bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning Emotional Dialects: A British Population Study of Cross-Cultural Communication
Authors: Tsikandilakis Myron , Bali Persefoni , Lanfranco Renzo Carlo , Kausel Leonie , Yu Zhaoliang , Boncompte Gonzalo , Karlis Alexandros-Konstantinos , Alshammari Alkadi , Li Ruiyi , Milbank Alison , Burdett Michael , Mével Pierre-Alexis , Madan Christopher R , Derrfuss Jan
Published: December 2022

The aim of the current research was to explore whether we can improve the recognition of cross-cultural freely expressed emotional faces in British participants. We tested several methods for improving the recognition of freely expressed emotional faces, such as different methods for presenting other-culture expressions of emotion from individuals from Chile, New Zealand and Singapore in two experimental stages. In the first experimental stage, in phase one, participants were asked to identify the emotion of cross-cultural freely-expressed faces. In the second phase, different cohorts were presented with interactive side-by-side, back-to-back and dynamic morphing of cross cultural freely-expressed emotional faces, and control conditions. In the final phase, we repeated phase one using novel stimuli. We found that all non-control conditions led to recognition improvements. Morphing was the most effective condition for improving the recognition of cross cultural emotional faces. In the second experimental stage, we presented morphing to different cohorts including own to-other and other-to-own freely-expressed cross-cultural emotional faces and neutral-to-emotional and emotional to-neutral other-culture freely-expressed emotional faces. All conditions led to recognition improvements and the presentation of freely-expressed own-to-other cultural emotional faces provided the most effective learning. These findings suggest that training can improve the recognition of cross-cultural freely-expressed emotional expressions.
Descriptive norms caused increases in mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Heiman Samantha Lynn , Claessens Scott , Ayers Jessica Daphne , Guevara Beltran Diego , Van Horn Andrew , Hirt Ed , Aktipis Athena , Todd Peter M.
Published: December 2022

Human sociality is governed by two types of social norms: injunctive norms, which prescribe what people _ought_ to do, and descriptive norms, which reflect what people _actually_ do. The process by which these norms emerge and their causal influences on cooperative behavior over time are not well understood. Here, we study these questions through social norms influencing mask wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Leveraging two years of data from the United States (18 time points; n = 915), we tracked mask wearing and perceived injunctive and descriptive mask wearing norms as the pandemic unfolded. Longitudinal trends suggested that norms and behavior were tightly coupled, changing quickly in response to public health recommendations. In addition, longitudinal modeling revealed that descriptive norms caused future increases in mask wearing across multiple waves of data collection. These cross-lagged causal effects of descriptive norms were large, even after controlling for non-social beliefs and demographic variables. Injunctive norms, by contrast, had less frequent and generally weaker causal effects on future mask wearing. During uncertain times, cooperative behavior is more strongly driven by what others are actually doing, rather than what others think ought to be done.
Moving away from lexicalism in psycho- and neuro-linguistics
Authors: Krauska Alexandra Bunting , Lau Ellen
Published: December 2022

In standard models of language production or comprehension, the elements which are retrieved from memory and combined into a syntactic structure are ‘lemmas’ or ‘lexical items’. Such models implicitly take a ‘lexicalist’ approach, which assumes that lexical items store meaning, syntax, and form together, that syntactic and lexical processes are distinct, and that syntactic structure does not extend below the word level. Across the last several decades, linguistic research examining a typologically diverse set of languages has provided strong evidence against this approach. These findings suggest that syntactic processes apply both above and below the 'word' level, and that both meaning and form are partially determined by the syntactic context. This has significant implications for psychological and neurological models of language processing as well as for the way that we understand different types of aphasia and other language disorders. As a consequence of the lexicalist assumptions of these models, many kinds of sentences that speakers produce and comprehend - in a variety of languages, including English - are challenging for them to account for. Here we focus on language production as a case study. In order to move away from lexicalism in psycho- and neuro-linguistics, it is not enough to simply update the syntactic representations of words or phrases; the processing algorithms involved in language production are constrained by the lexicalist representations that they operate on, and thus also need to be reimagined. We provide an overview of the arguments against lexicalism, discuss how lexicalist assumptions are represented in models of language production, and examine the types of phenomena that they struggle to account for as a consequence. We also outline what a non-lexicalist alternative might look like, as a model that does not rely on a lemma representation, but instead represents that knowledge as separate mappings between (a) meaning and syntax, and (b) syntax and form, with a single integrated stage for the retrieval and assembly of syntactic structure. By moving away from lexicalist assumptions, this kind of model provides better cross-linguistic coverage and aligns better with contemporary syntactic theory.
Chronicle of a Measurement Unforetold
Authors: Castro-Alvarez Sebastian
Published: December 2022

Nowadays, researchers can easily collect dozens and dozens of measurements of a single individual by using smartphones and other electronic devices. For these kinds of studies, participants are requested to fill in short questionnaires multiple times a day for a couple of weeks or even for months, in which they report how they feel, where they are, with whom they are, and so on. The purpose of these studies is to understand how the psychological variables of interest unravel over time given the individual experiences of each subject and the specific situations where the measurements occurred. In other words, the goal is to understand the psychological dynamics of each individual. The resulting data from these studies is known as intensive longitudinal data or time series data. However, analyzing this kind of data can be challenging as sophisticated statistical methods which are still in development are required. The studies in this dissertation discuss and further develop statistical methods to analyze intensive longitudinal data in psychology based on one fundamental question: What are we measuring? With this in mind, we focused on two topics: How to distinguish between “traits” and “states”, and how to account for measurement error when studying intensive longitudinal
Índice de rendimiento biventricular del corazón fetal
Authors: Sosa-Olavarría Alberto , Álvarez-Moya Eulolio , Quiroga-Pacheco Héctor , Zambrana-Camacho Jorge , Zurita Peralta Jesús , Alcedo Alexander , Zielinsky Paulo , Giugni M Schenone
Published: December 2022

Objetivo. Proponer un índice de rendimiento biventricular basado en los valores promedio de la duración del ciclo cardíaco de cada uno de los ventrículos, determinar la variable incluida en el estudio con la correlación estadística más significativa, establecer valores de referencia que permitan identificar el trabajo de cada ventrículo en función de dicha variable y obtener un índice de gasto biventricular equilibrado. Metodología. Estudio prospectivo y transversal en fetos de 168 gestantes, en embarazos entre las 16 y 38 semanas sin patologías materno-fetales. Se obtuvieron ondas de velocidad de flujo de ambas válvulas atrioventriculares y el tiempo total del ciclo sístole-diástole se calculó en milisegundos para cada válvula. Se calcularon promedios, desviación estándar y puntuación Z del tiempo sistólico-diastólico para cada ventrículo y el índice de rendimiento ventricular individual dividiendo el valor obtenido entre la frecuencia cardiaca fetal. Se obtuvo el valor promedio de ambos y este, al ser dividido por la frecuencia cardíaca, permitió obtener el índice de rendimiento biventricular para establecer la correlación entre este, la frecuencia cardiaca fetal y la edad de gestación. Resultados. Se halló valores de tiempo sistólico-diastólico en milisegundos para el ventrículo derecho de 420,8 (DE ±28,3) y para el ventrículo izquierdo de 418,8 (DE ±26,3), sin diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p=0,371). La correlación con la frecuencia cardíaca fetal resultó negativa para ambos ventrículos (-0,491 y -0,553; p<0,05). El tiempo promedio biventricular fue de 418,37 ms (± 20,59) y la correlación con la edad gestacional de 0,48 (p<0,05); la correlación con la frecuencia cardiaca fetal fue negativa, -0,50 (p<0,05). El índice de rendimiento biventricular mostró valores de 2,8 (extremos 2,4 (P5) y 3,4 (P95)). La correlación entre el índice de rendimiento biventricular y la frecuencia cardiaca fetal fue 0,78 (p<0,05), de menor grado (0,27) con la edad gestacional. Conclusiones. Se demostró que los tiempos sistólico-diastólicos de cada ventrículo no difirieron entre sí y se correlacionaron de manera negativa con la frecuencia cardiaca fetal. Se comprobó que es posible evaluar el ciclo cardíaco fetal de cada ventrículo mediante el índice de rendimiento ventricular, así como calificar con el índice de rendimiento biventricular el gasto cardíaco combinado como equilibrado.
Ansiedad y depresión posparto a largo plazo de las madres con COVID-19 durante el embarazo
Authors: Tayfun Vural  , Bayraktar Burak , Yildirim Karaca Suna , Ascibasi Kadir , Saygili Nilufer , Odabas Ozan , Onal Erdemir Gulsum Damla , Akbas Ozgun , Eser Yasemin , Selcuk Muge , Oruc Ozlem , Kilinc Ozge
Published: December 2022

La pandemia de COVID-19 se asocia con resultados mentales negativos en el período posparto temprano. Objetivo. Evaluar la salud mental posparto a largo plazo de las mujeres infectadas con COVID-19 durante el embarazo. Métodos. Estudio transversal en 101 gestantes que dieron a luz en un centro terciario durante la pandemia de COVID-19, entre el 31 de marzo de 2020 y el 30 de noviembre de 2021. Se clasificó a las gestantes en 2 grupos como COVID-19 positivo (grupo de estudio, n=52) y COVID-19 negativo (grupo control, n=49). Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos y obstétricos mediante un cuestionario en los períodos posparto temprano (≤6 meses) y tardío (6 a 18 meses). Se calculó la puntuación del Inventario de Depresión de Beck (IDB) y del Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck (IAB) mediante el análisis de los datos de las participantes. Resultados. La puntuación media del IDB y la tasa de depresión (puntuación del IDB >13) en las pacientes con COVID-19 positivo fueron mayores en el período posparto temprano que en el tardío. Según el análisis de regresión lineal multivariante, existió una correlación significativa entre la puntuación IDB de las pacientes con COVID-19 y el nivel educativo y la situación laboral. Según el mismo análisis, existió una correlación significativa entre la puntuación del IAB de los pacientes con COVID-19 y el apoyo del cónyuge, la relación marital y las enfermedades relacionadas con el nacimiento. Se encontró que las pacientes con COVID-19 positivo y COVID-19 negativo tenían puntuaciones IDB e IAB similares en los periodos postparto temprano (≤6 meses) y tardío (6-18 meses). Además, las tasas de ansiedad y depresión fueron similares en ambos grupos en los mismos períodos posparto. Conclusión. En nuestro estudio, la infección por COVID-19 en el embarazo no tuvo un impacto adicional significativo en la salud mental materna en el posparto a largo plazo.
Communication écrite État-citoyens : Défis Numériques, Perspectives Rédactologiques. Isabelle Clerc (dir.). Les Presses de l’Université Laval, 2022
Authors: Michaud Émilie
Published: December 2022

None
USING SHORT SEQUENCE matK GENE AS BARCODE DNA FOR IDENTIFICATION OF DURIO Sp IN TERNATE ISLAND
Authors: Sundari S. , Mas’ud Abdu , Arumingtyas Estri Laras , Wahyudi Didik
Published: December 2022

The Barcode of Life Consortium (CBOL) recommended a standard method for the identification of plant species using matK and rbcL barcoding gene. This study was aimed to evaluate the efficiency of matK DNA barcoding for identification of local durian (Durio sp.) from Ternate Island. Total 15 local durian has been used in this study. Whole genom DNA was isolated by Geneid plant DNA kit and then successfully amplified by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique using specific primer. MatK successfully amplified with 245 bp in length. MatK has sequencing success (71.3%) and relative high of Quality value 20+ (86%). BLAST analysis of the sequence showed that local durian in Ternate are identifies as Durio zibethinus and Neesia malayana with query cover 97%-99%. It could be concluded that matK with short sequence is not efficience for durian identification.  The recommended  in this studies  for using of molecular markers with sequence lengths above 500 bp would be more effective for the identification of cryptic species Durio sp. and other.
On the taxonomy and distribution of some Neotropical giant scale insects (Homoptera: Coccinea: Margarodidae s. l.)
Authors: Gavrilov-Zimin I.A.
Published: December 2022

Neohodgsonius kurochkini sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on material collected in Mexico. Neohodgsonius splendens Foldi, 2016 is transferred to Llaveiella Morrison, 1927 as Llaveiella splendens (Foldi, 2016), comb. nov. Neosteingelia texana Morrison, 1927 is recorded from Mexico for the first time. Cryptokermes oaxacoensis Foldi, 2011 is recorded from the Yucatan Peninsula for the first time and the ultimolarva of this species is fully illustrated.
Corrupção, corruptores e contrabando: uma discussão historiográfica sobre práticas ilícitas na América Portuguesa (C. Século XVIII)
Authors: Silva Daniel Costa
Published: December 2022

O presente artigo[1] busca analisar a compreensão da ideia de corrupção, especificamente em Portugal e na América portuguesa e como tal entendimento refletiu na dinâmica da relação entre a metrópole e a colônia, especificamente no contexto da extração do ouro nas Minas e na região de abrangência da Companhia de Comercio de Pernambuco e Paraíba, durante o período pombalino. Assim, busca identificar como tais práticas ilegais tiveram impacto naquela sociedade. Centrando a análise a partir da discussão historiográfica sobre o tema, ainda recorremos de forma secundária a correspondências administrativas encontradas nos principais acervos documentais relativos ao período colonial, especificamente o AHU e dicionários produzidos no período para embasar a análise.

Palavras-chave: Corrupção. Contrabando. Escravizados.

 

[1] O presente artigo é um desdobramento do segundo capítulo da monografia intitulada: Entre atalhos e veredas: uma análise da política da Coroa portuguesa em relação ao contrabando e a corrupção no período pombalino (Pernambuco, 1758-1778). Apresentada pelo autor em outubro de 2020 junto ao Departamento de História da Escola de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (EFLCH) da Universidade Federal de São Paulo para obtenção da Licenciatura em História Agradeço ao Prof. Dr. Jaime Rodrigues pelo frutífero debate ao longo do processo de orientação e as observações das Profa. Dra. Adriana Romeiro e a Profa. Dra. Mariza de Carvalho Soares que compuseram a banca.
The broken unscientific arm of s/Self (care) in the context of silence and solitude for schools
Authors: Lees Helen
Published: December 2022

This paper argues that whilst silence and solitude in schools are beneficial and therefore have therapeutic spirit in their health and healing potential, they are not enough. The paper argues we need to do deeper in schools into the inner lives of individuals for well-being and healing of anomalies for “happiness,” but it is imperative this drive involves consent. I suggest current urgencies never before felt around climate change exigencies require the significant, permanent transformation for the resolution of childhood and other traumas (common to all) inherent in therapy. This is new for education in the way I mean and I deal with concerns about the dangers of “therapeutic rise” in schools. The argument here responds to a climate emergency: we no longer live to be happy, but instead need happiness to survive our planet and all that unresolved traumas causes in the actions of humans against Others of all kinds. I argue the soft, “passive” benefits of silence and solitude for schools have received academic attention which has enabled them to move from fluffy, hippy-touchy-feely into the realm of evidence based practices, involving also a body of theory to support their just, ethical and appropriate use for child and staff in schools. These or this area of schooling intervention presents a case study for how the currently unscientific arm that is therapy in schools can be rendered scientific: within the science of education as discipline and according to the terms of that discipline as science. I present a model of therapy known as Internal Family Systems (IFS), which is currently developing its scientific basis, supported by academics and practitioner-professionals impressed by the outcomes towards well-being (in ways mentioned above required – along the lines of do no harm to self nor other) that this model affords. I suggest therapy in schools could occur well and with consent using this model given its democratic requirements of “parts” agreeing to the model in action and “parts” consent for the model to work being fundamental. A side issue of “spiritual bypassing” is explored as justifying therapy first, rather than silence and solitude as what I call “soft therapy”, seen as optional. I call for “vital” therapy specifically via IFS and its parts-Self modelling, which involves active talk rather than passive involvement, to be developed as science in and for education.
Kamu borçlarının, özel ve kamu kesimi yatırımlarını dışlama etkisi: Türkiye için ampirik bir analiz
Authors: GÖKPINAR Seher
Published: December 2022

Borçlanma, devletler açısından çoğu zaman kaçınılmazdır. Eğitim, sağlık, tarım, altyapı ve enerji gibi pek çok alanda geniş ölçekli kamu yatırımları çoğunlukla borçlanma ile mümkün olmaktadır. Bilhassa altyapı yatırımları yoluyla özel sektörün teşvik edilmesi uzun vadede büyümeye yardımcı olmakta ve özel kesim yatırımlarının çekilmesine olanak sağlamaktadır. Aynı zamanda kamu borçları, özel ve kamu kesimi yatırımlarının dışlanmasına yol açabilmektedir. Bu nedenle kamu borçlarının özel ve kamu kesimi yatırımlarını dışlayıp dışlamayacağı sorusu politika yapıcılar ve ekonomi çevreleri için önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmada 1986-2020 yılları için Türkiye’de kamu borçlarının, özel ve kamu kesimi yatırımlarına etkisi ARDL yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Ampirik bulgularımız dışlama hipotezini doğrulamaktadır. Buna göre kısa ve uzun dönemde Türkiye’de kamu borçlarının, özel ve kamu kesimi yatırımları üzerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ve negatif bir etkisinin olduğu görülmektedir. Özel ve kamu kesimi yatırımlarının dışlanmaması için kamu borçlarının makul bir düzeyde tutulması ve özel kesimi teşvik eden alanlarda kullanılması önerilmektedir.
Aḥwāl, Divine Simplicity, and Truthmakers
Authors: Zolghadr Behnam
Published: December 2022

This paper is a comparative study between Brower’s solution to the problem of divine simplicity and that of Abū Hāšim al-Ǧubbāī (d. 933). First, I argue that the theory of aḥwāl is a semantic theory rather than a metaphysical one. Then, I present a reconstruction of Abū Hāšim al-Ǧubbāī’s theory of aḥwāl, based on Brower’s truthmaker theory of predication. Then, I show how Abū Hāšim would reply to some of the objections that Saenz raised against Brower’s truthmaker theory of divine simplicity. Later on, I discuss Abū Hāšim’s explanation of the similarities between the properties that God and creatures share.
Windrush Generation in the Context of the Modern Development of Multiracial Great Britain
Authors: Khakhalkina Elena
Published: December 2022

The author focuses on events related to the understanding of the role and place of immigrants from the West-India in modern multiracial society in Britain that have been largely unexplored in Russian historical scholarship. The first part of the article provides a brief historical outline relating to the arrival in the United Kingdom in 1948 of the ship “Empire Windrush”, which symbolised the beginning of mass immigration into the country. The second part of the article analyses the parliamentary discussions on the commemorative events of the 70th anniversary and the social and political scandal that arose on the eve of the celebration. The author pays particular attention to clarifying the controversial question in the political discourse in the United Kingdom as to what the true reason was for the surge of immigration from colonies and countries that gained their sovereign status after the Second World War. The third part provides an overview of the settlement of the scandal and the problem of monetary compensation to the affected citizens. Sources include debates in both Houses of Parliament, Cabinet documents, and statistical data. Historical-genetic, comparative and structural-functional analysis became the research methods. The author concludes that the wide public and political resonance of the anniversary celebrations and all related events reflects the complexity and multifaceted nature of the problem of migrant integration and the reconfiguration of the existing model of national identity of Great Britain, the “outlier” element of which is the attitude towards the colonial and post-colonial past of the country. Against the backdrop of debates in Parliament, there was a demand from various ethnic groups, including those represented in the political establishment, for recognition of their real contribution to the development of the United Kingdom, an inclusive environment, and multiracial diversity. The outlined topics clarify the features of the migration picture in Great Britain and bring about an understanding of fundamental questions about the essence of British identity.
"Jumping Out of the Historical Cycle" and Building a New Ideology at the Twentieth Congress of CCP.
Authors: Goncharov Sergey
Published: December 2022

The contents of CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping report to the CPC XXth Party congress is analyzed in the article. The conclusion is made that the core thesis around which the report and the strategy that are reflected in it, are organized around the idea of the possibility and the necessity of “jumping out of the history circle that leads toward decline of the state“ by undertaking the “revolution toward to oneself” by the Communist Party. During the the construction of new system of power the conscious effort of Xi Jinping is made that has three main goals: first of all, to fine-tune the system of control over party — state apparatus from below, from the “masses of people”, second, to execute the course for “governing of the Party with utmost rigidity”, according to which a severe struggle has to be waged against corruption and decay of the ruling elite and the third one — creation of the comprehensive ideological system that has to legitimize the right of the existing party — bureaucratic elite to rule over the country. When building of this system Xi Jinping is attempting to utilize the core elements of the old Chinese ideology of governing, as well as the ideas if Mao Zedong, theoretical legacy of Deng Xiaoping, “important ideas of “three represents” of Jiang Zemin and “the scientific concept of development” of Hu Jintao. By doing this Xi Jinping is striving to create new governing elite, armed with relatively complicated theory and specific language of government, that has to legitimize their right to rule in the eyes of the “broad masse of the people”.
Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from ear swab in Iraqi children as a causative agent of Otitis externa
Authors: Al-Hasnawi Eman A.
Published: December 2022

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive, spherical, grape like clusters arrangmentbacterium, non-spore forming. Is a genus that causes many hard diseases such as food poisoning,gastroenteritis with severe symptoms. S. aureus is commonly found in the wide environment (soil, air andwater) and is importantly found in the nose and skin in the humans. And can causes ear infection byentering the ear. The diagnosis of Otitis externa is usually made clinically and bacterial tests.Objective: To detection and isolation of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus from pus specimens of earswab, among Iraqi children with Otitis externa.Patients and methods: Eighty ear swab specimens from suspected cases of Otitis externa amongchildren, inoculated to brain heart broth, then to non-selective media (blood agar) and when growthappeared, cultured on selective media (Mannitol salt agar) plates in the laboratory. The plates wereincubated at 37ᵒC aerobically for 24 hours, identified the isolate by Gram stain, catalase and coagulase ofhuman plasma.Results: In this study, from 80 samples (43) males; (37) female, with (31) cases had medical historycontrolled by 20 healthy individuals: the bacterial growth and identification on blood agar resulted inpresence of nonspecific bacteria in (65) samples, were (36) males and (29) females, while specific bacteriaStaphylococcus aureus on selected media (Manitol salt agar), catalase positive and Co-agulase positive,were in (28) samples of (16) males and (12) females most of them in age (1-3) years, were (11) samples,in males more than females.Conclusion: The isolation of Staphylococcus aureus was the most important diagnosis of predominantcausative agents of Otitis externa among Iraqi children and showed such an exhibition about the epidemic
type of bacteria in our region.
Assessment of Preventive Foot Care Practices among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type II
Authors: Noaman Aqeel A.
Published: December 2022

Background: Diabetic foot problems are one of the most important complications of diabetes mellituswhich causing a worldwide high cost morbidity which could be due to poor self-practices.Objectives: To assess the preventive food care practices among diabetic patients and to find out anysignificant association of these practices with selected socio-demographical and diabetic relatedcharacteristics.Patients and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Baquba city from theperiod of 20th Septembers, 2016 up to 20th March, 2017, by selecting a sample of (120) patients byusing a structured questionnaire, the questionnaire composed of three parts, the first part containsinformation related to patients’ demographic characteristics, the second part contains someinformation related to diabetic characteristics and the third part of the questionnaire consists ofdifferent questions about preventive foot care practices which consist of 14 positive items. Each oneof these items must be answered either with (Always, Never or Sometimes). A three levels Likertscale was used to measure the variables. Finally, the data analyzed using SPSS (Ver.18) and the Chisquarewas used to find out any association between studied data and preventive foot care practices. P≤ 0.05 was considered significant in the present study.Results: Out of 120 diabetic patients, (40%) of them were over 60 years, (52.5%) were male patients,about one third (32.5%) were illiterate, most of them (40.8%) had moderate monthly income, majorityof them (66.7%) were living in urban areas. Also the current study showed that the patient responsesto preventive foot care practices were satisfactory at all studied items, except at the these items“drying my feet after washing, regular use of lotion or oil to moisturizing foot, taking care whenclipping my toenail and visiting doctor after foot injury , their responses assessment wereunsatisfactory. It was found that (62.5%) of the studied patients had an acceptable and good foot carepractices.Conclusions: It concluded from this study that most of the diabetic patients had an acceptable andgood foot care practices, and didn’t indicate a significant association between the patients’ age,gender, residency, duration of disease and previous history of foot ulcer with an overall assessment ofpreventive foot care practices and there was only a significant association with overall assessment ofthe studied preventive diabetic foot care practices with patients’ educational level and monthlyincome.
Immunohistochemical expression of HepPar 1 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Jasim Islam A. , Hameedi Ameer Dh.
Published: December 2022

Background: Colorectal carcinoma is common in Northwest Europe, North America, and other Anglo-Saxon areas, while it decreases in number in Africa, Asia, and some parts of South America, There are many immunohistochemical markers react to colonic tissue, the large majority of colorectal carcinomas are positive for mucin stains. Colorectal adenocarcinomas are invariably positive for cytokeratin (CK), Reactivity for CEA is also the rule; as a matter of fact, failure to detect CEA in an adenocarcinoma of makes a colo-rectal site of origin seems to be unlikely, and many other markers that could claimed in colorectal tumors, a one marker that may has a role in staining colorectal tumors is HepPar-1 which is a monoclonal antibody that reacts to an as yet unidentified cytoplasmic marker of normal and neoplastic hepatocytes, which could be expressed in neoplastic or non-neoplastic colorectal tissue.Objectives: to see the expression of HepPar-1 (cytoplasmic marker of normal and neoplastic hepatocytes) in colorectal cancer.Patients and methods: Fifty-eight cases (49 with colorectal carcinoma, 9 cases on non-malignant colorectal tissues) male and females depending on records, the study is conducted in GIT specialized hospital in medical city / department of histopathology – Baghdad city during period from 1/10/2016 to 1/4/2017.Results: cases were studied, the positivity in our study of the cases was (8.2%), and none of the control "non-neoplastic" cases express this marker. No significant statistical correlation was found between HepPar-1 expression and the tumor grade, site, age or sex, (P values >0.05).Conclusion: HepPar-1 can be expressed in tumors including 8.2% of colorectal carcinoma in this study; HepPar-1 is not expressed in normal colorectal tissue.
Prospective Evaluation of FDG-PET/CT for On-treatment Assessment of Response to Neoadjuvant or Induction Chemotherapy in Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Einerhand Sarah M.H. , Voskuilen Charlotte S. , van de Putte Elies E. Fransen , Donswijk Maarten L. , Bruining Annemarie , van der Heijden Michiel S. , Mertens Laura S. , Hendricksen Kees , Vegt Erik , van Rhijn Bas W.G.
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant/induction chemotherapy (NAIC) improves survival in patients with muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma (MIBC). On-treatment response assessment may aid in decisions to continue or cease NAIC. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (FDG-PET/CT) could predict response to NAIC and compared to contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT). METHODS: We prospectively included 83 patients treated for MIBC (i.e. high-risk cT2-4N0M0 or cT1-4N+M0-1a) between 2014 and 2018. Response to NAIC was assessed after 2-3 cycles with FDG-PET/CT (Peter-Mac and EORTC criteria) and CECT (RECIST1.1 criteria). We assessed prediction of complete pathological response (pCR; ypT0N0), complete pathological down-staging (pCD;≤ypT1N0), any down-staging from baseline (ypTN < cTN) and progression (inoperable tumor/ypN+/M+). The reference standard was histopathological assessment or clinical follow-up. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated. RESULTS: Pathological response rates were 21% for pCR, 29% for pCD, and 10% progressed. All patients underwent FDG-PET/CT and 61 patients also underwent CECT (73%). Accuracy of FDG-PET/CT for prediction of pCR, pCD, and progression were 73%, 48%, and 73%, respectively. Accuracy of CECT for prediction of pCR, pCD, and progression were 78%, 65%, and 67%, respectively. Specificity of CECT was significantly higher than FDG-PET/CT for prediction of pCD and any down-staging (p = 0.007 and p = 0.022). In all other analyses, no significant differences between FDG-PET/CT and CECT were found. CONCLUSIONS: Routine FDG-PET/CT has insufficient predictive power to aid in response assessment compared to CECT.
A small painful neuroma of the transverse cervical nerve treated with pulsed radiofrequency: A case report
Authors: Mazerolle Mylène , Babaei-Ghazani Arash , Boudier-Revéret Mathieu , Chang Min Cheol
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is a common complaint seen amongst patients from all ages. When common causes of neck pain have been ruled out, it is important to investigate further. A careful physical exam can help identify the painful structures. An ultrasound of the area can also be helpful to identify possible structures involved. Neuromas can be treated with oral medications as well as more invasive techniques, such as pulsed radiofrequency (PRF). CASE DESCRIPTION: In this case report, we discuss a 67-year-old female who presented with left anterior neck pain after developing a cervical mass who was later diagnosed as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A small neuroma of the left transverse cervical nerve was found on ultrasound and ultimately was treated with PRF with a complete resolution of her symptoms at two months follow-up. CONCLUSION: PRF seems to be a useful tool for controlling neuropathic pain caused by a neuroma.
Measurement properties of patient-reported outcome measures used in rehabilitation of adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain: A mapping review
Authors: Köke A.J.A. , Bastiaenen C.H.G. , Kleijnen J. , Telgenkamp I. , Smeets R.J.E.M. , Beckers L.W.M.E.
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND: Choosing measurement tools for diagnostic, prognostic, or evaluative purposes in a chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) population is challenging for rehabilitation practice. Implementation of measurement tools for clinical practice is impaired by gaps in knowledge about measurement properties. OBJECTIVE: Identifying evidence about the measurement properties of tools frequently used in Dutch pain rehabilitation practice. METHODS: A mapping review was conducted of eligible studies that investigated reliability, validity, or responsiveness, and interpretability, as defined by the COSMIN taxonomy, of original versions or Dutch translations of predefined Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in a CMP population. MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINAHL were searched in March 2021. Results were visually mapped. RESULTS: Thirty-five studies were included. The results show many knowledge gaps in both original and translated versions. In general, aspects of validity were most frequently reported. The Pain Disability Index, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey were the most studied measurement tools. No results were found for the Checklist Individual Strength, Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Utrecht Coping List. CONCLUSION: Little evidence of the measurement properties of PROMs used in rehabilitation of patients with CMP in the Netherlands was found. PROMs need to be used and interpreted with caution in daily practice.
Relationship between pelvic floor muscle function and changes in lumbar spine and hip motion due to pelvic floor muscle contraction
Authors: Miyachi Ryo , Madokoro Sachiko , Ohno Naoki , Miyati Tosiaki , Yamazaki Toshiaki
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND: Pelvic floor muscles (PFM) are important for lumbar stability. However, the relationship between lumbar and hip motion angle changes (MAC) caused by PFM contraction and each PFM’s function remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To clarify the lumbar spine and hip motion changes produced by PFM contraction and the relationship between MAC and PFM function. METHODS: In 21 healthy females, motion angle was measured for prone hip extension movement using natural movement (NM), PFM contracting movement (PM), and reducing lumbar movement (RM) methods. The PFM functional indices were bladder base elevation distance, continuous bladder base elevation time, and pelvic floor location. RESULTS: The PM showed no significant difference in lumbar motion angle but had significantly smaller hip motion than the NM (NM; 26.1 ± 8.3, PM; 29.2 ± 11.0). MAC was significantly greater in RM (lumbar spine; 4.4 ± 3.2, hip; 5.9 ± 8.7) than in PM (lumbar spine; 0.4 ± 4.4, hip; 3.1 ± 5.1) for both the lumbar spine and hip. Lumbar spine and hip MAC of PM was significantly correlated with pelvic floor location (lumbar spine; r=-0.44, hip; r= 0.54). CONCLUSION: PFM contraction does not attenuate lumbar spine motion but reduces hip motion. MAC due to PFM contraction during lumbar movement tasks is related to the PFM functional index.
Obesity-Associated Neurodegeneration Pattern Mimics Alzheimer’s Disease in an Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Morys Filip ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Potvin Olivier , Zeighami Yashar , Vogel Jacob , Lamontagne-Caron Rémi , Duchesne Simon , Dagher Alain
Published: December 2022

Background: Excess weight in adulthood leads to health complications such as diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia. Recently, excess weight has also been related to brain atrophy and cognitive decline. Reports show that obesity is linked with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related changes, such as cerebrovascular damage or amyloid-β accumulation. However, to date no research has conducted a direct comparison between brain atrophy patterns in AD and obesity. Objective: Here, we compared patterns of brain atrophy and amyloid-β/tau protein accumulation in obesity and AD using a sample of over 1,300 individuals from four groups: AD patients, healthy controls, obese otherwise healthy individuals, and lean individuals. Methods: We age- and sex-matched all groups to the AD-patients group and created cortical thickness maps of AD and obesity. This was done by comparing AD patients with healthy controls, and obese individuals with lean individuals. We then compared the AD and obesity maps using correlation analyses and permutation-based tests that account for spatial autocorrelation. Similarly, we compared obesity brain maps with amyloid-β and tau protein maps from other studies. Results: Obesity maps were highly correlated with AD maps but were not correlated with amyloid-β/tau protein maps. This effect was not accounted for by the presence of obesity in the AD group. Conclusion: Our research confirms that obesity-related grey matter atrophy resembles that of AD. Excess weight management could lead to improved health outcomes, slow down cognitive decline in aging, and lower the risk for AD.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers and Amyloid-β Elimination from the Brain in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-Related Inflammation
Authors: Sakai Kenji , Noguchi-Shinohara Moeko , Tanaka Hidetomo , Ikeda Tokuhei , Hamaguchi Tsuyoshi , Kakita Akiyoshi , Yamada Masahito , Ono Kenjiro
Published: December 2022

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation (CAA-ri) have demonstrated inconsistent results. Objective: We investigated the relationship between CSF amyloid-β protein (Aβ) and vascular pathological findings to elucidate the mechanisms of Aβ elimination from the brain in CAA-ri. Methods: We examined Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in CSF samples in 15 patients with CAA-ri and 15 patients with Alzheimer’s disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (AD-CAA) using ELISA as a cross-sectional study. Furthermore, we pathologically examined Aβ40 and Aβ42 depositions on the leptomeningeal blood vessels (arteries, arterioles, and veins) using brain biopsy samples from six patients with acute CAA-ri and brain tissues of two autopsied patients with CAA-ri. Results: The median Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in the CSF showed no significant difference between pre-treatment CAA-ri (Aβ40, 6837 pg/ml; Aβ42, 324 pg/ml) and AD-CAA (Aβ40, 7669 pg/ml, p = 0.345; Aβ42, 355 pg/ml, p = 0.760). Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in patients with post-treatment CAA-ri (Aβ40, 1770 pg/ml, p = 0.056; Aβ42, 167 pg/ml, p = 0.006) were lower than those in patients with pre-treatment CAA-ri. Regarding Aβ40 and Aβ42 positive arteries, acute CAA-ri cases showed a higher frequency of partially Aβ-deposited blood vessels than postmortem CAA-ri cases (Aβ40, 20.8% versus 3.9%, p = 0.0714; Aβ42, 27.4% versus 2.0%, p = 0.0714, respectively). Conclusion: Lower levels of CSF Aβ40 and Aβ42 could be biomarkers for the cessation of inflammation in CAA-ri reflecting the recovery of the intramural periarterial drainage pathway and vascular function.
Serum Cathepsin D Is a Potential Biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia and Cognitive Decline
Authors: Chai Yuek Ling , Liang Nathan Hao Ping , Chong Joyce R. , Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy , Tan Boon Yeow , Hilal Saima , Chen Christopher P. , Lai Mitchell K. P.
Published: December 2022

Background: The lysosomal protease cathepsin D (catD) has been reported to be upregulated in postmortem Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cortex, where it colocalized with neurofibrillary tangles and correlated with levels of phosphorylated tau, suggesting pathophysiological links between catD and neurodegeneration. In contrast, studies of serum catD in AD have yielded conflicting results, and potential associations between baseline serum catD and functional outcomes of patients are at present unknown. Objective: We aimed to examine the status of serum catD in a Singapore-based longitudinal study of dementia and investigate catD associations with functional and cognitive decline. Methods: 35 subjects with no cognitive impairment, 40 patients with cognitive impairment no dementia and 34 with AD dementia underwent annual neuropsychological assessments (mean follow-up=4.3 years), as well as collection of baseline serum for catD measurements by ELISA. Results: Higher serum catD at baseline was associated with AD clinical diagnosis (odds ratios [OR]: 10.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–97.95) as well as with cortical atrophy. Furthermore, higher catD was associated with global cognitive and functional decline (OR: 9.94; 95% CI: 1.02–97.34). Conclusion: The associations of serum catD with AD dementia as well as atrophy provide further support for the proposed links between catD and neurodegeneration, as well as for the assessment of serum catD as a prognostic biomarker predicting global cognitive and functional decline in larger studies.
A 19-Year-Old Adolescent with Probable Alzheimer’s Disease1
Authors: Jia Jianping , Zhang Yue , Shi Yuqing , Yin Xuping , Wang Shiyuan , Li Yan , Zhao Tan , Liu Wenying , Zhou Aihong , Jia Longfei
Published: December 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) primarily affects older adults. In this report, we present the case of a 19-year-old male with gradual memory decline for 2 years and World Health Organization-University of California Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test (WHO-UCLA AVLT) results also showing memory impairment. Positron emission tomography-magnetic resonance imaging with 18F fluorodeoxyglucose revealed atrophy of the bilateral hippocampus and hypometabolism in the bilateral temporal lobe. Examination of the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid showed an increased concentration of p-tau181 and a decreased amyloid-β 42/40 ratio. However, through whole-genome sequencing, no known gene mutations were identified. Considering the above, the patient was diagnosed with probable AD.
B-SAHIC: A blockchain based secured and automated health insurance claim processing system
Authors: Khatun Mahafuja , Islam Ridwan Arefin , Islam Salekul
Published: December 2022

In recent years, blockchain technology has been successfully used in many distributed environments where different stakeholders, who do not have any trust between them, interact with each other through a secured and transparent platform. The use of blockchain in healthcare insurance industry has not been studied methodically. In this study, we develop a blockchain based Secured and Automated Health Insurance Claim (B-SAHIC) processing system. First, we design an Entity-Relationship (ER) diagram identifying all actors with their respective data and relations between them. We also develop the business model and algorithms for all necessary steps. We implement the system in Hyperledger Fabric and deploy a smart contract to implement these algorithms. We introduce CouchDB to store the OffChain data where we store World-State Database. B-SAHIC provides a web-based portal for all actors who interact with the blockchain. Privacy of clients’ claim-related data is ensured by encrypting treatment-related data with a new key that is derived uniquely for each new submission done of clients’ personal documents. We have also deployed Hyperledger Explorer, a user-friendly web application tool for monitoring the health state of each node participating on the blockchain network. We have studied the performance of B-SAHIC for two to six peer nodes. Moreover, our performance study shows that B-SAHIC is fast and scalable. In our study, the average query latency is decreased from 0.07 second (for two peer nodes) to 0.02 second (for six peer nodes) in case of 1300 queries per second while the average transaction latency remains unchanged (around 3.5 seconds) for 300 transactions per second. Moreover, B-SAHIC consumes minimum resources, around 350MB only for two peer nodes. We believe that the development process of this blockchain based platform can be applicable for the automation of other insurance industry too.
Functional and Clinical Outcomes Associated with Steroid Treatment among Non-ambulatory Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: McDonald Craig M. , Mayer Oscar H. , Hor Kan N. , Miller Debra , Goemans Nathalie , Henricson Erik K. , Marden Jessica R. , Freimark Jonathan , Lane Henry , Zhang Adina , Frean Molly , Trifillis Panayiota , Koladicz Karyn , Signorovitch James ,   on behalf of the PRO-DMD-01 consortium investigators
Published: December 2022

Background:

Evidence on the long-term efficacy of steroids in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) after loss of ambulation is limited.

Objective:

Characterize and compare disease progression by steroid treatment (prednisone, deflazacort, or no steroids) among non-ambulatory boys with DMD.

Methods:

Disease progression was measured by functional status (Performance of Upper Limb Module for DMD 1.2 [PUL] and Egen Klassifikation Scale Version 2 [EK] scale) and by cardiac and pulmonary function (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF], forced vital capacity [FVC] % -predicted, cough peak flow [CPF]). Longitudinal changes in outcomes, progression to key disease milestones, and dosing and body composition metrics were analyzed descriptively and in multivariate models.

Results:

This longitudinal cohort study included 86 non-ambulatory patients with DMD (mean age 13.4 years; n = 40 [deflazacort], n = 29 [prednisone], n = 17 [no steroids]). Deflazacort use resulted in slower average declines in FVC % -predicted vs. no steroids (+3.73 percentage points/year, p < 0.05). Both steroids were associated with significantly slower average declines in LVEF, improvement in CPF, and slower declines in total PUL score and EK total score vs. no steroids; deflazacort was associated with slower declines in total PUL score vs. prednisone (all p < 0.05). Both steroids also preserved functional abilities considered especially important to quality of life, including the abilities to perform hand-to-mouth function and to turn in bed at night unaided (all p < 0.05 vs. no steroids).

Conclusions:

Steroid use after loss of ambulation in DMD was associated with delayed progression of important pulmonary, cardiac, and upper extremity functional deficits, suggesting some benefits of deflazacort over prednisone.