bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Moral Foundations and Attitudinal Motivations in the Chinese's Support for China’s Vaccine Diplomacy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wang Xiao
Published: December 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, China has been the leading exporter and donor of COVID-19 vaccines in the world. Based on a survey of 460 Chinese participants conducted in mainland China in March 2021, the results showed that the participants’ value-expressive attitudes (i.e. their responsibility to help) and esteem attitudes (i.e. China's image and status) were strong predictors of their support for vaccine exports and donations, whereas attitudes related to prevention and a possible vaccine shortage in China were weak predictors. Fairness and ingroup loyalty were the major moral foundations of their support for such international efforts; the influence of fairness and ingroup loyalty was both direct and mediated by value-expressive and esteem attitudes. Collectively, the present results show that support for international efforts can be analysed from a moral, altruistic perspective and thus extend the previous theorising that focused on the transactional nature of international outreach efforts.
System-Centered Care: How Bureaucracy and Racialization Decenter Attempts at Person-Centered Mental Health Care
Authors: Desai Miraj U. , Paranamana Nadika , Dovidio John F. , Davidson Larry , Stanhope Victoria
Published: December 2022

In this study, we explored structural biases in mental health organizations in the context of person-centered care—an emerging framework for health systems globally. The findings revealed how institutional structures powerfully condition clinical operations and providers, creating a risk that clients will be systemically seen as nonpersons, that is, as racialized or bureaucratic objects. Specifically, we elucidate how racial profiles could become determinants of care within institutions and how another, covert form of institutional objectification could emerge, in which clients are reduced to unseen bureaucratic objects. The findings illuminated a basic psychosocial process through which staff could become unwitting carriers of systemic agenda and intentionality—a type of “bureaucra-think”—and also how some providers pushed against this climate. These findings, and emergent novel concepts, add to the severely limited research on institutional bias and racism within psychological science.
Carboplasty, a Simple Tibial Marrow Technique for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Trial
Authors: Madrazo-Ibarra Antonio , Barve Raghav , Carroll Kaitlin M. , Proner Robert , Topar Christoper , Ibarra Clemente , Coleman Struan H. , Vad Vijay
Published: December 2022

Background:

Carboplasty is a new minimally invasive technique for knee osteoarthritis (OA) that consists of injecting tibial marrow aspirate into the bone-cartilage interface as well as intra-articularly.

Purpose:

To compare the clinical and imaging outcomes, as well as the safety, of carboplasty for symptomatic knee OA in a placebo-controlled trial.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

The authors conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare carboplasty with placebo for the treatment of symptomatic knee OA. Patients who had failed medical treatment and had bone edema on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to carboplasty or placebo. The primary outcome of the study was the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for the knee at 1 year (scores range from 0 to 10, with a higher score indicating worse pain). Secondary outcomes were the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), treatment responder rate (based on achieving the minimal clinically important difference of the NPRS), MRI bone edema reduction, and treatment safety.

Results:

In total, 50 patients (25 carboplasty vs 25 placebo) were enrolled and followed up with for an average of 18 months (range, 14-24 months). The average NPRS at baseline decreased from 7.1 ± 0.9 to 2.9 ± 2.1 ( P < .001) at 1 year in the carboplasty group and from 7.7 ± 0.9 to 4.9 ± 2.2 ( P < .001) in the placebo group. On average, patients after carboplasty improved 60% from their initial NPRS, and patients after placebo improved 37% ( P = .003). Patients had a statistically significantly greater improvement from baseline in all KOOS subscales in the carboplasty group compared with the placebo group ( P < .001). The responder rates were 96% for carboplasty and 76% for placebo ( P = .098). Bone edema was reduced in 72% of patients in the carboplasty group and 44% of patients in the placebo group ( P = .045). Neither group had adverse events related to treatment.

Conclusion:

Carboplasty resulted in greater pain reduction, a significantly greater improvement in all KOOS subscales, and a similar safety profile compared with placebo in patients with symptomatic knee OA and bone edema.

Registration:

ISRCTN69838191 (ISRCT Registry).
Comparison of the effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants: a nationwide propensity score–weighted study
Authors: Ingason Arnar B. , Hreinsson Johann P. , Agustsson Arnar S. , Lund Sigrun H. , Rumba Edward , Palsson Daniel A. , Reynisson Indridi E. , Gudmundsdottir Brynja R. , Onundarson Pall T. , Bjornsson Einar S.
Published: December 2022

In the pivotal randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for patients with atrial fibrillation, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) had similar or even superior efficacy and safety compared with warfarin. However, RCTs comparing different DOACs are nonexistent and previous observational studies have yielded conflicting results. In this nationwide cohort study, rates of any stroke or systemic embolism (stroke/SE) and major bleeding were compared among new users of apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban with atrial fibrillation from 2014 to 2019. Inverse probability weighting was used to yield balanced study groups, and outcomes were compared using Cox regression. Stroke/SE rates were similar in patients receiving apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban. Dabigatran was associated with twofold higher rates of myocardial infarction (MI) than rivaroxaban (1.4 events/100 person-years (py) vs 0.7 events/100-py, hazard ratio [HR] 2.21, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-4.90) and apixaban (1.4 events/100-py vs 0.7 events/100-py, HR 2.26, 95% CI, 0.90-5.67), although the second comparison included the possibility of a null effect. Rivaroxaban was associated with higher major bleeding rates compared with apixaban (2.9 events/100-py vs 1.8 events/100-py, HR 1.64, 95% CI, 1.13-2.37) and dabigatran (2.9 events/100-py vs 1.4 events/100-py, HR 2.18, 95% CI, 1.21-3.93). Specifically, rivaroxaban had higher rates of major gastrointestinal bleeding and other major bleeding than apixaban. In conclusion, although stroke/SE rates were similar for DOACs, rivaroxaban was associated with higher rates of major bleeding than other DOACs and lower rates of MI than dabigatran. These results may help guide oral anticoagulant selection, especially in patients at high risk of bleeding or MI.
Digital surveillance in Latin American diseases outbreaks: information extraction from a novel Spanish corpus
Authors: Dellanzo Antonella , Cotik Viviana , Lozano Barriga Daniel Yunior , Mollapaza Apaza Jonathan Jimmy , Palomino Daniel , Schiaffino Fernando , Yanque Aliaga Alexander , Ochoa-Luna José
Published: December 2022

Background

In order to detect threats to public health and to be well-prepared for endemic and pandemic illness outbreaks, countries usually rely on event-based surveillance (EBS) and indicator-based surveillance systems. Event-based surveillance systems are key components of early warning systems and focus on fast capturing of data to detect threat signals through channels other than traditional surveillance. In this study, we develop Natural Language Processing tools that can be used within EBS systems. In particular, we focus on information extraction techniques that enable digital surveillance to monitor Internet data and social media.

Results

We created an annotated Spanish corpus from ProMED-mail health reports regarding disease outbreaks in Latin America. The corpus has been used to train algorithms for two information extraction tasks: named entity recognition and relation extraction. The algorithms, based on deep learning and rules, have been applied to recognize diseases, hosts, and geographical locations where a disease is occurring, among other entities and relations. In addition, an in-depth analysis of micro-average F1 metrics shows the suitability of our approaches for both tasks.

Conclusions

The annotated corpus and algorithms presented could leverage the development of automated tools for extracting information from news and health reports written in Spanish. Moreover, this framework could be useful within EBS systems to support the early detection of Latin American disease outbreaks.
Anorectal manometry for the diagnosis of pelvic floor disorders in patients with hypermobility spectrum disorders and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Authors: Zhou Wendy , Zikos Thomas A. , Halawi Houssam , Sheth Vipul R. , Gurland Brooke , Nguyen Linda A. , Neshatian Leila
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) including impaired rectal evacuation are common in patients with Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD) or Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). The effect of connective tissue pathologies on pelvic floor function in HSD/hEDS remains unclear. We aimed to compare clinical characteristics and anorectal pressure profile in patients with HSD/hEDS to those of age and sex matched controls.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of all FGID patients who underwent high resolution anorectal manometry (HR-ARM) and balloon expulsion test (BET) for evaluation of impaired rectal evacuation. Patients with HSD/hEDS were age and sex matched to a randomly selected cohort of control patients without HSD/hEDS. An abnormal BET was defined as the inability to expel a rectal balloon within 2 minutes. Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher’s exact test were used to make comparisons and logistic regression model for predictive factors for abnormal evacuation.

Results

A total of 144 patients (72 with HSD/hEDS and 72 controls) were analyzed. HSD/hEDS patients were more likely to be Caucasian (p < 0.001) and nulliparous. Concurrent psychiatric disorders; depression, and anxiety (p < 0.05), and somatic syndromes; fibromyalgia, migraine and sleep disorders (p < 0.001) were more common in these patients. Rate of abnormal BET were comparable among the groups. HDS/hEDS patients had significantly less anal relaxation and higher residual anal pressures during simulated defecation, resulting in significantly more negative rectoanal pressure gradient. The remaining anorectal pressure profile and sensory levels were comparable between the groups. While diminished rectoanal pressure gradient was the determinant of abnormal balloon evacuation in non HSD/hEDS patients, increased anal resting tone and maximum volume tolerated were independent factors associated with an abnormal BET in HSD/hEDS patients. Review of defecography data from a subset of patients showed no significant differences in structural pathologies between HSD/hEDS and non HSD/hEDS patients.

Conclusions

These results suggest anorectal pressure profile is not compromised by connective tissue pathologies in HSD patients. Whether concurrent psychosomatic disorders or musculoskeletal involvement impact the pelvic floor function in these patients needs further investigation.
What matters and influence resuscitation preference? Development, field testing, and structural validation of items among older patients in the emergency department
Authors: Hanson Stine , Nissen Søren Kabell , Nielsen Dorthe , Lassen Annmarie , Brabrand Mikkel , Forero Roberto , Jensen Jens Søndergaard , Ryg Jesper
Published: December 2022

Background

Decisions about resuscitation preference is an essential part of patient-centered care but a prerequisite is having an idea about which questions to ask and understand how such questions may be clustered in dimensions. The European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021 encourages resuscitation shared decision making in emergency care treatment plans and needs and experiences of people approaching end-of-life have been characterized within the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. We aimed to develop, test, and validate the dimensionality of items that may influence resuscitation preference in older Emergency Department (ED) patients.

Methods

A 36-item questionnaire was designed based on qualitative interviews exploring what matters and what may influence resuscitation preference and existing literature. Items were organized in physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Initial pilot-testing to assess content validity included ten older community-dwelling persons. Field-testing, confirmatory factor analysis and post-hoc bifactor analysis was performed on 269 older ED patients. Several model fit indexes and reliability coefficients (explained common variance (ECV) and omega values) were computed to evaluate structural validity, dimensionality, and model-based reliability.

Results

Items were reduced from 36 to 26 in field testing. Items concerning religious beliefs from the spiritual dimension were misunderstood and deemed unimportant by older ED patients. Remaining items concerned physical functioning in daily living, coping, self-control in life, optimism, overall mood, quality of life and social participation in life. Confirmatory factor analysis displayed poor fit, whereas post-hoc bifactor analysis displayed satisfactory goodness of fit (χ2=562.335 (p<0.001); root mean square error of approximation=0.063 (90% CI [0.055;0.070])). The self-assessed independence may be the bifactor explainingwhat mattersto older ED patients’ resuscitation preference.

Conclusions

We developed a questionnaire and investigated the dimensionality of what matters and may influence resuscitation preference among older ED patients. We could not confirm a spiritual dimension. Also, in bifactor analysis the expected dimensions were overruled by an overall explanatory general factor suggesting independence to be of particular importance for clinicians practicing resuscitation discussions in EDs. Studies to investigate how independence may relate to patients’ choice of resuscitation preference are needed.
Family support in the management of diabetes patients’ perspectives from Limpopo province in South Africa
Authors: Mphasha M. H. , Mothiba T. M. , Skaal L.
Published: December 2022

Background

Family support is linked with improved diabetes outcomes, whereas lack thereof is associated with complications. Living together with people in the same household doesn’t guarantee support in diabetes management. Hence it is critical to comprehend patient’s lived experiences regarding family support.

Objectives

To explore family support in diabetes management.

Methodology

Qualitative method and phenomenological exploratory descriptive design were used to collect data from 17 patients with 6 months or more living with diabetes and getting treatment in clinics of Senwabarwana, Limpopo province. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. One-on-one interviews were conducted using voice recorders and field notes for non-verbal cues were observed. Unstructured interview guide with principal question which enabled probing was used. Data were analysed using 8 Steps of Tesch’s inductive, descriptive, and open coding technique. Trustworthiness was ensured.

Results

Participants get support from family members with regards to food, exercise, and collection of medication. Diabetic men with sexual dysfunction also reported getting similar support from their wives whereas, in contrary diabetic women do not get sufficient supports from their husbands. Loss of income among diabetic men has been reported as a source of martial conflicts and unsatisfactory support from wives.

Conclusion

Family members of diabetic patients collect medication for patients, including cooking and serving meals to them. Wives of diabetic men outpace husbands of diabetic women in responsiveness to the health needs of their partners, respectively. Diabetic men with impaired sexual function get support from their wives, whilst female patients do not get similar support from their husbands. On the other hand, patients who lost income get inadequate spousal support, which compromises diabetes management and adherence to treatment. This study identifies gender disparities in spousal support as crucial issue requiring an urgent attention, hence the need for gender-biased family-centred diabetes care.
Insulin resistance mediates obesity-related risk of cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Tian Xue , Chen Shuohua , Wang Penglian , Xu Qin , Zhang Yijun , Luo Yanxia , Wu Shouling , Wang Anxin
Published: December 2022

Background

The mechanisms linking obesity to cardiovascular disease (CVD) are still not clearly defined. Individuals who are overweight or obese often develop insulin resistance, mediation of the association between obesity and CVD through the insulin resistance seems plausible and has not been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate whether and to what extend the effect of general and central obesity on cardiovascular disease (CVD) is mediated by insulin resistance.

Methods

A total of 94,136 participants without CVD at baseline were recruited from the Kailuan study. Insulin resistance was evaluated by the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index, calculating as ln [fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Mediation analysis using a new 2-stage regression method for survival data proposed by Valeri and VanderWeele was to explore the mediating effects of the TyG index on the association between obesity and CVD.

Results

During a median follow-up of 13.01 years, we identified 7327 cases of CVD. Mediation analyses showed that 47.81% of the total association (hazard ratio [HR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.24) between overweight and CVD was mediated through the TyG index (HR [indirect association], 1.07; 95% CI, 1.07–1.09), and the proportion mediated was 37.94% for general obesity. For central obesity, analysis by waist circumference, waist/hip, and waist/height categories yielded an attenuated proportion mediated of 32.01, 35.02, and 31.06% for obesity, taken normal weight as reference.

Conclusions

The association between obesity and CVD was mediated by TyG index, suggesting proper control of insulin resistance can be effective to reduce the effects of obesity on CVD.
Mathematical calculation of the difference in shortening length after two types of proximal femoral varus and an investigation of their applicable conditions: an own-pair design
Authors: Sun Jian , Cui Yong , Qu Jing , Lian Feng
Published: December 2022

Background

The shortening length of the lower extremity after the proximal femoral osteotomy is an important issue to be considered in preoperative planning of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in children. There is still a lack of research on shortening the length of the lower extremities in different proximal femoral osteotomy varus styles. We aimed to verify the relationship between the shortening length after “point-to-face” and “face-to-face” varus osteotomy and proposed a formula for calculating the difference in shortening length and verified its feasibility.

Methods

Fifty-five children with unilateral DDH were enrolled. The preoperative hip CT data were imported into mimics 21, 3-Matic 10 (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) for femoral reconstruction and simulated osteotomy, and the difference (t) was calculated by directly measuring the length of the proximal femur after osteotomy. d* sinθ was measured in a three-dimensional environment to calculate the difference in femoral shortening length between the two osteotomy methods (t').

Results

The results of the direct measurement method and the formula measurement method are shown in the table; the differences in the results of the femoral shortening length difference were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The limits of agreement (95%) of the difference values using Bland–Altman analysis were between − 0.50 and 0.46 mm, with a mean of − 0.02 mm, indicating a high agreement between the two methods. r = 0.99 (P < 0.05) for the Pearson correlation analysis between the direct measurement method and the calculated method showed that the two methods were significantly correlated.

Conclusions

The derived formula can accurately calculate the difference in the shortening length of the proximal femur after “point-to-face” and “face-to-face” varus osteotomy in children with DDH, which is suitable for clinical application.
Delayed aortic regurgitation after TEVAR procedure: a case report
Authors: Park Soo Jin , Lee Seungwook , Son Jeong A , Hyun Seungji , Kim Do Jung , Lim Sang Hyun , Hong You Sun
Published: December 2022

Background

Acute aortic regurgitation (AR) is uncommon condition and usually results in an emergent situation because the left ventricle does not adapt quickly due to a sudden increase in end-diastolic volume caused by the regurgitant flow. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a procedure that places a stent-graft on the lesion of thoracic aorta through a minimally invasive approach.

Case presentation

Here we report that a catheter-induced aortic valve injury associated with TEVAR can cause delayed AR, exemplified by the case of a patient who developed acute AR 42 months after TEVAR. For this, aortic valve replacement was performed and the patient was discharged without complications.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that when a catheter-related procedure is performed around the aortic valve, slight injury of the valve can cause aortic insufficiency even 3 years after surgery. Consequently, when performing a catheter-related procedure around the aortic valve, special attention is always required.
Evaluation of serum CA125-Tn glycoform in peritoneal dissemination and surgical completeness of high-grade serous ovarian cancer
Authors: Jin Xiayu , Du Ming , Wang Yisheng , Wang Yuefei , Lu Yingying , Xu Congjian , Zhang Xiaoyan
Published: December 2022

Background

Peritoneal dissemination is the predominant feature of malignant progression in ovarian cancer and is a major cause of poor surgical outcomes and clinical prognoses. Abnormal glycosylation of carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) may be involved in peritoneal implantation and metastasis. Here, we evaluated the clinical relevance of CA125-Tn glycoform in the assessment of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).

Methods

A total of 72 patients diagnosed with HGSOC were included. Pre-treatment serum CA125-Tn levels were measured using an antibody-lectin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The association of CA125-Tn with clinical factors was analyzed in all cases, whereas its association with peritoneal dissemination, residual disease, and progression-free survival was analyzed in stage III–IV cases.

Results

Pre-treatment serum CA125-Tn levels were significantly higher in advanced-stage HGSOC patients than in early-stage patients (P = 0.029). In advanced-stage patients, the pre-treatment CA125-Tn level increased with an increase in Fagotti’s score (P = 0.004) and with the extension of peritoneal dissemination (P = 0.011). The pre-treatment CA125-Tn level increased with the volume of residual disease (P = 0.005). The association between CA125-Tn level and suboptimal surgery remained significant even after adjustment for treatment type and stage. Pre-treatment CA125-Tn levels were also related to disease recurrence.

Conclusion

Serum CA125-Tn level could be a novel biomarker for peritoneal dissemination and a promising predictor of surgical completeness in ovarian cancer. Patients with lower CA125-Tn levels were more likely to have no residual disease. CA125-Tn could help surgeons to adopt optimized treatment strategies for patients with advanced ovarian cancer as a pre-treatment evaluator.
Surgical resection of a massive residual retroperitoneal mass after chemotherapy for a paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma: a case report
Authors: Chalouati Takoua , Ghalleb Montassar , Jallali Amani , Slimane Maher , Sahraoui Ghada , Ben hassouna Jamal , Chargui Riadh , Rahal Khaled
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare and aggressive mesenchymal tumor, accounting for only 7% of all rhabdomyosarcomas. It is mainly encountered in children and adolescents. The standard treatment consists of radical orchidectomy with negative surgical margins. However, chemotherapy is recommended to control retroperitoneal micrometastasis. The place of surgery for progressive retroperitoneal lymph node metastases remains controversial. We present a case of paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma with progressive retroperitoneal lymph node metastases treated with surgery.

Case report

We report a case of a 17-year-old North African male with no particular medical history who presented with a left scrotal mass that had been evolving for several months. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin, alpha-fetoprotein, and lactate dehydrogenase were normal. Scrotal ultrasonography revealed the presence of a 6 cm heterogeneous hypoechogenic tissular mass with cystic areas adherent to the left scrotal wall, which was thickened in some places and vascularized by color Doppler. It exerted a mass effect on the homolateral testicle, which was of average volume. The thoracic–abdominal–pelvic computed tomography scan showed the presence of suspicious paraaortic lymph nodes. The most voluminous one measured 16 × 23 mm2. A left orchidectomy was performed. The final pathology report revealed an 8 cm paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma of the embryonic type that displaced the testicle without invading it. Without going beyond it, it infiltrated the epididymis, the rete testis, and the albuginea. The surgical margin at the level of the spermatic cord was free. The patient had adjuvant chemotherapy (ifosfamide, vincristine, and dactinomycin). The patient had a challenging paraaortic lymph node dissection since the mass enlaced the left ureter and renal vessels. On histological examination, the paraaortic lymph nodes were metastatic.

Conclusion

Rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive malignancy with high metastatic potential. Therefore, only an accurate diagnosis and early treatment can ensure better survival. Surgery in expert hands seems to be a good option for progressive retroperitoneal nodes. However, further studies are needed to determine the place of surgery in this setting.
Gut microbial diversity among Yorkshire, Landrace and Duroc boars and its impact on semen quality
Authors: Li Jiawei , Li Yuhang , Cheng Meixia , Ye Fengchun , Li Wen , Wang Cong , Huang Yuxuan , Wu Yan , Xuan Rui , Liu Guanyuan , Huang Jianhua
Published: December 2022

The gut microbiota plays an important role in pig health and performance, particularly in host growth and fecundity. In present study, the characteristics and diversity of gut microbiota in fine purebred boars from three-way crossbred “Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire” pigs were investigated using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed that the three breeds of boars shared similar gut microbiota, yet there remain slight differences at the family/genus level. At the family level, Ruminococcaceae, Streptococcaceae and Lactobacillaceae have the highest abundance in Landrace, while Rikenellaceae and f_p_251_o5 have the highest abundance in Duroc. The abundance of Prevotellaceae, Lachnospiraceae and Spirochaetaceae in intestinal of Yorkshire were higher than that of Landrace and Duroc. In addition, ten and six biomarkers were identified in the microbiota across breeds and months of age, respectively. Moreover, we evaluated the effect of gut microbiota on boar semen quality, revealing that Duroc had the strongest sperm vitality, significantly associated with the genus Rikenellaceae_PC9_gut_group. In addition, the spermatogenesis ability and sperm production improved gradually along with increase of age. In conclusion, this study provides a reference for understanding the gut microbiota composition of purebred boars used for three-way crosses and their impact on semen performance.
Hyperaccumulation of lead using Agrostis tenuis
Authors: Anguilano Lorna , Onwukwe Uchechukwu , Dekhli Aghis , Venditti Susanna , Aryani Danny , Reynolds Alan
Published: December 2022

In recent years the quest for a circular economy approach and the upcycling of secondary raw materials have been pushed in the global political agenda. Increased interest has been taken by the recovery of materials from sludges, brines, contaminated waters and other media, all included in the larger umbrella identified as “low-grade” mineralisation. Contaminated soils have an interesting role in this process, and various methodologies have been developed using chemical, bacteriological and pyrometallurgical cleaning procedures. However, these procedures all involve the movement of high volume of materials and the disruption of the industrial landscape; furthermore, they often require the use of hazardous solvents and high energy processes. This work proposes to identify less impactful methods aimed at the recovery of metals from mining areas while preserving the landscape and avoiding environmental impacts such as the increase of CO2 for transport and increase hazard through use of solvents, this takes particular importance in areas of industrial heritage status. In particular, this work focuses on the use of Agrostis tenuis, an autochthonous species in mining areas of the UK, as a “mining tool” for the removal of lead. The selection of this plant is due to its visually non-invasive nature, as the plant is already present in these areas, it doesn’t grow above 10/15 cm and it also grows very fast and can be easily harvested with existing agricultural equipment. The experiments and results presented in this paper indicate: (1) Agrostis Tenuis shows the ability to adjust to contamination and increase its accumulation capacity; (2) the metal collected by the plant is fully transposed in the aerial part of the plant in a stable compound form and can consequently be harvested and further processed.
Peer assessment in group-oriented classroom contexts: on the effectiveness of peer assessment coupled with scaffolding and group work on speaking skills and vocabulary learning
Authors: Homayouni Mina
Published: December 2022

Peer learning, also known as collaborative learning, is based on social constructivism and contends that learning takes place more actively when students interact socially with their peers. This study sought to examine the effects of scaffolded peer assessment in group-oriented classrooms on developing speaking skills and enlarging the vocabulary size of language learners. To accomplish this objective, through cluster sampling, the researchers selected 37 lower-intermediate and 5 intermediate learners of English. Then, 20 lower-intermediate subjects were randomly assigned as the experimental group along with the 5 more proficient learners. In groups of 5, the intermediate learner was assigned the role of the mediator and was responsible for giving feedback to their peers. The rest of the subjects were assigned as the control group and there was no mediator in their group. Four instructional sessions were allocated to scaffolded peer assessment of speaking and four sessions were devoted to scaffolded peer assessment of vocabulary learning. In this randomized pre-test–post-test-delayed post-test trial, an independent sample t test, and a one-way repeated measures ANOVA were carried out. The results of the statistical analyses demonstrated the impact of scaffolded peer assessment on developing both speaking skills and enlarging learners’ vocabulary size with a large effect size. That is, by implementing scaffolded peer assessment in a group-oriented context both speaking skills and vocabulary knowledge can be developed. The pedagogical implication of this study is that language teacher can implement the notions of social constructivism and socio-cultural theory proposed by Vygotsky (Readings on the Development of Children 23:34-41, 1978) to expand and develop learners’ zone of proximal development.
Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and its relation to microvascular complication in geriatric patients with diabetes: a case-controlled study
Authors: Eissa Marwa Sayed , Abou-ElEzz Sahar , Kanzel Samar Mohsen , Mady Mohamed
Published: December 2022

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a complex chronic disease characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from defective insulin secretion, defective insulin action, or both. Chronic hyperglycemia related to diabetes can lead to end-organ dysfunction or failure, and changes related to diabetes involving arterioles and capillaries are responsible for long-term microvascular complications in diabetic patients. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel, simple, and inexpensive marker of subclinical inflammation.

Aim of work

To evaluate the possibility that neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) could be used as a predictor of microvascular complications during follow-up of elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

Patients and methods

Sixty elderly diabetes patients ≥ 65 years old, diagnosed 16 according to ADA criteria, were collected from the endocrine clinic in Kasr El-Ainy Hospital. For every patient, full history and examination were done (including 18 neurological and fundus examinations). Labs (CBC with a differential in blood and 19 albumin/creatinine ratio in urine) were done and the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio.

Results

We found that NLR has a statistically significant difference in the detection of nephropathy and retinopathy. There is a significant correlation between nephropathy and NL ratio in all patients (r = 0.44, P < 0.001). Elderly diabetic patients (with or without hypertension) with microvascular complications had a higher NLR value than those without complications.

Conclusion

NLR value can be used as a non-invasive simple marker for predicting microvascular complications in elderly diabetics with/without hypertension.
Expression of Fascin and SALL4 in odontogenic cysts and tumors: an immunohistochemical appraisal.
Authors: Kulkarni Spoorti , Alampally Harishanker , Guddattu Vasudev , Rodrigues Gabriel , Carnelio Sunitha
Published: December 2022

Background: Various stemness markers (SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG) have been studied in odontogenic cysts and tumors. However, studies on SALL4 having similar properties of stemness has not been documented. Additionally, insight into fascin as a migratory molecule is less explored. In this study, the expression of SALL4 and fascin were evaluated in ameloblastoma, adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT), odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), dentigerous cyst (DC), radicular cyst (RC), and calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC).

Methods: Semi-quantitative analysis of fascin and SALL4 immuno-positive cells was done in a total of 40 cases of ameloblastoma (11 plexiform, 12 follicular, 12 unicystic, and 5 desmoplastic) variants, 6 cases of AOT, 15 each of OKC, DC, RC and 5 of COC. Chi-square test was applied to evaluate the association between SALL4 and fascin expression in odontogenic cysts and tumors.

Results: Fascin immunopositivity was observed in peripheral ameloblast-like cells, and weak or absent in stellate reticulum-like cells. A moderate to weak immune-reactivity to SALL4 was observed in the cytoplasm of ameloblastoma, epithelial cells of dentigerous and radicular cysts, having a marked inflammatory infiltrate, which is an interesting observation. COC and AOT had negative to weak expressions. No recurrence has been reported.

Conclusions: Expression of fascin in ameloblastomas elucidate their role in motility and localized invasion. Its expression in less aggressive lesions like DC, COC, AOT will incite to explore the other functional properties of fascin. SALL4 expression in the cytoplasm of odontogenic cysts and tumors may represent inactive or mutant forms which requires further validation.
Impact of serum leptin and adiponectin levels on breast cancer in postmenopausal Iraqi women: an observational Study
Authors: A. Abd Mohammed , A. Abbas Shaymaa , G. Shareef Laith
Published: December 2022

Background:  Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor and the second most significant cause of death for women in Iraq, behind cardiovascular diseases. Obesity has been linked to a substantial increase in the risk of breast cancer. Adipose tissue functions as an endocrine gland, controlling the body's metabolism by secreting adipokines, which play a significant role in metabolism and inflammatory reactions.

Methods: Overall, 90 postmenopausal women participated in this research. Of these, 60 patients with breast cancer were recruited at Baghdad's Oncology Teaching Hospital between October 2021 and February 2022: 30 were obese with a body mass index (BMI) of > 30 kg/m2 (group 1), and 30 were not obese (group 2). The third group consisted of 30 participants without breast cancer or obesity (group 3). Each person donated five milliliters of venous blood. The blood levels of adiponectin and leptin are determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.

Results: Control individuals who were not obese (group 3) had greater blood adiponectin levels than patients with cancer who were both obese and non-obese (groups 1 and 2), with no significant difference in serum adiponectin levels seen between groups 1 and 2. The findings also showed that group 1 (patients with breast cancer and obesity) had greater serum leptin levels than both group 2 (patients with breast cancer without obesity) and the control group (group 3), with no significant difference in serum leptin levels between groups 2 and 3.

Conclusions: Adiponectin levels in the blood of women with breast cancer and obesity were low which may be due to high BMI, which reduces adiponectin's protective effects. Conversely, Leptin levels were more significant in the blood of women with breast cancer and obesity than in the control group, which may be due to its pro-inflammatory effects in obesity, among other variables.
Thickness and width of the menisci of adult knee joint: a descriptive cross-sectional observational study in cadavers
Authors: Murlimanju B.V. , Vikram S. , Nayak Vanishri , Bhat Nandini , Pai Mangala M. , Vadgaonkar Rajanigandha , Prabhu Latha V. , Nayak Sunil
Published: December 2022

Background: The goal was to determine the thickness and width of the knee joint meniscus at their different regions. The objective was to compare the dimensions at these regions and over the right- and left-sided specimens. Methods: The present study included 50 adult cadaveric knee joints, and 100 menisci (50 medial menisci and 50 lateral menisci) were studied. The meniscus was distributed into anterior, middle and posterior parts. Thickness and width at the mid-point of these three parts were determined by using the Vernier caliper. Results: The breadth of the medial meniscus was 8.38 ± 1.64 mm, 7.68 ± 1.92 mm and 13.93 ± 2.69 mm at the anterior, middle and posterior one-third regions. Same measurements for the lateral menisci at these regions were 9.84 ± 1.78 mm, 8.82 ± 2.01 mm and 10.18 ± 2.23 mm, respectively. The thickness of the medial meniscus was 4.49 ± 0.78 mm, 4.07 ± 0.81 mm and 4.79 ± 0.93 mm at these regions. The lateral meniscus thickness was 3.82 ± 0.69 mm, 4.43 ± 0.98 mm and 4.36 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. Conclusion: It is believed that this data is enlightening to the arthroscopic surgeon during the meniscus transplantation either by using synthetic material or allograft as the proper sizing of the meniscus is important to prevent complications due to inaccurate sizing.
SEMANTIC AND SYNTACTIC FEATURES OF PREPOSITIONAL CASE FORMS OF THE LEXEME “STATE” IN THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE (BASED ON LEO TOLSTOY’S PROSE)
Authors: Kabanova Svetlana A.
Published: December 2022

The close attention of linguists to the anthropocentric approach in linguistics has been observed in recent decades. Constructions with the meaning of the subject state are the subject of research within the framework of this approach. The semantics of the state is expressed by two-part and one-part constructions. The subject of consideration are analytical substantive constructions with the meaning of the subjective state. Illustrative material is from the works of Leo Tolstoy selected and using the continuous sampling method, the descriptive method and the method of syntactic transformations analyzed.

Research results. The prepositional-case forms of “state” lexeme used as part of related combinations of different types that perform predicative and non-predicative functions are analyzed. The right and left distributors of this substantive form depending on each specific meaning are considered. The analyzed forms represent the realization of the semantics of the subject’s state, manifested primarily in the comparison of the sphere of personality-impersonality; the state of a subject is characterized as positive or negative, depending on whether we are talking about the physical, mental or functional state of the person. As a grammatical component of a compound verbal predicate, combinations with the word state indicate the subject’s ability to perform actions or its absence, due to the presence of appropriate skills or emotional state.
ALLUSIVE PROPER NAMES WITH COMMON SEMANTICS “TEACHER” IN MODERN ENGLISH
Authors: Pospelova Nadezda V.
Published: December 2022

The relevance of the work is determined by the increased interest in the functioning of allusive proper names in the literary text. The scientific novelty lies in the consideration of the thematic group of allusive proper names with the general semantics of “teacher” in a linguocultural way.

The purpose of the study is to study the features of the functioning of allusive proper names with the semantics of “teacher” in modern English.

Materials and methods: descriptive method, definitional analysis, contextual analysis and semantization.

Results of the study. Definitional, contextual analysis allows you to identify a set of semas with which it is possible to describe a thematic group with the general semantics “teacher”; and define figurative meanings. These allusive proper names have the status of monovalence, because the main property “kind of educational activity” is actualized. The AIS in question are becoming vivid expressions of both the world and national culture of Great Britain. In the process of semantic transformation, the studied units become closer to common names, while the volume of meaning expands, the name becomes generalizing, which contributes to a deeper reading of the text.

Practical implications: theoretical and practical courses on intercultural communication, linguistic and country studies, stylistics, onomastics.
ENGLISH EMOTIVES IN TABASARAN TRANSLATION ALISAH AYLAMATNAN VILAYATDI
Authors: Kasimova Rumina N. , Shakhemirova Svetlana V.
Published: December 2022

The article gives a general description of interjection as an emotive. Approaches and techniques of translating interjections from English into Tabasaran are considered on the example of L. Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and its Tabasaran translation Alisah Aylamatnan Vilayatdi performed by G. Omarova. The relevance of the research lies in the increased attention to the languages of small nations and the issue of translation. The lack of a theoretical basis for the theory and practice of translation into Tabasaran is the main problem of the study. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of Tabasaran translation as well as the main methods of translation. The research methods are the analytical review, analysis of the scientific literature on the problem of interjection classification and the comparative method that allows to highlight the linguistic features of the original language and translation most vividly, being the basis to analyze the linguistic and cultural and cognitive plans.

Results of the study. The most popular ways of translating primary interjections into the Tabasaran language are equivalent with elements of tripling, transcription, compensation and omission. The most popular ways of translating secondary interjections into the Tabasaran language are modulation, integral transformation, equivalent translation, addition and omission.
Development of Risk-Based Predictive Analytics Based on the Harvard Paradigm of Industry Analysis
Authors: Kazakova Nataliya
Published: December 2022

The article discusses methodological tools for predicting the financial security of companies, which is based on the concept of international financial reporting and auditing standards (ISA 200, 240, 315, 520, 570), the Harvard paradigm of industry analysis, which has been developed in modern studies in the field of sustainable development and risk management. oriented methods, as well as the use of mathematical and statistical tools and modern big data technologies in economic research. The practical novelty of the proposed methodological tools lies in the complexity of assessing the risks of financial solvency (risk factors of the probability of bankruptcy), which is in demand in audit and arbitration practice.
Toward a Comparison of the Theoretical Foundations of Auditing with the Theoretical Foundations of Banking
Authors: Guttsayt E.
Published: December 2022

The article briefly analyzes four levels of ideas about various sciences: philosophical questions, concept, theoretical foundations of the science in question and its specific scientific provisions. The main reasons why the concept of audit and its theoretical foundations are needed are outlined. It is concluded that they also operate in banking. A number of economic (economic cybernetics, theories of economic competition, industry markets, regulation in the socio-economic sphere, etc.) and non-economic (systems engineering, probability theory, etc.) sciences are listed and briefly considered, whose results and methods can be transferred to audit and banking — of course, taking into account the specifics of these industries. Common features and differences in such a transfer between audit and banking are noted.
Audit Peculiarities of Financial Statements of Public Joint-stock Companies
Authors: Brovkina N.
Published: December 2022

The article focused on the audit features of financial statements of public joint-stock companies, including: auditing the compliance with the requirements of joint-stock legislation for the organization of internal control and audit in PJSC; requirements for the content of the audit report prepared on the results of the audit of the financial statements of such companies, as well as the practical aspects of meeting these requirements.
The Role of Diagnostic Procedures and Digitalization in the Personnel Management System
Authors: Simonin P. , Kurbackaya T. , Mitrohina K.
Published: December 2022

The article is devoted to the study of the role of diagnostic procedures and digitalization in the personnel management system. The authors substantiate the use of diagnostics of the personnel management system in the context of managerial and analytical functions, which primarily rely on the analysis and use of various HR tools and methods in the digital personnel management system. At the same time, digitalization is achieved through the introduction of highly automated personnel management information systems, analysis of personnel management subsystems and approval procedures that form the digital operating model of the organization.