bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grieving Critically: Barack Obama and the Counter-Eulogy
Authors: Williams Lucy
Published: March 2021

How can grieving communities respond to public loss while also seizing the reflective and transformative potential inherent in moments of collective mourning? In this article, I explore this question by analyzing and critiquing fifty-seven of the official funeral speeches Barack Obama delivered during his presidency. I compare Obama’s national eulogies to two ancient mourning traditions: the Homeric mode and the Athenian mode. I further argue that, like these ancient modes, Obama’s eulogies may suppress critical thought, perpetuate us/them thinking, and prioritize individual interests above communal ties. I therefore propose and theorize the counter-eulogy, a thoughtful, critical, and self-reflective mode of official funeral rhetoric inspired by the counter-monument artistic movement and other alternative mourning practices. I analyze Obama’s eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney as an example of a counter-eulogy. In doing so, I illustrate how counter-eulogies preserve the ritual features of traditional national eulogies while also capturing the democratic potentiality inherent in moments of public grief.
Metastasis of Sarcomatoid Malignant Mesothelioma With p16/CDKN2A Deletion Manifested as a Subcutaneous Mass in the Back: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Chen Kai-Bo , Huang Ya-Jing , Huang Yi , Wu Zhi-Wei , Jin Xiao-Li , Zhang Hang , Xiang Xue-Ping , Chen Lin , Chen Li
Published: March 2021

Sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare and aggressive disease, and its diagnosis is challenging. A 60-year-old man presented with a recurrent subcutaneous mass in his right back after the initial resection. A chest computed tomography (CT) scan found right pleural thickening, nodular pleural thickening, pleural effusion, mediastinal, and right infraclavicular lymph nodes enlargement, which indicated a right pleura MM. Immunohistochemical stains of the resected mass showed sarcomatous atypical spindle cells, which were positive for pan-CKs (clone Anti-cytokeratin cocktail AE1/AE3), cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6), Wilm’s tumor 1, podoplanin, vimentin and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and negative for Napsin A, thyroid transcription factor 1, CDX 2, calretinin and desmin, and fluorescent in situ hybridization detected homozygous p16/cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A ( p16/CDKN2A) deletion. The association of the chest CT features and the pathological assessment confirmed metastatic MM in the subcutaneous layer of the back. Moreover, positron emission tomography–CT showed multiple metastases in his brain. He developed massive right pleural effusion and chest tightness soon, and the mass kept growing despite local and systemic treatments. The patient die of pulmonary failure in 3 months.
Biphasic Hyalinizing Psammomatous Renal Cell Carcinoma: Another Provisional Entity Emerging From the Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Pandora's Box
Authors: Gopinath Arun , Mubeen Aysha , Jamal Mohsin , Mohammed Ibraheem , Gopireddy Dheeraj Reddy , Baskovich Brett
Published: March 2021

Papillary renal cell carcinoma (especially type 2) is a Pandora's box with many newly described renal cell carcinomas emerging from it as a result of enhanced molecular techniques. Biphasic hyalinizing psammomatous renal cell carcinoma (BHPRCC) is the latest addition, which was first described a few months ago. Here, we report a case of BHPRCC to supplement the very limited literature available about this entity, and to highlight the characteristic morphology as well as the recurring molecular alterations in the neurofibromatosis 2 gene.
Reasonable Efforts? Child Maltreatment Investigations and Service Referrals of Parents With Ascribed Cognitive Impairments in Canada
Authors: Pacheco Laura , Aunos Marjorie , Feldman Maurice , McConnell David
Published: March 2021

Parents with ascribed cognitive impairment (CI) are more likely than parents without CI to have their children removed by child protective services (CPS). Inequitable access to parenting and family supports and services is thought to be a contributing factor. Utilizing data on a 3-month sample of 15,980 child maltreatment investigations across Canada, including 1,244 cases featuring parents with CI, this study investigated service referrals and non-referrals. The results of this secondary data analysis suggest that, relative to need, parents with CI are less likely to be referred for matched services, including home based\reunification services post child removal. It is unclear whether disparate rates of referral are driven by a lack of inclusive services, and/or the conflation of parental CI with perceived parenting deficits. When perceived parenting deficits are attributed to parental CI, CPS may wrongly assume that these are irremediable. The findings highlight the need for building inter-sectoral service pathways in order to render appropriate assistance to parents with CI in the performance of their childrearing responsibilities.
Prophylaxis of macular edema after cataract surgery in diabetic patients, topical Nepafenac versus intravitreal Ranibizumab
Authors: Howaidy Ahmed , Eldaly Zeiad H , Anis Mohamed , Othman Tageldin M
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

To compare effect of topical Nepafenac versus intravitreal Ranibizumab on macular thickness after cataract surgery in diabetic patients with no preoperative macular edema.

Patients and methods:

A prospective randomized controlled study recruited diabetic patients with visually significant cataract and no diabetic macular edema (DME). Patient underwent uncomplicated phacoemulsification with IOL implantation and were randomly assigned to receive post-operative topical Nepafenac, intra-operative intravitreal Ranibizumab, or no prophylactic treatment. Changes in subfoveal and perifoveal macular thickness were assessed by SD-OCT.

Results:

The mean central macular thickness showed a significant increase in all study groups 1 week and 1 month postoperative when compared to baseline. At 3 months postoperative, there was a significant difference between Nepafenac and Control group ( p = 0.017), Ranibizumab and Control groups ( p = 0.009) with no significant difference between Nepafenac and Ranibizumab group ( p = 0.545) regarding CMT. Comparable results could be detected as regarding peri-foveal macular thickness changes. Concerning BCVA, there was a significant difference between topical Nepafenac/control ( p = 0.001) and intravitreal Ranibizumab/control ( p = 0.004) at 1-week visit. No significant difference in BCVA was observed between Nepafenac and Ranibizumab group throughout the whole study period. In postoperative visits, cystoid macular edema occurred in three patients (7.9%) in Nepafenac group, one patient (2.7%) in Ranibizumab group, and seven patients (17.07%) in control group.

Conclusion:

Both postoperative topical Nepafenac and intra-operative intra-vitreal Ranibizumab are effective adjunctive to phacoemulsification in diabetic patients for prophylaxis of macular edema.
‘Sacrifical lambs’ or candidate mimicking? Gender-based nomination strategies in elections
Authors: Martínez i Coma Ferran , Lago Ignacio
Published: March 2021

This paper explores an alternative mechanism for understanding the drivers of the nomination of women for elective office in single-member electoral systems. Previous research has generally examined two sources of gender-based politics: party ideology, with leftist parties being more female-friendly than rightist parties, and the strategic nomination of candidates depending on whether the party is expected to win or lose in the district, with women more likely to be used as ‘sacrificial lambs’ in hopeless contests. We argue that the nomination of male and female candidates across districts reflects an interdependence of party strategies – in particular, the actions of the main opposition party. We hypothesise that when the trailing party is not committed to gender equality, its equilibrium strategy in a given district is the nomination of a candidate of the same gender as that of the front-running party. Secondary data from 1,017 single-member Australian districts and more than 2,000 candidates from 2001–2019 confirm our hypothesis.
Urban furniture in digital placemaking: Adapting a storytelling payphone across Los Angeles
Authors: Stokes Benjamin , Bar François , Baumann Karl , Caldwell Ben , Schrock Andrew
Published: March 2021

A growing number of urban practitioners and scholars are interested in using digital storytelling to strengthen neighborhood connections to shared culture and build a coherent sense of place. This article contributes to this discussion by investigating how ‘urban furniture’ can sustain social capacity for digital placemaking. While traditional ‘urban furniture’ in public space is purely physical, digital-physical hybrids are emerging, from benches that tell stories to bus stops that play videos. This extended case follows the travels of an Afrofuturist piece of urban furniture: a community-hacked payphone called Sankofa Red. Our analysis triangulates findings across three installations to show how placemaking can be sustained as a social process: as part of a successful makeover of a community plaza, featured in a neighborhood history game, and in an art exhibition on race and ethnicity. We identify promising practices to adapt urban furniture and retain design collectives beyond a single placemaking installation. As a way for cities to build capacity, we propose that rotating one kind urban furniture (e.g., payphones) across neighborhoods can build the social capacity for placemaking around a shared technical foundation, while still prioritizing local needs and culture.
Analyzing the symptoms in colorectal and breast cancer patients with or without type 2 diabetes using EHR data
Authors: Luo Xiao , Storey Susan , Gandhi Priyanka , Zhang Zuoyi , Metzger Megan , Huang Kun
Published: March 2021

This research extracted patient-reported symptoms from free-text EHR notes of colorectal and breast cancer patients and studied the correlation of the symptoms with comorbid type 2 diabetes, race, and smoking status. An NLP framework was developed first to use UMLS MetaMap to extract all symptom terms from the 366,398 EHR clinical notes of 1694 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and 3458 breast cancer (BC) patients. Semantic analysis and clustering algorithms were then developed to categorize all the relevant symptoms into eight symptom clusters defined by seed terms. After all the relevant symptoms were extracted from the EHR clinical notes, the frequency of the symptoms reported from colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC) patients over three time-periods post-chemotherapy was calculated. Logistic regression (LR) was performed with each symptom cluster as the response variable while controlling for diabetes, race, and smoking status. The results show that the CRC and BC patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) were more likely to report symptoms than CRC and BC without T2D over three time-periods in the cancer trajectory. We also found that current smokers were more likely to report anxiety (CRC, BC), neuropathic symptoms (CRC, BC), anxiety (BC), and depression (BC) than non-smokers.
Bandgap coupling effects between hybrid nonlinear synchronized switch damping and linear two-order resonant bandgaps in piezoelectric meta-structures
Authors: Bao Bin , Lallart Mickaël , Wang Quan
Published: March 2021

To study the bandgap coupling mechanism between nonlinear synchronized switch damping and multi-order linear resonant bandgaps, this research investigates the bandgap coupling effects between nonlinear synchronized switch damping and two-order linear resonant bandgaps in a piezoelectric meta-structure. Specifically, a piezoelectric meta-structure with hybrid nonlinear synchronized switch damping and linear two-order linear resonant electrical networks is proposed. Based on the theoretical modeling of the proposed structure, band structure and vibration transmittance performance are investigated in detail. Results showed that bandgap coupling can produce a trade-off with the advantages of both nonlinear and two-order linear resonant bandgaps. The new bandgap can not only realize broadband wave attenuation performance but also greatly enhance the attenuation in selected frequency bands, which provides a new method to manipulate elastic waves in a diversified way.
Hope, frustrations and progressive potentials: a mild polemic
Authors: Crouch David
Published: March 2021

The complexities of the creative sector are well rehearsed both within and beyond tourism. In tourism, creativity manifests in a range of ways and tends to be regarded as something that the commercial sector indulges, through film and apps to enable virtual visiting. Customers, tourists, have their ideas – and to a degree feeling of experiences, sites, staged events, framed, even shaped, by the touristic creative sector. These interventions play a valuable role to get closer to the in vivo experience. This commentary reflects upon the range of work that has been undertaken in the last twenty years to explore creativity in tourism as the creativity of tourists and how this constitutes their expectations and experiences remains central to tourist studies.
Understanding value creation in digital context: An empirical investigation of B2B
Authors: Corsaro Daniela , Anzivino Alessia
Published: March 2021

In recent years, the context of B2B relationships has changed rapidly with the advent of new technologies that are reshaping the space dimension of business interactions and the time frame in which they occur. Notwithstanding the magnitude of this evolution, the literature only partially captures the implications of value creation in the B2B digital context, leaving the contextual nature of value to remain vague and described mainly at an abstract level. This lack of a micro-foundation of value creation in context also makes its management exceedingly difficult. This study proposes a conceptual model that explains value creation in the digitally interconnected B2B business environment. Our analysis of 34 qualitative interviews with B2B managers showed the importance of a granular examination of value creation in context by identifying its dimensions and processes. At the same time, we showed the need to combine a micro theoretical focus with the transition to a more holistic and systemic view.
Letters from a dying college: How the climate crisis demands a wilder pedagogy and wilder policies
Authors: Ford Daniel , Blenkinsop Sean
Published: March 2021

This paper takes the academically unorthodox form of personal correspondence. This method, of letters between two educators writing to one another across the distance of two continents and different experiences, seeks to create an inclusive, confessional tone, one that invites the reader to get closer to the lived experience of those struggling within the educational and environmental crises. Critically, this correspondence also seeks to open discussion about the difficult demands of state secondary and tertiary education. The authors explore issues regarding their denuded experiences of working in formal education settings while bearing witness to environmental degradation and ecological collapse. In light of their exploration, the authors argue for an ‘agrios’, a wilder, more expansive polis, coupled with more ecologically-inclusive governance, to address the current potentially catastrophic political leadership that has seemingly turned away from ecological responsibility. This paper culminates in direct letters that focus on a series of practical proposals for action and on four premises for developing agriocy – the policy that supports the agrios/agriocity.
A comparative investigation of neural networks in solving differential equations
Authors: Shi Enze , Xu Chuanju
Published: March 2021

Methods for solving differential equations based on neural networks have been widely proposed in recent years. However, limited open literature to date has reported the choice of loss functions and the hyperparameters of the network and how it influences the quality of numerical solutions. In the present work we intend to address this issue. Precisely we will focus on possible choices of loss functions and compare their efficiency in solving differential equations through a series of numerical experiments. In particular, a comparative investigation is performed between the natural neural networks and Ritz neural networks, with and without penalty for the boundary conditions. The sensitivity on the accuracy of the neural networks with respect to the size of training set, the number of nodes, and the penalty parameter is also studied. In order to better understand the training behavior of the proposed neural networks, we further investigate the approximation properties of the neural networks in function fitting. A particular attention is paid to approximating Müntz polynomials by neural networks.
Reflections on Embeddedness in an Applied Sociology Project in Ontario
Authors: Maich Grace , Boggs Jeff , Butovsky Jonah
Published: March 2021

The growth of precarious employment across Canada prompted sociologists and community researchers to understand the causes and consequences of insecure work. However, structural context often leads research organizations’ goals to conflict with those of its members. According to organizational theory, external pressures influence organizational goals and their approaches to problem solving. Thus, the purpose of this article is to illuminate some of the concrete ways that such pressures, known as embeddedness, help to shape research output. We draw on written reflective analyses of our experiences with embeddedness while working in the research organization Poverty and Employment Precarity in Niagara (PEPiN) to highlight the external factors which constrained our data analysis and our final report’s legislative and workplace policy recommendations for relieving the economic and family stresses associated with precarious work. We argue that embeddedness under neoliberal conditions limits the extent of structural critique that research organizations make of working conditions.
Proteomic analysis reveals rotator cuff injury caused by oxidative stress
Authors: Yuan Tao , Qian Hong , Yu Xin , Meng Jia , Lai Cheng-Teng , Jiang Hui , Zhao Jian-Ning , Bao Ni-Rong
Published: March 2021

Background and aims:

Rotator cuff tendinopathy is common and is related to pain and dysfunction. However, the pathological mechanism of rotator cuff injury and shoulder pain is unclear. Objective: to investigate the pathological mechanism of rotator cuff injury and shoulder pain, and screen out the marker proteins related to rotator cuff injury by proteomics.

Methods:

Subacromial synovium specimens were collected from patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopic surgery. The experimental group were patients with rotator cuff repair surgery, and the control group were patients with habitual dislocation of the shoulder joint. Pathological examination was performed, and then followed by non-labeled quantitative proteomic detection. Finally, from analysis of the biological information of the samples, specific proteins related to rotator cuff injury and shoulder pain were deduced by functional analysis of differential proteins.

Results:

All the patients in experimental groups were representative. A large number of adipocytes and inflammatory cells were found in the pathological sections of the experimental group; the proteomics analysis screen identified 80 proteins with significant differences, and the analysis of protein function revealed that S100A11 ( p = 0.011), PLIN4 ( p = 0.017), HYOU1 ( p = 0.002) and CLIC1 ( p = 0.007) were closely related to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

Conclusion:

Rotator cuff injury is closely related to oxidative stress and chronic inflammatory response, and the results suggest that the expression of S100A11, PLIN4, HYOU1 and CLIC1 in the synovium of rotator cuff injury provides a new marker for the study of its pathological mechanism.
Advancements in the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer
Authors: Stewart Latoya A. , Kuo Jennifer H.
Published: March 2021

Derived from follicular epithelial cells, differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) accounts for the majority of thyroid malignancies. The threefold increase in DTC incidence over the last three decades has been largely attributed to advancements in detection of papillary thyroid microcarcinomas. Efforts to address the issue of overtreatment have notably included the reclassification of encapsulated follicular variant papillary thyroid cancers (EFVPTC) to non-invasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP). In the last 5 years, the overall management approach for this relatively indolent cancer has become less aggressive. Although surgery and radioiodine ablation remain the mainstay of DTC therapy, the role of active surveillance is being explored. Furthermore, the most recent American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines offer flexibility between lobectomy and total thyroidectomy for thyroid nodules between 1 cm and 4 cm in the absence of extrathyroidal extension or nodal disease. As our understanding of the natural history and molecular underpinnings of DTC evolves, so might our approach to managing low-risk patients, obviating the need for invasive intervention. Simultaneously, advances in interventional and systemic therapies have greatly expanded treatment options for high-risk surgical candidates and patients with widespread disease, and continue to be areas of active investigation. Continued research efforts are essential to improve our ability to offer effective individualized therapy to patients at all disease stages and to reduce the incidence of recurrent and progressive disease.
Methods to disinfect and decontaminate SARS-CoV-2: a systematic review of in vitro studies
Authors: Kwok Chun Shing , Dashti Mustafa , Tafuro Jacopo , Nasiri Mojtaba , Muntean Elena-Andra , Wong Nicholas , Kemp Timothy , Hills George , Mallen Christian D.
Published: March 2021

Background:

Cleaning is a major control component for outbreaks of infection. However, for the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there is limited specific guidance regarding the proper disinfection methods that should be used.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review of the literature on cleaning, disinfection or decontamination methods in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2.

Results:

A total of 27 studies were included, reporting a variety of methods with which the effectiveness of interventions were assessed. Virus was inoculated onto different types of material including masks, nasopharyngeal swabs, serum, laboratory plates and simulated saliva, tears or nasal fluid and then interventions were applied in an attempt to eliminate the virus including chemical, ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation, and heat and humidity. At body temperature (37°C) there is evidence that the virus will not be detectable after 2 days but this can be reduced to non-detection at 30 min at 56°C, 15 min at 65°C and 2 min at 98°C. Different experimental methods testing UV light have shown that it can inactivate the virus. Light of 254–365 nm has been used, including simulated sunlight. Many chemical agents including bleach, hand sanitiser, hand wash, soap, ethanol, isopropanol, guandinium thiocynate/t-octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol, formaldehyde, povidone-iodine, 0.05% chlorhexidine, 0.1% benzalkonium chloride, acidic electrolysed water, Clyraguard copper iodine complex and hydrogen peroxide vapour have been shown to disinfect SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusions:

Heating, UV light irradiation and chemicals can be used to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 but there is insufficient evidence to support one measure over others in clinical practice.
Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma: Two-case report and literature review
Authors: Xing Siwei , Liu Ao , Yang Xiaoqun , Chen Lu , Xu Danfeng
Published: March 2021

Tubulocystic renal cell carcinoma is a rare neoplasm of kidney with low metastatic tendency. There has only been a relatively small collection of literature dedicated to this subtype. Here we present two cases diagnosed in our center with detailed clinical information. Along with literature review, we aim to paint a comprehensive profile of TC-RCC. Hematuria and asthenia could be the chief complaints although most patients are asymptomatic. This lesion has a signature multilocular cystic form on radiology and enhancement of septa should reveal malignancy. Histologically, the cysts are lined by a single layer of flattened, cuboidal/columnar, and hobnail epithelium with enlarged nuclei and intermediate to large nucleoli. PAX8 and AMACR are most commonly positive while CD10 or CK7 could be focally stained in some cases. Overall, the diagnosis of TC-RCC should be based on comprehensive clinical and molecular results because early determination of the lesion could prelude a timely intervention and favorable prognosis.
Higher Education for International Students in China: A Review of Policy From 1978 to 2020
Authors: Zhang (张玉婷) Yuting , Liao (廖钰) Yu
Published: March 2021

Purpose:

By reviewing policies on higher education for international students, this article aims to investigate the change of social–historical context, policy issue, and policy solution and provide implications for policymaking.

Design/Approach/Methods:

The study used qualitative text analysis. One hundred and twelve policy papers were collected from the PKULAW database and the Ministry of Education official website. Deductive categories were constructed under themes like social–historical context, policy issue, and policy solution separately.

Findings:

Four stages have emerged from the text analysis. The policy focus witnessed a shift from openness to expansion and then to quality. The policies made by the central government changed a lot accordingly. China is increasingly active in higher education internationalization and eager to make the education for international students an attractive brand with high quality. To realize this target, policies should be made based on different types of international students. Additionally, it is necessary that policies provide detailed guidance and accelerate capacity building in all majors.

Originality/Value:

This study contributes to existing knowledge of higher education for international students in China by providing qualitative policy text analysis, and the insights gained from this study may be of assistance to policymaking in the future.
Academic Turning Points: How Microaggressions and Macroaggressions Inhibit Diversity and Inclusion in the Academy
Authors: Sykes Bryan L.
Published: March 2021

In this essay, I reflect upon my experiences as a student, faculty member, and editor. I argue that microaggressions and macroaggressions, in classrooms and conference rooms, facilitate academic turning points—moments and experiences that turn underrepresented scholars away from academia as students, faculty, and staff in departments, centers, and institutions of higher learning. In what follows, I reflect on three moments when my career path almost diverged from its current position and trajectory, and from these experiences, I distill concrete recommendations for administrators, editors, faculty, and students on how to cultivate academic environments that enable underrepresented scholars to thrive in the academy.
Relationship of Patellofemoral Angles and Tibiofemoral Rotational Angles With Jumper’s Knee in Professional Dancers: An MRI Analysis
Authors: Aksu Neslihan , Atansay Vefa , Karalök Işık , Aksu Taner , Kara Ayhan Nedim , Hamzaoglu Azmi
Published: March 2021

Background:

Jumper’s knee is a type of tendinopathy affecting the distal insertion of the quadriceps tendon (25% of cases) or the patellar tendon. It has been shown that frontal-plane measurements, such as genu valgum, genu varum, an increased quadriceps angle, a protuberant tibial tuberosity, patella alta, and short hamstring muscles, may be related to jumper’s knee.

Purpose:

To investigate the effects of tibiofemoral rotational angles and patellofemoral (PF) angles on the development of jumper’s knee in professional folk dancers.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

We examined 26 dancers (16 male, 10 female) with knee pain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for a total of 32 knees. Of the knees, 21 with quadriceps tendinopathy (QT) and 7 with patellar tendinopathy (PT) were detected. Using MRI scans, we measured PF angles (PF sulcus angle, lateral PF angle, patellar tilt angle, lateral trochlear inclination angle, lateral patellar tilt angle, and PF congruence angle) and tibiofemoral rotational angles (condylar twist angle, posterior condylar angle, femoral Insall angle, tibial Insall angle, posterior tibiofemoral angle, and angle between the Whiteside line and posterior femoral condylar line) and noted specifics such as patella alta, patella baja, and the Wiberg classification of the patellar shape between the patients with versus without QT and between patients with versus without PT to understand if there was any relationship with tendinopathy.

Results:

No statistically significant difference was observed in age, sex, patella alta, or the Wiberg classification between the QT groups (with vs without) and between the PT groups (with vs without) ( P > .05). Having QT was found to be significantly associated with the PF sulcus angle ( P = .009), and having PT was found to be significantly associated with the femoral Insall angle ( P = .029).

Conclusion:

Jumper’s knee was found to be associated with anatomic variations of the PF sulcus angle and rotation of the patellar tendon in relation to the femur (femoral Insall angle) on axial MRI scans in professional dancers. Unlike those of other athletes, dancers’ knees are exposed more to external rotation forces because of turnout, and this can be the cause of jumper’s knee.
The Covid Impact to Public Healthcare Utilization Among Urban Low-Income Subsidized Community in Klang Valley Malaysia
Authors: Yunus Sharifah Zawani Syed Ahmad , Puteh Sharifa Ezat Wan , Ali Adliah Mhd , Daud Faiz
Published: March 2021

Background:

Appropriate level of healthcare utilization is one of the aims in translating health system inputs into improving the outcome of population health. Healthcare utilization services in Malaysia remains relatively low as compared to the rate in most high-income countries and some gaps exist across socioeconomic status. After the financial handouts deemed Household Living Aid (HLA) to low-income earners, Malaysia has recently implemented a financial health protection scheme toward for low-income group known as PeKa B40 to improve their access for healthcare services. This study aims to determine the healthcare utilization among the low-income population living in urban Klang Valley, and to explore the relationship between healthcare utilization with the demographic characteristics of this population.

Material and Methods:

A cross-sectional study using face to face structured questionnaire. All 447 respondents included were low-income earners enrolled in the HLA. Chi-square analysis and multiple logistic regression were used to examine association between the risk factors and healthcare utilization.

Results:

The response rate was 93.5%. The healthcare utilization among the respondents during the partial lockdown period was 19.5% and 33.1% during the recovery lockdown period. Enrollment in the PeKa B40 scheme among the 7.6% respondents was not associated with healthcare utilization. After controlling for the variables, those aged 60 years and above [AOR: 1.87; 95% (CI): (1.07; 3.27)], self-rated poor health status [AOR: 2.16; 95% (CI): (1.07; 4.34)], having NCDs [AOR: 4.21; 95% (CI): (2.23; 7.94)], and being hospitalized in the past 12 months [AOR: 3.54; 95% (CI): (1.46; 8.62)], were more likely to utilize healthcare services as compared to their counterparts.

Conclusion:

The results from this study is valuable for policy recommendations to improve on the coverage of the PeKa B40 scheme and healthcare access for the low-income population especially during the pandemic.
The Role of Noncoding RNAs in Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells
Authors: Ahmad Paras , Stoddart Martin J. , Della Bella Elena
Published: March 2021

Chronic inflammatory diseases, including periodontitis, are the most common causes of bone tissue destruction. Periodontitis often leads to loss of connective tissue homeostasis and reduced alveolar bone levels. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs), a population of multipotent stem cells derived from periodontal ligament tissues, are considered as candidate cells for the regeneration of alveolar bone and periodontal tissues. Periodontitis impairs the osteogenic differentiation of human PDLSCs. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and circular RNA (circRNA), have been proposed as vital regulators influencing several differentiation processes including bone regeneration. Still, the molecular mechanisms of ncRNAs regulating osteogenic differentiation of human PDLSCs remain poorly understood. Exploring the influence of ncRNAs in the process of osteogenic differentiation of human PDLSCs may provide novel therapeutic strategies for tissue regeneration as the regeneration of the lost periodontium is the ultimate goal of periodontal therapy.
Project Narratives That Potentially Perform and Change the Future
Authors: Sergeeva Natalya , Winch Graham M.
Published: March 2021

This article develops a framework for applying organizational narrative theory to understand project narratives that potentially perform and change the future. Project narratives are temporal but often get repeated throughout the project life cycle to stabilize meaning, and could be about project mission, vision, identity, value creation, and so forth. Project narratives have important implications for organizational identity and image crafting. This article differentiates among different types of project narratives in relation to a project life cycle, providing case studies of project narratives on three major UK rail projects. We then set out the future research agenda into project narrative work.
Labour market polarisation revisited: evidence from Austrian vacancy data
Authors: Zilian Laura S. , Zilian Stella S. , Jäger Georg
Published: March 2021

Recent research suggests that new technologies are important drivers of empirically observed labour market polarisation. Many analyses in the field of economics are conducted to evaluate the changing share of employment in low-skill, medium-skill and high-skill occupations over time. This occupation-based approach, however, may neglect the relevance of specific skills and skill bundles, which potentially can be used to explain the observable patterns of labour market polarisation. This paper adds to the literature in two ways: First, we present the results of an analysis of data on job vacancies rather than the currently employed and, second, we derive occupation-defining skills using network analysis tools. The analysis and tool usage allowed us to investigate polarisation patterns in Austrian vacancy data from 2007 to 2017 and identify changes in the skills demanded in job vacancies in Austria. In contrast to most previous research, we find no evidence for polarisation, but rather a trend towards upskilling.
Genotype-by-environment interaction in Holstein heifer fertility traits using single-step genomic reaction norm models
Authors: Shi Rui , Brito Luiz Fernando , Liu Aoxing , Luo Hanpeng , Chen Ziwei , Liu Lin , Guo Gang , Mulder Herman , Ducro Bart , van der Linden Aart , Wang Yachun
Published: March 2021

Background

The effect of heat stress on livestock production is a worldwide issue. Animal performance is influenced by exposure to harsh environmental conditions potentially causing genotype-by-environment interactions (G × E), especially in highproducing animals. In this context, the main objectives of this study were to (1) detect the time periods in which heifer fertility traits are more sensitive to the exposure to high environmental temperature and/or humidity, (2) investigate G × E due to heat stress in heifer fertility traits, and, (3) identify genomic regions associated with heifer fertility and heat tolerance in Holstein cattle.

Results

Phenotypic records for three heifer fertility traits (i.e., age at first calving, interval from first to last service, and conception rate at the first service) were collected, from 2005 to 2018, for 56,998 Holstein heifers raised in 15 herds in the Beijing area (China). By integrating environmental data, including hourly air temperature and relative humidity, the critical periods in which the heifers are more sensitive to heat stress were located in more than 30 days before the first service for age at first calving and interval from first to last service, or 10 days before and less than 60 days after the first service for conception rate. Using reaction norm models, significant G × E was detected for all three traits regarding both environmental gradients, proportion of days exceeding heat threshold, and minimum temperature-humidity index. Through single-step genome-wide association studies, PLAG1, AMHR2, SP1, KRT8, KRT18, MLH1, and EOMES were suggested as candidate genes for heifer fertility. The genes HCRTR1, AGRP, PC, and GUCY1B1 are strong candidates for association with heat tolerance.

Conclusions

The critical periods in which the reproductive performance of heifers is more sensitive to heat stress are trait-dependent. Thus, detailed analysis should be conducted to determine this particular period for other fertility traits. The considerable magnitude of G × E and sire re-ranking indicates the necessity to consider G × E in dairy cattle breeding schemes. This will enable selection of more heat-tolerant animals with high reproductive efficiency under harsh climatic conditions. Lastly, the candidate genes identified to be linked with response to heat stress provide a better understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms of heat tolerance in dairy cattle.
The impact of gender on early scientific publication and long-term career advancement in Israeli medical school graduates
Authors: Tabo Limor Y. , Greenberg Dan , Haviv Yosef S. , Riesenberg Klaris , Nesher Lior
Published: March 2021

Background

Many medical schools and residency programs incorporate research projects into their curriculum, however most remain unpublished. Little is known on the long-term effect of early-career publication, especially in female graduates.

Methods

We collected data on physicians 15–20 years after graduation (representing a mid-career point), and analysed data on early publication, publication volume and impact according to graduates’ gender and professional characteristics. Physicians were divided into those who never published, early-publishers (EP) who published within 2 years of graduation and late-publishers (LP). We analysed and compared the demographics, publication volume, publication quality as well as current mid-career position.

Results

Of 532 physicians, 185 were EP (34.8%), 220 were LP (41.3%), 127 (23.9%) never published, 491 (92.2%) became specialists and 122 (22.3%) achieved managerial position. Of the 405 who published, the average number of publications was 20.3 ± 33.0, and median (IQR) 9(19). H-index was significantly higher in EP, males, surgical specialists, and those holding a managerial position. Male gender was associated with higher publication rate (OR = 1.742; 95% CI 1.193–2.544; P = 0.004). Using quantile regression, female gender was negatively associated with the number of publications in Q50-Q95. Surgical specialty and managerial position were positively associated with publications in Q25 to Q75 and early publication in Q25 and Q75.

Conclusions

We found a strong association between EP and the number, impact, and quality of publications throughout their academic career. This study illuminates the need for further investigations into the causes of gender discrepancies. We should invest in support programs encouraging early high quality research projects for young physicians and female graduates.
MassARRAY multigene screening combined with LDL-C and sdLDL-C detection for more favorable outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus therapy
Authors: Tian Yong , Wang Junhong , Liu Yanxiao , Luo Xiangguang , Yao Ziying , Wang Xinjun , Zhang Yuanyuan , Xu Cheng , Zhao Xiaoyu
Published: March 2021

Background

To determine the clinical value of multigene polymorphisms, LDL-C and sdLDL-C on T2DM therapy.

Methods

In total, 352 T2DM patients before and after treatment and 48 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. LDL-C and sdLDL-C were detected in 352 T2DM patients and 48 healthy individuals by Quantimetrix Lipoprint System. The 11 gene polymorphisms—HTR3B (rs2276307, A > G), APOE (rs7412, c.526C > T), APOE (rs429358, c.388 T > C), CYP2C9*3 (rs1057910, c.1075A > C), KIF6 (rs20455, c.2155 T > C), HMGCR (rs17238540, T > G), HMGCR (rs17244841, A > T), ABCB1 (rs2032582, A > C/T), HTR7 (rs1935349, C > T), SLCO1B1 (rs4149056, c.521 T > C), and CETP (rs708272, G > A)—were screened in these 352 T2DM patients by the Agena Bioscience MassARRAY system before therapy.

Results

Genetic polymorphisms associated with T2DM and statin effects in pretreatment patients were detected, then results showed that all 11 genes had heterozygous mutation, and 7 genes had homozygous mutation in 352 T2DM patients, more specifically reflected that these gene polymorphisms were common in Chinese T2DM patients. LDL-C and sdLDL-C were detected before and after treatment, sdLDL mainly existed in T2DM patients, and T2DM patients had higher mean levels of sdLDL-C than healthy people. After pharmacotherapy, the coincidence rates of decreases in LDL-C and sdLDL-C levels were 88.35% (311/352) and 84.09% (296/352), consistent with patients in remission.

Conclusions

Gene polymorphisms related to pharmacotherapy were common in Chinese T2DM patients. And the expression of LDL-C and sdLDL-C was consistent with the T2DM disease course. Combined multigene screening before therapy and LDL-C and sdLDL-C detection before and after therapy could better assist T2DM treatment.
One healthy live birth after preimplantation genetic testing of a cryptic balanced translocation (9;13) in a family with cerebral palsy and glaucoma: a case report
Authors: Wang Xiliang , Wu Changsheng , Hao Dongmei , Zhang Jinyan , Tan Chang , Cheng De-hua , Fei Jia , Yu Yuexin
Published: March 2021

Background

Cryptic balanced translocations often evade detection by conventional cytogenetics. The preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) technique can be used to help carriers of balanced translocations give birth to healthy offspring; however, for carriers of cryptic balanced translocations, there is only one report about trying assisted reproduction using the PGT technique but with no pregnancy.

Case presentation

A couple had 3 births out of 4 pregnancies, and all died very young, with two of them having both cerebral palsy and glaucoma. The husband with oligoasthenospermia was found to be a cryptic balanced translocation carrier for t (9,13) (p24.3, q31.3) with G-banding, FISH (fluorescence in-situ hybridization), and MicroSeq techniques; live birth of a healthy baby girl was achieved with PGT/NGS (next-generation sequencing) for the couple.

Conclusion

Here, we report for the first time a successful live birth of a healthy baby through the PGT technique for a family in which the husband is a carrier of the cryptic balanced translocation t (9,13) (p24.3, q31.3), presumably causative for cerebral palsy and glaucoma. Our study showed that the PGT/NGS technique can effectively help families with a cryptic balanced translocation have healthy offspring.
How COVID-19 lockdown and reopening affected daily steps: evidence based on 164,630 person-days of prospectively collected data from Shanghai, China
Authors: Ding Ding , Cheng Minna , del Pozo Cruz Borja , Lin Tao , Sun Shuangyuan , Zhang Li , Yang Qinping , Ma Zhicong , Wang Jing , Jia Yingnan , Shi Yan
Published: March 2021

Background

COVID-19 lockdowns may lead to physical inactivity, a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This study aims to determine: 1) the trajectory in daily step counts before, during and after the lockdown in China, and 2) the characteristics associated with the trajectories.

Methods

From December 2019 to July 2020, smartphone-based step counts were continuously collected in 815 Chinese adults residing in Shanghai over 202 days across three phases: before, during, and after the lockdown. Participant characteristics were reported, and height, weight and body composition measured before the lockdown. A ‘sharp’ regression discontinuity design with cluster robust standard errors was used to test the effect of the lockdown and reopening on daily steps and a linear mixed model was used to examine the characteristics associated with trajectories during the observed period.

Results

Based on 164,630 person-days of data, we found a sharp decline in daily step counts upon the lockdown (24/01/2020) by an average of 3796 (SE = 88) steps, followed by a significant trend of increase by 34 steps/day (SE = 2.5;p < .001) until the end of the lockdown (22/03/2020). This increasing trend continued into the reopening phase at a slower rate of 5 steps per day (SE = 2.3;p = 0.029). Those who were older, married, university educated, insufficiently active, had an ‘at risk’ body composition, and those in the control group, were slower at recovering step counts during the lockdown, and those who were older, married, without university education and with an ‘at risk’ body composition recovered step counts at a slower pace after the reopening.

Conclusions

Despite later increases in step counts, COVID-19 lockdown led to a sustained period of reduced physical activity, which may have adverse health implications. Governments and health professionals around the world should continue to encourage and facilitate physical activity during the pandemic.
The impact of the Nutri-Score front-of-pack nutrition label on purchasing intentions of unprocessed and processed foods: post-hoc analyses from three randomized controlled trials
Authors: Egnell Manon , Galan Pilar , Fialon Morgane , Touvier Mathilde , Péneau Sandrine , Kesse-Guyot Emmanuelle , Hercberg Serge , Julia Chantal
Published: March 2021

Background

The Nutri-Score summary graded front-of-pack nutrition label has been identified as an efficient tool to increase the nutritional quality of pre-packed food purchases. However, no study has been conducted to investigate the effect of the Nutri-Score on the shopping cart composition, considering the type of foods. The present paper aims to investigate the effect of the Nutri-Score on the type of food purchases, in terms of the relative contribution of unpacked and pre-packed foods, or the processing degree of foods.

Methods

Between September 2016 and April 2017, three consecutive randomized controlled trials were conducted in three specific populations – students (N = 1866), low-income individuals (N = 336) and subjects suffering from cardiometabolic diseases (N = 1180) – to investigate the effect of the Nutri-Score on purchasing intentions compared to the Reference Intakes and no label. Using these combined data, the proportion of unpacked products in the shopping carts, as well as the distribution of products across food categories taking into account the degree of processing (NOVA classification) were assessed by trials arm.

Results

The shopping carts of participants simulating purchases with the Nutri-Score affixed on pre-packed foods contained higher proportion of unpacked products – especially raw fruits and meats, i.e. with no FoPL –, compared to participants purchasing with no label (difference of 5.93 percentage points [3.88–7.99], p-value< 0.0001) or with the Reference Intakes (difference of 5.27[3.25–7.29], p-value< 0.0001). This higher proportion was partly explained by fewer purchases of pre-packed processed and ultra-processed products overall in the Nutri-Score group.

Conclusions

These findings provide new insights on the positive effect of the Nutri-Score, which appears to decrease purchases in processed products resulting in higher proportions of unprocessed and unpacked foods, in line with public health recommendations.