bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antifungal Effect of All-
trans
Retinoic Acid against Aspergillus fumigatus
In Vitro
and in a Pulmonary Aspergillosis
In Vivo
Model
Authors: Campione Elena , Gaziano Roberta , Doldo Elena , Marino Daniele , Falconi Mattia , Iacovelli Federico , Tagliaferri Daniela , Pacello Lucrezia , Bianchi Luca , Lanna Caterina , Aurisicchio Luigi , Centofanti Federica , Di Francesco Paolo , Del Principe Ilaria , Del Bufalo Francesca , Locatelli Franco , Pistoia Enrico Salvatore , Marra Emanuele , Orlandi Augusto
Published: December 2020

Aspergillus fumigatus
is the most common opportunistic fungal pathogen and causes invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), with high mortality among immunosuppressed patients. The fungistatic activity of all-
trans
retinoic acid (ATRA) has been recently described
in vitro
.
Can the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Risk Calculator Predict Outcomes for Urgent Colectomies?
Authors: Ziegler Matthew A. , Bauman John C. , Welsh Robert J. , Wasvary Harry J.
Published: December 2020

Background

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) Risk Calculator (RC) predicts postoperative outcomes using 19 risk factors, including operative acuity. Acuity is defined by the calculator as emergent or elective only. The objective of this study is to evaluate the RC’s accuracy in urgent (nonelective/nonemergent) cases.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of the NSQIP data for patients who underwent urgent colectomies at a single tertiary care center over a 4-year period. Each urgent case was entered into the RC as both elective and emergent, and predicted outcomes were compared to actual postoperative outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used when sufficient statistical power was present and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated.

Results

A total of 301 urgent colectomy patients were evaluated, representing 19% of all colectomies performed at our institution during the study period. Of the 15 possible postoperative outcomes, the RC showed high predictive value only for mortality (AUC elective .8467; emergent .8451) and discharge to a nursing/rehabilitation facility (AUC elective .8089; emergent .8105). The RC showed no predictive value for 6 outcomes and the remainder lacked statistical power to draw conclusions.

Discussion

While the calculator predicted mortality and discharge to a nursing/rehabilitation facility, it did not accurately predict complications for urgent colectomies. Future versions of the calculator should focus on improving the predictive value by including urgent cases as a separate category.
A Review of “Changes in the Management of Injuries to the Liver and Spleen” (2005)
Authors: Feliciano David V.
Published: December 2020

Introduction: The article “Changes in the Management of Injuries to the Liver and Spleen” was originally presented as the Scudder Oration on Trauma at the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) 90th Annual Clinical Congress in New Orleans, Louisiana, in October 2004. Charles L. Scudder, MD, a founding member of the College, was the originator and first Chairman of the Committee on the Treatment of Fractures from 1922 to 1933. The first “Fracture Oration” of the ACS by Dr Scudder was entitled “Oration on Fractures,” was presented at the Clinical Congress in October 1929, and was published in Surg Gynecol Obstet 1930; 50:193-195. Fracture Orations were presented from 1929 to 1941 and 1946 to 1951, while an Oration on Trauma was presented from 1952 to 1962. From 1963 to present, the Scudder Oration on Trauma has been presented at the annual Clinical Congress by an individual with significant contributions to the field.
Do Omnivores Perform Class Distinction? A Qualitative Inspection of Culinary Tastes, Boundaries and Cultural Tolerance
Authors: Yalvaç N Simay , Karademir Hazır Irmak
Published: December 2020

This article explores the culinary taste repertoires of middle-class people in Turkey who can be defined as omnivores due to their routine engagement with ‘lowbrow’ food spaces. We aim to understand how they make sense of their boundary crossing and the extent to which this indicates tolerance. We find that our culinary omnivores develop interest in traditional food and tend to cross established boundaries between the traditional and modern to maintain a cosmopolitan palette. However, our analysis identifies certain conditions that foster and limit omnivorous practices, such as mealtime, type of occasion and with whom the food is shared, as well as one’s class trajectory, demonstrating how selective people are when they step outside of their original taste profiles. Derogatory comments about the manners of these settings’ original clientele suggest that omnivores continue to perform distinction regardless of their openness to ‘lowbrow’ cultural forms.
Cognition, Care, and Usability: Applying Cognitive Concepts to User Experience Design in Health and Medical Contexts
Authors: St.Amant Kirk
Published: December 2020

Meeting the needs of users requires an understanding of the contexts where they interact with materials. This entry presents an approach for integrating script theory into usability to develop medical materials individuals can use in the settings where they receive or perform healthcare activities. The entry introduces technical communication professionals to script theory and presents mechanisms for using script theory to research patient expectations of and presents usable materials for health and medical contexts.
Augmenting Surveys With Data From Sensors and Apps: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Struminskaya Bella , Lugtig Peter , Keusch Florian , Höhne Jan Karem
Published: December 2020

The increasing volume of “Big Data” produced by sensors and smart devices can transform the social and behavioral sciences. Several successful studies used digital data to provide new insights into social reality. This special issue argues that the true power of these data for the social sciences lies in connecting new data sources with surveys. While new digital data are rich in volume, they seldomly cover the full population nor do they provide insights into individuals’ feelings, motivations, and attitudes. Conversely, survey data, while well suited for measuring people’s internal states, are relatively poor at measuring behaviors and facts. Developing a methodology for integrating the two data sources can mitigate their respective weaknesses. Sensors and apps on smartphones are useful for collecting both survey data and digital data. For example, smartphones can track people’s travel behavior and ask questions about its motives. A general methodology on the augmentation of surveys with data from sensors and apps is currently missing. Issues of representativeness, processing, storage, data linkage, and how to combine survey data with sensor and app data to produce one statistic of interest pertain. This editorial to the special issue on “Using Mobile Apps and Sensors in Surveys” provides an introduction to this new field, presents an overview of challenges, opportunities, and sets a research agenda. We introduce the four papers in this special issue that focus on these opportunities and challenges and provide practical applications and solutions for integrating sensor- and app-based data collection into surveys.
The dialogical and political nature of emotions: A reading of Vygotsky’s The Psychology of Art
Authors: Larrain Antonia , Haye Andrés
Published: December 2020

A significant number of articles published in Theory & Psychology have been inspired by, or discuss, Vygotsky’s contribution to psychology. However, most of the available publications and discussions on Vygotsky overlook his theory of art and emotions and, more broadly, his view on subjectivity. In this article we offer a reading of Vygotsky’s The Psychology of Art. According to our interpretation, art is conceived in this theory as a social technique for (re)constructing life and transforming bodies; human emotions are dialogical processes, culturally and semiotically created, and historically transformed. Our theoretical perspective differs from some other interpretations of Vygotsky’s work because of its emphasis on the centrality of emotions in psychological life, and particularly on the intertwining of sociogenesis and microgenesis. Through emotions, discourse practices and cultural techniques have transformative effects on bodily reorganization ( catharsis) and subjective experience ( perezhivanie). This is discussed in relation to the political implications of a theory of emotions and its relevance for the theorization of subjectivity.
Employment and Earning Differentials Among Vocationally Trained Youth: Evidence from field studies in Punjab and Haryana in India
Authors: Singh Satinder , Parida Jajati K.
Published: December 2020

This article examines the employability of vocationally trained youth and estimates their earning functions and existing wage differentials by gender and social groups in both Punjab and Haryana. Using primary data from two selected districts (one from each state) with a sample size of 914 pass-outs from 19 training institutes, we find that lack of demand and skill issues restrict vocationally trained youth to obtain quality jobs in these districts. Hence, most of them are either found in contractual jobs with a lower level of earning or remain unemployed from the time of completion of their training. Moreover, significant earning/wage differences are noted across gender and social groups. Female and Scheduled Caste (SC) workers are discriminated by getting paid lesser than their male and upper caste counterparts, despite their similar training and skill endowments. Hence, it is suggested that government intervention is necessary to lower the existing skill gap and to improve the quality of jobs for vocationally trained youth to reduce the rising unemployment problem.
The toxic doxa of “clean sport” and IOC’s and WADA’s quest for credibility
Authors: Ohl Fabien , Schoch Lucie , Fincoeur Bertrand
Published: December 2020

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have been held accountable for the “Russian crisis,” a major state-sponsored doping scandal, which began in 2014. The scandal has brought intense scrutiny on the IOC’s and WADA’s efficiency in curbing doping. This paper argues that their impaired credibility should not only be explained through their objective failure in preventing doping in Russia but can be mainly understood through an analysis of their staged promises of clean sport. This study relies on the analysis of a corpus of official policy documents from the IOC and WADA over the last two decades, several media sources, and field-notes from our “participant-as-observer” role during several anti-doping meetings. In the first part of this article, we argue that to convince the audiences of their commitment to the fight against doping, WADA and the IOC collaborate to create a “team presentation” in which “impression management” is used to stage promises of a strong anti-doping doxa. The second part of the article elaborates that performances are vulnerable and complicated. Because of its scale, the Russian crisis disrupted the IOC’s and WADA’s dramaturgy, revealing their individual agendas and their rivalries over the control of the doxa, with the IOC seeking to protect its power and WADA trying to remain a “trust device.” Finally, the article shows that the IOC and WADA trapped themselves within their own staged discourse because of their divisions and their outbidding promises of clean sport, which turned ineffective and even “toxic.” We conclude that such a scenario was detrimental to the overall anti-doping efforts and the subsequent credibility of these organizations.
Intravascular Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma as Collision Tumor: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Serrano Alejandra Griselda , Elsner Boris , Cabral Lorenzo Maria Cecilia , Morales Clavijo Fabio Andres
Published: December 2020

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare type of extranodal large B-cell lymphoma characterized by the selective growth of lymphoma cells within the lumina of vessels. The patient usually presents with nonspecific symptoms and a remarkable deterioration in performance status. The occurrence of synchronous IVLBCL and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is extremely rare. A right kidney tumor was found in a 72-year-old man with a history of low back pain. The kidney was enlarged, with a tumor mass measuring 4.5 × 4 × 4 cm. Sections exhibited a RCC (clear cell type, nuclear grade I). Also an extensive tumor affecting capillaries and small veins was present, positive for CD45, CD20, BCL-2, and MUM1/IRF-4, consistent with IVLBCL. The lymphoma was circumscribed to the RCC. The final diagnosis was IVLBCL with a RCC as collision tumor. After that, with neurological findings, central nervous system compromise by lymphoma was made. The patient started a first cycle of chemotherapy, progressive deterioration of the sensorium, and positive blood cultures for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The patient died 8 days later of acute respiratory failure. No autopsy was done. IVLBCL is an aggressive and systemic disease characterized by massive proliferation of tumor cells without a known primary site. Clinical identification and histopathologic diagnosis are relevant issues in the therapeutic management of these lymphomas. Until now, only one case of IVLBCL coexisting with RCC has been reported. In this article, we report a second case of IVLBCL with RCC simultaneous, as an unusual collision tumor.
Socio-Ecological Predictors of Resilience Development Over Time Among Youth With a History of Maltreatment
Authors: Yoon Susan , Maguire-Jack Kathryn , Knox Jerica , Ploss Alexa
Published: December 2020

While there is a growing body of research examining resilient development in adolescents with a history of maltreatment, it remains unclear whether youth resilient functioning changes over time and what factors predict such change. The current study aimed to identify the socio-ecological predictors of the change in resilient functioning over time among adolescents with a history of maltreatment. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted with a sample of 771 adolescents drawn from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW-II). Over 18 months, 23.2% of the adolescents remained in the less resilience group, 45.4% stayed in the greater resilience group, 17.4% moved from the greater resilience group to the less resilience group, and 14.0% moved from the less resilience group to the greater resilience group. Younger age, better parent-child relationship quality, and neighborhood safety were associated with stable and continued resilient functioning over time. Conversely, child physical abuse, affiliation with deviant peers, and receipt of behavioral services were negatively associated with continued resilience. Our findings suggest that interventions that support adolescents in building positive relationships with their parents and peers may prevent a loss of resilience over time and ensure continued resilient functioning in child welfare-involved adolescents.
Cigarette, E-cigarette, Alcohol, and Marijuana Use by Cancer Diagnosis Status: A Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Azagba Sunday , Shan Lingpeng , Manzione Lauren
Published: December 2020

Background:

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Lifestyle choices such as substance abuse can impact a survivor’s health and overall quality of life.

Methods:

We used longitudinal data from the Wave 1-3 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health data to examine sociodemographic characteristics and substance use behaviors (current cigarette, e-cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use) by cancer diagnosis status. A generalized estimating equation model was used to examine the population-averaged effects of sociodemographic factors on substance use.

Results:

Among 1527 participants diagnosed with cancer, 14.5% used cigarettes, 3.8% used e-cigarettes, 49.1% used alcohol, and 4.2% used marijuana in the prior 30 days in Wave 1. While the prevalence of cigarette use among those with no cancer history decreased significantly between Wave 1 (21.9%) and Wave 3 (20.2%), it increased significantly among participants diagnosed with cancer from 14.5% to 16.0%. E-cigarette use decreased for both groups, whereas alcohol and marijuana use increased. Results showed that substance use among people diagnosed with cancer significantly varied by sociodemographic characteristics. Age, sex, race-ethnicity, education, income, and region of residence were significantly associated with substance use among patients diagnosed with cancer.

Conclusion:

Overall, substance use is lower among participants diagnosed with cancer than those with no cancer history. Substance use varies by sociodemographic characteristics among people diagnosed with cancer. More focus on substance use prevention among patients diagnosed with cancer could be beneficial in terms of improving the overall well-being of this population.
Social and Biological Parameters Involved in Suicide Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review
Authors: Dhrisya Chenthamara , Prasathkumar Murugan , Becky Robert , Anisha Salim , Sadhasivam Subramaniam , Essa Musthafa Mohamed , Chidambaram Saravana Babu , Al-Balushi Buthainah , Guillemin Gilles J , Qoronfleh M Walid
Published: December 2020

Fear is an indispensable characteristic of any infectious disease, and the alarm will be further amplified when the infection spreads uncontrollable, unpredictable, and global. The novel corona virus (SARS CoV-2) lead Covid-19, has been declared as a global emergency by WHO as it has affected millions of people with a high mortality rate. The non-availability of medicine for Covid-19 and the various control measures such as social distancing, self-isolation, house quarantine, and the new normal implementation by different nations across the world to control the spread of Covid-19 made people vulnerable to fear and anxiety. As a result, considerable number of Covid-19-related suicidal deaths has been reported across the world during this pandemic. There have been several studies which describe the psychosocial aspects of suicidal ideation. However, the research on the biological aspects of suicidal ideation/suicidal risk factors that are related to pandemic are unreported. Hence this review article is intended to provide a comprehensive analysis of suicidal deaths during Covid-19 and also aimed to addresses the possible link between suicidal ideation and different factors, including psycho-social, behavioral, neurobiological factors (proximal, distal, and inflammatory) and immunity. The alterations in glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmitters had upregulated the GABARB3, GABARA4, GABARA3, GABARR1, GABARG2, and GAD2 gene expressions in suicidal victims. The changes in the Kynurenine (KYN) pathway, Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal axis (HPA axis) hyperactivation, and dysregulation of serotonin biosynthesis would significantly alter the brain chemistry in people with suicide ideation.
Building the technological European Community through education: European mobility and training programmes in the 1980s
Authors: Flury Carmen , Geiss Michael , Guerrero Cantarell Rosalía
Published: December 2020

The Community Action Programme for Education and Training for Technology (COMETT) played a key role in paving the way for increased cooperation between the member states of the European Community (EC) in the field of education and in the promotion of intra-Europe mobility. In this article, COMETT is considered as a non-traditional education and training programme for solving economic challenges in the context of technological change that was focused on the training of a highly skilled workforce. The process of setting the agenda for COMETT is studied through an analysis of official EC policy documents and archival material from the EU’s historical archives in Florence. Our analysis suggests that the challenge posed by new information technologies acted as a catalyst for a new approach to education governance that was based on closer cooperation between European universities and industry. Promoting intra-Europe mobility among highly skilled workers and students was a key part of the programme, which defined an economic and social strategy for Europe in response to technological change. Educational and social goals were secondary in the design and implementation of the COMETT programme, which, first and foremost, was motivated by the EC agenda to boost the competitiveness of European industry.
Children’s wellbeing and their academic achievement: The dangerous discourse of ‘trade-offs’ in education
Authors: Clarke Tania
Published: December 2020

Research conducted in England over the last decade has documented sustained, significant decreases in children’s wellbeing. While recent changes to curriculum policy promoting children’s wellbeing have been introduced, a notable feature of the discourse surrounding the promotion of children’s wellbeing is that wellbeing is regarded as opposed to, or in tension with, children’s academic achievement. Recently, Gabriel Heller-Sahlgren proposed that there is an inevitable ‘trade-off’ between children’s ‘wellbeing’ and their academic achievement. Using PISA 2012 data, Heller-Sahlgren argues that pupil happiness and high achievement do not go hand in hand; implying policymakers have a decision to make about which they uphold as the priority. In this article, I discuss the theoretical assumptions underpinning transnational comparisons of children’s wellbeing and review evidence from psychology and education to ascertain whether a trade-off is empirically supported. I argue that far from being incompatible, children’s wellbeing and achievement are positively associated. However, this relationship is not straightforward and requires careful disentangling of the hedonic and eudaimonic components of wellbeing. I underline four main gaps in current knowledge of the wellbeing-achievement relationship to date: the need for (1) multidimensional conceptualisation and measurement of wellbeing, (2) exploration of mediating mechanisms/constructs explaining the wellbeing-achievement relationship, (3) objective operationalisation of achievement, and (4) investigation of developmental differences. To conclude, I argue that when making policy recommendations researchers should avoid ‘all or nothing’ thinking which lures governments into false dichotomies.
The Culture of Driving under the Influence of Cannabis and Alcohol in Washington State
Authors: Otto Jay , Ward Nicholas , Finley Kari , Baldwin Shelly , Grondel Darrin
Published: December 2020

Traffic crashes are a significant public health concern killing more than 37,000 people each year in the U.S. Poly-drug impaired driving is a growing factor in many fatal crashes. Research has shown that cannabis and alcohol (separately and combined) impair driving ability and increase crash risk. Washington State legalized recreational cannabis in 2014 and has since seen a steady increase in adult use of cannabis, and relatedly, drivers testing positive for compounds associated with cannabis. This study examined the behaviors and culture (e.g., shared values and beliefs) associated with driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol of a representative sample of adults in Washington State. Most adults (91%) reported they did not drive within 2 hr of consuming cannabis and alcohol, had a negative attitude about that behavior (81%), and believed it was unacceptable (83%). Those drivers who reported they did drive within 2 hr of consuming cannabis and alcohol had different beliefs, for example that using cannabis after having too much to drink would calm them down and sober them up. This study examined the relationship between attitudes, behavioral beliefs, perceived injunctive and descriptive norms, perceived control beliefs, values, and assumptions and driving within 2 hr of consuming cannabis and alcohol.
Economic perceptions and voting behavior in US presidential elections
Authors: Lewis-Beck Colin , Martini Nicholas F.
Published: December 2020

The economic voting literature disagrees over the exogeneity of economic perceptions on individual electoral behavior. One side argues that economic perceptions are driven by partisan dispositions, which then calls into question the substantive importance of this factor in assessing electoral behavior. A second side argues that voters rationally assess the economy and accurately use this information to inform their electoral behavior. This article addresses this disagreement by disentangling economic perceptions from partisan dispositions. Using data from the American National Election Study from 1968 to 2016, we link objective macroeconomic indicators to individual economic perceptions, and then assess its explanatory power on vote choice in US presidential elections. The results indicate that objective economic perceptions have a substantive impact on support for incumbent candidates. Moreover, the estimated effect sizes are consistent with previous research estimating the relative importance of party identification and economic perceptions on vote choice.
Efficiency of magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing unstable ligament injuries around the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint: A comparison to arthroscopy
Authors: Shin Yong-Eun , Kim Sung-Joon , Kim Jeong-Sang , Kwak Kwon-Young , Kim Ji-Hyo , Kim Jong-Pil
Published: December 2020

Purpose:

This study aimed to assess the accuracy of MRI in identifying ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), radial collateral ligament (RCL), and volar plate (VP) injuries of the metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ) of the thumb by comparing with diagnostic arthroscopy.

Methods:

A total of 56 consecutive patients (56 thumbs) who underwent arthroscopy of MCPJ of thumb were enrolled. MRI findings reviewed by consensus reading of two blinded radiologists were compared with arthroscopic examination. Statistical data, including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, were analyzed. Additionally, the performance characteristics between 3.0-tesla (39 thumbs) and 1.5-tesla (17 thumbs) MRI and acute (≤4 weeks after injury) and chronic (>4 weeks) injuries were compared.

Results:

Of the 56 thumbs, 38 thumbs (67.9%) showed complete correspondence between MRI and arthroscopic findings. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI for detecting UCL injuries were 78.8%, 87.0%, and 82.1%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MRI for detecting RCL injuries were 85.7%, 91.4%, and 85.7%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI for detecting VP injuries were 89.5%, 89.2%, and 81.0%, respectively. 3.0-tesla MRI showed higher correspondence with arthroscopic observation (76.9%) than 1.5-tesla MRI (47.1%) (p = 0.028). For acute injuries, 78.4% showed complete correspondence between MRI and arthroscopic findings, whereas 47.4% with chronic injuries revealed complete agreement (p = 0.019).

Conclusion:

Overall, MRI is moderately effective in evaluating ligamentous lesions around MCPJ of thumb, but MRI is more sensitive in diagnosing acute injuries. Furthermore, 3.0-tesla MRI can provide results with better accuracy for diagnosing ligamentous lesions around MCPJ of thumb. However, the sensitivity and the specificity are not applicable to all ligament injuries, but only the severe one which would agree for surgical options.
Terrorism–Tourism–Economic Growth Nexus in India: An NARDL Evidence
Authors: Santhosh Kumar P. K.  , Sanjeev M. A.
Published: December 2020

Some of the major tourist destinations in India are also reeling under terror. This study examines the causal relationship between terrorism and tourism and economy impact in the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Manipur using the asymmetric nonlinear autoregressive-distributed lag (NARDL) approach. The study is an attempt to investigate the ‘tourism–terrorism–economy’ relationship which has hitherto been not widely studied. The estimates based on the Granger causality approach demonstrate that there is causality among terrorism, tourism and economic growth (proxied by state gross domestic products—SGDP) in the short run for all the three study states. The results indicate positive relation between SGDP and tourism in all the three states and between SGDP and terrorism in Assam and Manipur. However, the relation between SGDP and terrorism is negative for Jammu and Kashmir. The results indicate that the relation between the three study variables is highly contextual and cannot be generalized across tourist destinations.
Retrospective Review and Proof of Concept of Asia’s First Mobile Stroke Unit Experience in Kovai Medical Center and Hospital
Authors: Cherian Mathew , Mehta Pankaj , Varadharajan Shriram , Poyyamozhi Santosh , Swamiappan Elango , Gandhi Jenny , Theckumparampil Nithin
Published: December 2020

Background:

We review our initial experience of India’s and Asia’s first mobile stroke unit (MSU) following the completion of its first year of operation. We outline the clinical care pathway integrating the MSU services using a case example taking readers along our clinical care workflow while highlighting the challenges faced in organizing and optimizing such services in India.

Methods:

Retrospective review of data collected for all patients from March 2018 to February 2019 transported and treated within the MSU during the first year of its operation. Recent case example is reviewed highlighting complete comprehensive acute clinical care pathway from prehospital MSU services to advanced endovascular treatment with focus on challenges faced in developing nation for stroke care.

Results:

The MSU was dispatched and utilized for 14 patients with clinical symptoms of acute stroke. These patients were predominantly males (64%) with median age of 59 years. Ischemic stroke was seen in 7 patients, hemorrhagic in 6, and 1 patient was classified as stroke mimic. Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was administered to 3 patients within MSU. Most of the patients’ treatment was initiated within 2 h of symptom onset and with the median time of patient contact (rendezvous) following stroke being 55 mins.

Conclusion:

Retrospective review of Asia’s first MSU reveals its proof of concept in India. Although the number of patients availing treatment in MSU is low as compared to elsewhere in the world, increased public awareness with active government support including subsidizing treatment costs could accelerate development of optimal prehospital acute stroke care policy in India.
Family Business in India: Performance, Challenges and Improvement Measures
Authors: Chahal Himani , Sharma Anil K.
Published: December 2020

Existing literature on family businesses brings out their significance globally. The prevalence of family businesses is a phenomenon that is universal and found in most countries worldwide, although their relative impact on economies does vary. This article reviews papers in the accounting and finance literature on family businesses around the world and shows that the involvement of family members in the business may have a positive, negative or no impact on its financial performance. In the Indian context, the literature review indicates that India’s rich and ancient history seems to be interrelated with the family-run businesses as the principal means of business organization. The paper gives a glimpse of the status of family businesses in India since independence and the distinct characteristics of Indian family businesses.

In the next section, we try to find out how family firms are performing in India in comparison to non-family firms by studying companies listed in the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. (NSE) 500 Index for a period of 5 years ranging from 2014 to 2018. The results show that family businesses are not performing significantly better than non-family firms in the Indian business scenario. We try to highlight the reasons for the same by underlining the issues faced by family businesses and suggest measures to overcome these issues. The study concludes with a discussion on the lessons that new family business ventures can take from family business groups in India that have made a mark in the Indian and the world business scenario because of their ability to face and successfully overcome challenges faced by family firms.
Correction to: The burden of comorbidity in people with chronic kidney disease stage 3: a cohort study
Authors: Fraser Simon D. S. , Roderick Paul J. , May Carl R. , McIntyre Natasha , McIntyre Christopher , Fluck Richard J. , Shardlow Adam , Taal Maarten W.
Published: December 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Correction to: Are the energy matrix values of the different feed additives in broiler chicken diets could be summed?
Authors: Metwally Abdallah E. , Abdel-Wareth Ahmed A. A. , Saleh Ahmed A. , Amer Shimaa A.
Published: December 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
A modular framework for multiscale, multicellular, spatiotemporal modeling of acute primary viral infection and immune response in epithelial tissues and its application to drug therapy timing and effectiveness
Authors: Sego T. J. , Aponte-Serrano Josua O. , Ferrari Gianlupi Juliano , Heaps Samuel R. , Breithaupt Kira , Brusch Lutz , Crawshaw Jessica , Osborne James M. , Quardokus Ellen M. , Plemper Richard K. , Glazier James A.
Published: December 2020

Simulations of tissue-specific effects of primary acute viral infections like COVID-19 are essential for understanding disease outcomes and optimizing therapies. Such simulations need to support continuous updating in response to rapid advances in understanding of infection mechanisms, and parallel development of components by multiple groups. We present an open-source platform for multiscale spatiotemporal simulation of an epithelial tissue, viral infection, cellular immune response and tissue damage, specifically designed to be modular and extensible to support continuous updating and parallel development. The base simulation of a simplified patch of epithelial tissue and immune response exhibits distinct patterns of infection dynamics from widespread infection, to recurrence, to clearance. Slower viral internalization and faster immune-cell recruitment slow infection and promote containment. Because antiviral drugs can have side effects and show reduced clinical effectiveness when given later during infection, we studied the effects on progression of treatment potency and time-of-first treatment after infection. In simulations, even a low potency therapy with a drug which reduces the replication rate of viral RNA greatly decreases the total tissue damage and virus burden when given near the beginning of infection. Many combinations of dosage and treatment time lead to stochastic outcomes, with some simulation replicas showing clearance or control (treatment success), while others show rapid infection of all epithelial cells (treatment failure). Thus, while a high potency therapy usually is less effective when given later, treatments at late times are occasionally effective. We illustrate how to extend the platform to model specific virus types (e.g., hepatitis C) and add additional cellular mechanisms (tissue recovery and variable cell susceptibility to infection), using our software modules and publicly-available software repository.
Robust detection of point mutations involved in multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the presence of co-occurrent resistance markers
Authors: Libiseller-Egger Julian , Phelan Jody , Campino Susana , Mohareb Fady , Clark Taane G.
Published: December 2020

Tuberculosis disease is a major global public health concern and the growing prevalence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is making disease control more difficult. However, the increasing application of whole-genome sequencing as a diagnostic tool is leading to the profiling of drug resistance to inform clinical practice and treatment decision making. Computational approaches for identifying established and novel resistance-conferring mutations in genomic data include genome-wide association study (GWAS) methodologies, tests for convergent evolution and machine learning techniques. These methods may be confounded by extensive co-occurrent resistance, where statistical models for a drug include unrelated mutations known to be causing resistance to other drugs. Here, we introduce a novel ‘cannibalistic’ elimination algorithm (“Hungry, Hungry SNPos”) that attempts to remove these co-occurrent resistant variants. Using an M. tuberculosis genomic dataset for the virulent Beijing strain-type (n = 3,574) with phenotypic resistance data across five drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, and streptomycin), we demonstrate that this new approach is considerably more robust than traditional methods and detects resistance-associated variants too rare to be likely picked up by correlation-based techniques like GWAS.
Prediction of hot spot areas of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Hunan Province based on an information quantity model and logistical regression model
Authors: Chen Zixi , Liu Fuqiang , Li Bin , Peng Xiaoqing , Fan Lin , Luo Aijing
Published: December 2020

Background

China’s “13th 5-Year Plan” (2016–2020) for the prevention and control of sudden acute infectious diseases emphasizes that epidemic monitoring and epidemic focus surveys in key areas are crucial for strengthening national epidemic prevention and building control capacity. Establishing an epidemic hot spot areas and prediction model is an effective means of accurate epidemic monitoring and surveying. Objective: This study predicted hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) epidemic hot spot areas, based on multi-source environmental variable factors. We calculated the contribution weight of each environmental factor to the morbidity risk, obtained the spatial probability distribution of HFRS risk areas within the study region, and detected and extracted epidemic hot spots, to guide accurate epidemic monitoring as well as prevention and control. Methods: We collected spatial HFRS data, as well as data on various types of natural and human social activity environments in Hunan Province from 2010 to 2014. Using the information quantity method and logistic regression modeling, we constructed a risk-area-prediction model reflecting the epidemic intensity and spatial distribution of HFRS. Results: The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of training samples and test samples were 0.840 and 0.816. From 2015 to 2019, HRFS case site verification showed that more than 82% of the cases occurred in high-risk areas.

Discussion

This research method could accurately predict HFRS hot spot areas and provided an evaluation model for Hunan Province. Therefore, this method could accurately detect HFRS epidemic high-risk areas, and effectively guide epidemic monitoring and surveyance.
The impact of service-learning methodology on business schools’ students worldwide: A systematic literature review
Authors: Marco-Gardoqui Marta , Eizaguirre Almudena , García-Feijoo María
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this research is to perform a systematic review of the literature published on the benefits of applying the service-learning methodology with business students. Several works and studies identify significant contributions that are important to the student’s profile; however, a systematic review of the benefits derived from the methodology application in the profile previously described has not yet been conducted. The main objective of this study is to gather, identify, and classify evidence from 32 studies conducted across global business schools regarding the benefits of service-learning in university students. The applied methodology follows the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses” statement for systematic reviews. The studies were extracted from the World of Science, Scopus, and Educational Resource Information Center databases and were analyzed according to the suggested objectives. The suggested systematic review provides a rigorous analysis of academic literature on the benefits of service learning in the student’s personal, social, academic, and civic environment. A theoretical framework that combines all gathered benefits from the 32 studies has been suggested in these pages, by means of grouping these benefits into four categories considering prior research on the academic, personal, social, and citizenship outcomes. Several quantitative, qualitative, and mixed studies support the benefits of this methodology, focusing on the student’s profile development. We found that students enjoy plenty of outcomes after participating in the service-learning experience, thus, the most frequent outcome is greater social engagement. With more than 4,000 students involved in the total analyzed studies, we present a list of ranked outcomes that reflects and supports the strength of the methodology. Through this study, institutions as well as teachers may be aware of the potential present in this methodology. Our study also suggested a framework for university coordinators to act.
nCoV-2019 McGill Nanopore LibPrep Protocol, 10 ng NB v1
Authors: J Reiling Sarah , Roy Anne-Marie , Chen Shu-Huang , Ragoussis Ioannis
Published: December 2020

This protocol works for 12 native barcodes, 24 native barcodes, and 96 native barcodes.
Sea change: Designing curriculum for a bright and optimistic future
Authors: Hopkinson Sarah Alice
Published: December 2020

This commentary focuses on philosophical underpinnings that could guide a sea change in approaches to sustainability within English-medium curricula in Aotearoa. Framed optimistically, it engages with the possibilities that exist for Pākehā to transform relationships with tangata whenua and this land through regenerative curriculum design. Three Treaty of Waitangi principles provide the framework for illustrating the ways in which a more consciously designed curriculum could address persistent inequities and challenges. A set of reflective questions are included for schools and teachers to use as a basis for discussion.
Evaluation of Children's Appendicitis Score Compared With Pediatric Appendicitis Score in Diagnosis of Pediatric Appendicitis
Authors: Khaasteh Mohammad , Heidari Fariba , Motamedi Akram , Aslani Kafieh , Jamshidi Masoud , Amini Hassan
Published: December 2020

Introduction: Identification and promotion of diagnostic methods has been a continuous effort to reduce disease and its complications and reduce costs associated with treatment. Despite all these efforts and improving our knowledge of diseases and diagnostic tools, pediatric appendicitis remains part of the diagnostic challenge in the surgical field. The aim of this is to compare the two diagnostic criteria of appendicitis (Children's Appendicitis Score [PAS] Versus Pediatric Appendicitis Score [CAS]) and evaluation of the diagnostic features of them.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on all children admitted to the hospital's emergency center with a possible diagnosis of appendicitis (270 patients) during 2018 and 2019 at Tabriz Pediatric Hospital. Based on the clinical examinations and para-clinical findings some of the patients were underwent the surgical intervention (220 cases) and some discharged and followed up for a period of 2 and 4 weeks later (50 cases). The data were analyzed through SPSS ver. 16 software.
Results: The results of the present study indicated that if CAS was associated with ultrasound, the specificity of these criteria would improve and could be more acceptable compared with the PAS. In addition, it was revealed that WBC≥11000, as well as PMN≥65% and guarding were very specific for diagnosis and complication of acute appendicitis. There was a significant relationship between US findings and pathology reports (P<0.05).
Conclusion: In conclusion, the CAS criteria were more sensitive and the PAS was more specific in diagnosing pediatric acute appendicitis.
Chemical Compositions and Heavy Metal Contents of Local Fresh and Imported Frozen Beef Cattle Meat Available in Ranya Markets
Authors: Sabow A.B. , Qadir S.W. , Majed Zh. J. , Mahmwd A.A.
Published: December 2020

Background: The consumption of frozen meat from beef cattle has increased largely in Middle Eastern nations, especially in many Iraqi cities since it is a major source of protein which is necessary for the growth and maintenance of good health. In view of the fact that there are no available original data on the nutritional value and content of metals in the meat of beef cattle sold in Ranya city (northern Iraq), a study was undertaken in order to determine these levels in imported frozen and local fresh beef cattle meat, with emphasis on toxicological aspects.Methods: A total of 10 samples of different types of beef cattle meat were collected from different markets in Ranya city and classified into two groups: fresh boneless meat of local beef (Iraqi cattle) and imported frozen boneless beef meat of Brazilian origin.Result: The results clearly reveal no differences in the concentration of studied heavy metals between fresh and imported frozen beef cattle meat. Nevertheless, iron concentrations in imported frozen meat samples were higher than the recommended tolerable levels by Food and Agriculture Organization. No proximate analyses, except fat and ash content, differed between meat samples. Fat and ash concentration were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in fresh beef cattle meat compared to frozen beef cattle meat. The study concludes that while comparing local fresh and imported frozen beef cattle meat, only fat and ash content showed significant differences whereas other nutritional properties showed minor differences (p greater than 0.05).
Recent advancements in liposome-based strategies for effective drug delivery to the brain
Authors: Zaman Parvin , Penson Peter E. , Barreto George E. , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: December 2020

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Disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) and tumors of the brain are challenging to treat, and they rank amongst the most
common causes of death worldwide. The delivery of drugs to the brain is problematic because the blood-brain barrier (BBB)
effectively arrests the transport of large molecules (including drugs) from the blood to the CNS. Nanoparticle (NP)-mediated
drug delivery has received much interest as a technique to overcome this difficulty. In particular, liposome NPs are promising
candidates to carry and deliver drugs across the BBB and into the CNS. Liposomes are easy to prepare, highly biodegradable
and biocompatible. Liposomes can be easily modified with various ligands to enable efficient and targeted drug delivery.
Liposomes can promote increased cellular uptake of drugs and can reduce the extent to which efflux transporters can remove
drugs. Liposomes can be loaded with a wide range of drugs and biologically active substances. In this review, we will
summarize recent advances in research relating to liposome-based strategies to enable drug delivery across the BBB.
Woody Goldenrod, Chrysoma pauciflosculosa
Authors: Miller Debbie , Thetford Mack , Verlinde Chris , Campbell Gabriel , Smith Ashlynn
Published: December 2020

Woody goldenrod is found in beach dunes, scrub, and sandhill plant communities. It occurs in the Panhandle ofFlorida and more broadly in the southeastern United States west to Mississippi and northeast to North Carolina. This plant may leach chemicals into the soil that inhibit seed germination of gulf bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium) (Fischer et al. 1994). Woody goldenrod is an underused landscape plant with a prolific fall color from flowers that attract numerous pollinators.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/sg165

Note: This fact sheet is also available as a chapter in a comprehensive manual titled Dune Restoration and Enhancement for the Florida Panhandle,  Please see the manual for more information about other useful and attractive native plants for dunes and for further information about restoration and preservation techniques.