bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urban Fault Lines: The Politics of Territorial Restructuring in Nanjing and Ningbo
Authors: Jaros Kyle A.
Published: March 2022

Recent decades have seen a flurry of administrative division adjustments (ADAs) in major Chinese cities, including ADAs that reconfigure multiple local government units at once. Despite the growing visibility of such reforms, it remains unclear how they come about and how profoundly they change cities’ governance and development prospects. To address these questions, this paper examines cases of ADA in Nanjing and Ningbo that had varying practical and political significance. Nanjing's 2013 ADA, though broad in scope, primarily served the purpose of administrative streamlining. By contrast, Ningbo's 2016 ADA marked a political and economic turning point, furthering the city's agenda of territorial consolidation. This detailed case comparison traces how varying ADA outcomes emerged from different intergovernmental relationships between cities, urban subunits, and provincial authorities, highlighting the territorial interest conflicts that play out within Chinese cities and the broader political challenges surrounding efforts to improve metropolitan governance.
Beyond Observation: Manipulating Circumstances to Detect Affordances and Infer Traits
Authors: Pick Cari M. , Neuberg Steven L.
Published: March 2022

Social perceivers seek to understand the opportunities and threats others potentially afford—for example, whether a teammate will behave tenaciously or a romantic partner, faithfully. We typically detect affordances and draw trait inferences by observing behaviors that reveal or predict others’ likely intentions and characteristics. However, detection and inference from simple observation are often difficult (e.g., even dishonest people are frequently honest, people often mask unpopular beliefs). In such cases, we propose that people test, actively manipulating others’ circumstances to reveal hard-to-observe affordances and characteristics. The Observation-Testing Model is a framework predicting circumstances under which testing is more likely to happen, which affordances and characteristics are more likely to be tested for, and which people are more likely to test and be tested. We identify preliminary support for the model from a range of literatures (e.g., employment assessment, coming-of-age rituals, dating processes) and identify areas needing further research.
Social Media and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management: How Have Reddit Travel Communities Experienced the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Authors: Hao Fei , Park Eunhye (Olivia) , Chon Kaye
Published: March 2022

Social media plays an important role in disaster risk reduction and management. This study brings text, emotion, and timeline analyses together to increase our understanding of online travel community members’ emotional dynamics and meaningful themes of concerns during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative data was collected from three online travel communities on Reddit. We found that, as the pandemic continued, Redditors’ concerns shifted from context-related external issues to daily-life-related internal issues. Furthermore, group-based emotions formed by the virtual community evolved positively, which can be beneficial for restoring confidence in travel after the pandemic. After presenting the results, we discuss their theoretical and practical implications.
Clinical and histopathological features of conjunctival “Teddy bear” granuloma: A case series
Authors: Lozano-Bustillo Alejandra , Ríos y Valles-Valles Dolores , Hernández-Ayuso Ivette , Rodríguez-Reyes Abelardo A.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To describe the clinical features, histopathological findings, and prognosis of conjunctival Teddy bear granuloma (TBG) diagnosed in a Mexican ophthalmologic referral center in a period of 64 years.

Methods

We reviewed clinical and histopathological material from all patients with documented conjunctival TBG. Patient′s age, gender, location, clinical signs and symptoms, duration, treatment and, specimen size, were evaluated. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded 5 microns hematoxylin-eosin stained slides and periodic acid-Schiff special stain as well as examination under polarized light microscopy were performed in all cases.

Results

A total of 5 conjunctival TBG were collected. The ages of the patients ranged between 2 and 11 with a mean of 6 years. Female to male ratio was 4:1. The right inferior fornix was involved in 4 cases (80%) with clinical diagnosis of conjunctival mass of unknown etiology. Treatment consisted of surgical removal by slit-lamp biomicroscopy (3 cases) and in the operating room (2 cases). No complications were informed in a short follow-up period. Histopathologically, numerous cross-sections of synthetic and non-synthetic fibers surrounded by multinucleated foreign body giant cells, epithelioid histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells and sparse neutrophils were seen. Polarization light microscopy demonstrated numerous birefringent colorful foreign fibers. The follow-up period of the patients ranged between 1 and 32 weeks with a mean of 10 weeks.

Conclusions

Most patients with TBG are children with vague, non-specific symptoms troubling precise clinical diagnosis. Treatment of choice involves surgical excision of the foreign body granuloma followed by topical corticosteroids. All surgical specimens obtained must be sent for histopathological examination. Special awareness is recommended during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown to prevent potential exposure to fibers that may cause conjunctival TBG.
Carceral ethnography in a time of pandemic: Examining migrant detention and deportation during COVID-19
Authors: Berg Ulla D. , Tosh Sarah , León Sebastian K.
Published: March 2022

Each year the United States government detains and deports hundreds of thousands of people who prior to their removal are held in confinement for an average of 55 days. The short and long-term effects of the coronavirus pandemic on migrant detention and deportation continue to be evaluated in real time, including how we can best study it. This paper provides a timely analysis on the relationship between immigration enforcement and confinement, public health emergencies, and ethnographic methods. It makes two contributions. The first is methodological and focuses on the challenges and opportunities of ethnographic methods in carceral settings when pandemic-related protocols have raised additional challenges to conventional in-person prison ethnography. The second contribution is empirical and documents how we adapted ethnographic methods to an interdisciplinary research design and to the exigencies of the pandemic to study the spread of the coronavirus in four immigrant detention facilities in New Jersey, USA.
Sacrificial heroes: Masculinity, class, and waste picking in Iran
Authors: Hashemi Manata
Published: March 2022

This article examines how five male waste pickers in Khorramabad, Iran, negotiate the stigmatization and criminalization associated with their work against the backdrop of escalating social inequality. I demonstrate how the men use embodied compliance and discursive narratives of masculine self-sacrifice to position themselves as innocent, sacrificial heroes. In changing the narrative from one of humiliation to valor, the men both amplify the classed and gendered hierarchy while simultaneously critiquing the social order that has led to their marginalization. This gendered identity work arises as a response to both classism and everyday occupational denigration, enabling waste pickers to construct distinct moral selves in Iran’s current global moment, but at the expense of disparaging devalued others and creating new forms of inequality.
Toward the European 2030 CO2 target with gasoline compression ignition technology and 48 V mild electric hybrid
Authors: Won Hyun Woo , Bouet Alexandre
Published: March 2022

The pressure to reduce CO2 and criteria pollutants of internal combustion engines (ICE) powered vehicles is higher than ever. The existing gasoline and diesel engine vehicles face a critical challenge to adjust to these stringent demands. By combining a clean fuel like gasoline with a high efficiency thermodynamic cycle (compression ignition), it is possible to create a powertrain that is clean both globally and locally thus breaking the historical trade-off between decreasing CO2 and reducing criteria pollutants. Recent works have demonstrated the potential of higher reactivity gasoline (HRG) fuels to reduce NOX and particulate emissions simultaneously when used in compression ignition (CI) engines. After performing the engine calibration using Design of Experiment (DoE), tests on a roller bench were conducted on a vehicle adapted to be operated with HRG. The results show 7% CO2 reduction using HRG fuel compared to the baseline diesel vehicle while 17% of CO2 benefit compared to the best in class SI car of equivalent size and power. Furthermore, vehicle simulations were used to assess the potential of the GCI vehicle technology when combined with a hybrid electric architecture. From the HEV simulation study, the 2030 CO2 target was reached by using a 48 V 1 kWh battery, P2 architecture, and recalibration the internal combustion engine and after-treatment system (ATS) while fulfilling the expected new EU’s pollutant emission standards.
A mechanistic study of 1,3,5-trisubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles by Ab initio method
Authors: Gu Jinsong , Lu Xiuhui
Published: March 2022

The mechanism of synthesis of 1,3,5-trisubstituted-1,2,4-triazoles from 3-thiopheneacetic acetic acid, 4-pyridine formamidine, and tri-fluoro ethyl hydrazine has been first investigated with B3LYP/6-311++G** method in this article. According to the potential energy profile, it can be predicted that the course of the reaction consists of six elementary reactions. The 3-thiopheneacetic acetic acid and 4-pyridine formamidine form first an intermediate product through a dehydration reaction; the intermediate product further combines with hydrogen ion to form a positive ions; the positive ion reacts with three fluorine ethyl hydrazines by a dehydration reaction to form another positive ions; then, it followed by two isomerization reactions, the final reaction with the acetate ion (Ac−) produces the final product. The research results reveal the laws of synthesis reaction of 1,3,5-trisubstituted-1,2,4-triazoles by the carboxylic acids, amidines, hydrazines, and their derivatives on theoretical level. These studies provide the systematic theoretical basis to design and synthesize new 1,3,5-trisubstituted-1,2,4-triazoles.
In Vitro Geometry Analysis of Fenestrations in Endovascular Aneurysm Repair
Authors: van der Riet Claire , Schuurmann Richte C. L. , Bokkers Reinoud P. H. , van der Zijden Fenna A. , Tielliu Ignace F. J. , Slump Cornelis H. , de Vries Jean-Paul P. M.
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

Changes in the flared end of balloon-expandable covered stent (BECS) may precede BECS-associated complications but are not regularly assessed with computed tomographic angiography (CTA) after fenestrated endovascular aneurysm repair (FEVAR). Validation of the flare geometric analysis (FGA) and assessment of intraobserver and interobserver variability are investigated in this study.

Methods:

Two series of 3 BeGraft BECSs (Bentley InnoMed GmbH, Hechingen, Germany) and 1 series of 3 Advanta V12 BECSs (Getinge AB, Göteborg, Sweden) were deployed in 3 side branches (45°, 60°, and 90° aortic branch angles) of an aorta phantom model. A standard post-FEVAR CTA scan was acquired. Computed tomographic angiography–derived measurements consisted of centerline reconstructions and placement of 3-dimensional coordinate markers by 2 observers in a vascular workstation. Flare geometric analysis calculates 3 BECS parameters: the circumferential flare-to-fenestration distance (FFD), which is the distance from the proximal end of the flare to fenestration, and diameters at the proximal end of the flare (Dflare) and at the fenestration (Dfenestration). Computed tomographic angiography–derived measurements were validated against microscopy measurements. Bland-Altman plots were used to determine the intraobserver and interobserver variability of the BECS parameters and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results:

For each BECS, the FFD at 4 equidistant quadrants of the circumference, Dflare, and Dfenestration were calculated. The mean difference and repeatability coefficient (RC) of the validation were 0.8 (2.1) mm for FFD, 0.4 (1.0) mm for Dflare, and −0.2 (1.2) mm for Dfenestration. The mean intraobserver and interobserver difference (RC) was 0.5 (1.6) mm and 0.7 (2.6) mm for FFD, 0.1 (0.6) mm and 0.1 (0.7) mm for Dflare, and −0.1 (0.8) mm and −0.8 (1.0) mm for Dfenestration. The mean ICC of intraobserver variability was 0.86 for FFD, 0.94 for Dflare, and 0.78 for Dfenestration. The mean ICC of interobserver variability was 0.77 for FFD, 0.92 for Dflare, and 0.48 for Dfenestration.

Conclusion:

This study showed that FGA of the flared ends of BECS can be performed with high accuracy in a phantom model, with good intraobserver and interobserver variability. Flare geometric analysis can be used to determine flare geometry of the BECS on standard post-FEVAR CTA scans.
Treatment of a Delayed Type IIIb Endoleak 20 Years Post EVAR With Inverted Contralateral Limb Custom-Made Device: A Case Report
Authors: Linn Yun Le , Tay Kiang Hiong , Ng Nick Zhi Peng , Lee Shaun Qingwei , Tang Tjun Yip , Chong Tze Tec
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

Type III endoleak can be difficult to distinguish from Type I endoleak. Depending on the stent graft anatomy, the use of standard bifurcated endografts may not be technically feasible, and patients may have to be subject to an aorto-uni-iliac repair with femoral-femoral bypass or open surgery.

Case Report:

We report a case of an 86-year-old male who had a Type IIIb endoleak 20 years post EVAR which was characterized on angiography to be from a hole close to the bifurcation limb origin. The initial Talent (Medtronic, Santa Rosa, California) device had a 50 mm main body common trunk, which was not amenable to treatment with standard devices. He was successfully treated with a custom-made device with an inverted contralateral limb.

Conclusions:

Our case highlights the need for lifelong surveillance post EVAR as endoleak may present decades post initial EVAR. It also demonstrates that many Type III endoleak which were otherwise deemed unsuitable for treatment with standard devices may potentially be treatable with custom-made device (CMD). This solution preserves a percutaneous option in a now older person which avoids surgical bypass. Further studies are required to establish the durability of this treatment and survey for recurrence.
Volar Plating of Scaphoid Fractures: A Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Lemke Konrad A. , Mannambeth Rejith V. , Carman Christopher J. , Csongvay Steve
Published: March 2022

Background:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of union of scaphoid fractures managed with volar plating and assess postoperative complications.

Methods:

Retrospective consecutive case series of 28 patients with scaphoid fractures, 9 acute and 19 chronic nonunions, undergoing surgical fixation with volar scaphoid plating by a single surgeon between 2013 and 2019. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 3 months with scaphoid bony union being confirmed on radiograph or computed tomography. Postoperative complications and need for plate removal were recorded.

Results:

Overall union rate of 96% with all 19 chronic nonunions demonstrating radiological union and 1 of 9 acute fractures not uniting and requiring revision surgery. The only postoperative complication identified was symptomatic plate impingement which necessitated plate removal in 57% of cases.

Conclusions:

This case series demonstrates volar plating of scaphoid fractures can be used as an alternative technique to achieve union.
Geant4 Simulation of Gamma-Ray Transmission Buildup Factors for Human Tissues
Authors: Alfuraih Abdulrahman A. , Kadri Omrane M.
Published: March 2022

Quantification of scattered photons in addition to unscattered primary particles, under realistic exposure scenario, is best dealt with a parameter called “Buildup factor”. The aim of this work is to simulate the transmission buildup factor (BUF) of gamma-ray in the energy range .15–15 MeV for 20 human tissues and organs using the Geant4 (version 10.5) Monte Carlo simulation followed by a geometrical progression (GP) parameterization procedure. Firstly, we verified the accuracy of Geant4 ability to predict the effective transmitted dose according to published data. Also, a comparison of simulated BUF for different geometrical configurations was carried out for some tissues and source energies. Then, we checked out the linear dependency of the K parameter (BUF is function of K) function of mean free path (mfp). Finally, we developed a fitting procedure according to GP method for BUF corresponding to 20 tissues and organs and different mfp (from 1 to 8) for energy range .15–15 MeV. We found a good agreement with previous published data. Proper comprehension of BUF for tissues leads to carefully controlling the energy absorption in the human body. Consequently, provided BUF could be of great interest for estimating safe dose levels in medical imaging and radiation therapy.
Withania somnifera Chemical Constituents’ In Vitro Antioxidant Potential and Their Response on Spermatozoa Parameters
Authors: Munir Naveed , Mahmood Zahed , Shahid Muhammad , Afzal Muhammad Naveed , Jahangir Muhammad , Ali Shah Syed Muhammad , Tahir Imtiaz Mahmood , Riaz Muhammad , Hussain Shoukat , Akram Muhammad , Yousaf Fatima
Published: March 2022

Background: Phytomedicine is becoming more acceptable as an alternative medicinal approach in the modern era.

Objectives: The current study examined the antioxidant capacity and in vitro response of phytochemical constituents of  Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on standard parameters of healthy volunteer semen.

Methods: The phytochemicals and their pharmacological response in a hydroethanolic (30:70 v/v) extract of  W.  somnifera roots were determined using standard protocols.

Results: The constituents included flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, and terpenoids were reported. High-performance liquid chromatography and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy determined a diverse array of biologically active chemical constituents in the extract. The extract of  W. somnifera exhibits substantial antioxidant properties, including total antioxidant capacity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl inhibition, H2O2 scavenging, and Fe3+ reducing potential ( P < .05). The analysis of essential natural minerals explored adequate levels determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Cytotoxic studies revealed significant thrombolytic, RBC membrane stabilization, and DNA damage protection activity ( P < .05) while remaining non-mutagenic against  Salmonella typhi TA98 and TA100. The best protective response of  W. somnifera extract on human semen parameters (n = 30), such as total motility, progressive motility, and viability, demonstrated a significant ( P < .05) improvement, particularly at the dose of 25 μg/mL and 50 μg/mL.

Conclusion: The study concludes that  W. somnifera possesses favorable in vitro characteristics that could aid in the preservation of sperm during intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization.
Reading vertically and horizontally mirrored text: An eye movement investigation
Authors: Pittrich Katharina , Schroeder Sascha
Published: March 2022

This study examined the cognitive processes involved in reading vertically and horizontally mirrored text. We tracked participants’ eye movements while they were reading the Potsdam Sentence Corpus which consists of 144 sentences with target words that are manipulated for length and frequency. Sentences were presented in three different conditions: In the normal condition, text was presented with upright letters, in the vertical condition, each letter was flipped around its vertical (left-right) axis while in the horizontal condition, letters were flipped around their horizontal (up-down) axis. Results show that reading was slowed down in both mirror conditions and that horizontal mirroring was particularly disruptive. In both conditions, we found larger effects of word length than in the normal condition indicating that participants read the sentences more serially and effortfully. Similarly, frequency effects were larger in both mirror conditions in later reading measures (gaze duration, go-past time, and total reading time) and particularly pronounced in the horizontal condition. This indicates that reading mirrored script involves a late checking mechanism that is particularly important for reading a horizontally mirrored script. Together, our findings demonstrate that mirroring affects both early visual identification and later linguistic processes.
Infection prevention and control strategies against carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae – a systematic review
Authors: Santos-Marques Catarina , Ferreira Helena , Gonçalves Pereira Sónia
Published: March 2022

Background

Antimicrobial resistance is exponentially worsening, and the spread of prevalent carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is a major contributor to this global concern. Infection prevention and control strategies are increasingly consolidated key tools to control this worldwide problem.

Aim

To identify, collect and analyse available evidence regarding the impact of infection prevention and control strategies on prevalent CRE dissemination.

Methods

Pubmed®, Scopus® and Web of Science® were searched systematically for articles published between 1th January 2017 and 30th June 2020, guided by the research question ‘What are the most effective and efficient strategies to prevent and control infection/colonisation caused by Carbapenem resistant Escherichia coli and Carbapenem resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae?’.

Findings

Eleven thousand six hundred and thirty-five publications were found, but after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 30 were selected. The majority of reviewed studies ( n = 24) were performed in outbreak situations, 26 studies occurred in acute care units and of those, 17 in intensive care units . From the set of implemented infection prevention and control measures, in 29 studies surveillance cultures were applied, in 23 studies patients were isolated or cohorted and, in general, all described the implementation of standard and contact precaution measures.

Conclusion

This systematic review underlines the importance of infection prevention and control strategies in CRE dissemination, standing out the need of further studies outside outbreak and intensive care units contexts. Investment increments and training and educating of all involved are also important contributors to shift this problem, but still with relevant gaps in their implementation, in all types of care units, that need to be addressed.
Pilot study to evaluate usability and acceptability of the ‘Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool’ in Russian primary healthcare
Authors: Wiemker Veronika , Bunova Anna , Neufeld Maria , Gornyi Boris , Yurasova Elena , Konigorski Stefan , Kalinina Anna , Kontsevaya Anna , Ferreira-Borges Carina , Probst Charlotte
Published: March 2022

Background and aims

Accurate and user-friendly assessment tools quantifying alcohol consumption are a prerequisite to effective prevention and treatment programmes, including Screening and Brief Intervention. Digital tools offer new potential in this field. We developed the ‘Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool’ (AAA-Tool), a mobile app providing an interactive version of the World Health Organization's Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) that facilitates the description of individual alcohol consumption via culturally informed animation features. This pilot study evaluated the Russia-specific version of the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool with regard to (1) its usability and acceptability in a primary healthcare setting, (2) the plausibility of its alcohol consumption assessment results and (3) the adequacy of its Russia-specific vessel and beverage selection.

Methods

Convenience samples of 55 patients (47% female) and 15 healthcare practitioners (80% female) in 2 Russian primary healthcare facilities self-administered the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool and rated their experience on the Mobile Application Rating Scale – User Version. Usage data was automatically collected during app usage, and additional feedback on regional content was elicited in semi-structured interviews.

Results

On average, patients completed the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool in 6:38 min (SD = 2.49, range = 3.00–17.16). User satisfaction was good, with all subscale Mobile Application Rating Scale – User Version scores averaging >3 out of 5 points. A majority of patients (53%) and practitioners (93%) would recommend the tool to ‘many people’ or ‘everyone’. Assessed alcohol consumption was plausible, with a low number (14%) of logically impossible entries. Most patients reported the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool to reflect all vessels (78%) and all beverages (71%) they typically used.

Conclusion

High acceptability ratings by patients and healthcare practitioners, acceptable completion time, plausible alcohol usage assessment results and perceived adequacy of region-specific content underline the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool's potential to provide a novel approach to alcohol assessment in primary healthcare. After its validation, the Animated Alcohol Assessment Tool might contribute to reducing alcohol-related harm by facilitating Screening and Brief Intervention implementation in Russia and beyond.
China’s Conflict Management in the Middle East: Involvement without Impact?
Authors: Karakır İrem Aşkar
Published: March 2022

China’s foreign policy toward the Middle East has traditionally been shaped by its national interests based on energy security, arms exports, and technology transfers. To complement its interest-driven regional policies, China has expanded its diplomatic contacts and promoted cultural ties. Over the last two decades, China has also engaged in conflict management in several regional issues, despite its declared commitment to nonintervention in other countries’ domestic affairs. This article aims to analyze China’s conflict management policies in the region, focusing on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, Iran’s nuclear program and the Syrian conflict. Compared with other major external powers, prospects for China’s conflict management seem high given two significant advantages. First, unlike Western powers or Russia, China has not left any bitter taste in the region associated with colonialism, religious or historical engagement. Secondly, China has been careful not to take clear-cut sides in regional conflicts, making itself an ideal candidate to act as an honest broker. It is argued that despite these advantages, Chinese conflict management in the region has remained considerably modest and lacked any practical solutions to the critical problems.
Ergonomic, epistemological and existential challenges of integrating digital tools into school mathematics
Authors: Ruthven Kenneth
Published: March 2022

Despite half a century of sustained advocacy and effort, the degree to which use of digital mathematical tools has become integral to the practice of school mathematics remains limited. The main sections of this paper identify three fundamental dimensions of challenge to such integration, illustrating the kinds of adaptation required. The ergonomic dimension relates to environmental and cognitive features which structure interaction between humans and digital tools in the everyday practice of school mathematics. The epistemological dimension relates to disciplinary and didactical knowledge available to guide use of digital tools in school mathematics. The existential dimension concerns conceptions of self and subject which shape use (and non-use) of such tools. In the light of this framework, a further section reviews the impact of the recent pandemic shock on use of digital tools in school mathematics.
Atypical connectivity in the cortico-striatal network in NF1 children and its relationship with procedural perceptual-motor learning and motor skills
Authors: Baudou Eloïse , Nemmi Federico , Peran Patrice , Cignetti Fabien , Blais Melody , Maziero Stéphanie , Tallet Jessica , Chaix Yves
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is considered a model of neurodevelopmental disorder because of the high frequency of learning deficits, especially developmental coordination disorder. In neurodevelopmental disorder, Nicolson and Fawcett formulated the hypothesis of an impaired procedural learning system that has its origins in cortico-subcortical circuits. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between cortico-striatal connectivity and procedural perceptual-motor learning performance and motor skills in NF1 children.

Methods

Seventeen NF1 and 18 typically developing children aged between 8 and 12 years old participated in the study. All were right-handed and did not present intellectual or attention deficits. In all children, procedural perceptual-motor learning was assessed using a bimanual visuo-spatial serial reaction time task (SRTT) and motor skills using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC). All participants underwent a resting-state functional MRI session. We used a seed-based approach to explore cortico-striatal connectivity in somatomotor and frontoparietal networks. A comparison between the groups’ striato-cortical connectivity and correlations between connectivity and learning (SRTT) and motor skills (M-ABC) were performed.

Results

At the behavioral level, SRTT scores are not significantly different in NF1 children compared to controls. However, M-ABC scores are significantly impaired within 9 patients (scores below the 15th percentile). At the cerebral level, NF1 children present a higher connectivity in the cortico-striatal regions mapping onto the right angular gyrus compared to controls. We found that the higher the connectivity values between these regions, differentiating NF1 and controls, the lower the M-ABC scores in the whole sample. No correlation was found for the SRTT scores.

Conclusion

NF1 children present atypical hyperconnectivity in cortico-striatal connections. The relationship with motor skills could suggest a sensorimotor dysfunction already found in children with developmental coordination disorder. These abnormalities are not linked to procedural perceptual-motor learning assessed by SRTT.
Sustainability of healthcare professionals’ adherence to clinical practice guidelines in primary care
Authors: Liu Xian-Liang , Wang Tao , Tan Jing-Yu , Stewart Simon , Chan Raymond J. , Eliseeva Sabina , Polotan Mary Janice , Zhao Isabella
Published: March 2022

Background

Sustainability of adherence to clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) represents an important indicator of the successful implementation in the primary care setting.

Aim

To explore the sustainability of primary care providers’ adherence to CPGs after receiving planned guideline implementation strategies, activities, or programmes.

Methods

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL); EMBase; Joanna Briggs Institute; Journals@Ovid; Medline; PsycoINFO; PubMed, and Web of Science were searched from January 2000 through May 2021 to identify relevant studies. Studies evaluating the sustainability of primary care providers’ (PCPs’) adherence to CPGs in primary care after any planned guideline implementation strategies, activities, or programmes were included. Two reviewers extracted data from the included studies and assessed methodological quality independently. Narrative synthesis of the findings was conducted.

Results

Eleven studies were included. These studies evaluated the sustainability of adherence to CPGs related to drug prescribing, disease management, cancer screening, and hand hygiene in primary care. Educational outreach visits, teaching sessions, reminders, audit and feedback, and printed materials were utilized in the included studies as guideline implementation strategies. None of the included studies utilized purpose-designed measurements to evaluate the extent of sustainability. Three studies showed positive sustainability results, three studies showed mixed sustainability results, and four studies reported no significant changes in the sustainability of adherence to CPGs. Overall, it was difficult to quantify the extent to which CPG-based healthcare behaviours were fully sustained based on the variety of results reported in the included studies.

Conclusion

Current guideline implementation strategies may potentially improve the sustainability of PCPs’ adherence to CPGs. However, the literature reveals a limited body of evidence for any given guideline implementation strategy. Further research, including the development of a validated purpose-designed sustainability tool, is required to address this important clinical issue.

Trial registration

The study protocol has been registered at PROSPERO (No. CRD42021259748).
Patient-reported outcomes associated with cancer screening: a systematic review
Authors: Kim Ashley , Chung Karen C. , Keir Christopher , Patrick Donald L.
Published: March 2022

Background

Multi-cancer early detection tests have been developed to enable earlier detection of multiple cancer types through screening. As reflected by patient-reported outcomes (PROs), the psychosocial impact of cancer screening is not yet clear. Our aim is to evaluate the impact of cancer screening through PRO assessment.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and reference lists of articles from January 2000 to August 2020 for relevant publications assessing the psychosocial impact of cancer screening before and within 1 year after screening in the general asymptomatic population, including following receipt of results. Studies focused on diagnostic evaluation or involving patients previously diagnosed with cancer were excluded.

Results

In total, 31 studies (12 randomized controlled trials; 19 observational studies) were included, reflecting PRO assessments associated with lung, breast, colorectal, anal, ovarian, cervical, and prostate cancer screening procedures. The most commonly assessed construct was symptoms of anxiety, using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Cancer-specific distress and worry were also assessed using a broad range of measures. Overall, individuals tolerated screening procedures well with no major psychosocial effects. Of note, increases in symptoms of anxiety and levels of distress and worry were generally found prior to communication of screening results and following communication of indeterminate or positive results that required further testing. These negative psychosocial effects were, however, not long-lasting and returned to baseline relatively soon after screening. Furthermore, individuals with higher cancer risk, such as current smokers and those with a family history of cancer, tended to have higher levels of anxiety and distress throughout the screening process, including following negative or indeterminate results.

Conclusions

The psychosocial impact of cancer screening is relatively low overall and short-lived, even following false-positive test results. Individuals with a higher risk of cancer tend to experience more symptoms of anxiety and distress during the screening process; thus, more attention to this group is recommended.
Moving silicone oil particles in the ventricle: a case report and updated review
Authors: Cao Shugang , Zhao Hao , Wang Jian , He Jun , Xia Mingwu , Xu Wen’an
Published: March 2022

Background

The movement of intraventricular silicone oil observed in the supine position is extremely rare. Herein, we describe a patient who presented with dynamically moving silicone oil particles in the ventricle when changing position and provide an updated review of this phenomenon.

Case presentation

We report a case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with intraventricular hyperdensities that were occasionally found on brain computed tomography (CT). Initial nonenhanced brain CT demonstrated nondependent hyperdensities in the bilateral anterior horns of the lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the right suprasellar cistern, mimicking an intraventricular hemorrhage. Further brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the supine position revealed abnormal signals in the bilateral anterior horns of the lateral ventricles, the posterior horn of the right lateral ventricle, the third ventricle, the right suprasellar cistern, and the bilateral eyeballs, with isosignal intensities surrounded by low-signal chemical shift artifacts on T1-weighted imaging and variable signals (hypo- or hyperintensity) on T2-weighted imaging. The lesion in the anterior horn of the right ventricle largely moved to the posterior horn of the ipsilateral ventricle. The final craniocervical CT angiography showed that the lesion in the posterior horn had moved back to the anterior horn of the right lateral ventricle. These features were consistent with intraventricular silicone oil migration. The final spinal MRI did not demonstrate a migration of silicone oil into the spinal subarachnoid space.

Discussion and conclusions

This case report describes a dynamic process of silicone oil displacement in the supine position and provides a comprehensive imaging presentation. The moving pattern and a characteristic chemical shift artifact on MRI are key to the diagnosis and may help prevent unnecessary examinations or intervention.
Effects of school-based high-intensity interval training on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic markers in adolescent boys with obesity: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Meng Cao , Yucheng Tang , Shu Li , Yu Zou
Published: March 2022

Background

With accumulating evidence suggesting that CVD has its origins in childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a real-world school-based high-intensity interval training intervention on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic markers in obese boys aged 10 to 13 years.

Methods

Forty-five adolescent boys with obesity (age = 11.2 ± 0.7 years, BMI = 24.2 ± 1.0 kg/m2), were randomized to high-intensity interval training group (HIIT, n = 15), moderate-intensity continuous training group (MICT, n = 15), or a control group (CON, n = 15). The intervention groups performed three weekly exercise sessions over 12 weeks. HIIT group performed two sets of eight bouts of 15 s run at high-intensity [90 ~ 100% maximal aerobic speed (MAS)] separated by eight bouts of 15 s recovery run at low-intensity (50% MAS), MICT group performed 30 min run at moderate intensity (60 ~ 70% MAS) and CON group were instructed to continue their normal behaviors. All participants had indices of body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and cardiometabolic markers measured at baseline and post-intervention. Statistical differences between and within groups were determined by use of two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures.

Results

Following the school-based training program, BMI and body fat mass decreased (BMI: − 1.8 kg/m2 vs. – 1.2 kg/m2, P < 0.01; FM: − 1.6 kg, P < 0.05 vs. -3.7 kg, P < 0.01) in HIIT and MICT group, but there was no significant difference between the two interventions; $$\dot{\mathrm{V}}{\mathrm{O}}_{2\mathrm{peak}}$$

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both increased significantly in two intervention groups, and the increment of HIIT group was significantly greater than that of MICT (6.1 mL/kg/min vs. 3.8 mL/kg/min, P < 0.01), Visceral adipose tissue was significant decrease in HIIT group (− 53 g vs. -17 g, P < 0.01) whilst the MICT group experienced a significant decrease in body fat percentage (− 3.1 ± 1.0 kg, P < 0.01), but there were no significant difference between the two interventions. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased only in HIIT group (− 17.2%, P < 0.05). Significant decrease in the usual index of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) occurred in HIIT and MICT groups (− 27.3 and − 28.6%, respectively; P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that high-intensity interval training based on running can be used to improve the physical health of obese adolescents in school. Further investigations involving a larger cohort of participants, taken from different schools, is recommended.

Trial registration

title Effect of High Intensity Interval Training on Obese Children and Adolescents, time 16/12/2017, IDChiCTR-IOR-17013992, websitehttp://www.chictr.org.cn
Coping strategies and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic in pregnant women: a cross sectional study
Authors: Firouzbakht Mojgan , Rahmani Narges , Sharif Nia Hamid , Omidvar Shabnam
Published: March 2022

Background

Pregnant women are vulnerable to psychological problems depending on the adaptive capacities of their personality and coping strategies. This study aimed to investigate the association between coping strategies of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic and depression.

Methods

This web-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 on 318 pregnant women in Amol, Iran. Data collection was performed via questionnaires (Brief cope, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, CDA, and Demographic questionnaire). The questionnaires were completed through the WhatsApp and Telegram applications. Data were analyzed using the hierarchical regression analysis and SPSS software (v. 21) at the significance level of 0.05.

Results

About 40% of participants had depression. The most prevalent coping strategy used by pregnant women was the avoidance strategy. Hierarchical regression revealed that the coping strategy of avoidance was a significant predictor of depression (β = 0.226, p = 0.046) after controlling background characteristics.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that avoidance style associated with depression in pregnant women. Therefore, obtaining further knowledge about impacts of coping strategies on pregnant women seems to be essential.
Incremental burden of relapse in patients with major depressive disorder: a real-world, retrospective cohort study using claims data
Authors: Touya Maëlys , Lawrence Debra F. , Kangethe Anne , Chrones Lambros , Evangelatos Themmi , Polson Michael
Published: March 2022

Background

Relapse is common in major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, we evaluated the incremental health care burden of relapse in patients with MDD.

Methods

This real-world retrospective cohort study used administrative medical and pharmacy claims data to identify commercially insured adult patients in the United States diagnosed with MDD who initiated a new antidepressant between January 1, 2012, and September 30, 2017. All-cause health care resource utilization, total costs, and medication adherence were evaluated in two cohorts: patients with and patients without relapse. Relapse was defined as suicide attempts, psychiatric hospitalization, mental health–related emergency department (ED) visit, use of electroconvulsive therapy, or reinitiation of treatment after a gap ≥6 months.

Results

The study population included 14,186 patients (7093 baseline-matched patients per cohort). The mean follow-up period was 27.5 and 26.0 months for patients with and patients without relapse, respectively. Patients with relapse had significantly higher rates of hospitalization (16.6% vs 8.5%; p < .0001) and ED visits (54.8% vs 34.7%; p < .0001) than patients without relapse. The total costs for patients with relapse were significantly higher ($12,594 vs $10,445;  p < .0001). Patients with relapse were also less adherent to antidepressants (mean proportion of days covered, 0.43 vs 0.49; p < .0001).

Conclusions

Relapse of MDD was associated with increased total costs and health care utilization and lower adherence to antidepressants. Reducing the risk of relapse may result in a reduction of the associated health care burden; however, findings may only be generalizable to patients with commercial insurance.
Contextual and psychological factors influencing open defecation free status: an exploratory qualitative study in rural South Western Uganda
Authors: Ntaro Moses , Owokuhaisa Judith , Isunju John Bosco , Mulogo Edgar , Ssempebwa John C.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Achieving the Open defecation free (ODF) status remains a major challenge in Uganda, yet it contributes significantly to child health improvement. Literature on social, cultural and behavioral aspects that influence the ODF status in rural Uganda is limited. The study therefore, explored perceived factors influencing the ODF status in rural South Western Uganda.

Methods

An exploratory study employing qualitative techniques and based on deductive analysis between month December 2020 and January 2021 was conducted. Seven Focus Group Discussions (FGDs and three Key Informant Interviews (KIs) were conducted in Kabale District, southwestern Uganda. Focus Group Discussion participants were mothers and fathers having children of 2 years and below while KIIs included local community leaders and health extension workers. Data was analyzed using a categorization matrix derived from the Risks, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, and Self-regulation (RANAS) model which is comprised of contextual and psychological factors. Text was further categorized into high and low statements for attainment of ODF status.

Results

The contextual factors influencing the Open Defecation Free status behavior included; farming activities far from home, financial constraints, rainy seasons, collapsible soft soils, and alcohol use. Psychological factors influencing ODF status included; perceived health risk for typhoid disease, low perceived severity for lack of ODF components, negative attitude of less value attached to ODF components, and a feeling of time wastage practicing ODF status behavior. The perception that the community has the ability to attain the ODF status was high. Although, the capability to maintain ODF was low when it comes to replacement of ODF component if stolen or destroyed.

Conclusion

Open Defecation Free status is influenced by contextual and psychological factors. Therefore, it’s crucial for sanitation promotors to always identify such context specific factors in order to design sanitation and hygiene promotion interventions to address the ODF free status related challenges.