bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Philosophy of Experience for the Unfamiliar Encounter
Authors: Buethe John
Published: April 2022

We turn to experience when confronted by a problem, or so John Dewey's oeuvre suggests. Yet, what use is experience when the problem falls outside the boundaries of the known? Drawing upon a range of thinkers — from Alain Badiou to Elaine Scarry to Maggie Nelson — John Buethe takes Dewey's familiar thesis one step further to interrogate experience as preparation for radically unfamiliar circumstances, namely circumstances for which there is no experiential referent. He concludes that not only is an experiential education superior in its ability to bridge learners into the world as it is, it also possibly orients the subject to the good during times of uncertainty. Considering present volatilities within the state and society, the environment, and public health, educators may benefit by viewing experience under this light.
Thyroidectomy facilitated with Harmonic Caliper and intraoperative neural monitoring in three horses
Authors: Al Naem Mohamad , Litzke Lutz‐F. , Mourad Ahmed Atef Gomma
Published: April 2022

Background

Thyroidectomy in horses is performed conventionally; however, both iatrogenic and post‐operative complications occur, mostly due to injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN).

Objective

To facilitate sufficient understanding of the use of the Harmonic Focus® Shear (HFS) together with intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) of the RLN during thyroidectomy in horses.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Methods

Three horses were presented with a thyroid mass, and a hemithyroidectomy was performed using the HFS together with IONM. Medical records were reviewed. Findings at short‐term follow‐up at 6 weeks after surgery and long‐term follow‐up obtained from the referring veterinarian or owner 3 years after surgery were evaluated.

Results

The horses were 9–17 years old. Thyroid enlargement was unilateral in all horses, with two on the left side and one on the right side. Histological findings were consistent with adenocarcinoma, C‐cell adenocarcinoma and adenoma in each horse. Neither intraoperative‐ nor post‐operative complications were encountered. Short‐ and long‐term follow‐up showed that all horses returned to previous activity.

Main limitations

The limitation of this study is the small sample size, reflecting the low prevalence of this disease and the rarity of this procedure in horses.

Conclusions

The use of the HFS and IONM enabled an easy, precise dissection, adequate haemostasis and direct visualisation of the RLN during thyroidectomy, avoiding its damage and allowing evaluation of its function intraoperatively.
Sustainable development outcomes of livelihood diversification in small‐scale fisheries
Authors: Roscher Matthew B. , Allison Edward H. , Mills David J. , Eriksson Hampus , Hellebrandt Denis , Andrew Neil L.
Published: April 2022

Livelihood diversification is increasingly central to policy advice and investments in rural development and fisheries management. For small‐scale fishing communities in low‐ to middle‐income countries, more diverse livelihoods are generally hypothesized to reduce fishing pressure and vulnerabilities to external shocks and adverse trends while enabling people to construct routes out of poverty. Yet, evidence of impacts from livelihood diversification in small‐scale fisheries remains sparse. Our examination of the peer‐reviewed literature found substantial differences in how livelihood diversification is pursued, and in the realized outcomes from the process of diversification. Studies describing diversified livelihoods were almost as likely to report that livelihoods were not improved or that outcomes were mixed (54% combined) as they were to report improved livelihood outcomes (45%). Furthermore, one of the main theoretical drivers behind the support for diversified livelihoods—ecological conservation benefits—was unexplored in over 70% of studies. Of the minority of studies that did explore ecological outcomes, most reported that ecological conditions had not improved. These findings indicate conceptual ambiguity around livelihood diversification and a lack of empirical evidence supporting its theoretical underpinnings. There remain important questions about the impacts of diversification on multidimensional poverty and ecological conservation. Future research on and investment in diversification should be both more deliberate of what diversification means and more rigorous in the evaluation of its impacts.
Artificial intelligence‐assisted fatigue fracture recognition based on morphing and fully convolutional networks
Authors: Lyu Yetao , Yang Zi , Liang Hao , Zhang Beini , Ge Ming , Liu Rui , Zhang Zhefeng , Yang Haokun
Published: April 2022

Fatigue fracture is one of the most common metallic component failure cases in manufacturing industries. The observation on fractography can provide direct evidence for failure analysis. In this study, an image semantic segmentation method based on fully convolutional networks (FCNs) was proposed to figure out the boundary between fatigue crack propagation and fast fracture regions from optical microscope (OM) fractography images. Furthermore, a novel morphing‐based data augmentation method was adopted to enable few‐shot learning of sample images. The proposed framework can successfully segment two categories, namely, the crack propagation and fast fracture regions, thus differentiating the boundary of two regions in one image. This artificial intelligence (AI)‐assisted fatigue analysis architecture can complete the failure analysis procedure in 0.5 s and prove the feasibility of fatigue failure analysis. The segmentation accuracy of self‐developed network achieves 95.4% for the fatigue crack propagation region, as well as 97.2% for the fast fracture region. Not only for semantic segmentation DNN, we also prove that our novel data augmentation method can applied at the instance segmentation DNN, such as mask regional convolutional neural network (mask R‐CNN), one state‐of‐the‐art deep learning network for instance segmentation, to achieve similar accuracy.
A cautionary tale: Bazaar trade and limitations to growth in Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Karrar Hasan H. , Rudaz Philippe
Published: April 2022

In the three decades since the Soviet Union, bazaars have enabled self‐employment for large segments of the population in the Caucasus and Central Asia. In this article, we analyse data collected through 1200 structured interviews with bazaar traders in 2016 and 2017 in Georgia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, where we inquired about money, organization and support. These data allow us to draw empirically grounded conclusions about the daily operations of independent bazaar traders in the three countries. The data reveal two trends, which we describe in this article. First, the more globalized the individual businesses – evidenced by knowledge and usage of foreign currency and long‐distance trade networks – the more profitable the individual businesses. But simultaneously, in the three countries, bazaar trading has a low potential for growth. Although the cost of entry into the bazaar is low, the data show that the possibility of transformative growth – expansion in scale, innovation in efficiency or production, or increase in earning relative to investment – is also low, which reveals limitations on what bazaar trading can add to national economies despite its popularity as a vocation.
Network‐building by community actors to develop capacities for coproduction of health services following reforms: A case study
Authors: Usher Susan , Denis Jean‐Louis
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Responsive, integrated and sustainable health systems require that communities take an active role in service design and delivery. Much of the current literature focuses on provider‐led initiatives to gain community input, raising concerns about power imbalances inherent in invited forms of participation. This paper provides an alternate view, exploring how, in a period following reforms, community actors forge network alliances to (re)gain legitimacy and capacities to coproduce health services with system providers.

Methods

A longitudinal case study traced the network‐building efforts over 3 years of a working group formed by citizens and community actors working with seniors, minorities, recent immigrants, youth and people with disabilities. The group came together over concerns about reforms that impacted access to health services and the ability of community groups to mediate access for vulnerable community residents. Data were collected from observation of the group's meetings and activities, documents circulated within and by the group, and semi‐directed interviews. The first stage of analysis used social network mapping to reveal the network development achieved by the working group; a second traced network maturation, based on actor–network theory.

Results

Network mapping revealed how the working group mobilized existing links and created new links with health system actors to explore access issues. Problematization appeared as an especially important stage in network development in the context of reforms that disrupted existing collaborative relationships and introduced new structures and processes.

Conclusion

Network‐building strategies enable community actors to enhance their capacity for coproduction. A key contribution lies in the creation of ‘organizational infrastructure’.

Patient or Public Contribution

The lead researcher was embedded over 3 years in the activities of the community groups and community residents. Several group members provided comments on an initial draft of this paper. To preserve the anonymity of the group, their names do not appear in the acknowledgements section.
Equity and diversity in the nephrology workforce in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Francis Anna , O'Sullivan Kim M. , Patel Pinika , Viecelli Andrea K. , Hedley James A. , Swaminathan Ramyasuda , Crosthwaite Amy , Haloob Imad , Kennard Alice , Rowlandson Matthew , Boudville Neil , Webster Angela C. , Wyburn Kate ,   Equity and Diversity and Inclusivity Committee of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology
Published: April 2022

Background

Despite diversity initiatives, inequities persist in medicine with negative implications for the workforce and patients. Little is known about workplace inequity in nephrology.

Aim

To describe perceptions and experiences of bias by health professionals in the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN), focussing on gender and race.

Methods

A web‐based survey of ANZSN members recorded degree of perceived inequity on a Likert scale, ranging from 1 (none) to 5 (complete). Groups were compared using Mann–Whitney U‐test and logistic regression. Comments were synthesised using qualitative methods to explore themes of inequity and pathways to an inclusive future.

Results

Of the 620 members of the ANZSN, there were 134 (22%) respondents, of whom 57% were women and 67% were White. The majority (88%) perceived inequities in the workforce. Perceived drivers of inequity were gender (84/113; 75%), carer responsibilities (74/113; 65%) and race (64/113; 56%). Half (74/131) had personally experienced inequity, based on gender in 70% (52/74) and race in 39% (29/75) with perceived discrimination coming from doctors, patients, academics and health administrators. White males were least likely (odds ratio 0.39; 95% confidence interval 0.18–0.90) to experience inequity. Dominant themes from qualitative analysis indicated that the major impacts of inequity were limited opportunities for advancement and lack of formal assistance for those experiencing inequities. Proposed solutions to reduce inequity included normalising the discourse on inequity at an organisational level, with policy changes to ensure diverse representation on committees and in executive leadership positions.

Conclusions

Inequity, particularly driven by gender and race, is common for nephrology health professionals in Australia and New Zealand and impacts career progression.
Was Deng Xiaoping Right? An Overview of China's Equity Markets
Authors: Walter Carl E.
Published: April 2022

In the western world, stock markets arose from the search by privately owned companies for capital to build their businesses. Over time, the markets became places where ownership interests and even entire companies were bought and sold. In China, the complete opposite has happened. The markets arose out of the need for capital by bankrupt state‐owned enterprises operating in an economy with no history of private property. Deng Xiaoping, China's last emperor, gave the green light for the stock market experiment in early 1992 more with the hope of encouraging reform and efficiency than from any conviction that stock markets were the next sure thing.

Now, after more than 20 years of experimentation with domestic and international listings, it appears evident that stock markets whose primary function is to trade minority interests in government‐controlled companies have not achieved the goal of improving enterprise performance, as China's leaders originally hoped. Instead, the combination of state monopolies with Wall Street expertise and international capital has led to the creation of national companies that represent little more than the incorporation of China's old Soviet‐style industrial ministries. As for the markets, the government's determination to prevent real privatization has produced separate classes of shares that are defined almost entirely by one thing: the shareholder's relationship to the government. And with all aspects of stock market activity regulated, managed, and owned by various state agencies, it is not surprising that non‐state investors have become motivated more by speculative opportunities than by investment fundamentals.

But a quarter of a century is a short time in any country's development and, for all their shortcomings, the markets in mainland China and Hong Kong have played a significant role raising capital for China. It may be too early, perhaps, to suggest that China's equity markets have failed to accomplish what they were intended to do.
The social construction of nurse educator professional identities: Exploring the impact of a community of practice through participatory action research
Authors: Woods Andrew , Cashin Andrew , Horstmanshof Louise
Published: April 2022

Aims

The aim of the study was to explore whether, and how, professional nurse educator identity is co‐constructed by a community of practice.

Design

A critical participatory action research (PAR) methodology was used as it extends the principles of action research by seeking purposeful and sustainable social change that recognizes participants as researchers and generators of knowledge.

Methods

Twenty‐two sector‐based nurse educators employed as either nurse educators or clinical nurse educators participated in the critical PAR. Multiple methods of data generation were pursued in a cyclic and sequential manner consistent in an action research process. Three distinct phases of the research across 2015–2017 involved the generation of data before, during and after the establishment of a nurse educator community of practice. A social constructionist lens of analysis was used to explore the social and relational outcomes. The COREQ checklist was used to appraise the study report.

Results

A sustained period of community of practice engagement enhanced the participants' relationships and shifted their perceived professional identities towards being validated nurse educators with a stronger collective sense of their roles.

Conclusion

For this group of nurse educators, participation in the research resulted in collective meaning‐making, praxis, knowledge generation and the co‐construction of their professional identities.
Development and validation of an instrument to assess Brazilians’ knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors toward salt and sodium
Authors: Gomes Alícia Tavares da Silva , Gabe Kamila Tiemann , Jaime Patricia Constante
Published: April 2022

This study aimed to develop and validate an instrument to assess Brazilian adults’ knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors (KPB) toward salt and sodium. Based on a PAHO/WHO questionnaire, a new instrument was developed and evaluated by 11 experts, generating item and scale‐level content validity indexes (I‐CVI and S‐CVI, respectively). Face validity was verified through a focus group with eight participants, followed by an operational test with 36 interviewees. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to determine the construct validity, and Cronbach's α coefficient was calculated to analyze instrument's reliability, using data collected via telephone from a probabilistic sample of 422 adults. The generated solutions were analyzed from theoretical and statistical significance perspectives, which supported the determination of the best model. Remaining items were scored, with higher scores related to healthier practices. A descriptive analysis was performed considering the data from the 422‐adult sample. I‐CVIs (0.73‐1), S‐CVIs (0.93; 0.97) and the interviewees' analysis indicated that items are representative and clear, in addition to being suitable for application to the target audience. Tests confirmed sample adequacy to perform the EFA (KMO = 0.82; Bartlett's sphericity test, p < .001). The final validated model, with 16 items, sufficiently explained the variance and presented good reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.81; 95% CI 0.79 – 0.84). Women, older individuals, and with higher education had significantly higher scores, regardless of chronic diseases diagnosis (p < .001). This instrument is ready to be applied and easily reproduced, contributing to the assessment of KPB toward salt and sodium in Brazil.
Experimental sexual selection affects the evolution of physiological and life‐history traits
Authors: Garlovsky Martin D. , Holman Luke , Brooks Andrew L. , Novicic Zorana K. , Snook Rhonda R.
Published: April 2022

Sexual selection and sexual conflict are expected to affect all aspects of the phenotype, not only traits that are directly involved in reproduction. Here, we show coordinated evolution of multiple physiological and life‐history traits in response to long‐term experimental manipulation of the mating system in populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura. Development time was extended under polyandry relative to monogamy in both sexes, potentially due to higher investment in traits linked to sexual selection and sexual conflict. Individuals (especially males) evolving under polyandry had higher metabolic rates and locomotor activity than those evolving under monogamy. Polyandry individuals also invested more in metabolites associated with increased endurance capacity and efficient energy metabolism and regulation, namely lipids and glycogen. Finally, polyandry males were less desiccation‐ and starvation resistant than monogamy males, suggesting trade‐offs between resistance and sexually selected traits. Our results provide experimental evidence that mating systems can impose selection that influences the evolution of non‐sexual phenotypes such as development, activity, metabolism and nutrient homeostasis.
Effects of liberal oral intake on postoperative outcomes after elective laparoscopic gynaecological surgery: A randomised controlled clinical trial
Authors: Bao Kaibei , Deng Yingqing , Zhao Xiaotong , Zhao Tingting , Chen Jiaxin , Li Tian , Zhu Qianqian
Published: April 2022

Background

Women are at risk of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) after laparoscopic gynaecological surgery. Traditionally, patients who undergo laparoscopic gynaecological surgery are only allowed to initiate oral intake after return of bowel function, including bowel sounds or passage of flatus or stool. The present study was designed to assess the effect of liberal oral intake immediately after discharge from the post‐anaesthesia care unit (PACU) on PONV incidence in patients who underwent elective laparoscopic gynaecological surgery.

Methods

In total, 174 patients (aged 20–64 years) were randomly assigned to the traditional and liberal groups. In the traditional group, patients were allowed to initiate oral intake 6 h after discharge from the PACU. In the liberal group, patients were allowed oral intake immediately after discharge from the PACU. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV 48 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included ileus incidence, total dose of postoperative opiate (sufentanil) use, time to postoperative first flatus (FFL), first out‐of‐bed mobilisation and the duration of postoperative hospitalisation stay.

Results

Incidence of PONV was not significantly different between both groups (32.18% vs. 33.33%, p = 0.872). Time to FFL in the liberal group was significantly shorter than that in the traditional group (14.82 ± 0.91 h vs. 17.50 ± 0.96 h, p = 0.024). The postoperative pain score at 48 h after surgery was significantly lower in the liberal group than that in the traditional group (2.48 ± 0.17 vs. 3.20 ± 0.19, p = 0.008) without an increase in sufentanil use (89.32 ± 1.02 µg vs. 89.92 ± 1.16 µg, p = 0.702). No ileus occurred in either group. When considering the time of actually return to regular diet, initiating regular diet no more than 6 h after discharge from PACU significantly shortened the time to first out‐of‐bed mobilisation (11.18 ± 1.01 h vs. 15.05 ± 0.70 h, p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Our results indicate that liberal oral intake after discharge from the PACU in patients aged 20–64 years who underwent gynaecological surgery is safe and beneficial and supports the rationale for a more liberal diet regime postoperatively.
GJB1 variants in Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth disease X‐linked type 1 in Mali
Authors: Yalcouyé Abdoulaye , Diallo Seybou H. , Cissé Lassana , Karembé Mamadou , Diallo Salimata , Coulibaly Thomas , Diarra Salimata , Coulibaly Dramane , Keita Mohamed , Guinto Cheick O. , Fischbeck Kenneth H. , Wonkam Ambroise , Landouré Guida ,   The H3Africa Consortium
Published: April 2022

X‐linked Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth type 1 (CMTX1) disease is one of the most common subtypes of inherited neuropathies and is caused by mutations in the GJB1 gene. To date, more than 400 mutations have been reported in GJB1 worldwide but none in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). We aimed to clinically characterize patients with CMTX1 and identify the genetic defects. All patients were examined thoroughly, and Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) were done. EEG and pure tone audiometry (PTA) were also done in select individuals having additional symptoms. DNA was extracted for CMT gene panel testing (50 genes + mtDNA and PMP22 duplication), and putative variants were screened in available relatives. The predominant starting symptom was tingling, and the chief complaint was gait difficulty. Neurological examination found a distal muscle weakness and atrophy, and sensory loss, skeletal deformities, decreased or absent reflexes and steppage gait. The inheritance pattern was consistent with dominant X‐linked. NCS showed no response in most of the tested nerves in lower limbs, and normal or reduced amplitudes in upper limbs. A severe sensorineural hearing impairment and a focal epileptic seizure were observed in one patient each. A high intra and inter‐familial clinical variability was observed. Genetic testing found three pathogenic missense variants in GJB1, one in each of the families (Val91Met, Arg15Trp, and Phe235Cys). This is the first report of genetically confirmed cases of CMTX1 in SSA, and confirms its clinical and genetic heterogeneity.
Do patients with psoriasis are at higher risk for atherogenity? A case–control study
Authors: Aksoy Hakan , Aksoy Sarac Gulhan , Dinçer Rota Didem , Acar Onur , Nayır Tufan
Published: April 2022

Background

Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease that is common in both adult and childhood. Patients with psoriasis are at significant risk for the development of many comorbid conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the cardiovascular risk status and serum lipid parameters in patients with psoriasis and to determine the risk of cardiovascular disease by atherogenic indices obtained accordingly.

Methods

This retrospective case‐control study was conducted with a total of 142 individuals, 72 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 70 healthy volunteers over the age of 18 who were admitted to the dermatology outpatient clinic. Demographic information and laboratory values were retrieved from the hospital database. Afterward, atherogenic indexes such as Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), Castelli Risk Index I and II (CRI‐I and II), and Atherogenic coefficient (AC) were calculated.

Results

There was a significant difference in lipid profile between the psoriasis patients and the control group. In patients with psoriasis, triglyceride level (140.09 ± 71.20 mg/dl vs. 116.10 ± 63.95, p = 0.037) was higher, while HDL level (44.34 ± 11.77 mg/dl vs. 50.31 ± 11.62, p = 0.003) was lower. Regarding atherogenic indices; AIP (0.10 ± 0.24 vs. −0.04 ± 0.27, p = 0.001), CRI‐I (4.63 ± 1.40 vs. 3.94 ± 1.02, p = 0.001), CRI‐II (2.98 ± 1.01 vs. 2.61 ± 0.82, p = 0.019) and AC (3.63 ± 1.40 vs.. 2.94 ± 1.02, p = 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis.

Conclusion

Our study shows that patients with psoriasis have higher pro‐atherogenic lipid profile and atherogenic indexes at a high risk level. Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
The pelvic exam as bellwether for patient‐led care in the curriculum
Authors: Canfield Carolyn , Holmes Cheryl Lynn
Published: April 2022

Sharing Towle's disappointment that pelvic exam teaching materials referring to “poorly relaxed” women, we argue that the profound vulnerability associated with pelvic exam requires a truly patient‐led approach built on trust.
Pretend play: More imitative than imaginative
Authors: Adair Heather V. , Carruthers Peter
Published: April 2022

Pretense is generally thought to constitutively involve imagination. We argue that this is a mistake. Although pretense often involves imagination, it need not; nor is it a kind of imagination. The core nature of pretense is closer to imitation than it is to imagination, and likely shares some of its motivation with the former. Three main strands of argument are presented. One is from the best explanation of cross‐cultural data. Another is from task‐analysis of instances of pretend play. And the third concerns the different ways in which pretense (especially childhood pretense) and imagination impact one's evaluative/affective systems.
Walking a tightrope: A meta‐synthesis from frontline nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Fernández‐Basanta Sara , Castro‐Rodríguez Marta , Movilla‐Fernández María‐Jesús
Published: April 2022

Nursing staff plays a key role in the public health response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, being in the front line of care. This study sought to synthesise the qualitative literature on care experiences of frontline nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A search was conducted on five databases in January 2021. Fifteen qualitative studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the research, being submitted to interpretive meta‐synthesis according to the eMERGe guide. The final synthesis included a line of argument that shows the experiences of frontline nurses during the COVID‐19 pandemic, divided into three major themes: ‘Instability on the edge of a cliff: unpredictable and unknown context,’ ‘The price of walking the tightrope: the uncertainty surrounding care,’ and ‘Finding the balance to reach the other side: dealing with the emotional demands of care.’ Although essential in the health response to the COVID‐19 pandemic, nurses experienced an emotional impact arising from the hampered care provision. Our results point to need for strengthening the training of nurses and future nurses, creating and promoting measures that contribute to their psycho‐emotional well‐being, ensuring a safe environment for their clinical practice, and promoting their participation in decision‐making processes.
Effect of aerobic exercise on waist circumference in adults with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Armstrong Alex , Jungbluth Rodriguez Klaus , Sabag Angelo , Mavros Yorgi , Parker Helen M. , Keating Shelley E. , Johnson Nathan A.
Published: April 2022

Excess visceral adiposity contributes to elevated cardiometabolic risk, and waist circumference is commonly used as a surrogate measure of visceral adipose tissue. Although regular aerobic exercise is known to improve abdominal obesity, its effect on waist circumference is unclear. A systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed to determine (1) the effect of aerobic exercise on waist circumference in adults with overweight or obesity; (2) the association between any change in waist circumference and change in visceral adipose tissue and/or bodyweight with aerobic exercise interventions; and (3) if reductions in waist circumference with exercise are moderated by clinical characteristics or components of aerobic exercise prescription. Twenty‐five randomized controlled trials (1686 participants) were included. Regular aerobic exercise significantly reduced waist circumference by 3.2 cm (95% confidence interval [CI] −3.86, −2.51, p ≤ 0.001) versus control. Change in waist circumference was associated with change in visceral adipose tissue (β = 4.02; 95% CI 1.37, 6.66, p = 0.004), and vigorous intensity produced superior reduction (−4.2 cm, 95% CI −4.99, −3.42, p < 0.0001) in waist circumference compared with moderate intensity (−2.50 cm, 95% CI −3.22, −1.79, p = 0.058). These findings suggest regular aerobic exercise results in modest reductions in waist circumference and associated visceral adipose tissue and that higher intensity exercise may offer superior benefit to moderate intensity.
Factors affecting image magnification in indirect ophthalmoscopy with Volk or similar lenses and a biomicroscope
Authors: Jinabhai Amit Navin , Charman W. Neil
Published: April 2022

Purpose

To explore the factors affecting the linear magnification of the intermediate fundus image during indirect ophthalmoscopy with a slit‐lamp biomicroscope.

Methods

A simple paraxial model, based on a ‘reduced’ eye and a ‘thin’ ophthalmoscopy lens, is used to develop equations showing the effects of the power and ametropia of the eye, and the equivalent power and position of the ophthalmoscopy lens on fundus magnification. Predicted magnifications are compared with practical results found in earlier published experimental studies, which used Volk ophthalmoscopy lenses in conjunction with physical model eyes with adjustable levels of axial ametropia.

Results

The model's magnification predictions, as a function of the eye's ametropia, are in good agreement with previous experimental measurements, provided that the equivalent powers of the Volk lenses are used rather than their labelled nominal powers. Magnification values typically change by approximately ±10% over the practical range of each parameter if other parameters are held constant. In particular, normal variations in the equivalent power of the adult emmetropic eye result in magnifications which range from about 90–120% of the nominal value given for an eye power of +60.00 D. It is demonstrated that the recommended working distances for different powers of Volk ophthalmoscopy lenses approximate optimal matching between the various pupils of the eye‐Volk lens‐slit‐lamp biomicroscope system.

Conclusions

All the parameters considered have marked effects on magnification. The magnification values quoted by manufacturers can be regarded as only approximations of those which may be found in practice. Better estimates of magnification can be obtained by inserting the appropriate parameter values into the equations derived in this paper, using, where appropriate, the equivalent power of the indirect ophthalmoscopy lens, rather than the lens' labelled, ‘nominal’ power.
Selvester QRS score predicts improvement of LVEF in atrial fibrillation patients with systolic heart failure
Authors: Nomura Yoshihiro , Harada Masahide , Motoike Yuji , Nishimura Asuka , Koshikawa Masayuki , Ito Takehiro , Sobue Yoshihiro , Kitagawa Fumihiko , Watanabe Eiichi , Ozaki Yukio , Izawa Hideo
Published: April 2022

Background

Left‐ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) comorbid with atrial fibrillation is reversible, but recovery is limited in a subset of patients. The Selvester QRS (S‐QRS) score is an electrocardiogram‐based assessment that reportedly reflects myocardial scar/damage. We evaluated the predictability of S‐QRS score for the recovery of left‐ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in persistent AF (PeAF) patients with LVSD undergoing catheter ablation (CA).

Method

CA was performed in 51 PeAF patients with reduced LVEF (<40%); S‐QRS scores were measured after restoration of sinus rhythm. LVEF was re‐evaluated at one year after CA; LVEF recovery was related to the S‐QRS score.

Results

The median [interquartile range] S‐QRS score was 1 point [0–2]. LVEF increased from 32% [28–37] at baseline to 56% [49–57] at 1 year after CA. Thirty‐seven patients achieved normalization of LVEF (≥50%, Group A); 14 patients did not (Group B). Group A had significantly lower S‐QRS scores than Group B (0 point [0–2] vs. 2 points [2–3], p < .05). In univariate/multivariate analyses, S‐QRS score was an independent predictor of LVEF normalization. In the receiver operating characteristic curve, the cut‐off value of S‐QRS score was 2 points for prediction of the LVEF normalization (AUC = 0.79). Patients with low S‐QRS score (<2 points) had greater LVEF improvement than those with high S‐QRS score (≥2 points, ΔLVEF: 23% [17–28] vs. 17% [12–24], p < .05).

Conclusion

S‐QRS scoring noninvasively assesses the improvement of LVEF in PeAF patients with LVSD after CA. A high S‐QRS score may indicate underlying myocardial scar/damage associated with unknown etiologies for LVSD other than PeAF.
Wheeze is an unreliable endpoint for bronchial methacholine challenges in preschool children
Authors: Stewart Lora , Miyazawa Naomi , Covar Ronina , Mjaanes Christopher , Shimamoto Reed , Gleason Melanie , Peroni Diego , Spahn Joseph D. , Comberiati Pasquale
Published: April 2022

Background

Onset of wheeze is the endpoint often used in the determination of a positive bronchial challenge test (BCT) in young children who cannot perform spirometry. We sought to assess several clinical endpoints at the time of a positive BCT in young children with recurrent wheeze compared to findings in school‐aged children with asthma.

Methods

Positive BCT was defined in: (1) preschool children (n = 22) as either persistent cough, wheeze, fall in oxygen saturation (SpO2) of ≥5%, or ≥50% increase in respiratory rate (RR) from baseline; and (2) school‐aged children (n = 22) as the concentration of methacholine (MCh) required to elicit a 20% decline in FEV1 (PC20).

Results

All preschool children (mean age 3.4 years) had a positive BCT (median provocative MCh concentration 1.25 mg/ml [IQR, 0.62, 1.25]). Twenty (91%) school‐aged children (mean age 11.3 years) had a positive BCT (median PC20 1.25 mg/ml [IQR, 0.55, 2.5]). At the time of the positive BCT, the mean fall in SpO2 (6.9% vs. 3.8%; p = .001) and the mean % increase in RR (61% vs. 22%; p < .001) were greater among preschool‐aged than among school‐aged children. A minority of children developed wheeze at time of positive BCT (23% preschool‐ vs. 15% school‐aged children; p = .5).

Conclusions

The use of wheeze as an endpoint for BCT in preschool children is unreliable, as it rarely occurs. The use of clinical endpoints, such as ≥25% increase in RR or fall in SpO2 of ≥3%, captured all of our positive BCT in preschool children, while minimizing undue respiratory distress.
National population‐based study of constipation in children in Korea, 2002–2013
Authors: Eom Tae‐Hoon , Chae Kyung‐Hee , Kim Sukil , Kim Kwang Yeon
Published: April 2022

Background

The purpose of this study is to estimate the overall prevalence and incidence of constipation in Korean children and adolescent based on health insurance claims data.

Methods

This study is a retrospective cohort study using the Korean National Health Insurance Service – National Sample Cohort from 2002 to 2013. Patients age less than 19 years old were selected, and the prevalence and incidence of constipation were estimated.

Results

The standardized incidence rate was 10.8 per 1,000 persons in 2004 to 14.3 per 1,000 persons in 2012. The standardized prevalence increased from 12.2 per persons in 2002 to 26.4 per persons in 2013. Females had a higher incidence rate and prevalence rate than males during the study period. The overall recurrence rates were 13.2%. The recurrence rates were 12.9% in males and 13.5% in females. The overall average constipation duration was 229 days. The duration was 222 days in males and 236 days in females.

Conclusions

This is the first study to conduct a population‐based study of all children in Korea with constipation. These data reveal the increasing burden and impact of constipation on children and could enable effective public and clinical health strategies to be planned.
Initial Excited State Dynamics of Lumichrome upon Ultraviolet Excitation
Authors: Ghosh Sudeb , Puranik Mrinalini
Published: April 2022

Lumichrome (LC) is the major photodegradation product of biologically important flavin cofactors. Since LC serves as a structural comparison with the flavins; understanding excited states of LC is fundamentally important to establish a connection with photophysics of different flavins, such as lumiflavin (LF), riboflavin (RF), flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Herein, we deduce the initial excited state structural dynamics of LC using UV resonance Raman (UVRR) intensity analysis. The UVRR spectra at wavelengths across the 260 nm absorption band of LC were measured and resulting Raman excitation profiles and absorption spectrum were self‐consistently simulated using a time‐dependent wave packet formalism to extract the initial excited state structural and solvent broadening parameters. These results are compared with those obtained for other flavins following UV excitations. We find that LC undergoes a very distinct instantaneous charge redistribution than flavins, which is attributed to the extended π‐conjugation present in flavins but missing in LC. The homogeneous broadening linewidth of LC appears to be lower than that of LF, while the inhomogeneous broadening values are comparable, indicating greater solvent interaction with excited flavin on ultrafast timescale compared with LC, whereas on longer timescale these interactions are almost similar.
The effect of soil salinity and pepino mosaic virus infection on the expression of tomato defence‐related genes
Authors: Zarrougui Nour Elhouda , Spanos Theodore , Kissoudis Christos , Livieratos Ioannis C.
Published: April 2022

To reflect field conditions where cultivated plants are frequently exposed to multiple stresses simultaneously, the effect of salinity on the expression of defence‐related genes in tomato plants was examined in the absence and presence of pepino mosaic virus (PepMV) infection. Tomato seedlings were grown under three soil salinity regimes from the fourth day after transplantation: (a) no‐added salt (control), (b) low salinity (20 mM NaCl) and (c) high salinity (100 mM NaCl). The plants were non‐, mock‐ or PepMV‐inoculated 14 days after transplantation and systemic leaves were collected 4 days postinoculation for analysis by reverse transcription‐quantitative PCR (RT‐qPCR). In noninoculated tomato plants exposed to low and high salinity, expression of the salicylic acid (SA)‐, jasmonic acid‐, ethylene‐related genes was typically down‐regulated compared to control plants, with only a slight (nonsignificant) increase in ABA2 expression. In PepMV‐infected tomato plants, a strong induction of SA‐related genes was observed, which was compromised under low and high salt stress. The induction of PR1 gene expression by PepMV infection was the highest (an 82‐fold increase) in control plants, but was significantly less (a 20‐fold increase) under conditions of low and high soil salinity. No direct correlation between SA gene expression levels and PepMV RNA accumulation became apparent. In RT‐qPCR, the levels of PepMV genomic RNA and tomato LoxD and ACS1 RNA transcripts under mild salt stress were significantly reduced (the former 6‐fold), but under high salt stress the levels of all were similar to those in the nonstressed controls.
Treating farm dairy effluent with poly‐ferric sulphate dramatically reduces phosphorus and E. coli leaching through subsurface drains—A physical drainage model study
Authors: Che Xueying , Di Hong J. , Cameron Keith C. , Dodd Rosalind
Published: April 2022

Land application of farm dairy effluent (FDE) may lead to water contamination, by contaminants such as phosphorus (P) and E. coli. A new FDE treatment technology using poly‐ferric sulphate (PFS) has been developed to recycle wastewater in FDE for washing the farmyard. A physical drainage model study was conducted to investigate the effect of treating FDE with PFS on phosphorus and E. coli leaching through model subsurface drains. Dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and total phosphorus (TP) leaching losses from untreated effluent (FDE) averaged 3.48 kg P ha−1 and 11.44 kg P ha−1, respectively. The application of PFS‐treated effluent (TE) resulted in significantly lower DRP and TP leaching losses at 0.24 kg P ha−1 and 4.52 kg P ha−1 for fresh TE and 0.27 kg P ha−1 and 6.31 kg P ha−1 for TE stored for 3 weeks before application (TE‐S). Cumulative DRP lost to drainage water from the TE and TE‐S treatments was 93.1% and 92.2% lower than that from the FDE treatments. Compared with the FDE treatment, there was a 98.27% and 99.99% reduction in E. coli in the drainage water from the TE and TE‐S treatments. Plant biomass and P uptake were not affected by the effluent treatments. These results indicate that land application of PFS‐treated effluent, fresh or stored, on drained pasture soils can produce significant environmental benefits by reducing the concentration and amount of P and E. coli in the drainage water, without adversely impacting plant growth.
Identification of the novel HLA‐A*02:981 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Shi Xiu‐Min , Hu Rui‐Ping , Li Pei‐Tong , Han Wei , Gao Su‐Jun
Published: April 2022

One nucleotide replacement at position 728 of HLA‐A*02:07:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐A*02:981.
Preliminary study on the effect of season on urinary analytes in healthy Italian dairy cows
Authors: Probo Monica , Giordano Alessia , Rocca Valentina , Moretti Pierangelo , Paltrinieri Saverio
Published: April 2022

Background

Season is known to affect serum analyte concentrations in dairy cows, and the same can be hypothesized for urinary analytes, but information in this regard is lacking.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of seasonality on urinary variables in healthy dairy cows.

Methods

Twelve Italian Holstein cows were randomly selected from a local herd, and urine specimens were collected once in each season of the year. For each cow, the lactation stage at each sampling time was also registered (lactation vs dry period), and physical examination and hematology and serum biochemistry measurements were used to assess health status. Three cows were voluntarily culled from the herd during the year; therefore, nine cows were included. Concentrations of urinary analytes recorded in each season for each cow were compared.

Results

Seasonality affected urinary protein‐to‐creatinine ratios (P = 0.012) with lower median values in summer compared with spring (P = 0.020) and autumn (P = 0.004); differences were also found in urinary sodium‐to‐urinary creatinine ratio (P = 0.009), with lower medians in summer compared with spring (P = 0.003) and autumn (P = 0.020). The direct consequences of higher summer temperatures and the acclimation strategies needed to adapt to this environment could explain the changes in urinary analytes that were recorded in the current study; in fact, decreased food and water consumption tend to increase urinary creatinine concentrations and decrease renal excretion of proteins and electrolytes.

Conclusions

The present results suggest that seasonality can affect urinary variables of healthy dairy cows.
Efficiency assessment of irrigation as an alternative method for improving the regenerative potential of non‐healing wounds
Authors: Figiel‐Dabrowska Anna , Krzesniak Natalia E. , Noszczyk Bartłomiej H. , Domanska‐Janik Krystyna , Sarnowska Anna
Published: April 2022

The application of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) in regenerative medicine offers hope for the effective treatment of incurable or difficult‐to‐heal diseases. However, it requires the development of unified protocols for both safe and efficient cell acquisition and clinical usage. The therapeutic effect of fat grafts (containing stem cells) in non‐healing wounds has been discussed in previous studies, although the application requires local or general anaesthesia. The treatment of MSC derived from adipose tissue (ASC) could be a less invasive method, and efficient delivery could lead to more favourable outcomes, which should encourage clinicians to use such therapeutic approaches more frequently. Therefore, the aim of this study was to optimise the methods of ASC isolation, culture and administration while maintaining their high survival, proliferation and colonisation potential. The ASC were isolated by an enzymatic method and were characterised according to International Society for Cellular Therapy and International Federation for Adipose Therapeutics and Science guidelines. To assess the opportunity to obtain a sufficient number of cells for transplantation, long‐term cell cultures in two oxygen concentrations (5% vs. 21%) were conducted. For these cultures, the population doubling time, the cumulative time for cell population doublings and the rate of cell senescence were estimated. In a developed and pre‐defined protocol, ASC can be efficiently cultured at physiological oxygen concentrations (5%), which leads to faster proliferation and slower cell senescence. Subsequently, to select the optimal and minimally invasive methods of ASC transplantation, direct cell application with an irrigator or with skin dressings was analysed. Our results confirmed that both the presented methods of cell application allow for the safe delivery of isolated ASC into wounds without losing their vitality. Cells propagated in the described conditions and applied in non‐invasive cell application (with an irrigation system and dressings) to treat chronic wounds can be a potential alternative or supplement to more invasive clinical approaches.
La influencia de la Alianza para el Progreso en la vivienda colectiva tras el terremoto de 1960 en Chile. Caso de estudio: Población Kennedy, Puerto Montt
Authors: Ojeda Carolina G.
Published: April 2022

La Alianza para el Progreso (AP) oficializó su influencia en Chile a partir de 1961 en las áreas de educación, política, ingeniería y construcción habitacional, consolidándose esta preponderancia tras el terremoto de 1960 (9,9 Mz Richter). En el sector habitacional, la AP aportó de forma directa a la materialización de viviendas colectivas y unifamiliares (llamadas “aldeas”) en todo el sur chileno con 35 000 unidades de vivienda para 182 000 personas entre 1961 y 1965. En este artículo se analiza desde una perspectiva historiográfica este proceso de construcción de viviendas, poniendo especial énfasis en la Población Kennedy en Puerto Montt, la cual fue construida hacia 1965 como el primer block de departamentos de la capital de la región de Los Lagos. Asimismo, se reconstruyen algunos de sus logros, ya que tras 55 años constituye un hito en el sur de Chile, principalmente por su materialidad en hormigón armado, por sus formas enmarcadas en el movimiento moderno en arquitectura, y por ser un ícono vivo de la influencia material del programa de la AP.