bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient gender and rotator cuff surgery: are there differences in outcome?
Authors: Sabo Marlis T. , LeBlanc Justin , Hildebrand Kevin A.
Published: September 2021

Background

Although rotator cuff syndrome is common and extensively studied from the perspective of producing healed tendons, influence of gender on patient-reported outcomes is less well examined. As activity and role demands may vary widely between men and women, clarity on whether gender is an important factor in outcome would enhance patient education and expectation management. Our purpose was to determine if differences exist in patient-reported outcomes between men and women undergoing rotator cuff surgery.

Methods

One hundred forty-eight participants (76 W:72 M) aged 35–75 undergoing surgery for unilateral symptomatic rotator cuff syndrome were followed for 12 months after surgery. Demographics, surgical data, and the Western Ontario Rotator Cuff (WORC) scores were collected. Surgery was performed by two fellowship-trained shoulder surgeons at a single site.

Results

There were no gender-based differences in overall WORC score or subcategory scores by 12 months post-op. Pain scores were similar at all time points in men and women. Women were more likely to have dominant-arm surgery and had smaller rotator cuff tears than men. Complication rates were low, and satisfaction was high in both groups.

Conclusion

Patient gender doesn’t appear to exert an important effect on patient-reported rotator cuff outcomes in this prospective cohort. Further work examining other covariates as well as the qualitative experience of going through rotator cuff repair should provide greater insight into factors that influence patient-reported outcomes.
Local heat generation during screw insertion into diaphyseal bone: a biomechanical study on different conditions (e.g. screw type, material, mode of insertion)
Authors: Paul Berit , Frank Andre , Raschke Michael J. , Wähnert Dirk
Published: September 2021

Background

The implantation of screws is a standard procedure in musculoskeletal surgery. Heat can induce thermal osteonecrosis, damage the bone and lead to secondary problems like implant loosening and secondary fractures. The aim of this study was to investigate whether screw insertion generates temperatures that can cause osteonecrosis.

Methods

We measured the temperature of twenty human femur diaphysis in a total of 120 measurements, while screws of different material (stainless steel and titanium alloy) and different design (locking and cortex screw) were inserted in three different screwing modes (manual vs. machine screwing at full and reduced rotational speed) with 6 thermocouples (3 cis and 3 trans cortex). Each was placed at a depth of 2 mm with a distance of 1.5 mm from the outer surface of the screw.

Results

The screw design (cortical > locking), the site of measurement (trans-cortex > cis-cortex) and the type of screw insertion (hand insertion > machine insertion) have an influence on the increase in bone temperature. The screw material (steel > titanium), the site of measurement (trans-cortex > cis-cortex) and the type of screw insertion (machine insertion > hand insertion) have an influence on the time needed to cool below critical temperature values. The combination of the two parameters (maximum temperature and cooling time), which is particularly critical for osteonecrosis, is found only at the trans-cortex.

Conclusion

Inserting a screw hast the potential to increase the temperature of the surrounding bone tissue above critical values and therefore can induce osteonecrosis. The trans-cortex is the critical area for the development of temperatures above the osteonecrosis threshold, making effective cooling by irrigation difficult. It would be conceivable to cool the borehole with cold saline solution before inserting the screw or to cool the screw in cold saline solution. If possible, insertion by hand should be considered.
Provision and related factors of end-of-life care in elderly housing with care services in collaboration with home-visiting nurse agencies: a nationwide survey
Authors: Fukui Sakiko , Otsuki Naoko , Ikezaki Sumie , Fukahori Hiroki , Irie Saori
Published: September 2021

Background

Japan has the largest population of older adults in the world; it is only growing as life expectancy increases worldwide. As such, solutions to potential obstacles must be studied to maintain healthy, productive lives for older adults. In 2011, the Japanese government has started a policy to increase “Elderly Housing with Care Services (EHCS)”, which is one of a private rental housing, as a place where safe and secure end-of-life care can be provided. The government expect for them to provide end-of-life care by collaborating with the Home-Visit Nursing Agencies (HVNA). The purpose of this study is to clarify the situation of the end-of-life care provision in EHCS in collaboration with HVNA and to examine the factors that associate with the provision of the end-of-life care in EHCS.

Methods

A two-stage nationwide survey (fax and mail surveys) were conducted. Of the 5,172 HVNA of the National Association for Visiting Nurse Services members, members from 359 agencies visited EHCS. Logistic regression analysis was conducted with the provision of end-of-life care to EHCS in 2017 as the dependent variable, and the following as independent variables: characteristics of HVNA and EHCS; characteristics of residents; collaborations between HVNA and EHCS; and the reasons for starting home-visit nursing.

Results

Of the 342 HVNA who responded to the collaborations with EHCS, 21.6% provided end-of-life care. The following factors were significantly associated with the provision of end-of-life care to inmates in elderly care facilities: being affiliated with a HVNA, admitting many residents using long-term care insurance, collaborating with each other for more than three years, and started visiting-nurse services after being requested by a resident’s physician.

Conclusions

This study clarified the situation of the provision of end-of-life care in EHCS in collaboration with HVNA and the related factors that help in providing end-of-life care in EHCS.
Overcoming barriers to mental health care: multimodal trauma-focused treatment approach for unaccompanied refugee minors
Authors: van Es Carlijn M. , Sleijpen Marieke , Velu Merel E. , Boelen Paul A. , van Loon Renate E. , Veldman Marjan , Kusmallah Nebil , Ekster Paula J. C. , Mooren Trudy
Published: September 2021

Background

This study evaluated the feasibility of a short-term, multimodal trauma-focused treatment approach adapted specifically for unaccompanied refugee minors (URMs) in the Netherlands. This approach aims to overcome barriers to mental health care and to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Methods

An uncontrolled study was conducted, evaluating the main request for help, treatment integrity and feasibility, and the course of symptoms of PTSD (Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale-13) and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire modified for Adolescents).

Results

In total, 41 minors were included in the study. Most participants were male (n = 27), predominately from Eritrea (75.6%) with a mean age of 16.5 (SD = 1.5). Minors mostly reported psychological problems, such as problems sleeping, and psychosocial problems, including worries about family reunification. Deviations from the approach were made to meet the current needs of the minors. Factors limiting the feasibility of the approach were often related to continuous stressors, such as news concerning asylum status.

Conclusions

The results provide a first indication that this approach partly overcomes barriers to mental health care and emphasize the added value of collaborating with intercultural mediators and offering outreach care.

Trial registration: The study was registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (NL8585), 10 April 2020, Retrospectively registered, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/8585.
Performance of NEWS2, RETTS, clinical judgment and the Predict Sepsis screening tools with respect to identification of sepsis among ambulance patients with suspected infection: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Wallgren Ulrika M. , Sjölin Jan , Järnbert-Pettersson Hans , Kurland Lisa
Published: September 2021

Background

There is little evidence of which sepsis screening tool to use in the ambulance setting. The primary aim of the current study was to compare the performance of NEWS2 (National Early Warning score 2) and RETTS (Rapid Emergency Triage and Treatment System) with respect to identification of sepsis among ambulance patients with clinically suspected infection. The secondary aim was to compare the performance of the novel Predict Sepsis screening tools with that of NEWS2, RETTS and clinical judgment.

Methods

Prospective cohort study of 323 adult ambulance patients with clinically suspected infection, transported to hospitals in Stockholm, during 2017/2018. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC (Area Under the receiver operating Curve) were calculated and compared by using McNemar´s test and DeLong’s test.

Results

The prevalence of sepsis in the current study population was 44.6% (144 of 323 patients). No significant difference in AUC was demonstrated between NEWS2 ≥ 5 and RETTS ≥ orange. NEWS2 ≥ 7 demonstrated a significantly greater AUC than RETTS red. The Predict Sepsis screening tools ≥ 2 demonstrated the highest sensitivity (range 0.87–0.91), along with RETTS ≥ orange (0.83), but the lowest specificity (range 0.39–0.49). The AUC of NEWS2 (0.73) and the Predict Sepsis screening tools (range 0.75–0.77) was similar.

Conclusions

The results indicate that NEWS2 could be the better alternative for sepsis identification in the ambulance, as compared to RETTS. The Predict Sepsis screening tools demonstrated a high sensitivity and AUCs similar to that of NEWS2. However, these results need to be interpreted with caution as the Predict Sepsis screening tools require external validation.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03249597. Registered 15 August 2017—Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03249597.
Genomic risk prediction of coronary artery disease in women with breast cancer: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Liou Lathan , Kaptoge Stephen , Dennis Joe , Shah Mitul , Tyrer Jonathan , Inouye Michael , Easton Douglas F. , Pharoah Paul D. P.
Published: September 2021

Background

Advancements in cancer therapeutics have resulted in increases in cancer-related survival; however, there is a growing clinical dilemma. The current balancing of survival benefits and future cardiotoxic harms of oncotherapies has resulted in an increased burden of cardiovascular disease in breast cancer survivors. Risk stratification may help address this clinical dilemma. This study is the first to assess the association between a coronary artery disease-specific polygenic risk score and incident coronary artery events in female breast cancer survivors.

Methods

We utilized the Studies in Epidemiology and Research in Cancer Heredity prospective cohort involving 12,413 women with breast cancer with genotype information and without a baseline history of cardiovascular disease. Cause-specific hazard ratios for association of the polygenic risk score and incident coronary artery disease (CAD) were obtained using left-truncated Cox regression adjusting for age, genotype array, conventional risk factors such as smoking and body mass index, as well as other sociodemographic, lifestyle, and medical variables.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 10.3 years (IQR: 16.8) years, 750 incident fatal or non-fatal coronary artery events were recorded. A 1 standard deviation higher polygenic risk score was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.33 (95% CI 1.20, 1.47) for incident CAD.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that a coronary artery disease-specific polygenic risk score can risk-stratify breast cancer survivors independently of other established cardiovascular risk factors.
PAM-repeat associations and spacer selection preferences in single and co-occurring CRISPR-Cas systems
Authors: Vink Jochem N. A. , Baijens Jan H. L. , Brouns Stan J. J.
Published: September 2021

Background

The adaptive CRISPR-Cas immune system stores sequences from past invaders as spacers in CRISPR arrays and thereby provides direct evidence that links invaders to hosts. Mapping CRISPR spacers has revealed many aspects of CRISPR-Cas biology, including target requirements such as the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM). However, studies have so far been limited by a low number of mapped spacers in the database.

Results

By using vast metagenomic sequence databases, we map approximately one-third of more than 200,000 unique CRISPR spacers from a variety of microbes and derive a catalog of more than two hundred unique PAM sequences associated with specific CRISPR-Cas subtypes. These PAMs are further used to correctly assign the orientation of CRISPR arrays, revealing conserved patterns between the last nucleotides of the CRISPR repeat and PAM. We could also deduce CRISPR-Cas subtype-specific preferences for targeting either template or coding strand of open reading frames. While some DNA-targeting systems (type I-E and type II systems) prefer the template strand and avoid mRNA, other DNA- and RNA-targeting systems (types I-A and I-B and type III systems) prefer the coding strand and mRNA. In addition, we find large-scale evidence that both CRISPR-Cas adaptation machinery and CRISPR arrays are shared between different CRISPR-Cas systems. This could lead to simultaneous DNA and RNA targeting of invaders, which may be effective at combating mobile genetic invaders.

Conclusions

This study has broad implications for our understanding of how CRISPR-Cas systems work in a wide range of organisms for which only the genome sequence is known.
A Descriptive analysis of urine drug screen results in patients with opioid use disorder managed in a primary care setting
Authors: Sobel Halle G. , Warrington Jill S. , Francis-Fath Samuel , Crocker Abigail M. , Berger Claudia A.
Published: September 2021

Background

Urine drug screening (UDS) is commonly used as part of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), including treatment with buprenorphine-naloxone for OUD in a primary care setting. Very little is known about the value of UDS, the optimum screening frequency in general, or its specific use for buprenorphine treatment in primary care. To address this question, we thought that in a stable population receiving buprenorphine-naloxone in the primary care setting it would be useful to know how often UDS yielded expected and unexpected results.

Methods

We present a descriptive analysis of UDS results in patients treated with buprenorphine-naloxone for OUD in a primary care setting over a two-year period. An unexpected test result is:

A negative test for buprenorphine and/or

A positive test for opioids, methadone, cocaine and/or heroin.

Results

A total of 161 patients received care during the study period and a total of 2588 test results were analyzed from this population.

We found that 64.4% of the patient population (n = 104 patients) demonstrated both treatment adherence (as measured by buprenorphine positive test results) and no apparent unexpected test findings, as defined by negative tests for opioids, methadone, cocaine and heroin. Of the 161 patients, 20 results were positive for opioids, 5 for methadone, 39 for heroin and 2 for cocaine.

Analysis at the UDS level demonstrated that, of the 2588 test results, 38 (1.5%) results did not have buprenorphine. Of the 2588, 28 (1.1%) test results were positive for opioids, 8 (0.3%) were positive for methadone, 39 (1.5%) for cocaine and 2 (0.1%) for heroin.

Conclusion

Given that the majority of patients in our study had expected urine results, it may be reasonable for less frequent urine testing in certain patients.
Probabilistic Analysis of the Durability of Piles with Microcracks Under Chloride Attack
Authors: Shao Wei , Shi Danda
Published: September 2021

A probabilistic analysis approach for estimating the durability of piles with microcracks under chloride attack is presented. The chloride ingress model is obtained by considering the time-dependent diffusion process. The equivalent diffusion coefficient is derived to investigate the crack effect by introducing the crack effect factor. The fitting formula between the chloride diffusion coefficients and crack widths is established through experimental results, and the proposed equivalent diffusion coefficient is verified by comparison with the experimental results. The probabilistic evaluation of durability of piles with microcracks is performed, and then the parametric analysis is performed to study the effect of main parameters on the failure probability and durability life. The results indicate that the chloride concentration increases rapidly as the crack width increases at the same number of cracks. The durability life greatly reduces with increasing crack density of pile. The durability life predicted by probabilistic method is always less than those by deterministic method at the same condition. The deterministic approach may underestimate the threat of reinforcement corrosion induced by chloride attack, owing to the omission of probabilistic nature of main influencing parameters.
Psychosocial support conditions in the orphanage: case study of Wolisso project
Authors: Disassa Getachew Abeshu , Lamessa Dabala
Published: September 2021

This study was conducted to assess the psychosocial and material services provision of Wolisso Kalehiwot Church project/center. Qualitative research design employing phenomenological approach was conducted as to reach on identifying the strengths and challenges practiced in the center. Purposive sampling techniques was used to draw ten respondents from the center (8 from orphans, 2 from staff) to respond to interview questions. The result of this study indicated that the effort made by the project is so effective in addressing the immediate need of the orphans including survival and wellbeing of these children. Consequently, the weakness in the project observed was initial recruitment problem of the orphans and unskilled staffs involving in the project and the inability to be proactive for the sustainability request for the project were seen as major. The challenges faced were identified as characteristics of the staff to handle the growing needs of the orphans, emotional instability of the children, limited access to social integration, negative attitude of the community towards institutionalization and segregation were observed as critical. Hence, institutional capacity building from both external and internal funders to maintain the projects sustainability with clear goal and policy direction is mandatory.
Rethinking labour migration: Covid-19, essential work, and systemic resilience
Authors: Anderson Bridget , Poeschel Friedrich , Ruhs Martin
Published: September 2021

Many of the ‘essential workers’ during the Covid-19 pandemic are migrants, playing an important role for the continued functioning of basic services – notably health services, social care, and food supply chains. We argue that this role should be taken into account when assessing the impacts of migrant workers and in the design of labour migration and related public policies. Existing studies highlight how the employment of migrant workers in essential services is shaped by interests of employers, sectoral policies, and national institutions. Considerations of how migrants may affect the systemic resilience of essential services – in a pandemic or similar crises – are pervasively absent, not only in policy-making but also in research. Drawing on several disciplines, we outline the concept of systemic resilience and develop implications for the analysis and regulation of labour migration. We call for shifting the focus from the role of migrants in specific occupations and sectors in particular countries to transnational systems of production and service provision. To study how migrant workers affect systemic resilience, we propose an agenda for comparative research along three lines: comparing migrants to citizens within the same system, comparing migrants’ roles across systems, and comparing strategies for resilience adopted in different systems.
Isolation and identification of Candida spp. from immunocompromised patients
Authors: Hemaid Anas Salama Sayed , Abdelghany Mohamed Mahmoud Effat , Abdelghany Tarek Mohamed
Published: September 2021

Background

Candida species is considered one of the normal inhabitant commensal microbiota of the human body. However, it can also act as an opportunistic pathogen especially in hospitals (nosocomial infection) and among immunocompromised patients. The accurate, precise, rapid and reliable identification of Candida to the species level is of great importance for control and management of candidiasis.

Results

One hundred and eighteen different samples were collected (59 urine samples, 39 oral swabs, 5 vaginal swabs and 15 skin swabs) from immunocompromised patients (diabetics—pregnant women—patients underwent organ transplantation—cancer patients—burned and wounded patients) for probable existence of Candida species. Eighty-six out of 118 (72.8%) samples were typed macroscopically and microscopically and found to be Candida species. Upon streaking 86 Candida isolates on CHROMagar plates separately, 48 isolates gave green colonies, 25 isolates gave rose colonies, 10 isolates gave white colonies, 2 isolates gave pale coloured colonies and 1 isolate gave blue colonies. Forty-eight out of 86 isolates showed positive Germ tube test. API 20C assay was performed on some isolates with different coloured colonies, the results were similar to those of CHROMagar. Upon performing PCR assay on 14 isolates using ITS1 and ITS4 primers, 8 out of 14 PCR product bands appeared between 510 and 535 bp and this was difficult to differentiate among them (C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis). Five out of 14 PCR products were found at 871 bp (C. glabrata) and the last one is negative control with no band appeared. Further molecular studies should be recommended to fully differentiate among Candida species especially those with very close bands. Antifungal activity (expressed by inhibitory zone) of zinc oxide nanoparticles in comparison with some commercially available antifungals (nystatin and Voriconazole) was carried upon the obtained Candida isolates. Zinc oxide nanoparticles with 100 μg/disc showed 9, 26, 40, 42 mm inhibitory zones for C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. albicans and C. parapsilosis, respectively. However, zinc oxide only showed no antifungal activity against C. krusei.

Conclusions

A sheet of identification profile for Candida should include morphotyping, biotyping and genotyping to reach a rapid, reliable and accurate diagnosis. Candida species causes a myriad of infections causing non-invasive, mucocutaneous infections and severe systemic and deep-seated disease. Repress of Candida growth by ZnONPs provides an insight towards their therapeutic application for the prevention of Candida-associated infections. Further studies on the antifungal effect of nanoparticles combined with commercially available antifungal medicines maybe recommended.
The WHO QualityRights initiative: building partnerships among psychiatrists, people with lived experience and other key stakeholders to improve the quality of mental healthcare
Authors: Moro Maria Francesca , Pathare Soumitra , Zinkler Martin , Osei Akwasi , Puras Dainius , Paccial Rodelen C. , Carta Mauro Giovanni
Published: September 2021

Psychiatrists have an essential role to play in promoting human rights in mental healthcare. The World Health Organization's QualityRights initiative, in partnership with different stakeholders, is improving the quality of psychiatric care in different countries.
Multicenter Analysis of Genomically Targeted Single Patient Use Requests for Pediatric Neoplasms
Authors: Sabnis Himalee S. , Shulman David S. , Mizukawa Benjamin , Bouvier Nancy , Zehir Ahmet , Fangusaro Jason , Fabrizio Vanessa A. , Whitlow Chanta , Winchester Marilyn , Agresta Laura , Turpin Brian , Wechsler Daniel S. , DuBois Steven G. , Glade-Bender Julia , Castellino Sharon M. , Shukla Neerav
Published: September 2021

PURPOSE

The US Food and Drug Administration–expanded access program (EAP) uses a single patient use (SPU) mechanism to provide patient access to investigational agents in situations where no satisfactory or comparable therapy is available. Genomic profiling of de novo and relapsed or refractory childhood cancer has led to increased identification of new drug targets in the last decade. The aim of this study is to examine the SPU experience for genomically targeted therapies in patients with pediatric cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All genomically targeted therapeutic SPUs obtained over a 5-year period were evaluated at four large pediatric cancer programs. Data were collected on the type of neoplasm, agents requested, corresponding molecularly informed targets, and clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 45 SPUs in 44 patients were identified. Requests were predominantly made for CNS and solid tumors (84.4%) compared with hematologic malignancies (15.6%). Lack of an available clinical trial was the main reason for SPU initiation (64.4%). The median time from US Food and Drug Administration submission to approval was 3 days (range, 0-12 days) and from Institutional Review Board submission to approval was 5 days (range, 0-50 days). Objective tumor response was seen in 39.5% (15 of 38) of all evaluable SPUs. Disease progression was the primary reason for discontinuation of drug (66.7%) followed by toxicity (13.3%).

CONCLUSION

SPU requests remain an important mechanism for pediatric access to genomically targeted agents given the limited availability of targeted clinical trials for children with high-risk neoplasms. Furthermore, this subset of SPUs resulted in a substantial number of objective tumor responses. The development of a multi-institutional data registry of SPUs may enable systematic review of toxicity and clinical outcomes and provide evidence-based access to new drugs in rare pediatric cancers.
Impact of Bilateral Subcostal Plus Lateral Transversus Abdominis Plane Block on Quality of Recovery After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Jung Jaewoong , Jung Woohyun , Ko Eun Young , Chung Yang-Hoon , Koo Bon-Sung , Chung Jun Chul , Kim Sang-Hyun
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND:

Previous research has not evaluated the potential effect of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block on quality of recovery following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Therefore, we investigated whether addition of the bilateral subcostal and lateral TAP (bilateral dual TAP [BD-TAP]) blocks to multimodal analgesia would improve the quality of recovery as assessed with the Quality of Recovery-40 (QoR-40).

METHODS:

Patients age 18 to 60 years who were scheduled to undergo elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to the BD-TAP or control group. The BD-TAP group received the BD-TAP block with multimodal analgesia under general anesthesia, using 0.25% ropivacaine, and the control group was treated with the same method, except that they received the sham block using 0.9% normal saline. Both groups had the same multimodal analgesia regimen, consisting of intravenous dexamethasone, propacetamol, ibuprofen, and oxycodone. The primary outcome was the QoR-40 score at 24 hours after surgery. Data were analyzed using the independent t test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ2 test, and Fisher exact test.

RESULTS:

Thirty-eight patients in each group were recruited. The mean QoR-40 score decreased by 13.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.3–18.8) in the BD-TAP group and 15.6 (95% CI, 6.7–24.5) in the control group. The postoperative QoR-40 score at 24 hours after surgery did not differ between the 2 groups (BD-TAP group, median [interquartile range], 170.5 [152–178]; control group, 161 [148–175]; median difference, 3 [95% CI, −5 to 13]; P = .427). There were no differences between the 2 groups in the pain dimension of the QoR-40: 30.5 (95% CI, 27–33) in the BD-TAP group and 31 (95% CI, 26–32) in the control group; median difference was 0 (95% CI, −2 to 2); P = .77.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results indicate that the BD-TAP block does not improve the quality of recovery or analgesic outcomes following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our results do not support the routine use of the BD-TAP block for this surgery.
Loss of Elp1 perturbs histone H2A.Z and the Notch signaling pathway
Authors: Cameron BreAnna , Lehrmann Elin , Chih Tien , Walters Joseph , Buksch Richard , Snyder Sara , Goffena Joy , Lefcort Frances , Becker Kevin G. , George Lynn
Published: September 2021

Elongator dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a contributor to multiple neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders including familial dysautonomia, intellectual disability, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and autism spectrum disorder. Although numerous cellular processes are perturbed in the context of Elongator loss, converging evidence from multiple studies has resolved Elongator's primary function in the cell to the modification of tRNA wobble uridines and the translational regulation of codon-biased genes. Here we characterize H2a.z, encoding the variant H2a histone H2A.Z, as an indirect Elongator target. We further show that canonical Notch signaling, a pathway directed by H2A.Z, is perturbed as a consequence of Elp1 loss. Finally, we demonstrate that hyperacetylation of H2A.Z and other histones via exposure to the histone deacetylase inhibitor Trichostatin A during neurogenesis corrects the expression of Notch3 and rescues the development of sensory neurons in embryos lacking the Elp1 Elongator subunit.
Fabrication of Flat and Smooth Lead-Based Layered Perovskite Films at a Transfer Process of the Langmuir-Blodgett Method
Authors: Kubo Akemi , Era Masanao , Narita Takayuki , Oishi Yushi
Published: September 2021

This paper presents a novel approach for fabricating lead-based layered perovskite films. The perovskite structure was formed during the transfer of a perovskite-unform monolayer onto a substrate. The transferred film had a flat and smooth surface, and the surface roughness was greatly improved from 5.5 nm to 1.8 nm, compared to the transferred film of a perovskite-form monolayer on the water.
Reenvisioning Postpandemic Youth Sport to Meet Young People’s Mental, Emotional, and Social Needs
Authors: Whitley Meredith A. , Smith Alan L. , Dorsch Travis E. , Bowers Matthew T. , Centeio Erin E. ,   2020–2021 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Science Board
Published: September 2021

Before 2020, young people were experiencing significant psychosocial challenges, with the COVID-19 pandemic and related events (e.g., lockdowns, social isolation, and economic disruption) amplifying concerns about their well-being. Youth sport is a context for promoting mental, emotional, and social health, and yet it is not achieving its full potential in the United States. The purpose of this expert commentary, composed by the 2020–2021 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Science Board, is to present a vision of youth sport in the United States that prioritizes young people’s mental, emotional, and social health. The extraordinary events of 2020 and 2021 provide an opportunity to reenvision our approach to youth sport as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted. Ten recommendations from this vision are presented in this article, along with 10 innovative, actionable takeaways; each of these offer meaningful benefits to young people’s mental, emotional, and social health.
The Effect of ­High-Tech Clusters on the Productivity of Top Inventors
Authors: Moretti Enrico
Published: September 2021

The high-tech sector is concentrated in a small number of cities. The ten largest clusters in computer science, semiconductors, and biology account for 69 percent, 77 percent, and 59 percent of all US inventors, respectively. Using longitudinal data on 109,846 inventors, I find that geographical agglomeration results in significant productivity gains. When an inventor moves to a city with a large cluster of inventors in the same field, she experiences a sizable increase in the number and quality of patents produced. The presence of significant productivity externalities implies that the agglomeration of inventors generates large gains in the aggregate amount of innovation produced in the United States. (JEL D62, J24, L60, O31, 034, R32)
Mistakes, Overconfidence, and the Effect of Sharing on Detecting Lies
Authors: Serra-Garcia Marta , Gneezy Uri
Published: September 2021

Mistakes and overconfidence in detecting lies could help lies spread. Participants in our experiments observe videos in which senders either tell the truth or lie, and are incentivized to distinguish between them. We find that participants fail to detect lies, but are overconfident about their ability to do so. We use these findings to study the determinants of sharing and its effect on lie detection, finding that even when incentivized to share truthful videos, participants are more likely to share lies. Moreover, the receivers are more likely to believe shared videos. Combined, the tendency to believe lies increases with sharing. (JEL C91, D83, D91, L82)
Diagnostic performance of qualitative and radiomics approach to parotid gland tumors: which is the added benefit of texture analysis?
Authors: Vernuccio Federica , Arnone Federica , Cannella Roberto , Verro Barbara , Comelli Albert , Agnello Francesco , Stefano Alessandro , Gargano Rosalia , Rodolico Vito , Salvaggio Giuseppe , Lagalla Roberto , Midiri Massimo , Lo Casto Antonio
Published: September 2021

Objective:

To investigate whether MRI-based texture analysis improves diagnostic performance for the diagnosis of parotid gland tumors compared to conventional radiological approach.

Methods:

Patients with parotid gland tumors who underwent salivary glands MRI between 2008 and 2019 were retrospectively selected. MRI analysis included a qualitative assessment by two radiologists (one of which subspecialized on head and neck imaging), and texture analysis on various sequences. Diagnostic performances including sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of qualitative features, radiologists’ diagnosis, and radiomic models were evaluated.

Results:

Final study cohort included 57 patients with 74 tumors (27 pleomorphic adenomas, 40 Warthin tumors, 8 malignant tumors). Sensitivity, specificity, and AUROC for the diagnosis of malignancy were 75%, 97% and 0.860 for non-subspecialized radiologist, 100%, 94% and 0.970 for subspecialized radiologist and 57.2%, 93.4%, and 0.927 using a MRI radiomics model obtained combining texture analysis on various MRI sequences. Sensitivity, specificity, and AUROC for the differential diagnosis between pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumors were 81.5%, 70%, and 0.757 for non-subspecialized radiologist, 81.5%, 95% and 0.882 for subspecialized radiologist and 70.8%, 82.5%, and 0.808 using a MRI radiomics model based on texture analysis of T2 weighted sequence. A combined radiomics model obtained with all MRI sequences yielded a sensitivity of 91.5% for the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma.

Conclusion:

MRI qualitative radiologist assessment outperforms radiomic analysis for the diagnosis of malignancy. MRI predictive radiomics models improves the diagnostic performance of non-subspecialized radiologist for the differential diagnosis between pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumor, achieving similar performance to the subspecialized radiologist.

Advances in knowledge:

Radiologists outperform radiomic analysis for the diagnosis of malignant parotid gland tumors, with some MRI qualitative features such as ill-defined margins, perineural spread, invasion of adjacent structures and enlarged lymph nodes being highly specific for malignancy. A radiomic model based on texture analysis of T2 weighted images yields higher specificity for the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma compared to a radiologist non-subspecialized in head and neck radiology, thus minimizing false-positive pleomorphic adenoma diagnosis rate and reducing unnecessary surgical complications.
Sea grapes extract improves blood glucose, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α in rats fed on cholesterol- and fat-enriched diet
Authors: Kuswari Mury , Nurkolis Fahrul , Mayulu Nelly , Ibrahim Faisal Maulana , Taslim Nurpudji Astuti , Wewengkang Defny Silvia , Sabrina Nindy , Arifin Ghafur Rasyid , Mantik Keren Esther Kristina , Bahar Muhammad Rahimi , Rifqiyati Najda , Rompies Ronald , Augusta Piko Satria , Permatasari Happy Kurnia
Published: September 2021

Background: Sea grapes or  Caulerpa racemosa have a lot of phytochemical content, especially unsaturated fatty acids that are beneficial for health. This study aims to evaluate the effects of sea grapes extract on blood glucose levels, total cholesterol-, and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1α in male Wistar rats, which were given per-oral (p.o.) cholesterol- and carbohydrates fat-enriched diets (CFED). Methods: Forty male Wistar albino rats weighing between 200 – 250 g were used for this study. Animals were randomly distributed into four groups of ten animals each. Group A served as control (received standard dry pellet diet). Rats in group B were fed on CFED for 4 weeks.  Groups C and D were fed on CFED and were administered 150 and 450 mg/kg of  sea grapes extract (p.o.), respectively. Results: Group C rats indicated a blood glucose reduction and an increase in PGC-1α serum, in comparison to group D (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between group C and D in blood cholesterol reduction (high dose of the extract did not have significant effects) (p=0.222), and both groups had the same effect in lowering total cholesterol in rats. Conclusion: Sea grapes extract is proven to improve blood glucose, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α levels in rats fed with CFED.
Green Tea and Decaffeinated Light Roasted Green Coffee Extract Combination Improved Cardiac Insulin Resistance through Free Fatty Acids and Adiponectin/FAS Pathway Amelioration in Metabolic Syndrome Rat Model
Authors: Lukitasari Mifetika , Rohman Mohammad Saifur , Nugroho Dwi Adi , Nur Kholis Mukhamad , Wahyuni Nila Aisyah , Widodo Nashi
Published: September 2021

Background: Insulin resistance has been independently associated with cardiac diseases. A free fatty acid is recently known to induce cardiac insulin resistance due to low-grade inflammation. Therefore, the improvement of free fatty acid levels can also improve cardiac insulin resistance. This study investigated the combination of green tea and decaffeinated-light roasted green coffee extract in improvement of free fatty acid-induced cardiac insulin resistance by improving the adiponectin/FAS pathway.

Methods: This study used 25 males Sprague-Dawley rats induced by a high-fat high sucrose diet and injection of low dose streptozotocin to make a metabolic syndrome (MS) rat model and standard chow as healthy control rats. The MS rats were treated with green tea (200 mg/ b. w.), decaffeinated-light roasted green coffee (300 mg/ b. w.), and the combination of both extracts in 9 weeks. Experimental groups in this study were divided into 5 groups: 1) MS (HFHS diet + STZ) group, 2) NC (normal chow) group, 3) GT (green tea extract) group, 4) GC (decaffeinated-light roasted green coffee extract), 5) CM (combination of both extracts) group. Adiponectin and HOMA-IR level was analysed using ELISA, and the gene expression of Adipo-R1, FAS, PI3K, PDK1, Akt, GLUT4 was measured by RT-PCR.

Results: The combination of green tea and decaffeinated-light roasted green coffee showed synergistic effects in improving FFA levels. The adiponectin/FAS pathway was attenuated in the CM group. Moreover, the combination also showed improvement in cardiac insulin resistance markers such as IRS1/2, PI3K, PDK1, Akt, and GLUT4.

Conclusions:  The combination of green tea and decaffeinated-light roasted green coffee extract improved cardiac insulin resistance better than green tea and green coffee extract administration alone by reducing free fatty acids levels through adiponectin/FAS pathway modulation.
Integrating augmented reality technology in education: vector personal computer augmented reality
Authors: Tan Sin Yin , Tay Noel Nuo Wi
Published: September 2021

Background: Educators often face difficulties in explaining abstract concepts such as vectors. During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, fully online classes have also caused additional challenges to using conventional teaching methods. To explain a vector concept of more than 2 dimensions, visualization becomes a problem. Although Microsoft PowerPoint can integrate animation, the illustration is still in 2-dimensions. Augmented reality (AR) technology is recommended to aid educators and students in teaching-learning vectors, namely via a vector personal computer augmented reality system (VPCAR), to fulfil the demand for tools to support the learning and teaching of vectors.

Methods: A PC learning module for vectors was developed in a 3-dimensional coordinate system by using AR technology. Purposive sampling was applied to get feedback from educators and students in Malaysia through an online survey. The supportiveness of using VPCAR based on six items (attractiveness, easiness, visualization, conceptual understanding, inspiration and helpfulness) was recorded on 5-points Likert-type scales. Findings are presented descriptively and graphically.

Results: Surprisingly, both students and educators adapted to the new technology easily and provided significant positive feedback that showed a left-skewed and J-shaped distribution for each measurement item, respectively. The distributions were proven significantly different among the students and educators, where supportive level result of educators was higher than students. This study introduced a PC learning module other than mobile apps as students mostly use laptops to attend online class and educators also engage other IT tools in their teaching.

Conclusions: Based on these findings, VPCAR provides a good prospect in supporting educators and students during their online teaching-learning process. However, the findings may not be generalizable to all students and educators in Malaysia as purposive sampling was applied. Further studies may focus on government-funded schools using the newly developed VPCAR system, which is the novelty of this study.
Contribution of Psychological Immunity dimensions in predicting Psychological Flow during coronavirus crisis among health workers in Kuwait
Authors: Alhamdan Mona , Altamimi Rasha
Published: September 2021

This study was conducted to evaluate the contribution of Psychological Immunity dimensions in predicting Psychological Flow, and the impact of two demographic factors among health workers in Kuwait. This study was performed on random sample consisted of 90 doctor and nurses were chosen from three coronavirus quarries in Kuwait. Psychological Immunity, and Psychological Flow scales were developed, validated and used current study. Psychological Immunity and psychological Flow are found to be at high levels. Furthermore, all Psychological Immunity dimensions are found to be predictors of Psychological Flow, especially optimism, and self-confidence which were found as the most important predictors. None of the demographic factors was found to be a significant predictor of the Psychological Immunity and Psychological Flow among health workers. The study suggests to stimulate awareness in health sector associations about the importance of optimism and self-confidence in protecting mental health during difficult situations.
Comparison of the metabolic syndrome risk factors in antipsychotic naïve and chronic schizophrenia patients
Authors: Soleimani Robabeh , Shokrgozar Somayeh , Shekarriz-Fumani Masoomeh , Jalali Seyede Melika
Published: September 2021

Aim of the study

This study aimed to compare the prevalence of MetS and cardiovascular risk factors in antipsychotic naïve schizophrenia (AN-SZ) and chronic schizophrenia (C-SZ) patients. Also, the effects of lifestyle, physical activity and clinical characteristics of these patients on metabolic syndrome were explored.

Subject or material and methods

In this cross-sectional study, 150 patients, 16-65 aged years were included. All subjects were recruited from the Psychiatric clinic of a tertiary hospital, ---, ---. The severity of symptoms was assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Physical activity and lifestyle were evaluated by the Baecke and Lifestyle questionnaires.

Results

Fifty AN-SZ patients and 100 C-SZ patients participated. The rate of abdominal obesity was 29.2% for females and 10.3% for males. The C-SZ patients had significantly fewer healthy habitual physical activity and lifestyle, compared with AN-SZ patients. The prevalence of MetS in the AN-SZ and C-SZ groups was 8% and 23%, respectively (odds ratio [OR] 3.13). Binary logistic regression revealed age and unhealthy lifestyle to be significant predictors of MetS (adjusted OR 1.09 and 0.65, respectively).

Discussion

We found with increasing each 10 years, the odds of MetS to increase 2.37 times. There was a significant negative association between a healthy lifestyle of SZ patients and MetS. The results showed A decrease in the score of the Lifestyle questionnaire by each one-point to increase the odds of MetS by 45%.

Conclusions

Future studies are recommended to explore the importance of weight management and nutrition control for reducing the rate of MetS.
Editorship and History Making: On Historicizing Modern Editions of Tiruniḻalmāla
Authors: Galewicz Cezary
Published: September 2021

In the following essay I am going to comment briefly on the intersection between literary and performative genres that originated in early modern Kerala and to some extent continue till date. More specifically, on their relationship with the rich tradition of representing the past through producing works that follow recognizable patterns of composition and conventions of presentation. This more general consideration shall appear here as a backdrop to a study on contemporary editions of an early Malayalam work named Tiruniḻalmāla. The editions follow the relatively recent discovery of the work in question and its subsequent reinstatement in the history of Malayalam literature. I shall argue that the specific ways this reinstatement was presented by the editors, including a particular place they claimed for this work within the formation processes of Malayalam literature, constitute competing acts of general history writing concerned with the ongoing debate on how should the cultural identity and regional history of Kerala be best represented.
Female, Sikh, Militant…
Authors: Puri Maria
Published: September 2021

The Indian State has a long history of military interventions at numerous, mostly peripheral locations. Most of the interventions are protracted and may be viewed as virtual civil wars, each side producing and legitimizing its own version of events. This paper will focus on the fallout of the Punjab insurgency (1970–1995), and its decisive point, the Indian army intervention codenamed Operation Bluestar (June 1984), as narrated by a former militant, Sandip Kaur. Her Punjabi book, Bikhṛā Pai͂dā (“Difficult Journey”) (2008), written by somebody who is not a writer, represents a sub-category which “inhabits (…) margins of literary and autobiographical writing” (Butalia 2017: 20). Hence, it offers a unique glimpse into the process of identity construction, both at the personal and the communal level, enacted against the larger backdrop of national games played out on the regional scene and informed by Sikh ‘metacommentary’ (Oberoi 1987: 27).