bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reciprocity in Low Back Pain Care and Its Role in Power Dynamics: A Give-and-Take Approach
Authors: Mescouto Karime , Tan Meris , Setchell Jenny
Published: October 2022

Objective

The shift toward patient-centered care in physical therapy fostered a deeper consideration of power-sharing in clinical interactions. Elements of reciprocity may enhance such power considerations between physical therapist and patients, but there has been little investigation into how reciprocity is enacted in physical therapy, its value, and how to improve it if required. This study investigates forms of reciprocity during physical therapist–patient interactions in low back pain (LBP) care with the aim of enhancing patient-centered approaches.

Methods

The qualitative design involved (1) ethnographic observations at a fee-for-service practice in Australia, and (2) reflexive discussions between researchers and participating clinicians. To understand reciprocity, the analysis drew from the concepts of “accepting’”(or “blocking”) “offers” that have been previously applied to physical therapy interactions. The analysis is a sub-study using a larger dataset and analyses in which we partnered with physical therapists and people living with LBP.

Results

Forty-nine observations and 13 reflexive discussions were undertaken with 42 people with LBP and 10 physical therapists. Analysis developed 3 themes suggesting that forms of reciprocity depended on physical therapists accepting or blocking patients’ offers, inviting patients to make an offer, and offering personal stories. These elements of reciprocity are relevant to power-sharing during interactions and may impact patient-centered care.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that attending to forms of reciprocity can help physical therapists shift power in clinical interactions. By inviting and accepting “offers,” physical therapists may build collaborative interactions, support individuals to guide the treatment narrative, and shift away from biomedically centered management approaches. Such recommendations create reciprocal environments that might enhance patient-centered care.

Impact

This is one of the few studies to explore how reciprocity is enacted in interactions between physical therapists and s with LBP. Our findings highlight how engaging with the concept of reciprocity could assist with sharing power, improving physical therapist–patient relationships, and enhancing patient-centered care.
Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Complex II Dysfunction Causes Premature Aging of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Authors: Harada Kaito , Yahata Takashi , Onizuka Makoto , Ishii Takamasa , Aziz Ibrahim Abd , Kikkawa Eri , Gondo Yoichi , Ando Kiyoshi
Published: October 2022

Mitochondria are indispensable in maintaining hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and mitochondrial complex II (MCII) has been recognized as a key component of HSCs. However, the physiological role of MCII on long-term hematopoiesis and hematopoietic reconstitution capacity remains unknown. Hence, this study evaluated the impact of MCII dysfunctions on long-term HSC maintenance and hematopoietic homeostasis among conditional transgenic mice with a missense mutation in the succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit C gene (SdhcV69E). HSCs collected from SdhcV69E mice had a higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and DNA damage in response to mitochondrial activation. Via the aging stress response, MCII dysfunctions caused decreased white blood cell count with myeloid-skewing property, macrocytic anemia, and thrombocytosis. Moreover, the HSCs of aged SdhcV69E mice exhibited greater ROS accumulation and lower membrane potential. Transplantation-induced replicative stress also caused premature senescent hematopoiesis. Furthermore, accelerated ROS accumulation and profound DNA damage in HSCs were observed in the SdhcV69E-derived cell recipients. The long-term hematopoietic reconstitution capacity was remarkably impaired in HSCs from the SdhcV69E-derived cell recipients. Taken together, MCII plays an essential role in long-term hematopoiesis, and MCII dysfunctions with aging or replicative stresses caused excessive ROS accumulation and DNA damage in HSCs, leading to premature senescence.
VIIShakespeare
Authors: Rendall Edward B M , Smith Peter J , Parsons Elinor , Fairbanks Chloe , Stelzer Emanuel , Bell Shirley , Haworth Ben , Lim Vanessa , O’Brien Sheilagh Ilona , Baratta Luca
Published: October 2022

This chapter has four sections: 1. Editions and Textual Studies; 2. Shakespeare in the Theatre; 3. Shakespeare on Screen; 4. Criticism. Section 1 is by Edward B.M. Rendall; section 2 is by Peter J. Smith; section 3 is by Elinor Parsons; section 4(a) is by Chloe Fairbanks; section 4(b) is by Emanuel Stelzer; section 4(c) is by Shirley Bell; section 4(d) is by Ben Haworth; section 4(e) is by Vanessa Lim; section 4(f) is by Sheilagh Ilona O’Brien; section 4(g) is by Luca Baratta.
The China Heart Valve Center and National Transcatheter Valve Therapeutics Registry database
Authors: Hong Nanchao , Pan Wenzhi , Zhou Daxin , Ge Junbo
Published: October 2022

With the aging of the population, the incidence rate of valvular heart disease (VHD) has increased significantly, VHD brings heavy burden on existing health services. In China, the intervention for VHD starts relatively late, but developed rapidly. The China Heart Valve Center (HVC) was established in 2019 as a part of the national efforts to provide coordinated specialized management to patients with VHD. China HVC has witnessed rapid growth during the past 3 years, and has become a regional center for patient care and a national hub for training. The certification standards of HVC and the construction standards of HVC were formulated respectively by the HVC headquarter. Furthermore, the HVC headquarter also established the National Transcatheter Valve Therapeutics Registry (NTCVR) database which was in accord with the situation of transcatheter valve replacement in China. This review summarizes the current status of HVCs in China, as well as the NTCVR database.
Association between vitamin D and calcium intakes, breast microcalcifications, breast tissue age-related lobular involution and breast density
Authors: Clemenceau Alisson , Chang Sue-Ling , Hanna Mirette , Durocher Francine , Diorio Caroline
Published: October 2022

Objective

To demystify the potential role of vitamin D and calcium intakes in breast carcinogenesis, we explored the association between these two nutrients and three biomarkers of breast cancer risk: the presence of microcalcifications, age-related lobular involution and breast density.

Methods

A total of 82 premenopausal and 79 postmenopausal women diagnosed with breast cancer completed a food frequency questionnaire to assess their total vitamin D and calcium intakes. Presence of microcalcifications was determined by reviewing pathology reports. Age-related lobular involution was assessed in nontumoral breast tissue on hematoxylin–eosin-stained slides and percent breast density was assessed by a computer-assisted method. Multivariate generalized linear models were used to evaluate associations between quartiles of vitamin D and calcium intakes and the biomarkers of breast cancer risk.

Results

Increasing quartiles of vitamin D intake were inversely associated with the presence of microcalcifications (fourth quartile [Q4] prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.55; P
trend = 0.021) and breast density (Q4-Q1 = −7.7%; P
trend = 0.023) in postmenopausal women, and positively associated with age-related lobular involution in women with microcalcifications (Q4 PR = 1.62; P
trend = 0.036). Increasing quartiles of calcium intake were inversely associated with microcalcifications among all (Q4 PR = 0.44), premenopausal (Q4 PR = 0.37) and postmenopausal women (Q4 PR = 0.38; P
trend < 0.014 for all). It was also inversely associated with breast density in women without microcalcification (Q4-Q1 = −8.3%; P
trend = 0.047), but positively associated with breast density in women with microcalcifications (Q4-Q1 = 10.0%; P
trend = 0.032).

Conclusions

Results suggest that the association between vitamin D and calcium intakes and breast cancer risk factors could be influenced by the presence of microcalcifications.
The severity of individual menopausal symptoms, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Cohort
Authors: Nudy Matthew , Aragaki Aaron K. , Jiang Xuezhi , Manson JoAnn E. , Allison Matthew A. , Shadyab Aladdin H. , Hodis Howard N. , Wild Robert A. , Robbins John A. , Liu Simin , Naughton Michelle J. , Dreibelbis Sarah , Gass Margery , Stefanick Marcia L. , Valdiviezo Carolina , Schnatz Peter F.
Published: October 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the association between common menopausal symptoms (MS) and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality.

Methods

In an observational cohort of 80,278 postmenopausal women with no known CVD at baseline from the Women's Health Initiative, we assessed individual MS severity (mild vs none; moderate/severe vs none) for night sweats, hot flashes, waking up several times at night, joint pain or stiffness, headaches or migraines, vaginal or genital dryness, heart racing or skipping beats, breast tenderness, dizziness, tremors (shakes), feeling tired, forgetfulness, mood swings, restless or fidgety, and difficulty concentrating. Outcomes included total CVD events (primary) and all-cause mortality (secondary). Associations between specific MS, their severity, and outcomes were assessed during a median of 8.2 years of follow-up. All results were multivariable adjusted, and individual associations were Bonferroni corrected to adjust for multiple comparisons. A machine learning approach (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) was used to select the most parsimonious set of MS most predictive of CVD and all-cause mortality.

Results

The severity of night sweats, waking up several times at night, joint pain or stiffness, heart racing or skipping beats, dizziness, feeling tired, forgetfulness, mood swings, restless or fidgety, and difficulty concentrating were each significantly associated with total CVD. The largest hazard ratio (HR) for total CVD was found for moderate or severe heart racing or skipping beats (HR, 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-1.86). The individual severities of heart racing or skipping beats, dizziness, tremors (shakes), feeling tired, forgetfulness, mood swings, restless or fidgety, and difficulty concentrating were associated with increased all-cause mortality. Moderate or severe dizziness had the largest HR (1.58; 95% CI, 1.24-2.01). Multiple symptom modeling via least absolute shrinkage and selection operator selected dizziness, heart racing, feeling tired, and joint pain as most predictive of CVD, whereas dizziness, tremors, and feeling tired were most predictive of all-cause mortality.

Conclusion

Among postmenopausal women with no known CVD at baseline, the severity of specific individual MS was significantly associated with incident CVD and mortality. Consideration of severe MS may enhance sex-specific CVD risk predication in future cohorts, but caution should be applied as severe MS could also indicate other health conditions.
Effects of an Education Program for Home Blood Pressure Measurements in Stroke Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Kishita Shingo , Hyakuta Takeshi
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND: Stroke patients must review their previous lifestyle and take daily actions to control risk factors for recurrence.METHODS: A nonblind, randomized controlled trial was conducted in stroke patients to determine whether an education program intervention would alter behavior concerning home blood pressure measurements. This prospective, randomized controlled trial recruited 48 inpatients with stroke randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 24) or a usual care group (n = 24). The intervention involved 5 face-to-face support or telephone support sessions over 6 months to provide information regarding home blood pressure measurements and to confirm patient behavior using a textbook, a blood pressure recording form, and a blood pressure measurement device.RESULTS: There were no significant differences at baseline between the intervention and usual care groups. The median rate of performing home blood pressure measurements at 12 months was significantly higher in the intervention group (100.0% [99.1%-100.0%], n = 24) than the control group (62.5% [27.7%–87.5%], n = 24) (P< .001). The rates of home blood pressure measurements (at 1, 3, and 7 months after registration) were also significantly higher in the intervention group. Seven months after registration, home blood pressure values (systolic blood pressure) were significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group (P= .025). In contrast, there was no significant difference at 1, 3, or 12 months after registration.CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that although the rate of home blood pressure measurements in both groups decreased, the rate was higher in the intervention group compared with the usual care group, indicating that the intervention was effective.
Gastric submucosal mass lesions
Authors: Desai Nikita , Monsrud Ashley , Willingham Field F.
Published: October 2022

Purpose of review

Gastric submucosal mass lesions are a collection of tumours that arise in the stomach and are deep to the mucosal layer. Distinct from gastric epithelial carcinomas, these tumours are generally more indolent. They are often found incidentally on upper endoscopy. Most often they present as smooth protuberant masses covered by normal intact gastric mucosa. The majority are asymptomatic. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is frequently employed to further characterize the lesions. EUS can be diagnostic of some lesions, such as lipomas, and can be used to guide fine needle aspiration to diagnose others. Adding to the traditional management approaches of observation and surgical resection, numerous new and emerging endoscopic therapies are now being used to resect these gastric tumours.

Recent findings

This review focuses on evolving strategies in the diagnosis and management of submucosal mass lesions. Although surgical intervention was once the lone option for intervention, there are an increasing number of endoscopic therapies. There have also been advancements in neoadjuvant therapies and in distinguishing the malignant potential of submucosal mass lesions.

Gastric submucosal lesions are common. EUS is frequently indicated in the evaluation and diagnosis. For tumours for which observation is not recommended, novel endoscopic therapies may offer less invasive management options.
Intracerebral Hemorrhage Segmentation on Noncontrast Computed Tomography Using a Masked Loss Function U-Net Approach
Authors: Coorens Nadine A. , Lipman Kevin Groot , Krishnam Sanjith P. , Tan Can Ozan , Alic Lejla , Gupta Rajiv
Published: October 2022

Objective

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) volume is a strong predictor of outcome in patients presenting with acute hemorrhagic stroke. It is necessary to segment the hematoma for ICH volume estimation and for computerized extraction of features, such as spot sign, texture parameters, or extravasated iodine content at dual-energy computed tomography. Manual and semiautomatic segmentation methods to delineate the hematoma are tedious, user dependent, and require trained personnel. This article presents a convolutional neural network to automatically delineate ICH from noncontrast computed tomography scans of the head.

Methods

A model combining a U-Net architecture with a masked loss function was trained on standard noncontrast computed tomography images that were down sampled to 256 × 256 size. Data augmentation was applied to prevent overfitting, and the loss score was calculated using the soft Dice loss function. The Dice coefficient and the Hausdorff distance were computed to quantitatively evaluate the segmentation performance of the model, together with the sensitivity and specificity to determine the ICH detection accuracy.

Results

The results demonstrate a median Dice coefficient of 75.9% and Hausdorff distance of 2.65 pixels in segmentation performance, with a detection sensitivity of 77.0% and specificity of 96.2%.

Conclusions

The proposed masked loss U-Net is accurate in the automatic segmentation of ICH. Future research should focus on increasing the detection sensitivity of the model and comparing its performance with other model architectures.
Rheum-CoV-2 Vaccination Case Series
Authors: VanDerVeer Seth J. , Maier Kyle D. , Hill Erica M.
Published: October 2022

Objectives

In this case series, we present 5 cases of autoimmune rheumatic disease onset shortly after receiving mRNA vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

We identified 5 patients from Brooke Army Medical Center who developed new manifestations of rheumatic disease following the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations. All patients were initially seen in primary care and then referred to rheumatology for further evaluation and management. Clinical data were obtained through review of the electronic medical record.

Results

Three cases involve elderly women with insidious onset of symmetric wrist and hand polyarthritis with seropositivity for rheumatoid factor. One case involves an elderly woman with a subacute onset of lower extremity–predominant, symmetric polyarthritis. One case involves an elderly man with insidious onset of bilateral shoulder and hip stiffness and arthralgias in the setting of elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and a rapid response to glucocorticoid therapy.

Conclusion

Whether there exists a causal or contributory relationship between COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and the development of autoimmune rheumatic disease remains to be determined. Ultimately, further research is needed to establish if there is a true connection between the two.
“The Double S” Technique: Subfascial Dissection and Temporalis Muscle Splitting to Prevent Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak and Maximize Surgical Exposure
Authors: Graziano Francesca , Scalia Gianluca , Paolini Federica , Umana Giuseppe E. , Maugeri Rosario , Iacopino Domenico G. , Nicoletti Giovanni F.
Published: October 2022

Background:

Middle cranial fossa surgery commonly is approached either performing a subtemporal or a pterional craniotomy. To maximize a basitemporal region exposure, an adjunctive bone drilling could be required. In these cases, a watertight dura and temporalis muscle closure are mandatory.

Objective:

To describe a modified temporalis muscle dissection in middle cranial fossa surgery to increase basitemporal region exposure while assuring a safe and effective closure thus avoiding cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage.

Methods:

A total of 8 patients have been enrolled. Five pterional and 3 subtemporal approaches were performed. In all cases, the novel subfascial muscle dissection and temporalis muscle splitting technique named “the double S technique,” was performed to cut up the temporal muscle.

Results:

In all cases, a subgaleal drainage was used and removed within 48 hours. No cases of postoperative CSF leak or hematoma collection were reported.

Conclusions:

The double S technique is a safe and effective alternative to enhance the basitemporal region exposure while avoiding the potential, common risk of CSF leak.
Iodoform Gauze Packing is an Alternative Therapy for Postoperative Parotid Fistula
Authors: Hao Xing , Lv Kun
Published: October 2022

Surgery-related salivary fistula is the result of intraoperative or postoperative parotid gland damage and extravasation of fluid secreted by acinar into the interstitial space. Most are treated conservatively. Local injection of botulinum toxin is an effective method, but it is relatively expensive and not available in some hospitals. In clinical practice, the authors observed that packing iodoform gauze from the fistula toward the parotid gland can quickly stop postoperative salivary fistula in several patients. This method is simple and easy to implement, and the effect is quick. The disappearance of the salivary fistula was observed on the next day after packing the iodoform gauze. Iodoform gauze packing is an alternative therapy for postoperative parotid fistula. It can be used in areas where botulinum toxin is not available.
Bridging machine learning and compartment models to predict an epidemic
Authors: Chau Minh Triet
Published: October 2022

This work proposes a Physics-informed Machine learning method to model and emulate the progression of COVID-19. Besides the high accuracy, lower data need, and interpretability, the method also estimates hidden parameters from data, which are useful for policymakers to flatten the curve and better understand public healthcare system.
Quantifying the mechanical properties of yeastCandida albicansusing atomic force microscopy-based force spectroscopy
Authors: Jones Christopher R. , Zhang Zhenyu Jason , Tsai Hung-Ji
Published: October 2022

Fungi can adapt to a wide range of environmental stress in the wild and host milieu by employing their plastic genome and great diversity in morphology. Among different adaptive strategies, mechanical stimuli, such as changes in osmotic pressure, surface remodelling, hyphal formation, and cell divisions, could guide the physical cues into physiological responses through complex signalling network. While fungal pathogens require a pressure-driven force to expand and penetrate host tissues, quantitatively studying the biophysical properties at the host-fungal interface is critical to understand the development of fungal diseases. Microscopy-based techniques have enabled researchers to monitor the dynamic mechanics on fungal cell surface in responses to the host stress and antifungal drugs. Here, we describe a label-free, high-resolution method based on atomic force microscopy, with a step-by-step protocol to measure the physical properties in human fungal pathogenCandida albicans.
TRB3 augments IL1β-TLR4 signaling by engaging Flightless-homolog 1
Authors: Gonuguntla Sumati , Humphrey Rohan K. , Gorantla Akshita , Hao Ergeng , Jhala Ulupi S.
Published: October 2022

Signaling via IL1β and TLR4 receptors (IL1R-TLR4) plays a crucial role in cytokine and fatty acid-induced beta cell inflammation, in type 1 and type 2 diabetes respectively. IL1R-TLR4 share signaling mechanisms via a common, cytoplasmic, toll-like-receptor domain to activate proinflammatory JNK and IKK kinases. We have previously reported that in response to IL1β, pancreatic islets isolated from TRB3 knockout (TRB3KO) mice show attenuated kinetics of activation for MAP3K MLK3, and JNK stress kinases. Here we report that similar to MLK3 and JNK, TRB3KO islets also show a decrease in amplitude and duration of IL1β/LPS-stimulated TAK1 and IKK phosphorylation. Thus, loss of TRB3 attenuates both pathways critically required for a full-blown, cytokine-inducible, proapoptotic response in beta cells. TRB3KO islets display a sharp decrease in cytokine-induced beta cell death, accompanied by a decrease in select downstream NFkB targets, most notably, inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS/NOS2), a well-characterized mediator of beta cell dysfunction and death. In order to better understand the molecular basis of TRB3-enhanced IL1R-TLR4 signaling, we interrogated the TRB3 interactome and identified Flightless-homolog 1 (Fli1), an immunomodulatory, actin-binding, leucine-rich-repeat protein, as a novel TRB3-interaction factor. TRB3 binds and disrupts Fli1-dependent sequestration of MyD88, thereby increasing availability of this proximal adaptor to participate in IL1R-TLR4 signaling. Fli1 forms a multiprotein complex that can disconnect IL1R-TLR4 from MyD88, resulting in a brake on assembly of downstream signaling complexes. By interacting with Fli1, TRB3 lifts the brake on IL1R-TLR4 signaling to augment the proinflammatory response in beta cells.
Network-based hub biomarker discovery for glaucoma
Authors: Zhang Xueli , Ma Shuo , Shang Xianwen , Zhang Xiayin , Kong Lingcong , Jason Ha , Huang Yu , Zhu Zhuoting , Liu Shunming , Kiburg Katerina , Shi Danli , Wang Yueye , Bao Yining , Lai Hao , Wang Wei , Hu Yijun , Zhao Ke , Hu Guang , Liang Huiying , Yu Honghua , Zhang Lei , He Mingguang
Published: October 2022

Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy, and the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. However, the early detection of glaucoma remains challenging as chronic forms of glaucoma remain largely asymptomatic until considerable irreversible visual field deficits have ensued. Thus, biomarkers that facilitate early diagnosis and treatment for patients with a high risk of progression are critical. Network medicine approaches can be useful in identifying key relationships and important biomolecules for complex diseases. In this paper, we identified several hub biomarkers/drug targets for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for glaucoma and explored their associations for glaucoma based on human disease-biomarker and disease-target-drug networks. These results were verified by text-mining and genomic/epidemiology data. We also predicted the new application of BMP1 and MMP9 to diagnose glaucoma and confirm the theory of hub biomarkers with multiple clinical applications. Further, relevant pivotal pathways (regulation of the multicellular organismal process, regulation of localisation, and cytoplasmic vesicle for biomarkers; signal transduction and developmental process for targets) for these hub biomolecules were discovered, which may be foundations for future biomarker and drug target prediction for glaucoma. In conclusion, based on complex networks, hub biomolecules, essential pathways, and close diseases were identified for glaucoma in diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Altered Neural Oscillations Underlying Visuospatial Processing in Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)
Authors: Federici Alessandra , Bennett Christopher R. , Bauer Corinna M. , Manley Claire E. , Ricciardi Emiliano , Bottari Davide , Merabet Lotfi B.
Published: October 2022

Visuospatial processing deficits are commonly observed in individuals with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) and even in cases where visual acuity and visual field functions are intact. CVI is a brain-based visual disorder associated with the maldevelopment of central visual pathways and structures. However, the neurophysiological basis underlying higher-order perceptual impairments in this condition has not been clearly identified, which in turn posits limits on rehabilitative interventions. Using combined eye tracking and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings, we assessed the profile and performance of visual search on a naturalistic virtual reality (VR)-based task. Participants with CVI and controls with neurotypical development were instructed to search, locate, and fixate a specific target placed among surrounding distractors at two levels of task difficulty. Analyzing evoked (time or phase-locked) and induced (not time or phase-locked) components of EEG activity allowed for feedforward and feedback processing mechanisms to be uncovered. We found that visual search performance in CVI was impaired compared to age-matched controls with neurotypical development (as indexed by outcomes of success rate, reaction time, and gaze error). Analysis of neural oscillations across a broad frequency band [4-55 Hz] revealed markedly reduced early-onset evoked theta [4-6 Hz] activity (within 0.5 sec) regardless of task difficulty. Moreover, while induced alpha activity increased with task difficulty in controls, this modulation was absent in the CVI group providing a potential neural correlate for their deficits with visual search and distractor suppression. Finally, CVI participants also showed an overall delayed and sustained induced gamma response [30-45 Hz]. We conclude that impaired visual search performance in CVI is associated with substantial alterations across a wide range of neural oscillation frequencies. This includes both evoked and induced components related to feedforward and feedback processing and implicating local and distributed levels of neural processing.
Current Practices in Stroke Systems of Care: An International Survey of Progressive Stroke System Processes
Authors: Ehrlich Matthew E , Shah Shreyansh , Kolls Brad J , Roettig Mayme , Monk Lisa , Graffagnino Carmelo
Published: October 2022

Background and Aims

Guidelines by the AHA/ASA recommend the development of stroke systems of care yet do not provide specifics as to how this should be done. As a first step in developing a regional stroke system of care in the “Stroke Belt” we sought to understand how high performing stroke systems across the world were organized in order to identify best practices and opportunities for meaningful system improvement.

Methods

An 81-question survey was developed to examine current practices in high-performing stroke systems. Twenty stroke centers worldwide were invited to participate. The survey encompassed all aspects of stroke systems of care from acute care and EMS practices to IT and discharge. Data analysis was conducted using REDCap internal analytic tools.

Results

Nine of 20 invited centers (45%) completed the questionnaire. Responding centers reported annual averages (median) of 750 ischemic strokes (range 350-1444) and 125 (100-501) hemorrhagic strokes, 150 (60-440) IV alteplase administrations, and 55 (12-130) endovascular thrombectomy procedures. At all 9 systems, EMS providers are trained in identifying stroke and utilize prehosptial stroke scales. Six (66.7%) reported destination protocols based on stroke severity involving bypass to endovascular thrombectomy capable (EVT-C) centers. All centers report expedited referral hospital transfer processes for neurointervention. Five (55.6%) centers reported patients with confirmed large vessel occlusions bypass the emergency department and are transported directly to the neurointerventional suite.

Conclusions

This international survey reveals useful practice patterns and processes used by progressive stroke systems. This information will be integrated into our regional system of care quality improvement program.
Highly contiguous genome assemblies ofPhotobacteriumstrains isolated from fish light organs using nanopore sequencing technology
Authors: Gould AL , Henderson JB
Published: October 2022

Several species of luminous bacteria in the genusPhotobacteriumare the light organ symbionts of teleost fishes.Photobacterium leiognathiand its subspecies,P. mandapamensis, in particular, commonly form bioluminescent symbioses with fish hosts in the Leiognathidae and Acropomatidae families as well as with cardinalfish in the genusSiphamia(Apogonidae). These two closely related lineages ofPhotobacteriumare right at the cutoff average nucleotide identity used to delimit bacterial species (95-96%) and show overlapping ecological niches, including their host fish range. However, there are only a few whole genome assemblies available for these bacterial species, particularly for symbiotic strains isolated from fish light organs, that can be used to explore genome evolution of these two lineages. Here we used Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing to produce long reads for assembling highly contiguous genomes ofPhotobacteriumstrains isolated from fish light organs, including severalP. kishitaniistrains isolated from deep water fishes. We were able to assemble 31 high-quality genomes with near complete BUSCO scores, many at the chromosome-level, and compare their gene contents, including plasmid genes. In doing so, we discovered a new candidate species ofPhotobacterium, CandidatusPhotobacterium acropomis, which originated from the light organ of the acropomid fish,Acropoma japonicum. We also describe a lack of congruency between the presence of theluxFgene, which is involved in light production, and the phylogenetic relationships between closely relatedP. leiognathiandP. mandapamensisstrains. In contrast, there was strong congruency betweenluxFand the host fish family of origin, suggesting this gene might be essential to initiate bioluminescent symbioses with certain hosts, includingSiphamiaandAcropomaspecies. Our study shows the benefit of using long reads in the assembly of bacterial genomes and outlines an assembly pipeline that results in highly contiguous genomes, even from low-coverage ONT reads.
A statistical physics approach for disease module detection
Authors: Wang Xu-Wen , Qiao Dandi , Cho Michael H. , DeMeo Dawn L. , Silverman Edwin K. , Liu Yang-Yu
Published: October 2022

Extensive evidence indicates that the pathobiological processes of a complex disease are associated with perturbation in specific neighborhoods of the human protein–protein interaction (PPI) network (also known as the interactome), often referred to as the disease module. Many computational methods have been developed to integrate the interactome and omics profiles to extract context-dependent disease modules. Yet, existing methods all have fundamental limitations in terms of rigor and/or efficiency. Here, we developed a statistical physics approach based on the random-field Ising model (RFIM) for disease module detection, which is both mathematically rigorous and computationally efficient. We applied our RFIM approach to genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of ten complex diseases to examine its performance for disease module detection. We found that our RFIM approach outperforms existing methods in terms of computational efficiency, connectivity of disease modules, and robustness to the interactome incompleteness.
3,4-Bis-O-propargyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannitol: a study of multiple weak hydrogen bonds in the solid state
Authors: Mohammed Adnan I. , Bhadbhade Mohan M. , Read Roger W.
Published: October 2022

The title homochiral compound, C18H26O6, 1, was examined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography in order to understand its potential as a synthetic building block, particularly in inter- and intramolecular cyclocondensation reactions. It has also proven to be an excellent model for understanding multiple weak donor–acceptor D—H...A interactions involving terminal acetylenes as donors and as acceptors. The asymmetric unit of 1 comprises three almost identical independent molecules, each with the mannitol 2R,3R,4R,5R configuration and different conformations. Like independent molecules align in strands through acetylenic donor C—H...O contacts with equivalent dioxolanyl acceptor groups. Two of the strands are aligned unidirectionally, in parallel, while the third strand aligns perpendicular to the first two, to give interwoven layers in the supramolecular structure. A detailed study of the interdigitation of the second propargyl group from each independent molecule between strands, and of other short interstrand C—H...O contacts, provides new insight into the application of weak hydrogen-bond theory within the context of a conformationally flexible symmetrical molecule. Analyses of the Cambridge Structural Database using Crystal Packing Features and ConQuest search motifs support the importance of the D...A distance parameter, demonstrate the different influences of donor and acceptor types, and reveal the interplay between H...A and D...A contributions in different contact types.
Identifying tower crane activities with data: the case of the concrete pouring
Authors: Danel Thomas , Lafhaj Zoubeir , Puppala Anand , BuHamdan Samer , Lienard Sophie , Richard Philippe
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The crane plays an essential role in modern construction sites as it supports numerous operations and activities on-site. Additionally, the crane produces a big amount of data that, if analyzed, could significantly affect productivity, progress monitoring and decision-making in construction projects. This paper aims to show the usability of crane data in tracking the progress of activities on-site.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a pattern-based recognition method to detect concrete pouring activities on any concrete-based construction sites. A case study is presented to assess the methodology with a real-life example.

Findings

The analysis of the data helped build a theoretical pattern for concrete pouring activities and detect the different phases and progress of these activities. Accordingly, the data become useable to track progress and identify problems in concrete pouring activities.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents an example for construction practitioners and researcher about a practical and easy way to analyze the big data that comes from cranes and how it is used in tracking projects' progress. The current study focuses only on concrete pouring activities; future studies can include other types of activities and can utilize the data with other building methods to improve construction productivity.

Practical implications

The proposed approach is supposed to be simultaneously efficient in terms of concrete pouring detection as well as cost-effective. Construction practitioners could track concrete activities using an already-embedded monitoring device.

Originality/value

While several studies in the literature targeted the optimization of crane operations and of mitigating hazards through automation and sensing, the opportunity of using cranes as progress trackers is yet to be fully exploited.
PT. Pertamina Retail: Indonesian fuel retail expansion dilemma in pandemic COVID-19
Authors: da Silva Elisabeth Novira , Saraswati Dewi , Mislihah Raden Ayu
Published: October 2022

Learning outcomes

Students are expected to integrate decision-making tools and frameworks to create decisions under uncertainty. Students are expected to understand the general business process of fuel retail industry.

Case overview/synopsis

PT. Pertamina Retail (PTPR) is a subsidiary of PT. Pertamina, an Indonesian state-owned oil and natural gas company. In the first quarter of 2020, PTPR’s sales volume decreased due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s large-scale social restrictions. Iin Febrian was just appointed as President Director in March 2020; he must formulate a survival strategy facing COVID-19 pandemic uncertainties. The case elaborates on PTPR’s decision to expand immediately or hold. Scenarios and expected values have been given to simplifying the calculation of a decision tree. The case also challenges students to think critically on providing a strategy to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond using decision tree analysis and BCG Matrix or Ansoff Matrix.

Complexity academic level

BA level and MBA program in Decision Analysis Course or Strategic Management Course.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
Exploring the standard language ideology in China's language policy
Authors: Ning Xu , Stephen Jeannet
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This research explores the standard language ideology in Chinese foreign language education policies. The most substantial in relation to language policy and management in regard to language ideology are beliefs associated with the values on the named language and its varieties (Spolsky, 2009). In the standard language ideology, the standard is treated as being valuable linguistic capital and possessing prestige as well as authority. Mandarin is the most well-accepted standard Chinese, and similarly, UK English or US English is the most popular and Standard English (SE) in China.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical framework in this research is critical discourse analysis (CDA) and discourse-historical approach (DHA) to guide the data collection and data analysis. This research will review recent and seminal literature obtained from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) on language policy in China in relation to standard language ideology. The literature also investigates Chinese state's English language ideologies using official language education policies (FLEPs).

Findings

The results show that standard language ideology is a common mindset found within official state policies in regard to SE. The authors argue that the Chinese trust on the ideology of standard language appears to not be aligned to recent worldwide trends such as globalization and multilingualism.

Originality/value

This research can provide insights into future language planning and language policy in China and shows that the future research could do more on language planning in China.
Mental health in the midst of economic turmoil: case study of Lebanese commercial bank employees
Authors: Yacoub Laurent , Abou Ibrahim Sara , Achy Eliane , Nicolas Eva
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study aims to identify the major job stressors that can affect employees’ mental health in the Lebanese commercial banks during the economic turmoil. This study also aims to identify the effects of the mental problems on the employees in addition to the role of human resources in promoting and preventing mental well-being at the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors interviewed 28 bank employees and the semi-structured interviews last for around 50 min, starting by asking the employees a general question about the concept of mental health disorder. The authors used a purposive sampling in which the population sample is selected based on purpose and the characteristics of a specific category of individuals. Moreover, a thematic analysis is used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate that most of the employees were suffering from many work-related stressors that have negatively affected their mental well-being. The stress and pressures have significantly increased during the economic crisis. However, most of the interviewees were not or rarely supported by their human resources department and their administration to help them get adapted for such a crisis or for the changes at the workplace.

Originality/value

Mental health disorders are present in the daily normal life and in the workplace as well. The banking industry is not an exceptional one.
The effect of subnational legal effectiveness and social trust on foreign firm performance: from subnational analysis in emerging economies
Authors: Jia Yu , Ye Yongqing , Ma Zhuang , Wang Tao
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study aims to verify the respective and interactive effects of subnational formal and informal institutions (i.e. legal effectiveness and social trust) on foreign firm performance, and further identify the contingent factor (i.e. institutional experience) that moderates these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the institutional-based view, this study develops several hypotheses that are tested using a comprehensive dataset from four main data sources. The authors’ unit of analysis is foreign firms operating in China. The authors ran ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model to investigate the effects. A series of robustness tests and endogeneity tests were performed.

Findings

The results show that both legal effectiveness and social trust at subnational level positively affect foreign firm performance respectively. Legal effectiveness and social trust at subnational level have complementary effect in promoting the performance of foreign firms. Foreign firm's institutional experience in target region of emerging economies host country strengthens the positive impact of subnational legal effectiveness on performance, but weakens the positive impact of subnational social trust on performance.

Practical implications

It is important to fully understand the impact of heterogeneous institutional environments of subnational regions in emerging economies on foreign firm performance, which would help foreign firm make a more suitable secondary choice decision of investment destinations at the subnational regional level.

Originality/value

First, drawing on institutional-based view, the authors incorporate the subnational formal and informal institutional factors to investigate their impacts on foreign firm performance by switching the attention from national level to subnational level in emerging economy host countries. Second, this research furthers existing studies by bridging a missing link between both subnational formal and informal institutional environments and foreign firms' outcomes. Third, the authors prove that the model of subnational formal and informal institutions in influencing foreign firms' performance is contingent on their institutional experience in target subnational region of emerging economy host country.
User-concerned actionable hot topic mining: enhancing interpretability via semantic–syntactic association matrix factorization
Authors: Wang Linzi , Li Qiudan , Xu Jingjun David , Yuan Minjie
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Mining user-concerned actionable and interpretable hot topics will help management departments fully grasp the latest events and make timely decisions. Existing topic models primarily integrate word embedding and matrix decomposition, which only generates keyword-based hot topics with weak interpretability, making it difficult to meet the specific needs of users. Mining phrase-based hot topics with syntactic dependency structure have been proven to model structure information effectively. A key challenge lies in the effective integration of the above information into the hot topic mining process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes the nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF)-based hot topic mining method, semantics syntax-assisted hot topic model (SSAHM), which combines semantic association and syntactic dependency structure. First, a semantic–syntactic component association matrix is constructed. Then, the matrix is used as a constraint condition to be incorporated into the block coordinate descent (BCD)-based matrix decomposition process. Finally, a hot topic information-driven phrase extraction algorithm is applied to describe hot topics.

Findings

The efficacy of the developed model is demonstrated on two real-world datasets, and the effects of dependency structure information on different topics are compared. The qualitative examples further explain the application of the method in real scenarios.

Originality/value

Most prior research focuses on keyword-based hot topics. Thus, the literature is advanced by mining phrase-based hot topics with syntactic dependency structure, which can effectively analyze the semantics. The development of syntactic dependency structure considering the combination of word order and part-of-speech (POS) is a step forward as word order, and POS are only separately utilized in the prior literature. Ignoring this synergy may miss important information, such as grammatical structure coherence and logical relations between syntactic components.
Timeless principles of social marketing communication: a comparison of the Spanish flu and COVID-19 pandemic communication in South Korea
Authors: Choi Seongwon , Powers Thomas
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the core tenets of social marketing communications in managing acute infectious disease outbreaks based on a historical review of two major pandemics in South Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

Two researchers reviewed newspapers, journal papers, archived documents and other historical materials to examine social marketing communications used in both Spanish flu and COVID-19 pandemics by South Koreans.

Findings

Despite two events being a century apart and the social context of two eras being starkly different, behavioral recommendations for both pandemics were nearly identical. Two major lessons arose from the review. First, a full disclosure of the pandemic-related information is important. Second, proper management of conflicting information is highly desired as an integral part of pandemic social marketing communication campaigns.

Originality/value

Understanding the importance of social marketing in raising public awareness, this paper provides a historical comparison between the 1918–1919 Spanish flu and COVID-19, focusing on the social communications used during these two pandemics. The paper contributes to the health marketing literature as well as to practice by drawing implications relevant to social marketing communication used in disease pandemics.