bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local peribulbar anesthesia before glaucoma filtering surgery in a patient with Brugada syndrome
Authors: Loiudice Pasquale , Monitillo Francesco , Nardi Marco , Iacoviello Massimo , Casini Giamberto
Published: January 2020

We report anesthetic management in a patient with Brugada syndrome, an inherited syndrome characterized by normal QT interval, typical ST-segment–elevation in the right precordial leads, and increased risk of sudden cardiac death in the absence of myocardial ischemia or structural heart disease. A 69-year-old man scheduled for glaucoma filtering surgery underwent local peribulbar anesthesia using 5 mL of lidocaine 20 mg/mL solution that was slowly injected into two different sites approximately 10 min prior to the surgical procedure. The surgery proceeded uneventful and data of patient’s blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation were collected. Continuous electrocardiography monitoring before, during, and up to 6 h after surgery did not reveal any arrhythmia or tachycardia. A certain number of drugs should be avoided in patients with Brugada syndrome because of their potential risk to trigger an arrhythmia. Among them there are some anesthetics and in particular those that are sodium channel blockers. Ropivacaine and bupivacaine, commonly used for peribulbar block, have been associated with onset of severe arrhythmias. Contrarily, the use of class IB drugs mexiletine and lidocaine is generally considered safe. Local anesthetic agent should be carefully chosen, and anesthesia should be obtained using the minimal necessary drug dose.
Does Microfinance Improve the Household Welfare of Ethnic Minorities? Evidence from Bac Kan Province, Vietnam
Authors: Thu Vu Ha , Goto Daisaku
Published: January 2020

Although a large number of studies have investigated the impacts of microfinance on rural households, their effects on ethnic minorities, who are among the left-behind groups, have not been evaluated. This study examines whether microfinancing provided by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) improves the household welfare of ethnic minorities living in northern mountainous regions of Vietnam. A stratified random sampling technique is applied to a sample of 289 households. Propensity score matching (PSM) is used to estimate the impacts of microfinance loans. Coarsened exact matching (CEM) is employed to verify the consistency of the PSM estimates. The results show positive and consistent impacts of microfinance loans on total expenditure per capita and educational expenditure per student, which supports the welfare effects of microfinance loans on ethnic minorities in northern mountainous areas of Vietnam.
Tobacco-Free Ambassador Partnership: Empowering Youth Advocates in Appalachian Communities
Authors: Ickes Melinda J. , Sampson Shannon , Parsons Josh , Rayens Mary Kay , Xiao Min , Fisher Amy , Mundy Monica , Hahn Ellen J.
Published: January 2020

Kentucky youth (14.3%) smoke more cigarettes as compared to the U.S. average (8.8%), and Appalachian communities suffer disproportionately from tobacco-related diseases such as lung cancer. Training youth to become advocates is an effective strategy to improve health equity. This article describes the development and impact of a youth advocacy program to promote tobacco control policies in Appalachian Kentucky. Phase I (2017-2018): two ½-day trainings followed by monthly meetings with one high school ( n = 20 youth). Trainings provided information on tobacco use, consequences, industry tactics, evidence-based tobacco control, and advocacy skills. Results provided support for expansion to Phase II (2018-20119): A 1-day training followed by monthly information sharing implemented in three counties ( N = 80). Youth were surveyed before and 6-months posttraining during both phases. Phase I: At posttraining, 85% of youth believed they could reduce the amount of tobacco use in their community versus 66% at baseline. More students tried at least once to convince school or government officials to be more concerned about tobacco use (77% vs. 47%). Phase II: More students supported tobacco policies at posttraining survey and realized policies are an effective strategy to reduce tobacco use. At posttraining survey, students reported greater interpersonal confidence talking with others about tobacco-related issues, with a 24% increase in confidence talking with adults in their communities, as well as greater advocacy self-efficacy. Youth in Appalachia demonstrate desire to influence tobacco use and policy to improve health equity. Findings reinforce the need for collaborative public health interventions to promote ongoing training and support for youth living in high-risk communities.
Socioeconomic and Demographic Status and Perceived Health Risks of E-Cigarette Product Contents Among Youth: Results From a National Survey
Authors: Vu Thanh-Huyen T. , Groom Allison , Hart Joy L. , Tran Hy , Landry Robyn L. , Ma Jennie Z. , Walker Kandi L. , Giachello Aida L. , Kesh Anshula , Payne Thomas J. , Robertson Rose Marie
Published: January 2020

Background. The prevalence of e-cigarette use among youth is rising and may be associated with perceptions of health risks for these products. We examined how demographic factors and socioeconomic status (SES) are correlated with the perceived health risks of e-cigarette product contents among youth. Method. Data were from a national online survey of youth aged 13 to 18 between August and October 2017, weighted to be representative of the overall U.S. population in age, sex, race/ethnicity, and region. Survey analysis procedures were used. Results. Of 1,549 e-cigarette users and 1,451 never-e-cigarette users, 20.9% were Hispanic, 13.7% Black, 21.7% LGBTQ (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer), and 49.3% in low-income families. With adjustment for e-cigarette use status, perceived health risks of nicotine and toxins/chemicals in e-cigarettes significantly differed by gender, race, sexual orientation, and SES ( ps < .05). For example, adjusted odds of perceiving harm from nicotine were 60% higher in girls versus boys, 34% lower in non-Hispanic Blacks versus non-Hispanic Whites, 33% lower in urban versus suburban residents, 40% higher in LGBTQ versus straight-identifying individuals, and 28% lower in low-income versus high-income families. Lower parental education level also was associated with children’s lower health risk perception of e-cigarette product contents. Conclusions. For youth, the perceived health risks of e-cigarette product contents were associated with demographics, sexual orientation, and SES. The findings may have relevance for developing communication and education strategies addressing specific youth audiences, especially those in vulnerable groups. These strategies could improve awareness among youth concerning the health risks of e-cigarettes, helping to prevent or reduce e-cigarette uptake and continued use.
DEJELO YA Media Campaign Connects Spanish-Speaking Communities to Effective Support for Quitting Tobacco
Authors: Dilley Julia A. , Otero Maria , Padilla James L. , Costello Humphrey , Turietta Teresa , Jácquez Benjamín
Published: January 2020

Issue. New Mexico uses evidence-based approaches to help tobacco users quit, including a statewide free telephone quitline. The state Tobacco Use Prevention and Control program’s goals include identifying and eliminating disparities. Priority Population. About 500,000 of the state’s residents are Hispanic or Latino people who speak Spanish at home. Among them, about 16% of adults smoke cigarettes, meaning approximately 60,000 potentially need quitting support. Method. Data indicated gaps in utilization of Spanish-language quitline services. An equity-focused quality improvement approach was used to address this gap in collaboration with Nuestra Salud (“Our Health”), a community-based organization supporting Spanish-speaking people throughout New Mexico. Formative research in Spanish-speaking communities was conducted during 2013. Based on these findings, a culturally grounded DEJELO YA (“Quit Now”) media campaign was developed and launched in 2015. Nuestra Salud led complementary community-based outreach. Service intake data and a 7-month evaluation survey from 2014-2016 were assessed descriptively to evaluate changes. Results. Quitline call frequencies increased by 31% among Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latinos from 2014 to 2015, in comparison to 3% among non- Hispanics. Successful quitting improved for Spanish speakers from 32.9% in 2014 to 46.4% in 2016, while remaining stable among all English speakers (31.3% in 2015). Satisfaction with services was similar and unchanged for Spanish and English services (80.0% and 78.1%, respectively, in 2015). Implications for Practice. Implementation of an organically developed Spanish-language campaign was associated with improved quitline service utilization. Collaboration with a community-based organization in a quality improvement process was key. Sustained progress requires resources and attention to service capacity.
Citizen Science: A New Approach to Smoke-Free Policy Advocacy
Authors: Folkerth Megan , Adcock Kelley , Singler Mary , Bishop Elizabeth
Published: January 2020

Kentucky has the second highest adult smoking rate, has the highest incidence of lung cancer in the nation, and does not have a state law prohibiting smoking inside workplaces. These tobacco disparities and policy gap leave Kentucky behind tobacco control progress made in other areas of the United States. Williamstown is a rural community with a population of 3,900 and a strong history of tobacco use. In 2017, the Northern Kentucky Health Department, in partnership with Interact for Health, worked with two coalitions to collect data, educate the community, and advocate for a local smoke-free policy. Coalition members collected 227 public opinion surveys. Community leaders—including the mayor—and advocates participated in Citizen Science, a research collaboration between scientists and volunteers. Advocates were trained on AirBeam monitors, wearable devices that gather air quality data in real time, and then were deployed in six establishments. The indoor air quality in smoking establishments was two times worse than the outdoor air quality standard. Community leaders and advocates then mobilized to educate City Council members on the benefits of a smoke-free policy, focusing on business, health, and tourism. In 2018, the Williamstown City Council voted in favor of the smoke-free policy, becoming the first jurisdiction in the Northern Kentucky region with a comprehensive smoke-free policy. The Citizen Science process helped develop coalition capacity, build community support, and engage policymakers in a successful smoke-free policy effort. Through participatory and inclusive efforts, local residents were able to affect policy change in the direction of health for all people.
Socioeconomic Disparities in Vape Shop Density and Proximity to Public Schools in the Conterminous United States, 2018
Authors: Venugopal P. Dilip , Morse Aura Lee , Tworek Cindy , Chang Hoshing Wan
Published: January 2020

We conducted an environmental justice assessment examining the distribution of specialty vape shops in relation to where minority and low-income youth live and attend school. We collated and examined the density of vape shops in public school districts in 2018 throughout the conterminous United States using geographic information systems. We calculated the proximity of vape shops to public middle and high schools through nearest neighbor analysis in QGIS software. We examined the statistical relationships between the density of vape shops in school districts, and proximity to schools, with the proportion of racial/ethnic minorities and those living in poverty. We found that vape shops are more densely distributed, and are in closer proximity to schools, in school districts with higher proportions of Asian and Black or African American populations. However, vape shops were further away from schools in school districts with higher proportions of the population in poverty. The proximity and higher density of vape shops in relationship to schools in Asian and Black or African American communities may result in disproportionate health impacts due to greater access and exposure to vape products and advertisements. Our results may help school district administrators prioritize and target efforts to curb youth vaping (e.g., health education curricula) in these school districts with high density and closer proximity of vape shops to schools. Policy efforts, such as local ordinances restricting the promotion and sale of vaping products close to schools, could help prevent disproportionate human and environmental health impacts to minorities.
Breast Cancer With Brain Metastases: Perspective From a Long-Term Survivor
Authors: Kofron Christopher P. , Chapman Angela
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this essay is to inform others that it is possible to survive breast cancer with brain metastases. The second author is the subject patient and a long-term survivor of systemic metastatic breast cancer with numerous brain metastases (corresponding to 8% survivor group). We credit her survival to a combination of (1) medicine as practiced by an excellent oncologist with whom we developed a partnership to manage the patient’s health, (2) our informed exploration of the available scientific knowledge including a review of scientific research articles that go beyond conventional care, and (3) the patient’s supplementation with numerous repurposed drugs and other substances reported to have antitumor properties. Alongside her conventional treatment (the medical standard of care), it seems likely that this supplementation has been a key factor in the patient’s long-term survival. We also point out that the lack of follow-up magnetic resonance imaging brain scans for early detection of brain metastases poses substantial risks for patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer in non–central nervous system locations. Thus, we suggest that research be conducted on such early detection for possible inclusion in the recommendations for the medical standard of care. Finally, medical doctors and also patients with backgrounds in biological science may wish to consider potential options and advantages of repurposed drugs and other substances reported in scientific publications when the medical standard of care has limited options for advanced cancer and other severe chronic health conditions. However, any efforts along this line by patients should be in collaboration with their medical doctors.
Chilean Health Care Providers’ Perceived Comfort in Performing Oral Rapid Testing for HIV: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Irarrázabal Lisette P. , Levy Judith A. , Cianelli Rosina , Norr Kathleen F. , Issel L. Michele , Pérez Carlos M.
Published: January 2020

Objectives:

To understand key factors influencing Chilean health care providers’ perceived comfort performing oral rapid HIV testing.

Design:

One hundred and fifty health care providers completed a self-administered questionnaire that included a five-item scale measuring self-perceived comfort in conducting HIV pretest counseling, oral rapid testing, finger-prick testing, and delivering test results.

Results:

Most participants (60%) envisioned good overall comfort performing oral rapid HIV testing (mean score of 16.21; range 0-20), including doing at least four of the five steps. They perceived least comfort delivering HIV-positive test results during posttest counseling. HIV stigmatizing attitudes reduced self-perceived comfort.

Conclusions:

Providing training to counter HIV stigmatization while increasing comfort in performing oral rapid testing would help facilitate its successful implementation.
The emotional well-being of journalists exposed to traumatic events: A mapping review
Authors: Osmann Jonas , Dvorkin Jeffrey , Inbar Yoel , Page-Gould Elizabeth , Feinstein Anthony
Published: January 2020

This article presents a mapping review of the available literature on the emotional well-being of journalists exposed to traumatic events. The review consists of three parts: (a) a summary of the results of trauma-related literature; (b) identification of the limitations of studies to date; and (c) suggestions for future research. The overview of the reviewed studies is provided as a table.
Entangled suffering and disruptive empathy: The Holocaust, the Nakba and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in Susan Abulhawa’s Mornings in Jenin
Authors: Fischer Nina
Published: January 2020

Discussions of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict are rarely far from the topic of the Holocaust, often taking the form of competitive victimhood, as supporters of both sides politicize the memory of the genocide for their political gain. In her 2010 novel Mornings in Jenin, Palestinian–American Susan Abulhawa interweaves a Palestinian narrative of history – including the Nakba, that is, the destruction of historical Palestine in 1948, the ongoing conflict and the Israeli occupation – with Holocaust memory. By acknowledging rather than minimizing or denying the Israelis’ cultural trauma, she takes a stance of empathy, which researchers consider a prerequisite for peaceful conflict transformation. I contend that Mornings in Jenin exemplifies how cultural texts not only provide a space to explore how new mnemonic links are being drawn up against contested and reified national narratives in Israel/Palestine but also play a political role by performing a narrative that acknowledges the cultural trauma of the other side.
Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adult critical care
Authors: Bauchmuller Kris , Manson Jessica J , Tattersall Rachel , Brown Michael , McNamara Christopher , Singer Mervyn , Brett Stephen J
Published: January 2020

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of severe immune dysregulation, characterised by extreme inflammation, fever, cytopaenias and organ dysfunction. HLH can be triggered by conditions such as infection, autoimmune disease and malignancy, among others. Both a familial and a secondary form have been described, the latter being increasingly recognised in adult patients with critical illness. HLH is difficult to diagnose, often under-recognised and carries a high mortality. Patients can present in a very similar fashion to sepsis and the two syndromes can co-exist and overlap, yet HLH requires specific immunosuppressive therapy. HLH should be actively excluded in patients with presumed sepsis who either lack a clear focus of infection or who are not responding to energetic infection management. Elevated serum ferritin is a key biomarker that may indicate the need for further investigations for HLH and can guide treatment. Early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach to HLH management may save lives.
Increased oxidative phosphorylation in lymphocytes does not atone for decreased cell numbers after burn injury
Authors: Chao Tony , Gomez Belinda I. , Heard Tiffany C. , Dubick Michael A. , Burmeister David M.
Published: January 2020

The acute systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multiorgan dysfunction (MOD) that occur in large burn injuries may be attributed, in part, to immunosuppressive responses such as decreased lymphocytes. However, the mitochondrial bioenergetics of lymphocytes after severe burn injury are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine mitochondrial function of lymphocytes following severe burns in a swine model. Anesthetized Yorkshire swine ( n = 17) sustained 40% total body surface area full-thickness contact burns. Blood was collected at pre-injury (Baseline; BL) and at 24 and 48 h after injury for complete blood cell analysis, flow cytometry, cytokine analysis, and ficoll separation of intact lymphocytes for high-resolution mitochondrial respirometry analysis. While neutrophil numbers increased, a concomitant decrease was found in lymphocytes ( P < 0.001) after burn injury, which was not specific to CD4+ or CD8+ lymphocytes. No changes in immune cell population were observed from 24 h to 48 h post-injury. IL 12-23 decreased while a transient increase in IL 4 was found from BL to 24h ( P < 0.05). CRP progressively increased from BL to 24h ( P < 0.05) and 48h ( P < 0.001) post-injury. Routine and maximal mitochondrial respiration progressively increased from BL to 24h ( P < 0.05) and 48 h post-injury ( P < 0.001). No changes were found in leak respiration or residual oxygen consumption. When considering the reduction in lymphocyte number, the total peripheral lymphocyte bioenergetics per volume of blood significantly decreased from BL to 24h and 48h (P < 0.05). For the first time, we were able to measure mitochondrial activity in intact lymphocyte mitochondria through high-resolution respirometry in a severely burned swine model. Our data showed that the non-specific reduction in peripheral T cells after injury was larger than the increased mitochondrial activity in those cells, which may be a compensatory mechanism for the total reduction in lymphocytes. Additional studies in the metabolic activation of T cell subpopulations may provide diagnostic or therapeutic targets after severe burn injury.
Citing you on behalf of an other digital geographical imagination
Authors: Gieseking Jen Jack
Published: January 2020

In replying to Natalie Oswin’s ‘An Other Geography’, I extend Oswin’s argument for ‘solidarities across modes of difference’ to the place of the scholarly Internet, through the specific case of citation practices. The scholarly Internet—ranging across platforms such as Google Scholar, Socarxiv, ResearchGate, and Academia.edu , to social media including the likes of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram—affords new connections and communities, particularly over citations that further give voice to the marginalized, erased, and oppressed of geography that Oswin centers in her article. At the same time, most of these software reproduce whiteness, sexism, heteronormativity, ableism, and colonialism in their algorithmic biases. I urge geographers to reconsider their attachments to and expectation of the scholarly Internet, particularly around citation practices. Instead, I call for practices of survival for Others that must necessarily include, in the words of Carrie Mott and Daniel Cockayne, conscientious engagement and disengagement.
Review of Quantitative Methods Used in Chinese Educational Research, 1978–2018
Authors: Yue Changjun , Xu Xiaowen
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

This article reviews the development of quantitative methods in educational research in China since 1978.

Design/Approach/Methods:

For this summary and literature review, we used data from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), relevant books, and research output from the Graduate School of Education, Peking University.

Findings:

We divided the development of quantitative methods in Chinese educational research into four stages: the Startup Stage (1978–1988), the Gradual Application Stage (1989–1998), the Growth Spurt Stage (1999–2008), and the Integrated and Diverse Development Stage (2009–2018). Overall, the development of quantitative methods in Chinese educational research shows sustained innovation in numerous aspects, including research methods, data sources, utilization of advancements in computing technology and statistical software, and research topics. However, despite the relatively advanced state of quantitative methods, education measurement and evaluation require further attention. The questionnaire and experimental research data currently available indicate the need to improve the mining and utilization of big data. Moreover, while Chinese educational researchers have demonstrated their proficiency in using quantitative research methods, improvements remain to be made with respect to collaboration and sharing.

Originality/Value:

This article is the first to analyze systemically the development of quantitative methods in Chinese educational research. It provides an original summary of the development and characteristics of quantitative methods in educational research in China.
Chinese Educational Policy Research: The Arduous Formation of a Research Paradigm
Authors: Lin Xiaoying
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

Through combing the 40 years’ history of the development of Chinese educational policy research, this article attempts to sort out the efforts and lessons learned by researchers in the field of education policy in China.

Design/Approach/Methods:

As one of the earliest scholars engaged in the study of Chinese education policy, based on the academic publications, symposia, and thematic research, the author has found efforts in four directions in the field: proposals for policy-oriented research and research-oriented policy, disciplinization-based endeavors, empirical research on theory-guided educational policy, and guidance on major educational policy research topics and a think tank for educational policy decisions.

Findings:

This article argues that there is now a correspondence among the ideas, themes, forms, and frameworks of the educational reform promulgated by the government in recent years that have appeared in educational policy research, but there is no clear demarcation of what makes an educational policy researcher; no stable academic community has been formed that might strive together toward the foundation of a disciplinary paradigm, the rational organization of academic ideas, and the establishment and handing over of a theoretical framework to a succeeding generation.

Originality/Value:

This article takes a step back to claim that a paradigm for Chinese educational policy research is still nascent in the arduous process of formulation.
Building a Sustainable Future Through International ECE Partnership Programmes
Authors: Birkeland Åsta , Li Minyi
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

Taking a particular example of an international partnership programme, this article aims to discuss kindergartens’ participation in international partnership programmes as compelling vehicles for promoting early childhood education for sustainability (ECEfS). The partnership programme included Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, and kindergartens in Norway and China. Researchers, postgraduate students, kindergarten principals, and teachers participated in the programme, their key concern being to promote competencies for sustainability and agents for change.

Design/Approach/Methods:

The article is based upon research with a phenomenological approach to Chinese and Norwegian kindergarten teachers’ and principals’ experiences of participating in an international partnership programme. The data for this article consisted of reflective notes from the teachers and principals and recordings of teachers’ and principals’ reflections in a joint seminar in the kindergarten network.

Findings:

This article argues that ethical normative, dialogical, and anticipatory approaches are pivotal within international ECEfS partnership programmes.

Originality/Value:

The article has the potential to address international partnership programmes, involving different stakeholders, as vital in promoting ECEfS. It also urges international partnership programmes to promote glocality in ECEfS (i.e., local situatedness with global awareness).
Local Weather Events: Stories of Pedagogical Practice as Possible Cultures of Exploration
Authors: Ødegaard Elin Eriksen , Marandon André Steenbuch
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

This article aims to describe and discuss what local weather landscapes mean to children and how weather implies exploring bodily sensations and capabilities. It does so by following the work of a community artist, working as a kindergarten teacher, over 1 year.

Design/Approach/Methods:

Through a narrative inquiry approach, which also includes studies of archival data and field notes, we analyze how local and personally experienced weather events imply what we call “cultures of exploration” in institutional practices. The epistemologies cross the specter of cultural–historical, pragmatic, and deep ecological philosophy.

Findings:

Through this study, we exemplify how experiencing weather is intertwined into pedagogical practices like habituating the body to cope with cold and wet weather, learning about danger in a wild natural landscape, and valuing species as a powerful practice. The descriptions exemplify “cultures of exploration” as a pedagogical approach.

Originality/Value:

In this time of an increasing climate crisis on our planet, the value of our findings is to foreground new insights, awareness, and knowledge relevant to children; to early-childhood education; and to life and societies at large. We can thus develop methods to better care for, protect, and educate children. This article has the potential to show how weather events are intertwined with everyday institutional practices—as well as how children, through exploration, learn to cope with seasonal weather landscapes and local cultural adaptations.
Exploring Education for Sustainable Development in a Chinese Kindergarten: An Action Research
Authors: Wang Guangheng , Zhou Xin , Cui Hua
Published: January 2020

Purpose:

This article was intended to share and reflect on experiences concerning the education for sustainable development (ESD) project at Hongqiao Kindergarten in Shanghai. The project aimed to explore how ESD could be implemented in a current curriculum and to provide useful examples of educational activities and experiences.

Design/Approach/Methods:

The action research included two cycles with four steps. The first cycle involved the integration of ESD into a traditional science curriculum. The second cycle involved the validation and optimization of the ESD objectives. The implementation strategies were reviewed and refined.

Findings:

First, a variety of strategies can be used to identify the theme and choose the content. Second, the objectives should be developed on children’s life experiences and interests. Third, the idea of ESD can be implemented in multiple ways. Fourth, a reasonable objective system involving ESD was constructed for children by ages. Fifth, there were many effective ways to integrate ESD activities into other domains of curriculum. The challenges and implications were also discussed.

Originality/Value:

The study had a positive effect on teachers’ ability to practice ESD. This was a pioneer project in early childhood education in China, which provided valuable information for those aiming to implement ESD practices in Chinese kindergartens.
Transformational Leadership and Job Performance: The Mediating Role of Work Engagement
Authors: Lai Fong-Yi , Tang Hui-Chuan , Lu Szu-Chi , Lee Yu-Chin , Lin Cheng-Chen
Published: January 2020

This study proposed that transformational leaders use various behaviors to provoke followers’ organizationally beneficial behaviors (e.g., better task performance and helping behaviors) through ignition of followers’ work engagement. That is, employees who inspired by transformational leadership are more likely to immerse themselves in the work, and, in turn, this is likely to result in better task performance and helping behaviors. In this study, we adopted a multitemporal and multisource research design to reduce the consideration of common method variance. Hypotheses were tested on a sample of 507 nurses working in 44 teams. The hierarchical linear regression analysis showed that, after controlling for several relevant variables (e.g., leader–member exchange [LMX], role-based self-efficacy, and transactional leadership) and several participants’ demographic variables (e.g., gender, age, and education), work engagement still mediates the positive relationship among transformational leadership, job performance, and helping behavior. Strengths, limitations, practical implications, and directions for future research are discussed.
Clinical Effectiveness of S2-Alar Iliac Screws in Spinopelvic Fixation in Pediatric Neuromuscular Scoliosis: Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Ravindra Vijay M. , Mazur Marcus D. , Brockmeyer Douglas L. , Kraus Kristin L. , Ropper Alexander E. , Hanson Darrell S. , Dahl Benny T.
Published: January 2020

Study Design:

Systematic literature review.

Objectives:

To comprehensively review the S2-alar iliac (S2-AI) screw technique for pelvic fixation in pediatric neuromuscular scoliosis.

Methods:

Articles identified from the PubMed and EMBASE databases were reviewed for relevance and applicability, and the studies were summarized.

Results:

Eight articles met the inclusion criteria. A total of 277 pediatric patients underwent spinopelvic fixation using S2-AI fixation for neuromuscular scoliosis; the mean follow-up was 3 years (range = 0.75-6 years). Six articles had level III evidence (5 retrospective cohort studies, 1 observational study), and 2 articles had level IV evidence (case series). Wound complications occurred in 34 (12.2%) patients. Instrumentation complications occurred in 36 patients (13.0%), including lucency around the screw (6.5%), screw fracture (3.6%), disengaging of the set/screw or rod from the tulip head (2.8%), and screw displacement (0.7%). Three patients (1.1%) required reoperation for instrumentation failures. The overall reoperation rate—including 3 hardware replacements and 3 cases of L5-S1 pseudarthrosis—was 2.1%. The mean Cobb angle correction was 51.4°, and the mean pelvic obliquity correction was 14.8°; deformity correction was maintained at 3- and 5-year follow-ups. There were 10 (3.6%) cases of implant prominence/implant-related pain, 1 case of sacroiliac joint pain (resolved with longer screw placement), and no major neurological or vascular complications secondary to S2-AI screw placement.

Conclusions:

This review suggests that the use of S2-AI screws in pediatric neuromuscular scoliosis is efficacious with a reasonable safety profile and provides a useful technique for pelvic fixation in children with scoliosis.
Relationship Between Spinal-Pelvic Sagittal Balance and Pelvic-Femoral Injuries in Professional Soccer Players
Authors: Ferenczi Antoine , Moraux Antoine , Gall Franck Le , Thevenon André , Wieczorek Valérie
Published: January 2020

Background:

Pelvic-femoral injuries are a common problem in football (soccer) players. However, the risk factors for these injuries are unclear. Our knowledge of spinal-pelvic sagittal balance has increased considerably over the past few years, notably as a result of new radiographic techniques such the EOS radiographic imaging system.

Purpose:

To investigate the link between spinal-pelvic sagittal balance on EOS imaging and the incidence of pelvic-femoral injuries.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

Players in a League 1 professional soccer team were observed for 5 consecutive seasons. All players included in the study underwent EOS radiographic imaging. All acute and microtraumatic injuries to the pelvic-femoral complex were recorded prospectively: hamstrings, psoas, quadriceps, adductors, obturators, and pubic symphysis. We analyzed the relationship between injury incidence and key radiographic parameters involved in pelvic balance.

Results:

A total of 61 players were included (mean age, 24.5 years; n = 149 injuries; mean pelvic tilt, 9.08° ± 5.6°). A significant link was observed between the incidence of pelvic-femoral injuries and pelvic tilt ( P = .02). A significant link was also observed between the incidence of acute pelvic-femoral injuries and pelvic tilt ( P = .05). In both cases, a high pelvic tilt was associated with a low incidence of injuries.

Conclusion:

In professional soccer players, a low pelvic tilt was associated with a high incidence of all pelvic-femoral injuries as well as acute pelvic-femoral injuries. These results could lead to new preventive methods for these musculotendinous injuries through physical therapy.
Early Efficacy of Multitiered Dual-Language Instruction: Promoting Preschoolers’ Spanish and English Oral Language
Authors: Spencer Trina D. , Moran Meghan , Thompson Marilyn S. , Petersen Douglas B. , Restrepo M. Adelaida
Published: January 2020

The purpose of this cluster randomized group study was to investigate the effect of multitiered, dual-language instruction on children’s oral language skills, including vocabulary, narrative retell, receptive and expressive language, and listening comprehension. The participants were 3- to 5-year-old children (n = 81) who were learning English and whose home language was Spanish. Across the school year, classroom teachers in the treatment group delivered large-group lessons in English to the whole class twice per week. For a Tier 2 intervention, the teachers delivered small-group lessons 4 days a week, alternating the language of intervention daily (first Spanish, then English). Group posttest differences were statistically significant, with moderate to large effect sizes favoring the treatment group on all the English proximal measures and on three of the four Spanish proximal measures. Treatment group advantages were observed on Spanish and English norm-referenced standardized measures of language (except vocabulary) and a distal measure of language comprehension.
Regulatory Mix, Collective Efficacy, and Crimes of the Powerful
Authors: Braithwaite John
Published: January 2020

This article argues against abolitionism, then against excess in criminalization for white-collar and corporate crime. While the criminal label does useful work, it does that work better when combined with a wide range of regulatory tools. The best strategies create spaces where reformers inside criminal organizations and regulatory agencies are supported to acquire the collective efficacy to transform corporate cultures. This can happen relationally with civil society support, but it never happens sustainably if civil society and street-level regulatory pressure is not sustained. It is early days in our journey of learning how to sequence and mix strategies and how to empower the powerless to resist crimes of the powerful effectively and with justice.
The Shifting Imaginaries of Corporate Crime
Authors: Tombs Steve , Whyte David
Published: January 2020

This article begins by setting out an analysis of the process of conventionalizing corporate crime that arises from the symbiotic relationship between states and corporations. Noting briefly the empirical characteristics of four broad categories of corporate crime and harm, the article then turns to explore the role of the state in its production and reproduction. We then problematize the role of the state in the reproduction of corporate crime at the level of the global economy, through a discussion of the “crimes of globalization” and “ecocide,” warning of the tendency in the research literature to oversimplify the role of states and of international organizations. The article finishes by arguing that, as critical academics, it is our role to ensure that corporate crime is never normalized nor fully conventionalized in advanced capitalist societies.
Peripherally inserted central catheters lead to a high risk of venous thromboembolism in children
Authors: Jaffray Julie , Witmer Char , O’Brien Sarah H. , Diaz Rosa , Ji Lingyun , Krava Emily , Young Guy
Published: January 2020

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) incidence in children has sharply increased with the majority of cases secondary to central venous catheters (CVCs). Among CVCs, the number of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) placed has risen significantly. In this multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study, we enrolled patients aged 6 months to 18 years with newly placed PICCs or tunneled lines (TLs). We evaluated the incidence of VTE, central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), and catheter malfunctions in PICCs and TLs, and risk factors of CVC-related VTE. A total of 1967 CVCs were included in the analysis. The incidence of CVC-related VTE was 5.9% ± 0.63%. The majority of the cases, 80%, were in subjects with PICCs, which had a significantly higher risk of catheter-related VTE than subjects with TLs (hazard ratio [HR] = 8.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.1-23; P < .001). PICCs were significantly more likely to have a CLABSI (HR = 1.6; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2; P = .002) and CVC malfunction (HR = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.6-2.4; P < .001). Increased risk of CVC-related VTE was found in patients with a prior history of VTE (HR = 23; 95% CI, 4-127; P < .001), multilumen CVC (HR = 3.9; 95% CI, 1.8-8.9; P = .003), and leukemia (HR = 3.5; 95% CI, 1.3-9.0; P = .031). Children with PICCs had a significantly higher incidence of catheter-related VTE, CLABSI, and CVC malfunction over TLs. The results suggest that pause be taken prior to placing CVCs, especially PICCs, due to the serious complications they have been shown to cause.
Retraction Note: Flexible Field Emitter for X-ray Generation by Implanting CNTs into Nickel Foil
Authors: Sun Bin , Wang Yan , Ding Guifu
Published: January 2020

The Editors-in-Chief have retracted this article [1] because it significantly overlaps with a previously published article by the same authors [2].
Capturing the trends in hospital standardized mortality ratios for pneumonia: a retrospective observational study in Japan (2010 to 2018)
Authors: Amin Rebeka , Hatakeyama Yosuke , Kitazawa Takefumi , Matsumoto Kunichika , Fujita Shigeru , Seto Kanako , Hasegawa Tomonori
Published: January 2020

Background

Pneumonia has a high human toll and a substantial economic burden in developed countries like Japan, where the crude mortality rate was 77.7 per 100,000 people in 2017. As this trend is going to continue with increasing number of the elderly multi-morbid population in Japan; monitoring performance over time is a social need to alleviate the disease burden. The study objective was to determine the characteristics of hospital standardized mortality ratios (HSMRs) for pneumonia in Japan from 2010 to 2018 to describe this trend.

Methods

Data of the DPC (Diagnostic Procedures Combination) database were used, which is an administrative claims and discharge summary database for acute care in-patients in Japan. HSMRs were calculated using the actual and expected numbers of in-hospital deaths, the latter of which was calculated using logistic regression model, with a number of explanatory variables, e.g., age, sex, urgency of admission, mode of transportation, patient volume per month in each hospital, A-DROP score, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). We constructed two HSMR models: a single-year model, which included hospitals with > 10 in-patients per month and, a 9-year model, which included those hospitals with complete 9-year data. Predictive accuracy of the logistic models was assessed using c-index (area under receiver operating curve).

Results

Total 230,372 patients were included for the analysis over the 9-year study period. Calculated HSMRs showed wide variation among hospitals. The proportion of hospitals with HSMR less than 100 increased from 36.4% in 2010 to 60.6% in 2018. Both models showed good predictive ability with a c-statistic of 0.762 for the 9-year model, and no less than 0.717 for the single-year model.

Conclusion

This study denoted that HSMRs of pneumonia can be calculated using DPC data in Japan and revealed significant variations among hospitals with comparable case-mixes. Therefore, HSMR can be used as yet another measure to help improve quality of care over time if other indicators are examined in parallel and to get a clear picture of where hospitals excel and lack.
Nucleotide polymorphism assay for the identification of west African group Bacillus anthracis: a lineage lacking anthrose
Authors: Zincke Diansy , Norris Michael H. , Kurmanov Berzhan , Hadfield Ted L. , Blackburn Jason K.
Published: January 2020

Background

The exosporium of the anthrax-causing Bacillus anthracis endospores display a tetrasaccharide composed of three rhamnose residues and an unusual sugar termed anthrose. Anthrose is a proposed potential target for immunotherapy and for specific detection of B. anthracis. Although originally thought to be ubiquitous in B. anthracis, previous work identified an anthrose negative strain from a West African lineage isolated from cattle that could represent a vaccine escape mutant. These strains carry genes required for expression of the anthrose operon but premature stop codons resulting from an 8-bp insertion in BAS3320 (an amino-transferase) and a C/T substitution at position 892 of the BAS3321 (a glycosyltransferase) gene prevent anthrose expression. Various other single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified throughout the operon and could be the basis for detection of anthrose-deficient strains.

Results

In this study, we evaluated rhAmp genotypic assays based on SNPs at positions 892 and 1352 of BAS3321 for detection and differentiation of anthrose negative (Ant−) West African strains. Discrimination of anthrose negative West African isolates was achieved with as low as 100 fg of DNA, whereas consistent genotyping of Sterne necessitated at least 1 pg of DNA.

Conclusions

Screening of a global panel of B. anthracis isolates showed anthrose-expressing alleles are prevalent worldwide whereas the anthrose-deficient phenotype is to date limited to West Africa. Our work also revealed a third, previously unreported anthrose genotype in which the operon is altogether missing from a Polish B. anthracis isolate.
Comparative transcriptome analysis indicates that a core transcriptional network mediates isonuclear alloplasmic male sterility in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Liu Zihan , Li Sha , Li Wei , Liu Qi , Zhang Lingli , Song Xiyue
Published: January 2020

Background

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) plays a crucial role in the utilization of heterosis and various types of CMS often have different abortion mechanisms. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanisms related to anther abortion in wheat, which remain unclear at present.

Results

In this study, five isonuclear alloplasmic male sterile lines (IAMSLs) and their maintainer were investigated. Cytological analysis indicated that the abortion type was identical in IAMSLs, typical and stainable abortion, and the key abortive period was in the binucleate stage. Most of the 1,281 core shared differentially expressed genes identified by transcriptome sequencing compared with the maintainer in the vital abortive stage were involved in the metabolism of sugars, oxidative phosphorylation, phenylpropane biosynthesis, and phosphatidylinositol signaling, and they were downregulated in the IAMSLs. Key candidate genes encoding chalcone--flavonone isomerase, pectinesterase, and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase were screened and identified. Moreover, further verification elucidated that due to the impact of downregulated genes in these pathways, the male sterile anthers were deficient in sugar and energy, with excessive accumulations of ROS, blocked sporopollenin synthesis, and abnormal tapetum degradation.

Conclusions

Through comparative transcriptome analysis, an intriguing core transcriptome-mediated male-sterility network was proposed and constructed for wheat and inferred that the downregulation of genes in important pathways may ultimately stunt the formation of the pollen outer wall in IAMSLs. These findings provide insights for predicting the functions of the candidate genes, and the comprehensive analysis of our results was helpful for studying the abortive interaction mechanism in CMS wheat.