bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The changes in attitudes of 15-year-old Australian students towards reading, mathematics and science and their impact on student performance
Authors: Darmawan I Gusti Ngurah
Published: August 2020

This paper investigates changes in 15-year-old Australian students’ attitudes towards reading mathematics, and science, as well as their relationships with students’ performance in these respective domains over the period of 2000–2018. multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the measurement invariance of the construct of attitudes over the cycles of the Programme for International Student Achievement. In addition, structural equation modelling was used to explore mediating effects of attitudes on performance in the three domains. The results indicated that there were significant declines in student performance for all three domains. The levels of enjoyment of the subject domains were relatively low for reading and mathematics but relatively high for science. There were upward trends in the levels of enjoyment of mathematics and science over time, while levels of enjoyment of reading did not change significantly. Levels of instrumental motivation were relatively high and had slight upward trends for both mathematics and science. There were positive and significant relationships between attitudes and student performances.
Drug education best practice for health, community and youth workers: A practical and accessible tool-kit
Authors: Darcy Clay
Published: August 2020

Objectives:

Drug education is delivered by a broad spectrum of multi-disciplinary practitioners within the fields of health promotion, drug prevention and treatment, social care, and community and youth work. However, drug education is often misunderstood or conflated with drug information and/or drug prevention. This ambiguity of understanding is problematic and, when coupled with drug education being delivered by practitioners who may not have formal training in drug education, can result in poor delivery, poor participant engagement and poor outcomes. This paper provides conceptual clarity for practitioners on drug education, differentiating it from other approaches to drug issues.

Methods:

The paper draws from a selection of international literature on drug education best practice to simplify and make this information available for the use by practitioners.

Results:

International best practice quality standards on drug education, suitable for use in community and youth settings are identified.

Conclusion:

The paper offers support to health, community and youth workers by providing best practice guidance on drug education with children, young people and adults.
Bi-Daily Venus in the Medieval Thought of William of Conches: Explaining an Uncommon Celestial Event by Circumsolarity
Authors: Brannon James
Published: August 2020

Bi-Daily Venus (BDV) is an uncommon event, occurring when an observer can view that planet twice in a single day – in the twilight of dawn and dusk. That William of Conches knew of this phenomenon in twelfth-century France is surprising given the dearth of BDV accounts. Yet following unnamed sources, he discussed BDV in three of his works: Philosophia Mundi, Glosae Super Boetium, and Dragmaticon. From the appearance of the first of these volumes (ca. 1125) to the last (ca. 1145), William’s reasoning for BDV’s occurrence changed from mild scepticism of given explanations to acceptance of Venus’s sometimes circumsolar height above the sun as the correct interpretation. This paper examines William’s evolving BDV discussions, considers what planetary height meant to William, presents an explanatory diagram, and concludes that William understood Venus to be within the ecliptic plane when BDV occurs – in contrast to our modern explanation for BDV.
Proposals to Move the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 1836–1944
Authors: Macdonald Lee T.
Published: August 2020

In 1939, the British Admiralty agreed to move the Royal Observatory from Greenwich to a better site away from London. The removal was postponed due to the Second World War, and the observatory’s re-establishment at Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex in the 1940s and 1950s was further delayed by post-war economic difficulties. This paper examines several proposals to remove the observatory that were put forward over a period spanning slightly more than a century before 1939 and asks why none of these were taken up. I argue that the lateness of the move was due partly to astronomers’ fears that the observatory would lose its prestige if moved away from the famous Greenwich meridian and also to certain cultural aspects of professional astronomy in early twentieth-century Britain.
Astronomy and the Archduke: Unpublished Letters on SN1604 by Brengger, Coignet, and Kepler in the Archives of Albert VII of Austria
Authors: Meskens Ad
Published: August 2020

The State Archives of Belgium, in particular, the archives of Archduke Albert VII of Austria, hold a letter which possibly is a copy of the letter, or an excerpt of the letter, of Kepler to Emperor Rudolf II of October 1604 on SN1604, that is, the first letter of Kepler on the subject. Together with this letter, there are other letters on SN1604, written by Johannes Brengger and Michiel Coignet. In one of these letters, the very observation by Brengger which Kepler cites can be found. The letters are in Albert’s archive because he asked his Court Mathematician Coignet about the phenomenon. It is less clear why Albert was interested in the phenomenon, given the lack of interest in science at his court.
Association or Causation? Exploring the Oral Microbiome and Cancer Links
Authors: Teles F.R.F. , Alawi F. , Castilho R.M. , Wang Y.
Published: August 2020

Several epidemiological investigations have found associations between poor oral health and different types of cancer, including colorectal, lung, pancreatic, and oral malignancies. The oral health parameters underlying these relationships include deficient oral hygiene, gingival bleeding, and bone and tooth loss. These parameters are related to periodontal diseases, which are directly and indirectly mediated by oral bacteria. Given the increased accessibility of microbial sequencing platforms, many recent studies have investigated the link between the oral microbiome and these cancers. Overall, it seems that oral dysbiotic states can contribute to tumorigenesis in the oral cavity as well as in distant body sites. Further, it appears that certain oral bacterial species can contribute to carcinogenesis, in particular, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis, based on results from epidemiological as well as mechanistic studies. Yet, the strength of the findings from these investigations is hampered by the heterogeneity of the methods used to measure oral diseases, the treatment of confounding factors, the study design, the platforms employed for microbial analysis, and types of samples analyzed. Despite these limitations, there is an overall indication that the presence of oral dysbiosis that leads to oral diseases may directly and/or indirectly contribute to carcinogenesis. Proper methodological standardized approaches should be implemented in future epidemiological studies as well as in the mechanistic investigations carried out to explore these results.
Beyond Plain and Extra-Grammatical Morphology: Echo-Pairs in Hungarian
Authors: Sóskuthy Márton , Rácz Péter
Published: August 2020

This paper presents an investigation of echo-pairs in Hungarian. Echo-pairs are formed by duplicating a base with an altered initial consonant and have diminutive, playful, or intimate connotations (e.g., cica [t͡sit͡sɒ] “cat” → cica-mica [t͡sit͡sɒ-mit͡sɒ] “cat.dim”). Echo-pairs are commonly seen as an example of extra-grammatical morphology in the literature. Our goal in looking at this phenomenon is to gain a better understanding of the morphological mechanisms underlying extra-grammatical phenomena and shed new light on the distinction between plain and extra-grammatical morphology. We analyze data from (a) a collection of echo-pairs extracted from a large corpus of online texts and (b) a large-scale online nonce-word experiment with close to 1,500 participants. Our results reveal two key phonological patterns in the data and some additional systematic variation across words and experimental stimuli. We compare two different models of morphology, the Minimal Generalization Learner and the Generalized Context Model, in terms of their ability to capture this variation. We find that echo-pair formation is best captured by lexicon-oriented models such as the Generalized Context Model, but only when they rely on a structured similarity metric that encodes broader generalizations about the data. Our results do not support a clear-cut distinction between extra-grammatical and plain morphological processes, and we suggest that some of the peculiar characteristics of extra-grammatical phenomena such as echo-pair formation may simply follow from their special function and the limited set of contexts in which they appear.
Trends in foreign agricultural trade and its impact on households in South Africa
Authors: van Wyk Roscoe Bertrum , van Wyk Bianca Flavia , Makatjane Katleho Daniel
Published: August 2020

This study examines the trends in foreign trade in agriculture focusing on imports and exports for different sub-sectors and the identity of agricultural trade flows with specific regions and countries. Secondly, to understand how agricultural imports and exports improve the living standards of households in South Africa. The study uses a quantitative research approach by analysing trade data from the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and household data from the World Bank and OECD. The threshold vector autoregressive (TVAR) model is employed to establish a nonlinear causal relationship. The Diks-Panchenko nonparametric causality test revealed no causal relationship between the foreign agricultural trade and household consumption and household income in South Africa. However, with the increase of exported agricultural goods from South Africa, there are many significant benefits to South African households.
Spectator Sports as Context for Examining Observers’ Agreeableness, Social Identification, and Empathy in a High-Stakes Conflict Situation
Authors: Lee Hyun-Woo , Kim Sanghoon , Liew Jeffrey
Published: August 2020

In a high-stakes conflict or dilemma situation, observers often feel empathy for one side versus the other. Using a high-profile conflict situation in a world-renowned spectator sport (the US Open) as context, the authors of this study examined the roles of personality and social-cognitive factors, specifically agreeableness and social identification, on empathic concern towards three individuals (a focal actor or instigator, a target, and an “innocent” bystander) involved in an emotionally charged conflict situation. Results showed direct and indirect effects of agreeableness on identification with the focal actor and empathic concern towards the individuals involved in the conflict situation. Participants’ social-cognitive processes of identification with the focal actor or instigator fully mediated the effect of personality trait of agreeableness on empathic concern towards the focal actor, whereas agreeableness was directly related to empathic concern towards the target and the bystander without (full) mediation by social identification. Gender differences were found with women reporting higher empathic concern and identification towards the female focal actor and lower empathic concern towards the male target in the conflict situation, suggesting potential automatic or implicit in-group bias. Study results highlight the complex integration of personality and social-cognitive processes, including intersectionality of social identities, in the dynamics of empathic reactions during high-stakes and emotionally charged conflict situations.
Worlding beyond ‘the’ ‘end’ of ‘the world’: white apocalyptic visions and BIPOC futurisms
Authors: Mitchell Audra , Chaudhury Aadita
Published: August 2020

We often hear that the ‘end of the world’ is approaching – but whose world, exactly, is expected to end? Over the last several decades, a popular and influential literature has emerged, in International Relations (IR), social sciences, and in popular culture, on subjects such as ‘human extinction’, ‘global catastrophic risks’, and eco-apocalypse. Written by scientists, political scientists, and journalists for wide public audiences,1 this genre diagnoses what it considers the most serious global threats and offers strategies to protect the future of ‘humanity’. This article will critically engage this genre to two ends: first, we aim to show that the present apocalyptic narratives embed a series of problematic assumptions which reveal that they are motivated not by a general concern with futures but rather with the task of securing white futures. Second, we seek to highlight how visions drawn from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) futurisms reimagine more just and vibrant futures.
Neonatal pertussis: an emerging issue of concern
Authors: Dhir Shashi K , Angurana Suresh K , Sundaram Venkataseshan , Kumar Praveen , Gautam Vikas , Sangal Lucky
Published: August 2020

Neonatal pertussis is a resurging disease, possibly due to waning immunity in pregnant women. We report seven cases of neonatal pertussis ( Bordetella pertussis DNA PCR positive) in this retrospective study conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital in north India over eight months (March to October 2018). All except one were male infants and presented at the age of 14–30 days with paroxysmal cough in all, four had fever, four had respiratory distress, three had similar illness in the family, and two had leucocytosis. All recovered well with azithromycin. The duration of hospital stay was 5–7 days. A strong suspicion of neonatal pertussis in neonates with paroxysmal cough and similar family history should be maintained as the prognosis is excellent, if treated appropriately.
Dynamics of Autonomous Action in Social Movements: From Rejection to Construction
Authors: Moura de Oliveira Gustavo , Dowbor Monika Weronika
Published: August 2020

A review of the recent literature on social movements identifies three types of autonomous action of movements in relation to the state: (1) rejection of the state and the construction of ways of life on its margins; (2) rejection of the state’s ways of functioning and the construction of alternative modes of organization and action; and (3) rejection of historical inequality in state decisions on public policy and the proposal of alternatives to that policy. From a theoretical point of view, it shows that autonomy as action may coexist with the institutionalization of demands, projects, and movement organization.

A sistematização da produção bibliográfica sobre a autonomia de movimentos sociais dos últimos dez anos chegou a três tipos analíticos de ação autônoma de movimentos em relação ao Estado: (1) negação do Estado e construção de modos de vida à sua margem; (2) negação das formas de funcionamento do Estado e construção alternativa de organização e ação; (3) negação da desigualdade histórica nas decisões do Estado para produção de políticas públicas e construção de propostas alternativas para aquelas políticas. Do ponto de vista teórico, mostrou-se que a autonomia como ação pode coexistir com os processos de institucionalização de demandas, projetos e organizações de movimentos.
Routines of Interaction between Latin American Feminists and the State
Authors: da Silva Eduardo Moreira , Paradis Clarisse Goulart
Published: August 2020

Comparison of feminists’repertoires of interaction in four Latin American countries—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Chile—reinforces the idea that these interactions may be contentious, collaborative, or even both. The proportions of each kind of interaction are influenced by the dominant political project of the state, the profile of the institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women, the formal channels for participation, support for the feminist and gender agenda by presidents, and female presence in the legislature.

A comparação de repertórios feministas de interação em quatro países da América Latina— Argentina, Bolívia, Brasil e Chile—reforça a ideia de que essas interações podem ser contenciosas, colaborativas ou até ambas. As proporções de cada tipo de interação são influenciadas pelo projeto político dominante do estado, o perfil dos mecanismos institucionais para o avanço da mulher, os canais formais de participação, o apoio à agenda feminista e de gênero pelas presidentes e a presença feminina na legislatura.
Multi-objective integrated scheduling optimization of semi-combined marine crankshaft structure production workshop for green manufacturing
Authors: Li Haochen , Duan Jianguo , Zhang Qinglei
Published: August 2020

In order to realize green manufacturing in the production process of semi-combined marine crankshaft structural parts, good job scheduling and reasonable workshop layout are the key. In traditional method, flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP) and the multi-row workshop layout problem (MRWLP) are regarded as separate tasks. However, the separate optimization method ignores the interaction between FJSP and MRWLP. Because the process sequencing of FJSP affects the layout results of processing machines, while the layout scheme of MRWLP affects the scheduling completion time through the transportation between processes. Therefore, it is very important to establish an integrated mathematical model for optimization of both layout and scheduling simultaneously to explore the common influence of the two resource constraints on scheduling results. At the same time, the transportation task is also a manufacturing process that cannot be ignored, which affects the completion time and energy consumption of the workshop, especially the heavy industrial manufacturing workshop with crane as transportation equipment. According to the established model, a five-segment coding including transportation information, layout information and processing information is designed, and two heuristic selection strategies are integrated into non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) to optimize the iterative results twice. Finally, the effectiveness of the integrated mathematical model is verified by an example, which provides guidance for green manufacturing in the shipbuilding industry.
Negotiating change: Transition as a central concept for information literacy
Authors: Hicks Alison
Published: August 2020

Transition forms a dynamic concept that has been underexplored within information literacy research and practice. This article uses the grounded theory of mitigating risk, which was produced through doctoral research into the information literacy practices of language-learners, as a lens for a more detailed examination of transition and its role within information literacy. This framing demonstrates that information literacy mediates transition through supporting preparation, connection, situatedness and confidence within a new setting and facilitating a shift in identity. This article concludes by discussing the important role that time and temporality, resistance and reflexivity play within transition as well as outlining implications for information literacy instruction and future research into time, affect and materiality.
Political meritocracy and its betrayal
Authors: Mang Franz
Published: August 2020

Some Confucian scholars have recently claimed that Confucian political meritocracy is superior to Western democracy. I have great reservations about such a view. In this article, I argue that so long as political meritocracy – be it Confucian or non-Confucian – does not commit itself to the ideal of democracy, it has the dangerous tendency to become politically oppressive in the hands of authoritarian rulers. To illustrate the problem, I first revisit Isiah Berlin’s classical discussion of the idea of positive liberty; he is deeply concerned about the abuse of this idea in the hands of dictators. Next, I examine Daniel Bell’s model of meritocracy in relation to China’s present form of governance. While Bell’s model and China’s present form of governance may not show political meritocracy at its best, they help to show that any version of political meritocracy that lacks a strong commitment to democracy tends to be political oppressive and, ultimately, may betray the ideal of political meritocracy.
“I Should Get Married as Soon as Possible, but the Relationships I Start Do Not Work”: Marital Prospects of Ethiopian Female Return Migrants from the Arabian Gulf
Authors: Nisrane Beza L. , Ossewaarde Ringo , Need Ariana
Published: August 2020

This study seeks to understand how the intersection of migration, gender, and age shapes the marital prospects of Ethiopian female domestic workers returning from the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East. The study found that gendered attitudes in Ethiopian society rooted in patriarchy interact with age and the migration experiences of returnees to create stigma and marginalization, excluding the returnees from the highly desired social institution of marriage. It was also found that returnees tended to dissociate themselves from other returnees or kept their experiences secret to cope with stigma and marginalization and increase their marital prospects. The study shows how the stigma and marginalization experienced by Ethiopian female returnees from the Arabian Gulf and Middle East countries affects their social reintegration in the home country and can trigger remigration intention.
Division of Household Labor and Relationship Dissolution in Denmark 2001–2009
Authors: Thielemans Gert , Fallesen Peter , Mortelmans Dimitri
Published: August 2020

This article studies how the gender division in time spent on housework is associated with relationship dissolution among Danish couples. The use of time diary information on the actual time spent on housework for both partners leads to more precise measures than in previous studies. Two waves of the Danish Time Use Survey provided data on 3,434 couples linked to information from the Danish administrative population registries to observe union dissolution. Late entry hazard models were estimated to analyze how men’s contributions predicted dissolution risk after controlling for couple specific time-constant and time-varying covariates. The results show a U-shaped relationship between division of household labor and union dissolution with lowest risk when men provided 40% of the time on household tasks. Couples with the most unequal division of housework were the least stable. Even in a gender egalitarian society, women still perform more of the housework for relationships to be stable.
Local Tolerance and Biodegradability of a Novel Artificial Dura Mater Graft Following Implantation Onto a Dural Defect in Rabbits
Authors: Ramot Yuval , Harnof Sagi , Klein Ido , Amouyal Netanel , Steiner Michal , Manassa Nora Nseir , Bahar Amir , Rousselle Serge , Nyska Abraham
Published: August 2020

Dura mater defects are a common problem following neurosurgery. Dural grafts are used to repair these defects; among them are biodegradable polymeric synthetic grafts. ArtiFascia is a novel synthetic and fibrous Dural graft, composed of poly(l-lactic-co-caprolactone acid) (PLCL) and poly(d-lactic-co-caprolactone acid). In this study, the biodegradability and local tolerance of ArtiFascia was evaluated in rabbits and compared with a bovine collagen matrix as a reference control. ArtiFascia implantation resulted in the formation of neo-dura at the site of implantation and recovery of the dural damage and the calvaria bone above. The implanted graft was completely absorbed after 12 months and the remaining macrophages were morphologically consistent with the anti-inflammatory M2-like phenotype, which contributes to tissue healing and are not pro-inflammatory. The site of the drilled skull bone had a continuous smooth surface, without exuberant tissue or inflammation and a newly formed trabecular bone formation indicated the healing process of the bone. These results support the local tolerability and biodegradability of ArtiFascia when used as a dural graft in rabbits. This study suggests that PLCL-based grafts including ArtiFascia are safe and effective to repair Rabbit Dura.
A combined music and writing program helps second graders learn to spell
Authors: Gaboury Véronique , Lavoie Natalie , Lessard Andrée
Published: August 2020

This quasi-experimental study aimed to assess the effects of a music and writing program on lexical spelling in Grade 2 elementary school students. A music and writing program was developed and tested in an experimental group ( n = 24) comprising a Grade 2 class in a French-language elementary school in Québec (Canada). Another Grade 2 class at the same school served as a control group ( n = 23). Both groups were assessed for lexical spelling in January and May. Group comparison of the post-test results on performance and progress in lexical spelling showed significantly better scores for the experimental over the control group.
Explanatory factors of sixth grade pupils’ creativity in Tunisian primary schools
Authors: Ghriss Najoua Fezzaa , Abdallah Marouen Ben
Published: August 2020

The present study aims to assess the creativity of a sample of Tunisian sixth-grade elementary school children (n = 142) and explore the relationships between their creative potential and gender, academic achievement and self-esteem in order to determine possible factors to explain these links. Two instruments were employed: the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT) created by Torrance and the Test of Creative Thinking and Drawing Production (TCT-DP) developed by Urban and Jellen. The results obtained from the two tests were consistent, revealing average creative potential with a slight girls superiority. However, the study of the variance in children’s creative potential based on academic achievement and self-esteem, revealed divergent trends.
Use of the VENOVO™ and Sinus Obliquus™ venous stents in the treatment of non-thrombotic or post-thrombotic iliac vein lesions – Short-term results from a multi-centre Asian cohort
Authors: Tang Tjun Y , Lim Mervin HH , Damodharan Karthikeyan , Yap Charyl JQ , Lee Shaun QW , Yap Hao Y , Chong Tze T , Tan Jimmy WH
Published: August 2020

Objectives

Deep venous stenting with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance is gaining favour as the treatment modality of choice for symptomatic ilio-femoral venous occlusive disease. The aim was to determine the short-term patency and symptomatic relief gained using the Bard Venovo™ and Optimed Sinus Obliquus™ stents in the endovascular treatment of non-thrombotic iliac vein lesions (NIVL) and post-thrombotic venous obstruction (PTO) from two Asian tertiary vascular centres.

Methods

Sixty patients (males = 21/60 (35.0%); median age 67 years (interquartile range 54–77)) who underwent IVUS interrogation and ilio-femoral stenting (June 2018–May 2019) in two Asian centres were prospectively followed. Clinical improvement was determined by the revised Venous Clinical Severity Score (rVCSS), pain using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and ulcer healing rate. Patency rates were evaluated using Duplex ultrasound and computer tomography venogram.

Results

Seventy-one legs were interrogated and stented; 11/60 (18.3%) patients had a bilateral procedure. Indications for surgery were PTO ( n = 11/71 (15.5%)) and NIVL ( n = 60/71 (84.5%)). Twenty-seven of 71 (38.0%) patients had CEAP 6 disease. The median follow-up was 283 (interquartile range 211–370) days. Technical and procedural success was both 100%. Twenty-one of 71 (29.6%) legs had a combination of Venovo™ and Sinus Obliquus™ stents inserted for concurrent ilio-caval and iliac lesions. There were no major post-operative complications. Six-month primary, assisted primary and secondary patency rates were 94.1, 97.1 and 100%, respectively. There were no stent fractures. Mean rVCSS and VAS improved from 12.26 (±3.31) to 4.33 (±2.78) and 6.97 (±1.38) to 2.03 (±1.65), respectively, at three months (p < 0.01). Complete ulcer healing was seen in 27/27 (100%) patients at three months.

Conclusion

Use of Venovo™ and Sinus Obliquus™ stents for symptomatic ilio-femoral venous disease showed excellent six-month primary patency rate with no stent fractures. There were significant clinical improvement and low-device-related complications. Longer follow-up is awaited to see how these dedicated venous stents perform.
From neoliberal disembedding to authoritarian re-embedding: The making of illiberal hegemony in Hungary
Authors: Scheiring Gábor , Szombati Kristóf
Published: August 2020

This article presents and empirically substantiates a theoretical account explaining the making and stabilisation of illiberal hegemony in Hungary. It combines a Polanyian institutionalist framework with a neo-Gramscian analysis of right-wing hegemonic strategy and a relational class analysis inspired by the political economy tradition in anthropology. The article identifies the social actors behind the illiberal transformation, showing how ‘neoliberal disembedding’ fuelled the rightward shift of constituencies who had erstwhile been brought into the fold of liberal hegemony: blue-collar workers, post-peasants and sections of domestic capital. Finally, the article describes the emergence of a new regime of accumulation and Fidesz’s strategy of ‘authoritarian re-embedding’, which relies on ‘institutional authoritarianism’ and ‘authoritarian populism’. This two-pronged approach has so far allowed the ruling party to stabilise illiberal hegemony, even in the face of reforms that have generated discontents and exacerbated social inequality.
Added value of femoral artery atherosclerosis for determining severity of white matter lesion by carotid atherosclerosis: a magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Liu Yang , Han Yongjun , Guan Maobin , Cai Ying , Wang Wei , Chen Huijun , Zhao Xihai
Published: August 2020

Background

Previous studies reported that single vascular atherosclerosis was an effective indicator for white matter lesions (WMLs).

Purpose

To investigate the added value of femoral atherosclerosis for determining severity of WMLs by carotid atherosclerosis using three-dimensional vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Material and Methods

Elderly individuals without cardiovascular symptoms within the previous six months were recruited. The plaque features of carotid and femoral arteries were evaluated and compared between individuals with WML score ≤ 3 and those with WML score > 3. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to determine the value of plaque features in discriminating WMLs with score > 3.

Results

In total, 112 individuals (49 men, mean age 72.0±5.6 years) were included. Participants with a WML score > 3 showed a significantly greater carotid wall area and femoral artery stenosis and higher incidence of carotid calcification and femoral artery calcification and lipid-rich necrotic cores (LRNC) compared to those with a WML score ≤ 3 (all P < 0.05). Carotid artery calcification and femoral artery calcification, LRNC, and stenosis were found to be significantly associated with severe WMLs before and after adjustment for clinical factors (odds ratio 1.51–3.79, all P < 0.05). ROC analysis showed, in discriminating severe WMLs, the area under the curve increased from 0.615 to 0.754 after combining femoral artery LRNC and stenosis with carotid calcification compared to the carotid calcification alone.

Conclusion

Characteristics of femoral artery atherosclerosis determined by vessel wall MRI have added value for carotid atherosclerosis in determining the severity of WMLs.
Percutaneous antegrade removal of foreign bodies in the urinary tract: a 20-year, single-center experience
Authors: Zheng Lin , Cho Young Chul , Shin Ji Hoon , Park Jung-Hoon , Jang Eun Bee , Ibrahim Alrashidi , Li Hai-Liang , Kim Jong Woo
Published: August 2020

Background

While removing urinary tract foreign bodies is mostly performed through retrograde cystoscopy, antegrade removal using interventional procedures is reported less frequently.

Purpose

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous antegrade removal of urinary tract foreign bodies.

Material and Methods

A total of 14 consecutive patients (age range 9–80 years) who percutaneous antegrade removal of urinary tract foreign bodies between January 2001 and March 2020 were reviewed. Detailed removal procedures and complications were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Types of foreign bodies were sheared percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) catheters (n = 5), sheared double J stents (n = 3), migrated ureteral catheters (n = 3), embolization coils (n = 2), and a 0.018-inch guide wire (n = 1). The mean and median indwelling times (range 0–306 days) of the foreign bodies were 58.3 and 1.5 days, respectively. Computed tomography (CT) scans were conducted in six patients, and the extent and nature of the foreign bodies were well-visualized on CT scans. The removal access was new PCN access (n = 8), the tract missing PCN catheter (n = 3), pre-existing PCN access (n = 2), and percutaneous dissection (n = 1). The removal success rate was 92.9% (13/14) with either a simple (n = 8) or modified (n = 4; combination of a snare and guide wire is used) snare technique or a direct forceps grasp (n = 1). The mean procedure time for successful cases was 14.2 min (range 7–25 min). Procedure-related hematoma with (n = 2) or without (n = 1) renal pelvis injury occurred in three patients, which were all self-limited within one week.

Conclusion

Percutaneous antegrade removal is safe and effective for urinary tract foreign bodies.
Association of miR-146a polymorphism rs2910164 and type 2 diabetes risk: a meta-analysis
Authors: Cheng Liqing , Zhou Min , Zhang Dongmei , Chen Bing
Published: August 2020

Objective

Circulating miR-146a is aberrantly expressed in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), probably resulting from gene polymorphisms. However, the role of polymorphism rs2910164 in T2D pathogenesis remains controversial. Thus, we designed a meta-analysis to investigate the association between rs2910164 and T2D.

Methods

PubMed and Embase were searched for eligible papers in English published through September 2, 2019. Random or fixed effect models were used to determine risk estimates according to heterogeneities.

Results

Four studies, involving 2,069 patients and 1,950 controls, were included. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to pool the effect size. The pooled ORs and 95% CIs were 1.501 (0.887–2.541), 1.102 (0.931–1.304), 1.276 (0.900–1.811), 1.204 (0.878–1.652), 1.238 (0.880–1.740), and 1.350 (0.904–2.016) under the homozygote, heterozygote (CG vs. GG and CC vs. CG), dominant, allele, and recessive models, respectively. Heterogeneity was detected in most genetic models, with subgroup analyses performed by ethnicity, genotyping method, and disease duration. The co-dominant model was determined to be the most appropriate genetic model.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that polymorphism rs2910164 is not correlated with T2D susceptibility. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of confounding factors.
The anesthetic bupivacaine induces cardiotoxicity by targeting L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels
Authors: Gao YaNan , Chen Bo , Zhang Xue , Yang Rui , Hua QingLi , Li BaiDong
Published: August 2020

Objective

Bupivacaine is an amide local anesthetic with possible side effects that include an irregular heart rate. However, the mechanism of bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity has not been fully elucidated, thus we aimed to examine this mechanism.

Methods

We performed electrocardiogram recordings to detect action potential waveforms in Sprague Dawley rats after application of bupivacaine, while calcium (Ca2+) currents in neonatal rat ventricular cells were examined by patch clamp recording. Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays were used to detect the expression levels of targets of interest.

Results

In the present study, after application of bupivacaine, abnormal action potential waveforms were detected in Sprague Dawley rats by electrocardiogram recordings, while decreased Ca2+ currents were confirmed in neonatal rat ventricular cells by patch clamp recording. These alterations may be attributed to a deficiency of CaV1.3 (L-type) Ca2+ channels, which may be regulated by the multifunctional protein calreticulin.

Conclusions

The present study identifies a possible role of the calreticulin–CaV1.3 axis in bupivacaine-induced abnormal action potentials and Ca2+ currents, which may lead to a better understanding anesthetic drug-induced cardiotoxicity.
Injection of contrast medium through a delivery sheath reveals interventricular septal vascular injury in a case of left bundle branch pacing
Authors: Qi Peng , Li Xue-Xun , Tian Ying , Shi Liang , Wang Yan-Jiang , Liu Xing-Peng
Published: August 2020

A 70-year-old woman with symptomatic bradycardia caused by persistent atrial fibrillation and atrioventricular block was referred to our institution for pacemaker implantation. After we failed to obtain adequate His bundle capture thresholds (>2.5 V at 1.0 ms) at three pacing sites, left bundle branch pacing was attempted as an alternative technique. The tip of the 3830 lead was screwed towards the left side of the interventricular septum. Contrast medium was injected through the C315 sheath, which was placed close to the right side of the interventricular septum to determine the exact depth of the 3830 lead inside the septum. Unexpectedly, the vessels in the interventricular septum were revealed by the contrast, which showed that the lead had penetrated one of the septal vessels. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a patient in whom injection of a contrast agent through a delivery sheath showed damage to the interventricular septal vessels. Findings from this case suggest that injection of contrast medium through a C315 sheath that is placed close to the interventricular septum is a potential method for excluding damage to interventricular septal vessels.
Curettage through a wide cortical window for treatment of a primary aneurysmal bone cyst of the patella
Authors: Zeng Jincai , Zhou Ming , Xu Lihua , Zhu Lifan , Yan Zhanjun , Wu Weidong , Qiao Zhenguo
Published: August 2020

A 27-year-old man presented with intermittent right knee pain for 1 year with no previous trauma. Physical examination revealed only tenderness over the patella. Typical fluid–fluid levels were visible on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which highly suggested aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) of the patella. After removal of a large window of thin cortical bone, curettage and bone grafting followed by cerclage wiring was performed. Histology confirmed the initial diagnosis of primary ABC of the patella. At the final follow-up visit at 71 months after surgery, the patient had normal joint activity with no pain or evidence of recurrence. Previous publications indicated patellectomy in the initial series, but curettage and bone grafting have more recently provided excellent results and good graft incorporation in most cases, even for aggressive lesions. In our patient, thorough curettage and bone grafting through a wide cortical window followed by cerclage wiring fixation and figure-eight sutures was a successful treatment option for primary ABC of the patella without articular disruption.
Altered levels of circulating natural antibodies against VEGFR1-derived peptide in atherosclerosis
Authors: Wang Peng , Liu Siqi , Wang Zhenqi , Zhao Huan , Zhang Xuan
Published: August 2020

Background

Several lines of evidence have pointed to a protective role of natural antibodies in chronic diseases like atherosclerosis and cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and VEGFR2 are important regulators of angiogenesis and may be involved in the development of atherosclerosis. In this retrospective study, we developed an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to assess whether natural IgG levels against VEGFR1 and the regulatory T cell markers CD25 and FOXP3 were associated with atherosclerosis.

Methods

A total of 218 patients with atherosclerosis and 200 healthy controls were enrolled. All patients had atherosclerotic carotid plaques. Carotid intima–media thickness was analyzed using a diagnostic ultrasound system.

Results

Plasma anti-VEGFR1 IgG levels were significantly lower in patients with atherosclerosis than control subjects. Decreased anti-VEGFR1 IgG levels were more obvious in male patients. Spearman correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between natural IgG levels and carotid intima–media thickness.

Conclusions

Decreased levels of anti-VEGFR1 IgG may be involved in development of atherosclerosis and related conditions.
Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis: three case reports and review of the literature
Authors: Zhang Zhenbin , Zhang Menglai , Li Ling
Published: August 2020

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) is a disease that is rarely encountered clinically. Preoperative diagnosis of SEP can be difficult. However, with imaging technology, such as computed tomography (CT), this condition can be diagnosed without surgery and pathological analysis. SEP is characterized by small intestine being partially or completely encased by a layer of a thick grayish-white fibrocollagenous membrane similar to a cocoon. The most common symptoms of SEP are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. SEP often leads to intestinal obstruction. Our hospital treated three emergency patients who complained of acute or chronic abdominal pain. CT showed “cauliflower sign” in two cases. The three patients were diagnosed with SEP intraoperatively. In a female patient with ascites, the situation was extremely serious, and this condition had not been reported in detail previously. Fortunately, all patients were discharged without complications. We should pay special attention to patients with SEP who have ascites, which indicates a serious situation.
Severe fat embolism after autologous fat grafting in vaginal tightening and breast augmentation surgery
Authors: Wang Chenyu , Wang Xiaojun , Huang Jiuzuo , Yu Nanze , Long Xiao
Published: August 2020

Autologous fat grafting has become increasingly popular in the field of aesthetic surgery because of its biocompatibility and low donor site morbidity. However, some fatal complications may occur following the surgery. We herein describe a woman who developed severe fat embolism after autologous fat grafting for vaginal tightening and breast augmentation surgery. The patient developed symptoms of dyspnea and hypoxemia. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography showed multiple filling defects in the bilateral pulmonary arteries and branches with a maximum size of approximately 1.2 × 0.7 cm. Fat embolism was assumed to have occurred by injection of fat directly into the vessels around the vagina. Further research is needed to elucidate the anatomical mechanism underlying this phenomenon.
Overview on new progress of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer with CDH1 variants
Authors: Hu Mu-Ni , Hu Shu-Hui , Zhang Xing-Wei , Xiong Shu-Min , Deng Huan
Published: August 2020

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC), comprising 1%–3% of gastric malignances, has been associated with CDH1 variants. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated more than 100 germline CDH1 variant types. E-cadherin encoded by the CDH1 gene serves as a tumor suppressor protein. CDH1 promoter hypermethylation and other molecular mechanisms resulting in E-cadherin dysfunction are involved in the tumorigenesis of HDGC. Histopathology exhibits characteristic signet ring cells, and immunohistochemical staining may show negativity for E-cadherin and other signaling proteins. Early HDGC is difficult to detect by endoscopy due to the development of lesions beneath the mucosa. Prophylactic gastrectomy is the most recommended treatment for pathogenic CDH1 variant carriers. Recent studies have promoted the progression of promising molecular-targeted therapies and management strategies. This review summarizes recent advances in CDH1 variant types, tumorigenesis mechanisms, diagnosis, and therapy, as well as clinical implications for future gene therapies.
Prevalence and Prognostic Impact of Equus caballus Papillomavirus Type 2 Infection in Equine Squamous Cell Carcinomas in Western Canadian Horses
Authors: Greenwood Sarah , Chow-Lockerbie Betty , Epp Tasha , Knight Cameron , Wachoski-Dark Garrett , MacDonald-Dickinson Valerie , Wobeser Bruce
Published: August 2020

Equus caballus papillomavirus type-2 (EcPV-2) has been proposed as a causal factor in equine genital squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This study had 2 objectives: first, calculate the frequency of papillomavirus (PV) and EcPV-2 infection in papillomas, carcinomas in situ (CIS), and SCCs in Western Canadian horses; and second, determine if EcPV-2 status of equine SCCs is associated with overall survival (OS). EcPV-2 status of 115 archived tissue samples, spanning 6 years, was determined using broad spectrum (MY09/11) and EcPV-2-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, EcPV-2-E6/E7 chromogenic RNA in situ hybridization (R-ISH), and amplicon sequencing. A retrospective survey gathered data on history, outcome, breeding, treatment, and rationales of referring veterinarians when managing PV-associated diseases. Histologic grade and completeness of surgical margins of SCCs were also considered. EcPV-2 DNA was identified in 10/58 (17%) SCC, 8/27 (30%) papillomas, 0/5 CIS, and 0/11 lesions identified as “other.” Overall, 18/101 (18%) of these lesions were positive for EcPV-2. EcPV-2 was identified in 10/35 (29%) SCCs arising from genital tissues but in 0/22 SCCs from other locations. There was no association between breeding history and EcPV-2 status of genital SCCs. EcPV-2 status of genital SCCs was not associated with OS ( P = .76). The strongest negative predictors of OS were a lack of treatment ( P < .01) and recurrence post-treatment ( P < .01). Weaker predictors of OS included older age at time of diagnosis ( P = .02). Completeness of margins at surgical excision, concurrent disease, treatment type, anatomic location of the SCC (anogenital vs other), and histologic grade of the SCC did not influence OS ( P > .1).
The Allied Health Professions Health and Work Report and the fit note: Perspectives of patients and stakeholders
Authors: Nouri Fiona , Coole Carol , Smyth Genevieve , Drummond Avril
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Although the role of occupational therapists in the provision of vocational support is established, there has been little research into their role in issuing Allied Health Professions Health and Work Reports or their potential to complete fit notes.

Method

Employed patients ( n = 14) and stakeholders ( n = 12) took part in semi-structured telephone interviews and were questioned about occupational therapy-run vocational clinics, experiences of the Allied Health Professions Health and Work Reports and their views of occupational therapists completing fit notes.

Results

Most interviewees saw the Allied Health Professions Health and Work Report as a valuable tool in affecting return to work and even employers with access to in-house occupational health predominantly found it useful in corroborating recommendations. There was consensus, amongst patients and stakeholders, that completion of the fit note by the occupational therapist could reduce the burden on the general practitioner, and potentially provide more in-depth advice via the ‘may be fit’ option. However, stakeholders strongly believed that the profile of the Allied Health Professions Health and Work Report needed to be raised nationally.

Conclusion

The potential value of Allied Health Professions Health and Work Reports in primary care is recognised. However, in order to maximise this, its profile and utility needs to be raised nationally as a matter of urgency. There was also support for occupational therapists completing fit notes.