bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehension, Processing Time, and Modality Preferences When People With Aphasia and Neurotypical Healthy Adults Read Books: A Pilot Study
Authors: Knollman-Porter Kelly , Hux Karen , Wallace Sarah E. , Pruitt McKenzie , Hughes Michael R. , Brown Jessica A.
Published: September 2022

Background:

Many people with aphasia (PWA) want to read books. Text-to-speech (TTS) technology sometimes provides comprehension and processing time benefits when PWA read short, multisentence passages. Currently, no research examines the effect of TTS support when PWA read books.

Aims:

This study's primary purpose was to examine comprehension accuracy and total processing time of PWA and neurotypical healthy adults (NHAs) when reading book sections in read-only versus TTS-supported conditions. A secondary aim was to examine condition preference and perceived degree of understanding by people in both participant groups.

Method and Procedure:

Ten PWA and 10 NHAs alternated between read-only and TTS-supported conditions to read a book. Participants answered comprehension questions and provided feedback about their reading experience, condition preference, and desire to use TTS technology for future book reading.

Outcomes and Result:

Overall, PWA exhibited less accurate comprehension and slower processing times compared to NHAs in both conditions. No significant comprehension accuracy difference occurred between conditions for either group. However, four PWA exhibited a 10% or greater increase in comprehension accuracy when receiving TTS support. A significant processing time difference occurred with PWA processing text faster with TTS support, whereas NHAs did not demonstrate processing time differences. Most PWA preferred the TTS condition and expressed a desire to use TTS technology in the future. Most NHAs expressed the opposite preference.

Conclusions:

TTS support during book reading promotes faster processing without compromising comprehension for PWA. Clinicians should discuss with PWA the relative importance of comprehension accuracy, processing time, and comfort with technology when determining whether using TTS support during book reading is desirable.
Can Bilingual Children Self-Report Their Bilingual Experience and Proficiency? The Houston Questionnaire
Authors: Castilla-Earls Anny , Ronderos Juliana , Fitton Lisa
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to develop a child self-report questionnaire measuring bilingual experience and self-perceptions of Spanish and English proficiency and establish preliminary evidence of validity and reliability for the questionnaire.

Method:

Participants included 113 Spanish–English bilingual children with and without developmental language disorders ranging in age from 4 to 8 years. All children completed the questionnaire in Spanish and participated in behavioral assessment of their language skills in both Spanish and English.

Results:

Using confirmatory factor analysis, a model with three correlated factors (self-perception of proficiency in Spanish, self-perception of proficiency in English, and bilingual experience) emerged with the best global fit, reasonableness, consistency with theory, and model parsimony, suggesting that the questionnaire has good internal reliability. The scaled results of the questionnaires significantly correlated with behavioral measures of both Spanish and English, supporting the convergent validity of the measure.

Conclusions:

The Houston Questionnaire is an assessment tool for the assessment of bilingual experience and self-perception of proficiency in Spanish and English bilingual children between the ages of 4 and 8 years. The results provide foundational evidence supporting the reliability and convergent validity of this tool.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.21158887
Prediction Cannot Be Directly Trained: An Extension to Jones and Westermann (2021)
Authors: Jones Samuel David , Westermann Gert
Published: September 2022

In January 2021, we published an article titled “Predictive Processing and Developmental Language Disorder” in the
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research
. The current commentary provides an important extension to this work. Specifically, we aim to head off the suggestion that a child's “predictive capacity” may be trained independently of improving the quality of their long-term speech representations.
“Getting Back Into School Mode”: Experiences of Former Speech-Language Pathology Assistants in Graduate School
Authors: Wolford George W. , Wolford Laura L. , Brannick Schea Fissel , Anderson Emily N. , McLoud Kaitlin
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

The purpose of this article is to describe the speech-language pathology master's program experience for two groups of students: students with former speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) experience (fSLPA) and students without SLPA experience (nSLPA). Results are relevant to current SLPAs who are considering attending graduate school and university faculty members involved in program design.

Method:

A survey was distributed electronically to students nationwide. The survey included both Likert-style questions and open-ended responses. A total of 85 student responses were included in data, 43 fSLPAs and 42 nSLPAs. Qualitative and quantitative results were analyzed separately and then synthesized together in a mixed-methods analysis.

Results:

Although the study was not designed to directly measure stressors, bottom-up qualitative analysis resulted in a framework of internal and external stressors, internal and external supports, and learning and growing. Stressors and supports were described by participants as intertwined, and a given event (e.g., the start of clinical rotations) did not map neatly to stressors or supports for all participants. fSLPAs reported higher perceptions of clinical success, feeling different than their peers, and the perception that fSLPAs were more successful in graduate school. Taken together, these results converged to develop seven findings. For instance, one finding was that, although both groups reported external and internal stressors, the specific stressors somewhat varied by group.

Conclusions:

Findings are discussed in relation to transformational learning theory and prior works on stress within the field. Implications for program development and prospective speech-language pathology graduate students are discussed.
Becoming a Voice Specialist in the Absence of a Dedicated Fellowship
Authors: Koenig Eveline
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

Becoming a voice and upper airway specialist is challenging without fellowship or employment in a specialty setting, limiting the number of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who develop competencies in voice and upper airway disorders. As an SLP who traveled an untraditional route to gaining competencies and experience in voice and upper airway disorders, I am sharing my story to offer ideas and resources to encourage SLPs without a formal voice fellowship to develop competence in evaluating and treating voice and upper airway disorders. My foundation in voice was developed out of necessity, living on an island with limited resources and without any voice specialists. Through a commitment to lifelong learning, I was able to learn the fundamentals to help patients who had no options in the community aside from me.

Conclusions:

There are resources available to help any SLP become competent in voice and upper airway disorders, and it is my hope that my story will inspire others to make the commitment to advancing their knowledge and skills in the evaluation and treatment of voice and upper airway disorders.
Slope‐based detection scheme for molecular communication systems
Authors: Bayat Mohammad , Mostafavi Mohammad
Published: September 2022

Improving data rate in the presence of the inter‐symbol interference (ISI) is one of the main challenging issues in molecular communication via diffusion‐based (MCvD) systems. In this paper, a slope‐based detection scheme is proposed, which acts based on the behavior of the steepest part of the channel impulse response (CIR) in the presence of the ISI. The impacts of the receiver volume (), number of the released molecules, and relative symbol interval () on the performance of bit error rate () is investigated. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed slope‐based detection scheme effectively improves the accuracy of the data detection in the low and the high data rate communications in comparison with similar works.
Effect of outlet characteristics and particle properties on the flow characteristics inside conical hoppers
Authors: Liao Haotian , Zong Yanbing , Li Kejiang , Bi Zhisheng , Jiang Chunhe , Zhang Jianliang , Ren Shan
Published: September 2022

Precisely predicting the hopper discharge rate and trajectory is of great significance for industrial processing of granular materials. This study uses the DEM (Discrete Element Method)-based open-source software LIGGGHTS to analyze the flow behavior of spherical particles in six cone-shaped hoppers with different outlet shapes (circle, triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon and hexagon) with the various opening area. It was found that the particle flow velocity and mass flow rates are mainly determined by the outlet areas, while the outlet shape have an obvious influence on the particle trajectory which determines the stagnation area in the hopper. The results of the present study can provide meaningful guidance for the optimization of industrial hopper structure design and control.
L’arthrite septique traumatique : Diagnostic clinique, traitement et pronostic
Authors: Mennetrey Mathilde , André Adeline , Lenoir Augustin
Published: September 2022

L’arthrite septique d’origine traumatique est l’un des motifs d’urgence les plus répandus en raison de la conformation et de l’utilisation du cheval, et nécessite une prise en charge organisée et rapide. L’examen initial d’une plaie se doit d’évaluer la possibilité d’une atteinte septique, par le biais de différentes techniques, que ce soit la palpation, l’exploration, la radiographie ou l’échographie. La ponction synoviale et l’examen cytologique du liquide synovial reste à ce jour le diagnostic de référence, surpassant l’analyse bactérienne qui a un délai plus important et un plus haut taux de faux négatifs. Le traitement d’une arthrite septique traumatique passe par une intervention chirurgicale pour laver la cavité synoviale en question, associé à un traitement antibiotique par voie systémique et locale. Le pronostic est en général favorable pour le retour au sport si la prise en charge est rapide et efficace.
La ténosynovite septique
Authors: Salciccia Alexandra , Grulke Sigrid , de la Rebière de Pouyade Geoffroy
Published: September 2022

Les ténosynovites septiques, infection des gaines tendineuses, portent un pronostic sportif et vital réservé qu’il est possible d’optimiser par une prise en charge prompte et agressive. Le diagnostic peut être posé grâce aux symptômes cliniques (distension de la gaine, boiterie importante), l’anamnèse et une analyse de la synovie. En présence d’une plaie, une injection diagnostique pour distendre la synoviale permet de mettre en évidence une éventuelle communication entre la plaie et la gaine. La radiographie et l’échographie peuvent également aider à orienter le diagnostic. Le traitement de choix consiste à laver abondamment et à débrider la gaine (de préférence sous contrôle endoscopique), à administrer des antibiotiques par voie systémique et locale ou locorégionale, idéalement suivant un antibiogramme, et à gérer la douleur et l’inflammation. En cas de plaie, celle-ci devrait être suturée si possible (gestion de l’infection par des techniques dites ‘fermées’). Dans les cas chroniques réfractaires, des incisions peuvent être laissées ouvertes pour un drainage passif des sécrétions sous bandage stérile. Une alternative est l’utilisation de thérapie par pression négative ou la pose de drain actif. Parmi les facteurs influençant négativement le pronostic, figurent les lésions tendineuses et/ou osseuses concomitantes au sepsis synovial.
Quantifying internal workload during training drills in handball players: comparison between heart rate and perceived exertion based methods
Authors: Ravier Gilles
Published: September 2022

Aim: Monitoring internal workload is widely used in team sports. The association between the rating of perceived exertion-based (s-RPE) and heart rate (HR)-based methods needs further investigations regarding exercise modalities in handball. This study compared sRPE and HR-based responses during commonly used handball-training drills. Methods: Twelve professional male players were monitored in 6 separate occasions during two small-sided games (SSGs), two match-play periods (MPs) and two interval runs (IRs). The s-RPE and two HR-based methods were used to quantify workload. Pearson correlations were applied to determine relationships between quantification methods, and one-way ANOVA was used to compare workloads between exercise modalities for each method. Results: Nearly perfect correlation was observed (p < 0.0001, r = 0.93–0.99) between both HR-based methods for each exercise modality. Relationships between s-RPE and HR-based methods revealed trivial to small correlations. The perception of effort reported in response to SSGs and MPs sequences were much lower than IRs. Conclusion: s-RPE and HR-based methods do not seem to be interchangeable. They should be considered as complementary to understand psychophysiological workload. The s-RPE quantification of training drills might help coaches to better design their training session particularly during intense periods.
Glenoidfraktur
Authors: Klatte Till Orla , Mader Konrad , Frosch Karl-Heinz
Published: September 2022

Glenoidfrakturen stellen im klinischen Alltag eine Rarität da. Neben hochenergetischen Traumata finden sich häufig Luxationsereignisse als Ursache. Nicht nur die Frakturmorphologie, sondern
auch das zugrunde liegende Trauma haben einen Einfluss auf die richtige Entscheidung für die weitere konservative oder operative Behandlung. Insbesondere für größere anteriore
Glenoidfrakturen zeigt die aktuelle Literatur gute Ergebnisse für die konservative Behandlung. Hingegen zeigen kleinere Bony-Bankart-Verletzungen eine höhere Instabilitätsrate beim jungen
Patienten unter konservativer Therapie. Für die operativen Versorgungstechniken bieten sich zunehmend, neben offenen Verfahren, eine Reihe arthroskopischer Techniken an.
Die MTRA-Schule Oldenburg stellt sich vor
Authors: Grau Mathias
Published: September 2022

Die MTRA-Schule Oldenburg ist eine von ca. 72 MTRA Schulen bundesweit. Wir sind
eine staatlich anerkannte Schule in Trägerschaft des Klinikums Oldenburg
AöR. Um einen kleinen Einblick in den Lernalltag zu geben, wollen wir
sowie die Schülerinnen und Schüler des zweiten Lehrjahrs unsere
Schule vorstellen.
Nervenleitgeschwindigkeit
Authors: Corts Magga
Published: September 2022

Die Nervenleitgeschwindigkeit (NLG) dokumentiert, wie schnell entlang einer Nervenfaser ein elektrischer Impuls weitergeleitet werden kann. Nicht jede Nervenfaser leitet gleich schnell elektrische Impulse weiter. Die Dicke (Kaliber) des Nervenzellfortsatzes (Axon) und seine Ummantelung (Myelinscheide) sind entscheidend für die NLG.
Folgeerkrankung kausal therapiert
Authors: Welsch Katja
Published: September 2022

Die Polyneuropathie ist in der Regel eine Folgeerkrankung. Voraussetzung für ihre homöopathische Behandlung ist eine Therapie der Ursache selbst. Bei der Verordnung kann man sich grob an 3 Faktoren orientieren: Causa, Ähnlichkeitsregel und Lokalisation der Beschwerden. Der vorliegende Fall demonstriert, wie eine homöopathische Begleitung einer konventionellen medikamentösen Therapie aussehen kann.
Wenn die Nerven nicht mehr richtig funktionieren
Authors: Schmid Eva C.
Published: September 2022

Eine Polyneuropathie ist eine Erkrankung vieler Nerven des peripheren Nervensystems. Symptome entwickeln sich meist zuerst an den unteren Extremitäten und breiten sich von distal nach proximal aus. Neben entzündlichen rheumatischen Erkrankungen sind Diabetes mellitus, Alkoholabhängigkeit, bestimmte Medikamente, Niereninsuffizienz, Schwermetalle, Leberzirrhosen, Endokrinopathien und Vitamindefizite wichtige Ursachen. Die Diagnose kann fachärztlich über Elektroneurografie, Elektromyografie, EKG, Sonografie und Labordiagnostik erfolgen.
Vom Nerv bis zur Matrix
Authors: Lobach Marina
Published: September 2022

Die Pathogenese des CRPS ist bis heute nicht vollständig geklärt. Diskutiert werden Faktoren wie eine Fehlregulation des sympathischen Nervensystems und chronische Entzündungen. Der naturheilkundliche Blick auf das Krankheitsgeschehen legt nahe, dass auch Störfelder und die entsprechende Beeinträchtigung der Matrix eine Rolle spielen. Anhand eines Fallberichts demonstriert die Autorin, wie eine multimodale Therapie aus Osteopathie, Neuraltherapie und ergänzenden Methoden die Symptomatik deutlich lindern kann.
Electrical conduction and resistive switching in cow milk-based devices prepared using the spin-coat method
Authors: Dlamini Z. W. , Vallabhapurapu S. , Mahule T. S. , Vallabhapurapu V. S.
Published: September 2022

Electronic devices made of organic materials are critical for sustainable technology and the reduction of electronic waste. In this paper, we report on the resistive switching (RS) behavior of an organic full cream cow milk-based film placed between two electrodes. The switching properties of the milk film were investigated for use in RS memory (ReRAM), a new type of memory device. Two devices were created: one with electrodes made of silver (Ag) and indium doped tin oxide (ITO) (Ag/cow milk/ITO) and the other with electrodes made of Ag and tungsten (W) (Ag/cow milk/W). The study is unique in two ways: (1) the use of the spin coat method, which allowed us to deposit 15 nm thin milk films, and (2) the use of ITO and W bottom electrodes, which allowed us to compare the results. Our findings show that both ITO- and W-based devices exhibit RS properties with “S-type” bipolar behavior. The ITO-based device exhibited switching at 0.77 V and an ION/IOFF ratio of ∼2. The memory behavior of this device lasted ∼7 write/erase cycles, indicating the possibility of nonvolatile memory application. In contrast, the switching in the W-based device was characterized by low (0.1 V) voltage, and it lasted for only one cycle. Increasing the compliance current to 0.5 A improved the ON/OFF ratio to 102, but the device could not repeat the same hysteresis behavior. The analysis of the conduction and switching mechanisms in both devices revealed a conductive bridge mechanism attributed to the metalization of metal ions naturally found in milk. Overall, our findings show that the thickness of the milk film influences both conduction and switching mechanisms and that the (milk film)/ITO and (milk film)/W interfaces influence the conductance of full cream cow milk-based ReRAM devices.
Experimental study on the formation of two axial jets of cavitation bubbles near soft membranes with different thicknesses
Authors: Wang Ao , Zhong Yuxue , Wang Guanghang , Huang Jian , Wang Jingzhu , Wang Yiwei
Published: September 2022

A cavitation bubble collapses non-spherically, splits into two smaller bubbles, and induces two axial jets flowing in opposite directions near a soft membrane. The soft membrane is deformed and even pierced after the impact of the downward jet. In this paper, we experimentally studied the formation of two axial jets of a spark-induced bubble near Ecoflex membranes with different thicknesses. Assuming that the millimeter-sized bubble is filled with an ideal gas and collapses adiabatically in water, the dominant dimensionless parameters, the stiffness (d′) and stand-off distance (h*), determining the formation of the two axial jets, are obtained, and the value of d′ is varied by changing the membrane thickness. Two parameter plots for the regimes of bubble jetting and no jetting were obtained. The critical h* of the bubble jetting increased exponentially with increasing d′, reaching a maximum of 1.1 at d′ = 0.045 56 (the thickness d = 10 mm). This was because the counteracting force induced by the rebounding of the deformed membrane grew in strength. After that, the h* remained constant since the counteracting force was unchanged due to the feature changes of the membrane deformation. Consequently, we obtain a function of the boundary line between the regimes. The sub-regime of the membrane piercing was obtained in the regime of bubble jetting. It was found that the velocity of membrane deformation induced by the jet impact was an important factor in membrane piercing.
The Australian Coral Reef Society: the last 40 years of a century working with Australia’s coral reefs
Authors: Hamylton Sarah M. , Hutchings Pat , Sims Carrie , Ward Selina
Published: September 2022

On the 100-year anniversary of the Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS), previously known as the Great Barrier Reef Committee (GBRC), we provide an overview of ACRS activities throughout its history, with a detailed account of key milestones in the last 40 years. We outline how the ACRS as promoted the protection and conservation of reefs, through expert advice, reviews, and submissions to enquiries. Examples are provided under the following themes: ACRS consultancy on zoning the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) Marine Park, marine protected area design, water quality on the GBR, port expansions along the Queensland coastline and environmental reform for the offshore oil and gas industry. We illustrate how scientists over recent decades have worked to better understand and encourage policy responses to the impacts of climate change on Australia’s coral reefs. For a hundred years, the GBRC-ACRS has provided an avenue for Australian coral reef scientists, managers and conservationists to influence reef governance through policy. While these unique avenues for delivering timely and targeted expertise have helped to reduce proximate threats to reefs at local scales, their outcome in relation to climate change, arguably the largest threat to Australia’s coral reefs, remains to be seen.
Is the Paraíba do Sul River colourful? Prevalence of microplastics in freshwater, south-eastern Brazil
Authors: da Costa Igor D. , Nunes Natalia N. S. , Costa Leonardo L. , Zalmon Ilana R.
Published: September 2022

Context Plastic pollution can be even more problematic to the environment when this material is fragmented into small pieces forming microplastics (MPs). Aims The objectives of the present study were to investigate the abundance, morphotypes, predominant polymers, and colour of MPs on surface waters, and compare the effect of the hydrologic cycle on the abundance and richness of MP categories along a stretch of the Paraíba do Sul River basin, the water system of which flows through the most populous area in Brazil. Methods Samples were taken from the superficial layer of the water column in high-water and low-water periods 2021, using bottles and plankton net. Key results In total, 15 categories of MP were determined and 290 plastic particles were collected in both periods. A greater abundance of MPs was found during the high-water period than in the low-water period, considering both sampling methods. Conclusions The MPs in the surface waters of the Paraíba do Sul River are significantly influenced by the rainfall regime. Implications In view of climate change, which encompasses an increase in the frequency and intensity of river floods, our results present significant implications for the management of MPs in riverine and marine systems, within the context of global climatic alterations.
Metacognition in multilingual learning and teaching
Authors: Jessner Ulrike , Allgäuer-Hackl Elisabeth
Published: September 2022

Metacognition has been increasingly discussed as one of the main features of learning in the 21st century (see Haukås, Bjørke, & Dypedahl, 2018). In the Dynamic Model of Multilingualism Theory (DMM) (Herdina & Jessner 2002), which applies Complexity and Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) to multilingualism, it is argued that multilinguals develop increased knowledge of languages and language learning through experience. In this article a CDST perspective on multilingual learning and teaching with a focus on metacognition will be presented. The central sub-component of metacognition in DMM, in the form of multilingual awareness, comprising metalinguistic and cross-linguistic awareness in multilingual learners, will be discussed as a core feature of multilingual proficiency in multilingual development. In a number of studies in the Austrian and South Tyrolean context multilingual awareness has turned out as a core factor in both learning and teaching. These studies show that multilingual awareness has to be trained in multilingual pedagogical approaches in order to foster multilingualism. A holistic approach is needed to deal with the ongoing tensions between complexity, dynamics, adaptation and stability. Although it becomes clear that the nature of multilingualism can only be understood in relation to its context, it is nevertheless possible to isolate and define constant factors in an efficient multilingual awareness training as provided by the Five Building Blocks of Holistic Multilingual Education.
Laughing at English
Authors: Piccoli Vanessa , Pugliese Rosa
Published: September 2022

This contribution explores the stances of speakers of Romance languages towards the use of English as a lingua franca in a business context. Grounding on an audio-visual corpus collected in a wine fair in France, the analysis focuses on three extracts where participants comment in a playful way (i.e. through laughing, joking and humorous enactments) upon the fact that they arenotspeaking English. Through a sequential and multimodal analysis, the study will highlight the participants’ ambivalent stance: on the one hand, through these playful practices they display a local resistance towards the mainstream language choice; on the other hand, these same practices reveal their vulnerability to the social pressure concerning the speaking of English.
A class of identities associated with Dirichlet series satisfying Hecke’s functional equation
Authors: Berndt Bruce , Dixit Atul , Gupta Rajat , Zaharescu Alexandru
Published: September 2022

We consider two sequences

a
(
n
)

a(n)

and

b
(
n
)

b(n)

,

1
≤
n
>
∞

1\leq n>\infty

, generated by Dirichlet series of the forms
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="sigma-summation Underscript n equals 1 Overscript normal infinity Endscripts StartFraction a left-parenthesis n right-parenthesis Over lamda Subscript n Superscript s Baseline EndFraction and sigma-summation Underscript n equals 1 Overscript normal infinity Endscripts StartFraction b left-parenthesis n right-parenthesis Over mu Subscript n Superscript s Baseline EndFraction comma">

∑

n
=
1

∞

a
(
n
)

λ
n

s

and

∑

n
=
1

∞

b
(
n
)

μ
n

s

,

\begin{equation*} \sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\dfrac {a(n)}{\lambda _n^{s}}\qquad \text {and}\qquad \sum _{n=1}^{\infty }\dfrac {b(n)}{\mu _n^{s}}, \end{equation*}

satisfying a familiar functional equation involving the gamma function

Γ
(
s
)

\Gamma (s)

. A general identity is established. Appearing on one side is an infinite series involving

a
(
n
)

a(n)

and modified Bessel functions

K

ν

K_{\nu }

, wherein on the other side is an infinite series involving

b
(
n
)

b(n)

that is an analogue of the Hurwitz zeta function. Six special cases, including

a
(
n
)
=
τ
(
n
)

a(n)=\tau (n)

and

a
(
n
)
=

r
k

(
n
)

a(n)=r_k(n)

, are examined, where

τ
(
n
)

\tau (n)

is Ramanujan’s arithmetical function and

r
k

(
n
)

r_k(n)

denotes the number of representations of

n
n

as a sum of

k
k

squares. All but one of the examples appear to be new.
Early Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Non-Dipping: When Ejection Fraction is Not Enough. A Meta-Analysis of Speckle tracking Echocardiography Studies
Authors: Cuspidi Cesare , Gherbesi Elisa , Faggiano Andrea , Sala Carla , Carugo Stefano , Tadic Marijana
Published: September 2022

Background

There is evidence that a reduced nocturnal fall in blood pressure (BP) entails an increased risk of hypertensive-mediated organ damage (HMOD) and cardiovascular events. Most studies focusing on left ventricular (LV) systolic function, assessed by conventional LV ejection fraction (LVEF) in non-dippers compared to dippers failed to detect significant differences. To provide a new piece of information on LV systolic dysfunction in the non-dipping setting, we performed a meta-analysis of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) studies investigating LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), a more sensitive index of LV systolic function.

Methods

A computerized search was performed using PubMed, OVID, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases from inception until 31 July, 2022. Full articles reporting data on LV GLS and LVEF in non-dippers and dippers were considered suitable.

Results

A total of 648 non-dipper and 530 dipper individuals were included in 9 studies. LV GLS was worse in non-dipper than in their dipper counterparts (−18.4 ± 0.30 vs. −20.1 ± 0.23%, standard means difference [SMD]: 0.73 ± 0.14, confidence interval [CI]: 0.46/1.00, P < 0.0001) whereas this was not the case for LVEF (61.4 ± 0.8 and 62.0 ± 0.8%, respectively), SMD: −−0.15 ± 0.09, CI: −0.32/0.03, P = 1.01). A meta-regression analysis between nighttime systolic BP and myocardial GLS showed a significant, relationship between these variables (coefficient 0.085, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that early changes in LV systolic function not detectable by conventional echocardiography in the non-dipping setting can be unmasked by STE; implementation of STE in current practice may improve the detection of HMOD of adverse prognostic significance in individuals with altered circadian BP rhythm.
The Tragic Pragmatism of the Wagner Act
Authors: Judt Daniel
Published: September 2022

The Wagner Act established a right to collective action as the keystone of industrial democracy. In doing so, it also articulated a radical conception of the self: that individuals form genuine desires and attain full self-actualization through collective action. This conception ran counter to the traditional liberal idea of selfhood, which took possessive individualism as the fundament of democratic governance. This paper places the Wagner Act and its reception in the context of changing conceptions of the self in American political thought from 1920 to 1950. The Wagner Act derived its conception of democratic activity from a pragmatist and progressivist theory of the “social self.” But its reception took place amidst a very different intellectual context. By midcentury, a liberal hostility to “mass society” and its deleterious effects on individual choice had repudiated the older pragmatist collectivism. In other words, the Act’s core provision—the notion of collective action as central to the formation of workers’ individual desires—was born of a dying moment in American thought. The immediate hostility that the new labor law regime faced in Congress and the courts was a consequence, in part, of that disjuncture.
The impact of coffee subtypes on incident cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, and mortality: long-term outcomes from the UK Biobank
Authors: Chieng David , Canovas Rodrigo , Segan Louise , Sugumar Hariharan , Voskoboinik Aleksandr , Prabhu Sandeep , Ling Liang-Han , Lee Geoffrey , Morton Joseph B , Kaye David M , Kalman Jonathan M , Kistler Peter M
Published: September 2022

Aims

Epidemiological studies report the beneficial effects of habitual coffee consumption on incident arrhythmia, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality. However, the impact of different coffee preparations on cardiovascular outcomes and survival is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate associations between coffee subtypes on incident outcomes, utilizing the UK Biobank.

Methods and results

Coffee subtypes were defined as decaffeinated, ground, and instant, then divided into 0, <1, 1, 2–3, 4–5, and >5 cups/day, and compared with non-drinkers. Cardiovascular disease included coronary heart disease, cardiac failure, and ischaemic stroke. Cox regression modelling with hazard ratios (HRs) assessed associations with incident arrhythmia, CVD, and mortality. Outcomes were determined through ICD codes and death records. A total of 449 563 participants (median 58 years, 55.3% females) were followed over 12.5 ± 0.7 years. Ground and instant coffee consumption was associated with a significant reduction in arrhythmia at 1–5 cups/day but not for decaffeinated coffee. The lowest risk was 4–5 cups/day for ground coffee [HR 0.83, confidence interval (CI) 0.76–0.91, P < 0.0001] and 2–3 cups/day for instant coffee (HR 0.88, CI 0.85–0.92, P < 0.0001). All coffee subtypes were associated with a reduction in incident CVD (the lowest risk was 2–3 cups/day for decaffeinated, P = 0.0093; ground, P < 0.0001; and instant coffee, P < 0.0001) vs. non-drinkers. All-cause mortality was significantly reduced for all coffee subtypes, with the greatest risk reduction seen with 2–3 cups/day for decaffeinated (HR 0.86, CI 0.81–0.91, P < 0.0001); ground (HR 0.73, CI 0.69–0.78, P < 0.0001); and instant coffee (HR 0.89, CI 0.86–0.93, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Decaffeinated, ground, and instant coffee, particularly at 2–3 cups/day, were associated with significant reductions in incident CVD and mortality. Ground and instant but not decaffeinated coffee was associated with reduced arrhythmia.
Albanian Customary Law, Religion, and the Rescue of Jews during the Holocaust
Authors: Malaj Visar
Published: September 2022

Albania was the only German-occupied country in which the number of Jews increased after World War II. Almost all native Jews of Albania survived the Holocaust, and thousands of Jewish refugees from other European countries were assisted and protected during the years 1933–1945. The rescue was facilitated by a unique mixture of factors, but the main common motivation of Muslim, Catholic, and Orthodox rescuers was Besa, the crucial element of Kanun, the Albanian customary law.
Portraits from a Conjoined War: The German 100th Light Infantry Division and First Contact with the Jews of Zinkiv, Ukraine—July 1941
Authors: Bernheim Robert
Published: September 2022

On July 10, 1941, the German 100th Light Infantry Division rolled into the Ukrainian Jewish shtetl of Zinkiv. Over a three-day period, this division committed gratuitous acts of violence and abject terror. While the total number of murdered Jews was relatively small, the author uses the corpus of pre-invasion orders and daily military objectives and reports in official war diaries, as well as eyewitness accounts to examine how and why these frontline soldiers perpetrated the “Holocaust by Bullets”1 during the initial phase of the Operation Barbarossa campaign in “the murky world where combat and ideology meet.”2
Squamous Cell Carcinoma at Split Thickness Skin Graft Donor Site: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: McCormick Melanie , Miotke Sam
Published: September 2022

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or keratoacanthoma (KA) development at split thickness skin graft donor sites is a documented but very rare entity. We describe a case in which a patient develops a lesion at his graft site seven weeks postoperatively. Upon pathological review, it was found to be SCC and was excised expediently thereafter. Notably, in reviewing the literature, these lesions tend to develop soon after the trauma of skin graft harvest with over half diagnosed within 3 months and a vast majority within 1 year of the operation. This is in contrast to Marjolin ulcers which take years to develop after the initial burn insult. Given the diversity of autograft indications in the reviewed literature, it seems unlikely that the burns themselves contribute to the development of SCC at the donor site. Our case highlights the need for routine surveillance of graft donor sites postoperatively with an emphasis on catching malignant sequelae.
Vulnerability to tax enforcement and spillovers of corruption: cross-industry evidence from China
Authors: Chen Shawn Xiaoguang
Published: September 2022

The article investigates the cross-industry spillover effect of tax enforcement and corruption. I propose a two-sector optimal tax administration model by incorporating vulnerability to tax enforcement (VTE) and corruption into the Allingham–Sandmo framework. Based on two large surveys of Chinese firms, I test the model by using industrial capital-intensity as a proxy for firms’ VTE and exploiting turnover of prefectural secretaries of the Communist Party of China between 2000 and 2007 as a driving force of corruption. The findings suggest capital-intensive industries, which are vulnerable to tougher enforcement, pay higher effective tax rates, and, therefore, have stronger incentives to bribe in order to reduce their tax burden. The bribery produces negative spillovers that raise the effective tax rates of their labor-intensive counterparts. Further evidence confirms that older prefectural secretaries are prone to be corrupt and exhibit stronger tenure effects both on the effective tax rates and on firms’ corruption expenditure (JEL H21, H26, H32, D22, D73).
Appraising the compliance to Joint National Committee-8 Guidelines for antihypertensives in a teaching hospital by drug utilization evaluation method and impact of patient counselling
Authors: Linu Mohan Panakkal , Khadeejathul Nadishaa Thazhathethil , Dilip Chandrasekhar
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To evaluate the prescribing pattern of antihypertensive drugs and its compliance to the recommendations of Joint National Committee 8 (JNC 8) guidelines and assess the impact of pharmacist led patient counselling on hypertension management.

Methods

A prospective study was carried out for a period of one year (September 2020–October 2021) among 150 hypertensive patients of various departments in a tertiary care hospital, Kerala, India. All the cases were prospectively analysed to study the pattern of antihypertensive use and patients were counselled with a patient information leaflet.

Key findings

Out of 150 patients, 53% were women and 47% were men. Majority of patients were aged 60 years and above (66.0%). Diabetes mellitus (26%) was the most common co-morbidity associated with hypertension. About half of the patients had received dual therapy (49%) followed by monotherapy (31.3%), triple therapy (18%) and quadruple therapy (2%). Calcium channel blockers (59.8%) were the most frequently prescribed drug class followed by angiotensin II receptor blockers (30.5%) either alone or in combination for effective control of blood pressure. Cilnidipine (8.7%) was the most commonly used antihypertensive drug followed by telmisartan (8%). It was observed that 80% of prescriptions were adherent to JNC 8 hypertension treatment recommendations. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the knowledge-awareness scores before (18%) and after (52%) patient counselling.

Conclusion

The study represents the utilisation pattern of antihypertensive drugs. The adherence of antihypertensive medication use to JNC 8 guidelines was high level at the study site but needs to improve further. The study concludes that pharmacist-led counselling plays a vital role in improving patients’ knowledge and awareness towards hypertension management.
mRNA Vaccination Decreases COVID-19-Associated Morbidity and Mortality Among Organ Transplant Recipients: A Contemporary Cohort Study
Authors: Lerner Alexis Hope , Arvanitis Panos , Vieira Kendra , Klein Elizabeth Jessica , Farmakiotis Dimitrios
Published: September 2022

Background

Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) are less protected from vaccination than immunocompetent hosts. Additional vaccine doses have shown increased immunogenicity. Few studies have assessed their clinical efficacy, particularly against Omicron variants, as most included patients from earlier phases of the pandemic, with higher base mortality rates.

Methods

We studied adult OTRs who had coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between 12/15/21 and 5/25/22. We compared clinical outcomes between those who had received 2 or ≥3 doses of an mRNA vaccine and concurrent unvaccinated controls.

Results

Among 103 OTRs, vaccination was associated with lower 90-day mortality (unvaccinated vs 2 vs ≥3 doses: 25% vs 7% vs 3%; P = .003), hospital (unvaccinated vs 2 vs ≥3 doses: 56% vs 37% vs 27%; P = .018) and intensive care unit (ICU; unvaccinated vs 2 vs ≥3 doses: 25% vs 15% vs 3%; P = .001) admission rates, and peak O2 requirements (ordinal scale Kendall’s tau b = –0.309 [lower scores, ie, O2 requirements with more vaccine doses]; P = .003). Age (age >60 years: adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 7.73; P = .016; administration of antispike monoclonal antibody: aHR, 0.17; P = .042) and vaccination, especially with ≥3 doses (aHR, 0.105; P = .01), were independently associated with 90-day mortality. Black (P = .021) and Hispanic (P = .016) OTRs were underrepresented among the vaccinated, especially in the ≥3-dose group.

Conclusions

Despite lower mRNA vaccine efficacy in OTRs and against Omicron variants, vaccination protects this vulnerable patient population from severe COVID-19 and death. Ethnic and racial disparities in health care have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and warrant better community outreach efforts.
NEURIM PHARMACEUTICALS (1991) LTD v GENERICS UK LTD (T/A MYLAN)
Authors:   Patents Court
Published: September 2022

H1 Patents—European patents—Pharmaceuticals—Insomnia treatments—Melatonin—Swiss form claims—EPC 2000 form claims—Novelty—Obviousness—Insufficiency—Plausibility—Exclusive licences—Contractual construction—Exclusivity in relation to part of a claim—Effect of restrictions on entitlement to sue
Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Carter [2022] HCA 10- A Game Changer for Taxation of Trust Distributions in Australia?
Authors: Mak Charles Ho Wang
Published: September 2022

In Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Carter, the High Court of Australia asked to clarify the meaning of ‘is presently entitled’ under section 97(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act. This case is a significant example of the High Court dealing in recent years with the issue of whether the present entitlement of a beneficiary under section 97(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act must be determined immediately prior to the end of the income year. The article attempts to provide a high-level overview of this case and how this case can impact taxation of trust distributions.
A Transformative Vision for an Omics-Based Regulatory Chemical Testing Paradigm
Authors: Johnson Kamin J , Auerbach Scott S , Stevens Tina , Barton-Maclaren Tara S , Costa Eduardo , Currie Richard A , Dalmas Wilk Deidre , Haq Saddef , Rager Julia E , Reardon Anthony J F , Wehmas Leah , Williams Andrew , O’Brien Jason , Yauk Carole , LaRocca Jessica L , Pettit Syril
Published: September 2022

Use of molecular data in human and ecological health risk assessments of industrial chemicals and agrochemicals has been anticipated by the scientific community for many years; however, these data are rarely used for risk assessment. Here, a logic framework is proposed to explore the feasibility and future development of transcriptomic methods to refine and replace the current apical endpoint-based regulatory toxicity testing paradigm. Four foundational principles are outlined and discussed that would need to be accepted by stakeholders prior to this transformative vision being realized. Well-supported by current knowledge, the first principle is that transcriptomics is a reliable tool for detecting alterations in gene expression that result from endogenous or exogenous influences on the test organism. The second principle states that alterations in gene expression are indicators of adverse or adaptive biological responses to stressors in an organism. Principle 3 is that transcriptomics can be employed to establish a benchmark dose-based point of departure (POD) from short-term, in vivo studies at a dose level below which a concerted molecular change (CMC) is not expected. Finally, Principle 4 states that the use of a transcriptomic POD (set at the CMC dose level) will support a human health-protective risk assessment. If all four principles are substantiated, this vision is expected to transform aspects of the industrial chemical and agrochemical risk assessment process that are focused on establishing safe exposure levels for mammals across numerous toxicological contexts resulting in a significant reduction in animal use while providing equal or greater protection of human health. Importantly, these principles and approaches are also generally applicable for ecological safety assessment.
Caring in the Context of Risk
Authors: Copeland Darcy
Published: September 2022

Hospital-based nurses face many occupational risks. In the early days of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, questions were raised regarding nurses' responsibilities to provide care in the context of risk of exposure to this infectious disease. In the United States, these questions were answered relatively swiftly using a deontological framework. If nurses did not have access to appropriate personal protective equipment, they were not duty bound to provide nursing care to patients with a known infection. Another occupational risk hospital-based nurses face is exposure to patient violence. Questions about nurses' responsibilities to provide care in the context of this occupational risk have not been addressed. The purpose of this article is to examine these 2 occupational risks and ethical decision-making frameworks that can be used to answer questions about the provision of nursing care in the face of personal risk. While useful in the context of COVID-19, a duty-based framework seems insufficient to capture the contextual nuances and moral complexity of providing nursing care to hospitalized patients who exhibit violent behavior. Professional duties are explored as are other ethical frameworks. Ethics of the everyday, virtue ethics, and care ethics are introduced as additional perspectives that can help inform nurses' decision-making and actions when they are exposed to occupational risks such as patient violence and COVID-19.
HIV T-cell immunogen design and delivery
Authors: Brander Christian , Hartigan-O’Connor Dennis
Published: September 2022

Purpose of the review

Not all T-cell responses against HIV are created equally and responses of certain epitope specificities have been associated with superior control of infection. These insights have spurred the development of a wide range of immunogen sequences, each with particular advantages and limitations.

Recent findings

We review some of the most advanced designs that have reached or are close to reaching human clinical trials, with a special focus on T-cell immunogen developed for therapeutic use. We also touch upon the importance of how immunogens are delivered and point out the lamentable fact that there is essentially no alignment between different designs and vaccine regimens, which is a major hindrance to accelerated advances in the field.

The design of an immunogen able to induce T-cell responses of adequate specificity and functionality is subject of a wide range of preclinical and clinical studies. Few designs have shown promise to date, but emerging data highlight the critical contribution of specificity to effective antiviral activity in vivo.