bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Um estudo crítico sobre a obra literária "Ensaio sobre a cegueira": contribuições para a teoria fantástica
Authors: Silva Maria Islane de Moura , Pinheiro Cristiane Feitosa
Published: September 2022

A pesquisa analisou a presença de elementos fantásticos dentro da obra Ensaio sobre a cegueira (2017), de José Saramago. Para isso, realizou-se o estudo das duas principais vertentes do fantástico: Tradicional e Contemporâneo. Partindo da hipótese de que a obra pertence ao gênero fantástico, a análise realizada considerou a perspectiva do fantástico contemporâneo de Sartre (2007). Com isso, observando os elementos condutores da narrativa, constatou-se a presença de elementos insólitos dentro do romance, relacionados à cegueira branca que acomete os personagens logo no início da história.
Visceral tetrathyridiosis Mesocestoides sp. (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) in a wild Barn Owl Tyto alba - a first report and new host record
Authors: P.G. Vimalraj  , A. Latchumikanthan
Published: September 2022

Parasitic diseases are a serious problem in wild animals and a significant burden on wild populations. There is a need for more studies on the topic in India. An adult male Barn Owl presented for post mortem examination revealed hard mass macroscopically with multiple pyogranuloma on liver and lung and histo-pathologically the lung and liver lesion were identified as the second stage of Mesocestoides sp. cestode named Tetrathyridia spp.
Woody plant wealth of Therikadu Reserve Forest, Tuticorin, India: a checklist
Authors: V. Muneeswaran  , M. Udayakumar
Published: September 2022

A qualitative survey was conducted to record the woody plant wealth of Carnatic Umbrella Thorn Forest (CUTF) existing within the Therikadu Reserve Forest (TRF), Tuticorin district, southeastern Coast, Peninsular India. A sum of 35 man-days was spent on the field to prepare a woody plant checklist. All collected specimens were identified up to the species level with the help of floras. A sum of 105 species belonging to 83 genera in 37 families were recorded from the study area. The family Fabaceae represented by a large number of species (36 species) followed by Bignoniaceae (5) and Rubiaceae (4). Eight families represented by three species each, while 16 families represented by a single species each. CUTF acts as a home for one of the IUCN’s endangered species, Pterocarpus santalinus. The reserve forest and sacred grove status are keeping TRF as an intact and relatively undisturbed ecosystem.
Morphology characterization and phytochemical overview of the Moluccan Ironwood Intsia bijuga (Colebr.) Kuntze, a living collection of Purwodadi Botanic Garden, Indonesia
Authors: Melisnawati H. Angio  , Renjana Elga , Firdiana Elok Rifqi
Published: September 2022

As one of the ex situ conservation sites, Purwodadi Botanic Garden (PBG) has Intsia bijuga as its collection with high economic value for its high quality wood. It is categorised as Near Threatened in the IUCN Red List. Its efficacy as herb is due to the presence of its various chemical compounds. The purpose of this study was to characterize the morphology of I. bijuga cultivated in PBG and to reveal its phytochemical compounds, as well as their health benefits. This research was conducted at the PBG in April–May 2020. The plant material was obtained from PBG collection. The plant morphology was characterized by direct observation in the field, while information regarding phytochemical compounds of I. bijuga along with their benefits was obtained by literature review. The data obtained was analyzed descriptively. The results showed that I. bijuga collected by PBG came from Maluku and Java. Both have morphological characteristics that are not very different, i.e., they are trees, they have compound leaves, pale stems with lenticels on their surface, panicle flowers, pod-shaped fruits, and buttress roots. I. bijuga contains polyphenol compounds that have medicinal benefits, such as anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-viral, hence it has enormous medicinal potential. Due to habitat shrinkage of the species, an effort to have it conserved ex situ is critical.
First record of the swallowtail moth Epiplema adamantina Inoue, 1998 (Lepidoptera: Uraniidae: Epipleminae) from western Himalaya, India
Authors: Lekhendra  , Arun Pratap Singh
Published: September 2022

This record of Epiplema adamantina Inoue, 1998 from Mussoorie is the first confirmed record of this species from the Western Himalaya outside Nepal, which is ~800kmwest from vill. Bagmati, Mt. Phoolchauki in Eastern Nepal, the nearest known site record of this species.  The species prefers ‘Monsoon season’ as its flight period in ‘Moist temperate oak forest zone’ of Western and Central Himalayas. The  paper discusses distinguishing features of  E. adamantina with its congeners E. morataria and E. arcuata found in the same region.
Effects of visitor disturbance on tetrapod vertebrates in the Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka
Authors: D.M.T. Dhananjani  , W.A.D. Mahaulpatha
Published: September 2022

Effect of visitor disturbances on tetrapod vertebrates was studied from December 2017 to October 2018 in the Horton Plains National Park (HPNP), which is one of the world’s best nature reserves and a popular tourist destination of Sri Lanka. Roads and nature trails with cloud forest, aquatic and grasslands habitats inside the HPNP were selected to compare the effect of visitor disturbances. Three 100 meter fixed length line transects were marked along the roads and the nature trails in each habitat. Vehicle noise was measured using sound meter software. Visitor activities that cause disturbance included road kills, photography, trampling and animal feeding. Amphibian and reptile road kills were higher compared to other tetrapod road kills during vacation periods. Behavioral response of species to visitor disturbances included avoidance, habituation and attraction. When the vehicle noise range was from 63±2.11 dB to 69±2.11 dB, habituation behavior was displayed. When the vehicle noise range increased to the range of 70±4.71 dB to 88±4.71 dB, avoidance behavior was displayed. Animals display a propensity to habituation behavior compared to avoidance behavior when vehicle speed was less than 30 kmh/hr. The results of this study can be used to integrate with the future visitor, park and wildlife management practices of the park.
First photographic evidence of the Binturong Arctictis binturong (Raffles, 1821) from Nepal
Authors: Chetri Madhu , Ale Purna Bahadur , Dahal Tulasi Prasad , Shah Karan Bahadur
Published: September 2022

This is the first photographic confirmation of the occurrence of Binturong Arctictis binturong from Nepal. Although based on anecdotal reports, the species was believed to occur in the eastern Himalaya of Nepal but its exact locality and photographic evidence were not available. Hence this is the first proof for this species to be present in Nepal.
Hidden Potential of Highly Efficient and Widely Accessible Thrombolytic Staphylokinase
Authors: Toul Martin , Mican Jan , Slonkova Veronika , Nikitin Dmitri , Marek Martin , Bednar David , Damborsky Jiri , Prokop Zbynek
Published: September 2022

Stroke burden is substantially increasing but current therapeutic drugs are still far from ideal. Here we highlight the vast potential of staphylokinase as an efficient, fibrin-selective, inexpensive, and evolvable thrombolytic agent. The emphasis is escalated by new recent findings. Staphylokinase nonimmunogenic variant was proven noninferior to alteplase in a clinical trial, with decreased risk of intracranial hemorrhage and the advantage of single bolus administration. Furthermore, our detailed kinetic analysis revealed a new staphylokinase limiting bottleneck whose elimination might provide up to 1000-fold higher activity than the clinically approved alteplase. This knowledge of limitations unlocks new possibilities for improvements that are now achievable by the community of protein engineers who have the required expertise and are ready to transform staphylokinase into a powerful molecule. Collectively, the noninferiority and safety of nonimmunogenic staphylokinase together with the newly identified effectivity limitation make staphylokinase a perfect candidate for further exploration, modification, and advancement to make it the next-generation widely accessible thrombolytic drug effectively treating stroke all around the world, including middle- and low-income countries.
An Analytical Solution to the Perturbation Analysis of the Interaction between Downburst Outflows and Atmospheric Boundary Layer Winds
Authors: Moeini Masoud , Romanic Djordje
Published: September 2022

Downbursts are negatively buoyant downdrafts that emerge from a storm and spread outward upon hitting the surface. The produced outflow, however, is not spreading through a calm environment, but rather through an atmosphere characterized by larger-scale atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) winds. This interaction between ABL winds and downbursts forms an outflow that is more complex than an outflow created by an isolated downdraft. Here, we propose an analytical solution of the interaction between the ABL winds and an isolated downburst outflow. The model is applicable when the ratio of centerline downdraft velocity to the horizontal ABL velocity at the cloud base is larger than the nondimensional group (H/D)(r/H)1.1, where H is the cloud-base height, D is the diameter of the downdraft, and r is the distance from the centerline of isolated downdraft. Also, the solution is derived for a specific direction in the outflow when the ABL winds and the isolated downburst outflow are aligned and the vertical profiles of radial velocity are self-similar. The model is based on the use of impinging-jet dynamics, their spreading rates, and a universal renormalization group that describes numerous laboratory measurements of velocity profiles of impinging jets issuing into both quiescent and crossflowing backgrounds. The model assumes a “known” base state corresponding to an isolated downburst, and then derives its interaction with ABL winds by way of perturbation analysis. The radial and vertical profiles of horizontal velocity from our analytical model are compared against field observations of actual downbursts and other analytical models and physical simulations of downburst-like outflows.

Significance Statement

Downbursts are intense downdrafts that emerge from a thunderstorm and spread outward upon hitting the surface. Near-surface wind gusts in a downburst can be similar to those observed in an EF3-rated tornado (∼75 m s−1). A downburst outflow is not spreading through a calm environment, but rather through an atmosphere characterized by larger-scale atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) winds. This interaction between ABL winds and downbursts forms an outflow that is more complex than an outflow created by an isolated downdraft. However, most of the current analytical models of downbursts do not account for this interaction. Using experimental measurements of downburst-like impinging jets and mathematical rigor, our study derives an equation that quantifies this interaction between downburst and ABL winds.
Legal system barriers to the effectiveness of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) as a support for the inclusion of students with disability
Authors: Dickson Elizabeth
Published: September 2022

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (DDA) appears to offer powerful remedies to students who have been refused enrolment, excluded after enrolment or denied educational opportunities or benefits because of their disability. The Act prohibits discrimination on the ground of disability in the protected area of education and obligates reasonable adjustment for disability. Over the course of its thirty-year history, court action taken under the DDA has disappointed more students than it has helped. Legislation like the DDA operates within a broader legal system and its remedial effect is affected by that system. Barriers to inclusion have risen from the legal system surrounding the DDA, a system which is complaints-based, adversarial and expensive. An analysis of those barriers is the focus of this article.
Drugs Released for Clinical Use
Authors: de HAEN PAUL
Published: September 2022

This listing includes new single chemical entities and preparations, duplicate single products, and combination products that have become available for clinical use during the period from February 21 to April 20, 1969. The information is taken from the manufacturer's package insert or brochure, which should be consulted for further details on indications, dosage, contraindications, and adverse reactions.
Drugs Released for Clinical Use
Authors: de HAEN PAUL
Published: September 2022

This listing includes new single chemical entities and preparations, duplicate single products, and combination products that have become available for clinical use during the period from Febuary 21, 1969, to April 20, 1970. This information is taken from the manufacturer's package insert or brochure, which should be consulted for further details on indications, dosage, contraindications, and adverse reactions.
Rural parent and elementary school student resilience to COVID-19: Disability status and parental predictors of change
Authors: Chatlos Suzannah B. , Samudra Preeti G. , Magoon Jillian M. , Lokossou Aquilas C.
Published: September 2022

Little is known about how the COVID-19 pandemic relates to child and parent functioning in a rural population. The present study investigated how disability status and parent factors related to resilience in a rural population before and after the shift to remote instruction. Parents of elementary-aged children in a rural area of the U.S. completed an online questionnaire, rating their own functioning and their child's academic, cognitive, and socioemotional functioning (1) retrospectively thinking back to a month before the pandemic, and (2) at the time of the survey, approximately four months after the onset of pandemic changes. Parents of children with disabilities perceived stronger child resilience through the pandemic transition than parents of children without disabilities. Additionally, parents who better maintained their work-life balance and support through the pandemic transition reported stronger resilience in their children. These results highlight the importance of supporting all children and parents during difficult transitions (e.g., providing additional resources so that parents can maintain similar levels of balance and support through the transition), including those students who have experienced less adversity pre-transition.
Right-wing populist parties and their appeal to pro-redistribution voters
Authors: König Pascal D , Wenzelburger Georg
Published: September 2022

As anti-establishment parties, right-wing populists (RWPs) have been successful in attracting the politically discontent. This article shows how this appeal of RWPs asymmetrically affects citizens on the economical left and right. Building on previous work, the analysis examines how anti-establishment status conditions not only the effect of political disaffection, but also the effect of redistribution preferences on RWP support. A multilevel analysis using nine waves of the European Social Survey and a composite anti-establishment measure reveals that where RWPs are more established, strong pro-redistribution preferences drive voters away from these parties even more than voters are attracted to them based on political distrust. Political distrust more than outweighs the countervailing effect of pro-redistribution preferences only where RWPs are less established. There, pro-redistribution voters are a particularly suitable target as they are also more politically dissatisfied. These findings help to understand when and why RWPs can attract different segments of society.
Accurately detecting happy facial expressions associates with perceptions of flirtatiousness
Authors: Bibby Emily S. , McKinnon Allison M. , Shaw Michael , Mattson Richard E.
Published: September 2022

Emotional facial expressions are relevant to flirtation because they provide information on an individual’s intentions or motivations. Individual differences in the ability to accurately detect and discriminate between normative facially expressed emotions could lead to misperceptions of the level of sexual interest being conveyed, which has been linked to sexual assault and harassment. To explore this notion, we recruited a national sample of college aged male and female participants ( N = 219) who completed a novel facial expression recognition task used to detect accuracy in processing facial emotions of happiness, surprise, anger, and disgust. Participants also viewed multiple video clips of blind dates between two different-sex participants and rated each partner on their degree of flirtatiousness. Consistent with predictions, we found that individuals who misidentified other facial emotions for happiness appeared to overestimate flirtation. Though not predicted, participants who failed to accurately identify happy faces also overestimated flirtation, whereas individuals who took longer to respond to emotional facial expressions and misidentified an emotion as conveying happiness made greater errors in perceptions of flirtatiousness. Overall, these findings suggest that individual differences in the ability to detect and discriminate happiness through facial expressions are relevant to misperceptions of flirtatious behavior, and more broadly illuminates the role of basic emotion recognition on perceptions of flirtatiousness.
Spouse and mother-in-law rejection and marital adjustment of Turkish women with child and adult marriage
Authors: Cevheroğlu Büşra Aslan , Tutarel-Kışlak Şennur
Published: September 2022

Child marriages occur between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child and take place without children being physiologically or psychologically ready to shoulder the responsibilities of marriage and having children. Child marriages among women are prevalent in Turkey and linked with number of negative outcomes. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictor role of spouse and mother-in-law rejection on marital adjustment and whether this relationship differs for Turkish women married under and above 18. Results revealed that women who were married as children had significantly higher scores for spouse and mother-in-law rejection and lower marital adjustment than women married above 18. Additionally, the marital adjustment of women married as children and by the marriage of choice was significantly lower than women who had married at an adult age and by the marriage of choice. Moderation analysis, which was made by Process macro, indicated that marital age and mother-in-law rejection had a moderator role in the relationship between overall spousal rejection and marital adjustment. In conclusion, this study provides a unique contribution to the relevant literature in Turkish culture in terms of comparing women married under the age of 18 and above 18.
Anthropogenic contaminants in glacial environments II: Release and downstream consequences
Authors: Beard Dylan B , Clason Caroline C , Rangecroft Sally , Poniecka Ewa , Ward Kim J , Blake Will H
Published: September 2022

Anthropogenic contamination has been detected in glacial and proglacial environments around the globe. Through mechanisms of secondary release, these contaminants are finding their way into glacial hydrological systems and downstream environments, with potential to impact hundreds of millions of people who rely on glacial meltwater for water, food and energy security worldwide. The first part of our progress report outlined the sources and accumulation mechanisms of contaminants in glacial environments (Part I: Inputs and accumulation). Here we assess processes of contaminant release, pathways to downstream environments, and socio-environmental consequences. We reflect on the potential impacts these contaminants could have for human, ecosystem, and environmental health, as well as framing glacial contaminants within the context of the water-food-energy nexus. Improved understanding of these processes and impacts, while crucially embedding local knowledge, will help to develop key policy and mitigation strategies to address future risk of contaminant release from glaciers.
Personality, behavioral engagement, and psychological adaptation of high school students abroad: A longitudinal perspective on between- and within-person dynamics
Authors: Serrano-Sánchez Juan , Zimmermann Julia , Jonkmann Kathrin
Published: September 2022

International educational mobility is a life event that confronts sojourners with many challenges, such as adapting to a new living environment abroad. Whether these cultural adaptation processes are successful is contingent upon different factors. In the present study, we focused on the role of personality as well as host- and home-cultural behavioral engagement in the psychological adaptation of high school students during an academic year abroad. To that end, we analyzed data from the first four waves of the project Mobility and Acculturation Experiences of Students (MAPS) ( N = 1299 students in a year abroad) using a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) and a random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to address these associations at the interpersonal and intrapersonal level. The analyses revealed the complex interplay between personality, host- and home-cultural behavioral engagement, and adaptation at both the interpersonal and intrapersonal levels of analysis. Moreover, host-cultural behavioral engagement also mediated the predictive effects of personality traits on the psychological adaptation of sojourners in the CLPM. Theoretical implications for personality and acculturation research and practical inferences for supporting students studying abroad are discussed.
The Impact of Weibo Features on User’s Information Comprehension: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Load
Authors: Xu Ying , Xie Jia-Qiong , Wang Fu-Xing , Monk Rebecca L , Gaskin James , Wang Jin-Liang
Published: September 2022

Social media, such as Microblogs, have become an important source for people to obtain information. However, we know little about how this would influence our comprehension over online information. Based on the cognitive load theory, this research explores whether and how two important features of Weibo, which are the feedback function and information fragmentation, would increase cognitive load and may in turn hinder users’ information comprehension in Weibo. A 2 (feedback or non-feedback) × 2 (strong-interference or weak-interference information) between-participants experimental design was conducted. Our results revealed that the Weibo feedback function and interference information exerted a negative impact over information comprehension via inducing increased cognitive load. Specifically, these results deepened our understanding regarding the impact of Weibo features on online information comprehension and suggest the mechanism by which this occurs. This finding has implications for how to minimize the potential cost of using Weibo and maximize the adaptive development of social media.
Optimizing tribological performance in elevated temperature of TiC reinforced A356 matrix composites designed as automotive friction materials using dragonfly algorithm
Authors: Simsek Dogan , Ozyurek Dursun , Ileri Erol , Karaoglan Aslan Deniz
Published: September 2022

The objective of this study designed in three steps is to evaluate the optimization of tribological performance in the elevated temperature of TiC reinforced A356 matrix composites, produced by mechanical alloying (MA), using the dragonfly algorithm (DA). In the first step, an experimental design is created to formulate the problem as an optimization problem with the help of regression modeling, and wear tests by adding a temperature module according to ASTM G99-05 standards are performed at various reinforced rates, operating temperatures, and loads. In the second step, regression models are fitted to the experimental results. In the third step, the dragonfly algorithm (DA) – one of the recent nature inspired metaheuristic optimization algorithms – has been adapted to optimize the formulated problem. The results of DA indicate that the optimum factor levels for the reinforced rate, operating temperature, and load are determined as 7%, 10°C, and 20 N respectively to optimize the responses, namely weight loss, wear rate, and friction coefficient.
Observer-based Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy sampled-data dynamic positioning controller design for unmanned surface vehicle with external disturbances and actuator faults
Authors: Shi Jierong , Sun Haibin , Hou Linlin
Published: September 2022

This article investigates the problem of fuzzy sampled-data dynamic positioning output feedback controller design for unmanned surface vehicle with actuator faults and external disturbances. First, the Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy system is established by considering unknown disturbances and actuator faults. Then, a disturbance observer and an extended state observer are proposed to estimate external disturbances, unmeasured states and actuator faults, respectively. Third, based on the outputs of observers, a fuzzy sampled-data dynamic positioning controller is presented to ensure the stability of the closed-loop system. By means of linear matrix inequality technique, the stability conditions are established via the Lyapunov function method. Finally, the simulation result is shown to validate the advantages of the proposed control scheme.
Aluminum chloride induces G0/G1 phase arrest via regulating the reactive oxygen species-depended non-canonical STAT1 pathway in hFOB1.19 cells
Authors: Zhao Y , Li F , Li S , Ji J , Qiao W , Fang J
Published: September 2022

Treatment with aluminum chloride (AlCl3) suppresses the growth of osteoblastic cells; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of AlCl3 on cell growth have not been fully characterized. In this study, we observed that exposure of hFOB1.19 cells to AlCl3 arrested cells at G0/G1 phase by inducing p21 expression. Further studies indicated that AlCl3 upregulated the phosphorylation level of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) at serine 727 site (Ser727). By chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we found that AlCl3 promoted STAT1/DNA binding activity to p21 promoter, thus resulting in the upregulation of p21. Moreover, siRNA-mediated knockdown of STAT1 attenuated p21 level induced by AlCl3. Notably, using hFOB1.19 cells stably expressing dominant-negative STAT1 (Ser727Ala), we demonstrated that phosphorylation of STAT1 at Ser727 site is required for p21-mediated cycle arrest induced by AlCl3. Mechanism investigation indicated that AlCl3 stimulated the phosphorylation of JNK, and administration of JNK inhibitor SP600125 prevented AlCl3-induced G0/G1 arrest through suppressing the phosphorylation of STAT1. Notably, pretreatment with N-acetyl-cysteine, a reactive oxygen species scavenger, conferred a significantly inhibitory effect on AlCl3-mediated activation of JNK/STAT1 signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings provide the molecular mechanism for G0/G1 arrest induced by AlCl3 in osteoblastic cells.
Bayesian tensor logistic regression with applications to neuroimaging data analysis of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Wu Ying , Chen Dan , Li Chaoqian , Tang Niansheng
Published: September 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be diagnosed by utilizing traditional logistic regression models to fit magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of brain, which is regarded as a vector of covariates. But its parameter estimation is inefficient and computationally extensive due to ultrahigh dimensionality and complicated structure of MRI data. To overcome this deficiency, this paper proposes a tensor logistic regression model (TLRM) for AD’s MRI data by regarding MRI tensor as covariates. Under this framework, a tensor candecomp/parafac (CP) decomposition tool is employed to reduce ultrahigh dimensional tensor to a high dimensional level, a novel Bayesian adaptive Lasso method is developed to simultaneously select important components of tensor and estimate model parameters by incorporating the P[Formula: see text]lya-Gamma method leading a closed-form likelihood and avoiding the usage of the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, and Gibbs sampler technique in Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). A tensor’s product technique is utilized to optimize the calculation program and speed up the calculation of MCMC. Bayes factor together with the path sampling approach is presented to select tensor rank in CP decomposition. Effectiveness of the proposed method is illustrated on simulation studies and an MRI data analysis.
Reflections of the editors Introduction by Wendy Patton
Authors: Patton Wendy
Published: September 2022

This collection of reflections from the five former editors of the Australian Journal of Career Development demonstrates the efforts which have been undertaken over time to hold true to its original goals and to ensure that it has continued to develop to ensure its survival and growth within an everchanging career development research and practice landscape.
Split-Rate Taxation and Business Establishment Location: Evidence From the Pennsylvania Experience
Authors: Hanson Andrew
Published: September 2022

This article estimates the relationship between business establishment location and split-rate property taxation. Using variation in split-rate adoption and intensity by municipalities across Pennsylvania, I apply data from the Census’s County Business Patterns (CBP) between 1994 and 2017 to estimate difference-in-difference (DiD) style models. Findings suggest that moving from conventional property taxation to a split-rate system is associated with an initial increase of between 60 and 107 business establishments. The number of business establishments does not appear to be sensitive to changes in the split-rate ratio after implementation, but the initial increase in the number of establishments declines each year after implementation by between 3.3 and 5.5 establishments, or about 5 percent.
“Secrets From the Children’s Room”: New Understandings of Inappropriate and Abusive Sexual Behavior Among Siblings after the COVID-19 Crisis in Israel
Authors: Golan Limor
Published: September 2022

This article discusses the COVID-19 crisis’s impact on inappropriate and abusive sexual behavior among siblings (IASBAS) and how perceptions of this phenomenon affect construction of the post-crisis reality in Israel. Sibling sexual abuse, the most frequent type of sexual assault against children, does not occur in a vacuum; it is affected by the environment in which children live and develop. The pandemic created situational risk factors and a “germination substrate” for risk of abuse in “normative” families and escalation in families in which it had previously occurred. The first part of the article, based on research data and reports, reviews the objective reality that emerged in Israel and worldwide due to the pandemic. Part two describes situational risk factors converging to a new dangerous situation for children’s abuse and victimization that resulted from this crisis: domestic violence (direct, indirect, and sexual), at-risk children returning and staying at home, increased exposure to online sexual content, parental dysfunction, and lack of formal and informal support sources. These risk factors are mutually reinforcing, thus exacerbating the risk of sexual assault among siblings. Part three describes the etiology characterizing the complex phenomenon of IASBAS. Part four discusses the significance of the risk factors at various stages and conditions for its development, identification, prevention or preventing escalation, and providing professional support, all of which affect the post-crisis reality. Part five offers recommendations for prevention, detection, and intervention that help deal with the reality “the day after.”
Weight Loss Program Preferences of Men Working in Blue-Collar Occupations: A Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Crane Melissa M. , Newman Katerina , Hebert-Beirne Jeni , Abril Eulàlia P. , Powell Lynda H. , Appelhans Bradley M.
Published: September 2022

Men who work in blue-collar occupations (skilled and unskilled trades) experience high rates of obesity and comorbid conditions. This group is underrepresented in behavioral interventions for weight management, which may stem from a mismatch between the features of available programs and these men’s preferences. This qualitative study explored the views of these men, their experiences with weight loss, their preferences for weight loss programs, and messaging related to these programs. We conducted remote interviews with 20 men (age: 43 ± 13 years, M ± SD) currently working in blue-collar occupations (50% construction, 25% transportation, and 25% manufacturing) who had body mass indices (BMIs) in the overweight/obese categories (BMI: 33 ± 6 kg/m2). Deductive codes and summary themes were developed and discussed by the first two authors. A selection of transcripts was reviewed following theme development to confirm accuracy of the themes. Most participants ( n = 16, 80%) reported a prior weight loss attempt. The most common approaches to weight loss reported were increased exercise and following their own approach to changing diet (e.g., “eating less junk food”). For program and message preferences, two major themes emerged: participants wanted accurate and trustworthy information and wanted programs that fit their lifestyle. Results suggest that weight loss programs targeting men working in blue-collar occupations should emphasize the accuracy of information related to the program and the ease of incorporating it into participants’ lifestyles. There is an urgent need to incorporate these preferences into effective programs.
Levosulpiride for Premature Ejaculation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Arshad Adina , Irfan Muhammad , Inam Muhammad , Hussain Nik Hazlina Nik , Ismail Shaiful Bahari
Published: September 2022

Premature ejaculation (PE) is one of the major causes of sexual dysfunction. Levosulpiride is an off-label medicine used to treat PE, but no review on its efficacy exists. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to determine the efficacy of levosulpiride in treating PE. Databases PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched. Randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing levosulpiride with placebo or other medicine were selected. Odds ratio (OR) of improved intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) was calculated. A total of 97 articles were retrieved from database search, of which only four RCTs containing 203 men met the selection criteria. All four RCTs were included in systematic review while only two were included in meta-analysis. A high selection and detection bias was found in both of these studies. Meta-analysis also showed the odds of improving IELT in PE patients using levosulpiride to be significantly higher ( p < .05) compared with those who used placebo, OR: 100.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) [13.12–774.90], I2 = 0%. Odds of improving IELT for > 5 min (500% improvement) were also significantly higher ( p < .05) compared with the placebo groups (OR: 38.88, 95% CI [5.12–295.29], I2 = 0%). The odds of improving IELT for > 1 min, but < 5 min were also significantly higher ( p < .05) than placebo groups (OR: 32.84, 95% CI [4.15–259.75], I2 = 0%). Levosulpiride improved IELT, but even so, limited studies are available on this topic. Additional research is thus required to support the present review’s findings.
Perceptions of online informational social support among mothers in a lactation-focused virtual community: A survey study
Authors: Munyan Kristen , Kennedy Erin
Published: September 2022

Background:

Peer support, also described as woman-to-woman support, has been well established as an effective intervention for overcoming barriers to breastfeeding duration. To access support and receive information, mothers are likely to access social media platforms, especially given the challenges to healthcare access presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous research has established that virtual communities can promote peer-to-peer support similar to that seen in communities of practice.

Research Aim:

The aims of this study were to describe levels of perceived informational social support among mothers in an online virtual community and to determine which features of the virtual community were perceived most favorably by breastfeeding mothers.

Methods:

The study design was a cross-sectional survey of members of an existing social media community of breastfeeding mothers with use of the Online Social Support Scale–Informational subscale, Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Short Form, and additional open-ended questions during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were recruited within a single, lactation-focused virtual community that was moderated by lactation support professionals.

Results:

In regard to online social support specific to information seeking, the reported social support was moderate to high (M = 35.53, range = 17–48). Most items had a score average of approximately 3, indicating that participants perceived informational support “Pretty often” from their group interactions. Participants in this study had an average Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy–Short Form score of 57.91, indicating a moderately high level of breastfeeding self-efficacy. Content analysis of open-ended items regarding favorable characteristics of the virtual community indicated participants appreciated the immediacy of feedback and the presence of lactation support professionals within the community.

Conclusion:

Mothers in the lactation professional-led virtual community perceived moderately high support in health information seeking and experienced moderately high breastfeeding self-efficacy. Additional work is needed to determine the impact of participation in virtual communities on breastfeeding outcomes.
Women coaches at top level: Looking back through the maze
Authors: Borrueco Marta , Torregrossa Miquel , Pallarès Susana , Vitali Francesca , Ramis Yago
Published: September 2022

Framed in the Ecological-Intersectional Model and the Stages of Career Progression Model, the objective of this study was to explore how women coaching in high-performance settings advanced through the ‘bottle-neck’ path. In total 13 women coaches from Southern Europe between the age of 28 and 46 years working in high-performance contexts were interviewed. In order to assess both the subjective perceptions of participants and the structural factors that prevent women from accessing top-level positions, we adopted a critical realist perspective to perform a thematic analysis. Results show that while women coaches may follow a linear coaching career path in their early career stages, once they try to progress to high-performance settings their careers are shaped by the metaphor of a maze. Women need to navigate through a maze while having to overcome jeopardizing factors to find a succeeding career path in sports coaching. Moreover, previous experience as elite athletes, close entourage, role models, organizational support, precarious working conditions and motherhood influenced women's development of a coaching career, with differing relevance depending on the career stage. Women coaches who reach top-level positions associate their success with casual or external factors, instead of causal explanations related to their own achievements. We add evidence on the specificities of women's coaching careers that should be addressed not only to improve their recruitment and professional progression, but also to work on reducing the probabilities of women exiting the role.
Intraductal fully covered self-expanding metal stents in the management of post-liver transplant anastomotic strictures: a UK wide experience
Authors: Ahmed Wafaa , Kyle Dave , Khanna Amardeep , Devlin John , Reffitt David , Zeino Zeino , Webster George , Phillpotts Simon , Gordon Robert , Corbett Gareth , Gelson William , Nayar Manu , Khan Haider , Cramp Matthew , Potts Jonathan , Fateen Waleed , Miller Hamish , Paranandi Bharat , Huggett Matthew , Everett Simon M. , Hegade Vinod S. , O’Kane Rebecca , Scott Ryan , McDougall Neil , Harrison Phillip , Joshi Deepak
Published: September 2022

Background:

Fully covered intraductal self-expanding metal stents (IDSEMS) have been well described in the management of post-liver transplant (LT) anastomotic strictures (ASs). Their antimigration waists and intraductal nature make them suited for deployment across the biliary anastomosis.

Objectives:

We conducted a multicentre study to analyse their use and efficacy in the management of AS.

Design:

This was a retrospective, multicentre observational study across nine tertiary centres in the United Kingdom.

Methods:

Consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with IDSEMS insertion were analysed retrospectively. Recorded variables included patient demographics, procedural characteristics, response to therapy and follow-up data.

Results:

In all, 162 patients (100 males, 62%) underwent 176 episodes of IDSEMS insertion for AS. Aetiology of liver disease in this cohort included hepatocellular carcinoma ( n = 35, 22%), followed by alcohol-related liver disease ( n = 29, 18%), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis ( n = 20, 12%), primary biliary cholangitis ( n = 15, 9%), acute liver failure ( n = 13, 8%), viral hepatitis ( n = 13, 8%) and autoimmune hepatitis ( n = 12, 7%). Early AS occurred in 25 (15%) cases, delayed in 32 (20%) cases and late in 95 (59%) cases. Age at transplant was 54 years (range, 12–74), and stent duration was 15 weeks (range, 3 days–78 weeks). In total, 131 (81%) had complete resolution of stricture at endoscopic re-evaluation. Stricture recurrence was observed in 13 (10%) cases, with a median of 19 weeks (range, 4–88 weeks) after stent removal. At removal, there were 21 (12%) adverse events, 5 (3%) episodes of cholangitis and 2 (1%) of pancreatitis. In 11 (6%) cases, the removal wires unravelled, and 3 (2%) stents migrated. All were removed endoscopically.

Conclusion:

IDSEMS appears to be safe and highly efficacious in the management of post-LT AS, with low rates of AS recurrence.
The diagnostic accuracy of PIK3CA mutations by circulating tumor DNA in breast cancer: an individual patient data meta-analysis
Authors: Galvano Antonio , Castellana Luisa , Gristina Valerio , La Mantia Maria , Insalaco Lavinia , Barraco Nadia , Perez Alessandro , Cutaia Sofia , Calò Valentina , Bazan Russo Tancredi Didier , Francini Edoardo , Incorvaia Lorena , Mirisola Mario Giuseppe , Vieni Salvatore , Rolfo Christian , Bazan Viviana , Russo Antonio
Published: September 2022

Background:

The circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) diagnostic accuracy for detecting phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha ( PIK3CA) mutations in breast cancer (BC) is under discussion. We aimed to compare plasma and tissue PIK3CA alterations, encompassing factors that could affect the results.

Methods:

Two reviewers selected studies from different databases until December 2020. We considered BC patients with matched tumor tissue and plasma ctDNA. We performed meta-regression and subgroup analyses to explore sources of heterogeneity concerning tumor burden, diagnostic technique, sample size, sampling time, biological subtype, and hotspot mutation. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and the related area under the curve (AUC) were elaborated for the overall population and each subgroup.

Results:

The pooled analysis was carried out on 25 cohorts for a total of 1966 patients. The overall ctDNA sensitivity and specificity were 0.73 (95% CI: 0.70–0.77) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.85–0.89). The AUC was 0.93. Pooled concordance, negative predictive value and positive predictive value values were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82–0.92), 0.86 (95% CI: 0.81–0.90), and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.81–0.95) with pooled PLR, NLR, and DOR of 7.94 (95% CI: 4.90–12.86), 0.33 (95% CI: 0.25–0.45), and 33.41 (95% CI: 17.23–64.79), respectively. The pooled results consistently favored next-generation sequencing (NGS)- over polymerase chain reaction-based methodologies. The best ctDNA performance in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and AUC (0.85, 0.99, and 0.94, respectively) was observed in the low-time sampling subgroup (⩽18 days between tissue and plasma collection). Meta-regression and subgroup analyses highlighted sampling time as a possible major cause of heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

These findings reliably estimate the high ctDNA accuracy for the detection of PIK3CA mutations. A ctDNA-first approach for the assessment of PIK3CA mutational status by NGS may accurately replace tissue tumor sampling, representing the preferable strategy at diagnosis of metastatic BC in patients who present with visceral involvement and at least two metastatic lesions, primarily given low clinical compliance or inaccessible metastatic sites.
Uncontrolled blood pressure and contributing factors among patients with hypertension at outpatient care of Bedele General Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Sheleme Tadesse , Jilo Oda , Bekele Firomsa , Olika Wayessa , Safera Birbirsa , Babu Yadeta
Published: September 2022

Objective:

This study aimed to assess uncontrolled blood pressure and contributing factors among patients with hypertension.

Methods:

Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2021 at Bedele General Hospital. Data were collected using the semi-structured questionnaire. All patients with hypertension were included using consecutive sampling technique unless ineligible. EpiData 4.4.2 was used for data entry, and SPSS 24.0 was employed for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with uncontrolled blood pressure.

Results:

A total of 219 patients with hypertension were included in the study. About 60.3% of participants were male. The mean age of the study participants was 48.54 ± 12.93 years. The prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure among the study participants was 56.2%. The factors significantly associated with uncontrolled blood pressure were age >60 years (adjusted prevalence ratio = 4.42; 95% confidence interval = (1.71, 11.46); p = 0.002) and the presence of comorbidity (adjusted prevalence ratio = 2.16; 95% confidence interval = (1.22, 3.82); p = 0.008).

Conclusion:

More than half of the study participants had uncontrolled blood pressure. Older age and comorbidity were the predictors of uncontrolled blood pressure. Attaining controlled blood pressure is important to avoid consequences of high blood pressure. So, healthcare provider should focus on achieving target blood pressure goal.