bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of iStent as a Standalone Operation in Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma
Authors: Chen Yu-Yen , Lai Yun-Ju , Yen Yung-Feng , Huang Li-Ying
Published: May 2020

Purpose. The iStent provides a direct pathway for aqueous outflow from the anterior chamber to Schlemm’s canal in patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of iStent as a standalone operation in patients with OAG in reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP) and the number of topical glaucoma medications. Methods. We searched various databases between January 1, 2000, and September 30, 2019, and included only peer-reviewed, prospective, or retrospective clinical studies in our analyses. Details regarding the IOP and the number of medications at baseline and end point were recorded from each study. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) of IOP and medication numbers were calculated. Furthermore, the success rate (the proportion of IOP ≤18 mmHg and IOP reduction ≥20% at end point) and the complication rate were also summarized. Finally, a subgroup analysis was done based on the iStent generation (first and second), follow-up duration (≤6, 6–18, 18–36, and >36 months), and iStent number (one, two, and three). The outcome measures were aggregated SMDs computed from each study. Results. A total of 17 studies with 978 eyes were included in this analysis. All studies demonstrated a reduction in IOP after iStent implantation. Aggregated SMDs of IOP revealed a significant reduction (SMD = −2.64, 95% confidence interval (CI): −3.21 to −2.07). The success rate was significantly good, and most of the complication rates were low. The number of medications was also significantly reduced (SMD = −1.71, 95% CI: −2.18 to −1.24). The subgroup analysis revealed a reduction in IOP and medication burden in each category of iStent generation, follow-up duration of up to 42 months, and iStent numbers. Conclusion. Use of iStent as a standalone procedure does reduce the IOP and the number of glaucoma medications. The benefit of iStent lasts for at least 42 months.
COVID-19: The Case of Three Patients with the Same Diagnosis but Different Clinical and Laboratory Features
Authors: Atere Muhammed , Singh Sukhdev , Arora Krisha , Khan Zohaib , Muzangwa Lloyd , Bhavsar Urvi , Nfonoyim Jay M.
Published: May 2020

SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus that causes COVID-19, which has been responsible for the pandemic that was declared in early 2020. Its pathological effect is majorly in the respiratory tract, but its full pathogenicity remains a mystery. Symptoms associated with COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Some patients develop other symptoms like diarrhea. However, it is possible for other organs to be affected including the central nervous system, liver, and blood cells. The purpose of this case series is to unravel other factors associated with this disease, so we report three cases of COVID-19 that were hospitalized during the pandemic.
Mining Negative Comment Data of Microblog Based on Merge-AP
Authors: Chen Zhijun , Jin Weijian , Mu Shibiao
Published: May 2020

A new depiction method based on the merge-AP algorithm is proposed to effectively improve the mining accuracy of negative comment data on microblog. In this method, we first employ the AP algorithm to analyze negative comment data on microblog and calculate the similarity value and the similarity matrix of data points by Euclidean distance. Then, we introduce the distance-based merge process to solve the problem of poor clustering effect of the AP algorithm for datasets with the complex clustering structure. Finally, we compare and analyze the performance of K-means, AP, and merge-AP algorithms by collecting the actual microblog data for algorithm evaluation. The results show that the merge-AP algorithm has good adaptability.
An Antibody–Drug Conjugate Targeting MUC1-Associated Carbohydrate CA6 Shows Promising Antitumor Activities
Authors: Nicolazzi Céline , Caron Anne , Tellier Alexia , Trombe Marc , Pinkas Jan , Payne Gillian , Carrez Chantal , Guérif Stéphane , Maguin Marie , Baffa Raffaele , Fassan Matteo , Adam Julien , Mangatal-Wade Lydie , Blanc Véronique
Published: May 2020

Glycosylation is a complex multienzyme-related process that is frequently deregulated in cancer. Aberrant glycosylation can lead to the generation of novel tumor surface–specific glycotopes that can be targeted by antibodies. Murine DS6 mAb (muDS6) was generated from serous ovary adenocarcinoma immunization. It recognizes CA6, a Mucin-1 (MUC1)-associated sialoglycotope that is highly detected in breast, ovarian, lung, and bladder carcinomas. SAR566658 antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) is a humanized DS6 (huDS6) antibody conjugated through a cleavable linker to the cytotoxic maytansinoid derivative drug, DM4. SAR566658 binds to tumor cells with subnanomolar affinity, allowing good ADC internalization and intracellular delivery of DM4, resulting in tumor cell death (IC50 from 1 to 7.3 nmol/L). SAR566658 showed in vivo antitumor efficacy against CA6-positive human pancreas, cervix, bladder, and ovary tumor xenografts and against three breast patient-derived xenografts. Tumor regression was observed in all tumor models with minimal effective dose correlating with CA6 expression. SAR566658 displayed better efficacy than standard-of-care nontargeted tubulin binders. These data support the development of SAR566658 in patients with CA6-expressing tumors.
Natural Killer T Cells Are Numerically and Functionally Deficient in Patients with Trauma
Authors: Jo Young-Goun  , Kim Jung-Chul  , Jin Hye-Mi  , Cho Young-Nan  , Kee Seung-Jung  , Park Yong-Wook
Published: May 2020

Natural killer T (NKT) cells rapidly produce Th1 and Th2 cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-4. This study examined the frequency and function of NKT cells in trauma patients. Frequencies, proliferative responses to α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer), and Th1/Th2 cytokine secretion levels of NKT cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from trauma patients and healthy controls (HC) were measured by flow cytometry. Circulating NKT cell levels were significantly reduced in trauma patients. Proliferation and IFN-γ production of circulating NKT cells in response to α-GalCer were markedly decreased in trauma patients. CD69 expression levels produced by NKT cells were significantly upregulated in trauma patients compared to those in HC. In addition, annexin V+ NKT cells were profoundly increased in trauma patients after α-GalCer stimulation. Trauma patients had higher plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α compared to HC. In particular, the proliferative response of NKT cells to α-GalCer was significantly decreased in the presence of these cytokines. Such decrease was partially recovered after treatment with blocking antibodies against these cytokines. This study demonstrates that circulating NKT cells are numerically deficient and functionally impaired in IFN-γ production in trauma patients. These findings provide an important insight into the trauma-related innate immune response.
How to Optimize Trichoscopy for Evaluation of Scalp Vessels
Authors: Kłosowicz Agata , Alsalhi Waleed , Tosti Antonella
Published: May 2020

Introduction: Trichoscopy greatly facilitates clinical diagnosis in patients with hair loss and may decrease the necessity for histopathological examination. Structures which may be revealed by trichoscopy include hair shafts, hair follicle openings, the perifollicular epidermis, and cutaneous microvessels. Cutaneous microvessels revealed in trichoscopy may vary in type and number depending on the scalp area, type of the disease, and its activity. Firm direct pressure (diascopy) might result in their blanching, but as of yet, there are no studies on the types of vessels that do or do not blanch on applying pressure. Methods: We studied interfollicular twisted loops in 16 cases of biopsy-confirmed scalp psoriasis and 37 cases of arborizing vessels in normal subjects and seborrheic dermatitis patients. Results: We observed that all arborizing red line vessels blanched on applying pressure. Instead, the vast majority of twisted and simple loops, despite their vascular nature, did not blanch on performing diascopy. Conclusion: In the light of these findings, diascopy of vascular changes in hair loss patients might provide additional clues for a proper diagnosis, especially in differentiating scalp psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, and discoid lupus erythematosus.
A INVISIBILIDADE DA CRIANÇA NEGRA NA PROVÍNCIA DO PARANÁ
Authors: Gonçalves Gislaine , Teruya Teresa Kazuko
Published: May 2020

Sabe-se que a região Sul do Brasil exalta a presença de imigrantes de trabalhadores brancos europeus na constituição da sua população. Porém, a presença de 36 comunidades quilombolas, certificadas no Paraná, continuam ignoradas e invisibilizadas. Este artigo traz resultados da análise de documentos primários do Arquivo Público do Paraná, como as Listas de escravos para emancipação (1873-1886) na província do Paraná, observados sob a perspectiva dos estudos culturais. No período mencionado, a Lei do Ventre Livre não garantiu a liberdade das crianças negras, pois foram mantidas sob a tutela de seus donos até os 21 anos. Para tanto, deviam pagar a tutela com serviços compulsórios ligados ao universo rural e doméstico, como roceiros, campistas, domésticos/as, pajens, cozinheiros/as, costureiras, ou então eram entregues ao Estado. Conclui-se que a invisibilidade da criança negra corresponde a uma ideologia que sustenta a superioridade branca e inferioridade negra, contribuindo com o retrato de um Paraná branco, e perpetuando marcas de discriminação e preconceito racial que afetam as crianças negras no espaço escolar contemporâneo.
A economia criativa na arena da sustentabilidade
Authors: Messias Fernanda Bocorny , Nascimento Elimar Pinheiro do , Silva Caio Frederico e
Published: May 2020

Este artigo tem como objetivo contribuir para o debate da economia criativa (EC) no contexto da sustentabilidade, uma associação pouco explícita que se encontra desde os primeiros escritos. O faz por meio da identificação de inter-relações entre termos utilizados na literatura para definir EC (classe criativa, cidade criativa, educação criativa, cultura, economia(s) e indústrias culturais e criativas) e oito dimensões da sustentabilidade (ambiental, social, econômica, cultural, tecnológica, ética, territorial e política), onde os termos encontram outro sentido. Conclui-se que a estreita relação entre o paradigma criativo e o sustentável é uma consequência, mais do que uma intenção primeira, da proclamada quebra de paradigma nos modelos de desenvolvimento moderno do século XX.
Ceracis tzotzilicus sp. nov. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea: Ciidae) from Guatemala and Mexico
Authors: SOUZA-GONÇALVES IGOR , LOPES-ANDRADE CRISTIANO
Published: May 2020

Ceracis tzotzilicus sp. nov. is described on the basis of 200 specimens collected in San Cristóbal de las Casas (Mexico) and Yepocapa (Guatemala), at an altitude above 2000 m. Ceracis tzotzilicus resembles members of the Ceracis cucullatus species-group due to the fine and sparse pronotal punctation, but males can be distinguished by the absence of a long anterior pronotal lamina and females by the ovipositor lacking gonostyli.
Alternatives to Acid Suppression Treatment for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Authors: Huestis Mikayla J. , Keefe Katherine R. , Kahn Chase I. , Tracy Lauren F. , Levi Jessica R.
Published: May 2020

Objective:

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and associated symptoms can be refractory to treatment with acid suppressing medication. We investigated the role and evidence for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for LPR in this systematic review.

Review Methods:

Complementary and alternative treatment was defined in this systematic review as any non-acid suppressing medication, treatment, or therapy. A literature search was performed by two authors in consultation with a medical librarian using controlled vocabulary for “complementary and alternative medicine” and “laryngopharyngeal reflux” in the databases PubMed and EMBASE, with supplemental searches with Google Scholar.

Results:

Twenty articles were included in this review for the modalities: alginate, diet modification, prokinetics, respiratory retraining, voice therapy, rikkunshito (RKT), hypnotherapy, and sleep positioning. The studies were analyzed for bias based on the Cochrane criteria for RCTs and Methodological Index for non-RCT (MINORS) criteria for all other studies. For each modality a level of evidence was assigned to the current body of evidence using the GRADE approach.

Conclusion:

There is mixed evidence with a high degree of bias and heterogeneity between studies for the modalities presented in the paper. Based on this review, an anti-reflux diet is recommended for all patients and there is some low-quality evidence to support alkaline water. For patients with predominant vocal symptoms there is evidence that supports voice therapy. There is insufficient evidence to recommend prokinetics at this time. For patients with predominant globus symptoms, alginate, RKT, and relaxation strategies may be used in conjunction with acid suppressing medications for symptom relief.
Engaging South Asian youth and families: A clinical review
Authors: Sharma Neha , Shaligram Deepika , Yoon Grace H
Published: May 2020

Objective:

South Asians (SAs), a rapidly growing minority group in the United States are underrepresented in mental health research. They represent a unique sub-group of Asian immigrants in that their journey to the United States in the last 50 years was driven by the pursuit of academic and career opportunities. Our goal is to provide a topical overview of factors contributing to the mental health challenges of South Asian American (SAA) youth and to describe culturally sensitive approaches that would provide effective treatment for SAA youth and their families.

Methods:

We conducted a review of published literature in PubMed and PsycInfo search engines using the key words South Asian immigrants, South Asian Americans, psychological, psychiatric, mental health treatment, therapy and interventions.

Results:

The challenges faced by these highly educated families are distinctive in that there is a struggle to maintain ethnic identity based on collectivism while embracing American ideals of individualism. These opposing values along with model minority expectations put SAs at high risk for mental health concerns and acculturative family distancing. Furthermore, mental health stigma impedes help-seeking. Mental health practitioners must navigate the different value systems of the parent–child dyad without ostracizing either generation and deliver effective care. Hence, culturally adapted family therapy and community-based approaches may be particularly relevant in SA youth.

Conclusion:

Our article outlines common family attitudes and issues pertinent to mental health in youth and discusses useful clinical approaches to dealing with SAA youth and their families.
China Opposing Nuclear Nonproliferation: A Rational Policy with an Ideological Mask
Authors: Zhang Hongyu
Published: May 2020

Why did a would-be recognized nuclear state oppose nonproliferation for two decades, but then change its position in 1984? Based on extensive fieldwork in Beijing where the author conducted 20 interviews with high-profile Chinese government and military officials, ambassadors of disarmament, and nuclear and astronautic scientists, this article argues that China openly opposed nonproliferation to give its nascent nuclear program time to achieve a retaliatory capability. Once this goal was fulfilled in the mid-1980s, China began accepting nonproliferation norms. While China’s fervent opposition seemed ideological in a revolutionary era, it was indeed a rational behavior in pursuit of security interests.
Secularization research and its competitors: A response to my critics
Authors: Stolz Jörg
Published: May 2020

This article is a response to the articles published in this issue of Social Compass by François Gauthier, Tobias Müller, David Voas and Sarah Wilkens-Laflamme about the presidential address given by Jörg Stolz at the SISR Congress in July 2019 and titled Secularization theories in the twenty-first century: Ideas, evidence, and problems.
Who owns the future city? Phases of technological urbanism and shifts in sovereignty
Authors: Sadowski Jathan
Published: May 2020

Smart urbanism has, over the last decade or so, grown to become a major research area within the social science of cities and digital technology. This critical commentary aims to outline a new framework for analysing the urban political economic dynamics currently unfolding through different combinations of power, technology and capital in cities. Rather than simply spreading via one static model of smart urbanism, the practices and purposes for rolling out digital technology in cities continue to evolve in important ways. I integrate the established research on smart urbanism with emerging work on ‘platform urbanism’, thus providing a coherent and forward-looking analysis of how various techno-political trends are connected yet distinct. In broad brushstrokes, over the last decade the urbanisation of technology capital has happened in concurrent phases, with each one seeking to take hold over a different aspect of the city: oversight of city governance, operation of city services and ownership of city space. I conclude by linking this political economic analysis to questions about fundamental shifts in urban sovereignty as technology companies move beyond treating the city merely as a place to extract value from and start thinking of it as also a space to exercise dominion over.
Anthropology without Belief: An Anti-representationalist Ontological Turn
Authors: Risjord Mark
Published: May 2020

Rejecting the category of belief is one of the most striking and profound ideas to emerge from the ontological turn. This essay will argue that the rejection of belief is best understood as part of a broader rejection of representationalism. Representationalism regards thought, speech, and intentionality as depending primarily on the mind’s ability to manipulate beliefs, ideas, meanings, or similar contents. Some central strands of the ontological turn thus participate in the philosophical project of understanding human life without appeal to such representational states. After showing how 20th century anthropology was implicated in the representationalist picture, this essay will critique some of the arguments against belief found among proponents of the ontological turn. It will then try to construct a more robust argument against the use of the category of belief in anthropology. It ends with some reflections on what it means to do anthropology without belief.
Psychopathic Traits and Victimization: What Mechanisms Mediate the Relationship?
Authors: Daigle Leah E. , Harris Michelle N. , Teasdale Brent
Published: May 2020

Psychopathy has been linked to a host of negative outcomes including victimization; yet, the mechanisms that may explain this relationship have not been identified. Using data from the Pathways to Desistance study, a longitudinal study of adolescents adjudicted for serious offenses ( N = 1,354) who had been adjudicated in either Maricopa County, AZ, or Philadelphia County, PA, we examine several mechanisms that may mediate the relationship between psychopathy and violent victimization. A 1 SD increase in psychopathy increases the risk of victimization by about 9.3%, net of control variables. Psychopathy is linked to violent victimization through its significant influences on engagement in risky behaviors, moral disengagement, motivations to succeed, and expectations for the future. These findings are striking given that they identify factors such as cognition and engagement in risky behavior that may be suitable targets for change in prevention or intervention efforts.
Choosing Joy as Methodology in Journalism Research
Authors: Parks Perry
Published: May 2020

This article seeks to complicate notions that research methods in journalism and media communication should necessarily be preceded or driven by research questions, suggesting that researchers who prioritize methods that bring them joy might discover questions they wouldn’t otherwise know to ask. The article first explores methodology as a lifestyle choice through the framework of non-representational theory. It then examines literature on postcoding, which suggests that the coding practices found in much qualitative social science are unnecessary holdovers of positivism. The essay shows how spontaneously freestyle, open-ended postcoding analysis enabled the author to discover and intra-act with data in newly rich and authentic ways. Finally, the article examines how this style of research fits with the normative commitments of the discipline of journalism studies.
“He didn’t know what he was doin’”: Student perspectives of a White teacher’s Hip-Hop class
Authors: Kruse Adam J
Published: May 2020

In this article, I share findings from a research study about a high school Hip-Hop course in the United States and offer considerations toward informing culturally responsive teaching and decentering Whiteness in music education. I explored the experiences and perceptions of majority students of color in a Hip-Hop course taught by a White music educator who was largely inexperienced with Hip-Hop. I was curious to understand how the students saw their teacher, what they experienced as strengths and weaknesses of the course, and what they felt they took away from the experience. I designed the qualitative study employing elements of Hip-Hop musical practices (sampling and remixing), analyzed data informed by Hip-Hop vocal techniques (doubling and ad-libbing), and structured findings based on Hip-Hop aesthetic principles (flow and rupture). Overall, students appreciated the teacher’s acknowledgment of his lack of Hip-Hop experience and his ability to prioritize their perspectives and voices. They reported gaining valuable musical experiences in the course as well as developing cross-cultural competence to better understand their fellow students.
Metahuman systems = humans + machines that learn
Authors: Lyytinen Kalle , Nickerson Jeffrey V , King John L
Published: May 2020

Metahuman systems are new, emergent, sociotechnical systems where machines that learn join human learning and create original systemic capabilities. Metahuman systems will change many facets of the way we think about organizations and work. They will push information systems research in new directions that may involve a revision of the field’s research goals, methods and theorizing. Information systems researchers can look beyond the capabilities and constraints of human learning toward hybrid human/machine learning systems that exhibit major differences in scale, scope and speed. We review how these changes influence organization design and goals. We identify four organizational level generic functions critical to organize metahuman systems properly: delegating, monitoring, cultivating, and reflecting. We show how each function raises new research questions for the field. We conclude by noting that improved understanding of metahuman systems will primarily come from learning-by-doing as information systems scholars try out new forms of hybrid learning in multiple settings to generate novel, generalizable, impactful designs. Such trials will result in improved understanding of metahuman systems. This need for large-scale experimentation will push many scholars out from their comfort zone, because it calls for the revitalization of action research programs that informed the first wave of socio-technical research at the dawn of automating work systems.
One (effect) size does not fit at all: Interpreting clinical significance and effect sizes in depression treatment trials
Authors: Hieronymus Fredrik , Jauhar Sameer , Østergaard Søren Dinesen , Young Allan H
Published: May 2020

The efficacy of antidepressants in major depressive disorder has been continually questioned, mainly on the basis of studies using the sum-score of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale as a primary outcome parameter. On this measure antidepressants show a standardised mean difference of around 0.3, which some authors suggested is below the cut-off for clinical significance. Prompted by a recent review that, using this argument, concluded antidepressants should not be used for adults with major depressive disorder, we (a) review the evidence in support of the cut-off for clinical significance espoused in that article (a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale standardised mean difference of 0.875); (b) discuss the limitations of average Hamilton Depression Rating Scale sum-score differences between groups as measure of clinical significance; (c) explore alternative measures of clinical importance; and (d) suggest future directions to help overcome disagreements on how to define clinical significance. We conclude that (a) the proposed Hamilton Depression Rating Scale cut-off of 0.875 has no scientific basis and is likely misleading; (b) there is no agreed upon way of delineating clinically significant from clinically insignificant; (c) evidence suggests the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale sum-score underestimates antidepressant efficacy; and (d) future clinical trials should consider including measures directly reflective of functioning and wellbeing, in addition to measures focused on depression psychopathology.
Glutamatergic and GABAergic reactivity and cognition in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and healthy volunteers: A randomized double-blind 7-Tesla pharmacological MRS study
Authors: Vingerhoets Claudia , Tse Desmond HY , van Oudenaren Mathilde , Hernaus Dennis , van Duin Esther , Zinkstok Janneke , Ramaekers Johannes G , Jansen Jacobus FA , McAlonan Grainne , van Amelsvoort Therese
Published: May 2020

Aims:

22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) is associated with impaired cognitive functioning. Glutamatergic pathways have been linked with cognition and are hypothesized to be disrupted in 22q11.2DS patients, possibly ‘shifting’ the excitatory (glutamate)/inhibitory (GABA) balance. Hence, the glutamate/GABA balance may constitute a target for pharmacological treatment. We aimed to examine alterations of glutamate/GABA metabolites in 22q11.2DS in vivo using riluzole, a compound with glutamate/GABA-modulating action, as pharmacological challenge.

Methods:

Seventeen 22q11.2DS patients and 20 matched healthy controls were enrolled in this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study. Glutamate and glutamine concentrations in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and striatum, as well as ACC GABA concentrations were obtained after placebo and after a single dose of 50 mg riluzole using 7-Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Within the 22q11.2DS group, the relationship between metabolite concentrations and cognition was examined.

Results:

No group differences were found in ACC and striatal metabolite concentrations following placebo. Riluzole numerically decreased ACC ( η2 = 0.094) but not striatal glutamate concentrations as well as ACC GABA concentrations ( η2 = 0.176) in all subjects. In both regions, riluzole did not alter glutamine concentration. No interaction effects were found. Although not significant after Bonferroni correction, ACC glutamate concentrations were inversely correlated with cognitive functions in 22q11.2DS patients.

Discussion:

We did not demonstrate altered ACC and striatal metabolite concentrations in 22q11.2DS. Nevertheless, these results suggest that glutamate and GABA can be modulated with a single dose of riluzole. Possibly, riluzole may have memory-enhancing effects in 22q11.2DS. Future studies should examine the long-term effects of riluzole on cognition.
Police Use of Force Interactions: Is Race Relevant or Gender Germane?
Authors: Wright James E. , Headley Andrea M.
Published: May 2020

Representative bureaucracy research has examined the influence of race and ethnicity on policing outcomes, yet little is known about police use of force specifically at the individual-level. To address this topic more meticulously, we utilize individual-level data (from Indianapolis and Dallas police departments) to explore differences in the amount of force used by officers in ethnic, racial, and gender matches in police–civilian dyads. Findings suggest that there are heightened levels of force used when there is racial and gender incongruenc between the officer and the civilian, particularly White officers interacting with Black civilians. We discuss how this finding may impact police departments moving forward.
Assessing the Links Between Parenting Practices, Moral Emotions, and Cyberbullying Perpetrations Among a Sample of Iranian Sports Fans
Authors: Shadmanfaat Seyyedeh Masoomeh (Shamila) , Choi Jaeyong , Kabiri Saeed , Yun Ilhong
Published: May 2020

Parenting practices have direct effects on children’s moral development and delinquency. A growing empirical literature also documents the influence of morality on offending patterns. Yet, our understanding of the interrelationships among parenting practices, morality, and cyberbullying is limited. This study contributes to and extends this line of research by examining the extent to which moral emotions mediate the relationship between parenting practices and sports fans’ cyberbullying. We used a sample of 384 Iranian high school students from the 35th Boys Sports Olympiad Tournament in Shiraz, Iran. The results from structural modeling analysis show that both parenting practices and moral emotions are associated with the likelihood of sports fans’ decision to perpetrate cyberbullying and that moral emotions mediate the association between parenting practices and cyberbullying. The robust and consistent patterns of the results signify the importance of parenting and moral development in curbing the problem of cyberbullying.
Does the Enlightened Youth Project See the Light? A New Enterprise for Youths at Risk
Authors: Peled-Laskov Ronit , Shoham Efrat , Cojocaru Lutzy , Cohen Hanit
Published: May 2020

The aim of the present research is to examine the relationship between participation in the Enlightened Youth project for youths at risk and integration in employment at the end of the process, type of employment, dropout from school, and enlistment in the army. A database was prepared containing information on all the youths (499 in number) who were admitted to a multidisciplinary day Centre for Youths at Risk in Israel, of whom 86 participated in the project. To match a comparison group to the youths participating in the project, the propensity score matching method was operated. The research findings show a significant correlation between participation in the project and all the parameters examined, with implications regarding employment as a contributing factor among youths at risk, in terms of their personal lives, as well as financial and social well-being.
Rapid preparation of decellularized trachea as a 3D scaffold for organ engineering
Authors: Wang Zhihao , Sun Fei , Lu Yi , Pan Shu , Yang Wenlong , Zhang Guozhong , Ma Jun , Shi Hongcan
Published: May 2020

Objective:

To shorten the preparation time of rabbit decellularized tracheal matrix through a modified detergent-enzymatic method with higher concentration of DNase (50 kU/mL), providing an experimental and theoretical basis for clinical decellularization technology.

Methods:

The control group was a natural trachea, and the experimental group was a tracheal matrix subjected to two and four decellularization cycles. The performance of each group of samples was evaluated by histology and immunohistochemical staining, scanning electron microscopy, biomechanical property testing, inoculation and cytotoxicity tests, and allograft experiments.

Results:

The results showed that the nuclei of the nonchondral areas of the tracheal stroma were essentially completely removed and MHC-I and MHC-II antigens were removed after two decellularization cycles. Histological staining and scanning electron microscopy showed that the extracellular matrix was retained and the basement membrane was intact. Cell inoculation and proliferation tests confirmed that the acellular tracheal matrix had good biocompatibility, and the proliferation capacity of bone mesenchymal stem cells on the matrix was increased in the experimental group compared with the control group ( p < 0.05). Histological staining and CD68 molecular marker analysis after the allograft experiment showed that the inflammatory response of the acellular tracheal matrix was weak and the infiltration of surrounding macrophages was reduced.

Conclusion:

A modified detergent-enzymatic method with an increased DNase (50 kU/mL) concentration requires only two cycles (4 days) to obtain a decellularized rabbit tracheal matrix with a short preparation time, good biocompatibility, suitable mechanical properties, and reduced preparation cost.
Challenging Neoliberalism Through Radical Adult Education in a Chilean Union School
Authors: Holst John D.
Published: May 2020

This article presents the results of a descriptive case study of the Union School of the Chilean nongovernmental organization (NGO) Alejandro Lipschutz Institute of Science (ICAL-Spanish acronym). The study contributes to the field of adult education by providing a contemporary example of what Gramscian pedagogy can look like. Theoretically, this case contributes Latin American social movement-based analysis of neoliberalism, and its impact on the nature of work for working-class people. The study presents an example of educational praxis; the dialectical relationship between theory and educational practice that emerges from ICAL’s efforts to advance the Chilean union movement’s struggle to challenge neoliberalism through educational and leadership development work.
Gang Members, Gang Affiliates, and Violent Men: Perpetration of Social Harms, Violence-Related Beliefs, Victim Types, and Locations
Authors: Wood Jane L. , Kallis Constantinos , Coid Jeremy W.
Published: May 2020

Adult gang involvement attracts little empirical attention, so little is known about how they compare to nongang violent men in social harms beyond gang contexts. This study, based on unpublished data of 1,539 adult males, aged 19 to 34, from the Coid et al. national survey, compared gang members’ (embedded in a gang; n = 108), affiliates’ (less embedded in a gang; n = 119), and violent men’s (no gang association; n = 1,312) perpetration of social harms by assessing their violence-related dispositions and beliefs, victim types, and locations of violence. Results showed that compared with violent men, gang members and affiliates were equally more likely to: cause social harms to a wider range of victims, including family and friends; seek violence; be excited by violence; and carry weapons. Gang members and affiliates were equally more likely than violent men to be violent at home, in friends’ homes, and at work; they also thought about hurting people, but felt regret for some of their violence. A decreasing gradient was identified in gang members’ (highest), affiliates’ (next highest) and violent men’s (lowest) beliefs in violent retaliation when disrespected, the use of violence instrumentally and when angry, and worry about being violently victimized. Implications of findings are that interventions need to address anger issues across all levels of adult gang membership. Importantly, adult gang members’ regrets regarding violence and anxiety about being violently victimized could be key factors that interventions could use to help them relinquish their gang involvement.
Nurses’ Perceptions and Attitudes About Euthanasia: A Scoping Review
Authors: Cayetano-Penman Joy , Malik Gulzar , Whittall Dawn
Published: May 2020

Aim

Nurses have a critical role in providing holistic care for people with life-limiting conditions. However, they experience internal moral conflict and powerlessness when patients request them to assist in the dying process. A scoping review was undertaken to determine what is known about nurses’ perceptions and attitudes of euthanasia. Review Methods: Several databases were searched that yielded both qualitative and quantitative primary peer-reviewed research studies that focused on nurses, their perceptions and attitudes about euthanasia. Descriptive and explorative analyses of the data set from the research studies were undertaken. Results: A total of 23 studies were included in the review. Opinions about euthanasia were mixed. Two key concepts emerged from the review: some nurses were positive and/or supportive of euthanasia, while some were negative and/or unsupportive of euthanasia. The main factors associated with being positive and/or supportive were because of (a) extreme uncontrollable pain, unbearable suffering, or other distressing experiences of the patient, (b) legality of euthanasia, and (c) right of the patient to die. The factors that determined nurses’ negative and/or unsupportive attitude included (a) religion, (b) moral/ethical dilemmas, (c) role of gender of the health professional, and, (d) poor palliative care. Conclusions: The matter of euthanasia has challenged nurses considerably in their aim to deliver holistic care. There were several crucial factors influencing nurses’ perceptions and attitudes, and these were affected by their personal, professional and transpersonal perspectives. The potential implications to nurses relate to education, practice, and research. Nurses need to be informed of existing legislation and provided in-depth education and professional guidelines to help direct action. Further research is needed to explore the impact on nurses’ emotional well-being, clarify their role/s and determine the support they might require when involved with euthanasia.
Does affordability matter? Examining the trends and patterns in health care expenditure in India
Authors: Dwivedi Rinshu , Pradhan Jalandhar
Published: May 2020

Background

Absence of better financing mechanism results in higher out of pocket expenditure and catastrophe, which leads to impoverishment and poverty especially among low- and middle-income countries like India. This paper examines the major characteristics associated with the higher out of pocket expenditure and provides an insight from Andersen’s behavioural model that how predisposing, enabling and need factors influence the level and pattern of out of pocket expenditure in India.

Methods

Data has been extracted from three rounds of nationally representative consumer expenditure surveys, i.e. 1993–1994, 2004–2005 and 2011–2012 conducted by the Government of India. States were categorized based on regional classification, and adult equivalent scale was used to adjust the household size. Multiple Generalized-Linear-Regression-Model was employed to explore the relative effect of various socio-economic covariates on the level of out of pocket expenditure.

Results

The gap has widened between advantaged and disadvantaged segment of the population along with noticeable regional disparities among Indian states. Generalized-Linear-Regression-Model indicates that the most influential predisposing and enabling factor determining the level of out of pocket expenditure were age composition, religion, social-group, household type, residence, economic status, sources of cooking and lighting arrangements among the households.

Conclusions

Present study suggests the need for strengthening the affordability mechanism of the households to cope with the excessive burden of health care payments. Furthermore, special consideration is required to accommodate the needs of the elderly, rural, backward states and impoverishment segment of population to reduce the unjust burden of out of pocket expenditure in India.
Impact of manufacturing imperfections and surface defects on stress–strain behaviour of flexible adhesive joints
Authors: Liška P , Nečasová B , Šlanhof J , Schmid P , Motyčka V
Published: May 2020

Precise adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions and requirements plays an important role in various installation processes. The presented paper deals with the evaluation of the effect of manufacturing imperfections and surface defects on the failure behaviour of flexible adhesive intended for façade application. The failure to comply with the accepted procedures is more common in construction practice than in other sectors of the industry, mostly due to the surrounding conditions and lack of trained supervision. Unfortunately, this may lead to premature failure of adhesively bonded joints and a considerable shortening of the service life of the entire construction. To determine the potential of the risk, five types of artificially applied (a) manufacturing imperfections: (1) application on wet adhesion promoter, (2) application after the expiry of the laying-time, (3) curing of samples at +1℃ (b) surface defects: (4) application on a wet substrate and (5) application on a dirty surface, were suggested. Moreover, the Taguchi L32 orthogonal array design was used to arrange the test setup of all possible combinations. The 1 K polyurethane adhesive was applied in tensile butt joints and single-lap shear joints composed of aluminium alloy and thermally modified wood substrates. The obtained results confirmed that non-observance of the required manufacturing techniques and recommended procedures can have a negative impact on the decrease of the adhesively bonded joint strength and deformation behaviour. Surprisingly, the most critical was not the combination of all suggested types of imperfections and defects. The performed one-way ANOVA revealed that the most perilous was the combination of types 2 and 4 in the tensile test with 77% joint strength reduction. In the shear test, the most critical was the combination of all types of imperfection and defects which led also to a 77% drop of shear strength.
How different actors shape the real estate market for informal settlements in Lagos
Authors: Opoko Akunnaya Pearl , Oluwatayo Adedapo Adewunmi , Amole Bayo , Adeyemi Ekundayo
Published: May 2020

The literature indicates that most housing in the urban areas of many countries in the global South is in informal settlements, provided through informal mechanisms that are often not well understood. This paper contributes to understanding the forces influencing real estate markets in informal settlements, drawing on a case study of the under-researched Ayobo community in Lagos, Nigeria. The paper examines the roles played by government agencies and other market actors, including buyers, sellers, informants, financiers and witnesses, in relation to the operation and regulation of informal land markets. The analysis of the data, drawn from a survey and interviews, reveals a thriving property market, which is socially if not formally regulated. The paper concludes that this flourishing informal market needs strengthening to effectively meet the housing needs of urban residents.
Spatial and organizational aspects of anti-eviction strategies
Authors: Dekel Tomer
Published: May 2020

Informal urbanization is inherently tied to threats of eviction. This article contributes to the expanding study of evictions by depicting and framing anti-eviction strategies taken by informal inhabitants in two interrelated evolving aspects: collective organization and production of space. The former is analysed as a gradual weaving of social–political connections, starting from the community level and maturing into a trans-local network of connections and collaborations against eviction. The latter is composed of placing facts-on-the-ground, acting to produce alternative knowledge, and acquiring symbolic recognition. These themes have been mentioned and debated in the literature but have not yet been integrated under a theoretical umbrella that covers both elements, to allow a comprehensive understanding of how anti-eviction strategies fundamentally shape current urbanization around the globe.
Detection of Haemonchus contortus nematode eggs in sheep faeces using near and mid-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Kho Elise A , Fernandes Jill N , Kotze Andrew C , Sikulu-Lord Maggy T , Fox Glen P , Beasley Anne M , Moore Stephen S , James Peter J
Published: May 2020

This paper reports the use of near infrared and mid-infrared spectroscopy to detect the presence and quantity of eggs of the gastrointestinal nematode Haemonchus contortus in sheep faeces. Haemonchus contortus eggs were quantified in dried, finely ground sheep faeces and in moist, coarsely ground faeces using near infrared and mid-infrared bench top spectrometers and a portable near infrared spectrometer. When Haemonchus contortus eggs were presented without faecal medium, it was found that the wavelength region of 1880–2100 nm was most important for detection. Broad classes of chemical properties found in the near infrared region were identified for dried Haemonchus contortus eggs using a mid-infrared spectrometer. However, when Haemonchus contortus eggs were mixed into the complex matrix of sheep faeces, the development of a robust calibration model for egg detection proved to be challenging (R2 < 0.47). The reliability of this method, if used for the detection of Haemonchus contortus eggs in the field, may be further limited by variations in egg species, faecal moisture content, faecal composition and particle size. Nevertheless, this is the first report identifying near infrared bands for Haemonchus contortus eggs and provides valuable information for future studies towards a spectroscopy-based method for detection of gastrointestinal nematodes.
COVID-19 in the UK and Occupational Health and Safety: Predictable not Inevitable Failures by Government, and Trade Union and Nongovernmental Organization Responses
Authors: Watterson Andrew
Published: May 2020

This commentary examines the occupational health and safety issues faced by the UK workers in the COVID-19 pandemic, against the background of government cuts in health care and in occupational health and safety budgets, and a deregulatory climate. The UK government has been obsessed, blinkered, and distracted by the desire to leave the European Union (Brexit). The state of knowledge about the virus, especially from international agencies that identified pandemic threats and strategies to combat it, is outlined. UK politicians, government bodies, medical and scientific advisors, and employers periodically ignored or abused that knowledge. Regulatory and ministerial inaction and errors on the workplace virus risks emerged. In contrast, several trade unions, health professional bodies, and nongovernmental organizations identified COVID-19 threats from poor personal protection equipment, working practices, and knowledge gaps and offered solutions for health care workers, social care workers, production workers, and service workers in “essential” occupations.