bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chronic Stress and Steatosis of Muscles, Bones, Liver, and Pancreas: A Review
Authors: Stefanaki Charikleia , Paltoglou George , Mastorakos George , Chrousos George P.
Published: February 2022

Background: Chronic stress is a recognized risk factor for poor health, body composition disequilibrium, impaired mental health, and deterioration of quality of life. Chronic stress-related cortisol oversecretion and circadian dysregulation and associated systemic low grade, injurious inflammation (“para-inflammation”) contribute to steatosis in various metabolically active solid organs, affecting both their structure and function. The aim of this review was to summarize current knowledge on the impact of chronic stress and associated para-inflammation on skeletal muscle, bone, liver, and pancreas, leading to their steatosis. Current management of these maladaptive conditions is also included and underscored in this review. Summary: Steatosis of metabolically active solid organs is involved in various metabolic processes and considered a risk factor for chronic noncommunicable diseases, yet its role in chronic stress physiology and pathophysiology has been overlooked. Key Messages: Chronic stress-associated steatosis of several solid organs is generally disregarded in current clinical practice. Physicians should be alert for these steatoses and should address them adequately so as to provide appropriate medical care. New guidelines generated by learned societies are needed, along with large observational studies, to offer novel solutions to this old problem.
Pericyte Progenitor Coupling to the Emerging Endothelium During Vasculogenesis via Connexin 43
Authors: Payne Laura Beth , Tewari Bhanu P. , Dunkenberger Logan , Bond Samantha , Savelli Alyssa , Darden Jordan , Zhao Huaning , Willi Caroline , Kanodia Ronak , Gude Rosalie , Powell Michael D. , Oestreich Kenneth J. , Sontheimer Harald , Dal-Pra Sophie , Chappell John C.
Published: February 2022

Background:

Vascular pericytes stabilize blood vessels and contribute to their maturation, while playing other key roles in microvascular function. Nevertheless, relatively little is known about involvement of their precursors in the earliest stages of vascular development, specifically during vasculogenesis.

Methods:

We combined high-power, time-lapse imaging with transcriptional profiling of emerging pericytes and endothelial cells in reporter mouse and cell lines. We also analyzed conditional transgenic animals deficient in
Cx43/Gja1
(connexin 43/gap junction alpha-1) expression within Ng2+ cells.

Results:

A subset of
Ng2-DsRed+
cells, likely pericyte/mural cell precursors, arose alongside endothelial cell differentiation and organization and physically engaged vasculogenic endothelium in vivo and in vitro. We found no overlap between this population of differentiating pericyte/mural progenitors and other lineages including hemangiogenic and neuronal/glial cell types. We also observed cell-cell coupling and identified Cx43-based gap junctions contributing to pericyte–endothelial cell precursor communication during vascular assembly. Genetic loss of
Cx43/Gja1
in
Ng2+
pericyte progenitors compromised embryonic blood vessel formation in a subset of animals, while surviving mutants displayed little-to-no vessel abnormalities, suggesting a resilience to
Cx43/Gja1
loss in Ng2+ cells or potential compensation by additional connexin isoforms.

Conclusions:

Together, our data suggest that a distinct pericyte lineage emerges alongside vasculogenesis and directly communicates with the nascent endothelium via Cx43 during early vessel formation.
Cx43/Gja1
loss in pericyte/mural cell progenitors can induce embryonic vessel dysmorphogenesis, but alternate connexin isoforms may be able to compensate. These data provide insight that may reshape the current framework of vascular development and may also inform tissue revascularization/vascularization strategies.
Characteristics of injuries resulting from falls from height in the construction industry
Authors: Anantharaman Venkataraman , Zuhary Thajudeen Mohammed , Ying Hao , Krishnamurthy Natarajan
Published: February 2022

Introduction:

Falls from heights contribute to 34% of fatal accidents in Singapore. Of these, 51% of the accidents occur in the construction industry. This retrospective review, of all persons falling from heights in the construction industry from 2006 to 2012 and attending a major hospital, analysed injury patterns and related them to mechanisms and contributory factors.

Methods:

Information collected included injury and casualty characteristics, safety measures, pre-existing medical conditions and clinical outcomes.

Results:

Of 1,085 patients, 951 were male with a mean age of 39.8 years, mean height of 165.9 cm and mean weight of 69.7 kg. Most of the casualties fell between 0800 and 2000 hours. Among the severely injured patients, 2.4% had head injuries, 54.9% had chest injuries and 39.2% had abdominal and pelvic injuries. For these casualties, the mortality rate was 60.8%. For patients with less than major trauma, the commonest injuries were in the lower limbs (41.8%), upper limbs (40.8%) and spine (22.2%). All the casualties survived. Falls from scaffolding, formwork and platforms were the most common causes of severe injuries (41.1%). Safety helmets and harnesses were reported to be used in 1.8% and 4.1% of instances of falls, respectively.

Conclusion:

Studying the patterns of injuries following falls at construction sites has the potential for injury prevention through safe practices, use of safety equipment and targeted training.
The first mitochondrial genome of Creophilus Leach and Platydracus Thomson (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini) and phylogenetic implications
Authors: ZHAO TIAN-YOU , HE LIANG , XU XIN , CHEN ZHEN-NING , GAO YA-YUE , LÜ LIANG
Published: February 2022

Creophilus Leach and Platydracus Thomson are two genera whose members were formerly included in a poorly defined Staphylinus. Both include large-sized rove beetles that can be frequently found in carrion, faeces, and other such rotting materials worldwide. But there are not yet mitochondrial genomes in public databases, which deters scientists from further studies that involve species of these two genera. Here we present the first complete mitochondrial genomes of two typical Palaearctic species, Creophilus maxillosus and Platydracus impotens, which are also the first for the two genera. Additionally, we included the new mitogenomic data in a phylogenetic context using maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses. Our results confirm the results of previous studies but show that the position of Creophilus, and therefore the monophyly of Staphylinina, could be affected by dataset constitution and model selection.
Contribution to the knowledge of Chinese Meconematinae (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) I: One new species of Neocyrtopsis Liu & Zhang, 2007 with key to species
Authors: BIAN XUN , LU XIANGYI , ZHANG QIANWEN
Published: February 2022

This paper describes one new species of Neocyrtopsis Liu & Zhang, 2007 and provides the key to all the species. All type specimens are deposited in Guangxi Normal University.
A new spider of the genus Scotinella Banks, 1911 (Araneae: Phrurolithidae) from Mexico and new combinations in Phrurolithidae
Authors: CHAMÉ-VÁZQUEZ DAVID , JIMÉNEZ MARÍA-LUISA
Published: February 2022

A new phrurolithid species, Scotinella elpotosi sp. nov., is described from San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Males of this new species are characterized by the long and filiform embolus, and females by the W-shaped copulatory ducts. Additionally, based on delimitation of the genus Phrurolithus C. L. Koch, 1839 made by previous authors, we propose the transfer of all Mexican Phrurolithus to Scotinella Banks, 1911: S. adjacens (Gertsch & Davis, 1940) comb. nov., S. approximatus (Gertsch & Davis, 1940) comb. nov., S. coahuilanus (Gertsch & Davis, 1940) comb. nov., S. debilis (Gertsch & Davis, 1940) comb. nov., S. diversus (Gertsch & Davis, 1940) comb. nov., S. tamaulipanus (Gertsch & Davis, 1940) comb. nov., and S. tepejicanus (Gertsch & Davis, 1940) comb. nov.
The Grand Challenge of Human Health: A Review and an Urgent Call for Business–Health Research
Authors: Park Junghoon , Montiel Ivan , Husted Bryan W. , Balarezo Remy
Published: February 2022

Considering the urgency of addressing grand challenges that affect human health and achieving the ambitious health targets set by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the role of business in improving health has become critical. Yet, our systematic review of the business–health literature reveals that business research focuses primarily on occupational health and safety, health care organizations, and health regulations. To embrace the health externalities generated by business activities, we propose that future research should investigate the conditions under which business (a) articulates and participates in health challenges, (b) engages in multilevel actions toward tackling health challenges, and (c) improves health outcomes and its impact on the health of external stakeholders, including customers and local communities. We also urge business scholars to engage with the public health research community to increase impact.
Options for diversifying agricultural systems to reduce pesticide use: Can we learn from nature?
Authors: van der Werf Wopke , Bianchi Felix
Published: February 2022

There is increasing demand for farmers to reduce their use of anthropogenic inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides. It is often suggested that nature offers alternative ways to suppress pests, but what might these be? One prominent difference between most natural and agricultural systems is the diversity of plants and associated biota such as arthropod herbivores, predators and parasites, both above- and below-ground. It is often claimed that a move away from monocultures and towards greater field, farm and landscape diversity could be an important and obvious first step towards more natural pest control. This paper draws together strands of evidence on what a move to more diverse crop systems can and cannot bring to pest control. We conclude that diversification has great potential, but is not a silver bullet. Adopting a wider definition of IPM and including the environmental stewardship role of agriculture would enable a greater use of natural mechanisms for pest control, including a greater role for diversity, but would also require an economic mechanism to reward stewardship that serves wider societal needs while discouraging management that does not.
The use of epic narratives in promoting ‘natural agriculture’
Authors: Cabral Lídia , Sumberg James
Published: February 2022

This paper profiles some key promoters of nature-based and natural systems agriculture – Masanobu Fukuoka, Wes Jackson, Jerome Irvin Rodale and Robert Rodale, and Allan Savory. The focus is on ‘narratives with epic elements’ that have been constructed around these personalities, and how these have helped gain legitimacy and influence for themselves, their ideas, and their organisations. Similar processes and dynamics can be seen in more mainstream agricultural research. As the struggle over the future of agriculture is increasingly played out in corporate boardrooms, through PR agencies and on social media, it is critically important to understand how narratives with epic elements emerge, and are used to influence the debate about the future of agriculture and the potential contribution of nature-based solutions.
Climate refugees: A useful concept? Towards an alternative vocabulary of ecological displacement
Authors: Hiraide Lydia Ayame
Published: February 2022

Against the background of climate scepticism and raging anti-immigrant sentiments across Europe, the politics of climate change and the politics of migration are fraught with tension. The two converge over discussions about ‘climate refugees’. But what merit does the term ‘climate refugee’ have, and are there potential problems associated with it? This article pays attention to how racialised discourses underwrite the concept of climate refugees in ways that further exclude already marginalised populations. In place of ‘climate refugees’, it proposes ‘ecological displacement’ as a notion which stresses how and why people are displaced within or across borders. While, indeed, anthropogenic climate change is a real threat to the livelihoods of humans (among other species), it is not the only environmental driver of displacement. By using the term ‘ecology’, this article argues that we allow for a description which encompasses other potential displacement drivers beyond climate change, such as volcanic eruptions, landslides, and political violence. Citing ‘displacement’ makes the term available to populations who are displaced by damaged ecologies both within and across borders, in and outside of Europe. The notion of ‘ecological displacement’ and ‘ecologically displaced people’ tries to rehumanise those carrying the heaviest social and climate burdens on a burning planet.
The Associations Between Maternal Socioeconomic Factors and Adequacy of Energy and Macronutrient Intakes in Pregnant Women From Yucatan, Mexico
Authors: Romero-Villanueva Dulce , Dickinson Federico , Batún José Luis , Castillo-Burguete María Teresa , Azcorra Hugo
Published: February 2022

Background:

Socioeconomic factors influence diet quality during pregnancy. However, a dearth of evidence about the influence on energy and macronutrients adequacy calls for research.

Objective:

To analyze the association between socioeconomic factors and adequacy rates of energy and macronutrient intakes in pregnant women from Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

Methods:

During September to December 2019, we applied a socioeconomic questionnaire and three 24-hour dietary recalls to 83 pregnant females resident in Merida, Yucatan. Energy and macronutrient intakes were compared with the estimated trimester-specific energy and macronutrient requirements to calculate adequacies (%). Outcome variables were average adequacy of energy, carbohydrates, total fat, and protein intakes and the main predictors were maternal education, monthly family income, working status, and marital status. Descriptive statistics of adequacy were calculated for each category of predictors. The association between socioeconomic factors and outcome variables was analyzed through simple and multiple linear regression models.

Results:

Adequacy rates of energy and macronutrients decreased as education and familial income levels increased, as well as among unemployed women. Consistently with these results, simple linear regressions showed that years of education, family income, and working status (i.e., women working to earn money), were negatively associated with adequacy rates of energy and macronutrients intakes. When all predictors and covariates were included in a multiple linear regression model, only having a job was significantly associated with adequacy rates. Marital status was not associated with outcomes.

Conclusions:

Women in disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions (unemployed and low levels of education and familial income) show greater energy and macronutrient intakes.
Safety of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in an Italian spoke hospital: Long-term oncologic and functional outcomes with median 11.3 years follow-up
Authors: Fulcoli Vittorio , Bianco Marta , Sartor Gino , Agostini Andrea , Costa Giuseppe , Laurini Lucio
Published: February 2022

Introduction:

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) long-term oncologic outcomes were published in few studies. This paper provides a complete overview of RARP long-term oncologic and functional results produced in an Italian spoke hospital.

Methods:

From December 2004 to December 2010, 300 consecutive patients with prostate cancer were treated with extraperitoneal RARP. Biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS), salvage therapy-free survival (STFS), prostate cancer specific survival (PCa-SS), and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank test. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of BCR and ST. Crude rates of continence and potency recovery after surgery were reported.

Results:

Median follow-up was 135.6 months (IQR 20–184). At 15 years, BCR-FS, ST-FS, PCa-SS, and OS rates were 78% (95% CI 0.73–0.83), 85% (95% CI 0.81 −0.89), 98% (95% CI 0.97–100), and 89% (95% CI 0.84–0.94), respectively. On multivariate analysis, biopsy ISUP grade ⩾2, clinical stage ⩾pT3a, D’Amico high-risk patients subgroup, pathologic ISUP grade ⩾2, and multifocal/extensive positive margins were independent predictors of BCR. The same risk factors plus D’Amico intermediate risk patients subgroup were independent predictors of ST. After surgery, 280 (93.3%) and 93 (35.2%) patients experienced continence and potency recovery, respectively. The retrospective nature of the analysis and some selection biases represent the principal limitations of the study.

Conclusion:

The results showed in the present study match those obtained in referral centers and this is an evidence against the general belief that best prostate cancer care in provided in high volume hospitals and against centralization. Adverse characteristics of the tumor remain the best predictors of BCR and ST.
Examining School Psychologists’ Attitudes Toward Standardized Assessment Tools
Authors: Lockwood Adam B. , Farmer Ryan L. , Krach S. Kathleen
Published: February 2022

Despite a call for evidence-based practice in school psychology, limited research on the topic of evidence-based assessment exists. To begin to address this gap in the research, a modified version of Jenson–Doss and Hawley’s (2010) Attitudes Toward Standardized Assessment (ASA) scale was administered to 371 U.S. school psychologists. Examination of the modified ASA’s factor structure suggested that a bifactor model with a single overall domain and three sub-domains was the most parsimonious. Indices of dimensionality indicated that the overall score may be the best indicator of school psychologist’s perceptions of standardized assessment. Additionally, school psychologists’ reported favorable attitudes of standardized assessment compared to clinical judgment alone. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
Suicidal Ideation and Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Older Chinese Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Liang Ying-Jie , Deng Fang , Liang Pengwei , Zhong Bao-Liang
Published: February 2022

Objective

To examine prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation in older Chinese adults (OCAs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as mental health help-seeking behaviors of suicidal OCAs.

Background

Few data on suicidal behaviors of older adults during the pandemic are available.

Methods

In this cross-sectional survey, 1159 OCAs completed an online self-administered questionnaire between 23 February and 25 March 2020. A standardized single question and the 12-item General Health Questionnaire were used to assess the presence of suicidal ideation and common mental health problems (CMHPs), respectively. Suicidal ideators were further asked about their perceived need for mental health care and help-seeking from mental health workers.

Results

4.1% of the OCAs experienced suicidal ideation during the past 2 weeks. Among the suicidal OCAs, 31.9% perceived a need for mental health care but only 10.6% had sought help from mental health workers. Factors significantly associated with suicidal ideation were a marital status of “others” (OR=2.39, P = .021), disagreement regarding the successful containment of the pandemic (OR=2.43, P = .022), physical health problems (OR=2.23, P = .012), and CMHPs (OR=4.99, P < .001).

Conclusions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, OCAs constitute a subpopulation that needs mental health services for suicidal problems but tends not to seek mental health help. Mental health services for OCAs may include mental health education, periodic evaluation of risk of suicide, expanded psychosocial support, and, when necessary, psychological crisis intervention and psychiatric treatment.
Pyrolysis of rice husk using CO2 for enhanced energy production and soil amendment
Authors: Kim Hakyoung , Kim Saeyeon , Lee Jeongmin , Kim Minyoung , Kwon Dohee , Jung Sungyup
Published: February 2022

Anthropogenic CO2 generations from use of fossil resources has led to catastrophic climate problems. Biochar is a promising material for CO2 capture and storage in soil, because it does not require additional storage space. To produce biochar, pyrolysis is required in an oxygen-limited condition. In an attempt to offer more environmentally benign route for biochar formation, this study introduced CO2 as a reaction agent. Using rice husk as a model compound, biochars were produced under CO2 and N2 condition. Porosity of rice husk biochars (RHBs) were enhanced under CO2 condition, because CO2 affected to formation of nano-sized pores. pH and moisture retention capacity of garden soil was controlled with an addition of RHBs. Mixtures of garden soil and RHB were also used as cultivation media for growth of barley grass, and plant growth in the mixtures was improved by 20% comparing to garden soil. Moreover, CO2 contributed to enhanced syngas generation during biochar production through gas phase reactions between CO2 and volatile compounds. Thus, this study proved that CO2 is a useful reactant for pyrolysis of biomass waste.
Determinants of Commute Time in an Indian City
Authors: Sridhar Kala Seetharam , Nayka Shivakumar
Published: February 2022

Given the conspicuous lack of adequate research on commute time in the Indian intra-urban context, the research questions we answer in this article are: what is the average commute time to work for residents? What does this imply for the city’s effective labour market? What are the determinants of commute time to work? This article studies the questions for a large Indian city, known for its traffic gridlocks. Given that published data on journey-to-work is not readily available for Indian cities, we report findings from primary surveys of commuters travelling to work in Bengaluru. The actual time taken by commuters to reach their workplace is 42.45 minutes one-way, implying an insignificant reduction in the city’s effective labour market since 2001. We use geographic information systems to map the sectoral flow of workers and their origins and destinations within the city. Estimating regressions of the determinants of commute time, we find that workers in government jobs travel longer to get to work, elevation has a negative effect on commute time, and commute distance positively impacts travel time. The contribution of the article is the report of an Indian city’s commute time and its determinants, which can be used to influence policy.

JEL Classification: R12, R41, R42
Disparities in High School Graduation by Identity and Disability Using Intermediate and Long-Term Educational Outcomes
Authors: McKinley Yoder Claire , Cantrell Mary Ann , Hinkle Janice L.
Published: February 2022

Multiple factors influence a student's success in high school graduation. Individual factors such as disability, racial or ethnic identity, and gender may result in inequity in the school environment, interfering with learning and possibly leading to poorer educational outcomes. This secondary analysis of student educational records (N = 3,782) from 2008–2018 tested the associations among the disability, racial or ethnic identity, gender, and 5th grade attendance on high school attendance and graduation. Linear and logistic regression analysis identified students without a disability had a 40% greater chance of graduation (AOR = 1.4 [95% CI = 1.15, 1.71]) than those with a disability. Students identifying as Black, Hispanic, or Native American had half the odds of graduating compared to White students. When controlling for 9th grade attendance, these disparities decreased. Attendance in 5th grade, disability, and racial and ethnic identity influenced attendance, being on track to graduate, and high school graduation.
Socio-Cultural Values Are Risk Factors for COVID-19-Related Mortality
Authors: Endress Ansgar D.
Published: February 2022

To assess whether socio-cultural values are population-level risk factors for health, I sought to predict COVID-19-related mortality between 2 weeks and 6 months after the first COVID-19-related death in a country based on values extracted from the World Values Survey for different country sets, after controlling for various confounding variables. COVID-19-related mortality was increased in countries endorsing political participation but decreased in countries with greater trust in institutions and materialistic orientations. The values were specific to COVID-19-related mortality, did not predict general health outcomes, and values predicting increased COVID-19-related mortality predicted decreased mortality from other outcomes (e.g., environmental-related mortality).
Tanzanian Environmental Impact Assessment Laws and Practice for Projects in World Heritage Sites
Authors: Mwanga Elia
Published: February 2022

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an integral component of sound decision-making. Environmental impact assessment helps to prevent or reduce environmental harms by informing the decision-makers the likely environmental impacts of intended project, its alternatives and/or mitigation measures before the implementation starts. This study examines the effectiveness of Tanzania EIA laws and related practice on the protection of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the world heritage sites during implementation of development projects. The study used data obtained from government officials, policies, laws and reports; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and World Heritage Committee reports; and scholarly works. The study demonstrates that Tanzania EIA laws are inadequate to ensure effective protection of OUV of world heritage sites against harms caused by development projects. The laws do not guarantee effective and broader participation of stakeholders and inclusion of heritage impact assessment in EIA study. The study, therefore, recommends for reform of EIA laws and institutions responsible for supervising EIA.
The Relationship of DNA Evidence to Prosecution Outcomes in Sexual Assault Cases
Authors: Cross Theodore P. , Siller Laura , Vlajnic Maja , Alderden Megan
Published: February 2022

This study examined the relationship between DNA evidence and outcomes of prosecution of sexual assault. Researchers coded data from prosecutor and crime laboratory files for sexual assault cases referred to prosecutors between 2005 and 2011 in a metropolitan jurisdiction in the northeastern United States. Cases with a DNA match were significantly more likely to move forward and result in conviction, even with other predictor variables statistically controlled. Analyses suggest DNA evidence contributes to case progression but also is a result of it. These findings strengthen the case for quality forensic medical examinations, investment in DNA analysis, and increased prosecutor training.
Nonconsensual Distribution of Sexually Explicit Images Within a Context of Coercive Control: Frequency, Characteristics, and Associations with Other Forms of Victimization
Authors: Dardis Christina M. , Richards Elizabeth C.
Published: February 2022

The present study examined the frequency and characteristics of nonconsensual distribution of sexually explicit images (NCD) among undergraduates ( n = 496) and its co-occurrence with other forms of interpersonal violence (e.g., physical, sexual, and psychological abuse). Overall, 17.34% of participants reported NCD victimization; most were women (90.70%). Women who reported NCD from current/former partners (71.79%), compared to non-romantic acquaintances, reported more additional interpersonal violence from the same perpetrator and marginally higher threats of NCD, but were no more likely to receive NCD demands. NCD appears to occur within a pattern of elevated violence; prevention and intervention efforts are needed.
Testing the Effects of a Problem-Solving Policing Strategy on Crime Outcomes: The Promise of an Integrated Approach
Authors: Bond-Fortier Brenda J. , Nader Elias S.
Published: February 2022

Police problem-solving is one of the most recognized innovations of recent decades, and evidence provides practitioners with hope in their challenges to affect crime. Yet, practitioners need more than hope as they struggle to implement and institutionalize this innovation. This paper shares the results of an integrated problem-solving intervention situated within a comprehensive approach. A Case of Place intervention served as an instrument of problem-solving, which became institutionalized through analytical and Compstat changes. The intervention guided police and crime analysts through problem-solving processes, ensuring attention to each problem-solving step. Using interrupted time-series, post-intervention results revealed a significant reduction in aggravated assaults, motor vehicle breaks, and robberies, as compared to pre-intervention patterns. Additionally, organizational shifts moved the department towards the goal of holistic problem-solving. This study reveals positive results from the Case of Place problem-solving instrument and may offer a path to address the analytical and institutionalization shortcomings of problem-solving.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) to promote corneal healing in firework-related ocular burn and total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD)
Authors: Mallone Fabiana , Marenco Marco , Giustolisi Rosalia , Plateroti Rocco , Lambiase Alessandro
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To report the case of persistent corneal epithelial defect in total limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) after severe firework-related ocular burn treated with autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP).

Case description

A young patient, victim of fireworks trauma, presented with a large persistent epithelial defect affecting the central cornea of his left eye and progressing to stromal melting, in the context of grade VI ocular surface burn with 12 h limbal involvement. Impression cytology to the cornea confirmed a complete LSCD. Assessment of corneal sensitivity by Cochet Bonnet esthesiometer revealed complete corneal anesthesia. Based on progressive clinical worsening under conventional therapy, the patient was started on very pure autologous PRP eye drops obtained using the Hy-Tissue PRP® technology. Six times a day eye drops administration for 30 days was scheduled in the affected eye. At the end of treatment, the epithelial defect had disappeared being replaced by advancing conjunctiva.

Conclusion

Our findings provide information on management of ocular burns from fireworks, a subject of current interest and concern. Autologous PRP eye drops prepared using the Hy-Tissue PRP® system and administered in the presence of total LSCD and complete corneal anesthesia, prevented corneal stromal melting to progress and allowed the ocular surface epithelial coverage to re-establish. This paved the way for later successful restorative and reconstructive intervention. Also, first description of the Hy-tissue PRP procedure for ophthalmological use is reported.
Engagement in subversive online activity predicts susceptibility to persuasion by far-right extremist propaganda
Authors: Braddock Kurt , Hughes Brian , Goldberg Beth , Miller-Idriss Cynthia
Published: February 2022

Despite the widespread assumption that online misbehavior affects outcomes related to political extremism, few studies have provided empirical evidence to this effect. To redress this gap, we performed two studies in which we explored the relationship between subversive online activities and susceptibility to persuasion by far-right extremist propaganda. Study 1 ( N = 404) demonstrates that when individuals are exposed to far-right “scientific racism” propaganda, subversive online activity is significantly associated with feelings of gratification, attribution of credibility to and intention to support the propaganda’s source, as well as decreased resistance (in the form of reactance) to the propaganda. To verify these findings across thematic domains, Study 2 ( N = 396) focused on far-right extremist propaganda that advocates “male supremacy.” Results in Study 2 replicated those from Study 1. These findings have implications for understanding subversive online activity, vis-à-vis its association with one’s susceptibility to persuasion by far-right extremist propaganda.
Ruptured alliances: Prosecutorial lobbying, victims’ interests and punishment policy in Illinois
Authors: Degenshein Anya
Published: February 2022

Using a combination of FOIA-requested legislative committee hearings and in-depth interviews, this manuscript investigates the work of Illinois prosecutorial lobbyists in state-level crime policy during a time of penal reform. I find that prosecutorial lobbyists are a regular and influential presence in policy discussions, advocating primarily for 'law and order' policies that expand prosecutorial discretion, even following the Great Recession. I also find that they repeatedly evoke their relationship to crime victims to frame their policy positions for a bipartisan audience. However, attention to discourse reveals that victims’ own interests regularly clash with prosecutorial discretion. These clashes create what I term discursive ruptures, or uncomfortable and surprising rhetorical fissures that emerge in what is otherwise seen as a near iron-clad political alliance. In such instances, prosecutors risk alienating a key source of their political legitimacy to protect their own discretionary authority. Beyond insight into momentary political discomfort, these ruptures suggest that the powerful and productive alliance between prosecutors and victims is neither as natural nor as robust as relational perspectives have generally assumed, unearthing fault lines in prosecutors’ unparalleled power to punish.
Tailings and tracings: using art and social science to explore the limits of visual methods at mining and industrial ruins
Authors: Walby Kevin , Davis Ben
Published: February 2022

This article examines a novel approach to visual methods that artist Ben Davis has developed based on sociologist Kevin Walby’s research into decommissioned industrial sites, which is referred to here as tracing. Disrupting the over-reliance on photographic representation in visual methods in the social sciences, the authors integrate audio recordings of interviews, as well as photos, maps, and building plans for pop-up mining communities into visual art works to provide a counter-visual analysis of the landscapes depicted in Kevin Walby’s photographs of Uranium City. After reviewing literature on environmental degradation and on visual methods, the article elaborates on Ben Davis’s practice of tracing as a technique representing the feeling of decomposition and decay generated by the harms of industrial resource extraction. The authors argue that the technique of tracing excavates layered histories of place, providing a way of creating new interpretations of social and environmental issues. They then discuss how this counter-visual analysis and approach to tracing enables a trans-disciplinary and dialogical space for engagement with academics, artists, and activists to explore issues centered on land, contamination, and justice.
Simulation analysis method of expandable and flexible sensor networks based on the flexible printed circuit process
Authors: Hu Shuguang , Wang Yu , Xiong Tao , Wang Chongqi , Huang Yongan , Qiu Lei
Published: February 2022

Aircraft structural health monitoring (SHM) technology is a revolutionary technology based on sensor networks, which has the advantages of ensuring flight safety, extending structural life, and reducing maintenance costs. Due to the large size of aircraft structures and large deformation of morphing wings, the sensor networks integrated into the aircraft structures should be large-area, expandable, and flexible. Island-interconnect structure design in flexible electronics is expected to realize such sensor networks, with the help of large-area and low-cost flexible printed circuit (FPC) process. Mechanical analysis can guide the design of island-interconnect sensor networks. However, few studies have been reported to analyze the mechanical properties of whole island-interconnect sensor networks. This paper proposes a simulation analysis method based on the finite element method for the mechanical analysis of expandable and flexible sensor networks. This method mainly includes two parts: extracting the buckling modes through linear buckling analysis and obtaining the deformation states and mechanical properties through postbuckling behavior analysis. It is applied on the mechanical analysis of island-interconnect sensor networks with different geometry designs, including serpentine, fractal, and irregular island-interconnect sensor networks. Tensile experiments of island-interconnect sensor networks manufactured by the FPC process show that the deformation of experimental results is basically consistent with that of simulation results. In conclusion, the proposed simulation analysis method is appliable for the mechanical analysis of serpentine, fractal, and irregular island-interconnect structure networks, guiding the structural design of expandable and flexible sensor networks for large-area SHM of aircraft.
Novel Self-expanding Shape-Memory Bioresorbable Peripheral Stent Displays Efficient Delivery, Accelerated Resorption, and Low Luminal Loss in a Porcine Model
Authors: Glushchenko Leonid , Hubbard Brad , Sedush Nikita , Shchepochkin Vladislav , Krupnin Artur , Sharafeev Aidar
Published: February 2022

Objective and Design:

The search for improved stenting technologies to treat peripheral artery disease is trending toward biodegradable self-expanding shape-memory stents that, as of now, still suffer from the acute trade-off between deliverability and luminal stability: Higher deliverability leads to lower lumen stability, vessel recoil, and stent breakage. This study was aimed at the development and testing of a self-expanding bioresorbable poly(l,l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) stent that was designed to produce confident self-expansion after efficient crimping, as well as quick bioresorption, and sufficient radial force.

Materials and Methods:

Bench tests were employed to measure shape-memory properties, radial force, and hydrolytic degradation of the stent. The porcine model was employed to study deliverability, lumen stability, biocompatibility, and stent integrity. A total of 32 stents were implanted in the iliac arteries of 16 pigs with 15 to 180 day follow-up periods. The stented vessels were studied by angiography and histological evaluation.

Results:

Recovery of the diameter of the stent due to shape-memory effect was equal to 90.6% after 6Fr crimping and storage in refrigeration for 1 week. Radial force measured after storage was equal to 0.7 N/mm. Technical success of implantation in pigs (after the delivery implemented by pusher) was 94%. At 180 days, no implanted stents were found to be fragmented: All of the devices remained at the site of implantation with no stent migration and all stents retained their luminal support. Only moderate inflammation and neoepithelialization were detected by histological assessment at 60, 90, 120, and 180 days. Lumen loss at 180 days was less than 25% of the vessel diameter.

Conclusions:

The stent with the mechanical and chemical properties described in this study may present the optimal solution of the trade-off between deliverability and luminal stability that is necessary for designing the next generation stent for endovascular therapy of peripheral arterial disease.
Past, Present and Future: Perspectives on an Oral History of Intellectual Disability Nursing
Authors: Doyle Carmel , Griffiths Colin , McAnelly Su , Atherton Helen , Cleary Michelle , Fleming Sandra , Gates Bob , Keenan Paul , Sutton Paul
Published: February 2022

Thirty-one participants engaged in this oral history research study aimed at exploring the lived experience of intellectual disability nurses and healthcare assistants’ knowledge of the trajectory of intellectual disability nursing over the last 30 years in the Republic of Ireland and England. This paper documents some of these experiences offering perspectives on intellectual disability nursing and what is important for the future. Findings from Ireland consider the nature of intellectual disability services and the registered nurse in intellectual disability. Findings from England focus on opportunities and restrictions in intellectual disability nursing, shared visions, the changing context within which work took place and also the internal and external supports that impacted their roles. It is evident that intellectual disability nurses must be responsive to the changing landscape of service provision and also the requirements for contemporary new roles to meet the changing needs of people with intellectual disabilities.
The development of specialised modular protective structure on continuous miners against coal burst hazards
Authors: Remennikov Alex , Kalubadanage Dulara M , Yang Xiaohan , Ren Ting
Published: February 2022

As mining progresses into deep ore deposits in Australia, geo-hazards such as coal burst and outbursts are becoming a major concern for mine workers. The occurrence of geo-hazards involved the ejection of coal lumps and sometimes large volumes of hazardous gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. Whilst it is extremely important to de-stress and de-gas the seam and adjacent strata before roadway development and install competent support systems such as steel mesh and bolt, the last line of protection will be the installation of a protective canopy on the Continuous Miner (CM), which is typically used for roadway developments, to shield mine workers from these deadly dynamic impacts of coal and rock resulting from a burst or outburst. This paper aims to introduce the design, manufacture and testing of an innovative modular protective structure on the CM in underground coal mines. The developed protective system can be easily assembled in the underground mining environment and provide a high level of protection against flying debris hazards in the event of a coal burst. The extensive experimental program and numerical simulations have confirmed the high performance of the protective system against high-speed impact loading by single and multiple coal rocks and projectiles.
Crossmodal Harmony: Looking for the Meaning of Harmony Beyond Hearing
Authors: Spence Charles , Di Stefano Nicola
Published: February 2022

The notion of harmony was first developed in the context of metaphysics before being applied to the domain of music. However, in recent centuries, the term has often been used to describe especially pleasing combinations of colors by those working in the visual arts too. Similarly, the harmonization of flavors is nowadays often invoked as one of the guiding principles underpinning the deliberate pairing of food and drink. However, beyond the various uses of the term to describe and construct pleasurable unisensory perceptual experiences, it has also been suggested that music and painting may be combined harmoniously (e.g., see the literature on “color music”). Furthermore, those working in the area of “sonic seasoning” sometimes describe certain sonic compositions as harmonizing crossmodally with specific flavor sensations. In this review, we take a critical look at the putative meaning(s) of the term “harmony” when used in a crossmodal, or multisensory, context. Furthermore, we address the question of whether the term's use outside of a strictly unimodal auditory context should be considered literally or merely metaphorically (i.e., as a shorthand to describe those combinations of sensory stimuli that, for whatever reason, appear to go well together, and hence which can be processed especially fluently).
Environmental and health risks posed to children by artisanal gold mining: A systematic review
Authors: Allan-Blitz Lao-Tzu , Goldfine Charlotte , Erickson Timothy B
Published: February 2022

There are an estimated 5 million children working in artisanal and small-scale gold mines worldwide; however, the hazards are poorly characterized and often underreported. We systematically reviewed the literature on reports of hazards among children as a consequence of such activities through PubMed database using pre-defined search terms. We identified 113 articles published between 1984 and 2021 from 31 countries. Toxicological hazards were reported in 91 articles, including mercury, lead, and arsenic. Infectious hazards, noted in 18 articles, included malaria, cholera, and hepatitis. Six articles reported occupational hazards, including malnutrition, heat stroke, and reactive airway disease. Three articles reported traumatic hazards, including cave-ins, burns, animal attacks, falls, and weapon-inflected wounds. Those findings likely indicate a profound underreporting of the prevalence and consequences of such hazards among children. More work is needed both to characterize the burdens of those hazards and to address the underlying drivers of child labor in those settings.
Social Justice Education in Dentistry: A Qualitative Analysis and Conceptual Framework
Authors: Kontaxis K.L. , Esfandiari S.
Published: February 2022

Background:

Social justice, empathy, and social responsibility are emerging themes in dentistry. Many dental faculties have started incorporating these concepts into their curriculum, but our knowledge of the effectiveness of these initiatives remains limited.

Purpose:

The objective of this study was to understand how students and educators perceive the role of social justice education, if any, in the undergraduate dentistry program.

Methods:

This qualitative study was performed by using semistructured interviews with students, professors, and clinical faculty at the Université de Montréal dental school from January to May 2020. Eighteen participants were recruited through purposeful sampling until saturation. The interviews were recorded and transcribed integrally. They were coded with QDA Miner 5.0 (Provalis). Thematic analysis was undertaken to elucidate emerging themes via qualitative methodology.

Results:

Five themes emerged from the results. Certain students were more inclined to be interested in social justice and participate in voluntary community-based activities. There were gaps in current teaching methods, including a lack of exposure to alternative treatment plans (e.g., extractions vs. endodontic treatments) better suited to patients’ financial or social situations. Some barriers to teaching were identified, the most important being a lack of time. Desired teaching of social justice would include increased awareness and active student participation and taking responsibility to motivate action to produce social change. The application of social justice in dentistry involves care that is accessible and adapted to a patient’s individual needs.

Conclusion:

The results of this study provide valuable insight for the development of a social justice education curriculum in dentistry that can be evaluated and validated to train socially competent dentists who can provide patient-centered care to the community.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

The results of this study can be used by dental educators and administrators who are looking to incorporate social justice education into their dental school undergraduate curriculum. The findings serve as a starting point to foster discussions and inspire change to reduce inequalities within the dental health care system.