bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Good’ Bad Jobs? The Evolution of Migrant Low-Wage Employment in Germany (1985–2015)
Authors: Krings Torben
Published: October 2020

The article examines the evolution of migrant low-wage employment in the context of structural changes in the German labour market. By drawing on data from the Socio-Economic-Panel, it seeks to answer why low-wage jobs disproportionally rose among migrants since the late 1980s. It argues that while human capital characteristics mattered to some extent, institutional and organisational changes were more important to account for worsening earnings. When linking the findings to the broader debate about migration and labour market segmentation, several issues emerge. First, the extent of low-wage jobs is not fixed but shaped by historically specific segmentation patterns that may change over time. Second, whether less-skilled jobs are precarious and of low pay depend above all on the presence of inclusive labour market institutions and power relations between actors. Third, the growth of low-wage jobs cannot be considered independent of the available labour supply, including a rise in cross-border mobility.
COVID-19: what is not being addressed
Authors: Gupte Jaideep , Mitlin Diana
Published: October 2020

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases nears 27 million, there is a rush to answer (what next) and a rush to act (to solve the immediate problems of COVID-19). This paper discusses, with a specific focus on urban areas in the global South, what is missing to date from this response. That includes an identification of things that there are too much of, things that are not being done at all, and things that are unbalanced. There has been an enormous upsurge of academic research papers and opinions on COVID-19. “Technological” and “scientific” solutions tend to overshadow other approaches, even if people know that “social is important”. Based on our analysis to date, our primary concern is that there is too little understanding about the importance of building dialogue, exploring collaboration and co-producing solutions. There is too little understanding as to why social and cultural responses are important, and how the recognition that they are important can be actioned.
Folk psychology and network theory: Fact or gamble? A reply to Kalis and Borsboom
Authors: Oude Maatman Freek
Published: October 2020

Kalis and Borsboom (2020) defend their realism about folk psychology against my challenge to provide a grounding argument for the correctness of folk psychological explanation (Oude Maatman, 2020). In this reply, I show how their clarified realism in fact vindicates this challenge, as it heavily relies on the predictive success of folk psychology. I then proceed by describing how their realist interpretation of “intentional content” complicates the usability of network theory, and show that both their antireductionism and realism are grounded in an empirical gamble against alternatives. I end with a brief defense of my own version of network theory.
A feasibility study on elbow erosion monitoring using active sensing approach and fractional Fourier transform
Authors: Li Ning , Wang Furui , Song Gangbing
Published: October 2020

Elbow erosion monitoring is of great significance to the safety of pipeline systems and maintenance personnel. This paper proposes a new elbow erosion monitoring method, which combines the PZT (lead zirconate titanate) enabled active sensing with the fractional Fourier transform (FrRT), and takes the fractional-order energy peak of the stress wave signal as the damage index. Three 90°-elbows and three 90°-elbow assemblies were used in the experimental studies. Under different erosion degrees, the mass reduction of the three separate elbows was measured by high-precision electronic scale and the residual thickness of the three elbow assemblies was detected by ultrasonic thickness gauge. Two pieces of PZT patches were respectively used to excite and receive the signals in the active sensing. FrFT was used to distinguish the linear sweep signal components of stress wave signals from the energy of other interference or noise signals, and the fractional-order energy peak was used as the damage index. The results show that there is a one-to-one relationship between mass of erosion loss and damage index. Compared with the traditional time domain signal energy method, the new method has the advantage of eliminating the saturation phenomenon. The proposed method and damage index proposed in this paper will be a promising tool for real-time monitoring of elbow erosion.
Design and indirect adaptive fuzzy H∞ control of a novel retarder coupled with eddy current effect and MR effect
Authors: Xu Xiaoqin , Zhu Tianyu , Chen Shumei , Wang Cheng
Published: October 2020

To improve the poor braking performance of the traditional eddy current retarder, a novel retarder is developed by coupling the eddy current effect and the magnetorheological effect, which has large torque at low speed and stable torque at high speed. To meet the constant speed requirement in the braking process, the indirect adaptive fuzzy H∞ control strategy is employed to control the rotor speed of the designed retarder. The results show that the proposed retarder has the characteristics of continuously adjustable large torque in full speed section, sensitive control process and constant speed intelligent control.
Learning From Science News via Interactive and Animated Data Visualizations: An Investigation Combining Eye Tracking, Online Survey, and Cued Retrospective Reporting
Authors: Greussing Esther , Kessler Sabrina Heike , Boomgaarden Hajo G.
Published: October 2020

Relying on a multimethod approach with eye tracking, cued retrospective reporting, and a memory test, this experimental study ( N = 45) shows how individuals engage with static, interactive, and interactive-animated data visualizations embedded in online science news. The results suggest that interactivity and animation engage participants most strongly: The second part of the news article is fixated the longest by participants exposed to the interactive-animated visualization, which translates into higher learning outcomes. However, the dynamic process of news reception requires a nuanced understanding of how users attend to visual and textual parts of a message to make informed statements about their effectiveness.
Dynamic analysis of three-layer cylindrical shells with fractional viscoelastic core and functionally graded face layers
Authors: Shakouri Meisam , Permoon Mohammad Reza , Askarian Abdolreza , Haddadpour Hassan
Published: October 2020

Natural frequency and damping behavior of three-layer cylindrical shells with a viscoelastic core layer and functionally graded face layers are studied in this article. Using functionally graded face layers can reduce the stress discontinuity in the face–core interface that causes a catastrophic failure in sandwich structures. The viscoelastic layer is expressed using a fractional-order model, and the functionally graded layers are defined by a power law function. Assuming the classical shell theory for functionally graded layers and the first-order shear deformation theory for the viscoelastic core, equations of motion are derived using Lagrange’s equation and then solved via Rayleigh–Ritz method. The obtained results are validated with those in the literature, and finally, the effects of some geometrical and material parameters such as length-to-radius ratio, functionally graded properties, radius and thickness of viscoelastic layer on the natural frequency, and loss factor of the system are considered, and some conclusions are drawn.
What’s in a Label? Negative Credibility Labels in Partisan News
Authors: Duncan Megan
Published: October 2020

Concern about partisan audiences blindly following partisan news brands while simultaneously being unable to distinguish the credible news from hoax news dominates media criticism and theoretical inquiries. Companies and media literacy advocates have suggested credibility labels as a solution. This experiment tests the effectiveness of credibility labels at the intersection of partisan news brands and partisan news stories. Using news credibility theory and Partisan Media Opinion hypothesis, it investigates the effects credibility labels have on partisan audiences, partisan news brands, and partisan news stories. It finds that credibility labels may be an effective news literacy tool, and that credibility is enhanced when the news story’s ideological perspective does not match the ideology of the news brand.
Macrohomogeneity condition for strain gradient homogenization of periodic heterogeneous media with interfacial strong discontinuities
Authors: Ganghoffer JF , Do XN , Maurice G
Published: October 2020

The Hill macrohomogeneity condition is revisited in the context of strain gradient homogenization for heterogeneous materials prone to interfacial displacement jumps. The consideration of strain gradient effects is motivated by their use as a regularization method for strain-softening constitutive damage models leading to strain localization and displacement discontinuity. Starting from the weak form of the boundary value problem formulated at the microscopic level, a polynomial expression of the virtual velocity is adopted as the minimum microscopic kinematics consistent with the selected macroscopic kinematics of the strain gradient effective continuum. The effective volumetric and interfacial mesoscopic strains and stress measures for the effective substitution are obtained versus the microscopic strains and stresses. The Hill macrohomogeneity condition is successively formulated for continuous interfaces and discontinuous interfaces witnessing strong discontinuities. It highlights the expressions of the effective stress measures associated to the volumetric and interfacial behavior for both classical and higher-order effects.
Welfare state development and Finnish criminal justice reform from the 1910s to the 1960s
Authors: Häkkinen Esko
Published: October 2020

In contemporary research, Nordic countries are considered to have comparatively lenient penal policies, such as the restricted use of imprisonment. However, criminal justice in Finland during the early decades of its independence was exceptionally harsh. Due to its history, Finland is considered a difficult case for institutionalist theories that have related the Nordic welfare state model with lenient penal policy. This analysis argues that Finland’s development away from this severity was, in fact, caused by the shift of its social policy toward that of a (Nordic) welfare state in the 1940s, which is associated with the adoption of the model of democratic corporatism after decades of intense political conflict. The 1940s were a turning point when regulation of prison population sizes started to become an objective in legislation concerning the penal system. Meanwhile, independent of legislation, judges’ attitudes and sentencing practices began to relax. A generational replacement began among the criminal justice elite that manifested as generational disagreement in the 1950s, and by the 1970s, a reformist consensus was achieved.
Ideal teachers according to TALIS: Societal orientations of education and the global diagnosis of teacher self-efficacy
Authors: Benoliel Pascale , Berkovich Izhak
Published: October 2020

This article explores the link between the OECD TALIS 2013 survey’s framework for defining the ideal teacher and national educational goals by focusing on the teacher self-efficacy items, using cross-country comparisons. Surprisingly, cross-country analysis of the TALIS 2013 data combined with World Value Survey data about Desired Child Qualities demonstrates that the OECD TALIS teacher self-efficacy items are aligned with traditional collectivist educational goals. Thus, the findings indicate that the ideal teacher characteristics embodied in the OECD TALIS 2013 teacher self-efficacy items favour countries that prioritize socialization and culturalization. The implications for theory and practice are discussed herein.
Using Flipped Classroom and Team-Based Learning Techniques to Stimulate Higher Levels of Understanding in Developmental Psychopathology
Authors: Beek Yolanda van
Published: October 2020

In previous years students in the advanced bachelor course Developmental Psychopathology often failed examination questions where they had to apply theoretical knowledge to realistic clinical issues. Therefore, a new teaching method was implemented to improve students’ understanding. Flipped classroom (FC) and team-based learning (TBL) techniques were implemented, using six challenging authentic assignments. This study describes how these adaptations went along with student performance for three subsequent cohorts, where each cohort received more FC and TBL elements. In cohort 2 a semi-experimental design was used to study the effects of specific techniques. Moreover, it was investigated if students considered this approach useful, and whether it changed their learning strategy. Findings suggest that both FC and TBL techniques contributed to a higher level of understanding, particularly if group work took place in supervised tutorials with teacher feedback and discussion. Further research is required to investigate which specific elements were most effective.
The Evaluation of the Effects of Nanoemulsion Formulations Containing Boron and/or Zinc on the Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats
Authors: Gundogdu Gulsah , Nalci Kemal Alp , Ugur Kaplan Afife Busra , Gundogdu Koksal , Demirci Tuba , Demirkaya Miloglu Fatma , Hacımuftuoglu Ahmet , Cetin Meltem
Published: October 2020

Wound healing remains a challenging clinical problem, especially in the presence of diabetes. Diabetic patients have the impaired ability to fight infection and insufficient inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of boronophenylalanine (BFA) and/or Zn-containing nanoemulsion (NE) formulations on wound healing in diabetic rats. MTT and scratch assays were performed to evaluate the proliferative effects of BFA and/or Zn on human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells and the migration of these cells, respectively. The BFA and/or Zn-NE were prepared, and the effects of NEs on wound healing in diabetic rats were evaluated by applying once a day for 14 days. MTT assay showed that 10 to 25 µM BFA and/or 50 µM Zn had very significant positive effects on cell proliferation. In the scratch assay, 10 µM BFA significantly increased the migration of HDF cell compared with control. The droplet sizes of all the NEs were <115 nm and their zeta potential values were in range of (−) 23.9 ± 2.356 to (−) 33.1 ± 1.438 mV. There was a significant reduction in the wound contraction values (%) of the groups treated with the BFA and/or Zn-NE on the 14th day compared with the untreated diabetic rats group. According to histopathological findings, wound healing was nearly complete in BFA and/or Zn-NE compared with untreated diabetic rats. Especially, the group treated with the NE containing the low concentration of BFA showed highly promising results in wound healing of diabetic rats within 14 days with complete epithelialization and the completely closed wound area.
Addressing Health-Care System Inequities in the Management of Erectile Dysfunction: A Call to Action
Authors: Burnett Arthur L. , Edwards Natalie C. , Barrett Tonya M. , Nitschelm Krista D. , Bhattacharyya Samir K.
Published: October 2020

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common, burdensome, and costly urologic condition strongly related to all aspects of general health, from physical to mental. ED has profound consequences as it may interfere physical well-being, quality of life (QoL), self-esteem, relationships, self-worth, and productivity. It is therefore important to ensure that all types of effective ED treatments are consistently accessible to patients. While federal and state mandates ensure access to treatment for women’s breast health, female-factor infertility, and gender affirmation to ensure that these individuals do not experience a diminished QoL, there are no comparable mandates for men’s sexual and reproductive health. The burden of ED necessitates a call to action to improve the accessibility of ED treatments. The call to action steps include: (a) coverage for pharmacological, surgical, and other ED treatments should be viewed in the same way as coverage for other health issues, whether male or female and regardless of the stages of treatment, physical dysfunction, or physical changes; (b) American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines for the management of ED should be followed, including implementation of templates in electronic medical records (EMRs) to support adherence to the guidelines; and (c) coverage criteria should explicitly state that the criteria are intended to support gender equity for sexual and reproductive health care and should not be used to prevent men from receiving medically necessary ED treatments. This call to action offers a pathway to support every man who seeks treatment for ED as a medically necessary intervention by removing systemic health-care barriers.
Development of interlock knitted seersucker fabric for better comfort properties
Authors: Basra Sikander Abbas , Azam Zeeshan , Asfand Norina , Anas Sohaib , Iftikhar Khurram , Irshad Muhammad Awais
Published: October 2020

The need for innovative fabrics has rapidly increased in recent years, owing to their cost effective with good aesthetic and comfort properties. Seersucker fabrics are cost effective fabric structure with good aesthetic and comfort properties produced by modification in material or in fabric structures. The main purpose of this research work is to develop seersucker fabric on interlock machine through using different yarns and stripes height. Puckering effect on knitted fabric obtained using elastane covered yarn with simple cotton yarn and relaxation of elastane made the cotton yarn produce a puckering effect. Different seersucker fabrics were produced by changing tube size with the help of change in stripe height and using different yarn combinations on the back side (i.e. cotton covered elastane, spun polyester, and cotton) of the fabric. The seersucker knitted fabric were subjected to different tests such as mechanical testing that is fabric stretch, tactile comfort and thermophysiological comfort, that is, thermal resistance and air permeability test. The test results concluded that the seersucker interlock knitted fabric gives good comfort and aesthetic properties.
When Values Get in the Way of Conversations: Reflections on Dealing With Discriminatory Remarks and Behaviors in Qualitative Interviewing
Authors: Kulnik S. T. , Egbunike J. , Francois J.
Published: October 2020

As healthcare researchers conducting qualitative interviews, we might encounter participants who make remarks or display behaviors which go against principles of valuing diversity, equality and human rights; in other words, remarks and behaviors which could indicate racist, homophobic, xenophobic, islamophobic, sexist, misogynist, classist, etc. views and attitudes. In this article, we offer our reflections on how as researchers we might deal with such situations. We draw on methodological literature and on our own experiences as researchers, educators and practitioners in healthcare, to provide a critical discussion around researcher awareness and anticipation of emotional triggers, management and leadership of research, and understanding of ethics and legal frameworks of equality. We summarize and signpost toward methodological views under which such instances might be considered, including interpretivist and constructivist interpretations, and the concepts of positionality and adversarial discourse. Lastly, we offer practical suggestions for dealing with such occurrences in the context of qualitative research studies in healthcare, and for using researcher reflexivity as a strategy to surface and work through these situations. We hope that this article will provide accessible theoretical and practical guidance, for example to healthcare professionals who embark on their first qualitative interview study as part of a postgraduate course. Equally, we hope that this article will be of interest to more experienced researchers and invite further critical examination of the issues we highlight.
What Makes Politicians’ Instagram Posts Popular? Analyzing Social Media Strategies of Candidates and Office Holders with Computer Vision
Authors: Peng Yilang
Published: October 2020

Previous research on the success of politicians’ messages on social media has so far focused on a limited number of platforms, especially Facebook and Twitter, and predominately studied the effects of textual content. This research reported here applies computer vision analysis to a total of 59,020 image posts published by 172 Instagram accounts of U.S. politicians, both candidates and office holders, and examines how visual attributes influence audience engagement such as likes and comments. In particular, this study introduces an unsupervised approach that combines transfer learning and clustering techniques to discover hidden categories from large-scale visual data. The results reveal that different self-personalization strategies in visual media, for example, images featuring politicians in private, nonpolitical settings, showing faces, and displaying emotions, generally increase audience engagement. Yet, a significant portion of politician’s Instagram posts still fell into the traditional, “politics-as-usual” type of political communication, showing professional settings and activities. The analysis explains how self-personalization is embodied in specific visual portrayals and how different self-presentation strategies affect audience engagement on a popular but less studied social media platform.
Involvement of overweight and lipid metabolism in the development of pulmonary hypertension under conditions of chronic intermittent hypoxia
Authors: Siques Patricia , Brito Julio , Ordenes Stefany , Pena Eduardo
Published: October 2020

There is growing evidence that exposure to hypoxia, regardless of the source, elicits several metabolic responses in individuals. These responses are constitutive and are usually observed under hypoxia but vary according to the type of exposure. The aim of this review was to describe the involvement of obesity and lipid metabolism in the development of high‐altitude pulmonary hypertension and in the development of acute mountain sickness under chronic intermittent hypoxia. Overweight or obesity, which are common in individuals with long‐term chronic intermittent hypoxia exposure (high‐altitude miners, shift workers, and soldiers), are thought to play a major role in the development of acute mountain sickness and high‐altitude pulmonary hypertension. This association may be rooted in the interactions between obesity‐related metabolic and physical alterations, such as increased waist circumference and neck circumference, among others, which lead to critical ventilation impairments; these impairments aggravate hypoxemia at high altitude, thereby triggering high‐altitude diseases. Overweight and obesity are strongly associated with higher mean pulmonary artery pressure in the context of long‐term chronic intermittent hypoxia. Remarkably, de novo synthesis of triglycerides by the sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c pathway has been demonstrated, mainly due to the upregulation of stearoyl‐CoA desaturase‐1, which is also associated with the same outcomes. Therefore, overweight, obesity, and other metabolic conditions may hinder proper acclimatization. The involved mechanisms include respiratory impairment, alteration of the nitric oxide pathways, inflammatory status, reactive oxygen species imbalance, and other metabolic changes; however, further studies are required.
Reducing rates of readmission and development of an outpatient management plan in pulmonary hypertension: lessons from congestive heart failure management
Authors: Dolan Justin , Mandras Stacy , Mehta Jinesh P. , Navas Viviana , Tarver James , Chakinala Murali , Rahaghi Franck
Published: October 2020

Pulmonary hypertension currently has minimal guidelines for outpatient disease management. Congestive heart failure studies, however, have shown effectiveness of disease management plans in reducing all‐cause mortality and all‐cause and congestive heart failure‐related hospital readmissions. Heart failure exacerbation is a common reason for readmission in both pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure. Our aim was to review individual studies and comprehensive meta‐analyses to identify effective congestive heart failure interventions that can be used to develop similar disease management plans for pulmonary hypertension. A comprehensive literature review from 1993 to 2019 included original articles, systematic reviews, and meta‐analyses. We reviewed topics of outpatient congestive heart failure interventions to decrease congestive heart failure mortality and readmission and patient management strategies in congestive heart failure. The most studied interventions included case management, multidisciplinary intervention, structured telephone strategy, and tele‐monitoring. Case management showed decreased all‐cause mortality at 12 months, all‐cause readmission at 12 months, and congestive heart failure readmission at 6 and 12 months. Multidisciplinary intervention resulted in decreased all‐cause readmission and congestive heart failure readmission. There was some discrepancy on effectiveness of tele‐monitoring programs in individual studies; however, meta‐analyses suggest tele‐monitoring provided reduced all‐cause mortality and risk of congestive heart failure hospitalization. Structured telephone strategy had similar results to tele‐monitoring including decreased risk of congestive heart failure hospitalization, without effect on mortality. Extrapolating from congestive heart failure data, it seems strategies to improve the health of pulmonary hypertension patients and development of comprehensive care programs should include structured telephone strategy and/or tele‐monitoring, case management strategies, and multidisciplinary interventions.
Severe thrombocytopenia in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension provided several strategies for lung transplantation
Authors: Kobayashi Takayuki , Shigeta Ayako , Terada Jiro , Tanabe Nobuhiro , Sugiura Toshihiko , Sakao Seiichiro , Taniguchi Kohei , Oto Takahiro , Tatsumi Koichiro
Published: October 2020

While the prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension has improved significantly due to newer medications, lung transplantation remains a critical therapeutic option for severe pulmonary arterial hypertension. Hence, it is essential for patients awaiting lung transplantation to avoid complications, including thrombocytopenia, which may affect their surgical outcomes. Herein we present the case of a 21‐year‐old woman diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension at the age of 15. She developed thrombocytopenia while awaiting lung transplantation. Her medication was switched from epoprostenol to treprostinil, suspecting possible drug‐induced thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, she was administered thrombopoietin receptor agonists in view of the possibility of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, along with maximum support for right heart failure. Subsequently, her platelet count increased to >70,000/µL, enabling her to successfully undergo bilateral lung transplantation. Post‐bilateral lung transplantation, pulmonary arterial hypertension as well as thrombocytopenia appeared to have resolved. In this case, we suspected that thrombocytopenia could have resulted owing to a combination of pulmonary arterial hypertension, right heart failure, drug interactions, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Thrombocytopenia is a very critical condition in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, especially those awaiting lung transplantation. Several approaches are known to improve intractable thrombocytopenia in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Psychoactive Substance Dependence: A Dentist's Challenge
Authors: Millar Lynsey
Published: October 2020

Given the number of individuals who are dependent on alcohol and/or drugs, it is inevitable that they will present for dental treatment. They are at an increased risk of dental disease for multiple reasons. This paper aims to provide an overview for general dental practitioners (GDPs) of the challenges that can arise in treating such patients, alongside some suggestions for meeting these challenges. General issues are taken into consideration first, then a focus is made on each of the most common substances, together with their implications in dentistry.
The Importance of Dental Screening Prior to Commencing Anti-Resorptive Therapy for Treatment of Cancer: A Case Report and Discussion
Authors: Mcdonnell Fiona , Steel Clare , McDonnell Fiona , Steel Clare
Published: October 2020

Osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) can be a serious complication of radiation and anti-resorptive therapies. At present, patients due to undergo radiotherapy are required to have a dental assessment to treat current or anticipated dental disease prior to commencing treatment. However no agreed guidelines are in place for those due to start anti-resorptive therapy for cancer. More patients are now being treated with various drug therapies and new combinations of drugs with unknown long-term effects, with many patients now surviving their disease for longer periods of time. It is important to increase awareness among patients and dental professionals of the possibility of them developing medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and to put in place effective preventative measures to help to stop such complications developing.

Case Report

A 52-year-old patient with a complex medical history, including metastatic breast cancer, presented with generalised oral pain and tooth mobility (see Figure 1). The patient developed extensive stage III MRONJ following concurrent use of multiple anti-resorptive therapies for treatment of secondary bone disease. Dental treatment consisted of provision of antibiotics, hydrogen peroxide and chlorhexidine mouthwashes prior to the extraction of symptomatic teeth and the multiple bony sequestra.

Conclusion

Once established, stage III MRONJ can be challenging to manage for both the dental team and for the patient. This case demonstrates the importance of a comprehensive dental examination and need for preventative dental treatment prior to starting anti-resorptive therapy in order to prevent such instances.
Psychological Theories of Pain
Authors: Penlington Chris , Urbanek Monika , Barker Sarah
Published: October 2020

While pain has traditionally been understood within a medical model that equates pain to tissue damage or disease, this understanding is not consistent with everyday observations of pain or with clinical examples of persistent pain where there is often very little correlation between pain experienced and physical findings.

This article considers psychological and multidimensional theories of pain, which are described within the historical context within which they were developed, including behavioural, cognitive, contextual and functional theories.

Research into the multifactorial nature of persistent pain has tended to focus on mechanisms of pain development and maintenance or on the function of pain. Psychological approaches, which have focused on mechanism traditionally use disability, mood and quality of life measures to assess outcome, claiming little or no impact on pain intensity itself. By contrast, functional approaches include an explicit goal of reducing pain intensity, which is therefore measured as a key treatment outcome.

Strong evidence exists from a range of sources of the important contribution of psychological and social factors to the experience of pain. However, evidence is still lacking about the specific mechanisms of change that are targeted by biopsychosocial interventions and about what treatment approach is likely to work best for whom.
Medical Management of Dental Anxiety
Authors: Coulthard Paul
Published: October 2020

The use of medical management techniques for the management of anxiety is fundamental to the practice of dentistry. Around 7% of the population are likely to need these techniques for general dental care and a higher proportion for more invasive treatment such as oral surgery. This paper highlights the current expectation of effective and safe practice of conscious sedation techniques in light of recent updated guidance from several UK institutions.
Cold snare polypectomy for large sessile serrated lesions is safe but follow‐up is needed: a single‐centre retrospective study
Authors: Yoshida Naohisa , Inoue Ken , Tomita Yuri , Hashimoto Hikaru , Sugino Satoshi , Hirose Ryohei , Dohi Osamu , Naito Yuji , Morinaga Yukiko , Kishimoto Mitsuo , Inada Yutaka , Murakami Takaaki , Itoh Yoshito
Published: October 2020

Background and Aim

Cold snare polypectomy (CSP) is growing in popularity due to its safety and convenience. Its indication is benign tumours such as adenoma and sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) <10 mm in size. CSP for SSLs ≥10 mm in size has not been well examined. In this study, we aimed the feasibility of this treatment regarding therapeutic results and local recurrence.

Methods

This was a single‐centre retrospective cohort study. We reviewed SSLs with or without dysplasia of 10–20 mm that were resected by CSP from 2014 to 2020. All tumours were diagnosed endoscopically as SSLs without dysplasia before CSP with the help of magnifying narrow band imaging or blue laser imaging. We analysed the lesion characteristics, en bloc resection, histopathological diagnosis, adverse events and local recurrence. We analysed risk factors for recurrence, comparing recurrent lesions to non‐recurrent lesions. We also compared risk factors for lesions 10–14 mm in size to those for lesions 15–20 mm in size.

Results

We analysed 160 lesions in 100 patients (Mage ± SD = 67.7 ± 10.1 years). The polyp size (M ± SD) was 11.8 ± 2.8 mm, and the en bloc resection rate was 60.0% (96 cases). The rates of massive perioperative haemorrhage, postoperative haemorrhage and perforation were 1.3%, 0% and 0%, respectively. Regarding histopathological diagnosis, two (1.2%) cases showed SSLs with high‐grade dysplasia. The recurrence rate in 101 lesions with a median follow‐up period of 18 months (interquartile range 12–24 months) was 5.0%. There were no significant risk factors such as tumour size, location, morphology and so on in terms of recurrence. All recurrent cases could be resected by repeat CSP. The recurrence rates of lesions 10–14 mm in size and 15–20 mm in size were 4.7% and 6.3%, respectively (p = 0.713).

Conclusion

CSP of SSLs ≥10 mm in size according to magnifying endoscopic diagnosis was safe and promising, but the rate of recurrence was slightly high, meaning that close follow‐up is required.
Atezolizumab-Induced Bell’s Palsy in a Patient With Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Kichloo Asim , Albosta Michael Stanley , Jamal Shakeel M. , Aljadah Michael , Wani Farah , Selene Insija , Singh Jagmeet , Taj Asma
Published: October 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are rapidly becoming popular therapeutic options for patients suffering from a number of malignancies. Atezolizumab is a programmed cell death ligand-1 inhibitor, and binding to this ligand decreases the ability of tumor cells to evade the immune system, resulting in self-tolerance. While inhibition of these molecules leads to increased T-cell destruction of tumor cells, it also may lead to autoimmune destruction of healthy cells. Neurotoxicity is a rare complication of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, and facial palsy as a complication of atezolizumab therapy has only been reported in one additional study. We present the case of a 68-year-old female with a history of small cell carcinoma of the lung presenting with sudden-onset facial palsy and numbness of the distal extremities in the setting of receiving atezolizumab immunotherapy. Our patient was managed with temporary cessation of her immunotherapy, oral prednisone, and supportive measures. Within 4 weeks, the patient had complete resolution of her facial palsy and was able to resume immunotherapy without further complication. Clinicians should be aware of this rare adverse effect in order to enact early management including temporary cessation of therapy to prevent morbidity in patients undergoing immunotherapy.
Comorbidities Associated With Poor Outcomes Following Operative Hammertoe Correction in a Geriatric Population
Authors: Maidman Samuel D. , Nash Amalie E. , Manz Wesley J. , Spencer Corey C. , Fantry Amanda , Tenenbaum Shay , Brodsky James , Bariteau Jason T.
Published: October 2020

Background:

Although complications following hammertoe correction surgery are rare, older patients with comorbid conditions are often considered poorer operative candidates compared with younger, healthier patients because of a suspected increased risk of adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine if the presence of multiple comorbidities was associated with increased complications or unsuccessful patient-reported outcomes following operative hammertoe correction in geriatric patients.

Methods:

Prospectively collected data was reviewed on 78 patients aged 60 years or older who underwent operative correction of hammertoe deformity. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications were recorded. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale for pain and Short Form Health Survey Physical and Mental Component Summary with 1 year of follow-up. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on number of comorbidities (0 or 1 vs > 2) and then compared. The average age of patients was 69.4 years and the prevalence of comorbidities in the study population was as follows: 11.5% smokers, 25.6% on blood thinners, 15.4% with rheumatoid arthritis, 7.7% with diabetes mellitus, 2.6% with peripheral arterial disease, 6.4% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 11.5% with coronary artery disease, and 23.1% with osteoporosis.

Results:

Fifty-three patients (67.9%) had 0 or 1 comorbidity and 25 (32.1%) had 2 or more comorbidities. Compared to the 0 or 1 comorbidity group, the presence of multiple comorbidities was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) for superficial wound infection of 4.18 ( P = .045) and deformity recurrence requiring surgery OR of 23.15 ( P = .032). Patient-reported outcomes were similar between comorbidity groups.

Conclusions:

This study further informs foot and ankle specialists to maintain increased surveillance for postoperative complications and unsuccessful outcomes in patients with multiple comorbidities. Although geriatric patients still report significant improvements in both pain and function, patients with underlying medical conditions should be counseled about their increased risks when pursuing operative hammertoe correction.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative series.
Essential Oil Olfactory Test: Comparison of Affordable Rapid Olfaction Measurement Array (AROMA) to Sniffin’ Sticks 12
Authors: Li Jennifer , Palmer Gracie , Shankar Suraj , Villwock Mark R. , Chiu Alexander G. , Sykes Kevin J. , Villwock Jennifer A.
Published: October 2020

Objectives

To further demonstrate the validity of Affordable Rapid Olfaction Measurement Array (AROMA), an essential oil−based smell test, and compare it to the Sniffin’ Sticks 12 Test (SST12).

Study Design

Prospective cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Academic medical center.

Methods

Fifty healthy individuals without sinonasal disease were recruited to the study. AROMA has been previously validated against the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test. The current study tests 2 additional higher concentrations to increase the ability to detect olfactory reserve. Healthy participants completed AROMA, SST12, Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22), and Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QoD). Spearman correlations were used to evaluate AROMA, SST, SNOT‐22, and QoD.

Results

AROMA demonstrated strong test‐retest reliability (r = 0.757, P <. 01). AROMA showed a moderate correlation to SST12 (ρ = 0.412, P <. 01). Age and SNOT‐22 were significantly correlated (P <. 05) with AROMA (ρ = −0.547, −0.331, respectively), and age was weakly correlated with SST (ρ = −0.377, P <. 01). Median percent correct scores were as follows: SST12 identification, 92%; AROMA detection, 90%; and AROMA identification, 81%. Median correct odor identification of AROMA concentrations at 1×, 2×, 4×, and 8× were 64%, 75%, 92%, and 92%, respectively.

Conclusion

AROMA has a moderate correlation with SST12. AROMA is more strongly correlated than SST12 to age and SNOT‐22. AROMA’s stronger correlation with subjective olfactory status, low cost, and adaptability may help remove barriers to routine olfactory testing in the clinic.
Freeform machining of ophthalmic toric lens mould using fast tool servo-assisted ultra-precision diamond turning process
Authors: Singh Ishan Anand , S. Gopi Krishna , Reddy T. Narendra , Vinod Prakash
Published: October 2020

This research aims to establish a methodology for machining of toric lenses, using fast tool servo-assisted single point diamond turning and to assess the generated surface for its characteristics. Using the established mathematical model, toric surface is explained to understand the geometry and to generate the parameters required for fast tool servo machining. A toric surface with a major diameter of 18.93 mm and a minor diameter of 15.12 mm has been cut on the intelligent ultra-precision turning machine (iUPTM). The surface profile and surface roughness were measured. After analysing the measurement data of the machined surface, on two perpendicular axes of the toric lens, form accuracy of 0.49 µm peak-to-valley (PV), and surface roughness of 12 nm in Ra, 4–8 nm in Sa are obtained. From the experimental results obtained, it can be concluded that the proposed method is a reasonable alternative for manufacturing toric lens mould.
Orthostatic hypotension secondary to a suspected thymoma in a dog: a case report
Authors: Hansford Jeremy , Henao-Guerrero Natalia
Published: October 2020

Background

This is the first case report description, to our knowledge, of a cranial mediastinal mass (suspected thymoma) causing orthostatic hypotension in a dog.

Case presentation

A Labrador Retriever presented for urethral stent placement during cystoscopy secondary to transitional cell carcinoma diagnosis. During anesthesia, the patient had unexpected severe and poorly-responsive hypotension following a shift in position. Several days later, an intrathoracic mass was discovered, raising concerns that the position of the mass in relation to the great vessels and heart may have been the cause of the hypotension. The patient returned for a second stent placement, and computed tomography of the chest confirmed a cranial mediastinal mass, most suspected to be thymoma based on the results of cytology. The patient was kept in sternal recumbency, but when re-positioning to left lateral recumbency, there was a dramatic blood pressure drop that corrected with a return to sternal positioning.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, orthostatic hypotension has not been described in relation to thymoma in dogs. Thymomas are rare; however, they may be associated with disease of autonomic dysfunction, such as myasthenia gravis, that may lead to orthostatic hypotension. This has been described within the human literature, and we hypothesize it was present in the currently described case. Concurrently, thymomas may grow to a substantial size and cause direct compression of the intrathoracic vasculature. As such, it should be on the differential list for poorly-responsive hypotension following a shift in body positioning under anesthesia.
Diminished adherence of Biomphalaria glabrata embryonic cell line to sporocysts of Schistosoma mansoni following programmed knockout of the allograft inflammatory factor
Authors: Coelho Fernanda Sales , Rodpai Rutchanee , Miller André , Karinshak Shannon E. , Mann Victoria H. , dos Santos Carvalho Omar , Caldeira Roberta Lima , de Moraes Mourão Marina , Brindley Paul J. , Ittiprasert Wannaporn
Published: October 2020

Background

Larval development in an intermediate host gastropod snail of the genus Biomphalaria is an obligatory component of the life-cycle of Schistosoma mansoni. Understanding of the mechanism(s) of host defense may hasten the development of tools that block transmission of schistosomiasis. The allograft inflammatory factor 1, AIF, which is evolutionarily conserved and expressed in phagocytes, is a marker of macrophage activation in both mammals and invertebrates. AIF enhances cell proliferation and migration. The embryonic cell line, termed Bge, from Biomphalaria glabrata is a versatile resource for investigation of the snail-schistosome relationship since Bge exhibits a hemocyte-like phenotype. Hemocytes perform central roles in innate and cellular immunity in gastropods and in some cases can kill the parasite. However, the Bge cells do not kill the parasite in vitro.

Methods

Bge cells were transfected by electroporation with plasmid pCas-BgAIFx4, encoding the Cas9 nuclease and a guide RNA specific for exon 4 of the B. glabrata AIF (BgAIF) gene. Transcript levels for Cas9 and for BgAIF were monitored by reverse-transcription-PCR and, in parallel, adhesion of gene-edited Bge cells during co-culture with of schistosome sporocysts was assessed.

Results

Gene knockout manipulation induced gene-disrupting indels, frequently 1–2 bp insertions and/or 8–30 bp deletions, at the programmed target site; a range from 9 to 17% of the copies of the BgAIF gene in the Bge population of cells were mutated. Transcript levels for BgAIF were reduced by up to 73% (49.5 ± 20.2% SD, P ≤ 0.05, n = 12). Adherence by BgAIF gene-edited (ΔBgAIF) Bge to sporocysts diminished in comparison to wild type cells, although cell morphology did not change. Specifically, as scored by a semi-quantitative cell adherence index (CAI), fewer ΔBgAIF than control wild type cells adhered to sporocysts; control CAI, 2.66 ± 0.10, ΔBgAIF, 2.30 ± 0.22 (P ≤ 0.01).

Conclusions

The findings supported the hypothesis that BgAIF plays a role in the adherence of B. glabrata hemocytes to sporocysts during schistosome infection in vitro. This demonstration of the activity of programmed gene editing will enable functional genomics approaches using CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate additional components of the snail-schistosome host-parasite relationship.