease, tumour resection was not possible, and patient was referred to oncology team for chemoradiotherapy. We report this case study not only due to the rarity of the case but also to highlight its diagnostic challenge due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A modified regimen of low-dose rituximab therapy for patients with refractory immune thrombocytopenia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Zhang Shuo , Jiang Nan , Wang Li , Zhang Li , Chen Hua , Li Mengtao , Zeng Xiaofeng
Published: October 2021

Background:

Severe and refractory immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) affects the life expectancy of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and poses a challenge in their clinical management. This intervention study employed a small sample size to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a modified low-dose rituximab (RTX) regimen in patients with SLE-associated refractory ITP.

Methods:

Eight patients with severe SLE-associated refractory ITP were enrolled in this intervention study. They received an infusion of intravenous RTX (200 mg) on days 1 and 15. The dose of corticosteroids (prescribed previously) was gradually tapered, and immunosuppressants were withdrawn. Patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months; platelet counts, other laboratory indicators, and side effects were recorded. We used intention-to-treat analysis to calculate the response rate.

Results:

Seven participants (87.5%) completed the study. At 1 month, two patients (25.0%) achieved partial response (PR); the PR rate increased to 87.5% at 3 months. At 6 months, three patients (37.5%) achieved complete response (CR). However, the CR rate dropped to 25.0% at 12 months. The overall responses (ORs) were 25.0% (2/8), 87.5% (7/8), 75.0%(6/8), and 75.0%(6/8) at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Two patients developed a mild infusion reaction and one discontinued the study due to herpes zoster virus infection and an allergic reaction 2 weeks after the first dose of RTX.

Conclusion:

Modified low-dose RTX therapy (two infusions of 200 mg every 2 weeks) could be a promising new option for patients with SLE-associated refractory ITP with a satisfactory response rate.
The tie-up blues for Vanya’s Dance Planet: A failure case of social media marketing
Authors: Kushwaha Pooja S
Published: October 2021

This case study covers various aspects of social media as an alternative and cost-effective tool of marketing and promotion. The case also highlights the social media promotion tools used by a social media consultancy start-up for a client, and how it failed to achieve desired results. In this world of digitisation, social media marketing is a trend that is prevalent across the globe. Social networks have changed the way information is delivered to the customers, shifting from traditional push marketing to pull marketing. Entrepreneurs are using social media marketing to promote their product or services by this they can not only promote their venture but at the same time efficiently utilise their marketing budget. Vanya’s Dance Planet is such an organisation which used social media marketing to reach out to its target prospective customers. It required structured planning, professional knowledge about various social media platforms, and creative writing skills to post content on these platforms. The consultant organisation We4U planned and executed the social media campaigns for Vanya’s Dance Planet getting professional help from social media consultancy start-ups which can be a wise decision for some entrepreneurial ventures. But sometimes these professional tie-ups would end up with loss of time, money and trust. This case study deliberates upon such a fallout.
Depression, dietary intake, and body image during coronavirus disease 2019 quarantine in Peru: An online cross-sectional study
Authors: León-Paucar Sheyla D , Calderón-Olivos Bella C , Calizaya-Milla Yaquelin E , Saintila Jacksaint
Published: October 2021

Objective:

The coronavirus disease 2019 affects the psychological well-being of populations. In the same way, it can be a potential threat to body image. The aim of the study was to explore associations between depressive symptoms, dietary intake, and body image during coronavirus disease 2019 quarantine.

Methods:

An online cross-sectional study was conducted in 589 Peruvian adults, 297 men (50.4%) and 292 women (49.6%). The mean age was 30.2 ± 9.4 years (range: 18–59 years). Participants completed three questionnaires, including a food frequency questionnaire, the Body Shape Questionnaire, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Moreover, sociodemographic data were collected. The data were analyzed using the statistical software IBM SPSS version 24, and the chi-square test was used. A significance level of 5% was considered.

Results:

A total of 37.7% and 43.6% of the women reported depressive symptoms and dissatisfaction with body image, respectively. Depressive symptoms were associated with dietary intake and dissatisfaction with body image (p < 0.05). Dissatisfaction with body image was associated with dietary intake (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

Depressive symptomatology plays an important role in the dietary intake and body image of the study population. It is suggested to address these factors through the implementation of health campaign programs and personalized therapeutic interventions.
Personal protective equipment utilization practice and psychological preparedness of health care workers against COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Birhanu Abdi , Balis Bikila , Assebe Yadeta Tesfaye , Bayu Miesso
Published: October 2021

Objectives:

Effective implementation of prevention and control actions by health professionals is substantial to contain the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, this study aimed to assess health care worker’s practice of using personal protective equipment and psychological preparedness against the COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Ethiopia.

Methods:

A facility-based cross-sectional study design was used. The health care workers (HCW) who were working in the selected health facilities were randomly selected. Variables that had p-value of < 0.15 were transformed to multivariable logistic regression model. Finally, the significance level was declared at the p-value < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results:

A total of 418 HCWs were randomly selected and included in this study. The study participants mean age was 27.96 years with a ±5.6SD. HCWs who were male (adjusted odds ratio(AOR) = 2.21, 95% CI: 1.29–3.79), regularly using sanitizer, accessing COVID-19 management guideline (AOR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.46–5.47), trained on COVID-19 prevention methods (AOR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.4–4.7), hopeless of eventually getting COVID-19 at workplace (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.13–3.28), and feeling unsafe at work when using standard precautions (AOR  = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.27–0.79) were associated with good PPE using compared to their counterparts. Moreover, nursing/midwifery professionals practiced good personal protective equipment compared to physicians (AOR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.8–7.7).

Conclusion:

The study demonstrated that being a male, being a nurse/midwifery, regularly sanitizing hands/medical equipment, having COVID-19 management guidelines, trained on COVID-19, and feeling of eventually getting COVID-19 at workplace had a positive association with PPE utilization. Besides, the study revealed that not feeling safe at work when using standard precautions was negatively associated with PPE utilization of HCWs. Therefore, the prevention priorities should be given to frontline HCWs by providing all possible support and strictly implementing the prevention and control guidelines of COVID-19 to prevent the health system from collapse.
Governing Airbnb in Amsterdam and Singapore: A Comparative Study on Governance Strategies and Styles
Authors: Li Yanwei , Canelles Genea
Published: October 2021

The past decade has witnessed the fast spread of Airbnb, a specific example of sharing economy initiatives. Local governments around the world are struggling with policies and regulations to govern the negative externalities caused by Airbnb. In this respect, knowledge is lacking on differences in governance strategies and their effects. This article starts to fill this lacuna by comparing the governance strategies and their effects of two major, but totally different, cities in terms of governance styles: Singapore and Amsterdam. An analytic framework is developed distinguishing different strategies and governance style in enforcing these strategies and different types of response by sharing economy platforms. The Singapore government applied predominantly a hierarchical approach to address the challenges posed by Airbnb, whereas the Amsterdam government mostly adopted a collaborative approach, resulting in different responses by Airbnb. The article goes deeper into explaining these different governance styles and reflects on their implications as derived from the case studies.
At the Buzzer: Parting Shots on Communication and Sport
Authors: Wenner Lawrence A.
Published: October 2021

In his final editorial essay, founding Editor-in-Chief Lawrence Wenner speaks to the successes of the Communication & Sport project as a disciplinary endeavor over its first 10 years. In handing over the editor’s baton to Andrew Billings and Marie Hardin, Communication & Sport is in good hands with the continued support of SAGE Publishing, the sponsorship of a set of scholarly societies, and a growing global scholarly community. Still, communication and sport, as an interdisciplinary scholarly endeavor, has been challenged by competing epistemological perspectives from pragmatic to critical. There is much evidence of implicit and explicit endorsement of a “received” view of sport in line with Coakley’s notion of the “Great Sports Myth.” Caution is advised as research from this vantage point often too eagerly receives sport as a naturalized state-of-affairs worthy of supporting and growing in an agenda focused on advancing the effectiveness and reception of sport communication in the marketplace. The essay closes with the need for a reckoning about the objectives of communication and sport as a scholarly space by reiterating reminder that today’s mediated world is ultimately “all about power.”
Reimagining the Fashion Retail Industry Through the Implications of COVID-19 in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries
Authors: Rao Prakash H. Narayan , Vihari Nitin Simha , Jabeen Shazi Shah
Published: October 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the fashion retail industry. The Gulf Cooperation Council Countries (GCC) is the home of family-centric shopping malls and brick and mortar stores (B&M). This article aims to provide a critical look at the business strategies which the fashion retail companies need to adopt to provide consumers with an integrated online and B&M service which will be essential to survive in the post-pandemic business environment. This article is based on the rich industry experience of the authors and extensive secondary research on the business strategies being employed by the leading fashion retailers in the GCC region to combat the pandemic disruption. The study highlights the importance of a comprehensive rethink on business strategy for the GCC fashion retailers with adoption of digitalization technologies and an adaptive supply chain as the pillars to survive the post-pandemic normal of business environments. The study concludes with a look to the future strategies for fashion retailers in developing a digitalization blueprint, using cloud technologies and big data analytics, leveraging social media, building an agile and adaptive supply chain with omnichannel capability, and ensuring that future products and services are sustainable and socially responsible.