bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psycho-Cardiac Distress Symptoms of Dyadic Communication Apprehension & The Role of Self-Esteem
Authors: Campero-Oliart Alejandro R.
Published: June 2022

This study examined the extent to which dyadic communication apprehension (CA) manifested in heart-rate (HR) and heart-rate variability (HRV) during dyadic interaction and explored the inhibiting role of self-esteem for dyadic-communication distress through two explanatory frameworks: A moderation and an indirect effect. Participants completed self-report measures for dyadic CA and self-esteem. Their cardiac activity was then monitored during noncommunicative and impromptu dyadic communication periods. During interaction, higher dyadic CA manifested strongly in higher HR and lower HRV independently of their mutual influence, suggesting dyadic CA induces psycho-cardiac distress via sympathetic and parasympathetic influences. Regarding self-esteem, there was tentative evidence of a moderating effect for the impact of dyadic CA on HR, but not on HRV. Tests of indirect effects showed significant evidence of its inhibitory influence on both distress symptoms via dyadic CA. Findings are interpreted in the context of arousal and emotion regulation when navigating one-on-one conversations.
Why Did the Taliban Win?
Authors: King Anthony
Published: June 2022

On October 7, 2001, 3 weeks after 9/11, U.S. forces attacked Afghanistan; bombers struck Taliban headquarters and Al Qaeda training sites. By early December, the Taliban and Al Qaeda have been defeated and had fled. However, a war that began so successfully in 2001, eventually ended ignominiously on August 30, 2021, almost exactly 20 years later, with a U.S. withdrawal and a total Taliban victory. The speed of the Taliban’s triumph shocked everyone. The entire campaign, costing US$2.3 trillion and 2,488 U.S. lives, had failed—utterly. The United States had lost its longest-ever war. How is it possible to explain a defeat of that magnitude? This article seeks to address this question. Although numerous factors played a role, this article identifies three principal factors: the environment, the local politics, and the Taliban. Afghanistan is a very difficult place to conduct large-scale military operations. The West never came to terms with the local politics and consequently undermined their own efforts. Finally, although they were not militarily sophisticated, the Taliban were politically astute and very resilient.
“They Need to Hear Our Voices”: A Multidimensional Framework of Black College Women’s Sociopolitical Development and Activism
Authors: Leath Seanna , Ball Paris , Mims Lauren , Butler-Barnes Sheretta , Quiles Taina
Published: June 2022

Black women have played an integral role in Black liberation struggles. Yet there is little psychological scholarship on Black women’s contribution to social justice movements, particularly beyond conventional forms of activism, such as protesting and voting. To address this gap, the current study draws on Black feminist epistemology to present a multidimensional framework of Black college women’s sociopolitical development. Using consensual qualitative research methods, we analyzed semistructured interview data from 65 Black college women (18-24 years) to explore their understandings of agency, civic engagement, and resistance. Eight themes emerged— gaining knowledge, self-advocacy, sisterhood, self-love, educating others, collective organizing and leadership, community care, and career aspirations. Our results situate Black college women’s activism within a sociohistorical framework of Black feminist organizing and underscore the overlapping roles of self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, and institutional knowledge. The authors discuss how the contemporary racial and sociopolitical climate in the United States informed the participants’ social justice orientation and how their involvement and investment in the Black community helped the participants reframe racial violence and oppression into narratives of resistance and healing.
The multidimensional configuration of platform work: A mixed-methods analysis of the Argentinian case
Authors: Haidar Julieta
Published: June 2022

The aim of this article is to make a contribution to understanding platform work in a comprehensive and geographically situated way, and thus to consider comprehensive responses to its precarising character. The author proposes an analytical framework in which platform work is the result of the articulation of three dimensions: technological-organisational, institutional and ideological. In turn, this framework is applied in depth to a case study: delivery platform work in Argentina. To that end a mixed methodology is employed which combines in-depth interviews and surveys responded to by 401 delivery workers.
Item-Fit Statistic Based on Posterior Probabilities of Membership in Ability Groups
Authors: Kondratek Bartosz
Published: June 2022

A novel approach to item-fit analysis based on an asymptotic test is proposed. The new test statistic, [Formula: see text], compares pseudo-observed and expected item mean scores over a set of ability bins. The item mean scores are computed as weighted means with weights based on test-takers’ a posteriori density of ability within the bin. This article explores the properties of [Formula: see text] in case of dichotomously scored items for unidimensional IRT models. Monte Carlo experiments were conducted to analyze the performance of [Formula: see text]. Type I error of [Formula: see text] was acceptably close to the nominal level and it had greater power than Orlando and Thissen’s [Formula: see text]. Under some conditions, power of [Formula: see text] also exceeded the one reported for the computationally more demanding Stone’s [Formula: see text].
Maturation or disruption? Conscientiousness development in the transition into adolescence
Authors: Ni Yue , Geldhof G. John , Chen Bin-Bin , Stawski Robert S.
Published: June 2022

Research to date has shown longitudinal changes in conscientiousness during early and middle adolescence, but most studies have been conducted in Western countries. The present study aimed to examine the pattern of mean-level conscientiousness change at the transition into early adolescence among a Chinese sample using curve of factors (CUFFS) models. Four waves of data from 661 Chinese children aged 8 years old at baseline in the China Family Panel Studies were used. Parents were asked to rate their children’s level of conscientiousness every 2 years. On average, mean-level conscientiousness showed a decelerating increase. Girls had higher average conscientiousness levels than boys, but they did not differ in change patterns. The inconsistency between the current study and previous research indicates that conscientiousness development may depend, in part, on cultural factors.
“This Gradual Swing Back into Us”: Active Duty Army Spouses’ Experiences During Homecoming and Post-Deployment Family Reintegration
Authors: Drew Alison L. , Blankenship Abby E. , Kritikos Tessa K. , Jacoby Vanessa M. , Dondanville Katherine A. , Yarvis Jeffrey S. , Sharrieff Allah-Fard , McGeary Cindy A. , Blount Tabatha H. , Young-McCaughan Stacey , Peterson Alan L. , DeVoe and Ellen R. ,   for the STRONG STAR Consortium
Published: June 2022

There is acknowledgment that deployments can be stressful for military spouses; however, less is known about their experiences post-deployment. This qualitative study examined the post-deployment experiences of 16 female spouses, whose active duty Army husband had returned from deployment within the previous 2 years and who had a young child during the deployment. Spouses reported that the time surrounding their husbands’ return was one of the great transitions, often accompanied by stress. Most families were able to work through challenges and show positive adjustment over time. However, some spouses described severe post-deployment challenges marked by disconnect from their partners; three of these were spouses whose husbands had posttraumatic stress disorder. The findings address how spouses prepared for their husband’s return, their reunion experiences, the process of reintegrating their husband into family life, and individual changes in the partners post-deployment. Facilitators and challenges to adjustment were identified as potential targets for interventions.
β-carboline-independent antidepressant-like effect of the standardized extract of the barks of Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd) Poir. occurs via 5-HT2A/2C receptors in mice
Authors: Duarte-Filho Luiz Antonio Miranda de Souza , Amariz Isabela Araujo , Nishimura Rodolfo Hideki Vicente , Massaranduba Ana Beatriz Rodrigues , Menezes Pedro Modesto Nascimento , Damasceno Tauana Araújo , Brys Ivani , Rolim Larissa Araújo , Silva Fabrício Souza , Ribeiro Luciano Augusto de Araújo
Published: June 2022

Background:

Depression is a psychiatric disorder with limited therapy options. Psychedelics are new antidepressant candidates, being the ayahuasca one of the most promising ones. A synergistic combination of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and β-carbolines allows ayahuasca antidepressant properties. Another psychedelic and DMT-containing beverage is the jurema wine used religiously by indigenous people from Northeastern Brazil.

Aims:

To evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of standardized extract of Mimosa tenuiflora (SEMT), associated or not with harmine (β-carboline), in behavioral models of depression.

Methods:

The SEMT was submitted to (+) ESI-IT-LC/MS analysis for DMT quantification. To assess the antidepressant-like effect of SEMT, the open field (OFT), tail suspension (TST), and forced swim (FST) tests were performed. To verify the participation of serotonergic systems, the 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)-induced head twitch test was performed.

Results:

The content of DMT found in SEMT was 24.74 ± 0.8 mg/g. Yuremamine was also identified. SEMT presented an antidepressant-like effect in mice submitted to the TST and FST, independent from harmine, with no significant alterations on the OFT. The sub-dose interaction between SEMT and ketamine also produced an anti-immobility effect in the TST, with no changes in the OFT. SEMT potentiated the head twitch behavior induced by 5-HTP and ketanserin prevented its antidepressant-like effect in the TST ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

SEMT presented a harmine-independent antidepressant-like effect in mice submitted to the TST and FST. This effect occurs possibly via activation of serotonergic systems, particularly the 5-HT2A/2C receptors.
Is it feasible to measure pulmonary vein data using volume rendering images?
Authors: Yue Junyan , Li Meixia , Wu Qingwu , Li Peicheng , Liang Changhua , Chen Jie , Li Peiheng , Guo Junxia , Dou Wenguang , Guo Changlei , Gao Jianbo
Published: June 2022

Background

Pulmonary vein (PV) data are commonly measured on multiplanar image reformation (MPR) images and volume rendering (VR) images.

Purpose

To compared and analyze the advantages and disadvantages of PV data based on VR images and MPR images.

Material and Methods

A total of 94 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) with imaging data were included in the study. The respective image postprocessing time and the three surgical interventionists’ preferences for the two images were recorded. A paired t-test or chi-square test was used to compare their difference, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference between the data values including the maximal and minimal ostial diameters of the left superior PV (LSPV), the left inferior PV (LIPV), the right superior PV (RSPV), and the right inferior PV (RIPV) obtained by VR and MPR images ( P > 0.05). Yet, the mean postprocessing time of VR images (15.10 ± 3.05 min) was shorter compared to MPR images (16.54 ± 2.60 min) ( t = 22.84, P < 0.05). All three surgical interventionists preferred VR images (accounted for 85.1%, 86.2%, and 84.0%, respectively), and there was no statistical difference in the degree of image preference among the three (chi-square = 0.596, P = 0.963).

Conclusion

PV data measurement could be performed on both VR and MRP images; however, the data on VR images were more intuitive and more accessible for interventional surgeons.
Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis accompanied by schistosomiasis: a case report
Authors: Yuan Chunyan , Teng Fei , Huang Zhongyue , Liu Qiping , Du Ling , Xie Xiaoli , Jiang Xuebing , Sheng Xia
Published: June 2022

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare disease that most frequently occurs in the large and small intestine and has no obvious clinical symptoms. The main pathological feature is the presence of air-filled cysts in the intestinal submucosa, intermuscular wall, and subserous membrane. Conservative treatment is the first choice when no serious complications are present, whereas timely surgical treatment is needed for serious and life-threatening complications. This report presents the clinical and pathological analysis of PCI in a man in his early 90s. The patient was hospitalized because of acute abdomen and diagnosed with perforation of the sigmoid colon due to PCI with schistosomiasis after emergency surgery. Emergency partial sigmoid colon resection and permanent colostomy were performed under general anesthesia. Preoperative diagnosis of PCI is difficult because of the nonspecific clinical manifestations and endoscopic findings, and missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis easily occur. Pure PCI has no specific symptoms and does not require special treatment, and there is a lack of special treatment methods in clinical practice. However, when PCI is combined with other intestinal diseases such as schistosomiasis enteropathy, intestinal perforation is likely to occur, leading to severe acute abdomen with the need for prompt surgical treatment.
Cone-beam computed tomography three-dimensional reconstruction aids treatment of three root canals with severe curvature in maxillary first premolar: a case report
Authors: Huang Wenqing , Yang Jian , Li Yu
Published: June 2022

The maxillary first premolar commonly has one or two root canals; the presence of three canals is rare. These root canals are easily missed during treatment, resulting in failure of root canal therapy. The present report describes a case in which three root canals in the maxillary first premolar were diagnosed by cone-beam computed tomography. The herein-described patient was successfully treated using three-dimensional reconstruction technology to determine the form and direction of curvature of the root canals.
Effect of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 on angiogenesis and cell proliferation at the maternal-fetal interface
Authors: Barrera-Zarate Javier A. , Detmer Susan E. , Pasternak J. Alex , Hamonic Glenn , MacPhee Daniel J. , Harding John C. S.
Published: June 2022

Angiogenesis and cell proliferation in reproductive tissues are essential events for the maintenance of pregnancy, and alterations can lead to compromised fetal development and survival. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 (PRRSV-2) induces reproductive disease with negative financial and production impact on the swine industry. PRRSV-2 infection alters placental physiology through inflammatory and apoptotic pathways, yet fetal susceptibility varies. This study aimed to evaluate angiogenesis and cell proliferation in the porcine maternal-fetal interface (MFI) and determine if these physiological processes were altered by PRRSV-2 infection. Thirty-one pregnant gilts were inoculated with PRRSV-2 at gestation day 86 ± 0.4 (mean ± SD). Seven control gilts were sham-inoculated. All gilts were euthanized at 12 days postinoculation. Angiogenesis and cell proliferation were determined through the detection of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and Ki-67, respectively, using immunofluorescence of the MFI from 4 fetal resilience groups: uninfected (UNIF), high viral load–viable (HVL-VIA), and HVL-meconium-stained (MEC) from PRRSV-infected gilts, as well from sham-inoculated (CON) gilts. VEGF immunolabeling in the uterine submucosa was significantly lower in MEC compared with UNIF and HVL-VIA groups. Significantly greater Ki67 immunolabeling was detected in the trophoblasts of CON fetuses versus all other groups, and in uterine epithelium of CON and UNIF fetuses versus HVL-VIA and MEC. These results suggest that fetal resilience may be related to greater cell proliferation in uterine epithelium, and fetal compromise with reduced uterine submucosal angiogenesis, except fetuses with intrauterine growth restriction, in which inherently lower submucosal angiogenesis may be protective against PRRSV infection.
Policy Relay: How Affirmative Consent Went from Controversy to Convention
Authors: Malae Katelyn Rose
Published: June 2022

This article analyzes how a formerly mocked policy idea became a widespread solution. Through content analysis of newspaper articles and legal documents, I develop a framework that extends timelines of social movement influence, expands the range of actors and locations of mobilization, and traces how activists frame policy ideas over time: the policy relay. This framework allows for an analysis of how opponents unintentionally advanced the reform process in 1993 by turning its originators into laughingstocks. Anti-rape advocates eventually reformulated the policy in 2014. This time, the origin was removed from the story, presenting a concise narrative that credited politicians and college administrators, rather than activists, for the reform. By tracing the ideas of a movement, rather than focusing on organizations or public protests, I uncover a complicated process of social change, where consequential actors work across different settings to ignite reforms and strategically remove controversial aspects from narratives of social change.
Disposal of obsolete mobile phones: A review on replacement, disposal methods, in-use lifespan, reuse and recycling
Authors: Prabhu N Shailesh , Majhi Ritanjali
Published: June 2022

Usage/consumption of mobile phones has increased rapidly around the world. As of April 2021, there were 5.27 billion mobile phone users. Meanwhile, the generation of obsolete mobile phones/mobile phone wastes is also increased mainly due to the replacement of mobile phones. The in-use lifespan of mobile phones is correspondingly getting decreased. The inappropriate disposal of obsolete mobile phones leads to adverse consequences on the environment, human health and on metal recovery. This review article provides an insight on findings from various articles on disposal of obsolete mobile phones by users/consumers. The various aspects, such as reasons for replacement, disposal methods adopted by users/consumers, impact due to the adoption of improper disposal methods such as handing them over to the informal recycling sector and storage/hibernation after its in-use lifespan, were covered. Along with this, the study even focuses on reduce, reuse and recycle (3Rs) of sustainability. Reduce means reduction of mobile phone replacement frequency. Storage of mobile phones post-in-use lifespan is the most opted disposal method, and it is one of the significant barriers to reuse, recycling and metal recovery. When it comes to recycling, the research undertaken on the recycling of obsolete mobile phones is not as in-depth when compared to the research done on recycling of e-waste in general. This article identifies future directions for sustainable end-of-life management of obsolete mobile phones.
Impact of Light Rail: A Spatial-Temporal Assessment of Neighboring Residential Property Values in Los Angeles
Authors: Noh Youngre , Li Wei
Published: June 2022

This research examines the impact of light rail stations on housing market by analyzing the 1993–2013 single-family home sale transactions in the City of Los Angeles, California. The study period was divided into seven 3-year periods, and the area was divided into three different groups by income level: low-, middle-, and high-income. The result shows that the opening of light railways increased property values in general. It also revealed the differentiated impacts by neighborhood income levels.
Publications in Pediatric Epilepsy: Using Bibliometrics to Determine Readings in the Field
Authors: Gienapp Andrew J. , Pippenger Wiley , McGregor Amy L. , Fulton Stephen P.
Published: June 2022

Bibliometrics and citation analysis are popular forms of analyzing medical literature based on article impact as determined by the number of citations an article has received from other publications. Many bibliometric studies published within the past 10 years have assembled lists of highly cited papers, top 100 papers, or citation classics of specialties, subspecialties, and specific morbidities. For pediatric epilepsy, there is only 1 study that bibliometrically examines articles in this subspecialty. Although bibliometrics generally examines trends in the literature, we used bibliometrics as a methodology for determining a core set of pediatric epilepsy articles with the highest impact (ie, citation count) that could be used as an introductory reading list for residents, fellows, and early career epileptologists. Therefore, we searched Web of Science to identify the 100 top-cited pediatric epilepsy articles and develop 10 topic areas into which we sorted each article. These recommended articles could be used as essential readings for pediatric epilepsy.
Inflammatory Markers Combined With Metalloproteinase-9, Neopterin, and S100B Concentrations May Indicate the Pathogenesis of Central Nervous System Diseases in Children
Authors: Lubarski Karol , Mania Anna , Małecki Paweł , Mazur-Melewska Katarzyna , Figlerowicz Magdalena
Published: June 2022

The identification of central nervous system inflammation etiology leads to adjusted therapy. We analyzed the potential inflammatory and neuro-axonal damage markers in children. Our target was to correlate the findings with a disease's course or a sequalae risk and assess their clinical usefulness. The study included 96 children with symptoms of central nervous system inflammation who underwent diagnostics. The research group involved 24 children with autoimmune disorders and 31 with neuroinfection. The control group included patients with both etiologies excluded. We analyzed the results of routine laboratory tests together with chosen serum (neopterin, interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6) and CSF (metalloproteinase [MMP]-9, S100B protein) markers. In the whole cohort, CSF MMP-9 correlated with CSF cytosis and serum IL-6 and CRP. In the undivided neuroinflammatory group, CSF S100B correlated with serum IL-6 and IgM concentrations. CSF cytosis was associated with CSF MMP-9 and serum neopterin levels. Among the infective patients, IL-6 was linked with increased CSF MMP-9. We conclude that astroglial protein S100B, neopterin, and cytokine concentrations may enable predicting long-term consequences, whereas CSF MMP-9 concentration may reflect the actual central nervous system injury regardless of etiology.
Clinical Practices in Central Venous Catheter Mechanical Adverse Events
Authors: Ablordeppey Enyo A. , Huang Wendy , Holley Ian , Willman Michael , Griffey Richard , Theodoro Daniel L.
Published: June 2022

Background: Over 5 million central venous catheters (CVCs) are placed annually. Pneumothorax and catheter malpositioning are common adverse events (AE) that requires attention. This study aims to evaluate local practices of mechanical complication frequency, type, and subsequent intervention(s) related to mechanical AE with an emphasis on catheter malpositioning. Methods: This is a retrospective review of CVC placements in a tertiary hospital setting from 1/2013 to 12/2013. Pneumothorax and CVC positioning were evaluated on post-insertion chest x-ray (CXR). Malposition was defined as unintended placement of the catheter in a vessel other than the intended superior vena cava on CXR. Catheter reposition was defined as radiographic evidence of a new catheter with removal of the old catheter less than 24hrs after initial placement. Data points analyzed included pneumothorax and thoracostomy rate, CVC malposition frequency, catheter reposition rate, catheter duration, and incidence of complications such as catheter associated venous thrombosis. Result: Among 2045 eligible CVC insertions, pneumothoraces occurred in 14 (0.7%; 95%CI 0.38, 1.17) and malpositions were identified in 275 (13.4%; 95% CI 12.3, 15.3). The proportion of pneumothoraces that required tube thoracostomy was 57%. The proportion of CVCs with malposition that were removed or replaced within 24h was 32.7%. "Malpositioned" catheters that were left in place by the clinical team (n = 185) had an average catheter duration of 8.2 days (95% CI 7.2, 9.3) versus 7.2 days (95% CI 6.17, 8.23) for catheters that were replaced after initial malposition (p = 0.14, t test). The incidence of venous thrombosis in repositioned “malpositioned” catheters was 7.8% versus 4.9% for “malpositioned” catheters that were left in place. Conclusions: Clinically significant catheter malposition and pneumothorax after CVC insertion are low. In this study, replaced and non-replaced “malpositioned” catheters had similar catheter duration and rates of complications, challenging the current dogma of CVC malposition practice.
The Impact of Chronic Medical Conditions on Mortality in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Baig Saqib H. , Vaid Urvashi , Yoo Erika J.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

To examine the impact of chronic comorbidities on mortality in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

Materials and Methods

Retrospective cohort study of adults with ARDS (ICD-10-CM code J80) from the National Inpatient Sample between January, 2016 and December, 2018. For the primary outcome of mortality, we conducted weighted logistic regression adjusting for factors identified on univariate analysis as potentially significant or differing between the two groups at baseline. We used negative binomial regression adjusting for the same comorbidities to identify risk factors for longer length of stay (LOS) among ARDS survivors.

Results

After exclusions, 1046 records were analyzed (3355 ARDS survivors and 1875 non-survivors.) The comorbidities examined included hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypothyroidism, alcohol and drug use, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease, chronic liver disease, chronic pulmonary disease and malignancy. In multivariate analysis, we found that malignancy (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.84-2.78, p < 0.001), cardiovascular disease (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.23-1.92, p < 0.001), and CKD (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.22-2.50, p  =  0.002) increased the risk of death. In interaction analyses, cardiovascular disease combined with either malignancy or CKD conferred higher odds of death compared to either risk factor alone.

Conclusions

The comorbidity of malignancy confers the most reliable risk of poor outcomes in ARDS with higher odds of hospital death and a simultaneous association with longer hospital LOS among survivors.
Biomarkers of Glycocalyx Injury and Endothelial Activation are Associated with Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Sepsis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fernández-Sarmiento Jaime , Molina Carlos Federico , Salazar-Pelaez Lina María , Flórez Steffanie , Alarcón-Forero Laura Carolina , Sarta Mauricio , Hernández-Sarmiento Ricardo , Villar Juan Carlos
Published: June 2022

Objective

Sepsis is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Microcirculatory impairment, especially damage to the endothelium and glycocalyx, is often not assessed. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the available evidence of the risk of unsatisfactory outcomes in patients with sepsis and elevated glycocalyx injury and endothelial activation biomarkers.

Design

A systematic search was carried out on PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane and Google Scholar up to December 31, 2021, including studies in adults and children with sepsis which measured glycocalyx injury and endothelial activation biomarkers within 48 hours of hospital admission. The primary outcome was the risk of mortality from all causes and the secondary outcomes were the risk of developing respiratory failure (RF) and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in patients with elevations of these biomarkers.

Measurements and Main Results

A total of 17 studies (3,529 patients) were included: 11 evaluated syndecan-1 (n=2,397) and 6 endocan (n=1,132). Syndecan-1 was higher in the group of patients who died than in those who survived [255 ng/mL (IQR: 139-305) vs. 83 ng/mL (IQR:40-111); p=0.014]. Patients with elevated syndecan-1 had a greater risk of death (OR 2.32; 95% CI 1.89, 3.10: p<0.001), MODS (OR 3.3; 95% CI 1.51, 7.25: p=0.003;), or RF (OR 7.53; 95% CI 1.86-30.45: p=0.005). Endocan was higher in patients who died [3.1 ng/mL (IQR 2.3, 3.7) vs. 1.62 ng/mL (IQR 1.2, 5.7); OR 9.53; 95% CI 3.34, 27.3; p<0.001], who had MODS (OR 8.33; 95% CI 2.07, 33.58; p=0.003) and who had RF (OR 9.66; 95% CI 2.26, 43.95; p=0.002).

Conclusion

Patients with sepsis and abnormal glycocalyx injury and endothelial activation biomarkers have a greater risk of developing respiratory failure, multiple organ failure, and death. Microcirculatory impairment should be routinely evaluated in patients with sepsis, using biomarkers to stratify risk groups.
Sources of Interference in Memory Across Development
Authors: Yim Hyungwook , Osth Adam F. , Sloutsky Vladimir M. , Dennis Simon J.
Published: June 2022

Episodic memory involves remembering not only what happened but also where and when the event happened. This multicomponent nature introduces different sources of interference that stem from previous experience. However, it is unclear how the contributions of these sources change across development and what might cause the changes. To address these questions, we tested 4- to 5-year-olds ( n = 103), 7- to 8-year-olds ( n = 82), and adults ( n = 70) using item- and source-recognition memory tasks with various manipulations (i.e., list length, list strength, word frequency), and we decomposed sources of interference using a computational model. We found that interference stemming from other items on the study list rapidly decreased with development, whereas interference from preexperimental contexts gradually decreased but remained the major source of interference. The model further quantified these changes, indicating that the ability to discriminate items undergoes rapid development, whereas the ability to discriminate contexts undergoes protracted development. These results elucidate fundamental aspects of memory development.
Is deception defensible in dementia care? A care ethics perspective
Authors: Huang Yuanyuan , Liu Hui , Cong Yali
Published: June 2022

Deception is common in dementia care, although its moral legitimacy is questionable. This paper conceptually clarifies when does dementia care involve deception and argues that care ethics is an appropriate ethical framework to guide dementia care compared with the mainstream ethical theories that emphasize abilities. From a perspective of care ethics, this paper claims that morally defensible deception is context-specific, embodied as a caring process that needs to be identified through instant, creative and interactive care procedures. According to this argument, it further analyses and concludes the moral rationality of deception in five common cases. While deception is morally justified in many situations, another concern is that it is usually not the last resort but a means of convenience. As the ability to interact, autonomy and dignity of persons with dementia (PWDs) are generally ignored; nurses need more training and education to master the essential procedures to ensure that the value of authenticity and autonomy is maintained and considered throughout dementia care.
Culturally-sensitive moral distress experiences of intensive care nurses: A scoping review
Authors: Kovanci Mustafa Sabri , Akyar Imatullah
Published: June 2022

Background

Moral distress is a phenomenon that all nurses experience at different levels and contexts. The level of moral distress can be affected by individual values and the local culture. The sources of the values shape the level of moral distress experienced and the nurses’ decisions.

Aim

The present scoping review was conducted to examine the situations that cause moral distress in ICU nurses in different countries.

Results

A scoping review methodology was adopted for the study, in line with the approach of Arksey, and O'Malley Literature was searched within PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO indexed keywords such as “moral distress”, “Critical Care Nurse”, and “Moral Distress Scale-Revised”. Of the 617 identified citations, 12 articles matched the inclusion criteria.

Conclusion

The moral distress experienced in countries and regions with similar cultures and geographies was parallel. The situations that cause the most moral distress are futile-care to prolong death, unnecessary tests and treatments, and working with incompetent healthcare personnel.
Determinants of Credit Risk in Ethiopian Banking Industry: Does Political Stability Matter?
Authors: Adem Mohammed
Published: June 2022

The continued political instability in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region has made it tough for bankers to recover loan repayments, triggering banks’ nonperforming assets to rise. Beyond the bank industry-specific and macroeconomic determinants, the article aims to understand the relationship between political stability and credit risk. The article focuses on 16 Ethiopian banks to understand the mentioned relationship in developing countries. From 2010 to 2020, data are obtained from the World Governance Indicators, World Development Indicators database and Ethiopia’s National Bank. Based on a two-step dynamic panel estimator, the results suggest that political stability is negatively correlated with credit risk, while political instability does have a positive impact on bank credit risk. Credit risk was inversely related to increased operating efficiency, diversified earnings and national currency appreciation. In contrast, greater bank size, rising inflation and economic expansion all contribute to a high level of credit risk. The loan-to-asset ratio and profitability were shown to have a minor influence on nonperforming loans (NPLs). Thus, this study provides a better understanding of the effects of political stability on the factors that determine levels of NPLs in developing economies.
Risk factors for residual pain after ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition on osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint
Authors: Komine Sayaka , Morizaki Yutaka , Uehara Kosuke , Miura Toshiki , Ohe Takashi , Tanaka Sakae
Published: June 2022

Background:

Ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) is currently the most performed procedure for osteoarthritis (OA) of the thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. In general, satisfactory outcomes are expected, although some patients complain of residual pain after LRTI. The objective of this study is to determine the factors associated with residual pain.

Method:

All patients with OA of the thumb CMC joint who underwent LRTI at our hospital between October 2013 and October 2018 and were regularly observed for at least 1 year were included. The following variables were extracted and included in the univariate analysis: sex, age, dominant hand, pain visual analog scale (VAS) score, Eaton classification, grip strength, pulp pinch strength, and metacarpophalangeal joint hyperextension angle were recorded as variables. Mann-Whitney U test or Fisher exact test was used for univariate analysis of the above factors, and then multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to find out the factors associated with residual pain.

Results:

The study included 60 thumbs of 53 patients. Eleven thumbs had postoperative residual pain. The surgery on the dominant hand was significantly associated with the presence of postoperative residual pain, especially in males.

Conclusions:

Dominant hand was associated with residual pain after LRTI for OA of the thumb CMC joint, although residual pain was minimal. Our findings will help in preoperative and postoperative counseling of patients. In the future, our results may also help select surgical procedures according to the patient’s characteristics.
Public Perceptions of Police in Fiji
Authors: Chand Anand , Karan Maureen Fatiaki , Goundar Pariniappa
Published: June 2022

Members of the public may have positive, negative, or mixed perceptions of police. Previous research has demonstrated that public perceptions are shaped by their experiences and interactions with police and can influence trust, perceived legitimacy, and future cooperation. Limited research has examined public perceptions of police in small island developing states. This article explores public perceptions of police in Fiji, an island state in the Pacific region. This study employed a mixed-method approach based on qualitative interviews ( n = 21) and quantitative surveys ( n = 150). The findings show that only a minority of the participants had a favorable view of police, while the majority had a negative perception. The results reveal that police corruption and brutality are two significant concerns of the public that the Fiji Police Force will need to address to gain public respect, trust, confidence, and legitimacy.
New Zealand’s Policing Efforts in the Pacific: Gender Programs, Practices, and Performances
Authors: Stewart-Withers Rochelle , Greener Bethan K.
Published: June 2022

Research increasingly identifies gender equality as being vital for the achievement of lasting peace and prosperity. New Zealand Police have delivered a range of capacity-building projects and programs in Pacific Island countries over many years. In this article, we examine the gendered impact of two such programs and consider how they have been delivered by New Zealand’s police officers. Although specific gender-focused programs helpfully prioritize gender, they can also unhelpfully create silos; however, gender-focused programs are likely to be most impactful when combined with certain practices and performances of gender. Drawing on observational research, we suggest that some male police personnel operating in communities may have significant gendered impacts by role modeling a form of “caring masculinities.” The demonstration of caring values by men potentially constitutes a vital contribution toward achieving deeper and broader structural change in the gender space. Practices and performances of gender should be elevated and evaluated alongside targeted program goals.
Towards an Embodied Analysis of the Academic Field
Authors: Hanson Rebecca , Richards Patricia
Published: June 2022

In this introduction to the journal's special issue on Gender, Violence, and the Production of Knowledge we engage with the collected articles to expand conversations on embodiment and research. The issue brings together articles that reflect on gender, race, and violence throughout academic spaces—from teaching to tenure, from field sites to job talks. They contribute to ongoing conversations that interrogate embodied experiences not only in the field but also within the university more generally, including but not limited to experiences of harassment. In short, they exemplify, complicate, and go beyond what we argued in our 2019 book: Harassed: Gender, Bodies, and Ethnographic Research. When read together, the pieces drive forward inseparable conversations on race, gender, and the academy; competency, risk, and pleasure in the field; and embodiment, the aesthetics of resilience, and resistance. Collectively, the articles underscore precisely why attending to embodiment—its pains, its pleasures, its histories and silences—in the field as well as institutional academic spaces is so crucial for the wellbeing of scholars and for the production of transformative knowledge.
The Inventory of Complicated Grief—A Systematic Psychometric Review and Conceptual Replication Study of the Structural Validity
Authors: Schakowski Alexander , Tönnies Justus , Friederich Hans-Christoph , Hartmann Mechthild , Haun Markus W.
Published: June 2022

The Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG) is a commonly used self-report measure in psycho-oncology, best supportive care, and palliative medicine. However, existing validation studies yielded conflicting results regarding the structural validity. This study provides a psychometric review and conceptual replication of the ICG latent structure to test the hypothesis that existing studies overfit unreliable sources of variance, which overshadow the unidimensionality of the ICG. All proposed latent models identified in the psychometric review were tested in a series of confirmatory and exploratory structural equation models. Specifically, at least five to six latent intercorrelated factors were necessary to reach acceptable model fit. However, a general CG factor accounted for most variance and ICG sum scores showed predictable associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms, which suggests that the ICG is essentially unidimensional. There are indications that other measures of pathological grief show similar inconsistencies. Overall, potentially emerging subfacets of the ICG should not be interpreted as distinct “symptom clusters.” If time constraints are an issue as is often the case in clinical research, complicated grief may just be measured by a reduced item set without a significant loss of information or complexity.
Continuum mechanics versus the mathematical analysis of its differential equations: In Memoriam Tony Spencer
Authors: Antman Stuart S
Published: June 2022

In 1966, A. J. M. Spencer gave an inaugural lecture on continuum mechanics on the occasion of his appointment to a professorship at the University of Nottingham. The lecture gave an accurate, but nontechnical, picture of the interaction of mathematics and continuum mechanics at that time, together with a prediction of their subsequent hoped-for interactions. This article responds to Spencer’s lecture by surveying these fields as of 1966, by tracing their developments, interactions, and lack thereof in the subsequent years, and by commenting on the prospects for the future.
Tumor-Inhibitory Effects of Zerumbone Against HT-29 Human Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Memari Fezzeh , Mirzavi Farshad , Jalili‐Nik Mohammad , Afshari Amir R. , Ghorbani Ahmad , Soukhtanloo Mohammad
Published: June 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second cause of cancer-associated death globally. Recently, herbal medicinal products and, in particular, zerumbone have been widely studied and used for cancer treatment as they induce significant anti-cancer effects. However, there is limited information about the anti-cancer effects of zerumbone in CRC. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-cancer effects of the zerumbone in CRC, focusing on cell apoptosis and migration. Anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects of zerumbone on HT-29 cells were evaluated using MTT and scratch wound healing assay, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to determine the mRNA expression levels of migration and apoptosis-related genes. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry. The intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using a ROS assay kit. Additionally, matrix metalloproteinase-2/-9 (MMP-2/-9) activity was determined using gelatin zymography. Zerumbone suppressed the viability of the HT-29 cells dose-dependently while having less cytotoxicity on normal NIH/3T3 cells. Zerumbone induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells and arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. These effects were associated with alteration in the expression of apoptosis-related genes (up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2 genes). Zerumbone also enhanced the generation of ROS in HT-29 cells. Furthermore, zerumbone significantly inhibited the migration of HT-29 cells and decreased MMP-2/-9 mRNA expression and activity. Our findings provide a potential use for zerumbone to induce apoptosis and suppress metastasis in HT-29 cells; thus, it could be developed as a promising natural agent for future CRC therapy.
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 T-stem cell memory persists in ocrelizumab-treated MS patients
Authors: Guerrera Gisella , Mandelli Alessandra , Finardi Annamaria , Orrico Mario , D’Orso Silvia , Picozza Mario , Noviello Maddalena , Beretta Valeria , Bonetti Bruno , Calabrese Massimiliano , Marastoni Damiano , De Rossi Nicola , Capra Ruggero , Salvetti Marco , Buscarinu Maria Chiara , Inglese Matilde , Uccelli Antonio , Moiola Lucia , Raposo Catarina , Muros-Le Rouzic Erwan , Pedotti Rosetta , Filippi Massimo , Bonini Chiara , Battistini Luca , Borsellino Giovanna , Furlan Roberto
Published: June 2022

Background:

Development of long-lasting anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) T-cell responses in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) treated with ocrelizumab is questioned.

Objective:

Investigate antiviral T-cell responses after infection with SARS-CoV-2 in ocrelizumab-treated pwMS. Control groups included ocrelizumab-treated pwMS without SARS-CoV-2 infection, and non-MS individuals with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools and T-cell reactivity was assessed by ELISPOT for interferon (IFN)-γ detection, and by multiparametric fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses for assessment and characterization of T-cell activation.

Results:

ELISPOT assay against the spike and the N protein of SARS-CoV-2 displayed specific T-cell reactivity in 28/29 (96%) pwMS treated with ocrelizumab and infected by SARS-CoV-2, similar to infected persons without MS. This reactivity was present 1 year after infection and independent from the time of ocrelizumab infusion. FACS analysis following stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools showed the presence of activation-induced markers (AIMs) in both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets in 96% and 92% of these individuals, respectively. Within naïve AIM+ CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, we detected T memory stem cells, suggesting the acquisition of long-term memory.

Conclusions:

B-cell depletion using ocrelizumab does not impair the development of long-lasting anti-SARS-CoV-2 T-cell responses.
Reconsidering Cartesian dualism and selfhood in Love, Death & Robots
Authors: Sarkar Jaya
Published: June 2022

This paper argues that the first season of the Netflix series Love, Death & Robots offers a representation of how consciousness might evolve outside of the body when it is downloaded into a techno-body, and how it transcends the limits of the biological body. Using posthumanism as a framework, the essay demonstrates how this process interrogates and critiques the ‘human’ condition and focuses on the idea of the boundary collapse between the human and the posthuman. The series also provides a hopeful narrative of cyborg liberation through rebellion against humans. The essay establishes the impact and critique of emerging technologies on the body and political agency in the series. Having examined the Cartesian mind-body split and Heidegger’s concept of Dasein, this paper argues that the cybernetic beings of Love, Death & Robots strive to transcend the embodiment constraints and develop a sense of individuality and free will. The paper also discusses how the blurring of the human/animal boundaries portrayed in the series supports a transgressive politics that underpins the first season of Love, Death & Robots. Additionally, the paper endeavors to depict how the series represents an ‘ontological turn’ and how the posthumans retain their selfhood and individual agencies even when they constantly transcend their subjectivities.