bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Voice After Cordectomy Type I or Type II or Radiation Therapy for Large T1a Glottic Cancer
Authors: Yılmaz Taner
Published: August 2022

Objective

T1a glottic cancer can be treated with transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) or radiation therapy (RT). Dysphonia is the major disadvantage of TLM, and preservation of voice appears to be the best advantage of RT compared to TLM. Studies on voice outcomes of both options gave conflicting results, but there is a tendency toward better voice outcome after TLM compared to the past.

Study Design

Nonrandomized retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary referral center.

Methods

In total, 172 patients with a cancer lesion involving more than two‐thirds of 1 membranous vocal fold underwent cordectomy type I (n = 56) (C1 group) or type II (n = 59) (C2 group) or RT (n = 57) (RT group). GRBASI (grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, strain, instability), videolaryngostroboscopy, Voice Handicap Index–30, acoustic analysis including F0, jitter, shimmer, noise to harmonic ratio, cepstral peak prominence, and cepstral spectral index of dysphonia using running speech, and aerodynamic analysis were performed before treatment and 6 and 24 months after treatment.

Results

Study groups did not differ significantly on pretreatment voice outcomes (P > .05). The RT group had significantly better voice outcomes at 6 months posttreatment compared to the C1 and C2 groups (P < .05). The C1 group had significantly better voice outcomes at 6 months posttreatment compared to the C2 group (P < .05). The C1 group had significantly better voice outcomes at 24 months posttreatment compared to the RT and C2 groups (P < .05). The RT and C2 groups did not differ significantly at 24 months posttreatment (P > .05).

Conclusion

Voice outcomes after C2 are equal to RT. C1 has better voice outcomes than RT. C1 and C2 can be the treatment of choice for large T1a glottic cancers.
A Prospective Controlled Study Investigating Odor Identification in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Authors: Lechien Jerome R. , Hans Stephane , Vaira Luigi A. , Boscolo‐Rizzo Paolo , De Marrez Lisa G. , Baudouin Robin , Gheorghe Alexandrea , Sebestyen Andra , Loubieres Charlotte , Karkos Petros D. , Saussez Sven
Published: August 2022

Objective

To psychophysically evaluate olfaction in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

Study Design

Prospective controlled study.

Setting

Tertiary medical center.

Methods

From January 2021 to January 2022, patients with LPR diagnosed with hypopharyngeal‐esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance‐pH monitoring underwent psychophysical evaluation of the sense of smell. Reflux symptoms and findings were assessed with the Reflux Symptom Score (RSS) and Reflux Sign Assessment (RSA). Nasal symptoms were assessed through the Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT‐22). From pre‐ to posttreatment, patients underwent identification Sniffin’ Sticks test and olfactory cleft examination. Clinical outcomes were compared between LPR patients and healthy individuals.

Results

In total, 107 patients and 76 healthy individuals completed the evaluations. LPR patients reported significant higher RSS, RSA, and SNOT‐22 scores. Psychophysical olfactory evaluations were significantly lower in reflux patients compared with controls, while there were no significant differences in olfactory cleft score. RSS and RSA significantly improved from baseline to 3 months posttreatment. SNOT‐22, olfactory cleft endoscopy scale, and psychophysical olfactory evaluations did not change throughout treatment. Patients with higher number of acid pharyngeal reflux events reported lower psychophysical olfactory scores (P = .025).

Conclusion

LPR disease was associated with low odor identification results in patients without olfactory cleft abnormalities. The sense of smell did not improve after 3‐month therapy. Future controlled studies using threshold, discrimination, and identification testing are needed.
Outcomes of Tympanoplasty After Cleft Palate Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Poupore Nicolas S. , Smaily Hussein , Carroll William W. , Pecha Phayvanh P.
Published: August 2022

Objective

To analyze graft success rates and hearing outcomes in patients with a history of cleft palate (CP) repair undergoing tympanoplasty.

Data Sources

PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL.

Review Methods

Per PRISMA guidelines, the databases were searched from date of inception through December 14, 2021. Studies of patients with previous CP repair who underwent tympanoplasty were included. Meta‐analysis of proportions, continuous measures, odds ratios (ORs), and meta‐regression were used to analyze graft success and hearing outcomes after tympanoplasty.

Results

A total of 323 patients with CP repair and 1169 controls were included. The proportion of graft success was 86.7% (95% CI, 76.1%‐94.5%) in patients with CP repair and 88.8% (95% CI, 76.9‐96.8) in controls. There was no difference in odds of graft success between patients with CP repair and controls (OR, 1.0 [95% CI, 0.5‐1.8]; P = .870). Age was not a significant moderator of graft success in patients with CP repair (r = 0.1 [95% CI, −0.2 to 0.3]; P = .689) or controls (r = −0.0 [95% CI, −0.1 to 0.1]; P = .952). Comparing mean differences between pre‐ and postoperative air‐bone gap was not statistically significant in patients with CP repair and controls (0.2 dB [95% CI, −3.1 to 3.4]; P = .930). Odds of functional success (postoperative air‐bone gap <20 dB) were not different between the groups (OR, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.5‐1.4]; P = .450).

Conclusion

This meta‐analysis does not endorse anatomic or functional differences between patients with CP repair and controls after tympanoplasty. However, there is a paucity of evidence for younger children. Further studies are warranted to elucidate specific risk factors for tympanoplasty outcomes in young patients with previous CP repair.
Palliative paramedicine: Comparing clinical practice through guideline quality appraisal and qualitative content analysis
Authors: Juhrmann Madeleine L , Anderson Natalie E , Boughey Mark , McConnell Duncan S , Bailey Paul , Parker Lachlan E , Noble Andrew , Hultink Amber H , Butow Phyllis N , Clayton Josephine M
Published: August 2022

Background:

Palliative care is an emerging scope of practice for paramedicine. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the opportunity for emergency settings to deliver palliative and end-of-life care to patients wishing to avoid intensive life-sustaining treatment. However, a gap remains in understanding the scope and limitations of current ambulance services’ approach to palliative and end-of-life care.

Aim:

To examine the quality and content of existing Australian palliative paramedicine guidelines with a sample of guidelines from comparable Anglo-American ambulance services.

Design:

We appraised guideline quality using the AGREE II instrument and employed a collaborative qualitative approach to analyse the content of the guidelines.

Data sources:

Eight palliative care ambulance service clinical practice guidelines (five Australian; one New Zealand; one Canadian; one United Kingdom).

Results:

None of the guidelines were recommended by both appraisers for use based on the outcomes of all AGREE II evaluations. Scaled individual domain percentage scores varied across the guidelines: scope and purpose (8%–92%), stakeholder involvement (14%–53%), rigour of development (0%–20%), clarity of presentation (39%–92%), applicability (2%–38%) and editorial independence (0%–38%). Six themes were developed from the content analysis: (1) audience and approach; (2) communication is key; (3) assessing and managing symptoms; (4) looking beyond pharmaceuticals; (5) seeking support; and (6) care after death.

Conclusions:

It is important that ambulance services’ palliative and end-of-life care guidelines are evidence-based and fit for purpose. Future research should explore the experiences and perspectives of key palliative paramedicine stakeholders. Future guidelines should consider emerging evidence and be methodologically guided by AGREE II criteria.
Lower expression of KAI1 as a biomarker of poor survival prognosis of melanoma combined with colorectal cancer metastasis
Authors: Du Xudong , Wang Bo , Liu Lei , Li Yang , Wang Zheng-xiang , Zhang Guang-jing , Yang Xiu-fang
Published: August 2022

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between KAI1 (CD82) and miR-633 expression and prognosis and survival time of patients with melanoma combined with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

Clinical and follow-up data of melanoma and CRC patients were recorded, and the expression levels of KAI1 and miR-633 were detected. Pearson chi-square tests and Spearman correlation coefficient were used to analyze the relationship between prognosis and related parameters in these patients. Cox proportional risk regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were used.

Results

Overall, 195 patients were included. KAI1 and miR-633 expression levels were significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients with melanoma combined with CRC. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of KAI1 and miR-633 were significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that low expression levels of KAI1 and high expression levels of miR-633 indicated shorter survival time for patients.

Conclusions

KAI1 expression was significantly correlated with melanoma and CRC patient prognosis. When KAI1 expression levels were low, the patient survival time was poor.
Differences in Discrimination with Respect to Latent Trait and Test-Taking Speed Across Items Measuring Sub-Domains of Cognitive Ability
Authors: Vista Alvin , Alahmadi Maisaa Taleb
Published: August 2022

The relationship between latent trait and test-taking speed is an important area of study in assessment research. In addition to contributions of such studies to psychometrics, the factors that affect both ability and speed have implications for test development and have policy consequences especially if the tests are high stakes. This study investigated the main assessment scale used in gifted education screening in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and focused on the discriminating properties of items across the several cognitive subskills being measured. Under an item response theoretic framework, this study used a lognormal response time model to investigate the discrimination parameter estimates for both ability and speed, with guessing taken into account. Results showed that cognitive subskills do not have uniform discrimination properties across ability and speed, such that some types of items are better at discriminating ability while other types are better at discriminating speed. At a test-level, our results also showed that ability is negatively correlated with speed, such that higher ability students tend to take more time and hence have slower speed. This finding supports other results in the literature. Implications for high-stakes testing and test development are discussed.
Negotiating “Impossible” Ideals: Latent Classes of Intensive Mothering in the United States
Authors: Lankes Jane
Published: August 2022

The primary goal of this study is to identify patterns in the ways mothers adhere to, reject, and combine intensive mothering attitudes and behaviors. Mothers often face immense pressure to devote significant physical and mental effort toward childrearing, referred to as intensive mothering. At the same time, many mothers do not follow the actions or beliefs that gender norms suggest they should. It remains unclear how mothers holistically approach intensive parenting across many different facets. Using the 2014 Child Development Supplement from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, I examined how a sample of mothers fell into intensive mothering profiles, or latent classes, and how class membership varied by demographic characteristics. Results showed four underlying latent classes of intensive motherhood: Relaxed Mothers (33 percent), High Investors (25 percent), Essentialist Mothers (22 percent), and Strained Mothers (20 percent). No group was intensive across all measures, contrary to common narratives in previous research and theory. Class membership varied by several characteristics, including education, age, income, race, single parenthood, and employment. By revealing how mothers are selectively intensive, this study expands on the ways mothers simultaneously “do” and “undo” gender norms in their parenting, as well as the sociodemographics that may predict these patterns.
The Social Effects of an Awesome Solar Eclipse
Authors: Goldy Sean P. , Jones Nickolas M. , Piff Paul K.
Published: August 2022

Astronomical events such as solar eclipses have played a transformative role in human social collectives as sources of collective wonder, inspiration, and reconciliation. Do celestial phenomena systematically shape individuals and their groups? Guided by scientific treatments of awe as an experience that helps individuals form into collectives, we used Twitter data ( N = 2,891,611 users) to examine the social impact of a historic, awe-inspiring celestial event: the 2017 solar eclipse. Relative to individuals residing outside the eclipse’s path, individuals inside it exhibited more awe and expressed less self-focused and more prosocial, affiliative, humble, and collective language (Study 1). Further, individuals who exhibited elevated awe surrounding the eclipse used more prosocial, affiliative, humble, and collective language relative to their preeclipse levels and relative to users who exhibited less awe (Study 2). These findings indicate that astronomical events may play a vital collective function by arousing awe and social tendencies that orient individuals toward their collectives.
‘I’m right behind you’: Digital contact tracing under European law
Authors: Raposo Vera Lúcia
Published: August 2022

The features of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic demand a new form of contact tracing performed by digital means: digital contact tracing. However, this mechanism raises several issues in light of relevant European regulations, particularly in terms of personal data protection and privacy. The challenge is to have a digital contact tracing model that efficiently and speedily alerts people to potential infection, so they can get tested and isolated as necessary, but that also complies with European legal standards. This paper will address two main issues. First, it will analyse digital contract tracing and its different features from the perspective of data protection and privacy, seemingly the main concern in this domain. Secondly, the paper will analyse the loopholes and benefits of digital contact tracing in the European context, focusing on the tension between privacy, individual liberties and public health to address its legitimacy.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Challenges of Caregiving During a Pandemic for Parkinson’s Family Care Partners
Authors: Seshadri Sandhya , Norton Sally A. , Stahl Tyler , Shah Mina , Dini Megan , Yarab Nicole , Holtrop Jodi Summers , Kluger Benzi M.
Published: August 2022

Aim: To understand Parkinson’s Disease (PD) care partners’ a) specific challenges that led to worsening strain and b) their suggestions for supports to help them during the ongoing pandemic. Method: Using a qualitative descriptive design, semi-structured interviews with family care partners (n = 19) were completed. Participants were recruited from 10 sites across the United States that varied in size, demographics of patient population served, and geographic location (urban, suburban, rural). Interviews were audio-recorded, de-identified, transcribed verbatim, and coded in a phased manner. The research team analyzed the data and identified themes. Results: During the pandemic, the already difficult task of caregiving was made worse by having to choose between poor options. Five themes exemplified PD care partner experiences: (1) Managing risks and benefits of medical care in settings outside the home vs meeting these needs at home; (2) Struggling to maintain employment benefits with the costs of care and risks of bringing in outside caregivers; (3) Struggling to balance caregiving and self-care; (4) Struggling to be supportive and taking on new caregiving roles in the face of less support services; and (5) Wanting social connections and feeling pressured to maintain isolation. Care partners wanted timely access to, and guidance from healthcare teams to help them. Conclusions: Care partner burden was worsened by lack of guidance when confronted by choices that could lead to negative outcomes. Movement disorder and palliative care providers may be able to alleviate some care partner burden through building systems for timely access and guidance.
Compensation of Dynamic Fixation Systems in the Quality of Reduction of Distal Tibiofibular Joint in Acute Syndesmotic Complex Injuries: A CT-Based Analysis
Authors: Spindler Fabian T. , Gaube Federico P. , Böcker Wolfgang , Polzer Hans , Baumbach Sebastian F.
Published: August 2022

Background:

There is an ongoing discussion on how to best stabilize syndesmotic injuries. Previous studies have indicated a better quality of reduction of the distal tibiofibular joint (DTFJ) for the suture button systems compared to syndesmotic screw fixation. Still, the reason for this superiority remains unclear. The aims of this retrospective study were to (1) analyze the deviation of the tibial and fibular drilling tunnels of the suture button system and (2) to compare these to the quality of reduction of the DTFJ assessed on bilateral postoperative CT images.

Methods:

Included were all adult patients who underwent syndesmotic stabilization for an acute injury using a suture button system, with postoperative, bilateral CT imaging over a 10-year period. A total of 147 patients were eligible. Based on individually reconstructed axial CT slices, the postoperative quality of reduction of the DTFJs was rated on bilateral CT images. Furthermore, the rotation and translation of the suture button drilling tunnels were analyzed. Based on these measurements, the intraoperative reduction of the DTFJ was recalculated and again rated. Using these values, the correction potential of suture button systems on the reduction of the DTFJ was analyzed.

Results:

(1) The drilling tunnel deviated considerably for both rotation |2.3±2.1 degrees| (range: |0.0-13.1 degrees|) and translation |0.9±0.8 mm| (range: |0-4.3 mm|). Based on the deviation of the drilling tunnels in fibula and tibia, the calculated intraoperative reduction of the DTFJ was classified as malreduced in 35.4%. (2) The DTFJ was postoperatively identified as malreduced in 17% of patients. Overall, the suture button system tended to compensate toward a more anatomical reduction both in the axial and sagittal plane.

Conclusion:

A suture button system postoperatively deviates and apparently has the capacity to compensate for intraoperative malreduction. Analysis of the drilling tunnels revealed that the use of a rigid fixation system would have doubled the postoperative malreduction rate.
A Two-Study Qualitative Exploration of Ecological Momentary Assessment as a Tool for Media, Health Behavior Measurement
Authors: Willoughby Jessica Fitts , Gibbons Stephanie , Hundley Shuang Liu
Published: August 2022

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA), a method that allows for data collection in real-time, may offer benefits for communication research. We conducted two EMA studies on different topics (i.e., alcohol and sexual content in media and social media use, emotions, and tanning) in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and completed in-depth interviews ( N = 19 and N = 16) following each study. Participants were open to the method and described potential changes in awareness and behavior, which could contribute to changes in data collected and potentially serve as an unintentional intervention. Researchers should consider the intent of their research and possible unintended effects of the questions posed.
Relationships between Meteorological and Particulate Matter Concentrations (PM2.5 and PM10) during the Haze Period in Urban and Rural Areas, Northern Thailand
Authors: Sirithian Duanpen , Thanatrakolsri Pantitcha
Published: August 2022

Meteorological parameters play a crucial role in the ambient air quality of urban and rural environments. This study aims to investigate the relationship between meteorological parameters (including temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) and the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 in the urban area and the rural area, northern Thailand during the haze period (January to April) from 2016 to 2020. Statistical analyses of the Spearman-Rank correlation coefficient and the multivariate gaussian regression were used to investigate the relationships. The secondary data of ambient PM2.5 and PM10 concentration and meteorological parameters were acquired from the Thai Pollution Control Department. The measurements are obtained using the Beta Ray attenuation method. The results showed that approximately 24% to 65% of daily average PM2.5 concentrations in the urban area over the study period exceeded Thailand’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The average PM2.5/PM10 ratios in the urban and the rural areas over the haze period were 0.69 and 0.66, respectively. Our analysis established a significant correlation between atmospheric temperature ( r = 0.624) and relative humidity ( r = −0.722) with the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10. In both areas, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were also positively correlated with temperature. In contrast, relative humidity was significantly related with the decrease of PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. However, wind speed does not affect PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations. Additionally, the daily backward trajectories using the hybrid-single particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory model also demonstrated air mass movement in March mostly came from the southwesterly direction, which moved through the highlands, the large biomass burned areas, upwind neighboring provinces, and transboundary transports before reaching the air monitoring stations. Our findings improve the understanding of particulate matter pollution and meteorological patterns during annual haze periods in the urban and rural areas. We expect the output of this study can help improve existing haze mitigation measures for improving the prediction accuracy of air pollution under variable meteorological parameters.
Healthcare Workers’ Compliance With Standard Precautions and Associated Factors in Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia
Authors: Mulat Endalew Salie , Abebe Melake Bealemlay , Geremew Abraham , Baraki Negga , Mengistu Dechasa Adare , Sintie Alamirew Tamagnu , Muche Temesgen Liku , Mulugeta Demmu Yohannes , Alemeshet Asefa Yohanis , Deriba Wegene , Alemu Fekade Ketema , Ayele Dinku Mekbib , Berhanu Ashenafi , Dirirsa Gebisa
Published: August 2022

Background:

According to the literature analysis, the majority of the studies focused primarily on public health institutions. Although assessing the compliance of healthcare workers in private and public institutions would give comprehensive evidence on existing problems and appropriate prevention method, as a result, research on adherence to standard precautions are still required. Rely on existing research, to the best of the investigator’s knowledge, compliance with standard precautions in hospitals of Bahir Dar town has not been assessed. Therefore, this study will contribute to narrowing these gaps and determining the scope of problems with standard precautions.

Methods:

An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 442 healthcare workers working in hospitals from June 10 to 30, 2021. A stratified random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants. Pre-tested and structured questionnaires and an observational checklist were used to collect the required data. The data were entered into EpiData and analyzed using SPSS version 22. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to assess the association between independent and outcome variables. Odd ratios at 95% CI were used to measure the strength of the association between the outcome and explanatory variables. Finally, a P-value of <.05 was considered as a cut-off point for statistical significance.

Results:

Of the 442 healthcare workers who participated in the study, 41% were compliant with standard precautions. Furthermore, 68.1% and 51.8% of the respondents had good knowledge and a positive attitude toward infection prevention, respectively. Consistent water supply availability (AOR = 1.92 and 95% CI = 1.63, 6.27), and access to infection prevention guidelines (AOR = 1.73 and 95% CI = 1.08, 2.77), and availability of personal protective equipment (AOR = 2.32 and 95% CI = 1.35, 3.98) were some of the factors significantly associated with health care workers’ compliance.

Conclusions:

The current study found that only about two-fifths of the healthcare workers complied with standard precautions. The study suggests that there is a significant risk of developing an infection. Therefore, the concerned organizations; Bahir Dar Zonal Health Office, and respective sectors including Amhara Regional Health Office and the Federal Ministry of Health must take appropriate measures to improve the implementation of safety practices.
Characterization and Structural Prediction of Proteins in SARS-CoV-2 Bangladeshi Variant Through Bioinformatics
Authors: Debnath Pinky , Khan Umama , Khan Md. Salauddin
Published: August 2022

The renowned respiratory disease induced by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global epidemic in just less than a year by the first half of 2020. The subsequent efficient human-to-human transmission of this virus eventually affected millions of people worldwide. The most devastating thing is that the infection rate is continuously uprising and resulting in significant mortality especially among the older age population and those with health co-morbidities. This enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus is chiefly responsible for the infection of the upper respiratory system. The virulence of the SARS-CoV-2 is mostly regulated by its proteins such as entry to the host cell through fusion mechanism, fusion of infected cells with neighboring uninfected cells to spread virus, inhibition of host gene expression, cellular differentiation, apoptosis, mitochondrial biogenesis, etc. But very little is known about the protein structures and functionalities. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to learn more about these proteins through bioinformatics approaches. In this study, ORF10, ORF7b, ORF7a, ORF6, membrane glycoprotein, and envelope protein have been selected from a Bangladeshi Corona-virus strain G039392 and a number of bioinformatics tools (MEGA-X-V10.1.7, PONDR, ProtScale, ProtParam, SCRIBER, NetSurfP v2.0, IntFOLD, UCSF Chimera, and PyMol) and strategies were implemented for multiple sequence alignment and phylogeny analysis with 9 different variants, predicting hydropathicity, amino acid compositions, protein-binding propensity, protein disorders, and 2D and 3D protein modeling. Selected proteins were characterized as highly flexible, structurally and electrostatically extremely stable, ordered, biologically active, hydrophobic, and closely related to proteins of different variants. This detailed information regarding the characterization and structure of proteins of SARS-CoV-2 Bangladeshi variant was performed for the first time ever to unveil the deep mechanism behind the virulence features. And this robust appraisal also paves the future way for molecular docking, vaccine development targeting these characterized proteins.
Multi-body dynamics model of crawler wall-climbing robot
Authors: Fang Yi , Wang Shuai , Cui Da , Bi Qiushi , Yan Chuliang
Published: August 2022

In this paper, a crawler-type wall-climbing robot with negative pressure adsorption is designed. The dynamic model of the robot is established based on the method of discretizing the force load of the track shoe. The correctness of the kinematic model and dynamic model is proved by comparing two different ways of virtual prototype simulation and prototype experiment. According to the simulation results of the dynamic model and virtual prototype, the influence of design parameters on the motion performance of the wall-climbing robot is analyzed. The smaller the speed difference between the two tracks of the robot, the longer the gauge between the two tracks, and the greater the inclination of the adsorption wall, the larger the turning radius of the robot will be. The research content based on this paper can provide a new design optimization method and theoretical basis for improving crawler wall-climbing robots and crawler vehicles.
Processing and performance evaluation of agro wastes reinforced bio-based epoxy hybrid composites
Authors: Joshi Rahul , Bajpai Pramendra Kumar , Mukhopadhyay Samrat
Published: August 2022

Agro-wastes have a huge potential to be utilized as lignocellulosic reinforcements in polymer composites. This will not only play an important role in waste management but will also strengthen sustainable production. In the present work, pine cones and wood apple shells were utilized as fillers along with areca sheath fibers in bio-based epoxy resin for fabricating a novel hybrid composite wherein the effect of these fillers in laminated composites has not been explored to a greater extent. The impact of reinforcing both types of fillers in different loadings (5, 10, and 15 wt.%) on various properties of composites was investigated. Physical properties like density, void fraction, mechanical properties comprising of tensile, flexural, interlaminar shear strength (ILSS), and hardness along with morphology and moisture absorption behavior of composites were investigated. The mechanical properties of the fabricated composites were influenced by the structure (coarser/finer) of fillers and their chemical composition. The mechanical results for the composites revealed that incorporating wood apple shell fillers resulted in the maximum rise in tensile (23.97%), impact strength (16.81%), and interlaminar shear strength (31.64%), while the incorporation of pine cone fillers resulted in the maximum rise of flexural strength along with Young's (35.4%) and flexural modulus (32.81%). A reduction in moisture absorption was observed on the addition of both types of fillers up to a certain filler loading. The investigations demonstrated a noticeable enhancement in mechanical and physical properties of the fabricated composites on reinforcing micron size fillers.
Experiences, life changes, and support systems of recovered COVID-19 patients from practitioners’ perspectives: A qualitative study
Authors: Pei Fei , Wang Yixuan , McCloskey Rebecca J , Liu Qi
Published: August 2022

The spread of COVID-19 brought a worldwide pandemic that interrupted daily life and activities. By the end of 2020, there were more than 83 million diagnosed cases and 1.8 million deaths worldwide (World Health Organization, 2020). In Wuhan, China, more than 7 million individuals were quarantined at the beginning of the pandemic. Despite the widespread impact of the pandemic, limited studies have focused on recovered COVID-19 patients’ experiences. Therefore, this qualitative study was conducted to better understand the shared experiences of recovered COVID-19 patients in Wuhan, through the lens of social work practitioners working with them. A thematic analysis of 14 individual interviews resulted in three main themes: trauma, long-term perspective change, and support systems. Recovered patients commonly reported rejection, discrimination, stigma, and self-blame as a result of having had COVID-19. Although some reported receiving social support from family members, neighbors, or employers, others reported severe rejection and maltreatment. Experiences also influenced whether patients had a more positive or negative outlook toward the future. Findings call for health care practitioners and service providers to better support COVID-19 patients using a culturally sensitive, trauma-informed approach. Neighborhood-level factors and interventions are also discussed.
Why Can’t We Believe in That? Partisan Political Entertainment in the Mexican YouTube Sphere
Authors: Rodelo Frida V.
Published: August 2022

The YouTube video platform has provided fertile ground for creators outside the journalistic field to produce programs that combine elements of entertainment with information on public affairs. Behind the emergence of these practices lie important trends enabling alternative public discourses and altering the cultural production, but also an environment mainly characterized by the low trust in mainstream news organizations and high ideological polarization that seem to give shape to political entertainment contents—and especially their overt political partisanship. Based on observations of independent political entertainment YouTube channels in Mexico, this study delves into their apparently contradictory intersections with professional journalism and the constraints imposed on their practice by platform affordances.
Digital learning and the lopsidedness of the education in government and private primary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal, India
Authors: Sarkar Bappa , Islam Nazrul , Das Pinku , Miraj Abdul , Dakua Manoj , Debnath Manoj , Roy Ranjan
Published: August 2022

Since March 2020, all academic institutions have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and have been encouraged online mode of education to the students in West Bengal, India. The most profound negative effect of the school closure has been noticed on primary education. This research examines how school closures in both government and private primary schools in West Bengal result in uneven teaching-learning opportunities in formal and non-formal education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The present study was conducted based on an online survey in West Bengal using a structured questionnaire. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test, Shapiro-Wilk Test, Pearson Chi-squared (χ2) test, and logistic regression were used to check the relationships among the variables. Based on 473 responses to an online survey administered to the parents and educated family members of 3–10 years aged children from both government and private primary schools in West Bengal. The authors' analysis shows the teaching-learning opportunities varied significantly. Further, the study revealed a noticeable gap between government and private primary schools. The study depicts that students from urban areas have more accessibility to online education than those living in rural areas. The study revealed that 98.7% of private schools and 33.7% of students from government primary schools could access online education. Statistically significant differences were observed between both categories of schools in academic affairs during the pandemic.
A Framework for Pediatric Health Care Providers to Promote Active Play in Nature for Children
Authors: Tandon Pooja S. , Hafferty Kiana , Kroshus Emily , Angulo Antionette , Burton Monique , Peyton Michael , Senturia Kirsten
Published: August 2022

Aim:

Time outdoors and contact with nature are positively associated with a broad range of children’s health outcomes. Pediatricians are uniquely positioned to promote active play in nature (APN) but may face challenges to do so during well child visits. The objective of this study was to understand barriers to children’s APN, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how health care providers could promote APN.

Methods:

Focus groups were conducted with 14 pediatric providers and interviews with 14 parents (7 in English, 7 in Spanish) of children ages 3 to 10 on public insurance. Dedoose was used for coding and content analysis. We contextualized this work within the WHO’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health conceptual framework.

Results:

Parents mentioned a range of material circumstances (time, finances, family circumstances, access to safe outdoor play spaces and age-appropriate activities) and behavioral/psychosocial factors (previous experiences in nature, safety, and weather concerns), many of which were exacerbated by the pandemic, that serve as barriers to children’s APN. Providers said they were motivated to talk to families about children’s APN but mentioned barriers to this conversation such as time, other pressing priorities for the visit, and lack of resources to give families.

Conclusions:

Many pre-pandemic barriers to APN were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Well-child visits may be an effective setting to discuss the benefits of APN during and beyond the pandemic, and there is a need for contextually appropriate resources for pediatric providers and families.
Service Workers’ Experience and Perceptions of Workplace Protective Measures During the Onset of COVID-19
Authors: Rosemberg Marie-Anne S. , Adams Mackenzie , Polick Carri , Ratliff Hannah , Li Wei V. , Jun Jin
Published: August 2022

Objectives:

The Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents a unique burden specifically for workers in service industries. However, limited research on service worker’s experience during the onset of COVID-19 exists. We aimed to describe the experiences and concerns of service industry workers during the pandemic’s onset.

Methods:

This is a mixed-method study. Participants were recruited through social media and completed either a survey or a phone interview during May and June 2020. The survey and transcribed interview data were analyzed using the SPSS software and content analysis, respectively.

Results:

Twenty-seven individuals completed audio-recorded phone interviews and 28 completed the survey. Participants were mostly women between 19 and 65 years old. Participants worked in food retail ( n = 23), restaurant ( n = 25), and hospitality ( n = 7) industries. There was discordance in perceived threat level of COVID-19. Most participants reported that their workplace complied with their state’s mandates for protection measures, while others reported lacking basic supplies such as soap, hand sanitizer, and masks. Job insecurity, change of job tasks, and work hours were the most common ways that COVID-19 affected the workers. Worker’s assertiveness to self-protect while at work was influenced by their perceived severity of the pandemic.

Conclusion/Application to Practice:

This study highlights the vulnerability of service workers relating to job security and job tasks during the pandemic. Organizational processes are needed to promote safe work environments and facilitate access to resources for these workers. In addition, occupational health practitioners need to be aware of and address the emerging health risks and worker needs.
Using the Slipping Slipper Sign as a Public Health Message to Protect the Feet of Patients With Diabetes
Authors: Mohammed Saeed Rashaad , Teelucksingh Surujpal , Naraynsingh Vijay
Published: August 2022

The Fit India Movement is a nationwide campaign to promote and encourage the incorporation of physical activity and sports into the daily lives of the Indian people. Amongst the objectives is to instill the importance of fitness in students and their families, certainly a most worthy endeavor. Whilst we fully support the promotion of fitness activities among persons of all age groups in India, we would yet like to extend a word of caution regarding barefooted exercising, especially among those persons afflicted with diabetes mellitus. These persons are at greatly increased risk of foot trauma and ulceration. A multidisciplinary approach to caring for diabetes is costly and therefore impractical in low-resource areas. We therefore wish to highlight the “slipping slipper sign”, that is, unrecognized loss of a slipper from a person’s feet while walking, which has been demonstrated to reflect severe peripheral neuropathy. This sign can be elicited by nonmedical staff and is an effective method of identifying high-risk patients who warrant further specialized testing for peripheral neuropathy.
SESN2 prevents the slow-to-fast myofiber shift in denervated atrophy via AMPK/PGC-1α pathway
Authors: Yang Xiaofan , Xue Pingping , Liu Zhenyu , Li Wenqing , Li Chuyan , Chen Zhenbing
Published: August 2022

Background

Sestrin2 (SESN2), a stress-inducible protein, has been reported to protect against denervated muscle atrophy through unfolded protein response and mitophagy, while its role in myofiber type transition remains unknown.

Methods

A mouse sciatic nerve transection model was created to evaluate denervated muscle atrophy. Myofiber type transition was confirmed by western blot, fluorescence staining, ATP quantification, and metabolic enzyme activity analysis. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) was adopted to achieve SESN2 knockdown and overexpression in gastrocnemius. AMPK/PGC-1α signal was detected by western blot and activated with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR). C2C12 myotubes with rotenone treatment were adopted for in vitro experiments.

Results

SESN2 was found to be upregulated in denervated skeletal muscles and rotenone-treated C2C12 cells. Knockdown of SESN2 aggravated muscle atrophy and accelerated myofiber type transition from slow-twitch to fast-twitch. Moreover, AMPK/PGC-1α signaling was proven to be activated by SESN2 after denervation, which further induced the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor HIF2α. Exogenous activation of AMPK/PGC-1α signaling could counteract the addition of slow-to-fast myofiber shift caused by SESN2 knockdown and lead to the retainment of muscle mass after denervation.

Conclusion

Collectively, the present study indicates that SESN2 prevents myofiber type transition from slow-twitch to fast-twitch and preserves muscle mass in denervated atrophy via AMPK/PGC-1α signaling. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of muscle atrophy and provide novel insights into the role of SESN2 in myofiber type transition.
Shrimp genome sequence contains independent clusters of ancient and current Endogenous Viral Elements (EVE) of the parvovirus IHHNV
Authors: Taengchaiyaphum Suparat , Wongkhaluang Prapatsorn , Sittikankaew Kanchana , Karoonuthaisiri Nitsara , Flegel Timothy W. , Sritunyalucksana Kallaya
Published: August 2022

Background

Shrimp have the ability to accommodate viruses in long term, persistent infections without signs of disease. Endogenous viral elements (EVE) play a role in this process probably via production of negative-sense Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA)-like fragments. These bind with Piwi proteins to dampen viral replication via the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway. We searched a genome sequence (GenBank record JABERT000000000) of the giant tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon for the presence of EVE related to a shrimp parvovirus originally named infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV).

Results

The shrimp genome sequence contained three piRNA-like gene clusters containing scrambled IHHNV EVE. Two clusters were located distant from one another in pseudochromosome 35 (PC35). Both PC35 clusters contained multiple sequences with high homology (99%) to GenBank records DQ228358 and EU675312 that were both called “non-infectious IHHNV Type A” (IHHNV-A) when originally discovered. However, our results and those from a recent Australian P. monodon genome assembly indicate that the relevant GenBank records for IHHNV-A are sequence-assembly artifacts derived from scrambled and fragmental IHHNV-EVE. Although the EVE in the two PC35 clusters showed high homology only to IHHNV-A, the clusters were separate and distinct with respect to the arrangement (i.e., order and reading direction) and proportional content of the IHHNV-A GenBank records. We conjecture that these 2 clusters may constitute independent allele-like clusters on a pair of homologous chromosomes. The third EVE cluster was found in pseudochromosome 7 (PC7). It contained EVE with high homology (99%) only to GenBank record AF218266 with the potential to protect shrimp against current types of infectious IHHNV. One disadvantage was that some EVE in PC7 can give false positive PCR test results for infectious IHHNV.

Conclusions

Our results suggested the possibility of viral-type specificity in EVE clusters. Specificity is important because whole EVE clusters for one viral type would be transmitted to offspring as collective hereditary units. This would be advantageous if one or more of the EVE within the cluster were protective against the disease caused by the cognate virus. It would also facilitate gene editing for removal of non-protective EVE clusters or for transfer of protective EVE clusters to genetically improve existing shrimp breeding stocks that might lack them.
Comparative analysis of the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of Saposhnikovia divaricata revealed the possible transfer of plastome repeat regions into the mitogenome
Authors: Ni Yang , Li Jingling , Chen Haimei , Yue Jingwen , Chen Pinghua , Liu Chang
Published: August 2022

Background

Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. is a perennial herb whose dried roots are commonly used as a source of traditional medicines. To elucidate the organelle-genome-based phylogeny of Saposhnikovia species and the transfer of DNA between organelle genomes, we sequenced and characterised the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of S. divaricata.

Results

The mitogenome of S. divaricata is a circular molecule of 293,897 bp. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome is as follows: A, 27.73%; T, 27.03%; C, 22.39%; and G, 22.85. The entire gene content is 45.24%. A total of 31 protein-coding genes, 20 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs, including one pseudogene (rpl16), were annotated in the mitogenome. Phylogenetic analysis of the organelle genomes from S. divaricata and 10 related species produced congruent phylogenetic trees. Selection pressure analysis revealed that most of the mitochondrial genes of related species are highly conserved. Moreover, 2 and 46 RNA-editing sites were found in the chloroplast genome (cpgenome) and mitogenome protein-coding regions, respectively. Finally, a comparison of the cpgenome and the mitogenome assembled from the same dataset revealed 10 mitochondrial DNA fragments with sequences similar to those in the repeat regions of the cpgenome, suggesting that the repeat regions might be transferred into the mitogenome.

Conclusions

In this study, we assembled and annotated the mitogenome of S. divaricata. This study provides valuable information on the taxonomic classification and molecular evolution of members of the family Apiaceae.