bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 and the Political Framing of China, Nationalism, and Borders in the U.S. and South Korean News Media
Authors: Chung Angie Y. , Jo Hyerim , Lee Ji-won , Yang Fan
Published: April 2021

Using an inductive framing analysis of news coverage, we examine how the most popular liberal and conservative news media in the United States and South Korea mobilize different nationalist narratives on China in responding to social, economic, and political upheavals during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. We identify three major areas of political cleavage in both Korean and U.S. media discourse on nationalist identities vis-à-vis the construction of the national or racialized “Other.” This includes (1) imagined solidarity against China as an adversary; (2) political disputes over boundary-making; (3) and the construction of ethnonational belonging and exclusion. Our research underscores how intrastate and interstate shifts during periods of crisis can heighten political cleavages along racial and ethnic fault lines and complicate dominant frameworks of civic and ethnic nationalism in both countries.
Hybrid Cash Balance and Pension Equity Plans: Origins and Development
Authors: Kilgour John G.
Published: April 2021

It is widely recognized that there has been a massive shift from defined-benefit (DB) to defined-contribution pension plans. However, the full extent of that shift from fully functioning DB plans is generally understated. This article measures and relates the extent of that understatement and its importance for retirement income. It then discusses the increasing importance of cash balance and pension equity plans and their legality. It then conducts an in-depth discussion of large (Fortune 500) employers, small- and medium-sized employers, and then very small employers (25 or fewer active participants). It concludes that retirement income plans in the United States are far from static. Indeed, they have evolved throughout the era and will continue to do so in the future.
Age at Migration and Cognitive Health Among Chinese Older Immigrants in the United States
Authors: Guo Man , Li Mengting , Xu Hanzhang , Stensland Meredith , Wu Bei , Dong XinQi
Published: April 2021

Objectives: This study addressed two questions: (1) Is age at migration associated with cognitive function among Chinese older immigrants? and (2) what personal and environmental factors confound the above relationship? Methods: Data were derived from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly ( N = 2957). Quantile and linear regressions were used to examine the associations between age at migration and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and global cognitive function, respectively. Results: Migration in late middle age (50–64) or late adulthood (65 or older) was associated with lower MMSE scores. Global cognition did not vary by age at migration. Associations between age at migration and MMSE were stronger among individuals with lower education or social engagement. Discussion: Migrating late in one’s life has important implications for cognitive health over the life course. Findings are helpful to identify vulnerable older immigrant segments and provide tailored interventions to promote their cognitive health.
Strength-based design of a fertilizer spreader chassis using computer aided engineering and experimental validation
Authors: İrsel Gürkan
Published: April 2021

In this research, stress measurement tests and advanced application algorithms based on computer-aided design and engineering (CAD and CAE) were developed and tested. The algorithm was put implemented through a case study on the strength-based structural design and fatigue analysis of a chassis. This algorithm consists of numerical and experimental methods and additionally includes material tests, three-dimensional CAD, a finite element method (FEM)-based analysis procedures, a structural optimization strategy, prototype production, stress tests, a fatigue analysis, and design verification procedures. In the optimization study targeting the optimum chassis weight/strength ratio, two chassis prototypes, with 8 mm and a 5 mm wall thicknesses, were manufactured to verify the structural analysis and experimental tests. As a result of the FEA analyses, for 20 kN, which is the target load value of the chassis, for chassis thicknesses t = 5 mm and t = 8 mm, the maximum tensile strength was obtained as 93 MPa and 83 MPa, respectively. Thus, the material gain of 35.85 kg mass was achieved, and chassis utilization efficiency was increased. This research provides a useful methodology for experimental and advanced CAE techniques, especially for further research on complex stress and deformation analysis of chassis that are desired to be of optimum weight/strength ratio.
Apigenin alleviates methotrexate-induced liver and kidney injury in mice
Authors: Sahindokuyucu-Kocasari F , Akyol Y , Ozmen O , Erdemli-Kose SB , Garli S
Published: April 2021

Methotrexate (MTX) is a drug used in the treatment of various types of cancer and inflammatory diseases, but its clinical use has been restricted due to its toxicity. Apigenin (API) is an effective flavonoid with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effect of API against MTX-induced liver and kidney toxicity. Four groups with 12 male mice each were used. The control and API groups were received 0.9% saline (ip) and API (3 mg/kg ip) for 4 days, respectively. The MTX group were given a single dose of MTX (20 mg/kg ip) on the fourth day. The MTX + API group were administered API for 7 days and then MTX on fourth day. Blood, liver and kidney were collected to evaluate tissue injury markers, oxidative stress biomarkers, and histopathological and immunohistochemical assessments. In MTX-treated group, significant increases in aminotransferases activities, creatinine and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and significant decreases in catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase1 (SOD1) activities and glutathione (GSH) levels were determined compared to the control group. Furthermore, histopathological changes and significant increases in caspase-3, C-reactive protein (CRP), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expressions were detected in both liver and kidney tissues of MTX-treated mice. Pretreatment with API alleviates liver and kidney toxicity by attenuating oxidative stress and tissue injury markers, histopathological alterations, and apoptosis and inflammation. These results suggest that API has a protective effect against oxidative stress and liver-kidney toxicity induced by MTX.
Predicting quality, texture and chemical content of yam (Dioscorea alata L.) tubers using near infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Ehounou Adou Emmanuel , Cornet Denis , Desfontaines Lucienne , Marie-Magdeleine Carine , Maledon Erick , Nudol Elie , Beurier Gregory , Rouan Lauriane , Brat Pierre , Lechaudel Mathieu , Nous Camille , N’Guetta Assanvo Simon Pierre , Kouakou Amani Michel , Arnau Gemma
Published: April 2021

Despite the importance of yam ( Dioscorea spp.) tuber quality traits, and more precisely texture attributes, high-throughput screening methods for varietal selection are still lacking. This study sets out to define the profile of good quality pounded yam and provide screening tools based on predictive models using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Seventy-four out of 216 studied samples proved to be moldable, i.e. suitable for pounded yam. While samples with low dry matter (<25%), high sugar (>4%) and high protein (>6%) contents, low hardness (<5 N), high springiness (>0.5) and high cohesiveness (>0.5) grouped mostly non-moldable genotypes, the opposite was not true. This outline definition of a desirable chemotype may allow breeders to choose screening thresholds to support their choice. Moreover, traditional near infrared reflectance spectroscopy quantitative prediction models provided good prediction for chemical aspects (R2 > 0.85 for dry matter, starch, protein and sugar content), but not for texture attributes (R2 < 0.58). Conversely, convolutional neural network classification models enabled good qualitative prediction for all texture parameters but hardness (i.e. an accuracy of 80, 95, 100 and 55%, respectively, for moldability, cohesiveness, springiness and hardness). This study demonstrated the usefulness of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy as a high-throughput way of phenotyping pounded yam quality. Altogether, these results allow for an efficient screening toolbox for quality traits in yams.
Economic Structural Transformation in Emerging Market Countries
Authors: Zhang Kunling
Published: April 2021

This article analyzes the structural transformation in 30 emerging market countries (E30) on the dimensions of industry, trade, and urbanization. It finds that first, in the agricultural sector, E30 have contributed greatly to the increase of the global agricultural productivity and the transfer of labor force from the agricultural sector to industry or the service sector. However, these countries still feature a high percentage of agricultural employment, which means there is vast room for shifting the agricultural labor force. Second, in the industrial sector, E30 have made remarkable contributions to the world’s industrial development but have also displayed a trend of premature “deindustrialization.” Third, the service sector has picked up speed and gradually turned into a new driver of economic development in E30. Against this backdrop, E30 face the major challenge of how to cope with the premature deindustrialization and smoothly shift the economic growth engine from the industrial sector to the service sector. Fourth, E30 have become an important force in the world trade, with their trade structure switching from simple, primary, low-value-added goods to sophisticated, high-grade, and high-value-added goods and services. However, some emerging market countries are more susceptible to the impacts of the anti-globalization trend because of their high reliance on foreign trade and improper trade structure. Therefore, how to diversify the economy and enhance its economic resilience holds the key to the sustainable economic development of E30. Fifth, E30 have contributed greatly to world urbanization. As urbanization relies more on the service sector than on the industrial sector, it is vital to properly strike a balance between industrialization and urbanization, and between industrialization and service sector development.
Are There Ethnic Disparities in Exposure to Workplace Hazards Among New Zealand Migrants to Australia?
Authors: Carey Renee N. , El-Zaemey Sonia , Daly Alison , Fritschi Lin , Glass Deborah C. , Reid Alison
Published: April 2021

Disparities in exposure to workplace hazards exist between Māori and non-Māori workers in New Zealand, with Māori workers generally incurring poorer conditions. This study aimed to determine if these ethnic disparities are similar after migration to Australia. A national cross-sectional telephone survey asked participants what tasks they undertook in their job to assess exposure to carcinogens as well as whether they experienced ethnic discrimination, bullying, job precariousness, or job strain. A total of 389 New Zealand Caucasians and 152 Māori/Pasifika workers were recruited. After adjustment, 79% of Māori/Pasifika compared with 67% of New Zealand Caucasian workers were assessed as being exposed to at least one carcinogen at work. Māori/Pasifika workers were also more likely to report ethnic discrimination and fair or poor current health than New Zealand Caucasians. Some ethnic disparities in exposure to workplace hazards in New Zealand are apparent after migration to Australia.
‘Stranger than Fiction’: a description of an online essay examination preparation club for Queensland trainees
Authors: Monahan Katherine , Freier Karen , Parker Stephen , Suetani Shuichi
Published: April 2021

Objective:

To describe an online essay-style examination preparation group.

Methods:

The process of the establishment – including recruitment, rules and characteristics – of ‘Stranger than Fiction’ is outlined.

Results:

Over the 10-week period, 66 essays were submitted, and 40 essays were marked. Sixteen out of 30 registered candidates submitted at least one essay, and 11 out of 17 registered markers marked at least one essay.

Conclusion:

‘Stranger than Fiction’ is a novel approach to create a supportive environment where trainees are given opportunities to practise critical essay questions.
Keeping COVID out: a collaborative approach to COVID-19 is associated with a significant reduction in self-harm in young people in custody
Authors: Kasinathan John , Haysom Leigh , Andriotis Helen , Wheaton Mike , Lloyd Trisha , Langstaff Rohan , McClelland Renee , Whiting Nick , Southgate Steven , Vita Michael , McGrath Colette , Palmai Marlene , Armstrong Christine , O’Donovan Connie , Oyan Marcus , Woodward Jenny , Wilson Cindy
Published: April 2021

Objective:

To describe the collaboration between Youth Justice New South Wales (YJNSW) and Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network (JHFMHN) during the early COVID-19 Response (CR) across the six Youth Justice centres in NSW, and the reduced incidence of self-harm noted over this period.

Methods:

Narrative article with analysis of self-harm incident data during the initial CR period of March to May 2020, compared to the same period in 2019.

Results:

During the initial CR period (March to May 2020), there was a highly significant, four-fold reduction in self-harming incidents recorded by both YJNSW and JHFMHN compared with the equivalent time period in 2019 ( p < .00001).

Conclusion:

The greater than four-fold reduction in self-harm by young people during the early CR may relate to the ‘interagency response’, with an increase in positive interactions between staff, and between staff and young people. The reduction in self-harm and improvements in mental health will be further explored through standardised interviews with the young people and staff.
Simultaneous quantification of vitamin E and vitamin E metabolites in equine plasma and serum using LC-MS/MS
Authors: Habib Hadi , Finno Carrie J. , Gennity Ingrid , Favro Gianna , Hales Erin , Puschner Birgit , Moeller Benjamin C.
Published: April 2021

Vitamin E deficiencies can impact normal growth and development in humans and animals, and assessment of circulating levels of vitamin E and its metabolites may be an important endpoint for evaluation. Development of a sensitive method to detect and quantify low concentrations of vitamin E and metabolites in biological specimens allows for a proper diagnosis for patients and animals that are deficient. We developed a method to simultaneously extract, detect, and quantify the vitamin E compounds alpha-tocopherol (α-TP), gamma-tocopherol (γ-TP), alpha-tocotrienol (α-TT), and gamma-tocotrienol (γ-TT), and the corresponding metabolites formed after β-oxidation of α-TP and γ-TP, alpha-carboxymethylbutyl hydroxychroman (α-CMBHC) and alpha- or gamma-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman (α- or γ-CEHC), respectively, from equine plasma and serum. Quantification was achieved through liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. We applied a 96-well high-throughput format using a Phenomenex Phree plate to analyze plasma and serum. Compounds were separated by using a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column with a reverse-phase gradient. The limits of detection for the metabolites and vitamin E compounds were 8–330 pg/mL. To validate the method, intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision were evaluated along with limits of detection and quantification. The method was then applied to determine concentrations of these analytes in plasma and serum of horses. Alpha-TP levels were 3–6 µg/mL of matrix; the metabolites were found at much lower levels, 0.2–1.0 ng/mL of matrix.
Orthodontic Pre Grafting Closure of Large Alveolar Bony and Soft Tissue Gaps: A Novel Nonsurgical Protraction of the Lesser Segments in Growing Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate
Authors: Meazzini Maria Costanza , Cohen Noah , Battista Valeria Marinella Augusta , Incorvati Cristina , Biglioli Federico , Autelitano Luca
Published: April 2021

Background:

Closure of wide alveolar clefts with large soft tissue gaps and reconstruction of the dentoalveolar defect are challenging for the surgeon. Some authors successfully used interdental segmental distraction, which requires an additional surgical procedure.

Objective:

This study evaluates the effectiveness of tooth borne devices utilized to orthopedically advance the lesser segments, with a complete approximation of the soft tissue of the alveolar stumps, allowing traditional simultaneous soft tissue closure and bone grafting, and avoiding the need for supplementary surgery.

Methods:

Eight growing patients, 2 with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and 6 with bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCLP), with large soft tissue and bony alveolar defects prior to bone grafting were prospectively selected. A banded rapid palatal expander (RPE) in BCLP and a modified RPE in UCLP combined with protraction face mask in younger patients or a modified Alt-Ramec in patients older than 12 years were applied. Radiographic and photographic records were available at T0, at the end of protraction (T1) and at least 1 year after bone grafting (T2).

Results:

Patients with large gaps showed a significant reduction in the bony cleft area and approximation of the soft tissues at T1. All patients received bone grafting with good healing and ossification at T2.

Conclusion:

In growing patients with UCLP and BCLP with large gaps, presurgical orthodontic protraction seems to be an efficient method to reduce the cleft defect, minimizing the risk of post grafting fistulas, reducing the need for supplementary surgical procedures.
That’s Not What We Expected: Examining Technology Expectations and Malfunctions on Frustration
Authors: Ferreri Nina , Mayhorn Christopher B.
Published: April 2021

Technology malfunctions and expectations for technology performance influence user attitudes and behaviors regarding that technology. An empirical study explored how these factors interact to influence attitudes and performance on a task when exposed to a malfunction and certain expectations for technology performance. Unlike previous research, an interaction was found between malfunction and expectation such that individuals exposed to a malfunction with high expectations were more likely to complain about the incident to the responsible company. This is especially informative for industry customer service as it informs why users complain and what product features should be addressed to remedy the issues.
Efficacy and Safety of Long-Term Intravenous Tranexamic Acid Administration for Blood Management in Revision Surgery for Femoral Shaft Nonunion: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Wang Zhimeng , Lu Yao , Huang Qiang , Xue Hanzhong , Ran Cheng , Wang Qian , Ma Teng , Zhang Kun , Li Zhong , Sun Liang
Published: April 2021

Femoral shaft nonunion is a complication that seriously affects physiological functions. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of short- and long-term intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) administration in the perioperative period of revision surgery for femoral shaft nonunion. In this retrospective study, 53 patients undergoing double-locking plates with channel bone grafting technology for the treatment of femoral shaft nonunion were divided into 3 groups: the patients in group A without use TXA during hospitalization, the patients in group B received intravenous (IV) 1-g TXA at 30 min before the surgery and deep soaked 1-g TXA for 5 min before closing the incision, and then 1-g TXA IV again 6 h after surgery, and the patients in group C received 1-g TXA IV before the operation, 1-g TXA topically during the operation, and subsequent long-term 1-g TXA IV until discharged. The primary outcomes were total blood loss (TBL) and hidden blood loss (HBL). The secondary outcomes included actual hemoglobin (Hb) loss values, transfusion requirement, number of units transfused, postoperative laboratory values (Hb, hematocrit, fibrinogen, and D-dimer), visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and hospitalization time. The mean TBL was lower in group C than in group A (1168 mL vs. 2714 mL, P < 0.001) and group B (1168 mL vs. 1557 mL, P = 0.008). The differences in HBL volumes were also significant between groups A and C ( P < 0.001) and between groups A and B ( P < 0.01). The actual Hb loss in the 3 groups showed a consistent trend with TBL, but no significant differences between groups B and C ( P = 0.23). On postoperative day (POD) 3, the Hb level was higher in group C than in group A (111.1 g/L vs. 94.6 g/L, P = 0.02). No significant differences were found in VAS, hospital stay, thromboembolic complications, incision-related complications, and TXA adverse reactions among groups. Long-term intravenous TXA during hospitalization can effectively reduce perioperative blood loss, Hb drop, and postoperative hyperfibrinolysis, but is associated with an increased incidence of adverse reactions.
Diagnostic testing for feline panleukopenia in a shelter setting: a prospective, observational study
Authors: Jacobson Linda S , Janke Kyrsten J , Giacinti Jolene , Weese J Scott
Published: April 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study was to optimize the diagnosis of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) infection in a shelter setting by: (1) comparing the results of the canine parvovirus IDEXX SNAP Parvo (SNAP) point-of-care ELISA with a commercial FPV quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) test; (2) assessing whether vomit and anal/rectal swabs could be used for early diagnosis; and (3) clarifying the interpretation of weak-positive SNAP test results.

Methods

The study included shelter cats and kittens with incomplete or unknown vaccination history that had clinical signs suspicious for feline panleukopenia and fecal SNAP and PCR tests performed within 24 h of onset. Feces, anal/rectal swabs and vomit were tested using SNAP and PCR, with fecal PCR utilized as the reference standard.

Results

One hundred and forty-five cats were included. Seventeen were diagnosed with FPV infection and 62 were negative; 66 could not be individually designated because they were co-housed. Sensitivity was as follows: fecal SNAP 55% (n = 102; 95% confidence interval [CI] 32–77); swab SNAP 30% (n = 55; 95% CI 7–65); swab PCR 77% (n = 55; 95% CI 46–95); and vomit PCR 100% (n = 17; 95% CI 16–100). Specificity was high (96–100%) for all sample and test types. For PCR-positive fecal samples, true-positive SNAP tests (including weak positives) had significantly higher DNA viral copy numbers than false-negative SNAP tests ( P = 0.0031).

Conclusions and relevance

The SNAP ELISA should be viewed as an initial diagnostic test to rule in feline panleukopenia. Positive fecal SNAP test results, including weak positives, are highly likely to be true positives in clinically affected animals. Negative results in clinically affected animals are unreliable and should be followed up with PCR testing.
Capsular closure versus unrepaired interportal capsulotomy after hip arthroscopy in patients with femoroacetabular impingement: results of a patient-blinded randomised controlled trial
Authors: Bech Niels H , Sierevelt Inger N , de Waard Sheryl , Joling Boudijn S H , Kerkhoffs Gino M M J , Haverkamp Daniel
Published: April 2021

Background:

Hip capsular management after hip arthroscopy remains a topic of debate. Most available current literature is of poor quality and are retrospective or cohort studies. As of today, no clear consensus exists on capsular management after hip arthroscopy.

Purpose:

To evaluate the effect of routine capsular closure versus unrepaired capsulotomy after interportal capsulotomy measured with NRS pain and the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS).

Materials and methods:

All eligible patients with femoroacetabular impingement who opt for hip arthroscopy ( n = 116) were randomly assigned to one of both treatment groups and were operated by a single surgeon. Postoperative pain was measured with the NRS score weekly the first 12 weeks after surgery. The HAGOS questionnaire was measured at 12 and 52 weeks postoperatively.

Results:

Baseline characteristics and operation details were comparable between treatment groups. Regarding the NRS pain no significant difference was found between groups at any point the first 12 weeks after surgery ( p = 0.67). Both groups significantly improved after surgery ( p < 0.001). After 3 months follow-up there were no differences between groups for the HAGOS questionnaire except for the domain sport ( p = 0.02) in favour of the control group. After 12 months follow-up there were no differences between both treatment groups on all HAGOS domains ( p  > 0.05).

Conclusions:

The results of this randomised controlled trial show highest possible evidence that there is no reason for routinely capsular closure after interportal capsulotomy at the end of hip arthroscopy.

Trial Registration:

This trial was registered at the CCMO Dutch Trial Register: NL55669.048.15.
Lifespan of peripheral intravenous short catheters in hospitalized children: A prospective study
Authors: Elizabeth Gómez-Neva Maria , Alonso Rondon Sepulveda Martin , Buitrago-Lopez Adriana
Published: April 2021

Objective:

To estimate the recommended lifespan of 223 peripheral intravenous accesses in pediatric services.

Method:

In this cohort study, we monitored the time of intravenous catheter between insertion and removal in children aged up to 15 years old in a Hospital from Bogotá-Colombia. The routine catheter observations was registered in questionnaires during nursing shifts. Survival analyses were performed to analyze the lifespan of the catheter free of complications.

Results:

The median lifespan of peripheral intravenous catheters without complications was 129 h (IQR 73.6–393.4 h). This median time free from complications was much lower for children ⩽1 year 98.3 h (IQR 63–141 h), than for participants aged >1 year 207.4 h (IQR 100–393 h). Catheters of 24 G (gauge) caliber had a median complication free time of 128 h (IQR 69–207 h) and 22 G calibers 144 h (IQR 103–393 h).

Conclusions:

In this study, 75% of peripheral indwell catheters remained free from complications for 74 h, the other extreme 25% of these patients could remain up to 393 h.
Risk factors for catheter related thrombosis during outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy
Authors: Ingram Paul R , Kilgarriff Sinead , Grzelak Michael , Jackson Gavin , Carr Peter , Boan Peter , Italiano Claire , Dyer John , Raby Edward
Published: April 2021

Background:

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) delivery using peripherally inserted central catheters is associated with a risk of catheter related thrombosis (CRT). Individualised preventative interventions may reduce this occurrence, however patient selection is hampered by a lack of understanding of risk factors. We aimed to identify patient, infection or treatment related risk factors for CRT in the OPAT setting.

Methods:

Retrospective case control study (1:3 matching) within OPAT services at two tertiary hospitals within Australia.

Results:

Over a 2 year period, encompassing OPAT delivery to 1803 patients, there were 19 cases of CRT, giving a prevalence of 1.1% and incidence of 0.58/1000 catheter days. Amongst the cases of CRT, there were nine (47%) unplanned readmissions and two (11%) pulmonary emboli. Compared to controls, cases had a higher frequency of malposition of the catheter tip (4/19 (21%) vs 0/57 (0%), p = 0.003) and complicated catheter insertion (3/19 (16%) vs 1/57 (2%), p = 0.046).

Conclusions:

Although CRTs during OPAT are infrequent, they often have clinically significant sequelae. Identification of modifiable vascular access related predictors of CRT should assist with patient risk stratification and guide risk reduction strategies.
Tumour Lysis Syndrome in Occult Breast Cancer Treated With Letrozole – A Rare Occurrence. A Case Report and Review
Authors: Watkinson George E , Hari Dass Prashanth
Published: April 2021

Tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) is a medical emergency occurring when large numbers of cancer cells rapidly undergo cell death. The resultant metabolic abnormalities results in significant morbidity and mortality. Tumour lysis syndrome most commonly occurs in 5% of haematological malignancies and is less commonly described in solid organ cancers. In breast cancer, TLS has been reported to occur both spontaneously and as a result of cancer chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or radiotherapy. However, only 1 TLS case in a breast cancer patient has been reported as a consequence of aromatase inhibitor letrozole. With the increased recent use of CDK4/6 inhibitors, 2 cases of hyperuricaemia in patients with breast cancer treated with palbociclib/letrozole combination treatment have also been reported. We present the second case of letrozole-induced TLS in a 74-year-old woman with occult breast adenocarcinoma. Despite treatment with recombinant urate oxidase and intravenous fluids, the patient deteriorated and was discharged with hospice care. Although rare, this life-threatening condition should be considered in an acutely unwell patient commencing treatment for solid malignant tumours.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis Management and Treatment Outcome at Medical Ward of Shashemene Referral Hospital, Ethiopia: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Taye Getu Melesie , Bacha Amente Jorise , Taye Fetene Abeje , Bule Mohammed Hussen , Tefera Gosaye Mekonen
Published: April 2021

Background:

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is the most common and yet potentially life-threatening acute complication of diabetes that progresses rapidly to death and requires immediate medical intervention.

Objective:

To assess the DKA management and treatment outcome/in-hospital mortality and its predictors among hospitalized patients with DKA at the Medical ward of Shashemene Referral Hospital (SRH).

Method:

A retrospective study was conducted at the Medical Ward of SRH from 01 February 2015 to 31 January 2017. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select study subjects based on the inclusion criteria. Thus, of 236 reviewed charts, only 225 patients with DKA fulfilled inclusion criteria. Treatment outcome was considered good for patients who have shown improvement at discharge, while poor for patients who left against medical advice or died in the hospital. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine independent predictors for treatment outcome/in-hospital mortality using SPSS version 20 with statistical significant at P ⩽ .05.

Results:

Of 225 patients with DKA, 124 (55.1%) were male. Regular insulin was prescribed to all patients and antibiotics were administered to 87 (38.7%). Potassium supplementation was given only for 28 (12.4%). Non-adherence to insulin treatment (n = 91; 40.4%) and infection (n = 66; 29.3%) were the principal DKA precipitating factors. Even though 73.8% of hospitalized patients with DKA have shown good treatment outcomes, DKA contributed 12% in-hospital mortality. The result of multivariate logistic regression analysis shown that hypoglycemia is the only independent predictor for in-hospital mortality[ P = .03]. Moreover, the independent predictors for poor DKA treatment outcome were found to be smoker [ P = .04], Urinary tract infection (UTI) relative to other co-morbid condition [ P < .001], severe hypokalemia which increase risk of poor treatment outcome by around 4 times [ P = .02], and use of Metronidazole as a concurrent medication relative to other concurrent medication [ P = .03].

Conclusion:

There was a high in-hospital mortality rate due to correctable causes. This mortality is unacceptable as it was majorly related to the poor practice of potassium supplementation and hypoglycemia due to insulin. Thus, clinicians and stakeholders should have to focus on modifiable factors (hypokalemia, UTI, and hypoglycemia) to reduce poor treatment outcome/in-hospital mortality.
Psychometric properties of the Chinese Parent Version of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale: Rasch analysis
Authors: Yan Weili , Siegert Richard J , Zhou Hao , Zou Xiaobing , Wu Lijie , Luo Xuerong , Li Tingyu , Huang Yi , Guan Hongyan , Chen Xiang , Mao Meng , Xia Kun , Zhang Lan , Li Erzhen , Li Chunpei , Zhang Xudong , Zhou Yuanfeng , Shih Andy , Fombonne Eric , Zheng Yi , Han Jisheng , Sun Zhongsheng , Jiang Yong-hui , Wang Yi
Published: April 2021

The recent adaptation of a Chinese parent version of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale showed the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale to be reliable and valid for use in China. The aim of this study was to test the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale for fit to the Rasch model. We analysed data from a previous study of the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale which comprised 1593 non-cases and 420 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. We used super items based on groups of locally dependent items and item deletion when necessary to achieve good fit to the model for each of the three subscales identified by Zhou et al. and for the full 59-item Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale. The resulting conversion tables enable the use of genuine unidimensional, interval level scores for the total score and three subscales. Reliability was high with Person Separation Index values ranging from 0.83 to 0.89 for the three subscales and 0.79 for the total scale. In addition, we were able to identify a full-scale version of the Autism Spectrum Rating Scale and its three subscales that are all free of differential item functioning in relation to the five person factors recorded namely age, sex, caseness, relative and city. In future studies, the Teacher version of the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale needs examination with Rasch analysis.

Lay abstract

The Autism Spectrum Rating Scale is a behavioural rating scale completed by parents and teachers that is useful for identifying children with an autism spectrum disorder. The development of a modified Autism Spectrum Rating Scale suitable for use in China is important for the identification of children in China with an autism spectrum disorder. In this study, we examined the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale using a statistical technique known as Rasch analysis. Rasch analysis tests whether the questionnaire meets the standards for modern scientific measurement. We used Rasch analysis to examine data from 2013 children in China including 420 diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder who had been rated by a parent or grandparent. After removing a small number of items (questions), the Modified Chinese Autism Spectrum Rating Scale met the stringent criteria for Rasch measurement. The availability of a reliable and precise tool for assessing behaviours characteristic of an autism spectrum disorder in Chinese children will improve the identification and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in China, thus enabling better provision of support services.
Research on seismic behavior of special-shaped CFST column to H-section steel beam joint
Authors: Cheng Yu , Yang Yuanlong , Li Binyang , Liu Jiepeng
Published: April 2021

To investigate the seismic behavior of joint between special-shaped concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) column and H-section steel beam, a pseudo-static test was carried out on five specimens with scale ratio of 1:2. The investigated factors include stiffening types of steel tube (multi-cell and tensile bar) and connection types (exterior diaphragm and vertical rib). The failure modes, hysteresis curves, skeleton curves, stress distribution, and joint shear deformation of specimens were analyzed to investigate the seismic behaviors of joints. The test results showed the connections of exterior diaphragm and vertical rib have good seismic behavior and can be identified as rigid joint in the frames with bracing system according to Eurocode 3. The joint of special-shaped column with tensile bars have better seismic performance by using through vertical rib connection. Furthermore, a finite element model was established and a parametric analysis with the finite element model was conducted to investigate the influences of following parameters on the joint stiffness: width-to-thickness ratio of column steel tube, beam-to-column linear stiffness ratio, vertical rib dimensions, and axial load ratio of column. Lastly, preliminary design suggestions were proposed.
The archive and the scene: On the cultural techniques of retrocomputing databases
Authors: Rahm-Skågeby Jörgen , Carlsson Anders
Published: April 2021

Several digital spaces are now archiving artifacts from the first 1980s home computer boom. These spaces are not only storages but also social venues and “memory banks,” and thereby depend on several concurrent practices: software and hardware developed to read, run, and preserve computer code; archiving of old software, magazines, and personal stories; contemporary conferences dedicated to retrocomputing; and making artifacts, which used to be private, publicly available. The article argues that retrocomputing can be seen as a foreshadowing in terms of managing collective digital archives, memories, and relationships to digital material. Taking the Commodore 64 Scene Database as a case, this article (1) engages with both users and cultural techniques in order to (2) theorize collective digital archives as “performative in-betweens” and (3) discuss how retrocomputing may become a default mode for people seeking access to their digital pasts in a time when planned obsolescence is rampant.
Sharing and storing digital cultural records in Central Australian Indigenous communities
Authors: Vaarzon-Morel Petronella , Barwick Linda , Green Jennifer
Published: April 2021

This article considers how Indigenous peoples in Central Australia share and keep digital records of events and cultural knowledge in a period of rapid technological change. To date, research has focused upon the development of digital archives and platforms that reflect Indigenous epistemologies and incorporation of protocols governing access to information. Yet there is scant research on how individuals with little access to such media share and hold—or not, as the case may be—digital cultural information. After surveying current enabling infrastructures in Central Australia, we examine how materials are held and shared when people do not have easy access to databases and the Internet. We analyze examples of practices of sharing materials to draw out issues that arise in managing storage and circulation of cultural records via Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drives, mobile phones, and other devices. We consider how the affordances of various platforms support, extend, and/or challenge Indigenous socialities and ontologies.
Liminoid media: On the enduring significance of USB portable flash drives
Authors: Kennedy Jenny , Wilken Rowan
Published: April 2021

This article draws on the findings of in-depth interviews with consumers of portable storage devices in Melbourne, Australia, to explore the enduring significance of Universal Serial Bus (USB) portable flash drives. In the article, we develop the concept of ‘liminoid media’ as a way of coming to terms with continued use, and complications of use. Our understanding of this term is inspired by the seminal anthropological writings of Victor Turner ( pace Arnold van Gennep), more recent scholarship applying liminality to media studies and debates within media theory concerning the status of old and new media (where it has been argued, among other things, that media are always in transition rather than part of a strict old–new binary). Against this backdrop, we employ ‘liminoid media’ as a way of making critical sense of the ‘betwixt and between’ status of USB portable flash drives – their ongoing ‘suspendedness’ – and the complicated tensions that characterise participant use of these devices. For our participants, USBs are understood as fulfilling a compromise between emergent practices of cloud computing and more established forms of centralised data storage; they are understood as temporary data storage devices that are often used in semi-permanent ways to protect against data loss; they are seen as ephemeral devices that are rarely disposed of. USBs are also ‘ritualised’ insofar as they frequently become intimate, aestheticised everyday objects; yet, accompanying this ritualised ‘suspendedness’ are certain forms of risk and danger – of obsolescence, of data loss, of device failure, and so on. USBs, in short, occupy an essential if complicated position in people’s contemporary data storage practices. Examining USBs, and the practices of use that surround them, we argue, provides insight into current (and always ongoing) changes in the media environment, and demonstrates the extent to which liminoid media are contemporary in use.
Silhouettes analysis: a posthuman method for visualizing and examining the material world
Authors: Höppner Grit
Published: April 2021

In recent decades, postmodern, poststructuralist, and social constructivist theories, and the methodologies and methods they have informed, have been criticized for focusing primarily on human actors, discourses, and actions. Simultaneously, so-called posthuman theories have been developed that decentralize the human, reject an unquestioned use of the dualism of human/nonhuman, and emphasize the importance of the material world in the production of the social. A key concern for current qualitative inquiry is to develop methods that contribute to the critique of human-centered analysis. In this article, I explore what we learn about the material world when we do not use verbal methods or written data but image details of moveable formations, which are made into silhouettes using Karen Barad’s agential realism. After introducing posthuman methodology I perform a silhouettes analysis focusing on old age. The intention is to demonstrate that silhouettes analysis makes it possible to gain new insights into the features of materialities of old age in a way that classical image analysis would not allow. In addition, silhouettes analysis produces an alienation effect that disturbs practiced viewing habits and assumptions, and can thus serve as a research tool promoting reflection. I conclude with a discussion of the advantages and limitations of silhouettes analysis for gerontological and posthuman research.
Balancing care demands and personal needs: A typology on the reconciliation of informal dementia care with personal life based on narrative interviews
Authors: Gottschalk Sophie , Neubert Lydia , König Hans-Helmut , Brettschneider Christian
Published: April 2021

Finding a balance between care and personal needs is often challenging for individuals caring for a person with dementia. The present study aimed to understand how primary and secondary family carers of people with dementia perceive the reconciliation of informal care and their personal life throughout the course of care. Narrative interviews with 14 carers ( n=10 female, mean age: 48.79) from seven care networks were conducted. The interviews were analysed using the documentary method. The result was a relational type formation which comprises different process types: ‘Respect your boundaries, stay calm, but plan ahead’, ‘Acting strategic is making it work’, ‘Reflect the situation, deal with it, and pull it through’ and ‘There is no alternative, you have to live with it’. This typology was based on two related dimensions: the way people negotiate their own needs against the demands of care (prospective, strategic, reflective and limited) and the resulting attitudes towards reconciling informal care and personal life (accepting, withstanding and enduring). The results yield implications for practice, such as considering individual needs and the care network to provide effective support and promoting the importance of self-care behaviours to achieve a balance between care and personal life.
Costs of collective wisdom: How resources influence information aggregation in organizational decision making
Authors: Healey Mark P. , Querbes Adrien , Bleda Mercedes
Published: April 2021

Behavioral theories of organizational decision making highlight the importance of decision rules for information aggregation, which are used to combine individuals’ evaluations of alternatives into collective choice. We examine how resource constraints affect the ability to make effective decisions with aggregation rules, including majority voting, averaging opinions, and delegating to experts. Using a series of computational experiments, we find that which rule is best depends on how an organization uses scarce resources to improve members’ knowledge of alternatives (accuracy resources) and include them in decisions (inclusion resources). By demonstrating the interdependence of resources and aggregation rules, we draw attention to the resource costs required to harness collective wisdom in organizations. We discuss implications for research on information aggregation and the design of organizational decision architectures and outline new directions for research.
The Effectiveness of Qigong in Managing a Cluster of Symptoms (Breathlessness-Fatigue-Anxiety) in Patients with Lung Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Molassiotis Alex , Vu Dau Van , Ching Shirley Siu Yin
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose:

Qigong is used by cancer patients, but its effect is not adequately evaluated to date. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Qigong for the management of a symptom cluster comprising fatigue, dyspnea, and anxiety in patients with lung cancer.

Methodology:

A total of 156 lung cancer patients participated in this trial, and they were randomized to a Qigong group (6 weeks of intervention) or a waitlist control group receiving usual care. The symptom cluster was assessed at baseline, at the end of treatment (primary outcome), and at 12 weeks, alongside measures of cough and quality of life (QOL).

Results:

There was no significant interaction effect between group and time for the symptom cluster overall and for fatigue and anxiety. However, a significant trend towards improvement was observed on fatigue ( P = .004), dyspnea ( P = .002), and anxiety ( P = .049) in the Qigong group from baseline assessment to the end of intervention at the 6th week (within-group changes). Improvements in dyspnea and in the secondary outcomes of cough, global health status, functional well-being and QOL symptom scales were statistically significant between the 2 groups ( P = .001, .014, .021, .001, and .002, respectively).

Conclusion:

Qigong did not alleviate the symptom cluster experience. Nevertheless, this intervention was effective in reducing dyspnea and cough, and improving QOL. More than 6 weeks were needed, however, for detecting the effect of Qigong on improving dyspnea. Furthermore, men benefited more than women. It may not be beneficial to use Qigong to manage the symptom cluster consisting of fatigue, dyspnea, and anxiety, but it may be effective in managing respiratory symptoms (secondary outcomes needing further verification in future research). Future studies targeting symptom clusters should ensure the appropriateness of the combination of symptoms.

Trial registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02977845. Registered November 30, 2016. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02977845?term=Qigong&cond=Lung+Cancer&draw=2&rank=1
Percutaneous Revascularization for COVID-19 Induced Spontaneous Arterial Thrombosis
Authors: Aasen Margaret , Blecha Matthew
Published: April 2021

The optimal management strategy of acute limb ischemia in non-ventilated patients with COVID-19 is uncertain. We propose that non-ventilated patients who develop COVID-19 related spontaneous arterial thrombosis with associated limb threat may be best suited with percutnaeous revascularization to achieve limb salvage. Herein we describe 5 cases of patients who had severely threatened limbs with complete thrombosis of all 3 tibial arteries who were treated with percutaneous revascularization. All 5 patients were felt to be facing inevitable amputation without revascularization should they survive their COVID hospitalization. We were able to achieve limb salvage in all 5 patients selected for therapy, although 2 ultimately succumbed to respiratory failure.