bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mothers’ Post-separation Experiences of Male Partner Abuse: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Hay Charisse , Grobbelaar Madalena , Guggisberg Marika
Published: November 2021

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) involves physical and sexual violence and coercive controlling behaviours to maximise power inequality in abusive relationships. Many women make the decision to exit abusive relationships due to the detrimental impact of IPV on their children. In a qualitative exploration, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 women recruited by purposive and snowballing sampling techniques. Two overarching themes of single mothers’ unique experiences of co-parenting with IPV were revealed through interpretative phenomenological analysis. The first theme was Continuous Victimisation, which indicated that post-separation victimisation was an extension of existing IPV whereby fathers used intimidation, threatening behaviours such as stalking and other monitoring tactics and the deliberate undermining of the mother–child relationship. The second theme identified was Systemic Challenges, indicating how court officials applied a ‘pro-contact’ approach and either minimised or denied mothers’ allegations of IPV and the impact on them and the children. The analysis found a persistent bias against mothers . Implications of the study are discussed before the article concludes that attitudinal change regarding IPV is required by decision makers in court processes with a recognition that abusive men may be unwilling to engage in cooperative parenting that focuses on the children’s developmental, social, emotional, psychological and physical needs.
The key role of pulse wave transit time to predict blood pressure variation during anaesthesia induction
Authors: Hu Guoqiang , Chen Minjuan , Wang Xiaodan , Chen Lingyang , Wang Weijian
Published: November 2021

Objective

To establish the relationship between pulse wave transit time (PWTT) before anaesthesia induction and blood pressure variability (BPV) during anaesthesia induction.

Methods

This prospective observational cohort study enrolled consecutive patients that underwent elective surgery. Invasive arterial pressure, electrocardiography, pulse oximetry, heart rate and bispectral index were monitored. PWTT and BPV were measured with special software. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol, sufentanil and rocuronium.

Results

A total of 54 patients were included in this study. There was no correlation between BPV and the dose of propofol, sufentanil and rocuronium during anaesthesia induction. Bivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that PWTT ( r = –0.54), age ( r = 0.34) and systolic blood pressure ( r = 0.31) significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV). Only PWTT ( r = –0.38) was significantly correlated with diastolic blood pressure variability (DBPV). Patients were stratified into high PWTT and low PWTT groups according to the mean PWTT value (96.8 ± 17.2 ms). Compared with the high PWTT group, the SBPV of the low PWTT group increased significantly by 3.4%. The DBPV of the low PWTT group increased significantly by 2.1% compared with the high PWTT group.

Conclusions

PWTT, assessed before anaesthesia induction, may be an effective predictor of haemodynamic fluctuations during anaesthesia induction.
Successful endovascular coiling of infectious cerebral aneurysm following Staphylococcus haemolyticus endocarditis
Authors: Matsuzono Kosuke , Ishiyama Yusuke , Higaki Ayuho , Namba Katsunari , Aoyama Yutaka , Igarashi Takeshi , Miura Kumiko , Ozawa Tadashi , Mashiko Takafumi , Koide Reiji , Tanaka Ryota , Harada Kenji , Kario Kazuomi , Kawai Kensuke , Fujimoto Shigeru
Published: November 2021

Recent reports suggest that Staphylococcus haemolyticus can cause infective endocarditis (IE). However, no data are available regarding infectious intracranial aneurysm (IIA) following S. haemolyticus endocarditis. Endovascular coiling is a challenging approach for the treatment of IIA. We describe the case of a 63-year-old woman who suddenly developed aphasia and dysarthria following an acute cerebral infarction in her left insular and temporal cortex. After a total hysterectomy at the age of 39, the patient had suffered from recurrent bacterial pyomyositis in her legs. At admission, there was no evidence of cerebral aneurysm, as assessed by magnetic resonance angiography, and no vegetation, as assessed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), resulting in an incorrect diagnosis. However, subarachnoid hemorrhage and development of cerebral aneurysm in the left middle cerebral artery occurred within 1 week of hospitalization. Continuous positive blood culture results and a second TEE finally revealed that IE was caused by S. haemolyticus. Coil embolization of the IIA was successful on day 26 after symptom onset; after this procedure, the patient began to recover. This case demonstrates that S. haemolyticus-induced endocarditis can cause IIA. Endovascular coiling is a potentially effective approach to treat IIA.
Higher empathy is associated with stronger social bonding when moving together with music
Authors: Stupacher Jan , Mikkelsen Jannie , Vuust Peter
Published: November 2021

Empathy—understanding and sharing the feelings and experiences of others—is one of our most important social capacities. Music is a social stimulus in that it involves communication of mental states, imitation of behavior, and synchronization of movements. As empathy and music are so closely linked, we investigated whether higher empathy is associated with stronger social bonding in interpersonal interactions that feature music. In two studies, participants watched videos in which we manipulated interpersonal synchrony between the movements of a virtual self and a virtual other person during walking with instrumental music or a metronome. In both studies, temporally aligned movements increased social bonding with the virtual other and higher empathy was associated with increased social bonding in movement interactions that featured music. Additionally, in Study 1, participants with lower empathy felt more connected when interacting with a metronome compared to music. In Study 2, higher trait empathy was associated with strong increases of social bonding when interacting with a temporally aligned virtual other, but only weak increases of social bonding with a temporally misaligned virtual other. These findings suggest that empathy plays a multifaceted role in how we enjoy, interpret, and use music in social situations.
The Hatnub Quarries Industrial Landscape Survey 2017: Mobile-GIS Ground-truthing of the Satellite Remote-survey
Authors: Pethen Hannah
Published: November 2021

This paper presents the results of the 2017 mobile-GIS survey of 1 km2 around the Hatnub Egyptian alabaster quarries and analysis of the accuracy of the remote-survey of the same area, which was completed in 2016 using satellite imagery. The analysis revealed that remote-survey was a very accurate method for recording archaeological features in clear and unobstructed parts of the desert, while targeted mobile-GIS survey of obscure areas and questionable features was an effective method for reducing inaccuracies in remote-survey data. The results will inform future phases of the Hatnub Industrial Landscape Project and the fieldwork also identified several avenues of future research into routes and roads across the desert.
Health Care Providers’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices and the Association With Referrals to the National Diabetes Prevention Program Lifestyle Change Program
Authors: Hulbert LaShonda R. , Zhang Xuanping , Ng Boon Peng , Nhim Kunthea , Khan Tamkeen , Cannon Michael J.
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To examine how health care providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices affect their referrals to the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Design

Cross-sectional, self-report data from DocStyles—a web-based survey

Setting

USA

Sample

Practicing family practitioners, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and internists, n = 1,503.

Measures

Questions regarding health care providers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices and their referrals to the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

Analysis

Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to calculate predictive margins and the average marginal effect.

Results

Overall, 15.2% of health care providers ( n = 1,503) reported making a referral to the National Diabetes Prevention Program. Health care providers were more likely to make referrals if they were familiar with the program (average marginal effect = 36.0%, 95% CI: 29.1%, 42.8%), reported knowledge of its availability (average marginal effect=49.1%, 95% CI: 40.2%, 57.9%), believed it was important to make referrals to the program (average marginal effect = 20.7%, 95% CI: 14.4%, 27.0%), and used electronic health records to manage patients with prediabetes (average marginal effect = 9.1%, 95% CI: 5.4%, 12.7%). Health care providers’ demographic characteristics had little to no association with making referrals.

Conclusion

Making referrals to the National Diabetes Prevention Program was associated with health care providers’ knowledge of the program and its reported availability, their attitudes, and their use of the electronic health record system to manage patients with prediabetes.
‘You never need an analyst with Bobby around’: The mid-20th-century human sciences in Sondheim and Furth's musical Company
Authors: Rubel Jeffrey
Published: November 2021

This article offers a case study in how historians of science can use musical theater productions to understand the cultural reception of scientific ideas. In 1970, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's musical Company opened on Broadway. The show engaged with and reflected contemporary theories and ideas from the human sciences; Company's portrayal of its 35-year-old bachelor protagonist, his married friends, and his girlfriends reflected present-day theories from psychoanalysis, sexology, and sociology. In 2018, when director Marianne Elliott revived the show with a female protagonist, Company once again amplified contemporary dilemmas around human sciences expertise—this time, the biological fertility clock. Through Company, Sondheim and Furth—and later Elliott—constructed arguments about modern society that paralleled those put forth by contemporary human scientists, including psychoanalytic models of the mind, the lonely crowd phenomenon, and shifting conceptions of masculinity and femininity. Because of their wide popularity and potential for readaptation, musicals such as Company offer a promising source base for analyzing the relationship between contemporary society and scientific expertise in specific historical contexts.
Study of optimum welding performance in friction stir welding of dissimilar Mg alloys using integrated RSM-TLBO algorithm
Authors: Singh Umesh Kumar , Dubey Avanish Kumar
Published: November 2021

Lightweight with excellent strength of magnesium alloys has attracted its use in transportation industries but difficulty in fusion welding of magnesium alloys restricts its application. The present research investigates solid state friction stir welding of dissimilar AZ31-AZ91 magnesium alloys with aim to achieve optimum quality welds. Surface roughness, microstructure and mechanical properties of these joints have been investigated at different tool rotational speed, welding speed and tool shoulder diameter. Maximum joint strength obtained is 89.71% (as compare to AZ31) which is more than the previously reported joint strengths of dissimilar magnesium alloys. Further, mathematical relations for responses have been developed and utilised for multi-objective optimization using teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm. Eventually, teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm results suggest that the optimum value of surface roughness (3.3925 µm), grain size (12.6869 µm), tensile strength (237.9621 MPa), microhardness (69.3652 Hv) and flexural strength (333.2285 MPa) can be achieved at 921 rpm rotational speed, 30 mm/min welding speed and 15 mm shoulder diameter with overall improvement in multiple responses.
Technology development for in-situ measurement of residual stress in arc welded joints of MDN 250 by portable Cosα X-ray diffraction method
Authors: Jose Bibin , Manoharan Manikandan , Natarajan Arivazhagan
Published: November 2021

Residual stresses are inherent stresses that exist in engineering components even though no external load is applied. They are caused by the non-uniform volumetric shift of the metallic component during manufacturing processes. Welding is a key manufacturing technique that has a substantial impact on the economy since it is required for the production of a diverse variety of products used in the engineering sector. The residual stress primarily affects the stability, durability and performance of the welded joints. Hence its determination is of utmost importance. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is the most commonly used method for residual stress analysis. There are mainly two approaches for measuring residual stress using XRD; one is the sin2ψ method and the other is the cosα method. The residual stress measurements using the cosα method are handy, quick and convenient compared to the sin2ψ method. This method is well suited for welded joints, as it provides flexibility for testing immediately after the welding operation. Apart from residual stress measurements, the cosα method also gives valuable insights in the form of Debye-Scherrer (DS) rings and full width at half maximum. The present study focuses on the development of a novel technique that not only enables residual stress measurement but also provides a quantitative estimation of hardness and qualitative estimation of grain size without performing metallurgical or mechanical characterization. The material used for the present study is an arc-welded joint of MDN 250 grade maraging steel. The residual stress results show a compressive profile throughout the weldment, with a maximum value of compressive residual stress of 428 MPa at the fusion zone.
Experimental investigation and optimization of mechanical properties on combination of higher and lower strength of aluminum alloys
Authors: Ganesan C , Manonmani K
Published: November 2021

Friction stir welding is a high potential technology for joining similar and dissimilar aluminum materials, utilized extensively in aerospace and automotive industrial applications to eradicate the problems like hot cracking, porosity, element loss, etc. due to the fusion welding process. This Research addresses the joining of two dissimilar materials of AA 5754 – H32 and AA 8090T6511 – Al-Li and their mechanical properties analysis with the effects of friction stir welding process parameters like tool rotational speed, welding speed and axial load on weld nugget zone formation quality. The significant roles of different tool pin profiles are also emphasized. A mathematical modeling equation was formed by using regression analysis to optimize the process parameter and found the best tool pin profile for defect-free weld nugget zone and higher tensile and hardness properties. This research also portrays the contribution of various pin profiles and each process parameter on the ultimate tensile strength by response surface methodology. The results indicate that the defect-free weld joints are observed with 1800 r/min of rotational speed, welding speed of 15 mm min−1 and 8.5 kN of axial load with hexagonal pin profile.
Efficacy of energy consumption policy in Iranian National Gas Company: System dynamics approach
Authors: Alikhani Nazanin Zahra , Vahdat Mohammadali , Owlia Mohammad Saleh
Published: November 2021

The ever-increasing global demand for energy, oil production/supply and the necessity for alternative approaches regarding energy harvesting have opened a deeper horizon for natural gas utilization. The complexity of the demand–supply match of natural gas and the lack of an optimal pattern of energy consumption have been daunting tasks for the energy decision-makers in the last century. Although laws regarding energy efficiency are formulated and even implemented in some cases, there was no benchmarking analysis which takes all useful indexes into account until recently. However, in this article, by identifying the factors affecting the pattern of gas consumption through the system dynamic approach, regulations associated with productivity are assessed. For this, a regional dynamic integrated gas model is developed. The model effectiveness in handling the system dynamism and various scenarios are investigated through a real case study in Yazd—a central province of Iran—to ascertain the proposed approach. The results show that the developed targeted subsidy law is effective in the household sector. Despite the fact that the thorough implementation of the energy efficiency regulations has positive environmental and economic impacts, these regulations have not been fully implemented in many cases and do not have the required efficiency in the industry sector.
A new measure to quantify sedentary behavior using accelerometer data: Application to the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos
Authors: Xue Xiaonan , Cai Jianwen , Qi Qibin , Carlson Jordan , Mossavar-Rahmani Yasmin , Kaplan Robert , Wang Tao
Published: November 2021

Availability of accelerometer data has made it possible to objectively and continuously monitor sedentary behavior. Various summaries of the extensive accelerometer data have been used to understand the relationship between sedentary behavior and health. However, the widely used summary measures on sedentary bouts, average bout length or its derivatives, fail to reveal patterns of accumulated sedentary behavior over time. Studies have suggested that prolonged uninterrupted sedentary behavior can be an important metric that is related to health states. Yet existing measures to capture the prolonged sedentary patterns either rely on parametric assumptions on the underlying distribution of sedentary bout length or have to categorize sedentary bout length into somewhat arbitrary categories. Gini index was also used; however, it only measures the variability in bout lengths but not the actual length. To overcome these limitations, we proposed a non-parametric weighted survival function to characterize uninterrupted sedentary behavior over time in a continuous fashion and used the area under the survival curve as a new summary measure to quantify sedentary behavior. We showed that this measure is a weighted average of bout length and contains the information on both the mean and variability of bout lengths. We demonstrated in the simulation studies that the proposed measure could better identify prolonged uninterrupted sedentary behavior and predict health outcomes. We applied this new measure and existing sedentary measures to data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos to examine the association between sedentary behavior and overweight/obesity.
Opportunity and inequality in the emerging esports labor market
Authors: McLeod Christopher M. , Xue Hanhan , Newman Joshua I.
Published: November 2021

Esports is often described as a growing industry ripe with financial opportunities for young professional, competitive gamers. However, these claims rarely consider how income is distributed amongst players. This study uses prize earnings data from 2005 to 2019 to examine labor market inequality and related social inequalities and social stratifications. Lorenz curves and Gini coefficients show that inequality has increased in the labor market overall and the labor markets for the five top games based on total prizes awarded ( Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite, League of Legends, StarCraft II). Competitors can expect to earn more today than in 2005, but median incomes have shown sporadic and inconsistent growth compared with top incomes. Moreover, most competitors earn less than the US poverty threshold. Comparing the earnings of the top female players to the whole labor market shows that gender inequalities exist in median incomes and the likelihood of earning more than the poverty threshold. The esports labor market is an engine of inequality that provides opportunities for a few (primarily male) competitors while building a growing class of lowly paid players who support the interests of game designers and event organizers.
Development of a torsional theory for radially functionally graded porous shape memory alloy circular bars
Authors: Van Viet Nguyen , Zaki Wael
Published: November 2021

This work develops a novel torsional theory for a radially functionally graded (FG) porous shape memory alloy (SMA) circular bar. Prior to the theoretical development, the effective three-dimensional (3D) phenomenological constitutive model for SMAs with high porosity is proposed. To help derive successfully the theory, the pure shear-driven material parameters in the effective model are expressed in the cubic polynomial. Subsequently, the torsional theory for radially FG porous SMA circular bar is derived considering the evolution of effective phase evolution in the bar. This phase evolution consideration guarantees the accuracy of the developed theory. Indeed, the soundness of effective constitutive model is confirmed by 3D finite element method (FEM) simulation of porous SMA structure in Abaqus using the well-established ZM’s model for dense SMAs. Specifically, the simulating results in terms of the shear stress-shear strain response obtained from two prediction methods considering a variation of SMA volume fraction and temperature are in good agreement. Furthermore, accuracy of torsional theory is validated by 3D FEM simulation using the 3D effective constitutive model with a good agreement observed. It is found that the superelasticity of the bar can be enhanced by increasing the gradient index and decreasing the temperature and wall thickness.
A New Framework for Examining Impact of Neurodiversity in Couples in Intimate Relationships
Authors: Mitran Carrie Leigh
Published: November 2021

Background: Many health professionals have a limited understanding of autism and little to no experience working with neurodiverse (ND) couples. Applying traditional practice without an informed approach to assist ND couples is bound to fail. Purpose: Whether limited executive functioning skills, typical of many ND people, may be overcome using technology that provides social interactions, without the extreme stressors of in-person interactions. Methodology: This article examines a new systemic framework and related practice for navigating the impact of neurodiversity in couples. A discourse analysis of data gathered from interactions with ND clients was performed and the findings are reported. Conclusions: Social norms contribute to considerable anxiety, worry, fear, and difficulties such as the inability to interpret meaning, read nonverbal communications. An individual's ability to consider others’ perspectives increases the likelihood of relational success. Digital communication platforms facilitated social interactions among those diagnosed with high functioning autism spectrum disorder. Implications: A new framework that incorporates structural plasticity- and technology-based relational tools in resources offered to aid social interactions, and more specifically, romantic relationships for ND individuals may be warranted, considering the unmet needs that exist in society.
The Dilemma of Peri-Procedural Warfarin Management: A Narrative Review
Authors: Eljilany Islam , El-Bardissy Ahmed , Elewa Hazem
Published: November 2021

Periprocedural vitamin K antagonist management is a complex process and inherently entails multiple clinical issues. Marked variations have been reported in different aspects of this process. These differences were noted at the clinician and institutional levels owing to the lack of evidence-based data leading to many discrepancies in decision-making. This review aims to address the gap of vitamin K antagonist periprocedural management acknowledged by previously published prescribers’ questionnaires. One of the components of this process is “bridging,” which aims to provide minimal interruption of the anticoagulation period through the use of heparin products. Recent studies showed that bridging is increasing bleeding risk. Secondly, interruption decision relies on the classification of thromboembolism risk which depends on trials that did not include patients with atrial fibrillation. Thirdly, the interruption duration is different among different International normalization ratio levels, which strengthens the difference in the clinical practice of preoperative vitamin K antagonist management. Lastly, the resumption of a vitamin-K antagonist after surgery has many scenarios according to the procedure and patient risk of bleeding. Vitamin-K antagonist periprocedural management is complicated due to individual practice and the lack of strictly implemented institutional standardized protocols to guide, manage and evaluate the process.
Introduction: The Im/Possibility of Finding Home in Academia: Personal Narratives of Transnationally Minoritized Scholars in Higher Education
Authors: Bhattacharya Kakali , Atay Ahmet
Published: November 2021

In this special issue, authors trace their relationship with home in academia from transnational perspectives and explore the inherent challenges and possibilities of their locations within spaces where they are Othered, exocitized, minoritized, while carving out space for empowerment, survival, and doing their work.
How Strong is Local Politics’ Grip on Local Economic Development? The Case of Swiss Small and Medium-Sized Towns
Authors: Wittwer Stefan
Published: November 2021

Economic development directly manifests itself in the form of employment at the local level. This paper examines the ability of local politics to shape this development in a competitive federalist environment by examining how local party–political developments affect local economic development in Swiss small and medium-sized towns (SMSTs). Local economic development in the form of employment is a central local policy domain in federal and polycentric Switzerland. This paper argues that party–political influence is conditional on the characteristics of four distinguished economic sectors that differ in their dependence on the regional context. By analyzing the panel data of all Swiss SMSTs, the paper finds that local party–political developments only systematically precede growth in the residential economy, while regional processes determine the economic sectors in ambiguous ways. The grip of local politics on the development of export-oriented economies therefore is not guided by party–political development and more influential at regional levels.
Daratumumab-based therapies in transplant-ineligible patients with untreated multiple myeloma and hepatic dysfunction: A systematic review of subgroup analyses
Authors: Gil-Sierra Manuel David , Briceño-Casado Maria del Pilar , Fénix-Caballero Silvia , Alegre-Del Rey Emilio Jesús , de la Lastra-Romero Catalina Alarcón , Sánchez-Hidalgo Marina
Published: November 2021

Introduction

There is subgroup analysis suggesting a lack of benefit of daratumumab use in multiple myeloma (MM) and hepatic disease (HD). The objectives of this study were to conduct a systematic review and interpretation of daratumumab-based regimen efficacy in transplant-ineligible patients with untreated MM and HD.

Methods

A systematic search in Pubmed® database about randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with subgroup analysis regarding hepatic function for overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) were developed. Two methodologies were applied. One of them considered statistical interaction, prespecification, biological support and consistency of subgroup results. Second methodology was two-part validated tool: preliminary questions to reject subset analysis without minimal relevance, and a checklist relating a recommendation for applicability in clinical practice.

Results

It was included three records. About first methodology, statistical interaction among subgroups was found for PFS in one RCT. Subsets were prespecified in all RCTs. Biological support of efficacy differences could be reasonable. Inconsistent results were found. Second methology directly rejected applicability of subset analysis in two records. Checklist recommended “null” application of results in the remaining RCT.

Conclusions

No consistent heterogeneity for daratumumab-based regimen efficacy was observed among subgroups regarding hepatic function in transplant-ineligible patients with untreated MM. Patients with normal hepatic function and HD could benefit from these treatments.
Anthracyclines in a patient with acute leukemia and severe cardiomyopathy requiring mechanical support: A case report
Authors: Banerjee Rahul , Lo Mimi , Klein Liviu , Aras Mandar , Logan Aaron C.
Published: November 2021

Introduction

For young adult patients with acute leukemia, both the efficacy and cardiotoxicity of anthracycline-based regimens have been documented. We report the case of a patient with severe cardiomyopathy, mechanically supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), who subsequently developed Philadelphia-chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL). To our knowledge, this is the first report of anthracycline administration in a patient with heart failure requiring mechanical support.

Case report

Our 27-year-old female patient was diagnosed with Ph + B-ALL as part of workup for leukocytosis. Past medical history included non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 30–35% and moderate-severe right ventricular dysfunction, for which LVAD had been placed 4 years previously.

Management & outcome

After shared decision-making and multidisciplinary discussions, we felt that hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and dexamethasone alternating with cytarabine and high-dose methotrexate in addition to ponatinib (HyperCVAD-ponatinib) best balanced the patient's goals for aggressive treatment with the potential for rapid and durable remissions. The patient received a single reduced dose of doxorubicin alongside dexrazoxane with her first cycle of HyperCVAD-ponatinib. She attained a complete molecular response 22 days later and remains in remission (with stable cardiac function) 30 months later on maintenance therapy.

Discussion

In conclusion, LVAD placement is not an absolute contra-indication to anthracyclines if such therapies offer the best opportunity for a durable response.
Corneal Surgery in the Cat: Diseases, considerations and techniques
Authors: Telle Mary Rebecca , Betbeze Caroline
Published: November 2021

Practical relevance:

The ability to recognize, diagnose and treat corneal disease is essential for maintaining vision and comfort in feline patients. Being able to correctly identify appropriate techniques for surgical cases is of particular importance for success when performing corneal surgery.

Clinical challenges:

Many different corneal diseases present with similar clinical signs, and it can be hard to determine the appropriate treatment for individual patients. It is essential for the clinician to understand the indications for corneal surgery, instrumentation needed and microsurgical principles prior to attempting these procedures. The prognosis following surgery and potential complications should be discussed with the client.

Audience:

This review article aims to assist in decision-making and to provide detailed guidance for primary care clinicians considering referral of cats for corneal surgery. The review outlines common feline corneal diseases and associated surgical therapies performed by veterinary ophthalmologists, highlighting appropriate instrumentation and case selection. Some surgeries are explained in depth for ophthalmologists and residents in training.

Equipment:

Although some procedures may be performed with common surgical equipment and supplies, most require specialized ophthalmic instrumentation and expertise, which entails significant microsurgical training and practice, as well as financial investment. Most of the procedures require an operating microscope for the best surgical outcomes; however, surgical loupes may be sufficient in some cases. Evidence base: This review article compiles information from many published references on feline corneal diseases and surgeries, complemented by the experience of the authors.
Trans-radial percutaneous intervention for thrombosed hemodialysis access: A single-center experience
Authors: Rao Sudhakar M , Jayaram Ashwal Adamane , VB Mohan , UK Abdul Razak , Rangaswamy Dharshan , Samath Jyothi
Published: November 2021

Background:

Traditionally, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a first-line approach for stenosed dialysis accesses and has been performed through the non-thrombosed vein segment. For thrombosed accesses, thrombectomy (whether open or percutaneous) is a standard approach. The primary objective of our study is to determine the clinical and technical outcomes of the trans-radial approach of PTA among thrombosed dialysis accesses, in terms of safety and feasibility, technical and clinical aspects and factors influencing them, as well as assisted primary patency, secondary patency at 6 and 12 months.

Methods:

This is a single-center retrospective study that included 150 patients over 3 years. About 123 patients underwent successful percutaneous balloon angioplasty through the radial access.

Results:

We report an overall technical and clinical success rate of 82%, assisted primary patency rate of about 90.25% at 3 months, 82.93% at 6 months, 73.18% at 1 year, and secondary patency rate of 94% at 1 year. Twenty-seven patients were referred for surgical revisions/creation of a new fistula for reasons like inability to pass wire (6 patients), unfavorable anatomical variations like aneurysms at the proximal segments (5 patients), inability to cross the fistula (5 patients), and persistent fistula dysfunction with no flow after initial balloon dilatation (11 patients). Three patients had hematoma at the radial access site (2.5%) while two patients had the AV fistula segment rupture and were successfully treated conservatively.

Conclusion:

We conclude that PTA through the trans-radial approach to completely thrombosed hemodialysis accesses is a good alternative to transvenous access and has a very good assisted primary patency and secondary patency at 1 year without major complications.
A space to resist rape myths? Journalism, patriarchy and sexual violence
Authors: Santos Sofia Jose , Garraio Julia , de Sousa Carvalho Alexandre , Amaral Inês
Published: November 2021

In September 2018, a controversial judicial sentence concerning sexual violence caused a public outcry in Portugal. The court decision invoked the alleged environment of mutual seduction, the use of much alcohol consumption, and the lack of serious injuries to justify the suspended penalty. Stemming from the idea that understandings of what journalism is and what it should be are profoundly ideological and that notions of what it means to be and to behave like a woman and as a man have been developed (and altered over time) based on shifting realities within generalised patriarchal structures, this article intends to critically analyse the news media coverage of the controversial judicial sentence on this rape case in Portugal exploring the implications objective-based journalism entails for gender equality. As such, it will identify the shortcomings of objectivity and its leeway when covering sexual violence exploring how objective-based journalism provides room to (re)negotiate practices, norms, identities, and meanings concerning sexual violence, particularly rape and rape myths, and questioning whether a margin of maneuvre is enough to deconstruct patriarchal assumptions of feminity, masculinity and sexuality.
Aspiring Minds: ‘A Generation of Entrepreneurs in the Making’
Authors: Rajak Dinah , Dolan Catherine
Published: November 2021

This article examines how corporate, state and donor interests have converged in attempts to craft South Africa’s youngsters into an army of entrepreneurs as the last frontier for creating growth in a post-job world. We investigate the apparatus designed to engineer this entrepreneurial revolution and the actors hoping to seed enterprising aspirations in school-age kids. Our ethnographic findings show that while the ideology of entrepreneurial education enrols kids in anticipation of an entrepreneurial future, it falls short of both its enticing promise and its transformative intentions. As enterprise education fails to deliver on the New South African Dream, we argue, the aspirations it propagates withers, generating disaffection rather than a generation of entrepreneurial subjects faithful to the neoliberal creed of making it on your own.
Institutional prestige, academic supervision and research productivity of international PhD students: Evidence from Chinese returnees
Authors: Shen Wenqin , Jiang Jin
Published: November 2021

Since the emergence of global university rankings in the 2000s, East Asian universities have been recruiting academics with doctoral degrees from Western countries to strengthen their competitiveness in the global university league tables. Governments offer scholarships to support students in their overseas doctoral studies and encourage graduates to return. Although much attention is given to researchers with overseas degrees, little is known about their experiences and pre-employment academic productivity. Drawing on a nationwide survey and bibliometric data, this study examines whether and how the institutional prestige of a host university and academic supervision contribute to the academic productivity of government-funded Chinese PhD returnees during their doctoral studies. Results show that supervisors’ research support and collaboration positively affect pre-employment academic productivity. However, a university's prestige does not exert such an influence. Moreover, co-authorship with a supervisor is a crucial mechanism in the influence of supervisors’ research support on PhD students’ productivity.
Contemporary practice patterns of tyrosine kinase inhibitor use among older patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the United States
Authors: Shallis Rory M. , Wang Rong , Bewersdorf Jan P. , Zeidan Amer M. , Davidoff Amy J. , Huntington Scott F. , Podoltsev Nikolai A. , Ma Xiaomei
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

The choice of BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) for the first line of therapy (LOT) for chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is tailored to disease risk and patient characteristics like comorbidities, which become more prevalent with age. However, contemporary evaluations of frontline TKI choice and the factors associated with TKI switching in this specific patient population are lacking.

Methods:

We sought to describe TKI use in older patients (age: 66–99 years) with CML in the United States. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare-linked database, we identified 810 older (median age: 75 years, interquartile range: 70–80 years) patients diagnosed during 2007–2015.

Results:

Imatinib was the most common frontline TKI (63.1%) throughout the study period, but its utilization as such decreased from 76% in 2010 to 47% in 2015. Most patients (65.3%) used only one TKI, but 12.5% of the 281 patients who switched from frontline TKI received ⩾4 LOT. Among the 167 patients switching from frontline imatinib, 18.6% eventually returned to imatinib with nearly all as the third LOT, supporting its favorable safety profile and indicating that the initial switch from imatinib might have been premature. Older patients within our cohort, white patients and those with greater comorbidity were less likely to switch from frontline TKI. Diagnosis year, geographic region, and surrogates for socioeconomic status and healthcare access had no impact on TKI switching.

Conclusion:

As expected, our findings highlight the frequent use of imatinib as the treatment option for older CML patients despite the availability of second-generation TKIs.
The influence of gestational hypertension on cord blood adiponectin levels: a case-controlled study
Authors: Czubilińska-Łada Justyna , Gliwińska Aleksandra , Świȩtochowska Elżbieta , Nowak-Borzȩcka Lucyna , Sadownik Beata , Behrendt Jakub , Szczepańska Maria
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

Gestational hypertension is one of the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth worldwide and may be associated with metabolic disorders. Adiponectin is an adipocyte-specific plasma protein with insulin-sensitizing, vascular-protective, anti-inflammatory properties, and its role in metabolic disorders in prenatal and postnatal development in neonates remains unclear. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether gestational hypertension is a condition lowering cord blood adiponectin level. Next, we have evaluated whether cord blood adiponectin level correlates with selected anthropometric parameters in neonates.

Material and methods:

The case–control study included 89 newborns divided into two groups: 30 neonates in the study group whose mothers were diagnosed with gestational hypertension and 59 healthy neonates born from normotensive pregnancies. Adiponectin determinations were performed in both groups, and neonatal anthropometric measurements and perinatal data were collected.

Results:

There was no statistically significant difference ( p = 0.27) between adiponectin concentration in cord blood of newborns from the study group [median (Q1–Q3) 9.86 μg/ml (8.16–13.26 μg/ml)] compared with the control group [median (Q1–Q3) 10.65 μg/ml (8.69–14.29 μg/ml)]. No statistically significant correlations were observed between adiponectin level and gestational age, body weight, body length, and chest circumference. A significant correlation was observed between adiponectin level and head circumference among newborns in the control group and among the entire population of newborns included in the study.

Conclusion:

No significant influence of gestational hypertension on cord blood adiponectin levels or their correlation with neonatal anthropometric measurements was observed.
Risk Factors and Outcomes of Early Hospital Readmission in Canadian Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Population-Based Multi-Center Cohort Study
Authors: Naylor Kyla L. , Knoll Gregory A. , Slater Justin , McArthur Eric , Garg Amit X. , Lam Ngan N. , Le Britney , Li Alvin H. , McCallum Megan K. , Vinegar Marlee , Kim S. Joseph
Published: November 2021

Background:

Early hospital readmissions (EHRs) occur commonly in kidney transplant recipients. Conflicting evidence exists regarding risk factors and outcomes of EHRs.

Objective:

To determine risk factors and outcomes associated with EHRs (ie, hospitalization within 30 days of discharge from transplant hospitalization) in kidney transplant recipients.

Design:

Population-based cohort study using linked, administrative health care databases.

Setting:

Ontario, Canada.

Patients:

We included 5437 kidney transplant recipients from 2002 to 2015.

Measurements:

Risk factors and outcomes associated with EHRs. We assessed donor, recipient, and transplant risk factors. We also assessed the following outcomes: total graft failure, death-censored graft failure, death with a functioning graft, mortality, and late hospital readmission.

Methods:

We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association of each risk factor and the odds of EHR. To examine the relationship between EHR status (yes vs no [reference]) and the outcomes associated with EHR (eg, total graft failure), we used a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model.

Results:

In all, 1128 kidney transplant recipients (20.7%) experienced an EHR. We found the following risk factors were associated with an increased risk of EHR: older recipient age, lower income quintile, several comorbidities, longer hospitalization for initial kidney transplant, and older donor age. After adjusting for clinical characteristics, compared to recipients without an EHR, recipients with an EHR had an increased risk of total graft failure (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.29, 1.65), death-censored graft failure (aHR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.36, 1.94), death with graft function (aHR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.59), mortality (aHR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.22, 1.63), and late hospital readmission in the first 0.5 years of follow-up (eg, 0 to <0.25 years: aHR: 2.11, 95% CI: 1.85, 2.40).

Limitations:

We were not able to identify which readmissions could have been preventable and there is a potential for residual confounding.

Conclusions:

Results can be used to identify kidney transplant recipients at risk of EHR and emphasize the need for interventions to reduce the risk of EHRs.

Trial registration:

This is not applicable as this is a population-based cohort study and not a clinical trial.
Computed tomography angiography-based deep learning method for treatment selection and infarct volume prediction in anterior cerebral circulation large vessel occlusion
Authors: Hokkinen Lasse , Mäkelä Teemu , Savolainen Sauli , Kangasniemi Marko
Published: November 2021

Background

Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is the mainstay to determine possible eligibility for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), but there is still a need for alternative methods in patient triage.

Purpose

To study the ability of a computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based convolutional neural network (CNN) method in predicting final infarct volume in patients with large vessel occlusion successfully treated with endovascular therapy.

Materials and Methods

The accuracy of the CTA source image-based CNN in final infarct volume prediction was evaluated against follow-up CT or MR imaging in 89 patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke successfully treated with EVT as defined by Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction category 2b or 3 using Pearson correlation coefficients and intraclass correlation coefficients. Convolutional neural network performance was also compared to a commercially available CTP-based software (RAPID, iSchemaView).

Results

A correlation with final infarct volumes was found for both CNN and CTP-RAPID in patients presenting 6–24 h from symptom onset or last known well, with r = 0.67 ( p < 0.001) and r = 0.82 ( p < 0.001), respectively. Correlations with final infarct volumes in the early time window (0–6 h) were r = 0.43 ( p = 0.002) for the CNN and r = 0.58 ( p < 0.001) for CTP-RAPID. Compared to CTP-RAPID predictions, CNN estimated eligibility for thrombectomy according to ischemic core size in the late time window with a sensitivity of 0.38 and specificity of 0.89.

Conclusion

A CTA-based CNN method had moderate correlation with final infarct volumes in the late time window in patients successfully treated with EVT.