bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Partisan Fractures in U.S. Federalism’s COVID-19 Policy Responses
Authors: Kincaid John , Leckrone J. Wesley
Published: February 2021

The comparatively poor U.S. response to COVID-19 was not due to federal inaction or a flawed federal system per se but to party polarization and presidential and gubernatorial preferences that frustrated federalism’s capacity to respond more effectively. The U.S. response is examined in terms of four models: coercive or regulatory federalism, nationalist cooperative federalism, non-centralized cooperative federalism, and dual federalism--finding that state-led dual federalism was the predominant response. The crisis also raised questions about interpretations of “federal inaction” because party divisions led some to regard the federal government’s response as inadequate while others viewed it as appropriate.
A New and Reinvigorated Research Agenda for U.S. Local Governments
Authors: Bowman Ann O’M. , Bearfield Domonic A. , Chambers Stefanie , Cigler Beverly A. , Fleischmann Arnold , Kelly Janet M. , Krebs Timothy B.
Published: February 2021

This essay offers a perspective on a new and reinvigorated research agenda for the study of U.S. local governments. It reports on the ideas and reflections of a set of local government scholars with different vantage points and varied substantive interests. Seven paramount themes or directions for a research agenda were identified, all of which contain numerous threads and thrusts: local government finance and economic development, local government management, intergovernmental relations, collaboration, public engagement, social equity, and institutional design. The essay offers some reasons for optimism about the future of U.S. local governments while also identifying cause for concern.
MLB’s Neocolonial Practices in the Dominican Republic Academy System
Authors: Gentile Patrick C.
Published: February 2021

This essay investigates the early stages of the Major League Baseball (MLB) pipeline by focusing on the Dominican academy system. Once an international player is signed to a professional contract, they report to the team’s academy in the Dominican Republic. All 30 teams have an academy located on the island, where they house, feed, train, and educate players on American culture. I argue that MLB maintains a neocolonial system by having a system of insufficient education, discrimination, and surveillance based on Haitian nationality, and by communicating the American dream to its prospects. MLB controls its prospects economically and culturally in these instances, which is strictly neocolonial. I analyze, with attention to internal discourse and reference to neocolonial literature, how MLB justifies and maintains this system, rhetorically.
Acquisition of the nominal case system in Russian as a second language
Authors: Cherepovskaia Natalia , Slioussar Natalia , Denissenko Denissenko Anna
Published: February 2021

Using written texts elicited from students with different proficiency levels, we studied the acquisition of nominal cases in Russian as a second language. We established the order in which cases were acquired (nominative, locative, accusative, genitive, instrumental, and dative), as well as certain characteristics of their acquisition trajectories. We argue that the order of acquisition is determined by two groups of factors: how essential a given case is for successful language use and how complex it is, both semantically and morphologically. Many important differences between first and second language acquisition were identified. The maturation of the case system was observed both in the number of correct forms participants produced and in error rates. The distribution of correct forms changed, gradually approaching that found for native speakers. With growth in proficiency, the incidence of different error types declined, and the relative frequency of errors more characteristic of first language acquisition increased.
The application of routine activity theory in explaining victimization of child marriage
Authors: Valan Michael L. , Srinivasan Murugesan
Published: February 2021

The present research is an attempt to explain the problem of child marriage in light of routine activity theory, developed by Felson and Cohen in 1979. There is, however, no specific theory that exclusively addresses either children as victims of crime in general or victims of child marriage in particular. Unlike other crime victims, however, certain victims of child marriage do not view themselves as ‘victims’, given the underlying causative factors and the justification of the consequences of such victimization. Routine activity theory was initially intended to explain property crimes. In course of time, scholars of victimology began applying this theory to explain various kinds of victimization, including domestic violence in different contexts. In this connection, a study was conducted among victims of child marriage in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, to link the practice of child marriage with the routine activity theory. For the purpose of the present research, data were collected from 252 women who were married as children. The findings of the research have revealed that the practice of child marriage can be explained from two dimensions: the first explains the causes underlying its occurrence, and the second deals with how intimate partner violence plays out in such circumstances. The outcome of this research is expected to fill a gap in the literature in the field of victimology.
18F-FDG PET cannot predict expression of clinically relevant histopathological biomarkers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis
Authors: Surov Alexey , Pech Maciej , Eckert Alexander , Arens Christoph , Grosser Oliver , Wienke Andreas
Published: February 2021

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common cancer. Positron emission tomography (PET) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) is a widely used imaging modality in HNSCC.

Purpose

To provide evident data about associations between 18F-FDG PET and histopathology in HNSCC.

Material and Methods

The MEDLINE database was screened for associations between maximum standard uptake values (SUVmax) derived from 18F-FDG PET and histopathological features in HNSCC up to May 2020. Only papers containing correlation coefficients between SUVmax and histopathology were acquired. Overall, 23 publications were collected.

Results

The following correlations were calculated: KI 67: 12 studies (345 patients), pooled correlation coefficient (PCC): 0.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.06–0.40); hypoxia-inducible factor-1α: eight studies (240 patients), PCC: 0.24 (95% CI 0.06–0.42); microvessel density: three studies (64 patients), PCC: 0.33 (95% CI 0.02–0.65); vascular endothelial growth factor: two studies (59 cases), PCC: 0.27 (95% CI 0.02–0.51); tumor suppressor protein p53: four studies (159 patients), PCC: 0.05 (95% CI –0.41 to 0.51); epidermal growth factor receptor: two studies (124 patients), PCC: 0.21 (95% CI 0.05–0.37); tumor cell count: three studies (67 patients), PCC: 0.18 (95% CI –0.06 to 0.42); tumor cell apoptosis: two studies (40 patients), PCC: 0.07 (95% CI = –0.85 to 0.99); B-cell lymphoma-2 protein: two studies (118 patients); PCC: 0.04 (95% CI –0.65 to 0.74); glucose-transporter 1: 10 studies (317 patients), PCC: 0.20 (95% CI 0.10–0.30).

Conclusion

SUVmax derived from 18F-FDG PET cannot reflect relevant histopathological features in HNSCC.
Conservative therapy for spinal epidural hematoma in a child with hemophilia A with high-titer VIII inhibitors
Authors: Wang Guige , Wang Shengru
Published: February 2021

The occurrence of a spinal epidural hematoma in patients with hemophilia A with high-titer VIII inhibitors is extremely rare and intractable. A 15-year-old male patient presented to our institution with acute back pain and progressive sensorimotor disorder of the bilateral lower extremities. He had hemophilia A with high-titer VIII inhibitors and had experienced recurrent hemorrhagic episodes for many years. Prompt magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spinal epidural hematoma. We administered bypassing agent therapy with prothrombin complex concentrates and performed intensive neurological monitoring. The neurological dysfunction improved with days, and the patient recovered completely within 3 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging 1 year later showed that the hematoma had been completely absorbed. Spinal epidural hematomas in patients with hemophilia A with high-titer inhibitors can be successfully treated using prothrombin complex concentrates. Multidisciplinary discussions based on intensive neurological monitoring should be performed as early in the clinical course as possible.
Surgical treatment of carotid artery stent infection: a case report
Authors: Liu Xiwen , Zhao Yue , Zhao Fucheng , Guo Suli , Sun Daju
Published: February 2021

The most effective treatment for graft infection is still debated, and the success rate of current treatments is low. We herein report the results of surgical treatment and follow-up of a case of infection acquired during carotid stenting with the aim of exploring the most effective treatments for graft infection. We retrospectively analyzed a patient who was admitted in September 2019. This patient underwent debridement, autologous saphenous vein replacement of the common carotid to internal carotid artery, external carotid artery suturing, and continuous negative-pressure wound therapy for carotid stent infection. Ten days after carotid artery revascularization, the growth of granulation tissue in the incision was good, and we decided to suture the neck incision. Five days after removing the stitches, grade A healing was noted. Furthermore, the carotid artery and autologous vein grafts were unobstructed as shown by carotid artery computed tomography angiography reexamination. The patient was monitored for 8 months with no new neurological symptoms and good healing of the incision. Effective treatment of vascular graft infection includes debridement and removal of the infected graft, autologous vein graft revascularization, and negative-pressure wound therapy combined with antibiotic therapy.
Chair–CEO trust and firm performance
Authors: Zheng Jiayi , Zhu Yushu
Published: February 2021

This study investigates whether trust between a corporation’s board chair and the CEO affects firm performance. After using a unique survey data set of regional trustworthiness from China to measure this trust, we find a positive relationship between trust and the performance of Chinese companies from 2000 to 2016. Additional test results suggest that the relationship is causal. Further results show that the positive trust-performance effect is more evident for firms with greater advisory needs and boards that can deliver high-quality advice. Finally, we find supporting evidence to our conjecture that the Chair–CEO trust increases firm value by improving the board advisory results, including value-adding decisions of R&D and merger and acquisition.

JEL Classification: G32, G34, G41
Field Evaluation of Wattle and Silt Fence Ditch Checks
Authors: Schussler Jaime C. , Kazaz Billur , Perez Michael A. , Blake Whitman J. , Cetin Bora
Published: February 2021

Erosion and sediment control practices are implemented during construction activities to mitigate downstream effects, but limited field-performance data exists. Field assessments were conducted to evaluate ditch check installations during highway construction in Tama County, Iowa. Data collection included daily rainfall, topographical surveys of sediment deposition, pre- and post-rain event images, and visual observations. Variations to the standard Iowa Department of Transportation silt fence ditch check installation evaluated as part of this study include: (a) upgrading non-reinforced geotextile to a multi-belted, reinforced geotextile (i.e., SF-M1); (b) installing V-shape, as opposed to linear, while incorporating wire reinforcement to support hydrostatic loads placed on the geotextile, inclusion of a weir to facilitate controlled flow discharge, and offsetting the geotextile entrenchment location to improve ground securement (i.e., SF-M2); and (c) installing the dich check as described for SF-M2 substituting slicing for trenching (i.e., SF-M3). The modified wattle installation (i.e., W-M) incorporated a teepee staking configuration to facilitate ground contact, and an excelsior underlay, secured by sod staples, to minimize wattle undercutting. Results from field experiments indicated that sediment retention rates significantly improved for installations of SF-M2 and SF-M3 when compared with the standard installation and SF-M1 at the 85% confidence level, and served as viable control measures in concentrated flow applications. The W-M installation exhibited a statistically significant improvement in sediment retention over the W-S installation at the 95% confidence level. These findings suggest that ditch check performance is a function of specified practice and of installation methods described within regulatory agency specifications and design guidelines.
High Rate of Full Duty Return to Work After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome in Workers Who Are Not on Workers’ Compensation
Authors: Cohn Matthew R. , Wichman Daniel M. , Newhouse Alexander C. , Mehta Nabil , Fu Michael C. , Chahla Jorge , Nho Shane J.
Published: February 2021

Background:

Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is an increasingly common diagnosis among working-age adults. Hip arthroscopy provides reliable improvements in pain and may allow patients to return to physical activities. No study to date has evaluated return to work (RTW) among a general population of adults after arthroscopic surgery for FAIS.

Purpose:

To evaluate (1) patients’ rate of RTW, (2) time required to RTW, and (3) factors correlated with time required to RTW after arthroscopic surgery for symptomatic FAIS.

Study Design:

Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Consecutive patients aged 25 to 59 years who underwent arthroscopic surgery for FAIS between June 2018 and December 2018 were reviewed. Workers’ compensation cases and patients with <1-year follow-up were excluded. The following were collected at a minimum of 1 year postoperatively: demographics, employment characteristics, Hip Outcome Score (HOS; Activities of Daily Living and Sports Specific subscales), modified Harris Hip Score, 12-Item International Hip Outcome Tool (iHOT-12), visual analog scale for pain, and RTW characteristics. Work physical activity level was classified as sedentary, light, moderate, heavy, or very heavy per established criteria.

Results:

A total of 97 patients were selected through inclusion and exclusion criteria. RTW surveys were collected for 79 (81.4%), and 61 were employed preoperatively. Time worked per week was 42.8 ± 12.5 hours (mean ± SD). Patients’ work level was most commonly classified as sedentary (42.6%), followed by moderate (24.6%). All 61 (100%) patients returned to work at a mean 7.3 weeks (range, <1-88 weeks) postoperatively. Sixty patients (95.2%) returned to full duty. Time required to full duty RTW was strongly correlated with expected time off from work ( r = 0.900; P < .0001) and moderately correlated with work classification ( r = 0.640; P = .0001). All patients had significant pre- to postoperative improvements in the HOS–Activities of Daily Living (64.8 ± 15.3 to 87.1 ± 12.2; P < .001), HOS–Sports Specific (42.8 ± 18.8 to 76.7 ± 16.5; P < .001), iHOT-12 (31.3 ± 18.8 to 69.3 ± 21.1; P < .001), modified Harris Hip Score (61.8 ± 12.1 to 80.3 ± 14.1; P < .001), and visual analog scale for pain (5.19 ± 2.11 to 2.40 ± 1.96; P < .001).

Conclusion:

Patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment for FAIS demonstrated a high rate of RTW at a mean of <2 months postoperatively. A patient’s expected time off from work and the level of physical demands required for work were highly associated with time required to RTW. These results are valuable for orthopaedic surgeons, patients, and employers when establishing a timeline for expected RTW after surgery.
Activate Compliance: A Multilevel Study of Factors Associated With Activation of Body-Worn Cameras
Authors: Boivin Rémi , Poirier Brigitte , D’Elia Maurizio
Published: February 2021

Body-worn cameras (BWCs) have quickly become popular tools in law enforcement. In theory, BWCs have the capacity to record all the time. However, due to privacy, legal, and practical concerns, cameras must be activated by officers in most jurisdictions. Early comments have raised concerns that officers would not activate their cameras in situations where there was a possibility that an intervention would not “look good” or when a situation might involve unnecessary or excessive use of force—posing a clear threat to transparency. The current study aims (1) to examine activation trends during a 10-month pilot to better understand officers’ compliance with departmental policies over time and (2) to identify situational and individual factors related to activation in situations where, based on a detailed policy, cameras should have been activated. Using generalized linear mixed models, camera activation was found to be significantly related to the nature of police–civilian encounters and officers’ personal characteristics such as experience and gender. Because suspicions of voluntary nonactivation in controversial situations can greatly affect police–citizen relations, this article concludes on a discussion of automatic activation.
Exploring Factors That Influence Computational Thinking Skills in Elementary Students’ Collaborative Robotics
Authors: Stewart William H. , Baek Youngkyun , Kwid Gina , Taylor Kellie
Published: February 2021

Recently educational robotics has expanded into curriculum beyond traditional STEM fields, and which can also be used to foster computational thinking (CT) skills. Prior research has shown numerous interdisciplinary benefits related to CT, however, these influential factors have often been investigated with relatively few variables. This study investigated factors that may lead to 4th and 5th grade elementary school students’ development of computational thinking skills in collaborative robotics activities by hypothesizing a model which proposed that a problem solving inventory, intrinsic motivation, and enjoyment were the main predictors of computational thinking skills. The model was then tested by surveying students with several psychometric inventories where a revised model was then constructed. The study found significant relationships between perceived competence and enjoyment, and learning motivation, and intrinsic motivation. Another important finding was that problem solving was a significant predictor of computational thinking skills. Results were interpreted with reference to implications for possible means of improving learning outcomes when using collaborative robotics in an educational setting.
Age and gender differences in socially aversive (“dark”) personality traits
Authors: Hartung Johanna , Bader Martina , Moshagen Morten , Wilhelm Oliver
Published: February 2021

The strong overlap of personality traits discussed under the label of “dark personality” (e.g., psychopathy, spitefulness, moral disengagement) endorses a common framework for socially aversive traits over and beyond the dark triad. Despite the rapidly growing research on socially aversive traits, there is a lack of studies addressing age-associated differences in these traits. In the present study ( N = 12,501), we investigated the structure of the D Factor of Personality across age and gender using local structural equation modeling, thereby expressing the model parameters as a quasi-continuous, nonparametric function of age. Specifically, we evaluated loadings, reliabilities, factor (co-)variances, and means across 35 locally weighted age groups (from 20 to 54 years), separately for females and males. Results indicated that measurement models were highly stable, thereby supporting the conceptualization of the D factor independent of age and gender. Men exhibited uniformly higher latent means than females and all latent means decreased with increasing age. Overall, D and its themes were invariant across age and gender. Therefore, future studies can meaningfully pursue causes of mean differences across age and between genders.
Implementation of a Leeches + Antimicrobial Prophylaxis Order Panel to Optimize Medicinal Leech Use at a Tertiary Care Academic Medical Center
Authors: Palm Nicole M. , Wesolowski Jill C. , Wu Janet Y. , Srinivas Pavithra
Published: February 2021

Medicinal leech therapy promotes vascular flow and can be used to salvage grafts. Medicinal leeches have a symbiotic relationship with Aeromonas species and can therefore present a risk of bacterial transmission to patients. Antimicrobial prophylaxis is warranted for the duration of leech therapy, however, an institutional evaluation of 40 patients receiving medicinal leech therapy demonstrated poor adherence with recommendations. An electronic medical record order panel for antimicrobial prophylaxis with medicinal leech therapy was implemented, leading to a subsequent improvement in adherence to prophylaxis use, including significant increases in the ordering of antibiotics and the appropriate timing of initiation in the subsequent 10 patients receiving medicinal leech therapy after panel implementation. Aeromonas infections were rare before and after panel implementation, and developed only in the patient subset with non-optimized prophylaxis.
Does Early Life Racial Discrimination Explain a Mental Health Paradox among Black Adults?
Authors: Thomas Tobin Courtney S. , Moody Myles D.
Published: February 2021

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of early life racial discrimination (ELRD) on mental health among Black adults. Methods: Data were from the Nashville Stress and Health Study ( n = 618). Ordinary least squares regression models examined the relationship between ELRD and adult psychological distress; logistic regression estimated the probability of past-year major depressive disorder (MDD). We also assessed whether ELRD moderated the relationship between adult discrimination and mental health. Results: Childhood (b = 1.07, SE = .51, p = .04) and adolescent ELRD (b = 1.32, SE = .42, p = .002) were associated with adult distress. Individuals who experienced childhood ERLD had 88% lower odds of adult MDD than individuals with no ELRD. Significant interactions showed that childhood and adolescent ELRD was protective against adult discrimination. Discussion: While ELRD importantly shapes distress and MDD among Black adults, patterns vary by outcome. Results indicate that adult distress and MDD develop through cumulative adversity processes that are further influenced by sensitive periods in the life course.
Nonprofit Advocacy Coalitions in Times of COVID-19: Brokerage, Crowdfunding, and Advocacy Roles
Authors: Raeymaeckers Peter , Van Puyvelde Stijn
Published: February 2021

This article analyzes the roles an advocacy coalition undertakes to support nonprofit organizations to cope with the challenges caused by lockdown and physical distance measures to stop COVID-19. We find that social workers and nonprofit members of the coalition created different kinds of solutions and innovative practices to support vulnerable target groups when confronted with the COVID-19 crisis and the resulting lockdown regulations. In particular, we show that the coalition was pushed to diversify its activities, leading to the development of three roles: a direct and indirect advocacy role, a brokerage role to provide information on new practices, and a crowdfunding role to provide finances for material aid. We conclude by emphasizing the implications of our analysis for both theory and practice.
Comparison of cohort characteristics in Central Africa International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS and Demographic Health Surveys: Rwanda and Burundi
Authors: Mageras Anna , Brazier Ellen , Niyongabo Théodore , Murenzi Gad , D’Amour Sinayobye Jean , Adedimeji Adebola A , Twizere Christella , Kelvin Elizabeth A , Anastos Kathryn , Nash Denis , Jones Heidi E
Published: February 2021

Clinical health record data are used for HIV surveillance, but the extent to which these data are population representative is not clear. We compared age, marital status, body mass index, and pregnancy distributions in the Central Africa International Databases to Evaluate AIDS (CA-IeDEA) cohorts in Burundi and Rwanda to all people living with HIV and the subpopulation reporting receiving a previous HIV test result in the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data, restricted to urban areas, where CA-IeDEA sites are located. DHS uses a probabilistic sample for population-level HIV prevalence estimates. In Rwanda, the CA-IeDEA cohort and DHS populations were similar with respect to age and marital status for men and women, which was also true in Burundi among women. In Burundi, the CA-IeDEA cohort had a greater proportion of younger and single men than the DHS data, which may be a result of outreach to sexual minority populations at CA-IeDEA sites and economic migration patterns. In both countries, the CA-IeDEA cohorts had a higher proportion of underweight individuals, suggesting that symptomatic individuals are more likely to access care in these settings. Multiple sources of data are needed for HIV surveillance to interpret potential biases in epidemiological data.
‘They Are Here Without Chains, but With Invisible Chains’: Understandings of Modern Slavery Within the New South Wales Settlement Sector
Authors: David Keren , Salter Michael
Published: February 2021

Modern slavery is a complex and clandestine social phenomenon that is poorly understood in the Australian context. The settlement sector is integral to Australia’s counter-slavery efforts, and yet, no Australian study has explicitly sought to explore how this group identifies and navigates modern slavery. This paper draws on surveys and interviews with workers in the New South Wales settlement sector, and offers new insights into how certain forms of modern slavery are understood and addressed by professionals working with newly arrived migrants. The findings of the study uncover some of the profound challenges staff encounter in detecting and responding to different exploitative practices. Furthermore, they underscore the significant disjunctions between existing legislative provisions that aim to address modern slavery, and the experiences and understandings of workers at the frontline of the issue. The study demonstrates the need for education and greater investment into modern slavery responses within the settlement sector, and multi-sectoral collaboration to proactively address the systemic issues engendering exploitation at a community level.
Augmenting Employees’ Efforts in Innovation
Authors: Jain Nikita
Published: February 2021

Strong labour laws play a major role in motivating innovation among employees. It has been found in the literature that stringency of labour laws is positively linked with employees’ efforts in innovation, in particular, wrongful discharge laws (WDL). However, employees may also bring nuisance suits against employers. Usually, the result of these suits is that both parties settle with each other. Thus, even if employees are justly dismissed, they may be able to bring nuisance suits against employers and gain a settlement amount. This article investigates how the possibility of nuisance suits affects the impact of WDL on employees’ efforts in innovation. In this respect, a game-theoretic model is developed in the article to find the equilibrium level of employees’ efforts in the presence of nuisance suits, where there is a possibility of employees getting discharged from the firm. I find that if nuisance suits are a possibility, the stringency of WDL has no impact on employees’ efforts if defence cost of the firm is low; but for higher defence costs, WDL affects employees’ efforts. The efforts exerted by an employee are found to be weakly increasing in the defence costs of the firm.
Short-Term Internationally Mobile Academics and Their Research Collaborations Upon Return: Insights From the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
Authors: Haupt John P.
Published: February 2021

The international mobility of academics is one of the key mechanisms through which university internationalization occurs; yet, fewer studies have investigated the impact that it has on academics’ teaching, research, and service. This study investigates the relationship between short-term international mobility and changes in academics’ research networks. Using bibliometric data, research collaboration patterns of 303 U.S. Fulbright academics were analyzed to determine with which academics abroad they are more likely to collaborate and which factors influence the likelihood of research collaboration. The findings demonstrate a positive relationship between short-term international mobility and subsequent research collaborations between mobile academics and host institution and host country academics, but co-publications were more likely with host institution as opposed to host country academics. The results also indicate that this positive relationship is mediated by academics’ pre-existing networks, characteristics of the abroad experience, and academics’ sociodemographic characteristics.
Simultaneous LeFort III and LeFort I Osteotomies in Craniometaphyseal Dysplasia
Authors: Chan Christopher , Garg Ravi , Wlodarczyk Jordan R. , Yen Stephen , Urata Mark M.
Published: February 2021

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) is a rare genetic disease affecting bone metabolism with sclerosis of craniofacial bones. Orthognathic surgery has rarely been described in this patient population due to the bony thickness, making osteotomies challenging. We present a 19-year-old male with CMD with malocclusion, severe midface hypoplasia, and obstructive sleep apnea. With the aid virtual planning, we safely performed a combined LeFort III/I midface advancement to correct a negative overjet to improve occlusal balance, decrease scleral show, and diminish daytime sleepiness.
Predictors of Depression and Anxiety Among Senior High School Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Context of Home Quarantine and Online Education
Authors: AlAzzam Manar , Abuhammad Sawsan , Abdalrahim Asem , Hamdan-Mansour Ayman M.
Published: February 2021

This study aimed to examine the prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety among senior high school students in Jordan during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used an anonymous online survey that targeted senior high school students in Jordan. Almost two thirds of students reported depressive symptoms and anxiety. Father’s level of education, mothers’ level of education, perceived difficulties in online education, gender, and age were significant predictors of depression, while father’s level of education, difficulties in online education, gender, and age were significant predictors of anxiety ( p < .05). Among those identified as having depression, 30.7% were male and 50.7% were female. The prevalence of anxiety among students was high, and the prevalence of anxiety in females (46.9%) is greater than males (27.6%). School health nurses and mental health counselors at schools need to emphasize the mental health and psychosocial support needs for senior high school students.
High-Dose Daptomycin and Clinical Applications
Authors: Jones Timothy W. , Jun Ah Hyun , Michal Jessica L. , Olney William J.
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To evaluate evidence for high-dose daptomycin (doses ≥ 8 mg/kg/d).

Data Sources:

A PubMed/MEDLINE literature search was performed (January 2000 to December 2020) using the search terms daptomycin, high dose, and dosing. Review article references and society guidelines were reviewed.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Clinical trials, observational studies, retrospective studies, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews reporting on high-dose daptomycin were included.

Data Synthesis:

Experimentally, daptomycin outperforms other antimicrobials for high inoculum and biofilm-associated infections. Clinically, high-dose daptomycin is supported as salvage and first-line therapy for endocarditis and bacteremia, primarily when caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (when vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration is >1 mg/L) and Enterococcus. High-dose daptomycin appears effective for osteomyelitis and central nervous system infections, although comparative studies are lacking. High dosing in renal replacement therapy requires considering clearance modality to achieve exposures like normal renal function. Weight-based dosing in obesity draws concern for elevated exposures, although high doses have not been evaluated kinetically in obesity. Some data show benefits of high doses in overweight populations. Burn patients clear daptomycin more rapidly, and high doses may only achieve drug exposures similar to standard doses (6 mg/kg).

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice:

This review analyzes the efficacy and safety of high-dose daptomycin in serious gram-positive infections. Discussion of specific infectious etiologies and patient populations should encourage clinicians to evaluate their daptomycin dosing standards.

Conclusions:

The efficacy of high-dose daptomycin and limited safety concerns encourage clinicians to consider high-dose daptomycin more liberally in severe gram-positive infections.
Preliminary Validation of the Global Neuropsychological Assessment in Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Volunteers
Authors: Olson Lauren T. , Smerbeck Alan , Figueroa Christina M. , Raines Jeremy M. , Szigeti Kinga , Schretlen David J. , Benedict Ralph H. B.
Published: February 2021

Methods

We administered the Global Neuropsychological Assessment (GNA), an abbreviated cognitive battery, to 105 adults aged 73.0 ± 7.1 years, including 28 with probable Alzheimer’s disease, 9 with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and 68 healthy controls. We examined group differences in baseline performance, test–retest reliability, and correlations with other conventional tests.

Results

Healthy adults outperformed patients on all five GNA subtests. Test–retest intraclass correlation coefficients were significant for all GNA subtests. Among patients with healthy controls, GNA Story Memory correlated best with Wechsler Memory Scale–Revised (WMS-R) Logical Memory for learning and delayed recall, GNA Digit Span correlated most highly with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition (WAIS-III) Digit Span, GNA Perceptual Comparison correlated most highly with the Trail Making Test, and GNA Animal Naming correlated most highly with Supermarket Item Naming.

Conclusions

Preliminary findings suggest that the GNA shows good test–retest validity, clear convergent and discriminant construct validity, and excellent diagnostic criterion validity for dementia and mild cognitive impairment in an American sample.
Assessing DSM-5 Section II Personality Disorders Using the MMPI-2-RF in an Iranian Community Sample
Authors: Ghamkhar Fard Zahra , Pourshahbaz Abbas , Anderson Jaime , Shakiba Shima , Mirabzadeh Arash
Published: February 2021

The aim of the current study was to examine the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008 ) scales in assessing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth edition ( DSM-5) Section II Personality Disorder (PD) symptoms. For this purpose, we first tested the cross-cultural factorial and criterion validity of MMPI-2-RF scales. We used a sample of 536 (327 women and 209 men) community individuals in Tehran, Iran. DSM-5 Section II PD criterion counts were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5–Screening Personality Questionnaire. Exploratory structural equation modelling analyses revealed that the models reported by Ben-Porath and Tellegen generally fitted the data well. Criterion validity of the MMPI-2-RF scales as well as MMPI-2-RF PDs spectra scales were analyzed with respect to their correlations with DSM-5 Section II PDs, indicating results generally consistent with expectations. Results based on Poisson or Negative binomial regression models indicated that a set of MMPI-2-RF scale hypotheses were supported, with several exceptions that are discussed in detail. These findings have implications for applicability of the MMPI-2-RF across Iranian population.
Complex Inclusion Bodies and Defective Proteome Hubs in Neurodegenerative Disease: New Clues, New Challenges
Authors: Upadhyay Arun , Sundaria Naveen , Dhiman Rohan , Prajapati Vijay Kumar , Prasad Amit , Mishra Amit
Published: February 2021

A healthy physiological environment of cells represents the dynamic homeostasis of crowded molecules. A subset of cellular proteome forms protein quality control (PQC) machinery to maintain an uninterrupted synthesis of new polypeptides and targeted elimination of old or defective proteins. The process of PQC may get overwhelmed under specific genetic mutations, environmental stress conditions, and aging-associated perturbances. Many of these conditions may lead to the generation of various types of aberrant protein species that may or may not accumulate as large cellular inclusions. These proteinaceous formations, referred to as inclusion bodies (IBs), could be membrane-bound or membrane-less, cytoplasmic, or nuclear. Most importantly, they could either be toxic or protective. Under acute stress conditions, the formation of aggregates may cause proteostasis failure, leading to large-scale changes in the cellular proteome compositions. However, the large insoluble IBs may act as reservoirs for many soluble proteins with high aggregation propensities, which can overwhelm the cellular chaperoning capacity and protein degradation machinery. The kinetic equilibrium between folding and unfolding, misfolding, and refolding; aggregation and degradation is perturbed in one or many neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) associated with dementia, cognitive impairments, movement, and behavioural losses. However, a detailed interplay of IBs into the manifestation of the NDDs is unknown, and a very primitive knowledge of structural compositions of amyloid inclusions is present. The present article presents a brief evolutionary background of IBs; their functional relevance for prokaryotes, plants, and animals; and associated involvement in neuronal proteostasis.
Do Independent Living Services Protect Youth Aging Out Foster Care From Adverse Outcomes? An Evaluation Using National Data
Authors: Huang Hui , Li Yong , Campbell John McKinley
Published: February 2021

Objective:

Youth aging out foster care are at high risk of experiencing adverse outcomes. Federal funded programs have provided independent living services (ILSs) to these youth. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the continuity of ILSs at ages 17–19 in protecting youth aging out foster care from homelessness and incarceration at ages 19–21.

Method:

This study used data on 4,853 foster youth from the National Youth in Transition Database and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System. Logistic regression was used to regress two binary outcomes on seven ILS variables and covariates.

Results:

The results suggest that remaining in foster care, continuous receipts of academic support, and financial assistance services at ages 17–19 protected foster youth from experiencing homelessness. Remaining in foster care and continuous receipt of financial assistance services at ages 17–19 protected foster youth from incarceration at ages 19–21. But, surprisingly, continuous receipt of housing education and home management training, and health education and risk prevention training at ages 17–19 were each associated with increased risk of homelessness at ages 19–21. The results also showed statistically significant effects of several covariates.

Conclusion:

Implications are provided based on the importance of financial assistance and academic support services.
Children With Intellectual Disability and Victimization: A Logistic Regression Analysis
Authors: Brendli Katherine R. , Broda Michael D. , Brown Ruth
Published: February 2021

It is a common assumption that children with disabilities are more likely to experience victimization than their peers without disabilities. However, there is a paucity of robust research supporting this assumption in the current literature. In response to this need, we conducted a logistic regression analysis using a national dataset of responses from 26,572 parents/caregivers to children with and without disabilities across all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. The purpose of our study was to acquire a greater understanding of the odds of victimization among children with and without intellectual disability (ID), while controlling for several child and parent/adult demographic correlates. Most notably, our study revealed that children with ID have 2.84 times greater odds of experiencing victimization than children without disabilities, after adjusting for the other predictors in the model. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.
Characterization of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells, Microbial Sequences, and Identification of a Candidate Public T-Cell Clone in Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease
Authors: Nelson Nya D , Meng Wenzhao , Rosenfeld Aaron M , Bullman Susan , Sekhar Pedamallu Chandra , Nomburg Jason L , Wertheim Gerald B , Paessler Michele E , Pinkus Geraldine , Hornick Jason L , Meyerson Matthew , Luning Prak Eline T , Pillai Vinodh
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a self-limited lymphadenitis of unclear etiology. We aimed to further characterize this disease in pediatric patients, including evaluation of the CD123 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and investigation of potential immunologic and infectious causes.

Methods

Seventeen KFD cases and 12 controls were retrospectively identified, and the histologic and clinical features were evaluated. CD123 IHC staining was quantified by digital image analysis. Next generation sequencing was employed for comparative microbial analysis via RNAseq (5 KFD cases) and to evaluate the immune repertoire (9 KFD cases).

Results

In cases of lymphadenitis with necrosis, >0.85% CD123+ cells by IHC was found to be six times more likely in cases with a final diagnosis of KFD (sensitivity 75%, specificity 87.5%). RNAseq based comparative microbial analysis did not detect novel or known pathogen sequences in KFD. A shared complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) sequence and use of the same T-cell receptor beta variable region family was identified in KFD LNs but not controls, and was not identified in available databases.

Conclusions:

Digital quantification of CD123 IHC can distinguish KFD from other necrotizing lymphadenitides. The presence of a unique shared CDR3 sequence suggests that a shared antigen underlies KFD pathogenesis.
Is Endoscopic Assessment of the Esophagus and Stomach Enough to Determine the Need for Biopsy at These Sites in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Endoscopy for Elevated TTG?
Authors: Pacheco M. Cristina , Green Nicole , Dickerson Jane , Lee Dale
Published: February 2021

Objectives

The goal of our study was to determine whether visual assessment of the esophagus and stomach could predict abnormal histology and determine the frequency of interventions based on biopsies in patients undergoing endoscopy for elevated tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A antibody (TTG).

Methods

Pathology records were searched for patients with biopsy performed for elevated TTG. Pathology report, endoscopy report, and follow-up were obtained and slides from the duodenum reviewed. Pathology was considered gold standard for sensitivity and specificity calculations.

Results

240 patients were included. 215 patients had esophageal biopsies performed. Esophageal endoscopic visual assessment had sensitivity of 47% and specificity of 93% for abnormal histology. 16(7%) patients had therapy or referral related to results and, of these, 6(38%) had visually normal endoscopy. 237 biopsies were performed of stomach. Gastric endoscopic visual assessment had a sensitivity and specificity of 20% and 87%. 24(10%) patients had therapy based on findings and, of these, 12 (50%) had visually normal endoscopy.

Conclusions

Endoscopic assessment of esophagus and stomach has low sensitivity and high specificity for pathologic abnormalities when indication for endoscopy is elevated TTG. When endoscopy is visually normal clinical interventions based on biopsy are rare, and foregoing biopsy may be considered.
Assessment of Adipokines, CXCL16 Chemokine Levels in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Combined With Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Turgunova Lyudmila Gennadyevna , Shalygina Anna Andreevna , Zalkalns Janis Pavlovich , Klyuyev Dmitriy Anatolyevich , Akhmaltdinova Lyudmila Leonidovna , Dosmagambetova Raushan Sultanovna
Published: February 2021

Objective:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease, is associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the causal factors have yet to be completely elucidated. The studies show that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MtS) was significantly higher in RA patients compared to the population. In RA and MetS inflammation and atherosclerosis are closely linked. The level of chemokines and adipokines, which may play a role in the development of atherogenesis in RA with MetS patients is currently unknown. In this study, we investigated the level of chemokine C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) and adipokine in RA with MetS patients and assessed the association of biomarkers with clinical and biochemical activity scores of RA and components of MetS.

Methods:

Blood serum of 298 people (48—patients with RA and MetS, 82—with RA without MetS, 105—with MetS, 63—control group without both RA and MetS) was tested for (CXCL16), Resistin, Leptin and Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 (FGF21) levels by fluorescent antibody technique. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 18.0.

Results:

The biomarker study showed the highest level in the RA with MetS patient group; but as compared with the RA group the differences were insignificant. CXCL16 (Me = 426.2 pg/ml (Q25-75 250.5-527.6), resistin (Me = 8685.4 pg/ml (Q25-75 6480.8-13 629.1), and FGF21 (Me = 443.6 pg/ml (Q25-75 772.9-916.3) proved to be significantly augmented in RA with MetS patients group, and in RA without MetS patients group (Me = 312.7 (Q25-75 199.4-517.7) pg/ml; Me = 8265.3 (Q25-75 5779.7-13 340.5) pg/ml; Me = 412.4 (Q25-75 300.4-497.4) pg/ml, respectively) as compared with MetS patients group (Me = 189.4 (Q25-75 130.3-280.6) pg/ml; Me = 5364.8 (Q25-75 2368.9-10 160.9) pg/ml; Me = 133.2 (Q25-75 76.2-268.6) pg/ml, respectively; P = <.001). Leptin level in all groups was higher than in the control group, but there were no differences between groups. The correlation analysis found a positive relationship between the leptin level and the waist circumference (rs = 0.39; P = .007) in the RA with MetS patients, the association of biomarkers with DAS28 score and ESR did not have any statistical significance. Conclusions: The augmented chemokine, resistin and FGF21 in the RA with MetS patients proves the systemic inflammation which is the basis of RA; the augmented leptin is linked to the abdominal obesity. These data are somewhat of an explanation of the increased risk of the CVD development in RA with MetS people. A differentiated specification can be useful to assess the cardiovascular risk of patients and justify prompt personalized treatment.