bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The production of counter-space: Informal labour, social networks and the production of urban space in Dhaka
Authors: Lata Lutfun Nahar
Published: February 2022

Access to public space for earning livelihoods is important for street vendors in global south cities. However, due to continuous population growth and the demand for lands by the real estate development sector, pressure on land is very high in the global south. Consequently, global south cities such as Dhaka provide ‘no place’ for its poor migrant citizens. Yet, the urban poor are able to appropriate public space for livelihoods. Drawing on a case study of Sattola slum in Dhaka, this article investigates how the urban poor access to public space for livelihoods and construct counter-spaces by breaking the planned order of the city. This article argues that the urban poor are able to construct counter-spaces with the tacit support of translocal social networks as well as with the support of a range of state and non-state powerful actors who are compromised by the benefits and profits they extract from vendors. This article draws on qualitative data generated through in-depth interviews with 94 informal workers and 37 key informants. This article contributes to urban sociology literature demonstrating that the urban poor are able to construct counter-spaces drawing on a range of everyday tactics and appropriating public space by quietly breaking the planned order of the city.
Treponema denticola Induces Alzheimer-Like Tau Hyperphosphorylation by Activating Hippocampal Neuroinflammation in Mice
Authors: Tang Z. , Cheng X. , Su X. , Wu L. , Cai Q. , Wu H.
Published: February 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. Tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid β (Aβ) deposition are the key pathological hallmarks of AD. Recent studies have shown that periodontitis is a significant risk factor for AD. The periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis and its virulence factors have been shown to initiate and promote the hallmark pathologies and behavioral symptoms of AD. A possible link between Treponema denticola, another main periodontal pathogen, and AD has been reported. However, the role of T. denticola in AD pathogenesis is still unclear, and whether T. denticola and P. gingivalis exert a synergistic effect to promote AD development needs to be further studied. In this study, we investigated whether oral infection with T. denticola caused tau hyperphosphorylation in the hippocampi of mice and explored the underlying mechanisms. Orally administered T. denticola induced alveolar bone resorption, colonized brain tissues, and increased the activity of the phosphokinase GSK3β by activating neuroinflammation in the hippocampus, thus promoting the hyperphosphorylation of the tau protein at Ser396, Thr181, and Thr231 in mice. An in vitro study with BV2 and N2a cell models of T. denticola invasion also verified the role of this pathogen in tau phosphorylation. T. denticola and P. gingivalis were not found to exert a synergistic effect on tau phosphorylation. In summary, these findings provide new insight into the important role of T. denticola in AD pathogenesis, providing biological connections between periodontal diseases and AD.
Defending the Domestic Abuse Victim/Defendant: Why the Prison Reform Trust's Campaign to Introduce Defences for Offending Driven by Domestic Abuse Is Important
Authors: Bettinson Vanessa
Published: February 2022

This article explores the vulnerability of many UK female offenders and their experiences of domestic abuse that drives their criminality. Now that coercive control by domestic partners is more widely understood, criminal defences should take into account the impact it has upon domestic abuse victim/defendants. The Prison Reform Trust campaigned for the introduction of legal reform that would end convictions of people who committed crimes as a direct result of domestic abuse victimization. The reform has been considered during the debates on the 2021 Domestic Abuse Bill; however, the government rejected the proposal. This article considers how the application of domestic abuse defences can reduce the female prison population and discusses why legal reform is necessary.
Evidence of sexual transfer of mycobacteria from male to female partners reporting to an IVF clinic
Authors: Datta Abira , Gupta Prabuddha , Bhattacharya Basudev , Das Arabinda , Chatterjee Siddhartha , Banerjee Asesh
Published: February 2022

Female genital tuberculosis (GTB) contributes significantly to infertility in low- and middle-income countries. Dissemination of infection from pulmonary and extrapulmonary sites is the major reason for causation of GTB. Additionally, sexual transmission of GTB from male partners has been reported. We selected 81 couples desiring babies from an in vitro fertilization clinic. We used multiplex-PCR for mycobacterial detection in semen of males, in the endometrium of their female counterparts and in the products of conception (POC) from miscarriage. Data interpretation shows that these pregnancies failed owing to sexual transmission of mycobacteria. We noticed by multiplex PCR that mycobacterial infestation in the female can take place in either endometrium or POC from asymptomatic males harbouring mycobacteria in their semen. Therefore, we propose sexual transfer of mycobacteria to be a probable cause of miscarriage. Thus, we suggest multiplex PCR based screening of semen for all males of the couples attempting successful childbirth.
Exploitation of Thar coal field for power generation in Pakistan: A way forward to sustainable energy future
Authors: Raza Muhammad Amir , Khatri Krishan Lal , Memon Muhammad Ali , Rafique Khalid , Haque Muhammad Ibrar Ul , Mirjat Nayyar Hussain
Published: February 2022

Thar desert is located in south-east Pakistan carries 175 billion tons of coal and is the biggest coalfield in Asia. In this paper mathematical framework is developed for the accurate estimation of power production from the available Thar coal capacity. Annual TWh possible energy production the period 2020 to 2040 followed by detailed analysis of capacity factor and Maximizing the share percentage of coal in total energy mix at least 40% by 2040 is presented. The findings reveal that Thar coal has the capability of producing 100,000 MW power up to the next 250 years. The energy generation for the years 2020, 2032, and 2040 is calculated 744 TWh per year, 700 TWh per year, and 665 TWh per year respectively and it produces negligible negative impacts on the environment. The long-term energy planning presented in this paper would attract foreign investment and Pakistan's energy needs would be fulfilled for sustainable development of the country.
Bias Crime and Victimization Among Latinx Adults: Formal and Informal Help Seeking
Authors: Lockwood Sarah , Farrell Amy , Cuevas Carlos A. , Robles Jesenia
Published: February 2022

Latinx adults have become increasingly vulnerable to bias motivated victimization. The impact of such incidents on Latinx communities is severely understudied, particularly concerning whether or not victims will seek help as a result of such events. Evidence within other victimization contexts demonstrate Latinx populations may be less likely to seek formal help from police, medical providers, and other formal authorities, relying instead on informal support networks such as family and friends. The current study sought to understand formal and informal help-seeking behavior among Latinx adults who experienced bias motivated victimization. The Understanding and Measuring Bias Victimization against Latinos study obtained rates of bias victimization and subsequent help-seeking behavior among Latinx adults who reported experiencing bias victimization (n = 315, 34.6% of full sample of 910). Those who experience bias victimization seek formal help at much lower rates than informal forms of support. Logistic regression analyses controlling the type of victimization demonstrated that participants who experienced a victimization constituting a hate crime were more likely to seek formal help compared to experiencing non-criminal bias events. Implications include addressing barriers to Latinx bias victims seeking forms of help, in addition to understanding the potential polyvictimization histories that predict why Latinx adults may decide to seek help.
Three-dimensional impact angles constrained integral sliding mode guidance law for missiles with input saturation
Authors: Li Tong , Qian Hua-ming
Published: February 2022

This paper proposes the three-dimensional impact angles constrained integral sliding mode guidance laws for the missile with the constraint of the input saturation. To solve the problem of the input constraint, an integral sliding mode surface is given for the first time by using the saturation function. The first three-dimensional integral sliding mode guidance law can solve the impact angle constraint and the target accelerations with known upper bound, while the second one can solve the impact angle constraint, input saturation, and the target accelerations with unknown upper bound simultaneously. Finally, numerical simulations are used to verify the effectiveness of the guidance laws.
Finite element analysis between Hunsuck/Epker and novel modification of Low Z plasty technique of mandibular sagittal split osteotomy
Authors: Dumrongwanich Orawee , Chantarapanich Nattapon , Patchanee Siripatra , Inglam Samroeng , Chaiprakit Narissaporn
Published: February 2022

A novel modification of the Low Z plasty (NM-Low Z) technique for bilateral sagittal split osteotomy was recently proposed. The osteotomy line was modified more inferiorly than in the conventional Hunsuck–Epker (HE) approach. The NM-Low Z technique enhances the mandibular setback distance and degree of rotation in severe skeletal discrepancies. This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical behavior under simulated forces, and to compare the NM-Low Z and HE techniques on the mandible with Class III skeletal deformity at 1 week, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks post-operation. Physiological muscular and occlusal loads were simulated using the finite element (FE) method. Stresses on the miniplate, screws, and bone were observed and compared between the two models. The elastic strain at the fracture site was observed for the optimal bone-healing capacity. The NM-Low Z model exhibited a lower stress than the HE model at every stage post-operation. Both models demonstrated elastic strains within the normal range for bone healing. In summary, the biomechanical behavior of the NM-Low Z technique is comparable to that of the conventional EH technique. NM-Low Z could facilitate post-operation skeletal stability by reducing the stress on fixation materials during bone healing.
Automotive simplex and duplex drum brake squeal analysis using the finite element method
Authors: Dias Anderson L , Rodrigues Rômulo dN , Bezerra Roberto dA , Lamary Pierre
Published: February 2022

Despite the fact that disk brakes are used on almost entire mass produced vehicle, drum brakes are still applied on light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles. However, both exhibit a high level of brake noises in which squeal is the most uncomfortable and one of the reasons behind high warranty costs that concern the automotive industry. Hence, the development of prediction methods and models of brake noise have prompted significant efforts. This study intends to analyze two types of drum brakes of a commercial automotive application. Their parametric finite element model comprises drum, shoes, and frictional linings and are submitted to a computational process that includes static calculations of the system under the brake forces to get a pre-stress state around which is computed the complex eigenvalues of the system which characterize their stability. These calculations indicate the unstable frequencies of the entire system. After the design of experiments (DOE) process, the influence of drum brake parameters on system stability can be seen. The friction coefficient and Young’s modulus presented a strong correlation with squeal incidence. At the end is presented a comparison and the optimal material parameters to decrease squeal noise occurrence of these brakes.
Delayed Presentation of Unicoronal Craniosynostosis—Masked by Ipsilateral Posterior Deformational Plagiocephaly
Authors: Chow Ian , Brisbin Alyssa K. , Anstadt Erin E. , Goldstein Jesse A. , Losee Joseph E.
Published: February 2022

Despite a greater awareness of the differential diagnosis of head shape abnormalities among pediatricians, the effect of deformational forces on calvarial morphology can complicate the diagnosis of craniosynostosis. In this report, we describe 2 patients diagnosed with unicoronal craniosynostosis (UCS) in a delayed fashion due to the presence of concomitant posterior deformational plagiocephaly (PDP). In both cases, the severity of each patients’ PDP obscured changes typically associated with UCS. This unique presentation underscores the importance of having a high index of suspicion for possible premature suture fusion despite the presence of concomitant PDP.
Human perception of intrinsically motivated autonomy in human-robot interaction
Authors: Scheunemann Marcus M , Salge Christoph , Polani Daniel , Dautenhahn Kerstin
Published: February 2022

A challenge in using robots in human-inhabited environments is to design behavior that is engaging, yet robust to the perturbations induced by human interaction. Our idea is to imbue the robot with intrinsic motivation (IM) so that it can handle new situations and appears as a genuine social other to humans and thus be of more interest to a human interaction partner. Human-robot interaction (HRI) experiments mainly focus on scripted or teleoperated robots, that mimic characteristics such as IM to control isolated behavior factors. This article presents a “robotologist” study design that allows comparing autonomously generated behaviors with each other and, for the first time, evaluates the human perception of IM-based generated behavior in robots. We conducted a within-subjects user study ( N = 24) where participants interacted with a fully autonomous Sphero BB8 robot with different behavioral regimes: one realizing an adaptive, intrinsically motivated behavior and the other being reactive, but not adaptive. The robot and its behaviors are intentionally kept minimal to concentrate on the effect induced by IM. A quantitative analysis of post-interaction questionnaires showed a significantly higher perception of the dimension “Warmth” compared to the reactive baseline behavior. Warmth is considered a primary dimension for social attitude formation in human social cognition. A human perceived as warm (friendly, trustworthy) experiences more positive social interactions.
Advancing HIV prevention using tenofovir-based pre-exposure prophylaxis
Authors: Abdool Karim Salim S , Baxter Cheryl , Abdool Karim Quarraisha
Published: February 2022

Tenofovir-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) revolutionized the global HIV prevention landscape. Prior to the proof-of concept trial in 2010, which demonstrated that tenofovir (TFV) could prevent sexual transmission of HIV, prevention options were largely limited to behavior change, condoms, and circumcision. Several subsequent studies evaluating oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or the TDF/emtricitabine (FTC) combination as PrEP for HIV prevention provided evidence for regulatory approval and inclusion in national and international guidelines. By 2021, 1.5 million people had initiated oral tenofovir-based PrEP, contributing to declines in HIV incidence in some regions. Here we reflect on how oral tenofovir-based PrEP became an important component of combination HIV prevention programs across the globe.
A high efficiency zero-emission argon split cycle engine
Authors: Dong Guangyu , Du Qiang , Li Liguang , Atkins Andy , Morgan Robert
Published: February 2022

The argon Otto cycle engine concept is a new approach to achieve both high efficiency and zero emissions. The high specific heat ratio (γ) of argon delivers an efficiency uplift relative to conventional air breathing engines. However, the high γ also results in high end of compression temperature and high risk of pre-ignition (knock). This limits the compression ratio (CR) and hence thermal efficiency (η) of an argon engine. The split cycle is a novel internal combustion engine thermodynamic cycle which yields high thermal efficiency under low CR conditions. In this paper, we propose a new engine concept combining the merits of both argon engine and split cycle engine. A theoretical analysis was conducted to investigate the fundamental operating mechanisms of the argon split cycle engine (ASCE). Experiments were undertaken to measure combustion parameters such as heat release with an argon-oxygen-hydrogen mixtures. A one-dimensional engine model was constructed and validated using the test results. Optimisation of the ASCE using the 1D validated simulation showed that a maximum 75% of the exhaust energy can be recovered in the ASCE. Compared to an engine with a conventional Otto cycle, the ideal thermal efficiency of ASCE with a CR = 6 is equal to an Otto cycle argon engine with a CR = 27. Consequently, an indicated thermal efficiency of 66% can be expected in a practical ASCE with low compression ratio (CR = 6).
Market Research and Insight: Past, Present and Future
Authors: Yallop Anca C. , Baker Jonathan J. , Wardle Judith
Published: February 2022

One hundred years have passed since the founding of the first independent market research firm in the UK in 1921. This important milestone inspired this special issue of the International Journal of Market Research that explores the role and importance of market research through a historical lens. A historical approach enables recognising and (re)framing both academic and practitioner contributions to market research through the years. Knowing the past allows better understanding and appreciation of the present, while simultaneously enabling envisioning of the future. In this introduction, we briefly review the origins and development of market research before introducing the three papers that comprise the special issue.
Algorithmic domination in the gig economy
Authors: Muldoon James , Raekstad Paul
Published: February 2022

Digital platforms and application software have changed how people work in a range of industries. Empirical studies of the gig economy have raised concerns about new systems of algorithmic management exercised over workers and how these alter the structural conditions of their work. Drawing on the republican literature, we offer a theoretical account of algorithmic domination and a framework for understanding how it can be applied to ride hail and food delivery services in the on-demand economy. We argue that certain algorithms can facilitate new relationships of domination by sustaining a socio-technical system in which the owners and managers of a company dominate workers. This analysis has implications for the growing use of algorithms throughout the gig economy and broader labor market.
CNN-DST: Ensemble deep learning based on Dempster–Shafer theory for vibration-based fault recognition
Authors: Yaghoubi Vahid , Cheng Liangliang , Van Paepegem Wim , Kersemans Mathias
Published: February 2022

Nowadays, using vibration data in conjunction with pattern recognition methods is one of the most common fault detection strategies for structures. However, their performances depend on the features extracted from vibration data, the features selected to train the classifier, and the classifier used for pattern recognition. Deep learning facilitates the fault detection procedure by automating the feature extraction and selection, and classification procedure. Though, deep learning approaches have challenges in designing its structure and tuning its hyperparameters, which may result in a low generalization capability. Therefore, this study proposes an ensemble deep learning framework based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) and Dempster–Shafer theory (DST), called CNN-DST. In this framework, several CNNs with the proposed structure are first trained, and then, the outputs of the CNNs selected by the proposed technique are combined by using an improved DST-based method. To validate the proposed CNN-DST framework, it is applied to an experimental dataset created by the broadband vibrational responses of polycrystalline nickel alloy first-stage turbine blades with different types and severities of damage. Through statistical analysis, it is shown that the proposed CNN-DST framework classifies the turbine blades with an average prediction accuracy of 97.19%. The proposed CNN-DST framework is benchmarked with other state-of-the-art classification methods, demonstrating its high performance. The robustness of the proposed CNN-DST framework with respect to measurement noise is investigated, showing its high noise-resistance. Further, bandwidth analysis reveals that most of the required information for detecting faulty samples is available in a small frequency range.
Hormesis and Endothelial Progenitor Cells
Authors: Calabrese Edward J.
Published: February 2022

Hormetic-biphasic dose response relationships are reported herein for human endothelial progenitor cells involving estradiol, nicotine, the anti-diabetic agent pioglitazone, resveratrol, and progesterone. In general, these studies demonstrate the capacity of these agents to enhance EPC proliferation and angiogenesis functional applications, having a focus on repairing endothelial tissue damage due to acute injury (e.g., stroke), as well as damage from chronic conditions (e.g., atherosclerosis) and normal aging processes.
Positive Cofactor 4 as a Potential Radiation Biodosimeter for Early Assessment
Authors: Ma Le , Gong Qiang , Liu Gaoyu , Chen Jieping , Wang Yu , luo Peng , Shi Chunmeng
Published: February 2022

During a major radiation event, a large number of people need to be rapidly assessed for radiation damage to ensure effective medical treatment and efficient use of medical resources. However, current techniques cannot meet the requirement of rapid detection of large quantities of samples in an emergency. It is essential to develop rapid and accurate radiation biodosimeters in peripheral blood. Here, we identified radiation sensitive genes in mice by RNA sequencing and evaluated their utility as radiation biodosimeters in human cell lines. Mice were subjected to gamma-irradiation with different doses (0–8 Gy, .85 Gy/min), and the tail venous blood was analyzed by RNA sequencing. We have identified 5 genes with significantly differential expression after radiation exposure. We found that positive cofactor 4(PC4) had well correlation with radiation dose in human lymphoblastoid cell line after irradiation. The relative expression of PC4 gene showed a good linear correlation with the radiation dose after 1–5 Gy irradiation (.85 Gy/min). PC4 gene can be rapidly recruited to the DNA damage sites faster than γ-H2AX after radiation in immunofluorescence detection. In conclusion, PC4 may be represented as new radiation biological dosimeter for early assessment.
Experiencing “Paragliding”: A Student-Teacher Perspective on Doing Qualitative Research in a Chinese University
Authors: Yu Hua , Ai Bin
Published: February 2022

In this article, I (the first author) explore my qualitative research teaching for a cohort of Chinese students and their interactions in the classroom. These students reported experiencing feelings of paragliding from unsafe distrust to enjoyment through writings, drawings, questionings, feelings, reflections, and struggles. By graphic elicitation, I unfold a cartography of becoming a qualitative researcher and describe lines of becoming-events that entangle with rhizomatic relationships of self and language, self and other, and self and knowledge. The process of learning and teaching qualitative research involved multiple interactions, connections, reflections on the contingencies along the way, and searching for the meanings of life and research under the governance of audit culture. This paper contributes to qualitative research teaching and unpacks its impacts on learners, and it also calls for scholars, particularly those from China, to reassess the value of qualitative research in the academic field.
The Limits of Institutions and the Reliance on Heuristics during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hartwell Christopher A.
Published: February 2022

Leadership matters, but even more so in the midst of a crisis, where institutional mechanisms may be unequipped to deal with fast-moving circumstances. During such times, leaders are also prone to satisficing and relying on heuristics in order to come to decisions. This paper surveys the use of political heuristics and asserts that their use is directly proportional to the abilities of institutions; where institutions have no formal mechanisms to deal with a crisis, heuristics are relied on more heavily. In such a situation, policies tend to be more extreme than otherwise. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as the background, and in particular the decision to enter into a lockdown of varying degrees, this paper examines the use of heuristics by leaders during the crisis. Combining a case study approach with an empirical exercise, I show that institutional mechanisms were important for determining the response to the coronavirus as the pandemic began. However, once the full extent of the crisis was apparent, the attributes of leaders—relying on their pre-formed heuristics and playing out according to their ideologies, background, and experience—played a much more important role in determining the lockdown policy in a particular nation.
The data will not save us: Afropessimism and racial antimatter in the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ryan Hatch Anthony
Published: February 2022

The Trump Administration's governance of COVID-19 racial health disparities data has become a key front in the viral war against the pandemic and racial health injustice. In this paper, I analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic joins an already ongoing racial spectacle and system of structural gaslighting organized around “racial health disparities” in the United States and globally. The field of racial health disparities has yet to question the domain assumptions that uphold its field of investigation; as a result, the entire reform program called for by racial health disparities science is already featured on the menu of the white supremacist power structure. The societal infrastructure that produces scientific knowledge about patterns of health and disease in the human population needs to confront its structural position as part of the racial spectacle organized around racial health disparities in the United States. This paper offers an interpretation of racial antimatter to explain why the data will not save us in the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing on articulations of racial spectacle and structural gaslighting within critical race theory and Afropessimist thought. By positioning events in the COVID-19 pandemic together within the same racially speculative frame, I show how the collection of racial health disparities data came up against white supremacists’ political ambitions in a time-space where the demand for human life to matter and the iterative regeneration of racial antimatter collided. This paper highlights the need for ongoing analysis of the unfolding and future spectacles organized around racial health disparities.
Justice, injustice, and artificial intelligence: Lessons from political theory and philosophy
Authors: Rafanelli Lucia M.
Published: February 2022

Some recent uses of artificial intelligence for (for example) facial recognition, evaluating resumes, and sorting photographs by subject matter have revealed troubling disparities in performance or impact based on the demographic traits (like race and gender) of subject populations. These disparities raise pressing questions about how using artificial intelligence can work to promote justice or entrench injustice. Political theorists and philosophers have developed nuanced vocabularies and theoretical frameworks for understanding and adjudicating disputes about what justice requires and what constitutes injustice. The interdisciplinary community committed to understanding and conscientiously using big data could benefit from this work. Thus, in the spirit of encouraging cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration, this piece examines contemporary scholarship in political theory and philosophy to illustrate some of the vocabularies and frameworks political theorists and philosophers have developed for thinking about justice and injustice. It then draws on these frameworks to illuminate how the use of artificial intelligence can implicate questions of justice, with a focus on institutional discrimination, structural injustice, and epistemic injustice. Ultimately, the piece argues that the use of artificial intelligence—far from representing a decision to take power out of human hands—represents a novel way of harnessing human power, making questions of justice central to its conscientious undertaking.
Case study: Pilot testing of a local acupuncture intervention protocol for burn scars
Authors: Tuckey Catherine R , Kohut Susan H , Edgar Dale W
Published: February 2022

Background

Following burn injury and a prolonged duration of healing, scars may become hypertrophic, causing movement restriction, increased scar thickness, colour and pliability, and symptoms such as pain and itch. Acupuncture has emerged as a potentially beneficial treatment for neuroinflammation, which perpetuates the negative features of hypertrophic scars. The aim of this study was to pilot test an evidence-based methodology for applying and measuring the clinical effects of localised acupuncture for symptomatic scars, in a patient with a healed burn injury.

Methods

A 71-year-old caucasian male presented with a hypertrophic scar that was painful and itchy after burn injury and subsequent skin grafting. He received acupuncture and massage treatment local to his scar as per the local (verum) group of the author's clinical trial under recruitment. Needles were inserted around the circumference of the skin grafted area and adjacent to areas of raised scar tissue within the grafted area and stimulated via bi-directional rotation. Outcome measures included a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) for pain and itch, Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) self-assessment component and SF36 quality-of-life measure to capture any non-specific acupuncture effects.

Conclusion

Acupuncture applied locally around the scar was associated with short-term relief of symptoms and significantly reduced his subjective outcome measure scores relating to scar thickness, redness and pliability out to six months after injury. Some short-term increase in symptoms occurred on several occasions following treatment; however, treatment was well tolerated supporting the use of this protocol for a larger future clinical trial.

Lay Summary

Following injury to the skin, scars can become raised, red and reduce movement. Other common symptoms may include pain and itch. Previous studies suggest acupuncture may help symptomatic scars, but more research is needed to confirm this with larger samples of patients. This case study tested the active treatment protocol for a clinical trial using acupuncture on symptomatic scars. A 71-year-old white man had a burn scar on his torso after a workplace accident. His treatment involved scar massage and local acupuncture. The acupuncture needles were inserted around the skin graft borders and thickened bands of scar tissue. Outcomes were measured using surveys recording symptoms, scar characteristics and quality of life. These were used to assess treatment effect and how well the protocol was tolerated. Over the course of treatment both pain and itch improved This case report showed that the treatment protocol was well tolerated, and that local acupuncture was associated with improved scar symptoms and physical characteristics up to six months after injury.
The Effects of Educational Service Quality and Socio-Cultural Adaptation Difficulties on International Students’ Higher Education Satisfaction
Authors: Yılmaz Kasım , Temizkan Volkan
Published: February 2022

The potential international university education market value is expressed in billions of dollars. Countries are trying to increase their competitiveness to attract international students and get a decent market share. Countries that can accurately analyze the factors affecting the country and school preferences of international students will be more advantageous in developing appropriate competitive strategies. The primary purpose of this study is to try to understand and explain the effects of the quality of university education service and socio-cultural adaptation difficulties factors on the satisfaction levels of international students. The research was carried out at Karabuk University, with the highest number of international students in Turkey. The data obtained through an online questionnaire using the convenience sampling method from 413 international students were analyzed with the “Structural Equation Model.” According to the analysis results, assurance and empathy from service quality dimensions, and cultural differences and religious belief variables from socio-cultural adaptation difficulties positively affect general student satisfaction. The research sample mostly consists of Syrian students who migrated to Turkey due to the war and bright students from low-income African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries. Turkish universities form attraction centers for international students flowing toward western countries. In this respect, the results of the research offer original contributions to the higher education literature.
Naturopathic Doctors: An Underutilized Resource of Whole Health Delivery in Primary Care
Authors: Sadowski Adam , Garofalo Luciano , Welsh Alanna , Bradley Ryan
Published: February 2022

Naturopathy, recognized by the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization as a distinct system of complementary and integrative health care, is an existing model of whole health delivery. Its unifying principles, respect for the interconnectedness of biological systems, and representation globally uniquely positions naturopathy to serve an integral role in addressing the needs of primary health care. In this viewpoint, we aim to 1) highlight key areas and existing literature supporting the use of naturopathy for health promotion and disease prevention of noncommunicable diseases; 2) describe how naturopathy can addresses the mental health needs of today’s societies; and 3) discuss the importance of naturopathy in the access and navigation of complementary and integrative health therapies.
Relational Displacement and the Colonial Legacies of Copper Mining in the Kalahari Copperbelt Region of Botswana
Authors: Huckleberry Justyn
Published: February 2022

Displacements are understood as having wide-ranging impacts on livelihoods and community access to resources. Using interviews and oral histories of farmers displaced by a copper mine in Botswana, the research described here demonstrates that displacement not only changes lived experiences of those who are displaced, but also has broad relational impacts by dispersing displaced people's family members and neighbors, disenfranchising farmers from their cattle and land, shifting the ways that human-wildlife conflict plays out, and creating a new and disruptive relationship between cattle farmers and the mining industry. Postcolonial and Indigenous scholars have long written about human-animal kinship and ongoing colonial and capitalist relations that weave (sometimes disparate) communities closer together or further apart. The work described here demonstrates that this knowledge allows for a clearer understanding of how displacement impacts the material and relational worlds of people and nonhumans displaced by the disruptive forces of resource development.
Changes in body mass index, weight, and height in children with acute myeloid leukemia and the associations with outcome
Authors: Iijima Mayuko , Stall Melanie , Wang Lei , Panetta John C. , Triplett Brandon M. , Pui Ching-Hon , Ribeiro Raul C. , Rubnitz Jeffrey E. , Pounds Stanley B. , Inaba Hiroto
Published: February 2022

Little is known about body composition changes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) during and after treatment or their associations with outcomes. Z-scores for body mass index (BMI), weight, and height at diagnosis, their longitudinal changes from diagnosis to 5 years off therapy, and their associations with adverse effects and outcomes were evaluated in 227 pediatric patients with AML enrolled in the AML02 and AML08 trials at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital between 2002-2017. The median Z-scores for baseline weight, height, and BMI were 0.193, 0.209, and 0.170, respectively, and those for weight and height decreased significantly during therapy to −0.038 and −0.163, respectively, at off-therapy (P < .001 for both). At 5 years off therapy, the Z-scores for weight and BMI had increased significantly to 0.492 (P = .003) and 0.911 (P < .001), respectively, whereas the height Z-score remained significantly lower at −0.066 (P < .001) compared with baseline. The height Z-score of transplant recipients decreased further from −0.211 at transplant to −0.617 12 months later (P < .001). Baseline BMI category and Z-score were not associated with outcomes, but higher weight Z-scores were associated with lower incidences of refractory or relapsed disease (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67-0.99) and higher incidences of death in remission (HR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.01-1.70). Furthermore, weight Z-score decrease during induction therapy was associated with gastrointestinal, hepatic, and infection toxicities during subsequent therapy and with death in remission (HR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.11-6.45). Multidisciplinary monitoring for weight changes and short stature is required from diagnosis to the off-therapy period.
American Society of Hematology, ABHH, ACHO, Grupo CAHT, Grupo CLAHT, SAH, SBHH, SHU, SOCHIHEM, SOMETH, Sociedad Panameña de Hematología, Sociedad Peruana de Hematología, and SVH 2022 guidelines for prevention of venous thromboembolism in surgical and medical patients and long-distance travelers in Latin America
Authors: Neumann Ignacio , Izcovich Ariel , Aguilar Ricardo , Basantes Guillermo León , Casais Patricia , Colorio Cecilia C. , Esposito María Cecilia Guillermo , Lázaro Pedro P. García , Pereira Jaime , Meillon-García Luis A. , Rezende Suely Meireles , Serrano Juan Carlos , Valle Mario L. Tejerina , Vera Felipe , Karzulovic Lorena , Rada Gabriel , Schünemann Holger J.
Published: February 2022

Background:

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common disease in Latin American settings. Implementation of international guidelines in Latin American settings requires additional considerations.

Objective:

To provide evidence-based guidelines about VTE prevention for Latin American patients, clinicians, and decision makers.

Methods:

We used the GRADE ADOLOPMENT method to adapt recommendations from 2 American Society of Hematology (ASH) VTE guidelines (Prevention of VTE in Surgical Patients and Prophylaxis for Medical Patients). ASH and 12 local hematology societies formed a guideline panel composed of medical professionals from 10 countries in Latin America. Panelists prioritized 20 questions relevant to the Latin American context. A knowledge synthesis team updated evidence reviews of health effects conducted for the original ASH guidelines and summarized information about factors specific to the Latin American context, that is, values and preferences, resources, accessibility, feasibility, and impact on health equity.

Results:

The panel agreed on 21 recommendations. In comparison with the original guideline, 6 recommendations changed direction and 4 recommendations changed strength.

Conclusions:

This guideline ADOLOPMENT project highlighted the importance of contextualization of recommendations in other settings, based on differences in values, resources, feasibility, and health equity impact.
Holy Grail: the journey towards disease modification in asthma
Authors: Busse William W. , Melén Erik , Menzies-Gow Andrew N.
Published: February 2022

At present, there is no cure for asthma, and treatment typically involves therapies that prevent or reduce asthma symptoms, without modifying the underlying disease. A “disease-modifying” treatment can be classed as able to address the pathogenesis of a disease, preventing progression or leading to a long-term reduction in symptoms. Such therapies have been investigated and approved in other indications,e.g.rheumatoid arthritis and immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic disease. Asthma's heterogeneous nature has made the discovery of similar therapies in asthma more difficult, although novel therapies (e.g.biologics) may have the potential to exhibit disease-modifying properties. To investigate the disease-modifying potential of a treatment, study design considerations can be made, including: appropriate end-point selection, length of trial, age of study population (key differences between adults/children in physiology, pathology and drug metabolism) and comorbidities in the patient population. Potential future focus areas for disease-modifying treatments in asthma include early assessments (e.g.to detect patterns of remodelling) and interventions for patients genetically susceptible to asthma, interventions to prevent virally induced asthma and therapies to promote a healthy microbiome. This review explores the pathophysiology of asthma, the disease-modifying potential of current asthma therapies and the direction future research may take to achieve full disease remission or prevention.
Identifying pathways regulating the oncogenic p53 family member ΔNp63 provides therapeutic avenues for squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Pokorna Zuzana , Vyslouzil Jan , Vojtesek Borivoj , Coates Philip J.
Published: February 2022

Background

ΔNp63 overexpression is a common event in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that contributes to tumorigenesis, making ΔNp63 a potential target for therapy.

Methods

We created inducible TP63-shRNA cells to study the effects of p63-depletion in SCC cell lines and non-malignant HaCaT keratinocytes. DNA damaging agents, growth factors, signaling pathway inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and metabolism-modifying drugs were also investigated for their ability to influence ΔNp63 protein and mRNA levels.

Results

HaCaT keratinocytes, FaDu and SCC-25 cells express high levels of ΔNp63. HaCaT and FaDu inducible TP63-shRNA cells showed reduced proliferation after p63 depletion, with greater effects on FaDu than HaCaT cells, compatible with oncogene addiction in SCC. Genotoxic insults and histone deacetylase inhibitors variably reduced ΔNp63 levels in keratinocytes and SCC cells. Growth factors that regulate proliferation/survival of squamous cells (IGF-1, EGF, amphiregulin, KGF, and HGF) and PI3K, mTOR, MAPK/ERK or EGFR inhibitors showed lesser and inconsistent effects, with dual inhibition of PI3K and mTOR or EGFR inhibition selectively reducing ΔNp63 levels in HaCaT cells. In contrast, the antihyperlipidemic drug lovastatin selectively increased ΔNp63 in HaCaT cells.

Conclusions

These data confirm that ΔNp63-positive SCC cells require p63 for continued growth and provide proof of concept that p63 reduction is a therapeutic option for these tumors. Investigations of ΔNp63 regulation identified agent-specific and cell-specific pathways. In particular, dual inhibition of the PI3K and mTOR pathways reduced ΔNp63 more effectively than single pathway inhibition, and broad-spectrum histone deacetylase inhibitors showed a time-dependent biphasic response, with high level downregulation at the transcriptional level within 24 h. In addition to furthering our understanding of ΔNp63 regulation in squamous cells, these data identify novel drug combinations that may be useful for p63-based therapy of SCC.
Genome-wide analysis of the CCT gene family in Chinese white pear (Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd.) and characterization of PbPRR2 in response to varying light signals
Authors: Liu Zheng , Liu Jia-Li , An Lin , Wu Tao , Yang Li , Cheng Yin-Sheng , Nie Xian-Shuang , Qin Zhong-Qi
Published: February 2022

Background

Canopy architecture is critical in determining the light environment and subsequently the photosynthetic productivity of fruit crops. Numerous CCT domain-containing genes are crucial for plant adaptive responses to diverse environmental cues. TwoCCTgenes, the orthologues ofAtPRR5in pear, have been reported to be strongly correlated with photosynthetic performance under distinct canopy microclimates. However, knowledge concerning the specific expression patterns and roles of pear CCT family genes (PbCCTs) remains very limited. The key roles played byPbCCTsin the light response led us to examine this large gene family in more detail.

Results

Genome-wide sequence analysis identified 42 putativePbCCTsin the genome of pear (Pyrus bretschneideriRehd.). Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these genes were divided into five subfamilies, namely, COL (14 members), PRR (8 members), ZIM (6 members), TCR1 (6 members) and ASML2 (8 members). Analysis of exon–intron structures and conserved domains provided support for the classification. Genome duplication analysis indicated that whole-genome duplication/segmental duplication events played a crucial role in the expansion of the CCT family in pear and that the CCT family evolved under the effect of purifying selection. Expression profiles exhibited diverse expression patterns ofPbCCTsin various tissues and in response to varying light signals. Additionally, transient overexpression ofPbPRR2in tobacco leaves resulted in inhibition of photosynthetic performance, suggesting its possible involvement in the repression of photosynthesis.

Conclusions

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of theCCTgene family in pear and will facilitate further functional investigations ofPbCCTsto uncover their biological roles in the light response.
Prioritization of indicators of the quality of care provided to older adults with frailty by key stakeholders from five canadian provinces
Authors: Giguere Anik , Holroyd-Leduc Jayna M. , Straus Sharon E. , Urquhart Robin , Turcotte Véronique , Durand Pierre J. , Turgeon Alexis
Published: February 2022

Background

To meet the needs of older adults with frailty better, it is essential to understand which aspects of care are important from their perspective. We therefore sought to assess the importance of a set of quality indicators (QI) for monitoring outcomes in this population.

Methods

In this mixed-method study, key stakeholders completed a survey on the importance of 36 QIs, and then explained their ratings in a semi-structured interview. Stakeholders included older adults with frailty and their caregivers, healthcare providers (HCPs), and healthcare administrators or policy/decision makers (DMs). We conducted descriptive statistical analyses of quantitative variables, and deductive thematic qualitative analyses of interview transcripts.

Results

The 42 participants (8 older adults, 18 HCPs, and 16 DMs) rated six QIs as more important: increasing the patients’ quality of life; increasing healthcare staff skills; decreasing patients’ symptoms; decreasing family caregiver burden; increasing patients’ satisfaction with care; and increasing family doctor continuity of care.

Conclusions

Key stakeholders prioritized QIs that focus on outcomes targeted to patients and caregivers, whereas the current healthcare systems generally focus on processes of care. Quality improvement initiatives should therefore take better account of aspects of care that are important for older adults with frailty, such as having a chance to express their individual goals of care, receiving quality communications from HCPs, or monitoring symptoms that they might not spontaneously describe. Our results point to the need for patient-centred care that is oriented toward quality of life for older adults with frailty.