bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cistanche tubulosa Phenylethanoid Glycosides Induce Apoptosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Mitochondria-Dependent and MAPK Pathways and Enhance Antitumor Effect through Combination with Cisplatin
Authors: Yuan Pengfei , Fu Changshuang , Yang Yi , Adila Aipire , Zhou Fangfang , Wei Xianxian , Wang Weilan , Lv Jie , Li Yijie , Xia Lijie , Li Jinyao
Published: May 2021

Cistanche tubulosa is a type of Chinese herbal medicine and exerts various biological functions. Previous studies have been demonstrated that Cistanche tubulosa phenylethanoid glycosides (CTPG) exhibit antitumor effects on a variety of tumor cells. However, the antitumor effects of CTPG on HepG2 and BEL-7404 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells are still elusive. Our study showed that CTPG significantly inhibited the growth of HepG2 and BEL-7404 cells through the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, which was associated with the activation of MAPK pathways characterized by the up-regulated phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 and mitochondria-dependent pathway characterized by the reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential. The release of cytochrome c and the cleavage of caspase-3, -7, -9, and PARP were subsequently increased by CTPG treatment. Moreover, CTPG significantly suppressed the migration of HepG2 through reducing the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor. Interestingly, CTPG not only enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes but also reduced the apoptosis of splenocytes induced by cisplatin. In H22 tumor mouse model, CTPG combined with cisplatin further inhibited the growth of H22 cells and reduced the side effects of cisplatin. Taken together, CTPG inhibited the growth of HCC through direct antitumor effect and indirect immunoenhancement effect, and improved the antitumor efficacy of cisplatin.
Protective effect of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 against rat corneal dysfunction caused by streptozotocin-induced type I diabetes
Authors: Long Pan , He Mengshan , Zhang Xi , Luo Tao , Shen Yang , Liu Heng , Jiang Wei , Han Fei , Hu Yonghe
Published: May 2021

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 plays a pivotal role in detoxifying aldehydes, and our previous study revealed that aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 could alleviate diabetic retinopathy-associated damage. We aimed to characterize the potential role of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 in diabetic keratopathy. Twenty-four rats with streptozotocin-induced (60 mg/kg, single intraperitoneal injection) type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) were divided the T1DM group and the T1DM + Alda1 (an activator of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2) group (5 mg/kg/d, intraperitoneal injection, 1/2/3 months), while an additional 12 healthy rats served as the control group. Corneal morphology was examined in vivo and in vitro at one, two, and three months after T1DM induction. Additionally, serum inflammatory factors were measured by ELISA, and the expression of corneal vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 was measured by immunofluorescence staining. Corneal cell death was evaluated by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Slit lamp analysis showed that the area of corneal epithelial cell injury in the T1DM + Alda1 group was significantly smaller than that in the T1DM group at one and two months after T1DM induction (all P <  0.05). OCT analysis and HE staining showed that the central corneal thickness (indication of corneal edema) and the epithelial keratinization level in the T1DM + Alda1 group was evidently decreased compared with those in the T1DM group (all P <  0.05). The serum inflammatory factors interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 were significantly upregulated in the T1DM group compared with the T1DM + Alda1 group at three months after T1DM induction (all P <  0.05), while there were no differences in SOD or TNF-α levels among all groups. Furthermore, corneal VEGF-A expression and corneal cell death in the T1DM + Alda1 group were dramatically reduced compared to those in the T1DM group (all P <  0.05). In conclusion, the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 agonist Alda1 attenuated rat corneal dysfunction induced by T1DM by alleviating corneal edema, decreasing corneal cell death, and downregulating corneal VEGF-A expression.
Adapting Interventions for Occupational Therapy Practice: Application of the FRAME Coding Structure
Authors: Piller Aimee , Juckett Lisa A. , Hunter Elizabeth G.
Published: May 2021

Occupational therapy practitioners often adapt evidence-based interventions for implementation into practice, yet these adaptations are seldom captured systematically. The purpose of this study was to apply the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications–Expanded (FRAME) to describe adaptations to one intervention modified for teletherapy in the wake of COVID-19. An embedded multiple case study design was used to track adaptations made to a vestibular and bilateral integration (VBI) protocol—traditionally delivered in-person—that was implemented via teletherapy in a pediatric outpatient clinic. The “Modification and Adaptation Checklist” was used to track protocol adaptations. Data were examined through descriptive analyses; 63 adaptations were made to the VBI protocol. The most frequently noted adaptation was “Repeating protocol activities,” whereas the “Integrating another treatment approach with the VBI protocol” was the least common adaptation. The FRAME may be useful for tracking adaptations and evaluating how adaptations influence intervention effectiveness.
Enhanced Spontaneous Motor Recovery After Stroke in Mice Treated With Cerebrolysin
Authors: DeBoer Scott R. , Hubbard Robert , Mersha Mahlet , Pinilla Monsalve Gabriel , Winter Stefan , Zeiler Steven R.
Published: May 2021

Background

Motor recovery after stroke in humans and in rodent models is time sensitive. Recovery in patients is a result of biological spontaneous recovery via endogenous repair mechanisms and is likely improved by enhancing the synaptic plasticity required for endogenous repair. Cerebrolysin is a polypeptide preparation known to enhance neuroplasticity and may improve recovery in patients. In mice, we tested the hypothesis that Cerebrolysin can act poststroke to enhance both spontaneous and training-associated motor recovery.

Methods

Mice were trained to perform a skilled prehension task. We then induced a photothrombotic stroke in the caudal forelimb area, after which we retrained animals on the prehension task in the presence or absence of Cerebrolysin after a 2-day or 8-day delay. Mice received daily intraperitoneal Cerebrolysin or saline injections starting poststroke day 1 or poststroke day 7.

Results

Prior studies showed that poststroke recovery of prehension can occur if animals receive rehabilitative training during an early sensitive period but is incomplete if rehabilitative training is delayed. In contrast, we show complete recovery of prehension, despite a delay in rehabilitative training, when mice receive daily Cerebrolysin administration starting on poststroke day 1 or on poststroke day 8. When Cerebrolysin is given on poststroke day 1, recovery occurred even in the absence of training. Stroke volumes were similar across groups.

Conclusions

Poststroke Cerebrolysin administration leads to recovery of motor function independent of rehabilitative training without a protective effect on stroke volume. This is one of the first demonstrations of training-independent motor recovery in rodent stroke models.
HackerRank: Identifying key hackers in underground forums
Authors: Huang Cheng , Guo Yongyan , Guo Wenbo , Li Ying
Published: May 2021

With the rapid development of the Internet, cybersecurity situation is becoming more and more complex. At present, surface web and dark web contain numerous underground forums or markets, which play an important role in cybercrime ecosystem. Therefore, cybersecurity researchers usually focus on hacker-centered research on cybercrime, trying to find key hackers and extract credible cyber threat intelligence from them. The data scale of underground forums is tremendous and key hackers only represent a small fraction of underground forum users. It takes a lot of time as well as expertise to manually analyze key hackers. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a method or tool to automatically analyze underground forums and identify key hackers involved. In this work, we present HackerRank, an automatic method for identifying key hackers. HackerRank combines the advantages of content analysis and social network analysis. First, comprehensive evaluations and topic preferences are extracted separately using content analysis. Then, it uses an improved Topic-specific PageRank to combine the results of content analysis with social network analysis. Finally, HackerRank obtains users’ ranking, with higher-ranked users being considered as key hackers. To demonstrate the validity of proposed method, we applied HackerRank to five different underground forums separately. Compared to using social network analysis and content analysis alone, HackerRank increases the coverage rate of five underground forums by 3.14% and 16.19% on average. In addition, we performed a manual analysis of identified key hackers. The results prove that the method is effective in identifying key hackers in underground forums.
The New General Facility Report
Authors: Encina Sebastián
Published: May 2021

The General Facility Report is an oft-used and important document in the museum field. Institutions across the country and across the planet use it primarily to conduct loans between museums. Originally drafted in 1988, the form has seen several revisions over thirty years. In 2019, Collections Stewardship of the American Alliance of Museums formed a committee to revise the form once more. Several employees from various museums with familiarity with the form and its use gathered to edit the GFR. Those edits were presented to AAM and at a conference to solicit feedback, before making the form available to the public. The committee re-organized the form, removed redundant questions, and added more flexibility to the 2020 GFR. The final form maintained much of what made the existing GFR so important, but streamlined to meet current standards. The 2020 GFR is now widely available and ready for use.
Smoke Evacuation During Laparoscopic Surgery: A Problem Beyond the COVID-19 Period. A Quantitative Analysis of CO2 Environmental Dispersion Using Different Devices
Authors: Bracale Umberto , Silvestri Vania , Pontecorvi Emanuele , Russo Immacolata , Triassi Maria , Cassinotti Elisa , Merola Giovanni , Montuori Paolo , Boni Luigi , Corcione Francesco
Published: May 2021

Background. The COVID-19 pandemic leads to several debates regarding the possible risk for healthcare professionals during surgery. SAGES and EAES raised the issue of the transmission of infection through the surgical smoke during laparoscopy. They recommended the use of smoke evacuation devices (SEDs) with CO2 filtering systems. The aim of the present study is to compare the efficacy of different SEDs evaluating the CO2 environmental dispersion in the operating theater. Methods. We prospectively evaluated the data of 4 group of patients on which we used different SEDs or standard trocars: AIRSEAL system (S1 group), a homemade device (S2 group), an AIRSEAL system + homemade device (S3 group), and with standard trocars and without SED (S4 group). Quantitative analysis of CO2 environmental dispersion was carried out associated to the following data in order to evaluate the pneumoperitoneum variations: a preset insufflation pressure, real intraoperative pneumoperitoneum pressure, operative time, total volume of insufflated CO2, and flow rate index. Results. 16 patients were prospectively enrolled. The [CO2] mean value was 711 ppm, 641 ppm, 593 ppm, and 761 ppm in S1, S2, S3, and S4 groups, respectively. The comparison between data of all groups showed statistically significant differences in the measured ambient CO2 concentration. Conclusion. All tested SEDs seem to be useful to reduce the CO2 environmental dispersion respect to the use of standard trocars. The association of AIRSEAL system and a homemade device seems to be the best solution combining an adequate smoke evacuation and a stable pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic surgery.
Thoracic Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A SARS-CoV-2 Data Repository for Future Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Authors: Mohamed Ali Abdel-Moneim , El-Alali Emran , Weltz Adam S. , Rehrig Scott T.
Published: May 2021

Current experience suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) may be useful in the management of hospitalized patients, including those with COVID-19. In light of the challenges faced with diagnostic and prognostic indicators in SARS-CoV-2 infection, our center has developed an international clinical protocol to collect standardized thoracic point of care ultrasound data in these patients for later AI/ML modeling. We surmise that in the future AI/ML may assist in the management of SARS-CoV-2 patients potentially leading to improved outcomes, and to that end, a corpus of curated ultrasound images and linked patient clinical metadata is an invaluable research resource.
Morality Meters and Their Impacts on Moral Choices in Videogames: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Formosa Paul , Ryan Malcolm , Howarth Stephanie , Messer Jane , McEwan Mitchell
Published: May 2021

Morality meters are a commonly used mechanic in many ethically notable video games. However, there have been several theoretical critiques of such meters, including that people can find them alienating, they can instrumentalise morality, and they reduce morality to a binary of good and evil with no room for complexity. While there has been much theoretical discussion of these issues, there has been far less empirical investigation. We address this gap through a qualitative study that involved participants playing a custom-built visual novel game ( The Great Fire) with different intuitive and counter-intuitive morality meter settings. Overall, we found that players’ attitudes towards the morality meter in this game was complex, context sensitive and variable throughout gameplay and that the intuitiveness of the meter encouraged participants to treat the meter more ‘as a moral guide’ that prompts reflection and less ‘as a score’ to be engaged with reactively.
P2Y12 inhibitors for the neurointerventionalist
Authors: Borchert Robin J , Simonato Davide , R Hickman Charlotte , Fuschi Maurizio , Thibault Lucie , Henkes Hans , Fiorella David , Tan Benjamin YQ , Yeo Leonard LL , D Makalanda Hegoda L , Wong Ken , Bhogal Pervinder
Published: May 2021

The use of antiplatelets is widespread in clinical practice. However, for neurointerventional procedures, protocols for antiplatelet use are scarce and practice varies between individuals and institutions. This is further complicated by the quantity of antiplatelet agents which differ in route of administration, dosage, onset of action, efficacy and ischemic and hemorrhagic complications. Clarifying the individual characteristics for each antiplatelet agent, and their associated risks, will increasingly become relevant as the practice of mechanical thrombectomy, stenting, coiling and flow diversion procedures grows. The aim of this review is to summarize the existing literature for the use of P2Y12 inhibitors in neurointerventional procedures, examine the quality of the evidence, and highlight areas in need of further research.
A new aspiration device equipped with a hydro-separator for acute ischemic stroke due to challenging soft and stiff clots
Authors: Kaneko Naoki , Ghovvati Mahsa , Komuro Yutaro , Guo Lea , Khatibi Kasra , Ponce Mejia Lucido L , Saber Hamidreza , Annabi Nasim , Tateshima Satoshi
Published: May 2021

Objective

Fragile soft clots and stiff clots remain challenging in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. This study aims to investigate the impact of clot stiffness on the efficacy of thrombectomy devices and a new aspiration catheter with a hydro-separator.

Methods

The Neurostar aspiration catheter has a novel hydro-separator technology that macerates clots by a stream of saline inside the catheter. The Neurostar catheter and two commercially available devices, the SOFIA aspiration catheter and Solitaire stent retriever, were tested in this study. We evaluated the efficacy of each device on clots with various stiffness in a simple in vitro model. We also assessed single-pass recanalization performance in challenging situations with large erythrocyte-rich clots and fibrin-rich clots in a realistic vascular model.

Results

We observed an inverse association between the clot stiffness and recanalization rates. The aspiration catheter, SOFIA ingested soft clots but not moderately stiff clots. When removing soft clots with the stent retriever, fragmentation was observed, although relatively stiff clots were well-integrated and removed. The Neurostar ingested soft clots similar to the aspiration catheter, and also aspirated stiff clots by continuous suction with hydro-separator. In the experiments with challenging clots, the Neurostar led to significantly higher recanalization rates than the stent retriever and aspiration catheter.

Conclusions

The stiffness of the clots affected the efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy based on the type of device. The Neurostar catheter with hydro-separator resulted in better success rates than a commercially available aspiration catheter and stent retriever in this experimental model.
Phenomenography in the “Lived” Context of Parental Learning
Authors: Go Luis , Pang Ming Fai
Published: May 2021

Phenomenography is a qualitative research methodology that is often adopted by researchers to investigate people’s lived experience of the phenomena around them. Within the phenomenographic research tradition, there has been much discussion of the influence of the context on the phenomenon under study. Time and again, both phenomenographers and critics of phenomenography have stressed the importance of the researcher being mindful of the context when using phenomenography as a research methodology. In this paper, two phenomenographic studies of the learning of adults under the context of parental learning are reported. We attempt to illuminate empirically the consequences of ignoring the cautionary advice about context in the pilot study and contrast its outcomes with the quality of the research results of the subsequent main study that heeded the advice. It is important to clearly delimit the phenomenon in question by taking careful consideration of the relevant context, as this ensures that phenomenography is conducted on the same, target phenomenon, rather than on different phenomena.
Analysis and optimization of the vehicle handling stability with considering suspension kinematics and compliance characteristics
Authors: Gao Jin , Wu Fuquan
Published: May 2021

The dynamic model of the front double wishbone suspension and the rear multi-link suspension of the vehicle are established. On the basis of detailed analysis of suspension kinematics, calculation method of wheel alignment angle and force calculation of suspension bushing, the influence mechanism of suspension bushing on the vehicle transient state is clarified, and the vehicle transient characteristic index is derived from the vehicle three-free dynamic model. The sensitivity analysis of the suspension bushing is carried out, and the bushing stiffness which has a great influence on the transient state of the vehicle is obtained. The bushing stiffness scale factor is used as the optimization variable, the vehicle transient characteristic index is used as the optimization target, and the NSGA-II optimization algorithm is used for multi-objective optimization. After optimization, one Pareto solution is selected to compare with the original vehicle, the comparison results show that the yaw rate gain, resonance frequency and delay time of yaw rate in the vehicle transient characteristic index are all improved, other optimization targets change less. In the steady-state comparison, the understeer tendency of the vehicle increases, and the roll angle of the vehicle increases but is within an acceptable range.
A comparison of revascularization methods for peripheral arterial disease in diabetics: Changing trends in lower extremity revascularization from 2008 to 2014
Authors: Qiu Qiong , Stefanopoulos Stavros , Kaissieh Daniela , Wandtke Meghan , Ren Gang , Osman Mohamed , Nazzal Munier , Ahmed Ayman
Published: May 2021

Objectives

This study examined the current demographic and outcome trends regarding endovascular and open revascularization for people with diabetes.

Methods

The National Inpatient Sample database was utilized to identify diabetic patients who underwent lower extremity revascularization and amputation procedures between 2008 and 2014. International Classification of Diseases 9th edition codes were used to identify the procedures, diagnoses, and comorbidities.

Results

We identified 38,143 diabetic patients who underwent endovascular revascularization and 25,415 who underwent open revascularization between 2008 and 2014. The number of endovascular and open revascularization procedures decreased steadily by 17.5% and 12.43% during the study period, respectively. The total charges for the endovascular procedure were greater than the open procedure ($98,761 vs. $80,782, p ≤ 0.001) despite similar median length of stay (5 days (inner quartile range (IQR) = 1–10) vs. 5 days (IQR = 3–10), p ≤ 0.001). Compared to open, the in-patient amputation rate for endovascular patients has been increasing faster for both minor (11.75% vs. 0.37%) and major amputations (3.08% vs. 0.19%). Although the post-procedure amputation rates between endovascular and open procedures were increased for endovascular patients (odds ratio [OR] = 1.71, confidence interval [CI] = 1.35–2.18, p ≤ 0.001) in 2008, by 2014 the risk of major amputation was doubled in endovascular patients (OR = 2.88, CI = 2.27–3.64, p ≤ 0.001). African Americans were more likely to undergo minor amputation than Whites ( p ≤ 0.001). Lastly, diabetic patients with uncontrolled diabetes, systemic infection, weight loss, congestive heart failure, gangrene, and end-stage renal disease were more likely to undergo endovascular repair.

Conclusions

As more medically complex patients undergo endovascular revascularization, endovascular revascularization for diabetic patients is becoming associated with higher total cost despite similar length of stay, minor amputation, and major amputation rates. Further studies are needed to continuously evaluate the post-procedural outcomes and cost effectiveness of this trend.
Evidence for two attentional mechanisms during learning
Authors: Torrents-Rodas David , Koenig Stephan , Uengoer Metin , Lachnit Harald
Published: May 2021

We sought to provide evidence for a combined effect of two attentional mechanisms during associative learning. Participants’ eye movements were recorded as they predicted the outcomes following different pairs of cues. Across the trials of an initial stage, a relevant cue in each pair was consistently followed by one of two outcomes, while an irrelevant cue was equally followed by either of them. Thus, the relevant cue should have been associated with small relative prediction errors, compared to the irrelevant cue. In a later stage, each pair came to be followed by one outcome on a random half of the trials and by the other outcome on the remaining half, and thus there should have been a rise in the overall prediction error. Consistent with an attentional mechanism based on relative prediction error, an attentional advantage for the relevant cue was evident in the first stage. However, in accordance with a mechanism linked to overall prediction error, the attention paid to both types of cues increased at the beginning of the second stage. These results showed up in both dwell times and within-trial patterns of fixations, and they were predicted by a hybrid model of attention.
Palliative care after stroke: A review
Authors: Cowey Eileen , Schichtel Markus , Cheyne Joshua D , Tweedie Lorna , Lehman Richard , Melifonwu Rita , Mead Gillian E
Published: May 2021

Background

Palliative care is an integral aspect of stroke unit care. In 2016, the American Stroke Association published a policy statement on palliative care and stroke. Since then there has been an expansion in the literature on palliative care and stroke.

Aim

Our aim was to narratively review research on palliative care and stroke, published since 2015.

Results

The literature fell into three broad categories: (a) scope and scale of palliative care needs, (b) organization of palliative care for stroke, and (c) shared decision making. Most literature was observational. There was a lack of evidence about interventions that address specific palliative symptoms or improve shared decision making. Racial disparities exist in access to palliative care after stroke. There was a dearth of literature from low- and middle-income countries.

Conclusion

We recommend further research, especially in low- and middle-income countries, including research to explore why racial disparities in access to palliative care exist. Randomized trials are needed to address specific palliative care needs after stroke and to understand how best to facilitate shared decision making.
Longer term patient management following stroke: A systematic review
Authors: Boehme Christian , Toell Thomas , Lang Wilfried , Knoflach Michael , Kiechl Stefan
Published: May 2021

Background

Tremendous progress in acute stroke therapy has improved short-term outcome but part of this achievement may be lost in the long run. Concepts for a better long-term management of stroke survivors are needed to address their unmet needs and to reduce the burden of post-stroke complications, residual deficits, and recurrent vascular events.

Aims

This review summarizes current knowledge on post-hospital care and the scientific evidence supporting individual programs.

Summary of review

A systematic search of electronic databases according to PRISMA guidelines identified 10,374 articles, 77 of which met the inclusion criteria. One large randomised controlled trial on a multifaceted care program delivered by the multidisciplinary stroke team reduced recurrent vascular events and improved quality of life and functional outcome one year after the event, while a number of studies offer solutions for individual components of post-hospital disease management like patient education, counselling, and self-management or the management of post-stroke complications and residual deficits. A majority of studies, however, was small in size and limited by a short follow-up. Most initiatives with a narrow focus on risk factor control failed to lower the risk of recurrent events. The caregivers’ central role in post-stroke patient management is broadly neglected in research.

Conclusions

Over the past years, first knowledge on how to best organize post-hospital care of stroke patients has emerged. Comprehensive and pragmatic programs operated by the multidisciplinary stroke team hold promise to reduce the long-term health burden of stroke. There is a clear need for further high-quality studies with both clinical endpoints and patient-reported outcomes to establish sustainable solutions in different settings and regions to improve life after stroke, a key priority of the Stroke Action Plan for Europe 2018–2030.
Treatment of post-stroke aphasia: A narrative review for stroke neurologists
Authors: Vitti Emilia , Hillis Argye E
Published: May 2021

This review is intended to help physicians guide patients to optimal management of post-stroke aphasia. We review literature on post-stroke aphasia treatment, focusing on: (1) when and for whom language therapy is most effective, (2) the variety of approaches that can be effective for different individuals, and (3) the extent to which behavioral therapy might be augmented by non-invasive brain stimulation and/or medications.
Optimal postoperative management of perineal flaps in oncologic patients undergoing extralevator abdominoperineal excision: An introduction of a postoperative monitoring and flap management protocol
Authors: Khoury Alexandra , Bailey Simon , Mackey Simon P
Published: May 2021

There is extensive discussion regarding method of perineal defect closure extralevator abdominoperineal excision, but little consideration of optimal postoperative management of the flaps, or use of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery in flap reconstruction. Literature review revealed little discussion of optimum postoperative care of perineal flaps following extralevator abdominoperineal excision. We have developed a protocol for postoperative care of perineal flaps for use in conjunction with colorectal Enhanced Recovery After Surgery pathways, easily followed in units not specialising in plastic surgery. The protocol was developed using translatable evidence from guidelines for flap care from other subspecialties, as well as the experience of management of post-extralevator abdominoperineal excision perineal flaps in our trust, with the aim of enabling early detection of deterioration in this complex cohort, with a multidisciplinary enhanced recovery approach.
Naming people on the move according to the political agenda: A study of Belgian media
Authors: Mistiaen Valériane
Published: May 2021

The aim of this article is to study the different denominations used to name people on the move in the Belgian French- and Dutch-speaking press. The so-called ‘refugee crisis’ has received huge media attention in Europe. In Belgium, media landscape is divided amongst Dutch-, French- and much smaller German-speaking communities, all of which harbour different journalistic traditions. The country is then an excellent case study to observe the divergences between the linguistic repertoire of denominations referencing people in the two main linguistic communities. To explore this, an exhaustive corpus composed of press articles was collected between 2015 and 2017. The analysis combines Discourse Analysis and Corpus Linguistics as they complement one another. At first, the repertoire of common nouns in each corpus seems similar, but differences lie in the frequency of denominations used to qualify people on the move and also in the collocations that construct their meaning. In both corpora, the word refugee is strongly collocated with status and administrative terms. One important finding lies in the difference in frequencies of the word migrant, which is used less often in the Dutch-speaking corpus than in the French-speaking one. This article also gives special attention to the terms transmigrant and newcomer.
Agreement between muscle oxygen saturation from two commercially available systems in endurance running: Moxy Monitor versus Humon Hex
Authors: Jaén-Carrillo Diego , Roche-Seruendo Luis E , Cartón-Llorente Antonio , García-Pinillos Felipe
Published: May 2021

Analysis of changes in muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2) in sport settings has become common due to its precise, continuous and non-invasive ability to provide measurements of a particular muscle using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Therefore, this study aims to determine level of agreement between two affordable NIRS-based oximeter wearable systems for measuring SmO2 level in the vastus lateralis in endurance runners. Seventeen trained endurance male runners (age: 34.2 ± 8.1 years; body mass: 70.5 ± 6.1 kg; height: 1.75 ± 0.04 m; BMI: 23 ± 1.7) completed a submaximal 60-min run-to-exhaustion treadmill running protocol trying to cover the longest possible distance. The SmO2 rates of the vastus lateralis were co-registered and continually obtained from two separate NIRS-based oximeter wearable systems over the running trial. The between-system means comparison reveals no significant differences in SmO2 at any point of the running protocol ( p > 0.217) with trivial-to-small ES (ES < 0.27). Significant relationships ( p < 0.05) were identified between systems with large and very large Pearson coefficients ( r > 0.624). Additionally, substantial and almost perfect ICCs were obtained (ICC > 0.729). Bland-Altman plots exposed homoscedasticity ( r2 < 0.1) for all the periods analysed during the running protocol, with mean differences lower than 3.2% over the time trial. The results found here show the level of agreement between two economical NIRS-based oximeter wearable systems. Notwithstanding their level of agreement, their interchangeable use is not recommended due to the variation shown for SmO2 levels.
Acute, chronic and acute/chronic ratio between starters and non-starters professional soccer players across a competitive season
Authors: Nobari Hadi , Castillo Daniel , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Carlos-Vivas Jorge , Pérez-Gómez Jorge
Published: May 2021

Quantifying the external training load across the season related to the starting status of players could be relevant for physical conditioning staff, since one of the main goals is to apply the adequate individual training load. Thus, the aims of this study were to (1) monitor the acute workload (wAW), chronic workload (wCW), and acute/chronic workload ratio (wACWR) on a weekly basis using the body load (BL) in starter and non-starter professional soccer players; and (2) analyze the differences between starters and non-starters for wAW, wCW, and wACWR using BL, and (3) analyze the weekly average of distance and sprint variables during four periods of the season (pre-, early-, mid-, and end-season). Twenty-one professional soccer players (28.3 ± 3.8 years; 181.2 ± 7.0 cm; 74.4 ± 7.7 kg) belonging to the same team competing in the Iranian Persian Gulf Pro League were evaluated for a period of 48 weeks (one soccer season). The season was divided into pre-season (weeks 1–5), early-season (weeks 6–19), mid-season (weeks 20–35), and end-season (weeks 36–48). Players were classified according to their starting status: players who were in the starting line-up (i.e. starters) and players who did not make the starting line-up (i.e. non-starters). The results showed greater weekly wAW and wCW for starters compared to non-starters during the mid-season (wAW: p = 0.008, g = −1.24; wCW: p = 0.006; g = −1.31) and end-season (wAW: p = 0.001, g = −1.66; wCW: p = 0.001; g = −1.62). Starters also showed greater weekly total distance (wTD), sprint total distance (wSTD), high-speed running distance (wHSRd), and repeated sprints compared with non-starters across all four periods ( p < 0.05; g = −1.36 to −4.95), higher wHSRd/wTD during pre-season ( p = 0.007, g = −1.28) and mid-season ( p = 0.001, g = −1.62) and a greater wSTD/wTD during pre-season ( p = 0.029, g = −0.99). Based on these findings, coaches and strength and conditioning specialists should individualize training according to match exposure throughout a competitive season.
Evolution of clinical guidelines for antimicrobial management of Clostridioides difficile infection
Authors: Chaar Abdelkader , Feuerstadt Paul
Published: May 2021

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has been an epidemic for many years. Our biggest challenge in treating CDI is preventing recurrence, which is seen in approximately 25% of patients with initial infection and in 40–60% of those with subsequent episodes. Given the major disease burden of this infection, appropriate data-driven treatment remains essential. Clinical treatment guidelines provide an unbiased critical analysis of the literature, integrating the quality of the available data to make recommendations. As CDI has been evolving and more research has become available, the frequency of guideline issue from various global societies has increased, as has the detail of the recommendations to fit more relevant clinical scenarios. In this review, we will discuss clinical guideline recommendations over three time periods: The Initial Guidelines 1995–1997, The Second Wave 2009–2013, and The Modern Era 2014–present. We see the changing recommendations from metronidazole or vancomycin for initial infection during earlier times to preferential treatment with fidaxomicin within the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) joint guidelines provisional update in late 2020. The recommended treatments for first recurrence were initially with the same antimicrobial as the first episode but have since changed to having multiple options for one or more recurrences. We have also seen the addition of immune boosting treatments, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)/microbiota restoration therapy (MRT) and bezlotoxumab in the more modern recommendations. As the guidelines are evolving with the times, it remains important to understand the differences among them so we can apply this information clinically and optimize patient outcomes.
The everyday traumas of neoliberalism in women teachers’ bodies: Lived experiences of the teacher who is never good enough
Authors: Thompson Kali , Jones Stephanie
Published: May 2021

A teacher’s ability to feel successful – some might even say good – in today’s education system relies on a particular conception of academic success. We argue neoliberalism, as it operates in education, is a normalized trauma enfolded in the individual and collective bodies of women teachers producing overwhelming feelings of never being good enough while also not feeling entitled to do what is right – in the moment – for the children they teach. But this is not new; women have historically been positioned as others through whom educational directives should flow without question. Using the lived experience of the first author, teaching in the south-eastern United States, we describe some of the tolls neoliberalism has on the physical and emotional well-being of the woman teacher body in the search of being good enough. We argue it is time for teacher education to become a feminist project where women have access to the intellectual and analytical tools to make sense of what is being done to them and to give testimony and be a critical witness of these everyday traumas that are being inflicted upon them, their students and others collectively in schools.
The critique of Sociology of Childhood: Human capital as the concrete ‘social construction of childhood’
Authors: Ba’ Stefano
Published: May 2021

The ‘New Paradigm’ of Sociology of Childhood famously maintains that childhood is socially constructed and supposedly places a much greater emphasis on the agency of children: children should not simply be framed as the passive receivers of socialisation. The aim of this article is to demonstrate that such a ‘social construction’ of childhood is not concretely articulated and that the theoretical understanding of the ‘social construction’ of childhood is simply delegated to historiographical or ethnographic accounts. In doing so, it advances a new criticism of the New Paradigm and radicalises previous ones. Here, key is the theoretical engagement with the concept of ‘human capital’: foregrounding its critique, this article proposes the link between ‘human capital’ as a neoliberal version of labour power and the concept of socialisation. The aim is to show that the ‘social construction’ of childhood is central, but the New Paradigm uses categories that are at the same time founded on neo-liberal views and abstracted from concrete social relations. This article maintains that a concrete critique of processes of socialisation (which is here understood as the socialisation of childhood as human capital) is needed instead of abstract critique of reified childhood. Two alternative pedagogical practices are used to provide an example of such a concrete critique.
Simulation analysis of engineering business process in asset sustainment activities based on total cost of ownership
Authors: Mo John PT , Caporaso Anthony
Published: May 2021

Major assets such as buildings, infrastructure and defence systems are long term investments that require many outsourced sustainment activities to maintain satisfactory performances over their service life. When multiplied by the number of years that the sustainment is planned to be undertaken, the contracting cost is high. Many business processes are established to govern these asset sustainment activities and eventually become the source of inefficiency. This paper analyses the performance of these processes using a performance driven approach. Combined with input data of requests for engineering change in similar assets, this paper evaluates a new business process redesigned from an existing process to achieve significant savings in total cost of ownership as well as improving other non-financial performance indicators.
Digital Caudillos: The Use of Social Media in Guatemalan Presidential Campaigns
Authors: Pallister Kevin
Published: May 2021

This article contributes to the scholarship on Latin American campaigning by presenting data on the use of social media by presidential candidates in Guatemala’s 2019 election, including a content analysis of more than 2,000 Facebook posts along fifteen variables. The data show that Facebook use by presidential campaigns is ubiquitous and allows campaigns to disseminate messages in non-traditional formats. Candidates use their Facebook accounts to mention issues of concern to voters and to make promises to fix the country’s problems, but offer far more slogans and vague promises than detailed policy proposals. They also rarely attack other candidates or tout their own qualifications for the presidency. The data also reveal systematic differences in campaign messaging between frontrunner and long-shot candidates.
Differences in Glucose Readings Between Right Arm and Left Arm Using a Continuous Glucose Monitor
Authors: Kawakatsu Sonoko , Liu Xiaohan , Tran Brandon , Tran Brittany P. , Manzanero Lucy , Shih Eric , Shek Allen , Lim Jeremy J.
Published: May 2021

Objective:

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are used for evaluating real-time glucose levels to optimize diabetes management. There is limited information, however, on whether readings differ when a device is placed on the right versus the left arm. This study evaluated the mean difference in glucose levels between the right and left arm and the effect of unilateral arm exercise on this difference. The effect of an intermittent fasting diet on body fat percentage was also evaluated.

Research Design and Methods:

In a prospective trial, 46 adult volunteers self-selected into the intermittent fasting (IF; N = 23) or free-living (FL; N = 23) diet group and were randomized into a unilateral arm exercise group. Volunteers had CGM sensors placed simultaneously on both arms for 12-14 days.

Results:

The mean glucose level in the right arm was significantly higher than the left arm by 3.7 mg/dL ( P < .001), and this result was unaffected by diet or arm exercise. Glucose levels were in euglycemic range for 75.2% of the time in the right arm and 67.5% in the left arm ( P < .001). The change from baseline in body fat percentage between the IF and FL diet groups was not significant.

Conclusions:

Measured glucose level and time in euglycemic range differ per placement of the CGM device, and the implications of this difference should be considered in clinical practice and research.
Adverse Event Data for Years 2018 to 2020 for Diabetes Devices
Authors: Krouwer Jan S.
Published: May 2021

Unlike performance evaluations, which are often conducted under ideal conditions, adverse events occur during actual device use for people with diabetes. This report summarizes the number of adverse events for the years 2018 to 2020 for the 3 diabetes devices: blood glucose meters (BG), continuous glucose monitors (CGM), and insulin pumps. A text example of a CGM injury is provided. Possible reasons are suggested for trends. Whereas the rate per test result (events/usage) is exceedingly small, the rate per patient (events/people with diabetes that use insulin) is of concern. Hence, it is important to determine event causes and provide corrective actions. The first step is to put in place routine analysis of adverse event data for diabetes devices.
What Information Drives Political Polarization? Comparing the Effects of In-group Praise, Out-group Derogation, and Evidence-based Communications on Polarization
Authors: Wojcieszak Magdalena , Sobkowicz Paweł , Yu Xudong , Bulat Beril
Published: May 2021

This project differentiates between communication that praises one's political in-group ( in-group praise), attacks the opposition ( out-group derogation), or focuses on policy details ( evidence based), testing their effects on network and attitude polarization. We begin with an agent-based model, which shows that congenial evidence-based exchanges polarize the network and the inclusion of identity-driven communications leads to greater polarization. Once out-group derogation reaches a certain threshold, the network of agents splits into two groups, yet the polarizing effects of in-group praise are yet stronger and emerge more rapidly (i.e., a lower threshold of in-group praise is needed to polarize the network). Using an experimental design on a sample of American partisans, we offer a partial validation of the model. In-group praise and out-group derogation polarize attitudes more than balanced evidence-based news, but not more than congenial evidence-based news. Identity-driven news also has no effects on affective polarization. This multidisciplinary evidence shows that the nature of political content matters.
Journalistic Judgment in Comparative Perspective: A Weberian Analysis of France and the United States
Authors: Vera-Zambrano Sandra , Powers Matthew
Published: May 2021

Building on literatures that emphasize (1) the standardizing effects of markets and technology, and (2) the historical patterns and social functions of the press, this article theorizes the simultaneous co-presence of cross-national similarities and differences in journalistic judgment. Drawing from Max Weber's early twentieth century writings on journalism, we argue that similar cross-national judgments reveal journalism's shared structural basis as a commercial enterprise, whereas differences highlight the distinctive social functions that journalists assume in particular national settings. We illustrate this framework via semi-structured interviews conducted between 2015 and 2020 with a strategic sample of French and American journalists evaluating their best work. In both country samples, journalists that express pride in attracting audiences by translating complex issues and dignifying story subjects highlight journalism's structural basis. Cross-national differences reflect nationally distinct understandings of journalism's social functions, with French journalists emphasizing their ability to shed light on large issues and their American counterparts highlighting efforts to pry information from power holders.