bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mentalizing Mediates the Association between Narcissism and Psychotherapeutic Treatment Outcome in a Mixed Clinical Sample
Authors: Euler Sebastian , Hüwe Lotta , Gablonski Thorsten-Christian , Dehoust Maria , Schulz Holger , Brütt Anna-Levke , Andreas Sylke
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Pathological narcissism has been a challenge for the success of psychological treatment, whereas mentalizing has turned out to be an important mechanism of change in psychotherapy. This study focused on the classic narcissistic self (CNS) (i.e., narcissistic grandiosity) as predictor of the outcome. It further investigated whether mentalizing mediates this relation. Methods: A mixed clinical sample of 205 patients was investigated. The CNS scale of the Narcissism Inventory and the Mentalization Questionnaire was used to measure the features of narcissistic grandiosity and the capacity to mentalize, respectively. The symptom outcome was assessed with the Hamburg Modules for the Assessment of Psychosocial Health. Results: Contrary to our expectations, we did not find a direct association between narcissistic grandiosity and a decrease in symptoms. However, mentalizing was found to mediate the association between the CNS as well as between the narcissistic furor and outcome. Conclusion: Our results confirm the ambiguity concerning the clinical significance of narcissistic grandiosity. However, in order to improve the treatment outcome in patients with narcissistic features, especially narcissistic furor, individualized treatment plans might consider introducing interventions that enhance the capacity to mentalize.
Direct Costs of COVID-19 Inpatient Admissions in a Portuguese Tertiary Care University Centre
Authors: Seringa Joana , Pedreiras Sérgio , Freitas Maria João , Valente de Matos Rosa , Rocha João , Millett Christopher , Santana Rui
Published: April 2022

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed greater financial pressure on health systems and institutions that had to respond to the specific needs of COVID-19 patients while ensuring the safety of the diagnosis and treatment of all patients and healthcare professionals. To assess the financial impact of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals, we have characterized the cost of COVID-19 admissions, using inpatient data from a Portuguese Tertiary Care University Centre. Methods: We analysed inpatient data from adult patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020. Admissions were eligible if the ICD-10-CM principal diagnosis was coded U07.1. We excluded admissions from patients under 18 years old, admissions with incomplete records, admissions from patients who had been transferred to or from other hospitals or those whose inpatient stay was under 24 h. Pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium admissions were also excluded, as well as admissions from patients who had undergone surgery. Results: We identified 223 admissions of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Most were men (64.1%) and aged 45–64 years (30.5%). Around 13.0% of patients were admitted to intensive care units and 9.9% died in hospital. The average length of hospital stay was 12.7 days (SD = 10.2) and the average estimated cost per admission was EUR 8,177 (SD = 11,534), which represents more than triple the inpatient base price (EUR 2,386). Human resources accounted for the highest proportion of the total costs per admission (50.8%). About 92.4% of the admissions were assigned to Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) 723, whose inpatient price is lower than COVID-19 inpatient costs for all degrees of severity. Conclusion: COVID-19 admissions represent a substantial financial burden for the Portuguese NHS. For each COVID-19 hospitalized patient it would have been possible to treat three other hospitalized patients. Also, the price set for DRG 723 is not adjusted to the cost of COVID-19 patients. These findings highlight the need for additional financial resources for the health system and, in particular, for hospitals that have treated high volumes of hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
Performance improvement of stand-alone induction generator using distribution SSC for wind power application
Authors: Alkhayyat Mahmood T. , Mohammed Ziad Saeed , Ali Ahmed J.
Published: April 2022

Self-excited induction generators (SEIGs) are used in wind turbine system because of high reliability, rigidity, simple structure, and capability to work under severe badly operating conditions. This type of generator has a poor terminal voltage and frequency regulation during changing the connected loads due to the absence of constant excitation current. Therefore, it is essential to stabilize the generated voltage and frequency besides suppress the injected harmonic current components. In this work, the dynamic performance of SEIG with distribution static series compensator (DSSC) is analyzed. The DSSC based on neuro-fuzzy controlled (NFC) is applied to control both voltage and frequency to enhance the regulation of SEIG. The NFC is used to control the DSSC which leads to balance the requirement of the reactive and active power of stand-alone grid under load variation and attempts to obtain a constant terminal voltage. The model is simulated using MATLAB/Simulink. The NFC structure designed to regulate and control the output voltage of the SEIG driven by a wind turbine to feed a consumer in remote and rural places. Furthermore, the power system parameters calculated depending on the d-q theory. Modeling results explained that the suggested controller is consistent and tough related to the conventional types.
A new approach for smart electric meter based on Zigbee
Authors: Mustafa Ahmed Shamil , Al-Heeti Mohamed Muthanna , Hamdi Mustafa Maad
Published: April 2022

A smart meter is an electronic device that accurately tracks your energy consumption and transmits that data to your energy provider so that you can be billed. The smart meters allow the central system and the meter to communicate in both directions. This two-way communication feature distinguishes the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in this case from automatic meter reading (AMR). This paper employs a hybrid system based on the Zigbee protocol, the Zigbee used to send messages between the smart meter and the utility company. To successfully complete tasks in this scenario, a cooperative communication system utilizing TDMA is used. The outcomes of Zigbee performance are measured using well-known metrics, also known as performance metrics. Many performance indicators have been chosen for performance evaluation: throughput, average end-to-end delivery ratio, and (PDR). The following conclusions were reached: End-to-end latency was 5.01 milliseconds, throughput was 42.63 kbps, and PDR was 97.19 percent. The network simulator successfully reads and wirelessly transmits voltage or power consumption using the Zigbee protocol and a cooperative communication system.
Improved modified a multi-level inverter with a minimum total harmonic distortion
Authors: Abdulhassan Khalid M. , Yaseen Khudair Al-Atbee Osama
Published: April 2022

Renewable energy sources are developed as a result of the increased demand for electrical power. The nature of the solar energy source is DC. The DC source for many applications needs to be converted to AC. The inverter is used to convert the power from DC to AC. Total harmonic distortion (THD) is a significant concern with inverters. Multi-level inverters are used to reduce the THD. The stair output voltage of the multi-level inverter not only reduces the THD but also reduces the switches' stresses, so a low voltage rating can be used for the switches. In this paper, a modified inverter topology is introduced in which the number of switches is reduced for the same number of output voltage levels, which leads to reducing the losses and the cost. To reduce the THD, different amplitudes for the carrier signals that control the switches in each level are suggested. Another method to reduce the THD by using different capacitor values across the input DC source is presented. The MATLAB/Simulink is used to show the validity of the suggested modified topology and the modifications.
Optimal load management strategy under off-peak tariff riders in UTeM: a case study
Authors: Sulaima Mohamad Fani , Tahir Musthafah Mohd , Shukri Mohamad Firdaus , Fazliana Abdul Kadir Aida , Kasim Ainuddin Abu , Yusoff Mohd Rahimi , Ali Luqman
Published: April 2022

Demand response (DR) program through tariff initiative has been established in Malaysia since 1990. The available time of use (TOU) tariff focuses on providing price signals to consumers, especially from industrial and commercial sectors. In achieving a certain standard for off-peak tariff rider (OPTR) initiative to receive discount rate, consumers must improve load factors compared to the baseline declared. However, not all consumers are able to commit. In Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), the TOU (C1-OPTR) tariff is proposed and applied when the available cost discount of 20% can be enjoyed by sustaining the load factor improvement (LFI). A simulator projected a flexible optimal load profile referred by the energy management team to achieve the university's sustainable energy management goal. Thus, securing the LFI would allow the energy consumption (kWh) and peak demand (kW) to be managed concurrently. As for testing results for two buildings, the load factor improves to 0.40, and the maximum demand reduces by about 35 kW. When getting the 20% discount for the OPTR scheme, the total cost saving is forecasted approximately USD 29,441.40 yearly. The current pilot project presents a positive sign with the peak demand reduction and load factor improvement close to the simulator's optimal profile.
Prediction of internet user satisfaction levels in Bangladesh using data mining and analysis of influential factors
Authors: Imam Bijoy Md. Hasan , Akhi Sumiya Alam , Nayeem Md. Ali Ashraf , Mahbubur Rahman Md. , Mia Md. Jueal
Published: April 2022

Today the world has already acknowledged as a global village by the inter-net which has technologically evolved into a significant performance instrument for individuals, businesses, and countries seeking to achieve betterment. This study is based on data mining techniques to predict the satisfaction level of internet users from the context of Bangladesh. After conducting a public survey with 18 questions, we were able to acquire 451 responses from participants. Data for user satisfaction was associated with end-user characteristics including certain getting high speed, internet packages, cable type of Wi-Fi connection with targeting various age groups and occupations. The research's most key conceptual breakthrough was the reliability of magnitude predictions of user satisfaction level based on their experience with internet use. The empirical findings indicate that people in Bangladesh have high expectations in existing internet technology, and they are very dissatisfied with their facilities of internet use and to measure satisfaction level related with monthly limit of the Wi-Fi packages and the elements affecting internet speed. Several classifier models were applied to our dataset and among them, Random Forest (RF) performance reaches the top position with 91.53% accuracy.
Evolutionary model to guarantee quality of service for tactical worldwide interoperability for microwave access networks
Authors: Huchappa Ravishankar , Patil Kiran Kumari
Published: April 2022

The smart phone industries evolution had made the growth in wireless communication. The increase in social media usage led to huge increase of network traffic as sharing of data for multimedia like video conferencing, and voice over internet protocol (VoIP). Majority of services like this requires network resources and real-time strict quality of service (QoS). However high cost of network deployment is included. All the major service providers are currently being adopted to the WiMAX 802.16 network. Therefore, the worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX) network must have different supply policies and QoS for various applications. The implementation of these QoS policies was not provided by WiMAX for various needs of application. Recently development of various scheduling mechanism for QoS provisioning has been made. However, users improper synchronization made these models inefficient. To address this, uplink scheduling with feedback is considered to provision QoS. However, it induces delay in accessing slots, as result the bandwidth is wasted. To utilize bandwidth efficiently evolutionary computing is adopted by various existing model. However, these models induce computation overhead and may not be suitable for provisioning real-time services. The evolutionary computing model is used to compute ideal threshold.
A comprehensive review on machine learning in agriculture domain
Authors: Jhajharia Kavita , Mathur Pratistha
Published: April 2022

Agriculture is an essential part of sustaining human life. Population growth, climate change, resource competition are the key issues that increase food security and to handle such complex problems in agriculture production, intelligent or smart farming extends the incorporation of technology into traditional agriculture notion. Machine learning is a vitally used technology in agriculture to protect food security and sustainability. Crop yield production, water preservation, soil health and plant diseases can be addressed by machine learning. This paper has presented a compendious review of research papers that deployed machine learning in the agriculture domain. The observed sub-categories of the agriculture domain are crop yield prediction, soil management, pest management, weed management, and crop disease. The outcomes represent that machine learning provides better accuracy concerning classification or regression. Machine learning emerged with the internet of things, drones, robots, automated machinery, and satellite imagery motivates researchers for smart farming and food security.
Automated multi-class skin cancer classification through concatenated deep learning models
Authors: Hassan Bedeir Rana , Orban Mahmoud Rasha , H. Zayed Hala
Published: April 2022

Skin cancer is the most annoying type of cancer diagnosis according to its fast spread to various body areas, so it was necessary to establish computer-assisted diagnostic support systems. State-of-the-art classifiers based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are used to classify images of skin cancer. This paper tries to get the most accurate model to classify and detect skin cancer types from seven different classes using deep learning techniques; ResNet-50, VGG-16, and the merged model of these two techniques through the concatenate function. The performance of the proposed model was evaluated through a set of experiments on the HAM10000 database. The proposed system has succeeded in achieving a recognition accuracy of up to 94.14%.
Imprint of a Helcophorus Fairmaire, 1881: the first net-winged beetle (Coleoptera: Lycidae) from Rovno amber
Authors: KAZANTSEV SERGEY V. , PERKOVSKY EVGENY E.
Published: April 2022

A new species of erotine net-winged beetles, Helcophorus ekaterinae sp. nov., is described from late Eocene Rovno amber of Ukraine. The new species is placed in the subgenus Thibeteros Kazantsev, 2019, whereas the second known fossil Helcophorus species, H. berendti (Winkler, 1987), from Baltic amber, belongs in Helcophorus sensu stricto. Photographs of extant species of both subgenera, H. (s. str.) miniatus Fairmaire, 1881 and H. (Th.) tricolor Kazantsev, 2013, are provided. This is the first record of a Lycidae from Rovno amber.
Notes on Megalotomus Fieber, 1860 in the Palaearctic Region (Hemiptera, Heteroptera, Alydidae)
Authors: YI WENBO , WANG SHIJUN , ZHANG HUFANG , BU WENJUN
Published: April 2022

The Palaearctic species of the genus Megalotomus Fieber, 1860 are reviewed. The diagnoses and distributions of Megalotomus species are updated. Megalotomus angulus (Hsiao, 1965) comb. nov. is transferred from Alydus Fabricius, 1803 and re-described based on type material from China. Megalotomus obtusus Ghauri, 1972 syn. nov. is proposed as a new junior synonym of M. angulus (Hsiao, 1965) comb. nov. based on examination of type material from Pakistan. Photographs of adults and illustrations of male external genitalia are provided. A review of their distribution and a key for their identification are provided.
Outcome of Trauma in Elderly Patients With Pre-existing Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Rhodes Heather X. , Zino Christa M. , Pepe Antonio P.
Published: April 2022

This research aims to evaluate the specific effects of end-stage renal disease on acutely injured trauma patients. This is a single-center study of Trauma Registry data, inclusive years July 1, 2016 to February 28, 2021. Patients were grouped by pre-existing comorbidity of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and those without. Overall, 7261 elderly trauma patients were included in the analysis; stratified groups identified 197 with CKD (3%) and 7064 without (97%). The Injury Severity Scores (ISSs) between the two groups were not significantly different. Elderly trauma patients with CKD typically stayed in the ICU and hospital longer with discharge to hospice, rehab, experienced an in-hospital mortality, and most likely experienced an in-hospital complication. For CKD and non-CKD cohorts, ISSs were similar. However, outcomes for the CKD cohort in the trauma setting were significantly worse, particularly in elderly patients with fall trauma and lower extremity fractures.
Under-triage of Elderly Trauma Patients With Comorbid Conditions
Authors: Rhodes Heather X. , Locklear Taylor D. , Pepe Antonio P.
Published: April 2022

This study aims at identifying the under-triage patients to improve the quality of care among those transferred into a level I trauma system. This is a single-center study of Trauma Registry data, inclusive years, from July 1, 2016 to January 31, 2021. Patients were grouped based upon under-triage, over-triage, and OK triage. The under-triage group was more likely to be older, partially activated, blunt, fall trauma patients with a higher GCS, higher ISS, and significant injuries found to the head/neck who experienced a longer length of stay at the referring facility and higher morbidity outcomes with diagnosed comorbidities of dementia and hypertension. There are distinct differences in under and over-triage groups within this trauma system, which gives insight into future education and outreach among interfacility transfers.
Dual Cystic Duct Found and Confirmed by Intraoperative Cholangiography
Authors: Pansuriya Shyamal , Ekkel Elisabeth , Sheth Akash
Published: April 2022

This report presents a case of aberrant gallbladder anatomy. A 75-year-old female presented to the hospital with choledocholithiasis was admitted and underwent an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to clear the common bile duct stones; no aberrant anatomy was noted at this time. The following day she was taken to the operating room for cholecystectomy prior to discharge. During the surgical procedure, the patient was found to have aberrant anatomy and an intraoperative cholangiogram was performed. This identified a dual cystic duct, a rare anomaly.
From germination to propagation: Two decades of Strategy-as-Practice research and potential future directions
Authors: Jarzabkowski Paula , Seidl David , Balogun Julia
Published: April 2022

Over the last two decades, Strategy as Practice (SAP) has developed from an embryonic, fringe perspective on strategy to a consolidated field of strategy research. The 2007 special issue of Human Relations on ‘Strategizing: The challenges of a practice perspective’ played a pivotal role in bringing this field to fruition. Reflecting on the broad SAP aim to ‘let a thousand flowers bloom’, we employ a plant-based metaphor, to distinguish three phases in the development of SAP, each associated with different types of agenda work. In an initial Germination Phase, scholars did agenda-seeking work of establishing new concepts and differentiating SAP from other fields of strategy research. A Blossoming Phase of agenda-setting work followed, establishing a community of scholars and articles that identified as SAP, and establishing and defending the boundaries of the new field. As the field became established, it entered a Harvesting Phase, characterized by agenda-confirming work of using SAP lenses to explain core strategy and organization. Based on these reflections, and considering the many public critiques of SAP, we note that the field appears to be in transition to a new Propagating Phase that offers exciting potential to cross-pollinate within the SAP field and across other areas.
The Effects of Fear of COVID-19 on Future Expectations in Nursing Students in Turkey
Authors: Büyükbayram Zeliha , Citlik Saritas Seyhan
Published: April 2022

This study aims to determine the effects of fear of COVID-19 on future expectations among nursing students. The research is a correlational descriptive study. This study was conducted with 310 nursing students of a state university. The COVID-19 fear and future expectation mean scores of the participants were found, respectively, as 17.16 ± 5.36 and 48.09 ± 8.77. The COVID-19 fear levels of the participants significantly varied based on their gender, whereas their future expectation levels significantly varied based on their place of residence, status of willingly choosing their department and status of having someone in their surroundings and family who had COVID-19 ( p < 0.05). No significant relationship was identified between the COVID-19 fear and future expectation levels of the participants ( p > 0.05). In this study, it was determined that the COVID-19 fear and future expectation levels of the nursing students were moderate. It was found that fear of COVID-19 did not significantly affect future expectations.
A Survey Study on Soy Food Consumption in Patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases
Authors: Fang Lvgui , Du Yating , Rao Xiangrong
Published: April 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the major and exacerbating global health burdens, which is characterized by no curative treatments and high morbidity and mortality. Since malnutrition has become an important factor determining the final clinical outcomes of CKD, soy products, high-quality plant-based sources of proteins and other nutrients, are recommended by many physicians for CKD patients. However, it has been reported that adherence to this dietary advice among those patients is low. In order to dissect the potential reasons behind this phenomenon and to subsequently develop target intervention to improve the current situation, we designed and conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey in 3 medical centers in China. Total 570 patients responded to our survey and data analysis reveals that 85.6% of the respondents were aware of the necessaries of high-quality protein diets for CKD patients, but only 41.9% of patients knew that soy foods provide high-quality proteins needed. In contrast, up to 90.4% of patients were affected by the notion that patients with CKD should avoid soy products. Besides, comparing with other groups, higher percentage of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis recognized soy products as foods with high-quality proteins, however, as many as 68.8% of them did not consume any soy foods due to the concerns of adverse effects on the progress of CKD. Our data suggest that a significant portion of patients with CKD do not consume soy foods, which could be mainly resulted from their misconception towards soy products delivered by medical workers or social media. Evidence-based updated education of patients and medical workers on soy foods would be a necessary strategy for improving nutrition status of CKD patients and their clinical outcomes.
Spoligotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients from North Karnataka, India
Authors: Bellad Reshma , Nagamoti Mahantesh , Sharma Pragya , Chauhan D.S
Published: April 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low income countries. Multi-drug resistant (MDR-TB) is seen as the reason for many TB outbreaks globally and is also a threat to control programmes. India accounts for 27% TB cases worldwide. Our study was undertaken to understand the outbreaks related to MTB. All the sputum samples were subjected to microscopy and smear positive samples were cultured on Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) media. Identification was carried by biochemical analysis. A total of 57 isolates were subjected to Drug Susceptibility testing (DST) and spoligotyping, where eleven MDR-TB isolates were confirmed, of which ten were SIT1/Beijing and one SIT53/T1. Spoligotyping results showed that the predominant lineage in this region was SIT1/Beijing followed by SIT124/U and the strains which did not match spoligodatabase were named as orphans. In this study, MDR-TB was associated with SIT1/Beijing and mono resistance belonged to CAS1_DEL.
Ototoxicity Review: A Growing Number of Non–Platinum‐Based Chemo‐ and Immunotherapies
Authors: Naples James G. , Rice‐Narusch Wyatt , Watson Nathan W. , Ghulam‐Smith Melissa , Holmes Sean , Li Daqing , Jalisi Scharukh
Published: April 2022

Objective

To raise awareness of the growing list of non–platinum‐based chemo‐ and immunotherapeutic agents that have been associated with ototoxicity and to introduce the possible mechanism of ototoxicity of these agents.

Data Sources

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science.

Review Methods

A systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses). PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for published reports of ototoxicity from non–platinum‐based chemo‐ and immunotherapeutic agents in adult and pediatric patients. Therapies that utilized any platinum‐based agent were excluded.

Conclusions

Ototoxicity from non–platinum‐based chemo‐ and immunotherapies is an evolving problem. There were 54 reports—39 case reports and 15 cohort studies—documenting ototoxicity from 7 agents/combination therapies. Of these reports, 37 (69%) were published within the last 15 years (after 2005). No recovery of hearing was documented in 21 of 56 cases (38%). Pretreatment audiograms were uncommon (19/54 studies, 35%), despite documented ototoxic associations.

Implications for Practice

There is a growing number of novel, ototoxic, non–platinum‐based chemo‐ and immunotherapeutic agents with various potential mechanisms of action. Otolaryngologists will need to prioritize awareness of these agents. This growing list of agents, many of which have reversible effects, suggest a need for standardized ototoxicity monitor protocols so that appropriate and timely management options can be implemented.
Moving Beyond Detection: Charting a Path to Eliminate Health Care Disparities in Otolaryngology
Authors: Bowe Sarah N. , Megwalu Uchechukwu C. , Bergmark Regan W. , Balakrishnan Karthik
Published: April 2022

The coronavirus pandemic has illuminated long‐standing inequities in America’s health care system and societal structure. While numerous studies have identified health care disparities within our specialty, few have progressed beyond detection. Otolaryngologists have the opportunity and the responsibility to act. Within this article, leaders from otolaryngology share their experience and perspective on health care disparities, including (1) a discussion of disparities in otolaryngology, (2) a summary of health care system design and incentives, (3) an overview of implicit bias, and (4) practical recommendations for providers to advance their awareness of health care disparities and the actions to mitigate them. While the path forward can be daunting, it should not be a deterrent. Throughout the course of this article, numerous resources are provided to support these efforts. To move ahead, our specialty needs to advance our level of understanding and develop, implement, and disseminate successful interventions toward the goal of eliminating health care disparities.
Does Nightmare Rescription Lead to Meaningful Changes in Language Use? An Investigation within a Treatment Seeking Sample with Chronic Post-Trauma Nightmares
Authors: Paquet Caitlin B. , Cogan Chelsea M. , Davis Joanne L.
Published: April 2022

Given language's significant relationship to underlying psychological functioning, studying changes in language use regarding post-trauma nightmare (PTNM) content throughout a rescription-based treatment can offer insight into the nature of change in language associated with such treatments. LIWC2015 is an efficient tool that analyzes bodies of text for words that are theoretically representative of verbal and written expressions of underlying emotional and cognitive processes. LIWC2015 has not been extensively studied with PTNMs. The current study analyzed changes in language across cognitive and emotional domains using LIWC in a trauma-exposed treatment-seeking sample. Our analyses revealed significant changes in the frequency of words related to emotions and cognitive processing from the nightmare to rescription. In general, the rescripted imagery, relative to the nightmare, contained significantly fewer words pertaining to cognitive processing and negative emotions. This is the first known study to examine the change in language use, via word count, between nightmares and their rescripted versions. As language use is strongly associated with psychological health, these findings have clinical implications for providers and clients alike.
Development and validation of a prediction model of deep venous thrombosis for patients with acute poisoning following hemoperfusion: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Li Xiuqin , Liu Jing , Cui Siqi , Jian Tianzi , Ma Shuang , Shi Longke , Lin Ying , Zhang Juan , Zheng Yingying , Zhang Yanxia , Jian Xiangdong , Luan Xiaorong , Kan Baotian
Published: April 2022

Objective

To develop and confirm an individualized predictive model to ascertain the probability of deep venous thrombosis in patients with acute poisoning after undergoing hemoperfusion.

Methods

Three hundred eleven patients with acute poisoning who were admitted to a hospital in China between October 2017 and February 2019 were included in the development group. Eighty patients with acute poisoning who were admitted between February and May 2019 were included in the validation group. The independent risk factors for deep venous thrombosis were examined. An individualized predictive model was developed using regression coefficients.

Results

The number of catheter indwelling days, having a catheter while being transported, elevated serum homocysteine concentrations, and dyslipidemia were independent risk factors for deep venous thrombosis following hemoperfusion in patients with acute poisoning. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the development and validation groups were 0.713 and 0.702, respectively, which suggested that the prediction model had good discrimination capacity. The calibration belts of the two groups were ideal.

Conclusions

Our prediction model has a moderate predictive effect for the occurrence of deep venous thrombosis in patients with acute poisoning. In clinical practice, this model could be combined with a common thrombosis risk assessment model.
What Makes Forensic Psychiatric Experts Change Their Opinion in Supplemental Evaluations?
Authors: Periša Ante , Arbanas Goran
Published: April 2022

There are cases in forensic psychiatric evaluations with inconclusive information or with important information missing. In such situations, when new information becomes available the judge may ask an expert to supplement his/her report in the light of new information. For the purpose of this study, we collected 42 supplemental evaluations written in the University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče to determine possible factors which were associated with changes in supplemental evaluations. The following data were gathered: demographic data, types of criminal offenses, reasons for the supplement evaluation, court questions, and diagnoses. Changes in supplemental evaluations occured more often when the defendants were diagnosed with a personality disorder (PD) only, compared to those who had a PD with a comorbidity, especially substance use disorders. Defendants with the diagnosis of a substance use disorder were 63.7% less likely to have changed experts’ evaluations. The evaluations remained the same when the reason for supplemental evaluations were new witnesses’ testimonies. Considering the principle of economy of actions in a judiciary system, a more critical approach should be taken when the judge requests a supplemental report.
Faith and Fortitude: 10-Year Assessment of Recidivism at a New Church-Based Prison in South Korea
Authors: Lee Seungmug (Zech) , McCrie Robert D.
Published: April 2022

Substantial desistance from re-offending is one pragmatic goal of punishment. But that goal seemingly is not achieved in the contemporary experience of corrections within the U.S. This article marvels at how the abysmal record of desistance failure has characterized American penological practices in an age of mass incarceration. It notes prison programs are operationally desirable with short of empirical evidence for reduced recidivism. Religious immersion provides a promising avenue for lower recidivism. The article discusses a private prison in South Korea, built and operated by a church organization, that now has a decade of operating experience with sizable lower recidivism. The preliminary analysis shows a 3-year recidivism rate (re-incarceration) of about 10% compared with about 23% in comparable Korean prisons.
Capital accumulation, territoriality, and the reproduction of state sovereignty in China: Is this “new” state capitalism?
Authors: Su Xiaobo , Lim Kean Fan
Published: April 2022

The portrayals of “new state capitalism” in both the popular media and policy-making circles have become a potent geopolitical category. This politically realist categorization is understandably popular because of its simplicity—states proactively participating in capital accumulation are construed as threats to institutions underpinning the “free market”. This paper complicates this portrayal by framing what appears to be a “rise” of state capitalistic maneuvers from China as a dynamic sovereignty–accumulation nexus. Specifically, Chinese state capitalism—and arguably state capitalism in general—constitutes the reproduction of sovereign rule. Underpinning this tension-filled process is territoriality: the use of territory for political, economic, and social ends. This dynamic relationship will be illustrated through an examination of how and why Yunnan, a southwestern Chinese province that was economically marginalized for several decades, emerged as a geostrategic platform for facilitating new rounds of capital accumulation. Through large-scale infrastructural investments in Yunnan, the Chinese state generated new territorial configurations that (a) enabled the positioning of Yunnan as a “bridgehead” of Chinese economic statecraft and (b) encouraged investments aimed at capturing new growth opportunities. While this state-led developmental process partially resolves tensions generated by previous rounds of capital accumulation, it also generates new tensions. Building on this case study, the paper demonstrates how Chinese state capitalism more accurately exemplifies a state-building process that is embedded in and is constituted by a central contradiction between the territorial and capitalistic logics of power. It concludes by presenting two directions for future research on Chinese state capitalism.
A Practical Guide to Lower Extremity Nerve Blocks for the Sports Medicine Surgeon
Authors: Crutchfield Connor R. , Schweppe Eric A. , Padaki Ajay S. , Steinl Gabrielle K. , Roller Brian A. , Brown Anthony R. , Lynch T. Sean
Published: April 2022

Background:

Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) are vital in the administration of surgical analgesia and have grown in popularity for use in lower extremity arthroscopic procedures because of their capacity to safely and effectively control pain. The number and specificity of PNBs, however, have made choosing the best option for a procedure nebulous for orthopaedic surgeons.

Purpose:

To present a narrative literature review of the PNBs available for arthroscopic hip and knee procedures that is adapted to an audience of orthopaedic surgeons.

Study Design:

Narrative literature review.

Methods:

A combination of the names of various lower extremity PNBs AND “hip arthroscopy” OR “knee arthroscopy” was used to search the English medical literature including PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, Embase, and Scopus. Placement technique, specificity of blockade, efficacy, and complications were assessed. Searches were performed through May 2, 2021.

Results:

A total of 157 studies were included in this review of lower extremity PNBs. Femoral nerve, lumbar plexus, sciatic nerve, and fascia iliaca compartment blocks were most commonly used in arthroscopic hip surgery, while femoral nerve, 3-in-1, and adductor canal blocks were preferred for arthroscopic knee surgery. Each block demonstrated a significant benefit ( P > .05) in ≥1 of the following outcomes: intraoperative morphine, pain scores, nausea, and/or opioid consumption. Combination blocks including the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block, obturator nerve block, quadratus lumborum block, and L1 and L2 paravertebral block have also been described. Complication rates ranged from 0% to 4.8% in those administered with ultrasound guidance. The most commonly reported complications included muscular weakness, postoperative falls, neuropathy, intravascular and intraneural injections, and hematomas.

Conclusion:

When administered properly, PNBs were a safe and effective adjuvant method of pain control with a significant potential to limit postoperative narcotic use. While blockade choice varies by surgeon preference and procedure, all PNBs should be administered with ultrasound guidance, and vigilant protocols for the risk of postoperative falls should be exercised in patients who receive them.
Minimum 2-Year Outcomes and Return to Sports of Competitive Athletes Who Undergo Subspine Decompression During Primary Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome and Subspine Impingement: A Propensity-Matched Controlled Study
Authors: Jimenez Andrew E. , Lee Michael S. , George Tom , Owens Jade S. , Harris W. Taylor , Maldonado David R. , Lall Ajay C. , Domb Benjamin G.
Published: April 2022

Background:

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and return to sports (RTS) have not been established in athletes undergoing primary hip arthroscopy and subspine decompression for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) and subspine impingement (SSI).

Purpose:

(1) To report minimum 2-year PROs and RTS in competitive athletes undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for treatment of FAIS with subspine decompression for treatment of SSI and (2) to compare clinical results with a matched control group of athletes without SSI.

Study Design:

Cohort study, Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Data were reviewed for professional, collegiate, and high school athletes undergoing primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS with arthroscopic subspine decompression for SSI between February 2011 and October 2018. Inclusion criteria included preoperative and minimum 2-year follow-up scores for the modified Harris Hip Score, Nonarthritic Hip Score, Hip Outcome Score–Sport Specific Subscale, and visual analog scale for pain. Rates of achieving the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) were also calculated. For comparison, athletes in the SSI group were propensity matched according to age at the time of surgery, sex, body mass index, lateral center-edge angle, alpha angle, sport level, acetabular labrum articular disruption grade, and sport type to a control group of athletes without SSI.

Results:

A total of 30 SSI athletes were included in the study, with a mean plus or minus standard deviation follow-up of 32.1 ± 7.1 months and age of 20.9 ± 5.7 years. The SSI cohort demonstrated significant improvement in all recorded PROs ( P < .001), returned to sports at high rates (88.5%), and achieved the MCID for the Hip Outcome Score–Sport Specific Subscale at a high rate (80.0%). Furthermore, these patients had a low rate of undergoing revision surgery (6.7%). When compared with a propensity-matched control group of 59 athletes, the SSI group demonstrated similar rates of RTS, revision, and achieving the MCID for all PROs.

Conclusion:

Competitive athletes with FAIS and SSI who underwent primary hip arthroscopy and subspine decompression had favorable outcomes and high RTS rates at minimum 2-year follow-up. These results were comparable with those of a control group of athletes without SSI undergoing primary hip arthroscopy.
Four-Year Effects of a 2-Year Nutrition and Gender Sensitive Agricultural Program on Women’s Nutritional Status, Knowledge, and Empowerment in Rural Burkina Faso
Authors: Bliznashka Lilia , Becquey Elodie , Ruel Marie T. , Olney Deanna K.
Published: April 2022

Background:

Little is known about the sustained effects of nutrition- and gender-sensitive agricultural programs (NSAPs) after they end.

Objectives:

To examine the 4-year effects (2010-2014) of a 2-year NSAP (2010-2012) on women’s outcomes in rural Burkina Faso.

Methods:

We used baseline (2010) and endline (2012) data from a cluster-randomized controlled trial of Helen Keller International’s Enhanced Homestead Food Production (EHFP) program and baseline (2014) data from a new program. We included 134 women: 82 who participated in the 2-year EHFP program (treatment) and 52 who did not (control). We examined program (2010-2012), post-program (2012-2014), and overall 4-year effects (2010-2014) using difference-in-difference analysis (DID).

Results:

We found significant positive program effects (2010-2012) on women’s underweight prevalence (DID: 16.44 percentage points [pp]; P = .09) and on women’s knowledge about appropriate age to introduce liquids (DID: 28.40 pp; P = .01). Although there were no significant postprogram effects (2012-2014), differences found in 2012 between the treatment and control group were sustained resulting in an overall 4-year (2010-2014) reduction in women’s underweight prevalence (DID: 18.26 pp; P = .02) and an improvement in women’s knowledge about appropriate age to introduce liquids (DID: 31.29 pp; P = .02). We observed no postprogram or overall 4-year effects on women’s knowledge of child feeding and handwashing practices or women’s empowerment.

Conclusions:

Nutrition- and gender-sensitive agricultural programs demonstrate potential for sustained improvements in women’s nutritional status and nutritional knowledge. Postprogram assessments of NSAPs should be embedded in program evaluations to help further understand the potential of NSAPs to generate sustainable impacts on women’s outcomes.
‘Good Treatment’ in Residential Care Settings in Quebec: Meanings, Practices and Conditions
Authors: Éthier Sophie , Smele Sandra , Andrianova Anna , Myrand Anne , Couture Mélanie , Gagnon Éric , Aubry François
Published: April 2022

The concept of ‘bientraitance’(good treatment) of older adults was introduced in Quebec policy a few years prior to the pandemic, and its significance from the perspectives of those directly involved in care remains underexplored. Centring these perspectives, this article presents findings from a study of the meanings, practices and conditions of good treatment. Data was collected at three different residential care settings through world cafés with residents, staff, management, volunteers and family members ( n = 61) and through interviews with care aides ( n = 13). The study results indicate that those directly involved in care identify good treatment as fundamentally oriented towards developing and maintaining good relationships with residents; as contingent upon interpersonal, material, and organizational factors; and as requiring (more) time. Given the need for radical reform within Quebec’s residential care settings revealed by the pandemic, it is imperative that these perspectives inform the changes introduced.
Modified Zipper Method, a Promising Treatment Option in Severe Pediatric Immune-Mediated Neurologic Disorders
Authors: Nikolaus Marc , Kühne Fabienne , Tietze Anna , Thumfart Julia , Kempf Caroline , Gratopp Alexander , Knierim Ellen , Bittigau Petra , Kaindl Angela M.
Published: April 2022

Objective

To introduce and evaluate a modified version of the “zipper method”—a treatment strategy alternating intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and plasma exchange (PLEX) first reported for 9 pediatric cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome in 2018—for treatment of severe immune-mediated neurologic disorders in children.

Methods

The modified zipper method comprised longer intervals between PLEX-IVIG cycles (48 hours instead of 24 hours), more cycles (7-10 instead of 5), a consistent plasma volume exchange (instead of the original multistep approach), and variable infusion times for IVIGs (4-8 hours). The modified zipper method was applied as an individual treatment approach once standard therapy failed. The follow-up ranged from 6 months to 2 years. Cases were analyzed retrospectively. Disease severity was mainly quantified by the Guillain-Barré syndrome disability score.

Results

Four children (9-15 years) with (1) Miller-Fisher syndrome, (2) Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis, (3) common Guillain-Barré syndrome, and (4) severe acute disseminated encephalomyelitis were treated by the modified zipper method. Results for duration of mechanical ventilation (median of 12 days, interquartile range [IQR] 8-16), hospital stay (median of 23 days, IQR 22-24), and time to unaided walking (median of 22 days, IQR 21-37) outperformed previous studies with IVIG/PLEX alone or IVIG + PLEX combinations unlike the zipper method.

Conclusion

The modified zipper method is associated with a low mortality, a short mechanical ventilation time, a short hospital stay, and an excellent outcome in children with severe Guillain-Barré syndrome or acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Our regimen is streamlined for applicability. Results emphasize its robust effectiveness as an option for therapy escalation in severe neuroimmunologic diseases. Now, multicenter trials are needed to evaluate this novel treatment strategy.
Plastic Bodies: Women Workers and Emerging Body Rules in Service Work in Urban India
Authors: Islam Asiya
Published: April 2022

Drawing on the narratives of young lower-middle-class women employed in cafés, call centers, shopping malls, and offices in Delhi, India, in this paper I identify malleability or “plasticity” of the body as an important feature of contemporary service work. As neophyte service professionals, young women mold themselves to the middle-/upper-class milieu of their workplaces through clothes, makeup, and body language. Such body plasticity can be experienced as enabling: Identifying with the image of the “New Indian Woman,” young women enter the bourgeoning service economy. However, they also experience this body plasticity as threatening; bodily changes to meet the requirements of work can, at times, feel inauthentic as well as be read as promiscuous by others. I draw attention to how women appraise plastic bodies as both generative of change and a site of labor discipline, thus offering insights into the relationship among bodies, social inequalities, and contemporary service work.