bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proof test methodology for reducing the risk of unvented honeycomb core failures in aerospace structures
Authors: Goyal Vinay K , Maghsoudy-Louyeh Sahar
Published: July 2022

The trapped air in unvented honeycomb core and the surrounding environment can induce a pressure differential across the facesheet during launch ascent. Combined with the presence of a defect, the pressure differential across a facesheet in combination with external loads can cause facesheet failure or unstable facesheet debond growth. While honeycomb core venting is the recommended solution, there might be practical limitations in implementing this solution or the possibility that a structure intended to be vented is partially unvented due to manufacturing issues. A methodology for accepting composite sandwich structures for space applications is presented, which heavily relies on the building block approach to characterize the facesheet strength and interfacial fracture toughness. To demonstrate the approach, an allowable flaw size is defined for a hypothetical flight condition using analyses anchored to subscale tests.
Power in and of evaluation: A framework of analysis
Authors: Hanberger Anders
Published: July 2022

This article develops a framework for enhancing understanding and exploring both how power manifests in the evaluation process, and the power of evaluation in relation to public policy and democratic governance. Power is conceived as a multifaceted and dynamic phenomenon that manifests, permeates, and affects evaluation in many ways. The article demonstrates how the framework can be applied to an evaluation of a Swedish teacher-training program. The tentative analysis shows how the commissioner’s power-over the evaluators becomes evident when it cannot induce the evaluators to do what it wants them to do and manifests itself as constitutive power when, for example, helping shape the notion of what valid knowledge is. The power of the evaluation manifests itself as supporting key policy and governance functions.
Institutional change in the social innovation process: Evidence from an emerging context
Authors: Morais-da-Silva Rodrigo Luiz , Segatto Andréa Paula , Bezerra-de-Sousa Indira Gandhi , Justen Gelciomar Simão
Published: July 2022

Institutional change has been identified as inherent to social innovation proposals, especially in developing contexts. However, it is still unclear how these changes occur in the social innovation process. Therefore, our study seeks to answer the following research question: How do attempts at institutional change occur in the social innovation process in an emerging context? We use the qualitative approach to investigate two Brazilian social innovation cases striving to change the institutional environment in which they operate. Our data reveals that institutional change may be necessary before the scalability stage of the social innovation process. We suggest that this finding is related to the developing context, which requires social entrepreneurs and their teams to break institutional barriers to expand their social innovation initiatives. We have also identified some mechanisms used for the attempts to institutional changes: competition with government organisations, influence in formulating laws, and support for the market growth and the entry of new participants.
Staying local: Community formation and resilience in Archaic Southern Sicily
Authors: Hoernes Matthias
Published: July 2022

In the 7th and 6th centuries BCE, Sicily saw migratory movements to and on the island, new power relations, and intercultural interconnections. In this environment, new communities emerged, existing communities were reconfigured and both were challenged to negotiate their lifeworlds. Drawing on concepts of community, locality and resilience, this paper examines how local communities in southern Sicily formed, consolidated their cohesion and demonstrated resilience, by taking a closer look at two sites and their burial grounds. Castiglione di Ragusa was located in a culturally diverse microregion, and yet the community maintained a steady consistency in burial practices and assemblages, while the community of Butera merged vessel depositions, cremations and differential body treatment in unique funerary conventions. The paper concludes that both communities mobilised social practices, material culture and cultural knowledge to create localised differences and built on these differences to forge and maintain a sense of belonging and boundedness.
Data-owning democracy: Citizen empowerment through data ownership
Authors: Fischli Roberta
Published: July 2022

This article extends property-owning democracy to the digital realm and introduces “data-owning democracy,” a new political economic regime characterized by the wide distribution of data as capital among citizens. Drawing on republican theory and acknowledging data's unique role in the digital economy, it proposes a two-tier model that combines different modes of data ownership and corresponding rights. The first layer of “data-owning democracy” is characterized by a digital public infrastructure that enables citizens to collectively generate data and have a say in how their citizen data are used. In the second layer, individuals automatically receive machine-readable copies of their data whenever they are generated—a slightly more advanced form of the European Union's existing right to data portability (Art. 20). With its focus on empowerment, data-owning democracy is designed to be complementary to existing data protection regulations. It also illustrates how political theory more broadly, and republican theory specifically, can be instructive for specifying the normative components of a new political economy dealing with questions of empowerment and digital rights.
Guided Wave SHM system for detection and quantification of damages in FPSOs storage tanks using data-driven algorithm
Authors: Bertoldi Evandro , Oliveira Marlon , de Abreu Corrêa Lúcio , Menin Paulo D , Rosauro Clarke Thomas G
Published: July 2022

In this work, we propose a data-driven method to perform detection and quantification of damage in guided wave data from Structural Health Monitoring. The data is from a full-scale panel mimicking a critical region of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading storage tank. For this, signals were initially recorded from the structure in the pristine condition to create a baseline database. Subsequently, different damage levels were introduced in the panel; we took new measurements for each damage level. Our data-driven method consists in performing a dimension reduction in these datasets using independent component analysis. The weights vectors of the independent component analysis were used to identify if a given signal came from a pristine or a damaged condition through a procedure involving statistical correlation. We obtained average accuracy rates above 90% for damage detection, with average Type I-error rates below 10% and average Type II-error rates below 35%. In addition, it was possible to quantify the severity of the damage at all depth stages.
Epilepsy-Specific Anxiety: A Potential Clue to the Seizure Onset Zone
Authors: Munger Clary Heidi M.
Published: July 2022

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Vibratory Anesthesia’s Effect on Pain Perception in Upper Extremity Corticosteroid Injections
Authors: Weeks Dexter W. , Faillace John J.
Published: July 2022

Background:

Prior studies have investigated the use of vibratory anesthesia for injectional pain reduction in dental, ophthalmologic, and plastic surgery literature. Scarce research has been aimed at determining the effect of vibratory anesthesia on hand and upper extremity injections. It is common practice for surgeons to use vapocoolant spray prior to injection, but there is no strong evidence to support its widespread use. No prior studies have performed a head-to-head analysis of vibratory anesthesia versus vapocoolant spray effect on injectional pain. We hypothesized that both vibratory anesthesia and cold spray anesthesia decrease patient-reported pain of corticosteroid injections compared with injection without anesthesia.

Methods:

We performed a randomized, prospective study to compare patient-reported pain of injection when the participants were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups: injection without anesthesia, injection with vapocoolant(cold) spray, and injection with vibratory anesthesia. All participants completed a preinjection survey to assess the expected pain of injection and an identical postinjection survey to assess the actual perceived pain.

Results:

Sixty injections were performed in each intervention, for a total of 180 injections. We found that both vapocoolant spray and vibratory anesthesia decreased patient-reported injection pain compared with no intervention, but only vibratory anesthesia reached statistical significance.

Conclusion:

Vibratory anesthesia is a useful adjunct for injections of the hand and upper extremity, as has been demonstrated in other specialties’ literature. Although our statistical findings on vapocoolant spray are consistent with prior studies, there may still be clinical benefit in its application.
Understanding Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity Engagement to Inform a Precision Prescription Approach during Pregnancy
Authors: Sparks Joshua R. , Flanagan Emily W. , Kebbe Maryam , Redman Leanne M.
Published: July 2022

Physical activity during pregnancy is an important health behavior. However, many pregnant individuals are provided with little-to-no guidance to adequately engage in physical activity. The purpose of this quantitative and quasi-qualitative study of currently or previously pregnant women was to examine physical activity behaviors in pregnancy and understand barriers and facilitators to achieving physical activity recommendations. Overall, 431 women (18+ years), White/Caucasian (84.5%), married (84.9%), and currently pregnant (66.6%), completed an online survey study. Most women (69.4%) reported engaging in cardio-based physical activity and willing to engage in physical activity to meet guidelines between 2 and 5 days per week (77.4 –88.8%). The most frequently reported barriers were feeling too tired (72.8%) or uncomfortable (71.8%) and childcare needs (57.8%). Being able to choose time of day (96.0%), accessing home workouts (92.9%), and having a personalized prescription (95.6%) were the most reported facilitators. Open comment feedback resulted in additional barriers, such as ensuring proper energy intake, while motivation and support from other pregnant individuals were fundamental facilitators. Individualized physical activity prescription is lacking in routine prenatal care. To support pregnant individuals to achieve physical activity recommendations, developing a prescription with suitable modalities, at-home options, and consideration for physical activity timing are required.
Is Engagement in Physical Activity Related to Its Perceived Mental Health Benefits Among People With Depression and Anxiety? A Population-Scale Survey Study
Authors: Onyeaka Henry , Zambrano Juliana , Szlyk Hannah , Celano Christopher , Baiden Philip , Muoghalu Chioma , Enemuo Valentine , Oghenetega Esther Ayisire , Huffman Jeff. C , Torous John , Firth Joseph
Published: July 2022

Objective: To examine the prevalence of awareness of PA (physical activity) benefits among those with mental disorders and explore how this is related to actual PA levels in this population. Methods: We queried data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 2019. A sample of 1,139 adults with self-reported depression and anxiety (61% female; mean age of 52.5 years) was analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to investigate the association between awareness that PA benefits mental health and respondents’ levels of PA. Results: Of the entire sample, a total of 904 individuals (80.9%) endorsed awareness that PA helps reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. In multivariable analysis, awareness that PA improves mental health was significantly associated with greater odds of being less sedentary (OR 2.31; P = 0.025) and meeting national recommendations for weekly physical activity (OR 2.35; P = 0.046). Conclusion: Overall, findings from this nationally representative survey data indicates that about 4 in 5 adults living with depression and anxiety in the United States endorsed awareness of the mental health benefits of PA. Furthermore, we found that the awareness of these benefits is related to PA engagement.
Does registered nurse involvement in improving healthcare services, influence registered nurse retention?
Authors: Robinson Jane , Engward Hilary , Godier-McBard Lauren , Jones Kerry
Published: July 2022

Background

Registered nurses are ‘critical’ to population health, international responses to emergencies, epidemics and disasters. Retention of registered nurses (RNs) is an international nursing priority. In England, RNs are encouraged to be involved in improving healthcare services. This benefits quality of care, operational and financial performance. However, RN involvement in improvement may reduce RN retention. It is important to understand this relationship when developing effective RN retention strategies.

Aim

The purpose of this research is to describe possible relationships between RN involvement in improving healthcare services and RN retention, using published 2018 data for National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in England.

Methods

The relationship between RN involvement in improving healthcare services and RN retention was explored using a correlational design, involving secondary data from the annual NHS Staff Survey and Model Hospital.

Results

In mental health NHS Trusts in England, a statistically significant, positive correlation of 0.24 was found between RN ‘ab(ility) to make suggestions for improvement’ and RN retention. In mental health NHS Trusts, a statistically significant correlation of 0.278 was found between RNs ‘making improvements happen’ and RN retention. In acute NHS Trusts in England, a statistically significant, negative correlation of −0.15 was identified between RNs ‘mak(ing) improvements happen’ and RN retention.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that RN retention factors in mental health and acute NHS Trusts differ from community and specialist NHS Trusts in England. This is an important consideration for national RN retention programmes as a single approach to RN retention may not be effective across all healthcare settings.
The Application of Digital Frailty Screening to Triage Nonhealing and Complex Wounds
Authors: Mishra Ram Kinker , Bara Rasha O. , Zulbaran-Rojas Alejandro , Park Catherine , Fernando Malindu E. , Ross Jeffrey , Lepow Brian , Najafi Bijan
Published: July 2022

Objective:

We investigated the association between the complexity of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and frailty.

Research Design and Methods:

Individuals (n = 38) with Grade 2 Wagner DFU were classified into 3 groups based on the Society for Vascular Surgery risk-stratification for major limb amputation as Stage 1 at very low risk (n = 19), Stage 2 at low risk (n = 9), and Stage 3 to 4 at moderate-to-high risk (n = 10) of major limb amputation. Frailty status was objectively assessed using a validated digital frailty meter (FM). The FM works by quantifying weakness, slowness, rigidity, and exhaustion over a 20-second repetitive elbow flexion-extension exercise using a wrist-worn sensor. FM generates a frailty index (FI) ranging from 0 to 1; higher values indicate progressively greater severity of frailty. Skin perfusion pressure (SPP), albumin, and tissue oxygenation level (SatO2) were also measured. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify group effect for wound complexity. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the associations with frailty and clinical endpoints.

Results:

Frailty index was higher in Stage 3 and 4 as compared to Stage 1 ( d = 1.4, P < .01) and Stage 2 ( d = 1.2, P < .01). Among assessed frailty phenotypes, exhaustion was correlated with SPP ( r = −0.63, P < .01) and albumin ( r = −0.5, P < .01).

Conclusion:

Digital biomarkers of frailty may predict complexity of DFU and thus triage individuals who can be treated more simply in their primary clinic versus higher risk patients who require prompt referral to multidisciplinary, more complex care.
Young People in Newfoundland and Labrador: Community Connectedness and Opportunities for Social Inclusion
Authors: Issahaku Paul Alhassan , Adam Anda
Published: July 2022

Globally, young people are a major demographic group and a key constituency in socioeconomic policy considerations. However, in a neoliberal era, the social inclusion of youth is in jeopardy. This qualitative study explored young people’s connectedness to community and opportunities for social inclusion in Newfoundland and Labrador. The perspectives of social capital, social exclusion, and sense of community provided a theoretical framework for the study. A purposive sample of 23 youth aged 15 to 24 years provided data through interviews, which we analyzed inductively, using thematic analysis. We found that young people connected to their communities through informal associations and non-profit organizations. These structures provided networks of supportive relationships and inclusive spaces, where young people felt a sense of belonging, and had opportunities for participation. Opportunities took the form of resources and activities that promoted personal growth and community building. For example, through associations and non-profit organizations, participants engaged in general educational development, entrepreneurial training, part-time and volunteer work, and advocacy. However, participants also reported some barriers to inclusion in their communities. Personal level factors, such as illness and environmental level factors, such as low-income and social stigma were barriers to inclusion. These findings provide a basis for policymakers and practitioners to promote youth social inclusion in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Study on the Clinical Phenotype and Function of HPRT1 Gene
Authors: Guo Miao , Chen Yucai , Lin Longlong , Wang Yilin , Wang Anqi , Yuan Fang , Wang Chunmei , Wang Simei , Zhang Yuanfeng
Published: July 2022

Background: Lesch-Nyhan disease (LND) is a rare x-linked purine metabolic neurogenetic disease caused by enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoriribosyltransferase(HGprt) deficiency, also known as self-destructive appearance syndrome. A series of manifestations are caused by abnormal purine metabolism. The typical clinical manifestations are hyperuricemia, growth retardation, mental retardation, short stature, dance-like athetosis, aggressive behavior, and compulsive self-harm. Methods: We identified a point mutation c.151C > T (p. Arg51*) in a pedigree. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of children in a family, and obtained the blood of their parents and siblings for second-generation sequencing. At the same time, we also analyzed and compared the expression of HPRT1 gene and predicted the three-dimensional structure of the protein. And we analyzed the clinical manifestations caused by the defect of the HPRT1 gene. Results: The mutation led to the termination of transcription at the 51st arginine, resulting in the production of truncated protein, and the relative expression of HPRT1 gene in patients was significantly lower than other family members and 10 normal individuals. Conclusion: This mutation leads to the early termination of protein translation and the formation of a truncated HPRT protein, which affects the function of the protein and generates corresponding clinical manifestations.
Engaged pedagogic research: Transforming societies through co-learning and social action
Authors: Gough Katherine V , Veléz-Torres Irene , Ruette-Orihuela Krisna , Fayad Javier , Bueno Bladimir , Corredor German , Escobar-Tello Carolina , Hurtado Diana , Larrea James , Piccolino Giulia , Reyes Kevin O , Rubiano Jorge , Suarez Angela , van Grootheest Sjoerd
Published: July 2022

This paper proposes a novel political pedagogic approach to conducting engaged research. Drawing critically on elements of Participatory Action Research and popular education, this approach - Engaged Pedagogic Research (EPR) - generates processes of collective co-learning and empowerment for local communities and activist researchers. Central to conducting EPR are five processes: generating situated learning practices, recognizing alternative knowledges, engaging in inter-cultural and inter-ethnic dialogue, deconstructing power relations, and promoting empowerment and social action. The experiences of engaging in EPR through developing and running a Diploma in Territorial Planning to support peacebuilding in Colombia are discussed. Different social groups living in conflict areas gained new knowledge and built social relationships that strengthen collaborative action, while activist academics achieved a deeper understanding of how members of these cultural groups manage their territories, relate to each other, and develop visions for collaborative futures in the context of peacebuilding. By developing participatory, decolonized and transformative bridges to connect and engage universities with communities, EPR facilitates learning that is collectively created and has the potential to contribute to more just and egalitarian societies.
Autosomal Recessive Bestrophinopathy Presenting With a Macular Hole Retinal Detachment
Authors: Fouad Yousef Ahmed , Tawfik Caroline Atef , Nowara Mohamed
Published: July 2022

Purpose: To report a case of autosomal recessive bestrophinopathy (ARB) that presented with macular hole retinal detachment (MHRD). Methods: A case report. Results: A 31-year-old male patient presented with rapid deterioration of vision in the left eye. On fundus examination, bilateral retinal deposits in both eyes, which were brightly hyperautofluorescent, and an MHRD in the left eye could be detected. An electrooculogram demonstrated absent light rise with abnormal Arden’s ratio in both eyes. The patient was offered surgery for the MHRD but refused due to the guarded visual prognosis. Follow up of the patient after one year revealed progression of the retinal detachment. Genetic testing revealed a novel, homozygous missense mutation in the BEST1 gene, confirming the diagnosis of ARB. Conclusion: ARB can present with an MHRD. Counseling patients with inherited retinal dystrophies about the visual prognosis following surgical intervention is important.
Multispecies storytelling in botanical worlds: The creative agencies of plants in contested ecologies
Authors: McEwan Cheryl
Published: July 2022

This paper argues for engaging in multispecies storytelling with plants to better conceptualise the ethics and contested ecologies associated with biodiversity loss. It focuses specifically on proteas, the iconic species of South Africa's threatened fynbos biome, to explore the possibilities of an ethical dialogue between human and more-than-human diversities, and to consider what might be gained from understanding plants as both agentic in contested ecologies and as storytelling figures worthy of attention. The paper draws on John Ryan’s conceptualization of phytography as a way of engaging in multispecies storytelling with plants. It teases out interwoven botanic and human histories, and the ways in which iconic proteas have written themselves into the narratives of their human interlocutors in the context of European settler colonialism, conservation, floral nativism and post-apartheid nation-building. The case for phytography is developed through an examination of the corporeal rhetoric of proteas in two examples. The first concerns the Mace Pagoda, a protea that resists narratives of extinction by writing back its percipience, agency, and resilience into human stories of anthropogenic habitat loss. The second focuses on botanical traces that result from absence, specifically the non-appearance in recent years of proteas in the Cederberg area of the Western Cape. The paper suggests that absence is a form of corporeal rhetoric through which plants write themselves into narratives of rapid climate change and multispecies loss. The final section of the paper explores questions of ethics that emerge from engaging with plants as storytellers, reflects on the kinds of human-plant relationships that are possible in the context of environmental catastrophe, and examines the possibilities that phytography provides for more-than-human engagements with plant life.
Evaluation of seismic force provisions for nonstructural systems supported on marine structures considering effects of nonlinearity
Authors: Goel Rakesh K
Published: July 2022

The investigation reported in this article focuses on evaluation of seismic force provisions for nonstructural systems proposed in Marine Oil Terminal Engineering and Maintenance Standards (MOTEMS) considering the effects nonlinearity in either primary (supporting), secondary (nonstructural), or both systems. The current provisions were developed based on prior research conducted using linear elastic behavior of both primary and secondary systems. This investigation evaluated effects of system nonlinearities on seismic forces in nonstructural systems by utilizing a 2 degrees-of-freedom model and a suite of 20 ground motions. It is found that the MOTEMS simplified and alternate formula may significantly underestimate the force in the secondary system for the ratios of secondary and primary system periods between 0.5 and 1.5. Therefore, it is recommended that engineers avoid systems within this period range. Outside this period ratio range, the MOTEMS simplified formula leads to significant overestimation, which can exceed 100% but the alternate formula generally provides forces that are very close to those from response history analysis. When the secondary systems are expected to respond beyond the linear elastic range, both the simplified and alternate MOTEMS formulae may lead to significant underestimation of forces in the secondary system for period ratios less than 0.5. Therefore, engineers are cautioned against designing secondary systems in this period range for forces much lower than those required to remain linear elastic. The MOTEMS alternate formula reduces overestimation or provides very good estimates of forces in the secondary systems compared to the simplified formula. Therefore, the MOTEMS alternate formula is preferable when information on period ratio is available.
Tetra functional epoxy/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical, thermal, anticorrosion and dielectric properties
Authors: Duraibabu Dhanapal , Kumar Srinivasan Ananda , Alagar Muthukaruppan
Published: July 2022

Tetra functional epoxy resin namely tetraglycidyl 1,4’-bis (4-amine-phenoxy) sulphone benzene epoxy (TGBAPSB) was developed via 1,4’-bis (4-amine-phenoxy) sulphone benzene (BAPSB) and epichlorohydrin. TGBAPSB was reinforced with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanomaterial in various weight percentages (1–2 wt%) and polyamidoimidazoline (Aradur 140) was used as curing agent. FT-IR results validated the molecular structure of the synthesized POSS. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) evaluated the thermo-mechanical and thermal behaviour of TGBAPSB epoxy matrix and its organic-inorganic hybrid epoxy nanocomposites (TGBAPSB/POSS). X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigated the surface morphological behaviour of the organic-inorganic hybrid epoxy nanocomposites. TGBAPSB epoxy resin with optimized POSS reinforcement exhibited excellent thermo-mechanical, thermal, mechanical, dielectric, and water absorption properties, making it a suitable material for advanced high-performance applications.
Effects of continuous hypoxia on flow-mediated dilation in the cerebral and systemic circulation: on the regulatory significance of shear rate phenotype
Authors: Ogoh Shigehiko , Washio Takuro , Stacey Benjamin S. , Tsukamoto Hayato , Iannetelli Angelo , Owens Thomas S. , Calverley Thomas A. , Fall Lewis , Marley Christopher J. , Bailey Damian M.
Published: July 2022

Emergent evidence suggests that cyclic intermittent hypoxia increases cerebral arterial shear rate and endothelial function, whereas continuous exposure decreases anterior cerebral oxygen (O2) delivery. To examine to what extent continuous hypoxia impacts cerebral shear rate, cerebral endothelial function, and consequent cerebral O2 delivery (CDO2), eight healthy males were randomly assigned single-blind to 7 h passive exposure to both normoxia (21% O2) and hypoxia (12% O2). Blood flow in the brachial and internal carotid arteries were determined using Duplex ultrasound and included the combined assessment of systemic and cerebral endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation. Systemic (brachial artery) flow-mediated dilatation was consistently lower during hypoxia (P = 0.013 vs. normoxia), whereas cerebral flow-mediated dilation remained preserved (P = 0.927 vs. normoxia) despite a reduction in internal carotid artery antegrade shear rate (P = 0.002 vs. normoxia) and CDO2 (P < 0.001 vs. normoxia). Collectively, these findings indicate that the reduction in CDO2 appears to be independent of cerebral endothelial function and contrasts with that observed during cyclic intermittent hypoxia, highlighting the regulatory importance of (hypoxia) dose duration and flow/shear rate phenotype.
Attention to renal involvement: report of 17 Joubert syndrome cases in children of a single center in China
Authors: Ying Liang , Hui Wang , FuQian  , Nan Zhou , Yeping Jiang , Lan Mi
Published: July 2022

Background

Joubert Syndrome (JS) is a rare genetic developmental disorder. We are aiming for increasing awareness of this disease especially kidney involvement in children with JS.

Methods

Clinical and genetic data of 17 cases of JS in Beijing children’s hospital in the past 21 years were collected retrospectively.

Results

Twelve males and 5 females, aged from 12d to 15y8m. The most common involvement was neurological system involvement. The second most common involvement was renal involvement: end stage kidney disease in 6 cases (35%), hematuria in 5 cases (29%), proteinuria in 5 cases (29%), renal diffuse lesions in 4 cases (24%), renal cystic lesions in 2 cases (12%), and echogenic enhancement of parenchyma in 2 cases (12%). 10 cases did genetic tests. 3 cases with renal deficiency all had RPGRIP1L gene mutation.

Conclusions

The most common involvement of JS is neurological involvement, and the second is renal involvement. Pediatricians should improve awareness of JS and conduct systemic evaluation of children. More attention should be paid to renal involvement which may be onset hidden but fatal. Early recognition and diagnosis are the goals to delay the start to dialysis and improve quality of patients’ life. The RPGRIP1L gene mutation maybe the most common gene mutation in JS and may have correlations with renal involvement.
SARS-CoV-2 Catalonia contact tracing program: evaluation of key performance indicators
Authors: Herrero Mercè , Ciruela Pilar , Mallafré-Larrosa Meritxell , Mendoza Sergi , Patsi-Bosch Glòria , Martínez-Solanas Èrica , Mendioroz Jacobo , Jané Mireia ,   Epidemiological Surveillance Network of Catalonia, Carmona Parcerisa Gloria , Martinez Mateo Ana Isabel , Pequeño Saco Sandra , Leon Garcia Agata Raquel , Domenech Elisabet , Pericas Escalé Carles , Barrabeig Fabregat Irene , Rovira Faixa Ariadna , Carol Torrades Mònica , Guadalupe Fernandez Victor , Bes Montalat Nuria , Follia Alsina M. Nuria , Ferras Prats Joaquim , Minguell Verges Sofía , Ferrús Serra Gloria , Godoy Garcia Pere , Alseda Graells Miquel , Parron Bernabe Ignacio , Cirera Viladot Anna , Rius Gibert Cristina , García de Olalla Rizo Patricia , Pérez Albarracín Glòria , Sala Farre Maria-Rosa , Clotet Romero Laura , Herrero Garcia Mercè , Ciruela Navas Pilar , Mallafré-Larrosa Meritxell , Mendoza Funes Sergi , Patsi-Bosch Glòria , Martínez-Solanas Èrica , Mendioroz Peña Jacobo , Jané Checa Mireia
Published: July 2022

Background

Guidance on SARS-CoV-2 contact tracing indicators have been recently revised by international public health agencies. The aim of the study is to describe and analyse contact tracing indicators based on Catalonia’s (Spain) real data and proposing to update them according to recommendations.

Methods

Retrospective cohort analysis including Catalonia’s contact tracing dataset from 20 May until 31 December 2020. Descriptive statistics are performed including sociodemographic stratification by age, and differences are assessed over the study period.

Results

We analysed 923,072 contacts from 301,522 SARS-CoV-2 cases with identified contacts (67.1% contact tracing coverage). The average number of contacts per case was 4.6 (median 3, range 1–243). A total of 403,377 contacts accepted follow-up through three phone calls over a 14-day quarantine period (84.5% of contacts requiring follow-up). The percentage of new cases declared as contacts 14 days prior to diagnosis evolved from 33.9% in May to 57.9% in November. All indicators significantly improved towards the target over time (p < 0.05 for all four indicators).

Conclusions

Catalonia’s SARS-CoV-2 contact tracing indicators improved over time despite challenging context. The critical revision of the indicator’s framework aims to provide essential information in control policies, new indicators proposed will improve system delay’s follow-up. The study provides information on COVID-19 indicators framework experience from country’s real data, allowing to improve monitoring tools in 2021–2022. With the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic being so harmful to health systems and globally, is important to analyse and share contact tracing data with the scientific community.
COVID-19 information and self-protective behaviors among rural communities in tropical forests
Authors: Takasaki Yoshito , Coomes Oliver T. , Abizaid Christian
Published: July 2022

Background

Health risk communication plays a key role in promoting self-protective measures, which are critical in suppressing COVID-19 contagion. Relatively little is known about the communication channels used by rural poor populations to learn novel measures and their effectiveness in promoting self-protective behaviors. Behavioral change can be shaped by people’s trust in government institutions which may be differentiated by social identity, including indigeneity.

Methods

During an early phase of the pandemic, we conducted two telephone surveys with over 460 communities – both Indigenous and mestizo – without road access and limited communication access in the Peruvian Amazon. This is the first report on the association of information sources about self-protective measures against COVID-19 with the adoption of self-protective behaviors in remote rural areas in developing countries.

Results

People mainly relied on mass media (radio, television, newspapers) and interpersonal sources (local authorities, health workers, neighbors/relatives) for information and adopted handwashing, mask-wearing, social distancing, and social restrictions to varying degrees. Overall, self-protective behaviors were largely positively and negatively associated with mass media and interpersonal sources, respectively, depending on the source-measure combination. Mistrust of the government seems to have shaped how Indigenous and mestizo peoples distinctively responded to interpersonal information sources and relied on mass media.

Conclusions

Our findings call for improved media access to better manage pandemics in rural areas, especially among remote Indigenous communities.
Health-related quality of life within agriculture in England and Wales: results from a EQ-5D-3L self-report questionnaire
Authors: Wheeler Rebecca , Lobley Matt
Published: July 2022

Background

Mental and physical health problems among the farming community are well documented but there is limited evidence regarding the overall health status of this population. This paper offers a unique insight into this issue through presenting the findings from a survey instrument, the EQ-5D-3L, which provides a standardised measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods

We conducted the largest ever survey (n = 15,296) of people living and working in agriculture in England and Wales to gather baseline data on health and wellbeing within this community. The survey included an assessment of HRQOL through the use of the EQ-5D-3L self-report questionnaire. A variety of statistical approaches were used to test for significant associations between HRQOL and sub-group characteristics, including the Chi-square test for independence, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U-test. Binary logistic regression models were also created to assess the influence of a set of respondent characteristics on the likelihood of respondents reporting health problems in the EQ-5D-3L.

Results

24% of respondents reported problems with mobility; 4% reported problems with self-care; 21% reported problems with performing their usual activities; 52% reported problems with pain/discomfort; and 31% reported problems with anxiety/depression. The mean EQ-5D index value was 0.811 (median (Md) 0.796, interquartile range (IQR) 0.275). The mean self-rated health score (EQ-VAS) was 77.6 (SD 16.1) (Md 80.0, IQR 20). In general, holding other respondent characteristics equal, women reported fewer problems with mobility, self-care, performing usual activities and pain/discomfort than men, but more problems with anxiety/depression. HRQOL in the working-aged appears to be poorer among the survey population than the wider UK population.

Conclusions

Results reveal concerning levels of physical and mental health problems, especially pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression, which appear to be more prevalent within our sample than within the wider UK population. There were important gender and age-related differences in both mental and physical health. Combatting these problems through targeted support is essential for the wellbeing of the farming community and the future sustainability of UK food production.
Modeling the theory of planned behavior to predict adults’ intentions to improve oral health behaviors
Authors: Rajeh Mona Talal
Published: July 2022

Background

The present study aimed to apply the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to identify predictors of adults’ intentions to improve oral health behaviors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,328 adults living in the Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia. A 64-item questionnaire that evaluated behavioral intention, oral health knowledge (OHK) and TPB constructs (attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms) was distributed. Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to describe the data and examine the associations among the variables. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

The analysis revealed that the TPB model explained 72% of the variance in oral health behavioral intentions (OHBI), indicating a good model fit. The TPB constructs of attitudes (β = 0.299), subjective norms (β = 0.035), and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.144) were significant predictors of OHBI, whereas OHK was not. Attitude was the strongest predictor of intentions to improve oral health behaviors.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that this model could be a helpful framework for designing oral health promotion and intervention programs. Such programs should focus on changing adults’ attitudes, positive influences from close relationships, and improving self-efficacy of OHB to improve their oral health behavior.
Metformin and Gegen Qinlian Decoction boost islet α-cell proliferation of the STZ induced diabetic rats
Authors: Xu Li , Jois Shreyas , Cui Hongliang
Published: July 2022

Background

The traditional Chinese medicine Gegen Qinlian Decoction (GQD), as well as metformin, had been reported with anti-diabetic effects in clinical practice.

Objective

To verify whether these two medicines effectively ameliorate hyperglycemia caused by deficiency of islet β-cell mass which occurs in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Methods

SD rats were injected with a single dose of STZ (55 mg/kg) to induce β-cell destruction. The rats were then divided into control, diabetes, GQD and metformin group. GQD and metformin groups were administered with GQD extract or metformin for 6 weeks. The islet α-cell or β-cell mass changes were tested by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining. The potential targets and mechanisms of GQD and metformin on cell proliferation were tested using in silico network pharmacology. Real-time PCR was performed to test the expression of islet cells related genes and targets related genes.

Results

Both GQD and metformin did not significantly reduce the FBG level caused by β-cell mass reduction, but alleviated liver and pancreas histopathology. Both GQD and metformin did not change the insulin positive cell mass but increased α-cell proliferation of the diabetic rats. Gene expression analysis showed that GQD and metformin significantly increased the targets gene cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (Cdk4) and insulin receptor substrate (Irs1) level.

Conclusion

This research indicates that GQD and metformin significantly increased the α-cell proliferation of β-cell deficiency induced diabetic rats by restoringCdk4 and Irs1 gene expression.
Patient outcomes following AKI and AKD: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Wang Huan , Lambourg Emilie , Guthrie Bruce , Morales Daniel R. , Donnan Peter T. , Bell Samira
Published: July 2022

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common and associated with adverse outcomes as well as important healthcare costs. However, evidence examining the epidemiology of acute kidney disease (AKD)—recently defined as AKI persisting between 7 and 90 days—remains limited. The aims of this study were to establish the rates of early AKI recovery, progression to AKD and non-recovery; examine risk factors associated with non-recovery and investigate the association between recovery timing and adverse outcomes, in a population-based cohort.

Methods

All adult residents of Tayside & Fife, Scotland, UK, with at least one episode of community or hospital-managed AKI using KDIGO creatinine-based definition during the period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2018 were identified. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with non-recovery, and Cox modelling was used to establish associations between AKI recovery timing and risks of mortality and development of de novo CKD.

Results

Over 9 years, 56,906 patients with at least one AKI episode were identified with 18,773 (33%) of these progressing to AKD. Of those progressing to AKD, 5059 (27%) had still not recovered at day 90 post AKI diagnosis. Risk factors for AKD included: increasing AKI severity, pre-existing cancer or chronic heart failure and recent use of loop diuretics. Compared with early AKI recovery, progression to AKD was associated with increased hazard of 1-year mortality and de novo CKD (HR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.26 and HR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.91 to 2.57 respectively).

Conclusions

These findings highlight the importance of early AKI recognition and management to avoid progression to AKD and long-term adverse outcomes.
Identification of biomarkers related to neutrophils and two molecular subtypes of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Li Huiyan , Yang Pingting
Published: July 2022

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease with complex pathogenesis, poses a considerable threat to women’s health. Increasing evidence indicates that neutrophils play an important role in the development and progression of lupus.

Methods

Weighted correlation network analysis and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to analyse SLE expression data from a comprehensive gene expression database and identify modules associated with neutrophils. Thereafter, the biomarkers most closely related to neutrophils were identified. We reclassified SLE into two molecular subtypes based on the aforementioned biomarkers and evaluated cell infiltration, molecular mechanisms, and signature pathways in each subtype.

Results

The results showed significant differences in immunological characteristics between the two molecular subtypes of SLE. Hub genes were significantly upregulated in the NEUT-H subtype, and they may be associated with lupus activity. The GSEA revealed associations between our biomarkers and key metabolic pathways.

Conclusions

Our study provides not only a classification for patients with SLE but also new cell and gene targets for immunotherapy, as well as a new experimental paradigm to explore immunotherapy for other autoimmune diseases.
Comprehensive and systematic characterization of multi-functionalized cisplatin nano-conjugate: from the chemistry and proteomic biocompatibility to the animal model
Authors: Hernández Ángela-Patricia , Micaelo Ania , Piñol Rafael , García-Vaquero Marina L. , Aramayona José J. , Criado Julio J. , Rodriguez Emilio , Sánchez-Gallego José Ignacio , Landeira-Viñuela Alicia , Juanes-Velasco Pablo , Díez Paula , Góngora Rafael , Jara-Acevedo Ricardo , Orfao Alberto , Miana-Mena Javier , Muñoz María Jesús , Villanueva Sergio , Millán Ángel , Fuentes Manuel
Published: July 2022

Background

Nowadays, nanoparticles (NPs) have evolved as multifunctional systems combining different custom anchorages which opens a wide range of applications in biomedical research. Thus, their pharmacological involvements require more comprehensive analysis and novel nanodrugs should be characterized by both chemically and biological point of view. Within the wide variety of biocompatible nanosystems, iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) present mostly of the required features which make them suitable for multifunctional NPs with many biopharmaceutical applications.

Results

Cisplatin-IONPs and different functionalization stages have been broadly evaluated. The potential application of these nanodrugs in onco-therapies has been assessed by studying in vitro biocompatibility (interactions with environment) by proteomics characterization the determination of protein corona in different proximal fluids (human plasma, rabbit plasma and fetal bovine serum),. Moreover, protein labeling and LC–MS/MS analysis provided more than 4000 proteins de novo synthetized as consequence of the nanodrugs presence defending cell signaling in different tumor cell types (data available via ProteomeXchanges with identified PXD026615). Further in vivo studies have provided a more integrative view of the biopharmaceutical perspectives of IONPs.

Conclusions

Pharmacological proteomic profile different behavior between species and different affinity of protein coating layers (soft and hard corona). Also, intracellular signaling exposed differences between tumor cell lines studied. First approaches in animal model reveal the potential of theses NPs as drug delivery vehicles and confirm cisplatin compounds as strengthened antitumoral agents.