bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment and Ranking of Climate Models in Arctic Sea Ice Cover Simulation: From CMIP5 to CMIP6
Authors: Shen Zili , Duan Anmin , Li Dongliang , Li Jinxiao
Published: February 2021

The capability of 36 models participating in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) and their 24 CMIP5 counterparts in simulating the mean state and variability of Arctic sea ice cover for the period 1979–2014 is evaluated. In addition, a sea ice cover performance score for each CMIP5 and CMIP6 model is provided that can be used to reduce the spread in sea ice projections through applying weighted averages based on the ability of models to reproduce the historical sea ice state. Results show that the seasonal cycle of the Arctic sea ice extent (SIE) in the multimodel ensemble (MME) mean of the CMIP6 simulations agrees well with observations, with a MME mean error of less than 15% in any given month relative to the observations. CMIP6 has a smaller intermodel spread in climatological SIE values during summer months than its CMIP5 counterpart. In terms of the monthly SIE trends, the CMIP6 MME mean shows a substantial reduction in the positive bias relative to the observations compared with that of CMIP5. The spread of September SIE trends is very large, not only across different models but also across different ensemble members of the same model, indicating a strong influence of internal variability on SIE evolution. Based on the assumptions that the simulations of CMIP6 models are from the same distribution and that models have no bias in response to external forcing, we can infer that internal variability contributes to approximately 22% ± 5% of the September SIE trend over the period 1979–2014.
Structure of Submesoscale Fronts of the Mississippi River Plume
Authors: Wang Tao , Barkan Roy , McWilliams James C. , Molemaker M. Jeroen
Published: February 2021

Submesoscale currents (SMCs), in the forms of fronts, filaments, and vortices, are studied using a high-resolution (~150 m) Regional Oceanic Modeling System (ROMS) simulation in the Mississippi River plume system. Fronts and filaments are identified by large horizontal velocity and buoyancy gradients, surface convergence, and cyclonic vertical vorticity with along-coast fronts and along-plume-edge filaments notably evident. Frontogenesis and arrest/destruction are two fundamental phases in the life cycle of fronts and filaments. In the Mississippi River plume region, the horizontal advective tendency induced by confluence and convergence plays a primary role in frontogenesis. Confluent currents sharpen preexisting horizontal buoyancy gradients and initiate frontogenesis. Once the fronts and filaments are formed and the Rossby number reaches O(1), they further evolve frontogenetically mainly by convergent secondary circulations, which can be maintained by different cross-front momentum balance regimes. Confluent motions and preexisting horizontal buoyancy gradients depend on the interaction between wind-induced Ekman transport and the spreading plume water. Consequently, the direction of wind has a significant effect on the temporal variability of SMCs, with more active SMCs generated during a coastally downwelling-favorable wind and fewer SMCs during an upwelling-favorable wind. Submesoscale instabilities (~1–3 km) play a primary role in the arrest and fragmentation of most fronts and filaments. These instabilities propagate along the fronts and filaments, and their energy conversion is a mixed barotropic–baroclinic type with horizontal-shear instabilities dominating.
The Role of Analysis Error in the Convergence of Reanalysis Production Streams in MERRA-2
Authors: El Akkraoui Amal , Carvalho David , Errico Ronald M. , Privé Nikki C. , Bosilovich Michael G.
Published: February 2021

Due to production time constraints, most reanalyses are produced in multiple parallel streams instead of a single continuous one. These streams cover separate segments of the reanalysis time period with short overlaps to allow reconstruction of the official record. A fundamental assumption justifying this approach is that the streams will be assimilating the same observations during the periods where they overlap, and so will eventually converge to a similar atmospheric state, making discontinuities at stream junctions negligible. This assumption is revisited in this work by examining the impact of analysis error on the differences between MERRA-2 overlapping streams in three historical periods. Comparison results are shown in terms of standard deviations of stream differences as well as the spectral decomposition of the variance of their differences. Residual differences were found at the end of each year of overlap, with larger values observed in the earlier segments of the presatellite era. By drawing parallels with analysis error statistics estimated from the GMAO OSSE system, these differences are shown to reflect the varying constraint of data with the varying observing network, and to further carry the imprint of errors that the data assimilation process is not able to mitigate. As such, they are unlikely to be reduced by longer spinup periods. The ability of data assimilation to ensure continuity in the parallel streams is put into question when the observing system coverage is inadequate or simply when the data assimilation system as a whole is suboptimal.
“We Dissect Stupidity and Respond to It”: Response Videos and Networked Harassment on YouTube
Authors: Lewis Rebecca , Marwick Alice E. , Partin William Clyde
Published: February 2021

Over the past decade YouTube “response videos” in which a user offers counterarguments to a video uploaded by another user have become popular among political creators. While creators often frame response videos as debates, those targeted assert that they function as vehicles for harassment from the creator and their networked audience. Platform policies, which base moderation decisions on individual pieces of content rather than the relationship between videos and audience behavior, may therefore fail to address networked harassment. We analyze the relationship between amplification and harassment through qualitative content analysis of 15 response videos. We argue that response videos often provide a blueprint for harassment that shows both why the target is wrong and why harassment would be justified. Creators use argumentative tactics to portray themselves as defenders of enlightened public discourse and their targets as irrational and immoral. This positioning is misleading, given that creators interpellate the viewer as part of a networked audience with shared moral values that the target violates. Our analysis also finds that networked audiences act on that blueprint through the social affordances of YouTube, which we frame as harassment affordances. We argue that YouTube’s current policies are insufficient for addressing harassment that relies on amplification and networked audiences.
Talent management, identity construction and the burden of elitism: The case of management trainees in Hong Kong
Authors: Kamoche Ken , Leigh Flora SM
Published: February 2021

How do ‘talented’ people become corporate elites, and what does the process of becoming elites mean to them? The story of talent management (TM) as a new form of human resource innovation has largely been told from the point of view of managers and the organization. Rarely do we hear the voices of the early-career employees who are the subject of these initiatives. Building on the critique of ‘potentiality’, and with reference to Foucault’s disciplinary power, we examine the discursive practices via which firms shape the subjectivities of high-potential talented people by constructing an identity of a privileged elite and setting them up as future leaders. With reference to a sample of Hong Kong management trainees, we examine how this discourse is sustained, fractured, legitimized and resisted, and thus contribute to the critique of TM and how it constructs a ‘burden of elitism’ amongst the chosen ones.
Suicidal ideation in older Ghanaian women: The roles of bodily pain, functional limitation, and chronic health conditions
Authors: Muruthi James R , Spafford Sarah G , Osa Maggie L , DeLouize Alicia , Kowal Paul , Biritwum Richard , Snodgrass J Josh
Published: February 2021

Background:

Although approximately 79% of the world’s suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the limited research in these regions has primarily focused on the rates of suicide attempts (SA) and ideation among men and younger members of the population.

Aim:

This study investigated the associations between bodily pain, functional limitation, chronic health conditions, and suicidal ideation among older Ghanaian women with a positive screen for depression.

Methods:

Data was obtained from the World Health Organization’s Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) Ghana Wave 1, a nationally representative sample. Based on the interpersonal theory of suicide, we used logistic regression analysis to investigate the associations between the variables.

Results:

Functional limitation, bodily pain, hopelessness, and hypertension were significantly associated with a higher risk of suicidal ideation after accounting for sociodemographic and other confounding factors.

Conclusions:

Early interventions designed to decrease hopelessness, hypertension, and functional limitations may lead to reduced suicide ideation among older Ghanaian women who screen positive for depression.
Patients’ attitudes toward conventional and herbal treatments for depression and anxiety: A cross-sectional Israeli survey
Authors: Burstein Or , Shamir Alon , Abramovitz Nurit , Doron Ravid
Published: February 2021

Background:

As many patients view conventional antidepressants and anxiolytics negatively, it is not surprising that the willingness to apply these treatments is far from ideal, thus posing a critical barrier in promoting an effective and durable treatment.

Aim:

The present study aimed to explore patients’ attitudes toward conventional and herbal treatments for depression and anxiety, while considering cultural and demographic factors, to further elucidate the antecedes that putatively determine the treatment’s outcome.

Methods:

During June 2017, a cross-sectional survey was conducted using stratified sampling from a large-scale Israeli volunteer online panel. The final sample included 591 Jewish Israeli adults that reported they were suffering from depression or anxiety.

Results:

A heterogeneous range of attitudes toward treatment was found: for example, a large group of patients did not utilize prescription medications (39%), a professional consultation (12.9%), or any form of treatment (17.4%). Interestingly, these patients were significantly more likely to support naturally-derived treatments and were less concerned with scientific proof. Further, adverse effects were demonstrated as a prominent factor in the choice of treatment. A higher incidence of adverse effects was associated with an increased willingness to consider an alternative herbal treatment. Noteworthy attitudes were found in orthodox-Jewish individuals, who showed similar consultation rates, but utilized more psychological, rather than pharmacological treatments.

Conclusions:

It is proposed that patients’ perspectives and cultural backgrounds are needed to be taken into consideration during the clinical assessment and choice of treatment. The findings imply that a particular emphasis should be placed on patients that discard conventional pharmacological options and on distinct cultural aspects. Several recommendations for revising the current policy are advocated to promote more culturally-informed and patient-oriented care.
Increase in Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Among Older Adults in Arizona
Authors: Bridge Rebecca , Erhart Laura M. , Brady Shane , Komatsu Kenneth
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory illness, health care visits, and hospitalizations. Arizona, which began conducting laboratory surveillance in 2004, has noted an increase in RSV cases (defined as a laboratory-positive result) among adults aged ≥65, concurrent with increasing reports from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. We assessed whether the shift in the age distribution of reported RSV cases resulted from a change in RSV testing practices.

Methods

We used data on laboratory-confirmed RSV cases reported during 2013-2017 from the statewide surveillance system to assess the frequency of test types (rapid antigen, immunofluorescence assay, PCR, and viral culture) by age groups across RSV seasons, and we used logistic regression to estimate changes in odds of receiving a PCR test. We used statewide emergency department hospital discharge data for the same period to assess testing practices regardless of test result.

Results

The overall proportion of PCR tests among RSV cases increased significantly, from 22% in 2013 to 55% in 2017 ( P < .001). The percentage of RSV cases among adults aged ≥65 also increased significantly, from 4% in 2013 to 11% in 2017 ( P < .001) of RSV cases. Adults aged ≥65 had more than 8 times the odds of positive PCR results than children aged <5, both in crude (odds ratio [OR] = 8.8; 95% CI, 7.6-10.2) and season-adjusted (adjusted OR = 8.1; 95% CI, 7.0-9.5) models. Hospital discharge data corroborated increased RSV PCR usage from 2013 to 2017.

Conclusion

Increasing RSV rates among adults aged ≥65 are likely a result of changes in testing practices. This age group may need more targeted intervention and future vaccination.
“Cell Phones Under the Table”: Meeting Students’ Needs to Reduce Off-Task Smartphone Use Through Faculty–Student Collaboration
Authors: Batch Brook , Roberts Jacqueline , Nakonechnyi Alex , Allen Rebecca
Published: February 2021

While technology offers educators many affordances to provide students with rich educational experiences, literature and empirical experience indicates that students’ unstructured cell phone usage may have adverse impacts on student achievement and create a contagious climate of distraction. This research project seeks to understand students’ unstructured cell phone usage, faculty response, and foster improved student–faculty communication to determine concrete interventions to off-task smartphone usage. For the purposes of this study, we surveyed and interviewed faculty and undergraduate students at two small private universities in the United States. Findings suggest that students and faculty recognize the limitations of punitive cell phone policies and desire intervention. Giving students’ movement alternatives and offering faculty more training in using smartphones as educational tools may be acceptable solutions.
Generalizability of Psychopathy Network Analysis Findings to Scores Assigned to Individuals Convicted of a Sex Offense
Authors: Trupp Gabriele , Preszler Jonathan , Boccaccini Marcus T. , Marcus David K. , Varela Jorge G. , Turner Darrel B.
Published: February 2021

Despite being well-researched, the conceptualization of psychopathy incites much debate within the field. Results from network analysis can inform these debates by graphically and quantitatively depicting the core characteristics of the construct of psychopathy. Existing network studies with Psychopathy Checklist—Revised (PCL-R) scores suggest the affective traits are most central to the construct of psychopathy, but more studies are needed. The current study examined network models developed using data from risk assessments of individuals convicted of a sex offense ( N = 615). Findings corroborate some aspects of previous network studies in that affective features were most central to the construct and antisocial traits were least central, but there were instances of traits with notably higher centrality (e.g., Pathological Lying, Need for Stimulation, and Impulsivity) or lower centrality (e.g., Shallow Affect) than in prior research, suggesting that trait centrality may vary depending on the sample and evaluation context.
Human rights, belonging and the challenge of difference
Authors: Seligman Adam B.
Published: February 2021

This article seeks to challenge the regnant liberal orthodoxy that human rights are the highest and most important of our social virtues. It questions the individualist assumptions of such universal claims and draws attention to the need for belonging as something too often ignored if not denigrated in certain academic and liberal circles. Rather than a politics predicated solely on individual rights it argues for a politics of communal difference predicated on shared experience rather than ideological uniformity.
From Consultant to Co-investigator: One Diabetes Research Team’s Journey of Patient Engagement
Authors: Faulds Eileen R. , Lewis Claudia , Dungan Kathleen M. , Happ Mary Beth
Published: February 2021

Patients with diabetes are experts in the lived experience of self-management, making patient engagement beyond the role of research “subject” imperative for the creation of health care solutions that meaningfully address the problems they identify. We discuss our research team’s relationship with our university’s College Diabetes Network (CDN), an advocacy and support group for emerging adults with diabetes. Our collaborative research relationship has spanned three years, and multiple research studies with members serving as co-designers, consultants, and co-investigators. We discuss the CDN’s role in two particular studies in which CDN members made substantive contributions to study design, instrument adaptation, and interpretation of findings. Key CDN members played a larger role in research activities and facilitated sustained engagement with the larger university CDN chapter. Barriers encountered included navigating research regulatory requirements while engaging CDN members in research and facilitating sustained engagement as CDN membership changes.
The Use and Misuse of Mathematical Modeling for Infectious Disease Policymaking: Lessons for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: James Lyndon P. , Salomon Joshua A. , Buckee Caroline O. , Menzies Nicolas A.
Published: February 2021

Mathematical modeling has played a prominent and necessary role in the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, with an increasing number of models being developed to track and project the spread of the disease, as well as major decisions being made based on the results of these studies. A proliferation of models, often diverging widely in their projections, has been accompanied by criticism of the validity of modeled analyses and uncertainty as to when and to what extent results can be trusted. Drawing on examples from COVID-19 and other infectious diseases of global importance, we review key limitations of mathematical modeling as a tool for interpreting empirical data and informing individual and public decision making. We present several approaches that have been used to strengthen the validity of inferences drawn from these analyses, approaches that will enable better decision making in the current COVID-19 crisis and beyond.
Paroxysmal tonic upgaze accompanied by occipital discharge on electroencephalography: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zhang Yan-Feng , Wang Yi-Zhu , Hao Xiao-Sheng , Zhang Hong-Bo , Wang Jiang-Tao , Liang Jian-Min
Published: February 2021

Background

Paroxysmal tonic upgaze (PTU) is an infantile-onset paroxysmal neurological disorder that is characterized by episodes of sustained conjugate upward eye deviation. The paroxysmal abnormal eye movements need to be differentiated from seizures. We report a case of PTU with occipital discharge on electroencephalography (EEG), which made the diagnosis more complicated.

Case presentation

A 6-month-old girl presented with paroxysmal upward deviation or left strabismus of the eyes, with a bowed head, lowered jaw, raised eyebrows, closed lips, and slight grin. Each episode lasted for a few seconds, and episodes occurred multiple times per day. EEG showed spike waves in the right occipital region, and the girl was initially misdiagnosed with epilepsy. After further analysis using video EEG, we corrected her diagnosis as PTU and stopped the administration of an antiepileptic drug.

Conclusion

PTU accompanied by discharge on EEG may lead to a misdiagnosis. Video EEG monitoring, and especially the analysis of EEG traces synchronized with attacks, can provide evidence to distinguish between seizures and non-epileptic events.
Simple endovascular thoracic aortic stenting rescues a wrongly deployed frozen elephant trunk during a modified procedure
Authors: Reid Gregory , Mork Constantin , Mujagic Edin , Berdajs Denis
Published: February 2021

We report a bail out approach of endovascular thoracic aorta repair following incorrect deployment of a modified frozen elephant trunk stent graft into the false lumen. A 76-year-old patient was admitted to our Emergency Department. A computed tomography angiography scan showed type I DeBakey aortic dissection. An emergency modified frozen elephant trunk procedure was performed. Immediate postoperative computed tomography angiography showed that the distal segment of the stent was deployed in the false lumen, probably through a re-entry tear at the descending thoracic aorta. Emergency endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta, as well as angioplasty of the superior mesenteric artery and left iliac artery, were performed.
Middle-Up Cracking Potential in Flexible Pavements with Stabilized Foundations
Authors: Nakhaei Mostafa , Timm David H.
Published: February 2021

This investigation presents a new perspective on the structural behavior of stabilized foundation pavements through full-scale testing and simulation where the historical premise of bottom-up fatigue cracking has been challenged. Two full-scale pavement sections were constructed at the National Center for Asphalt Technology Test Track in 2018. One section featured a stabilized foundation under the asphalt layers while the other was a thick-lift asphalt section on conventional base and subgrade materials. Both sections were embedded with pavement response instrumentation and their behavior was observed over time under accelerated truck trafficking. In addition, computational simulations were executed to explain the observed behavior. The strain measurement at the bottom of the asphalt concrete (AC) for the thick-lift section showed a familiar trend in which the tensile strain at the bottom of the AC increased exponentially with temperature. In contrast, the strain at the bottom of the AC in the stabilized foundation pavement was predominantly in compression at elevated temperatures. Further analysis revealed that compressive strain at the bottom of the AC increased exponentially with temperature similar to conventional flexible pavements but with a reversed sign. The results were confirmed by falling weight deflectometer testing that was conducted directly above the embedded pavement sensors. Computational simulations confirmed the behavior and suggested that the maximum tensile strain could occur at shallower depths, possibly mid-depth of the AC, in stabilized foundation pavements. This indicates stabilized foundation pavements could be prone to middle-up cracking and subsequent precautions should be taken to avoid middle-up fatigue cracking.
Document Analysis of State Dyslexia Legislation Suggests Likely Heterogeneous Effects on Student and School Outcomes
Authors: Gearin Brian , Petscher Yaacov , Stanley Christopher , Nelson Nancy J. , Fien Hank
Published: February 2021

Previous studies of K–12 dyslexia legislation have described broad trends in legislative content, such as the presence or absence of screening and intervention requirements. This study uses document analysis to provide a finer-grained description of the laws to highlight critical variation in policy that will directly affect (a) the number and type of students identified as having or being at risk for specific reading disabilities, including dyslexia, (b) the types of supports they receive, and (c) the implementation of the laws. Results of the study indicate that differences in legislative content across states, and ambiguity within states, may lead to heterogeneous effects on student and school outcomes. Areas needing special analytic attention by researchers and policy implementers are discussed.
“There Was No ‘That’s Not My Job’”: New York Area Agencies on Aging Approaches to Supporting Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Pendergrast Claire
Published: February 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many older adults’ traditional sources of formal and informal supports, increasing demand for Area Agency on Aging services (AAAs). This study examines strategies used by AAAs to support older adults’ health and well-being during COVID-19 and identifies contextual influences on AAA pandemic response activities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of 20 AAAs in New York State. A combined inductive and deductive approach was used to code and thematically analyze the data. AAAs rapidly expanded capacity and dramatically modified program offerings, communications activities, and service delivery protocols to address emergent needs and minimize COVID-19 exposure risk for clients. AAAs’ trusted relationships with older adults and community partners improved their capacity to identify priority needs and coordinate appropriate supports. Policymakers should ensure that AAAs receive sustained financial and technical support to ensure critical community-based services are available for older adults throughout pandemic response and recovery.
Seeking “skilled, poised, fluent” verbal communicators: Aesthetic labor and signaling in journalism job advertisements
Authors: Powers Elia
Published: February 2021

Journalism job advertisements send important signals about valued skills and attributes. How such advertisements articulate journalistic expertise, including interactional expertise, has been studied, but signals about verbal communication usually have been overlooked. Little is known about how journalism employers define the most valued communication skills and the ideal journalistic voice. This signaling theory study explores expectations advertisements convey for how journalists should sound through a thematic analysis of U.S. journalism job listings (n = 510) specifying substantial verbal communication. Requirements for exceptional verbal skills and explicit calls for vocal clarity raise barriers to entry for journalists with speech disabilities or speech anxiety.
Comparative Analysis of Intravenous Pumps Relocation for Critically Ill Isolated COVID-19 Patients From Bedside to Outside the Patient Room
Authors: Shah Ami , Xu Jiashan , Friedman Seana , Puskas John D. , Bhatt Himani V. , Yimen Mekeleya
Published: February 2021

Objectives:

To quantify the impact of IV pump relocation for COVID-19 patients from the bedside to outside the patient room on nurse exposure to COVID-19 and conservation of PPE.

Design:

Original Article

Setting:

Intensive care units at a single-center teaching hospital.

Patients:

Critically ill COVID-19 patients under contact and special droplet precautions.

Interventions:

Relocation of intravenous pumps for COVID-19 patients from bedside to outside the patient room using extension tubing.

Measurements and Main Results:

The primary objective of the study was to measure the impact of this strategy on COVID-19 exposure, utilizing the number of nurse entries into the patient room as a surrogate endpoint, and extrapolation of this data to determine the reduction or PPE usage. Secondary endpoints included incidence of extravasation, hyperglycemia, hypotension, and diagnosis of CLABSI/bacteremia. A statistically significant reduction in the primary endpoint of the study was observed as room entries prior to pump relocation averaged 15.36 (± 4.10) as opposed to an average of 7.92 (± 2.19) following pump relocation (p < 0.0001). In both pre- and post-pump relocation groups, there was no incidence of extravasation or CLABSI. No significant differences were noted in number of patients experiencing hyperglycemia, hypotensive episodes, or bacteremia.

Conclusions:

There was a significant decrease in COVID-19 exposure based on the number of nurse entries following the relocation of intravenous pumps from inside to outside of the patient room. These results may be cautiously extrapolated to suggest a decrease in personal protective equipment utilization. Future prospective, randomized controlled trials investigating the impact of this strategy are required.
Awareness and uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV among low-income, HIV-negative heterosexuals in San Francisco
Authors: Namara Daphine , Xie Hui , Miller Desmond , Veloso Danielle , McFarland Willi
Published: February 2021

We examined pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness and uptake among low-income heterosexual men and women in San Francisco in 2019. Of 294 HIV-negative survey participants, 42.5% were aware of PrEP. Few women (12.5%) and men (8.9%) had discussed PrEP with a healthcare provider; 3.8% of women and 0% of men had used PrEP in the last year. White participants (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 5.39, 95% CI 1.02, 28.56), women (aOR 2.19, 95% CI 1.30, 3.70), and age 60 years or above (aOR 4.00, 95% CI 1.12, 14.34) had greater odds of being aware of PrEP. Testing for HIV or sexually transmitted infection in the past year was marginally associated with a greater PrEP awareness. Our findings reveal gaps in PrEP implementation associated with social disparities among low-income heterosexuals. Testing services and targeted promotional and educational materials are needed lest high-risk, low-income populations are left behind in San Francisco’s aggressive “Getting to Zero” efforts.
In Search of the Hopeful COVID-19 Vaccine. Who will Win the Race to a New Normal?
Authors: Contreras Gastón Sanglier
Published: February 2021

We are in a society where news travels like wildfire. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to reorder our space and time. This article analyses these changes and puts the human race in the face of possible pandemics that are to come. Nowadays, we live in a world outside the normality to which we want to return as soon as possible. Reality shows that many things have changed, and we do not know very well if they are to stay. Concern for health workers has grown in all countries, their great need has been shown in cases like this, and the worst thing is that according to the statistics, the world will be subjected to pandemics of this kind in the coming years. Finding a vaccine or drug capable of fighting, stopping and defeating it is a challenge for the world in general, and science and scientists in particular. This study also shows the struggle of the best scientific centres, and the different paths they have taken, to reach the goal first. Cooperation between all health agencies has become a priority, now more than ever, efforts are being made to achieve the same goal, to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Let us hope that science has arguments to win this battle, the war is still to come.
A Note on Boardroom Challenge, Board Effectiveness and Corporate Stewardship During COVID-19
Authors: Kaur Manmeet , Malik Kunjana , Sharma Sakshi
Published: February 2021

The global COVID-19 pandemic has led to spawning norms in all quarters, including the corporate boardrooms. The transformation required in boards is unprecedented in its intensity to overcome the changing challenges in the global market. A conceptual note has been developed to understand the boardroom challenges and the requirement of corporate stewards to combat the situation of health crises. The article discusses the new boardroom challenges the organization have to face such as virtual boardroom, right board composition, dynamic risk assessment, continuity and resilience. The need of the hour for corporate is to have an effective and steward board to overcome the health and financial challenges. The article also intends to give suggestions to the companies to manage the pandemic situation with a right steward attitude. Their diligent work can lead to increase in profits, which could further satisfy the shareholders with higher returns.
Legal constants and the ‘constant’ outside of the law: Mobile payments in comparative perspective under European Union law
Authors: D’Alvia Daniele
Published: February 2021

This article aims to determine whether mobile payments can be characterized by a legal constant, or common legal meaning. Indeed, mobile payments are a new form of payment system that is shaping the new economy of financial markets. Generally, they are part of the Fintech phenomenon, and they are specifically regulated in Europe, inter alia, under the Payment System Directive and the Regulation on Multilateral Interchange Fees. Nonetheless, those secondary hard law acts do not include any compulsory legal definition for mobile payments, which remain undefined and conventionally identified as means of proximity or remote payments. With that in mind, the article introduces for the first time in comparative law a new concept that aims at discovering meanings rather than similarities and differences that are irremediably limited to a merely descriptive function. To this end, the article argues that each time the constant outside of the law is subsequently recognized as ‘legal’, it becomes a legal constant, which is in turn capable of effectively revolutionizing the same study of mobile payments as well as of comparative law tout court.
Clascoterone: A Novel Topical Androgen Receptor Inhibitor for the Treatment of Acne
Authors: Kalabalik-Hoganson Julie , Frey Kathleen M. , Ozdener-Poyraz Ayse Elif , Slugocki Malgorzata
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To review the efficacy and safety of clascoterone 1% cream for the treatment of acne vulgaris in patients 12 years of age and older.

Data Sources:

A literature search through PubMed, MEDLINE, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted using the following keywords: clascoterone, cream, acne, and CB-03-01. Articles published between 2004 and 2020 were included in this review.

Study Selection and Data Extraction:

Preclinical and clinical studies describing the efficacy and safety of topical clascoterone cream were included.

Data Synthesis:

Early preclinical studies demonstrated that clascoterone exhibits local antiandrogenic effects without any systemic effects. Phase 2 and 3 trials demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions and mild erythema with clascoterone use. Long-term studies confirmed the favorable safety profile of the drug in subjects for up to 9 months of use, with erythema being the most common treatment-emergent local skin reaction.

Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice:

Pharmacological treatment options for acne vulgaris include topical and systemic agents. Systemic antiandrogen medications are associated with adverse effects and should be avoided in pregnancy and male patients. Clascoterone is a novel topical antiandrogen drug with no systemic adverse effects. This drug provides prescribers with an appealing treatment option for male and female patients 12 years of age and older, who are not candidates for systemic drugs because of contraindications or adverse effects or who have failed other topical therapies.

Conclusion:

Clascoterone, a novel topical androgen receptor inhibitor, is a safe and effective treatment option for patients with acne vulgaris.
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) and Its Reliability and Validity
Authors: González David Andrés , Gonzales Mitzi M. , Resch Zachary J. , Sullivan A. Campbell , Soble Jason R.
Published: February 2021

The Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ) is a collateral-report measure of difficulties in activities of daily living. Despite its widespread use, psychometric analyses have been limited in scope, piecemeal across samples, and limited primarily to classical test theory. This article consolidated and expanded psychometric analyses using tools from generalizability and item response theories among 27,916 individuals from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center database who completed the FAQ. Reliability was evaluated with internal consistency, test–retest, and generalizability analyses. Validity was assessed via convergence with neurocognitive measures, classification accuracy with impairment stage, and confirmatory factor and item response theory analyses. Demographics did not impact scores and there was strong evidence for reliability (0.52-0.95), though coefficients were attenuated when restricted in range to diagnostic groups (e.g., normal cognition). There were strong correlations with neurocognitive measures ( rs: −.30 to −.59), strong classification accuracy (areas under the curve: .81-.99), and a single-factor model had excellent fit. All items evidenced strong item response theory discrimination and provided significant information regarding functional disability, albeit within a relatively restricted range. The FAQ is a reliable and valid measure of activities of daily living concerns for use in clinical/research settings. It best assesses mild levels of functional difficulty, which is helpful in distinguishing normal cognition from mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
“A Community of Survivors”: A Grounded Theory of Organizational Support for Survivor-Advocates in Domestic Violence Agencies
Authors: Wilson Joshua M. , Goodman Lisa A.
Published: February 2021

Half of today’s domestic violence (DV) advocates are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) or other forms of abuse. Yet, little is known about the experiences of those who are both survivors and advocates, especially regarding organizational relationships, policies, and culture, and how these factors shape well-being. This grounded theory study of 12 survivor-advocates identified three dimensions of organizational support that contribute survivor-advocates’ well-being: acknowledging their trauma-related needs, fostering belonging, and honoring strengths. In each case, these organizational factors contribute to well-being through the mechanism of validating their identities as survivors. Suggestions for organizations to better support survivor-advocates are discussed.
Initiatives to Support Older Women Who Experience Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Weeks Lori E. , Stilwell Christie , Gagnon Danie , Dupuis-Blanchard Suzanne , MacQuarrie Colleen , Jackson Lois A.
Published: February 2021

To contribute to our knowledge about initiatives to support older women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV), we conducted an internet search, online surveys, and telephone interviews with administrators of programs for women who have experienced IPV. We compiled information on initiatives providing individual in-person and telephone support, educational and/or therapeutic groups, and short- and long-term shelters and housing. The interviews provided insights about the history and rationale for these initiatives, strengths, positive outcomes, challenges, and future program development. Our study results can inform the creation of appropriate services to meet the needs of older women who experience IPV.
A Scoping Study of Parents With a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse and a Theoretical Framework for Future Research
Authors: Fatehi Mariam , Miller Sheri E. , Fatehi Leila , Mowbray Orion
Published: February 2021

Transitioning to a parenting role is a complex psychological process that can be stressful for a parent with a history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Over the past decade, important advances have been made in identifying the effects of childhood trauma on parents’ relationships with their children. This article presents a new theoretical framework that emerged from a scoping study of parenting experiences among adults who experienced CSA. The methods of Arksey and O’Malley were used to conduct the scoping study, and the guidelines for theory construction and model building developed by Jaccard and Jacoby were adopted. Only peer-reviewed published journal articles in English that studied exclusively CSA and its effects on parenting among individuals aged 18 years or older were included. Three resources for collecting data were used: (1) internet databases including PsycINFO and PubMed, (2) reference lists of review articles, and (3) the citation index functionality of Google Scholar for review articles. Forty-six articles were included in the scoping study. These studies mainly focused on mothers and their relationships with their children. No articles considered the age(s) at which parents experienced CSA and potential effects on parenting outcomes. In addition, there is limited knowledge about fathers with a history of CSA and their relationship with their children. The development of a theoretical framework designed through a methodologically driven identification of gaps in the body of knowledge provides a foundation for future research in this area.
Management of Renal Cell Carcinoma With Extensive Caval Thrombosis Utilizing a Temporary Atrial Caval Filter Through a Combined Endovascular and Open Surgical Technique
Authors: Fontana Federico , Deho Federico , Piacentino Filippo , Curti Marco , Capogrosso Paolo , Coppola Andrea , Cocozza Eugenio , Tozzi Matteo , Venturini Massimo
Published: February 2021

The most common cause of neoplastic thrombotic infiltration of the inferior vena cava is renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In the present report we described a case of a patient with massive RCC and extensive neoplastic thrombosis reaching the retrohepatic tract of the inferior vena cava. After a discussion in a multidisciplinary team meeting we decided to perform a radical nephrectomy with vena cava thrombectomy along with the support of a novel removable vena cava filter in order to avoid thromboembolism during the surgical procedure. Furthermore, a preoperative renal artery embolization with a non-adhesive liquid embolic agent was performed ahead of the surgical procedure in order to reduce the risk of intraoperative bleeding. The surgical procedure performed the day after was based on a hybrid endovascular-surgical approach consisting in nephrectomy, liver derotation, cavotomy with the additional use of a novel temporary caval filter, thus reducing the risk of intraoperative thromboembolic dissemination.
For a Right to Health Beyond Biopolitics: The Politics of Pandemic and the ‘Politics of Life’
Authors: Pele Antonio , Riley Stephen
Published: February 2021

We argue, drawing on the work of Didier Fassin, that the right to health can be understood as an essential part of a radical politics of life. Since the right to health implies fostering the well-being of individuals in a way that is structural, progressive and non-discriminatory, the right not only problematises the ‘governmentality’ approach to power but allows push-back against statist and market discourses through a specific phenomenology of right. The discourse of rights – like the pandemic itself – oscillates between general and particular in a way that makes normative responses unstable. Nonetheless it is this dialectic that is characteristic of human rights discourse and allows a right to health to be the proper response to pandemic without it being subsumed within neoliberal logic. A politics of life is a multi-focussed analysis of life, health and society potentially resisting the appropriation of biological life by neoliberalism.
Changed From Glory Into Glory: The Liturgical Formation of the Christian Faith
Authors: Aniol Scott
Published: February 2021

This article is an attempt to flesh out this ancient idea of lex orandi, lex credendi by clarifying both the nature of lex credendi, religion, and lex orandi, liturgy, constructing a framework for understanding the dynamic formative relationship between the two. After doing so, the article briefly surveys this relationship through the course of church history, noting the importance liturgy plays in both forming and revealing the Christian Faith. Finally, it highlights the necessity to recover a lost understanding that worship involves more than simply expressing devotion to God through songs Christians enjoy; rather, worship forms the very core of who Christians are.
Patterns of Pediatric Facial Fractures
Authors: Hong Kevin , Jeong James , Susson Yehudah N. , Abramowicz Shelly
Published: February 2021

Objective:

The aim of this study was to assess patterns of maxillofacial trauma in the pediatric population in Atlanta. This information is important to help guide management and allocate resources for treatment of maxillofacial injuries at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA).

Methods:

This study was a retrospective chart review of children who presented from 2006 to 2015. Inclusion criteria were: (1) age 18 years old or younger, (2) presentation to emergency department, (3) diagnosis of maxillofacial fractures, and (4) evaluation by Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Otolaryngology, or Plastic Surgery services. Medical records were reviewed to record demographic, mechanism of injury, fracture location, and yearly incidence of injury. Descriptive statistics were computed to summarize findings and overall trends.

Results:

During the study period, 39,833 patients were identified. Of them, 1995 met the inclusion criteria. The majority were male (n = 1359, 68%) with an average age of 9.4 years old (range of 1 month to 18 years old). Mechanisms of injury were motor vehicle collisions (MVC) (n = 597, 29.9%), fall (n = 565, 28.3%), sports injury (n = 317, 15.9%), pedestrian struck (n = 215, 10.8%), assault/abuse (n = 204, 10.2%), other (n = 81, 4.1%), or gunshot wound (n = 16, 0.8%). Fracture sites were mandible (n = 519, 26%), complex (n = 479, 24%), nasal (n = 419, 21%), dentoalveolar (n = 279, 14%), orbital (n = 259, 13%), and maxilla (n = 40, 2%). Males had a higher incidence of assault than females (n = 185, 91% of assaults). The incidence of maxillofacial trauma increased with age with a peak incidence in 13 to 16-year-olds (n = 566, 28.3%). During the years examined, there was an upward trend in MVCs as the etiology with a peak incidence of facial fractures due to MVCs occurring in 2015. All other mechanisms remained constant during this time period.

Conclusions:

There was an increase in pediatric facial fractures secondary to motor vehicle collisions from 2007 to 2015 despite improvements in regulations, traffic safety, and technology.
Cultural–Ecological Moderation of Physical Attractiveness Bias: Attractiveness-Based Discrimination or Discrimination of Attractiveness?
Authors: Lee Juwon , Adams Glenn
Published: February 2021

The cultural–ecological moderation hypothesis suggests that the importance of physical attractiveness (PA) for life outcomes is particularly pronounced in settings that afford constructions of the relationship as the product of choice. The current work addresses an ambiguity in earlier research that documented a cultural–ecological moderation effect on expectations about life outcomes of attractive and unattractive targets. Specifically, do cultural–ecological forces moderate PA-based discrimination (i.e., differential expectations as a function of PA) or discrimination of PA (i.e., differences in ratings of PA itself)? In Study 1, we used Bayesian multilevel moderated mediation to reanalyze data from the original study. In Study 2, we performed similar analyses on data from a new sample. Results provide consistent evidence for a cultural–ecological moderation effect on discrimination of PA and some evidence for a cultural–ecological moderation effect on PA-based discrimination.