bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dostoyevsky and the Defense of Compassion
Authors: Lykins Max
Published: October 2021

Is cruelty a problem for politics? For Hannah Arendt, the answer was no. On her view, a compassionate response towards persons suffering cruelty is best avoided because compassion can only become political by transforming incommunicable individual pain into abstract suffering. At crucial moments in her argument in On Revolution, she cites the great Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky as an ally. However, I argue that Arendt misrepresents Dostoyevsky. Through a critical examination of his mature novels, I show how suffering is communicable and compassion is political for Dostoyevsky. By attending to this theme in his writings, I argue that Dostoyevsky sheds light on the problem of cruelty in a way that Arendt’s framework cannot. This suggests that he is more at home with theorists like Judith Shklar who “put cruelty first” than with Arendt, although in favoring compassion I argue that he departs from Shklar’s liberalism of fear and offers a more constructive, hopeful political vision.
Managing Cancer as a Family Disease - Feasibility, Satisfaction and Family Functioning after Short-Time Counselling for Families with Parental Cancer
Authors: Ehrbar Verena , Roos Salomé , Denzinger Anna , Bingisser Martina Barbara , Scherer Sandra , Gaab Jens , Vetter Marcus , Heinzelmann-Schwarz Viola , Urech Corinne
Published: October 2021

Background: Parental cancer affects not only the patient, but all family members. Access to psychological support for the entire family is highly relevant, but still scarce. The aim of the present research project was to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of a short-term counselling intervention for families with parental cancer. Methods: The short-term counselling intervention consisted of six sessions and was developed based on pre-existing evaluated concepts. All participating family members had to complete questionnaires prior and post-intervention. These questionnaires investigated changes in family communication and satisfaction levels, parental anxiety and depression levels, parental partnership quality and self-assessed quality of life of children and adolescents. Furthermore, feasibility of and satisfaction with the intervention was assessed. Results: Acceptability of short-term counselling was high in participating families, although feasibility was limited with regard to the final inclusion rate (n  =  10). Comparison of pre and post intervention measures showed a significant increase in family communication and satisfaction levels. Anxiety and depression levels were low, quality of parental partnership within the normal range, and quality of life reported from children was high. These scores remained stable from pre to post intervention. Conclusions: The counselling intervention most likely had positive effects in all family members with either stabilizing or increasing all measured outcomes. Although interpretation of the results is limited due to the small sample size, we believe that integrated in clinical routine of adult care of a hospital, this additional offer might be a valuable benefice to cancer patients and their families. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT03097458 (clinicaltrials.gov)
The Dimensionality of the Brief COPE Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hanfstingl Barbara , Gnambs Timo , Fazekas Christian , Gölly Katharina Ingrid , Matzer Franziska , Tikvić Matias
Published: October 2021

The Brief COPE (Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced) is a frequently used questionnaire assessing 14 theoretically derived coping mechanisms, but psychometric research has suggested inconsistent results concerning its factor structure. The aim of this study was to investigate primary and secondary order factor structures of the Brief COPE during the COVID-19 pandemic by testing 11 different models by confirmatory factor analyses and to assess differences between sex, age groups, and relationship status. Altogether, 529 respondents from Austria and Germany participated in a web-based survey. Results supported the originally hypothesized 14-factor structure but did not support previously described higher-order structures. However, bass-ackwards analyses suggested systematic overlap between different factors, which might have contributed to different factor solutions in previous research. Measurement invariance across sex, age groups, and relationship status could be confirmed. Findings suggest that cultural and situational aspects as well as the functional level should be considered in research on theoretical framing of coping behavior.
Systematic Review: Investigating the Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health Outcomes of Individuals With ADHD
Authors: Behrmann Julie T. , Blaabjerg Julie , Jordansen Josefine , Jensen de López Kristine M.
Published: October 2021

Background:

According to the WHO, the COVID-19 pandemic could have a negative impact on the mental health of individuals, such as an exacerbation of existing difficulties. Individuals with ADHD may be specifically challenged by the pandemic.

Aims:

To provide a systematic review of evidence regarding the COVID-19’s impact on mental health of individuals with ADHD during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods:

This registered review (PROSPERO ID CRD42021238770) adhered to Prisma guidelines. Systematic searches in electronic databases PubMed and PsycINFO were carried out. A total of 12 studies covering 3,028 subjects were included.

Results:

COVID-19 pandemic is associated with increased ADHD symptoms and psychological difficulties. Some studies reported that individuals experienced positive outcomes. The methodological quality of the studies was low to moderate.

Conclusion:

COVID-19 can affect the mental health of individuals with ADHD negatively, although methodological limitations should be considered. Further research should generate knowledge about long-term effects impact of the pandemic and about appropriate support.
Evaluation of optical coherence tomography findings in adolescents with genetic generalized epilepsy
Authors: Kaplan Aysin Tuba , Oskan Yalcın Sibel , Sager Safiye Gunes
Published: October 2021

Objective

To evaluate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, central macular thickness (CMT), and subfoveal choroid thickness (CT) by using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in adolescents with newly diagnosed epilepsy and patients who had been using Na valproate (VPA) for at least 1 year.

Methods

We examined 60 patients with genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) aged 8–17 years. Thirty patients with newly diagnosed GGE who were evaluated before the beginning of the therapy and another 30 patients who were chosen from among adolescents with epilepsy using VPA for at least 1 year were included in the study.

Results

Nasal quadrant RNFL thickness and CMT measurements were significantly lower in the monotherapy group compared with the newly diagnosed group ( p = 0.044 and p = 0.032, respectively). CT measurements were not significantly different between the groups ( p = 0.413). There was a negative correlation in regression analysis between the duration of drug use and RNFL thickness in all quadrants.

Conclusion

According to our study, we observed thinning of the nasal RNFL and macular thickness in adolescents with epilepsy who were using Na valproate for at least 1 year and that as the duration of use increased, the thinning occurred in all RNFL quadrants. Further studies with larger series are needed to better understand the effects of both epilepsy and VPA on the eye.
Side press-and-release technique in endothelium-in descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty(DMEK): A novel technique
Authors: Siu Gillian DJY , Wu Macy MS , Wong Amy L
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To describe a novel technique in unfolding an endothelium-in Descemet membrane (DM) graft.

Methods

New surgical technique description

Results

We describe a novel technique that allows immediate and controlled unfolding of the endothelium-in Descemet membrane graft that was successful in 5 of our DMEK patients. It is essential to acquire this “side press-and-release” technique when the graft does not unfold spontaneously as expected.

Conclusions

This controlled and simple manoeuvre is an efficient and safe method of unfolding an endothelium-in DM graft.
The effects of racial status threat on White Americans’ support for Donald Trump: Results of five experimental tests
Authors: Stewart Sheridan , Willer Robb
Published: October 2021

Prior theory and research suggest that threats to the status of White Americans may increase support for Donald Trump. Consistent with this, one previous experiment conducted in early 2016 documented this effect (Major et al., 2018), finding that making salient the declining White majority in the United States increased support for Trump’s presidential candidacy among White participants with high levels of ethnic identification. We report the results of five very similar experiments (total N = 3,076) also conducted in 2016, including one conducted on a national probability sample. The first experiment (conducted in January 2016) found that racial status threat increased Whites’ support for Trump. The other four (conducted from February to October 2016), however, all found null results, and an internal meta-analysis of the five studies found no significant main effect overall. Additionally, none of the studies found an interaction of racial demographic shift and ethnic identification in which racial demographic shift increased Trump support among high-identifying Whites. We conclude by discussing a variety of potential explanations for our findings, including (a) that racial status threats did not increase Whites’ Trump support, (b) that racial status threats increased Trump support early in the 2016 election cycle, but the role of this factor in Trump support declined over time, or (c) that this pattern is an example of a broader tendency of declining experimental treatment effects on candidate support over time in campaigns (Kalla & Broockman, 2018).
Sex Work Research, Ethics Review Processes, and Institutional Challenges for “Sensitive” Collaborative Research
Authors: Ferris Shawna , Lebovitch Amy , Allard Danielle
Published: October 2021

This article examines challenges and barriers seemingly endemic to the research ethics review process. We argue that these challenges and barriers disempower community stakeholders in sex work research and that they put our studies and those who consent to participate in them at risk. To advance this position, we interrogate three of our own encounters with research ethics boards (REBs) in the context of current scholarship on meaningful collaborative research and REB roles and responsibilities in relation to sex work and other sensitive research. As these encounters illustrate, there is an urgent need for established REB processes to be opened up to allow for and respect non-academic expertise. We suggest that such policy and process revisions are particularly important given the growing requirement for meaningful stakeholder involvement in all aspects of studies that engage marginalized groups. In this new anti-oppressive collaborative framework, stakeholder community expertise thus informs study development and design, as well as the collection and analysis of data, and decisions regarding where and how study findings are to be shared. Research ethics review processes must be revised accordingly to acknowledge and give due consideration to community-based expertise. We conclude by proposing institutional and community-based strategies for resisting and revising current research ethics review structures and processes. Applying the lens of whore stigma to select REB encounters, this article contributes to existing research about ethical and anti-oppressive sex work research methods and methodologies, arguing that we must account for REB encounters in the growing body of theory that seeks to understand and articulate how best to conduct sex work research in partnership with sex workers.
The effect of the chuck shape on the wafer topography in back grinding of wafer with outer rim
Authors: Zhu Xianglong , Yao Weihua , Guo Xiaoguang , Kang Renke , Ahmad Muhammad Jawad
Published: October 2021

Back Grinding of Wafer with Outer Rim (BGWOR) is a novel method for carrier-less thinning of silicon wafers. Silicon wafers are widely used in integrated circuits (ICs). The topography of the wafer will not only directly affect the efficiency of subsequent processing of semiconductor devices, but correspondingly affect the performance and life of these devices. However, there are few studies on the shape of the ground wafer in BGWOR. In this paper, the mathematical model of the wafer topography in BGWOR was developed. With this model, the radial thickness and total thickness variation (TTV) of a wafer under different parameters, including inclination angles and radii of grinding wheel for dressing chuck, were simulated by MATLAB. Inclination angles and radii of grinding wheels for the dressing chuck had a great influence on the radial thickness and TTV of a wafer in the BGWOR. Lastly, the pilot experiments were conducted to validate the theoretical model of grinding topography and TTV of the wafer in BGWOR. To enhance the flatness of the ground wafer, it is essential to control the shape of the dressing chuck. The research results are helpful to the optimization of the dressing process of the chuck in the BGWOR.
Optimization research on arc height of running surface based on reducing partial wear of straddle-type monorail vehicle running wheel tire
Authors: Wen XiaoXia , Du ZiXue , Chen Liang
Published: October 2021

This article proposes an ideal of reducing the partial wear of the running wheels by optimizing the arc height of the running surface to improve the wheel-rail contact state. To realize this idea, two kinds of concave and convex running surfaces were designed, the “running wheel-rail beam” finite element model of three kinds of rail surfaces of concave, convex, and plane were established. Taking the arc height of the running surface as the design variable, the total friction work and the friction work deviation (FWD) value as the dual optimization goal, an optimization model of arc height of running surface was established based on finite element model and multidisciplinary optimization platform Modefrontier. An improved genetic algorithm was used and an co-simulation optimization mode was put forward in the optimization. The optimization results show that when the concave height of the inner running surface is 22.62 mm, the total friction work and the FWD values are reduced by 11% and 11.8% respectively; When the convex height of the outer running surface is 11.81 mm, the objection values are reduced by 4.9% and 32.1% respectively. An ideal running surface was obtained and the life of the running wheel was extended by the research.
Treatment in locally advanced rectal cancer: a machine learning bibliometric analysis
Authors: De Felice Francesca , Crocetti Daniele , Petrucciani Niccolò , Belgioia Liliana , Sapienza Paolo , Bulzonetti Nadia , Marampon Francesco , Musio Daniela , Tombolini Vincenzo
Published: October 2021

A bibliometric analysis was performed using a machine learning bibliometric methodology in order to evaluate the research trends in locally advanced rectal cancer treatment between 2000 and 2020. Information regarding publication outputs, countries, institutions, journals, keywords, funding, and citation counts was retrieved from Scopus database. During the search process, a total of 2370 publications were identified. The vast majority of papers originated from the United States of America, reflecting also its research drive in the collaboration network. Neoadjuvant treatment was the topic most studied in the highly cited studies. New keywords, including neoadjuvant chemotherapy, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, circulating tumor DNA, and genetic heterogeneity, appeared in the last 2 years. The quantity of publications on locally advanced rectal cancer treatment since 2000 showed an evolving research field. The ‘new’ keywords explain where research is presently heading.
Hybrid Closed-Loop Control with Ultrarapid Lispro Compared with Standard Insulin Aspart and Faster Insulin Aspart: An In Silico Study
Authors: Lachal Sylvain , Tourki Yousra , Franc Sylvia , Huneker Erik , Charpentier Guillaume , Benhamou Pierre Yves
Published: October 2021

Objective:

There is room for improvement in the performance of closed-loop regulation algorithms during the prandial period. This in silico study evaluated the efficiency and safety of ultrarapid lispro insulin using the Diabeloop DBLG1® algorithm.

Methods:

We modeled the insulin profile of URLi according to literature data and integrated it to the model used within a simulation platform built from a 60 patients’ virtual cohort. We then ran the DBLG1® algorithm in silico with various meal intakes using modeled URLi, Aspart and Faster Aspart. The primary endpoints were glucose metrics (time in 70-180 mg/dL range and time below range).

Results:

When insulin time constant values were tuned, time in 70-180 mg/dL range was 69.4 [61.1-75.6] (Aspart) vs 74.7 [65.5-81.5] (URLi). Glucose coefficient of variation was reduced from 34.1 [29.7-37.8] to 28.4 [25.7-34.6]. Time below 70 mg/dL and 54 mg/dL were significantly reduced with URLi, whether or not DBLG1 was specifically tuned to this insulin. Metrics with Faster Aspart were intermediate and did not significantly differ from URLi.

Conclusions:

This simulation study performed on a virtual T1D population suggests that the use of URLi within an unmodified closed-loop DBLG1 regulation algorithm is safe and, with DBLG1 being tuned to this specific insulin type, improved the regulation performances as compared with Aspart. This fact supports the use of such an insulin in clinical investigations.
Outcomes in treatment-resistant schizophrenia: symptoms, function and clozapine plasma concentrations
Authors: Krivoy Amir , Whiskey Eromona , Webb-Wilson Henrietta , Joyce Dan , Tracy Derek K. , Gaughran Fiona , MacCabe James H. , Shergill Sukhwinder S.
Published: October 2021

Background:

Clozapine is the only medication licenced for treating patients with treatment-refractory schizophrenia. However, there are no evidence-based guidelines as to the optimal plasma level of clozapine to aim for, and their association with clinical and functional outcome.

Objective:

We assessed the relationship between clinical and functional outcome measures and blood concentrations of clozapine among patients with treatment-refractory psychosis.

Methods:

Data were reviewed in 82 patients with treatment-refractory psychosis admitted to a specialised tertiary-level service and treated with clozapine. Analysis focussed on the relationship between clozapine and norclozapine plasma concentrations and the patient’s clinical symptoms and functional status.

Results:

Clinical symptom improvement was positively correlated with norclozapine plasma concentrations and inversely correlated with clozapine to norclozapine plasma concentrations ratio. Clozapine concentrations showed a bimodal association with clinical improvement (peaks around 350 and 660 ng/ml). Clinical symptom improvement correlated with functional outcomes, although there was no significant correlation between the latter and clozapine or norclozapine plasma concentrations.

Conclusion:

Clozapine treatment was associated with optimal clinical improvement at two different peak plasma concentrations around 350 and 650 ng/ml. Clinical improvement was associated with functional outcome; however, functionality was not directly associated with clozapine concentrations. A subset of patients may require higher clozapine plasma concentrations to achieve clinical improvement.
Adherence status to iron with folic acid supplementation and associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at public health facilities in Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Demisse Birhanu , Temesgen Habtamu , Dessie Bekalu , Kassa Getachew Mullu
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Iron and folic acid deficiency is among the most frequent nutrient inadequacies in the world, affecting expected two billion people, and causing nearly a million deaths. The adherence rate to iron with folic acid supplements remains very low in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess adherence status to iron with folic acid supplementation and associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at public health facilities in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods:

A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women at public health facilities in the Debay Tilat Gen district from 27 February 2018 to 27 March 2018. Systematic random sampling was used to select pregnant women. Data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. Binary logistic regression was used to predict the association of the dependent variable with independent variables. Variables that showed association at a p-value of less than 0.25 in the bivariable analysis were a candidate for multivariable analysis. Finally, variables at a p-value less than 0.05 with corresponding 95% confidence interval declared statistically significant factors of iron with folic acid supplementations.

Results:

A total of 400 participants were included in the study. The mean (± standard deviation) age of study participants was 26.64 (±4.37 standard deviation) years. This study revealed that about 52.8% of pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics were adherent to iron with folic acid supplementation. Counseling on iron with folic acid supplementations (adjusted odd ratio = 2.53, 95% confidence interval = 1.37–4.66; p-value < 0.003), having current anemia (adjusted odd ratio = 4.21, 95% confidence interval = 1.77–9.94; p-value < 0.001), and good knowledge of iron with folic acid supplementations (adjusted odd ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval = 1.29–3.44; p-value < 0.003) showed statistically significant associations with adherence to iron with folic acid supplementation.

Conclusion:

This study revealed that more than half of pregnant women were adherent to iron with folic acid supplementation. Knowledge of iron with folic acid supplementations, current anemia, and being counseled were factors associated with pregnant women’s adherence to iron with folic acid supplementation. Therefore, counseling and awareness creation should be strengthened by health institutions.
The fabrics of machine moderation: Studying the technical, normative, and organizational structure of Perspective API
Authors: Rieder Bernhard , Skop Yarden
Published: October 2021

Over recent years, the stakes and complexity of online content moderation have been steadily raised, swelling from concerns about personal conflict in smaller communities to worries about effects on public life and democracy. Because of the massive growth in online expressions, automated tools based on machine learning are increasingly used to moderate speech. While ‘design-based governance’ through complex algorithmic techniques has come under intense scrutiny, critical research covering algorithmic content moderation is still rare. To add to our understanding of concrete instances of machine moderation, this article examines Perspective API, a system for the automated detection of ‘toxicity’ developed and run by the Google unit Jigsaw that can be used by websites to help moderate their forums and comment sections. The article proceeds in four steps. First, we present our methodological strategy and the empirical materials we were able to draw on, including interviews, documentation, and GitHub repositories. We then summarize our findings along five axes to identify the various threads Perspective API brings together to deliver a working product. The third section discusses two conflicting organizational logics within the project, paying attention to both critique and what can be learned from the specific case at hand. We conclude by arguing that the opposition between ‘human’ and ‘machine’ in speech moderation obscures the many ways these two come together in concrete systems, and suggest that the way forward requires proactive engagement with the design of technologies as well as the institutions they are embedded in.
Squeaky wheels: Missing data, disability, and power in the smart city
Authors: Deitz Shiloh , Lobben Amy , Alferez Arielle
Published: October 2021

Data about the accessibility of United States municipalities is infrastructure in the smart city. What is counted and how, reflects the sociotechnical imaginary (norms and values) of a time or place. In this paper we focus on features identified by people with disabilities as promoting or hindering safe pedestrian travel. We use a regionally stratified sample of 178 cities across the United States. The municipalities were scored on two factors: their open data practices (or lack thereof), and the degree to which they cataloged the environmental features that persons with disabilities deemed critical for safe movement through urban spaces. In contradiction to the dominating narrative of too much data and not enough analyses, we find that when it comes to data points that might be useful to persons with disabilities, data are lacking. This data gap has consequences both politically and materially—on one hand data could help enforce compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, on the other they would allow for safe route planning. We find that reading these data formats and collection patterns from the perspective of critical disability studies—particularly those whose work disrupts notions of “normal” —helps answer questions about potential benefits and harms of data practices. This lens has the potential to promote analysis that is as disruptive to injustices as it is practical.
Magnetic resonance imaging of diffusion characteristics following collagenase clostridium histolyticum injection in Dupuytren’s contracture
Authors: Iwakawa Hiroko , Uchiyama Shigeharu , Fujinaga Yasunari , Hayashi Masanori , Komatsu Masatoshi , Kato Hiroyuki , Takahashi Jun
Published: October 2021

Purpose

We aimed to evaluate the extent of collagenase clostridium histolyticum (CCH) diffusion in Dupuytren’s contracture (DC) for tissues outside of the contracture cord using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) immediately after CCH injection. Methods: 10 male patients aged 57–79 with DC of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints were examined. Extension deficits were 10–60°(mean, 34.3) and 0–60°(mean, 26.6) in the MCP and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints, respectively. CCH injection was performed according to the standard method. MRI was performed within 15 min of CCH injection. Results: In all 10 cases, the extended area of high-intensity signal change outside of the cord was observed on short-T1 inversion recovery images (STIRs). Continuity from the insertion site was observed in the area of signal change involving the flexor tendon and neurovascular bundle. The signal change area spanned distally and proximally beyond the injection level. The signal change area expanded along the tendon sheath but no signal changes were observed inside the flexor tendon, suggesting the tendon sheath serves as a protective barrier from the CCH solution. After 1 week of injection, the mean decrease in contracture was 32.5°(94.7%) for the MCP joint and 19.8°(74.4%) for the PIP joint. In nine out of 10 cases, the extension deficit was within five degrees of full extension in the affected finger. There was no neurovascular injury or tendon rupture at 3 months of observation. Conclusions: MRI indicated the possible leakage of the drug outside of the cord during the early phase after administration, suggesting that CCH could persistently affect healthy tissues until CCH inactivates its enzyme process.
Intra-medullary antibiotics perfusion (iMAP) for the control of fracture-related infection early after osteosynthesis
Authors: Maruo Akihiro , Oda Takahiro , Miya Hidetoshi , Muratsu Hirotsugu , Fukui Tomoaki , Oe Keisuke , Kuroda Ryosuke , Niikura Takahiro
Published: October 2021

Purpose

In our hospital, cases of bone and soft tissue infections have been treated with continuous local antibiotics perfusion that allows for continuous circulation of antibiotics throughout the infected lesion. We termed this treatment “intramedullary antibiotics perfusion (iMAP)” for bone infection such as fracture-related infection (FRI) and “intrasoft tissue antibiotics perfusion” for soft tissue infection. Many cases are treated with both modalities. To introduce iMAP, this study focused on the patients with FRI treated with iMAP and reviewed their treatment outcomes.

Methods

We included 10 patients with FRI treated with iMAP between 2004 and 2017. The iMAP needles were inserted near the infected lesion, and an aminoglycoside antimicrobial was continuously administered. Patient characteristics, pathogenic bacteria, administered antibiotics, duration of administration, concentrations of antibiotics in blood and leachate fluid, fracture union rate, implant retention rate, and complications were studied.

Results

The mean age of patients was 59.9 years, and the mean follow-up period was 2.5 years. Affected bones were the tibia ( n = 8), humerus ( n = 1), and fibula ( n = 1). Deep infections developed on average 29.9 days after osteosynthesis. Pathogenic bacteria were methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus ( n = 6), methicillin-resistant S. aureus ( n = 2), and unknown ( n = 2). Average iMAP duration was 17.1 days. In all patients, infection was eradicated while preserving the implants, and fracture union was achieved without complications.

Conclusion

iMAP is a novel local drug delivery system allowing high concentrations of antibiotics to be administered without complications and is useful in the treatment of FRI.
Cancer Impacts on Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Income Loss, and Informal (Unpaid) Care: A Cross-Sectional Study of Patient Perspective
Authors: Al-Aqeel Sinaa , Alnaim Lamya , Alghaith Jeelan , Almosabhi Latifa
Published: October 2021

A paper-based questionnaire was used to measure out-of-pocket expenses, income loss, and informal (unpaid) care from the cancer patient’s perspective. A total of 181 adult solid cancer patients on chemotherapy for at least 3 months were recruited from 1 teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The majority were female (66%) and 41% were 60 years of age or older. A total of 107 respondents used their own car for transport to and from the hospital to receive chemotherapy (median distance 42 km). Over the last 4 weeks, 21% purchased medications, 18% visited a physician, and 8% visited a physiotherapist, spending a median amount of $47, $220, and $793, respectively. A total of 47 participants were employed at the time of their cancer diagnoses, and 32% of them reported some loss of income. A total of 85% of respondents were escorted by a carer during chemotherapy sessions. Approximately 64%, 31%, 61%, 43%, and 28% reported getting help from a carer for housework, child care, shopping, medicine taking, and personal care, respectively. The carer spent on average 50 h per week looking after the patient.
Paving the Way for a Gender Diverse Future: Small and Mid-size Corporates
Authors: B. Ketan Kapoor , Tyagi Garima
Published: October 2021

Understanding and accepting gender bias especially at the workplace is crucial to ensure more participation not only of women but also men in diversified roles irrespective of their genders. This will bridge the gap between talent and opportunities, increase productivity, widen the talent pool and encourage personal and professional growth.

Gender equality is not a women issue but a human issue that affects everyone. The women were more susceptible to the pandemic-induced challenges due to already existing gender and economical inequalities. Most of them were negatively hit and their financial, social and financial status became vulnerable due to loss of livelihood, family condition and mental and physical health challenges.

The Maternity Act is undoubtedly a great step towards empowering women but more needs to be done to make the ecosystem more conducive for their overall well-being. Flexible workplace policies, more benefits and special provisions will be instrumental to ease the burden on them.

The need is not only to draft favourable work policies but also to make key stakeholders aware of the unconscious biases and prejudices that exist. The target of equitable development can only be achieved through a sensible, collaborative, and responsible approach.
Whiteite-(MnMnMn), a new jahnsite-group mineral species from the Foote mine, North Carolina, USA, and chemical pressure effects in jahnsite-group minerals.
Authors: Grey Ian E. , Smith Jason B. , Kampf Anthony R. , Mumme W. Gus , MacRae Colin M. , Riboldi-Tunnicliffe Alan , Boer Stephanie , Glenn Alexander M. , Gable Robert W.
Published: October 2021

Whiteite-(MnMnMn), Mn2+Mn2+Mn2+2Al2(PO4)4(OH)2⋅8H2O, is a new whiteite-subgroup member of the jahnsite group from the Foote Lithium Company mine, Kings Mountain district, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA. It was found in small vugs of partially oxidised pegmatite minerals on the East dump of the mine, in association with eosphorite, hureaulite, fairfieldite, mangangordonite, whiteite-(CaMnMn) and jasonsmithite. It occurs as sugary aggregates of blade-like crystals up to 0.1 mm long and as epitaxial overgrowths on whiteite-(CaMnMn). The crystals are colourless to very pale brown, with a vitreous lustre and a white streak. The blades are flattened on {001} and elongated along [010], with poor cleavage on {001}. The calculated density is 2.82 g⋅cm–3. Optically it is biaxial (–) with α = 1.599(2), β = 1.605(2), γ = 1.609(2) (white light); 2V (calc.) = 78.2°, having no observable dispersion or pleochroism, and with orientation X = b. Electron microprobe analyses and structure refinement gave the empirical formula (Mn2+0.59Ca0.38Na0.03)Σ1.00Mn1.00(Mn2+1.04Fe3+0.58Fe2+0.23Zn0.16Mg0.08)Σ2.09Al2.04(PO4)3.89(OH)3.18(H2O)7.26. Whiteite-(MnMnMn) is monoclinic, P2/a, a = 15.024(3) Å, b = 6.9470(14) Å, c = 9.999(2) Å, β = 110.71(3)°, V = 976.2(4) Å3 and Z = 2. The crystal structure was refined using synchrotron single-crystal data to wRobs = 0.057 for 2014 reflections with I > 3σ(I). Site occupancy refinements confirm the ordering of dominant Mn in the X, M1 and M2 sites of the general jahnsite-group formula XM1(M2)2(M3)2(H2O)8(OH)2(PO4)4. A review of published crystallochemical data for jahnsite-group minerals shows a consistent chemical pressure effect in these minerals, manifested as a contraction of the unit-cell parameter, a, as the mean size of the X and M1 site cations increases. This is analogous to negative thermal expansion, but with increasing cation size, rather than heating, inducing octahedral rotations that result in an anisotropic contraction of the unit cell.
Origins of bloodstream infections following fecal microbiota transplantation: a strain-level analysis
Authors: Eshel Adi , Sharon Itai , Nagler Arnon , Bomze David , Danylesko Ivetta , Fein Joshua A. , Geva Mika , Henig Israel , Shimoni Avichai , Zuckerman Tsila , Youngster Ilan , Koren Omry , Shouval Roni
Published: October 2021

We observed high rates of bloodstream infections (BSIs) following fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for graft-versus-host-disease (33 events in 22 patients). To trace the BSIs' origin, we applied a metagenomic bioinformatic pipeline screening donor and recipient stool samples for bacteremia-causing strains in 13 cases. Offending strains were not detected in FMT donations. Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii could be detected in stool samples before emerging in the blood. In this largest report of BSIs post-FMT, we present an approach that may be applicable for evaluating BSI origin following microbiota-based interventions. Our findings support FMT safety in immunocompromised patients but do not rule out FMT as an inducer of bacterial translocation.
Human mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes inhibit the growth of acute myeloid leukemia cells via regulating miR-23b-5p/TRIM14 pathway
Authors: Cheng Hui , Ding Jie , Tang Gusheng , Huang Aijie , Gao Lei , Yang Jianmin , Chen Li
Published: October 2021

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignancy commonly seen in adults. Previous studies indicated that TRIM14 played a tumorigenic role in various types of cancer and miR-23b-5p was down-regulated in human mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (HMSC-exos) of AML patients. However, their roles in AML remains unclear. Our study aims to investigate the role of TRIM14 and miR-23b-5p in the pathogenesis of AML.

Materials and methods

The blood specimen was collected from de novo AML patients and healthy donators. Exosomes were extracted from the culture medium of human mesenchymal stem cells under ultracentrifugation. Then exosomes were co-cultured with AML cells to determine the effect of their contents. The cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 assay, whereas the cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of miR-23b-5p and TRIM14 was silenced or overexpressed to explore their biological functions in AML. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to validate the interaction between miR-23b-5p and TRIM14. Gene expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunoblots.

Results

TRIM14 was significantly increased in AML patients and cell lines. The inhibition of TRIM14 significantly reduced the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of AML cells via activating PI3K/AKT pathway, whereas its overexpression exhibited reversed effects. HMSC-exos could suppress the proliferation of AML cells through the delivery of miR-23b-5p. Moreover, miR-23b-5p inhibited the transcription of TRIM14 by binding on its 3’UTR region. Overexpression of TRIM14 exhibited reversed effect against the function of miR-23b-5p mimic.

Conclusion

TRIM14 could promote the proliferation of AML cells via activating PI3K/AKT pathway, which was reversed by HMSC-exos through delivering miR-23b-5p. These findings indicated that miR-23b-5p and TRIM14 could be applied as potential targets for the treatment of AML.
Current Trends and Perspectives of Detection and Location for Buried Non-Metallic Pipelines
Authors: Ge Liang , Zhang Changpeng , Tian Guiyun , Xiao Xiaoting , Ahmed Junaid , Wei Guohui , Hu Ze , Xiang Ju , Robinson Mark
Published: October 2021

Buried pipelines are an essential component of the urban infrastructure of modern cities. Traditional buried pipes are mainly made of metal materials. With the development of material science and technology in recent years, non-metallic pipes, such as plastic pipes, ceramic pipes, and concrete pipes, are increasingly taking the place of pipes made from metal in various pipeline networks such as water supply, drainage, heat, industry, oil, and gas. The location technologies for the location of the buried metal pipeline have become mature, but detection and location technologies for the non-metallic pipelines are still developing. In this paper, current trends and future perspectives of detection and location of buried non-metallic pipelines are summarized. Initially, this paper reviews and analyzes electromagnetic induction technologies, electromagnetic wave technologies, and other physics-based technologies. It then focuses on acoustic detection and location technologies, and finally introduces emerging technologies. Then the technical characteristics of each detection and location method have been compared, with their strengths and weaknesses identified. The current trends and future perspectives of each buried non-metallic pipeline detection and location technology have also been defined. Finally, some suggestions for the future development of buried non-metallic pipeline detection and location technologies are provided.
Classification of acoustic emission signals in wood damage and fracture process based on empirical mode decomposition, discrete wavelet transform methods, and selected features
Authors: Zhang Meilin , Zhang Qinghui , Li Junqiu , Xu Jiale , Zheng Jiawen
Published: October 2021

The nondestructive testing technology of generated acoustic emission (AE) signals for wood is of great significance for the evaluation of internal damages of wood. To achieve more accurate and adaptive evaluation, an AE signals classification method combining the empirical mode decomposition (EMD), discrete wavelet transform (DWT), and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier is proposed. Five features (entropy, crest factor, pulse factor, margin factor, waveform factor) are selected for classification because they are more sensitive to the uncertainty, complexity, and non-linearity of AE signals generated during wood fracture. The three-point bending load damage experiment was implemented on sample wood of beech and Pinus sylvestris to generate original AE signals. Evaluation indexes (precision, accuracy, recall, F1-score) were adopted to assess the classification model. The results show that the ensemble classification accuracies of two tree species reach 94.58% and 90.58%, respectively. Moreover, compared with the results of the original AE signal, the accuracy of the AE signal processed by the methods proposed is increased by 27.68%. It indicates that the EMD and DWT signal processing methods and selected features improve the classification accuracy, and this automatic classification model has good AE signal recognition performance.
How do citizens feel about their water services in the water sector? Evidence from the UK
Authors: Tian Kang , Chen Zhuo , Wang Han
Published: October 2021

At present, many studies have used social survey methods to explore UK water citizens’ perceptions of the water sector’s water services, but there are few more targeted and systematic studies. This paper mainly displays the perceptions of UK water citizens on water services in the water sector in recent years and analyses the main reasons for different perceptions and possible strategies. We conduct extensive research from four aspects that are highly related to water services: water citizens’ perceptions of the water supply services and technology application (infrastructure construction) provided by the water sector; the state of communication between the water sector and water citizens and their perceptions of water supply management; water citizens’ perceptions of the comprehensive utilisation of water resources in the water sector; water citizens’ perceptions of the water prices set by the water sector. These discussions aim to discover citizens’ perceptions of the water sector and the effects on the public participation mechanism. These insights help attract the water sector’s attention so that the public’s opinions can genuinely support water policymakers and provide sure support for the water sector to formulate corresponding solutions.
Genome-wide identification, phylogeny and expression analysis of AP2/ERF transcription factors family in sweet potato
Authors: He Shutao , Hao Xiaomeng , He Shuli , Hao Xiaoge , Zhang Peng , Chen Xiaonan
Published: October 2021

Background

In recent years, much attention has been given to AP2/ERF transcription factors because they play indispensable roles in many biological processes, such as plant development and biotic and abiotic stress responses. Although AP2/ERFs have been thoroughly characterised in many plant species, the knowledge about this family in the sweet potato, which is a vital edible and medicinal crop, is still limited. In this study, a comprehensive genome-wide investigation was conducted to characterise the AP2/ERF gene family in the sweet potato.

Results

Here, 198 IbAP2/ERF transcription factors were obtained. Phylogenetic analysis classified the members of the IbAP2/ERF family into three groups, namely, ERF (172 members), AP2 (21 members) and RAV (5 members), which was consistent with the analysis of gene structure and conserved protein domains. The evolutionary characteristics of these IbAP2/ERF genes were systematically investigated by analysing chromosome location, conserved protein motifs and gene duplication events, indicating that the expansion of the IbAP2/ERF gene family may have been caused by tandem duplication. Furthermore, the analysis of cis-acting elements in IbAP2/ERF gene promoters implied that these genes may play crucial roles in plant growth, development and stress responses. Additionally, the available RNA-seq data and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to investigate the expression patterns of IbAP2/ERF genes during sweet potato root development as well as under multiple forms of abiotic stress, and we identified several developmental stage-specific and stress-responsive IbAP2/ERF genes. Furthermore, g59127 was differentially expressed under various stress conditions and was identified as a nuclear protein, which was in line with predicted subcellular localization results.

Conclusions

This study originally revealed the characteristics of the IbAP2/ERF superfamily and provides valuable resources for further evolutionary and functional investigations of IbAP2/ERF genes in the sweet potato.
Phosphoproteome analysis reveals an extensive phosphorylation of proteins associated with bast fiber growth in ramie
Authors: Zeng Zheng , Li Fu , Huang Renyan , Wang Yanzhou , Liu Touming
Published: October 2021

Background

Phosphorylation modification, one of the most common post-translational modifications of proteins, widely participates in the regulation of plant growth and development. Fibers extracted from the stem bark of ramie are important natural textile fibers; however, the role of phosphorylation modification in the growth of ramie fibers is largely unknown.

Results

Here, we report a phosphoproteome analysis for the barks from the top and middle section of ramie stems, in which the fiber grows at different stages. A total of 10,320 phosphorylation sites from 9,170 unique phosphopeptides that were assigned to 3,506 proteins was identified, and 458 differentially phosphorylated sites from 323 proteins were detected in the fiber developmental barks. Twelve differentially phosphorylated proteins were the homologs of Arabidopsis fiber growth-related proteins. We further focused on the function of the differentially phosphorylated KNOX protein whole_GLEAN_10029667, and found that this protein dramatically repressed the fiber formation in Arabidopsis. Additionally, using a yeast two-hybridization assay, we identified a kinase and a phosphatase that interact with whole_GLEAN_10029667, indicating that they potentially target this KNOX protein to regulate its phosphorylation level.

Conclusion

The finding of this study provided insights into the involvement of phosphorylation modification in ramie fiber growth, and our functional characterization of whole_GLEAN_10029667 provide the first evidence to indicate the involvement of phosphorylation modification in the regulation of KNOX protein function in plants.