bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real-World Evidence for a Smartwatch-Based Parkinson’s Motor Assessment App for Patients Undergoing Therapy Changes
Authors: Hadley Aaron J. , Riley David E. , Heldman Dustin A.
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is poorly quantified by patients outside the clinic, and paper diaries have problems with subjective descriptions and bias. Wearable sensor platforms; however, can accurately quantify symptoms such as tremor, dyskinesia, and bradykinesia. Commercially available smartwatches are equipped with accelerometers and gyroscopes that can measure motion for objective evaluation. We sought to evaluate the clinical utility of a prescription smartwatch-based monitoring system for PD utilizing periodic task-based motor assessment. Methods: Sixteen patients with PD used a smartphone- and smartwatch-based monitoring system to objectively assess motor symptoms for 1 week prior to instituting a doctor recommended change in therapy and for 4 weeks after the change. After 5 weeks the participants returned to the clinic to discuss their results with their doctor, who made therapy recommendations based on the reports and his clinical judgment. Symptom scores were synchronized with the medication diary and the temporal effects of therapy on weekly and hourly timescales were calculated. Results: Thirteen participants successfully completed the study and averaged 4.9 assessments per day for 3 days per week during the study. The doctor instructed 8 participants to continue their new regimens and 5 to revert to their previous regimens. The smartwatch-based assessments successfully captured intraday fluctuations and short- and long-term responses to therapies, including detecting significant improvements (p < 0.05) in at least one symptom in 7 participants. Conclusions: The smartwatch-based app successfully captured temporal trends in symptom scores following application of new therapy on hourly, daily, and weekly timescales. These results suggest that validated smartwatch-based PD monitoring can provide clinically relevant information and may reduce the need for traditional office visits for therapy adjustment.
Call to Action: Maternal Health and Saving Mothers: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Mehta Laxmi S. , Sharma Garima , Creanga Andreea A. , Hameed Afshan B. , Hollier Lisa M. , Johnson Janay C. , Leffert Lisa , McCullough Louise D. , Mujahid Mahasin S. , Watson Karol , White Courtney J. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee
Published: September 2021

The United States has the highest maternal mortality rates among developed countries, and cardiovascular disease is the leading cause. Therefore, the American Heart Association has a unique role in advocating for efforts to improve maternal health and to enhance access to and delivery of care before, during, and after pregnancy. Several initiatives have shaped the time course of major milestones in advancing maternal and reproductive health equity in the United States. There have been significant strides in improving the timeliness of data reporting in maternal mortality surveillance and epidemiological programs in maternal and child health, yet more policy reforms are necessary. To make a sustainable and systemic impact on maternal health, further efforts are necessary at the societal, institutional, stakeholder, and regulatory levels to address the racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health, to effectively reduce inequities in care, and to mitigate maternal morbidity and mortality. In alignment with American Heart Association’s mission “to be a relentless force for longer, healthier lives,” this policy statement outlines the inequities that influence disparities in maternal outcomes and current policy approaches to improving maternal health and suggests additional potentially impactful actions to improve maternal outcomes and ultimately save mothers’ lives.
Ecological Associations Between Inclusionary Zoning Policies and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prevalence: An Observational Study
Authors: Jones Antwan , Squires Gregory D. , Nixon Carolynn
Published: September 2021

Background:

Providing an adequate supply of affordable housing has become an increasingly difficult challenge for US cities. Inclusionary zoning (IZ) policies have become an increasingly popular response. Substantial research has demonstrated the health benefits of stable, affordable housing. There is anecdotal but not systematic evidence that IZ policies may be associated with some health benefits of affordable housing.

Methods:

We rely on data from the 2017 500 Cities Project, the 2016 to 2017 Lincoln Institute for Land Policy survey, and the 2011 to 2015 American Community Survey. We perform bivariate tests and cluster ordinary least squares regression to examine associations at the municipal level between having inclusionary zoning (IZ) policies, the attributes of those policies, and the prevalence of several cardiovascular outcomes.

Results:

Cardiovascular outcomes and socioeconomic characteristics were uniformly better in cities with IZ policies. IZ policies were associated with lower blood pressure (95% CI, −0.50 to −0.13), cholesterol (CI, −0.89 to −0.31), and blood pressure medication (CI, −0.57 to −0.03) prevalence. Some characteristics of IZ programs such as being mandatory, prioritizing rental development, and allocating a larger share of affordable housing are associated with cardiovascular risk prevalence.

Conclusions:

Characteristics of IZ programs that ultimately benefit low-income residents are associated with favorable municipal-level cardiovascular health. Further, IZ policies could potentially address complex health challenges among economically vulnerable households.
Association of Adiposity With Incident Diabetes Among Black Adults in the Jackson Heart Study
Authors: Joseph Joshua J. , Kluwe Bjorn , Echouffo‐Tcheugui Justin B. , Zhao Songzhu , Brock Guy , Kline David , Odei James B. , Kalyani Rita R. , Bradley David P. , Hsueh Willa A. , Sims Mario , Golden Sherita H.
Published: September 2021

Background

The prognostic value of anthropometric, adipokine, and computed tomography measures of adiposity to predict diabetes in Black, specifically by normoglycemia versus prediabetes, remains incompletely understood.

Methods and Results

Among Black participants without diabetes in the JHS (Jackson Heart Study), waist circumference [WC], body mass index, adiponectin, leptin, and leptin:adiponectin ratio were standardized in sample 1 (2422 participants at baseline [2000–2004]) and WC, body mass index, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue, and liver attenuation in 1537 participants at examination 2 (2005–2008) (sample 2). Hazard ratios (HRs) for diabetes were estimated using interval‐censored Cox modeling adjusting for traditional risk factors and validated with the C index. Over 5 years, 300 and 122 incident diabetes cases occurred in sample 1 and sample 2, respectively. In sample 1 and sample 2, a 1‐SD higher log‐leptin:adiponectin ratio and VAT had the strongest associations (HR, 1.95 [95% CI, 1.67–2.27] and 1.76 [95% CI, 1.52–2.04]) and discriminatory power (C index 0.68 [95% CI, 0.64–0.71] and C index 0.67 [95% CI, 0.61–0.74]) with diabetes. The normoglycemic compared with the prediabetes group had a 1.3 to 1.9 times greater magnitude of associations with diabetes for WC, liver attenuation, and VAT (
P
interaction <0.10). In sample 2, C indices for WC (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73–0.95), VAT (HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85–0.98), and liver attenuation (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.77–1.00) were greater than HbA
1c
(HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.57–0.90) in normoglycemia, whereas HbA
1c
was best in prediabetes (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.66–0.78).

Conclusions

Overall, among Black adults, multiple measures of adiposity were associated with incident diabetes with modest predictive ability. In Black patients with normoglycemia, WC, liver attenuation, and VAT may appropriately identify those at high risk for diabetes, whereas HbA
1c
was the best predictor in individuals with prediabetes.
BioTechnology as BioParody – Strategies for Salience
Authors: Nordmann Alfred
Published: September 2021

Whether “biomimetic” or “bioinspired,” the projects of bioengineering tend to refer their devices or inventions to the biological systems that provide models or originals for detachable functionalities. And yet, they do not satisfy the picturing relation of original and copy. They are mimetic or imitative in the sense of reenacting a function in a different setting with its own principles of composition or its own parameters that select for salience. The taking up of salient features for the purposes of producing a performance of functionality results not in the copy of an original but in its parody. Parodies are not judged for their veracity but for their effectiveness. They have a heuristic value in the context of design and for knowing the world through making and building. In somewhat experimental fashion, this paper seeks to develop a vocabulary for the parodistic qualities of Synthetic Biology, genome editing, or other bioengineering practices. In order to do so, it introduces categories from aesthetics to qualify modeling relations, one of these categories being the notion of “parody” itself.
Two new species of Tardigrada (Eutardigrada: Ramazzottiidae, Macrobiotidae) from the supralittoral zone of the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula rocky shores
Authors: FONTOURA PAULO , RUBAL MARCOS , VEIGA PURI
Published: September 2021

Two new species of Eutardigrada were found in supralittoral lichens, growing on rocky shores at two localities of the Western Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Ramazzottius littoreus sp. nov., found in San Cibrao (North of Spain), has the dorsal cuticle sculptured with small tubercles and claws with accessory points similar to R. oberhaeuseri. It can be distinguished from all the other known Ramazzottius species with the same type of cuticular sculpture by the dotted egg shell and the peculiar reticulation visible at the bulbous base of egg processes. Macrobiotus halophilus sp. nov., found in Cascais (Centre of Portugal), belongs to the Macrobiotus hufelandi group. The slightly wrinkled egg shell and egg processes in the shape of inverted chalice with dentate distal disc, identifies it as a member of the Macrobiotus persimilis subgroup. The new dioecious species differs from the six other species of the M. persimilis subgroup by a unique combination of some characters (small and very sparse circular cuticular pores, granulation on legs I–III and dentate lunules on legs IV), by measurements of some structures (claws and buccal apparatus), and by the number, dimension and shape of egg processes.
Three new species of cockroach genus Hemithyrsocera Saussure, 1893 (Blattodea: Ectobiidae: Blattellinae) with redescriptions of two known species from China
Authors: WANG ZONGQING , CHE YANLI
Published: September 2021

This paper deals with five species of the genus Hemithyrsocera Saussure, 1893, of which three new species, H. forcipata, H. spinibarbis and H. longiseta spp. nov., are described and illustrated, H. banvaneuensis (Roth, 1985) is reported for the first time from China, plus one little known species H. simulans (Bey-Bienko, 1969) are redescribed and illustrated. A key to all Chinese species of Hemithyrsocera is provided.
Description, DNA barcoding and phylogenetic placement of a remarkable new species of Eopelma (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) from Borneo
Authors: FUSU LUCIAN , POLASZEK ANDREW
Published: September 2021

Eopelma gibsoni sp. nov. is described based on a male recently collected in Borneo. It is the second species of the genus to be described, and the first species of chalcid wasp in which a pattern of dark stripes on the compound eye is described. The presence of similar dark stripes on the eyes of other chalcid wasps is discussed, highlighting the importance of citizen science. The description is accompanied by a DNA barcode sequence to assist future identification and association of the sexes. The phylogenetic position of E. gibsoni based on 28S DNA sequences is discussed.
Taxonomic revision of the subgenus Eutricharaea Thomson in Egypt, with a key to the species and the description of two new species (Hymenoptera, Anthophila, Megachilidae, genus Megachile Latreille)
Authors: PRAZ CHRISTOPHE , AL-SHAHAT AHMED M. , GADALLAH NEVEEN S.
Published: September 2021

The subgenus Eutricharaea Thomson of the genus Megachile Latreille (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) in Egypt is revised. Fifteen species are recognized, of which two are new: Megachile laniventris Praz sp. nov. and M. rufomandibularis Praz sp. nov. In addition, three unclear taxa known from few specimens in one sex are documented to facilitate future work. The following new synonymies are proposed: M. microxantha Cockerell 1937, M. privigna Rebmann 1968, and M. submucida Alfken 1926 are synonymized with M. leucostoma Pérez 1907 (syn. nov.); M. blanda Rebmann 1968 with M. walkeri Dalla Torre 1896 (syn. nov.); M. uniformis Alfken 1934 (not M. uniformis Mitchell 1929) and the replacement name M. minutuloides Alfken 1936 with M. minutissima Radoszkowski 1876 (syn. nov.); and M. tkalcui Zanden 1996 with M. rugipuncta Alfken 1934 (syn. nov.). Lectotypes are designated for M. soikai Benoist 1961, M. rugipuncta, M. tenuistriga Alfken 1938, M. niveascopa Ferton 1908, and M. naevia Kohl 1906. The previously unknown males of M. impressipuncta Alfken 1934 and M. rugipuncta, as well as the undescribed female of M. soikai are described. Illustrated keys for both males and females are provided and DNA barcodes are published for most species.
From Theological College to University: A Perspective from Queen’s
Authors: Morrow William S
Published: September 2021

This review complements Hughes’s book by reflecting on the development of the Department of Religious Studies at Queen’s University to the present. It validates his claim that the growth of religious studies in Canadian universities was dependent on administrative cultures often idiosyncratic to particular institutions. In the case of Queen’s, a pattern of administrative interaction and shared faculty between the University and Queen’s Theological College persisted much longer than in comparable organizations. This can be explained by three considerations: the ethos of the United Church of Canada, growing awareness of multiculturalism from the 1970s onward, and the influence of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Although the first two of these factors are identified by Hughes, the last has been overlooked. It explains why, however, the Masters of Theological Studies could act as a de facto graduate degree in Religious Studies at Queen’s until the department developed its M.A. in 2001.
Improving culture of care through maximising learning from observations and events: Addressing what is at fault
Authors: Robinson Sally , White Wesley , Wilkes John , Wilkinson Catherine
Published: September 2021

The term ‘culture of care’ in the context of using animals for scientific purpose describes the culture in organisations that provides support to staff to strive for continuous improvement in:

• animal care and welfare;

• support and recognition of staff involved in the animal care and use programme;

• scientific quality;

• openness and transparency.

We developed a systematic process for reporting observations and events that have the potential to help with continuous learning, improving animal welfare and supporting staff. The process took learning from the safety, health and environment arena on accident prevention. The two key aspects were (a) the systematic logging of observations and events; and (b) the learning approach to following up on observations. Underpinning our systematic process is the ‘Learning from Observations and Events Log’. Reported observations and events can relate to positive practices, general observations as well as near misses.

We created an environment to promote continuous improvement for both animals and staff by recognising, rewarding and sharing good practice, as well as where near misses are openly reported and learnt from. Supporting animal welfare, staff welfare, improving scientific quality and transparency are the four key pillars of a positive culture of care.

We recognised early on that using a system and learning approach to follow up on observations and events rather than a people and blame approach was key to developing open reporting and a positive culture. In the systems approach, errors are consequences rather than causes, having their origins in systemic factors.
Rules, Norms and Practices – A Comparative Study Exploring Disposal Practices and Facilities in Northern Europe
Authors: Nordh Helena , House Danielle , Westendorp Mariske , Maddrell Avril , Wingren Carola , Kmec Sonja , McClymont Katie , Jedan Christoph , Priya Uteng Tanu , Beebeejaun Yasminah , Venbrux Eric
Published: September 2021

We identify and analyse practices and management regimes around burial and handling of ashes across eight case study towns within six Northern European countries. We analyse management of cemeteries and crematoria gardens, majority practices and provision for minority communities, including various burial types, cremated remains, the re-use of graves, and costs for interments. Comparative data is drawn from analysis of national and local regulations, interviews with stakeholders, and observations at cemeteries and crematoria gardens. The findings show significant variation in national and local regulations and practices for burial and cremation particularly around the re-use of graves, handling of ashes and costs for grave space and cremation. We identify the opportunities and constraints of these variations in terms of accessibility, diversity and equality; and argue for national directions to avoid unequal treatment within nations. Furthermore, we stress the importance of a liberal and inclusive management of European cemeteries and crematoria gardens.
Views of Psychologists About Their Role in Hastened Death
Authors: Marina Sílvia , Wainwright Tony , Ricou Miguel
Published: September 2021

Hastened death practices are legal in several countries. Psychologists are increasingly taking a more active role in end-of-life issues, but the role of psychologists in requests to hasten death is not established. This study aims to contribute guidance for psychological practice in the context of requests to hasten death. We conducted a cross-sectional and cross-cultural study with Psychologists from Portugal and Luxembourg who answer closed and open questions to provide views about their role in hastened death. Psychological assessment, psychological support to patient and family, the exploration of patient decision-making and reorientation of patients were viewed as roles for psychologists. However, these roles may differ depending whether the patient has a terminal or non-terminal illness.
Can anything good come out of Susa? Preaching from the scroll of Esther
Authors: Cartledge Tony W
Published: September 2021

Finding sermon material in a story that never mentions God among its cast of comic book characters is a considerable challenge. Obscene wealth and selfish pride fall, but they are victim to violence and vengeance. Still, the perceptive preacher may find productive themes related to the critique of power associated with empire, sexism, and ethnic supremacy on the one hand, along with challenges to faithful living, the pursuit of justice, and the importance of memory—even in the apparent absence of God.
“And all who joined them”: A faithful Christian reading of Esther in a post-Shoah world
Authors: Gaines Walton Julie
Published: September 2021

Esther is, first and foremost, a narrative written by and for the Jewish people, a story the Jewish people have told to and about themselves for centuries. Esther is also a story Christians have frequently interpreted out of context. Christians can avoid culturally appropriating this narrative for their own purposes by committing to situate the story of Esther and the Jewish people in its original context, firmly in the center of any interpretation of the text. Modern readers find their place in the narrative in Esth 9:26-28, among “all who joined” the Jews in observing, remembering, and commemorating the events of the book of Esther, celebrated in the Jewish festival of Purim.
Christian interpretation of Esther before the Reformation
Authors: Biddle Mark E
Published: September 2021

This contribution to Review & Expositor’ s issue on “Esther as Christian Scripture” surveys Esther scholarship before the Reformation with a view to identifying trends and with particular interest in the degree of any continuity that may bridge the Reformation as a point of demarcation. Contrary to what might be expected, this brief survey of the history of Christian Esther interpretation before the Reformation demonstrates that many of the issues confronting contemporary Esther scholarship surfaced in some form prior to the rise of modern critical scholarship (historicity, genre, gender relations, theological significance, etc.). A focus on the hebraica veritas after Jerome influenced Christian interpretation of the book down the path of allegory. Apparently pioneered by Aphrahat, Rhabanus Maurus gave the allegorical reading of Esther a form that became virtually standard in the half-millennium prior to the Reformation. In it, the allegorical significance of Ahasuerus (Jesus), Vashti (Jewry), Esther (the Church, Mary), and a number of details remained constant. The following two features of Esther interpretation surveyed here stand out negatively: the entire absence of concern for the book’s violence and the perverse but persistent interpretation of a book celebrating the deliverance of Jews in a supersessionist, even anti-Semitic, fashion.
Critical Civic Motivation of Marginalized Youth: An Expectancy-Value Approach
Authors: Wegemer Christopher M.
Published: September 2021

The present study advances a model of critical civic motivation grounded in expectancy-value theory and highlights diverse manifestations of motivation among marginalized adolescents. The participants were 447 high school youth (85.0% Latinx; 62.9% low-income). Two complementary methodological approaches were employed to examine civic motivation, conceptualized as expectancies (individual and collective), and values (interest and attainment). First, regression analyses found that civic expectancies and values differentially predicted behavioral outcomes of service and activism. Expectancies and values interactively predicted activism, whereas only main effects of individual and collective efficacy and interest value positively predicted service. Second, person-centered analyses yielded a five-cluster solution, with one-third of the participants exhibiting discrepancies between expectancies and values. Distinct patterns in the manifestations of civic motivation components may inform practices that support civic engagement of marginalized youth. Overall, the findings illustrate the utility of a holistic, critical framework that integrates established literatures on political efficacy and interest.
International Survey on the Use of Emerging Technologies Among Forensic and Correctional Mental Health Professionals
Authors: Kirschstein Madeleine A. , Singh Jay P. , Rossegger Astrid , Endrass Jérôme , Graf Marc
Published: September 2021

Although the global diffusion of e-mental health has increased in recent years, research on the use of technologies in criminal justice settings is limited. To bridge this knowledge gap, we conducted an international online survey ( N = 555) of forensic and correctional mental health professionals from Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and 20 additional countries. Telecommunication technologies and mental health platforms had the highest numbers of users, the broadest scope, and the largest increase in use due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In contrast, the use of social media and advanced technologies was lower, narrower in scope, and remained the same or decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Respondents’ age, professional discipline, country, and clinical setting significantly predicted total technology use in clinical practice. The study findings provide an overview of the current patterns of technology use and point to opportunities for research and development.
Racialized Emotional Labor: An Unseen Burden in the Public Sector
Authors: Humphrey Nicole M.
Published: September 2021

Discussions of race have often been on the periphery emotional labor scholarship. This piece considers the link between race and emotional labor, arguing that racial bias in public organizations creates disparities in emotional labor among employees. To make this argument, this piece explores white normativity in public administration and the implications this has for people of color when managing their emotions at work. Following this discussion, the article identifies key themes from the literature, before providing a framework for future research on emotional labor and race.
The effect of phonological complexity on the order in which words are acquired in early childhood
Authors: Gendler-Shalev Hila , Ben-David Avivit , Novogrodsky Rama
Published: September 2021

During the second year of life, children acquire words and expand their receptive and expressive vocabularies at a rapid pace. At this age, toddlers’ phonological abilities are also developing rapidly. The current study investigated the effect of phonological complexity of words on the order in which they are acquired, receptively and expressively. Data were collected from Hebrew-speaking parents of 881 typically developing toddlers: 417 girls and 464 boys, aged 1;0 to 2;0 years old. Parents reported on their child’s receptive and expressive vocabularies by completing a computerized version of the Hebrew adaptation of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories. Phonological complexity scores of the target words were calculated using the Phonological Mean Length of Utterances measure. The proportion of children who were reported to understand and produce each word at each age was calculated. Results showed that phonological complexity affected the acquisition of word comprehension and word production. Words that are less phonologically complex were acquired earlier, representing a process of subconscious selection of words that are easier to produce.
Toxicity and Local Tolerance of COVID- eVax, a Plasmid DNA Vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, Delivered by Electroporation
Authors: Ramot Yuval , Caselli Gianfranco , Aurisicchio Luigi , Andreini Isabella , Marra Emanuele , Luberto Laura , Stoppoloni Daniela , Pacello Maria Lucrezia , Monetini Laura , Nyska Abraham
Published: September 2021

COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading disease, posing a huge hazard to global health. The plasmid vaccine pTK1A-TPA-SpikeA (named COVID- eVax) encodes the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 S protein receptor-binding domain, developed for intramuscular injection followed by electroporation (EP). The aim of this study was to assess the systemic toxicity and local tolerance of COVID- eVax delivered intramuscularly followed by EP in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The animals were killed 2 days and 4 weeks after the last injection (30-day and 57-day, respectively). No mortality was observed, and no signs of toxicity were evident, including injection site reactions. A lasting and specific immune response was observed in all treated animals, confirming the relevance of the rat as a toxicological model for this vaccine. Histopathological evaluation revealed muscle fiber necrosis associated with subchronic inflammation at the injection sites (at the 30-day time point), with a clear trend for recovery at the 57-day time point, which is expected following EP, and considered a desirable effect to mount the immune response against the target antigen. In conclusion, the intramuscular EP-assisted DNA vaccine, COVID- eVax showed an excellent safety profile in SD rats under these experimental conditions and supports its further development for use in humans.
Balloon angioplasty: A promising adjunct to arteriovenous fistula creation compared with hydrostatic dilatation in small-caliber cephalic veins
Authors: Tiwari Santosh K , Basavanthappa Rajendra P , Anandasu Ranjith K , Desai Sanjay C , Ramswamy Chandrasekhar A , Luthra Luv , Jayaprakash Vivek V , Gangadharan Ashwini N , Maradupandian Adarsh K
Published: September 2021

Background

To maintain the patency and longevity of arteriovenous fistula, the availability of a venous segment with adequate diameter is important. In Indian population, many chronic kidney disease patients have poor caliber veins. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hydrostatic dilatation versus Primary balloon angioplasty of small caliber cephalic veins of (≤2.5 mm) preoperatively in terms of patency rate and maturation time of arteriovenous fistula.

Methods

Patients ( n = 80) with an end-stage renal disease requiring arteriovenous access surgery for hemodialysis with small caliber cephalic veins were randomized into two groups, i.e., hydrostatic dilatation and primary balloon angioplasty, each with 40 patients. All patients underwent a thorough clinical examination as well as duplex ultrasound vein mapping of both upper extremities. Patients were followed up for six months and primary patency, maturation time, and complications were noted.

Results

Immediate technical success with good palpable thrill was achieved in 97.5% of patients in the primary balloon angioplasty group and 87.5% in the hydrostatic dilatation group. The fistula maturation time in the primary balloon angioplasty group was 34.41 days and 46.18 days in the hydrostatic dilatation group. In the primary balloon angioplasty group, the primary patency of the fistula was 97.5% and 87.5% in the hydrostatic dilatation group, at six months. The arteriovenous fistula functioning rate was 77.5% in the hydrostatic dilatation group as compared to 92.5% in the primary balloon angioplasty group at six months. The incidence of surgical site infection was 5% in the primary balloon angioplasty group as compared to 10% in the hydrostatic dilatation group.

Conclusion

Primary balloon angioplasty of small caliber cephalic veins (≤2.5 mm) performed prior to arteriovenous fistula creation for hemodialysis is a beneficial procedure.
m-Learning Management System use during Covid-19
Authors: Habibi Akhmad , Yaakob Mohd Faiz Mohd , Al-Adwan Ahmad Samed
Published: September 2021

The current study examined factors affecting higher education students’ use of a mobile-based Learning Management System (m-LMS) for distance education during the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). A survey instrument based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was established and validated. The primary data were gathered from 1032 responses. The data were computed in SmartPLS 3.2. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) procedures were conducted to assess the measurement and structural models. The proposed model is valid and reliable. Findings of the study show that relationships emerge in seven out of ten hypotheses. The strongest relationship is between Perceived Usefulness and Attitude while the weakest exists between Perceived Ease of Use and Attitude. This study emphasizes awareness about the use of m-LMS in education, especially during distance education due to pandemics like Covid-19. The model is expected to provide a useful base for future academicians interested in conducting similar topics of research.
Continuous renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: implications in the COVID-19 era
Authors: Roberts Sophia H , Goodwin Matthew L , Bobba Christopher M , Al-Qudsi Omar , Satyapriya S Veena , Tripathi Ravi S , Papadimos Thomas J , Whitson Bryan A
Published: September 2021

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19)) was identified as the causative agent of viral pneumonias in Wuhan, China in December 2019, and has emerged as a pandemic causing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple organ dysfunction. Interim guidance by the World Health Organization states that extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) should be considered as a rescue therapy in COVID-19-related ARDS. International registries tracking ECMO in COVID-19 patients reveal a 21%–70% incidence of acute renal injury requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) during ECMO support. The indications for initiating RRT in patients on ECMO are similar to those for patients not requiring ECMO. RRT can be administered during ECMO via a temporary dialysis catheter, placement of a circuit in-line hemofilter, or direct connection of continuous RRT in-line with the ECMO circuit. Here we review methods for RRT during ECMO, RRT initiation and timing during ECMO, anticoagulation strategies, and novel cytokine filtration approaches to minimize COVID-19’s pathophysiological impact.
Updating the Marketing Research Course to Prepare the Marketing Generalist
Authors: Reavey Brooke , Zahay Debra , Rosenbloom Al
Published: September 2021

This exploratory research suggests that undergraduate marketing research textbooks and courses have not kept pace with the changes in the marketing research world over the past two decades. Two studies, one a review of marketing research syllabi and another a content analysis of online job postings, explore this phenomenon. The results imply that, in contrast to the historical context of marketing research course, most advertised entry-level marketing jobs requiring marketing research skills are not in marketing research firms. Indeed, contemporary marketing research is more likely a function embedded within an array of generalist job duties that also require soft skills and the ability to analyze and present data to upper management. As a result of this research, educators should have a heightened awareness of the following: (a) the disconnect between the marketing research curriculum and current industry needs, (b) the changing role of marketing research as diffused throughout the organization, and (c) the broader set of skills and techniques required of entry-level marketing graduates. As a possible solution to these issues, this research proposes an integrated model whereby instructors can help their students navigate the current landscape by choosing an appropriate pedagogical path to assist students in their career goals.
Predisposing factors of important invasive fungal coinfections in COVID-19 patients: a review article
Authors: Zia Mohammadali , Goli Mohammad
Published: September 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 has caused a devastating pandemic lasting for more than a year. To date, 47 million individuals have been infected and 1.2 million individuals have died worldwide. Some of the most important coinfections in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are opportunistic invasive fungal infections (OIFIs), which are sometimes not rapidly diagnosed and are often diagnosed after death. Aspergillosis and candidiasis are the most prevalent OIFIs in patients with COVID-19. Mycormycosis, cryptococcosis, and other fungal diseases have also been documented more rarely. This review aimed to summarize factors affecting COVID-19 transmission, prevalence, morbidity, and mortality in Iran as well as to review common OIFIs in patients with COVID-19. Immunological factors, underlying diseases, and social, cultural, and environmental factors can affect COVID-19 transmission. There is a need to improve diagnostic and therapeutic criteria for OIFIs and to optimize management procedures so that patients with OIFIs can receive treatment as rapidly as possible. Screening of patients with confirmed COVID-19 for OIFIs at the treating physician’s discretion could enable early OIFI diagnosis, treatment, and mortality reduction.
David, Once and Future King? A Closer Look at the Postscript of Psalm 72.20
Authors: Hensley Adam D.
Published: September 2021

How did scribes understand Psalm 72.20, ‘Ended are the prayers of David, son of Jesse’, in view of subsequent Davidic psalms in the MT Psalter? After appraising the major proposals and examining its earliest reception (MT pointing, DSS parallels, and early Jewish and patristic evidence), this paper argues that the oft-overlooked genealogical qualifier ‘ben Jesse’ indicates a primary focus on ‘historical’ David in Books 1–2, whereas Books 3–5 primarily have future or eschatological ‘David’/Davidic monarchy in view. This synchronic account of 72.20’s meaning in the Psalter honours its plainest sense and explains its editorial retention/reuse, yet leaves room for diachronic theories about its origins. It also accounts for evidence other theories do not, especially Psalm 86’s identification as a ‘prayer (תפלה‎) of David’ and the Psalms’ predominant association of תפלה‎ with David. Further implications for ‘psalmic voice’ and David’s significance as YHWH’s praying servant in the Psalter are then explored.
Clinical Outcomes of Meniscal Allograft Transplantation With Respect to the Minimal Clinically Important Difference
Authors: Su Lisa , Garcia-Mansilla Ignacio , Kelley Benjamin , Arshi Armin , Fabricant Peter D. , Sherman Seth L. , Jones Kristofer J.
Published: September 2021

Background:

Arthroscopic-assisted meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) has become a viable and effective treatment option for young active patients with postmeniscectomy pain. The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is imperative to evaluate the clinical significance of surgical interventions and inform clinical practice guidelines in orthopaedic surgery.

Purpose:

To perform a systematic review of clinical outcome studies of patients undergoing MAT and compare postoperative improvement with established MCID thresholds.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

A systematic review was performed using the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. A meta-analysis was performed using data obtained from studies reporting patient-reported outcomes. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients undergoing isolated lateral MAT using fresh-frozen grafts. Weighted mean postoperative improvements in the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Lysholm, and visual analog scale for pain (VAS pain) were calculated and compared with MCID values to determine if they met the MCID threshold.

Results:

A total of 35 studies were identified, including 1658 unique patients. Weighted mean postoperative score improvements exceeded MCID thresholds for the VAS pain, IKDC, and Lysholm. Subgroup analysis of patients undergoing isolated lateral fresh-frozen MAT demonstrated postoperative improvements exceeding the MCID for the Lysholm and VAS pain.

Conclusion:

Evaluating postoperative PROMs with respect to the MCID is crucial to evaluate the effect of MAT on functional improvement. The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that postoperative improvements after MAT are clinically meaningful as reflected by PROMs exceeding the MCID threshold for the IKDC, Lysholm, and VAS pain.
Serotonin variations and sleep disorders among shift workers. A cross-sectional study
Authors: Shehata Rehab Shehata Abdelhady , Mohamed Nour Zeinab Ahmed , Abdelrahim Badr Amul Mohamed , Khalifa Eman Mahmoud
Published: September 2021

Sleep disorders are prevalent occupational health problems among shift workers, especially healthcare workers with long shifts. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter related to circadian variations accompanied by shift work. A cross-sectional study was performed on 73 nurses at a tertiary hospital in Cairo, Egypt, to assess sleep quality among shift work nurses (SWNs), to determine blood serotonin level, and its relation to shift work and sleep quality. A demographic and occupational history questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, and measurement of blood serotonin were carried out to the studied group. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25, and descriptive statistics, unpaired t-test, ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis Test, Chi-square, Spearman correlation, and multivariate regression analysis were utilized. The results showed that the mean PSQI global score was significantly higher among SWNs than non-shift work nurses (NSWNs) and was the highest (10.32 ± 3.56 and 10.22 ± 2.4, respectively) among rotatory and fixed night shift nurses. Blood serotonin showed highly significant differences between SWNs over NSWNs ( p = 0.001), and mostly reduced among rotatory and fixed night shift nurses (66.7% and 65%, respectively). Moreover, there were highly significant differences in serotonin levels between poor and good sleep quality nurses ( p < 0.001), and most of the poor sleep quality nurses (62.7%) had low serotonin levels. Abnormal serotonin level (odds = 246.5) and working years (odds = 1.2) were statistically significant predictors of poor sleep quality. In conclusion, SWNs, especially rotating and night shift nurses, suffer from poor sleep quality associated with abnormal levels of blood serotonin.
Statins, Enzyme CoQ10 Supplement Use, and Cognitive Functioning
Authors: Collin Brian G. , Raju Dheeraj , Katsikas Steven
Published: September 2021

Objective:

The current study assessed the effects of statin and CoQ10 supplement use on changes in cognitive functioning in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention study.

Methods:

1,573 subjects were administered medical histories, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), Wechsler Memory Scale, Logical Memory subtest, and the Trail Making Test, Parts A (TMT-A) and B (TMT-B) 3-4 times over 5-10 years.

Results:

Linear mixed models did not yield significant effects for statin or CoQ10 supplement use on changes in mental status, learning and memory, psychomotor speed, and cognitive flexibility.

Conclusions:

Statin and/or CoQ10 supplement use was not associated with neuropsychological test performance in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention study.
Effects of SiO2 particles in copper current collector on diffusion induced stresses in layered Li-ion battery electrodes
Authors: Pouyanmehr Roozbeh , Pakseresht Morteza , Ansari Reza , Hassanzadeh-Aghdam Mohammad Kazem
Published: September 2021

One of the limiting factors in the life of lithium-ion batteries is the diffusion-induced stresses on their electrodes that cause cracking and consequently, failure. Therefore, improving the structure of these electrodes to be able to withstand these stresses is one of the ways that can extend the life of the batteries as well as improve their safety. In this study, the effects of adding graphene nanoplatelets and microparticles into the active plate and current collectors, respectively, on the diffusion induced stresses in both layered and bilayered electrodes are numerically investigated. The micromechanical models are employed to predict the mechanical properties of both graphene nanoplatelet-reinforced Sn-based nanocomposite active plate and silica microparticle-reinforced copper composite current collector. The effect of particle size and volume fraction in the current collector on diffusion induced stresses has been studied. The results show that in electrodes with a higher volume fraction of particles and smaller particle radii, decreased diffusion induced stresses in both the active plate and the current collector are observed. These additions will also result in a significant decrease in the bending of the electrode.
Design of automatic spray monitoring and tele-operation system based on digital twin technology
Authors: Zhou Kai , Yang Shuai , Guo Zhanhe , Long Xiaojun , Hou Jialin , Jin Tianguo
Published: September 2021

To solve the problems of low degree of automation, difficulty in quality control and poor working environment during the process of spray-painting rotational parts, this paper designs an automatic spray monitoring and tele-operation system based on digital twin technology, which can realize real-time monitoring and tele-operation fault treatment during the spraying process to achieve the goal of “man-machine isolation”. First, an automatic production line for spraying operations is designed in which the spraying equipment can be remotely controlled. Then, multiple sensors are used to collect the environmental and equipment conditions. After that, multisource heterogeneous data are pretreated to construct a unified data template and interfaces. On this basis, a three-dimensional model of the environment and equipment is established. According to the fusion and mapping between sensor data and the geometric model, an augmented reality twin model of spray painting is obtained. Additionally, the relevant support database and knowledge base are established; a fault diagnosis method based on knowledge is proposed to provide support for fault treatment. Finally, an automatic spraying monitoring and tele-operation software platform is developed that can run under monitoring or tele-operation mode, and the related functions are tested and verified. The test results show that the system is more efficient than manual spraying method, and the coating surfaces is flatter, effectively reducing the probability of sagging, orange peel, missing spray and other problems. This research provides a reference for the design and construction of automatic spraying production lines.
Plasma interleukin-22 level, variants in interleukin-22 gene polymorphism, and the severity of systemic lupus erythematosus among Egyptian pediatric and adolescents
Authors: Attia Zeinab R , Zedan Mohamed M , Mutawi Thuraya M , Saad Entsar A , El Basuni Mohamed A
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Our purpose was to investigate, for the first time, genotypes and alleles distribution of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of interleukin 22 (IL-22) (rs1012356 and rs2227485) in Egyptian pediatric and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to evaluate the plasma IL-22 levels and their association with gene polymorphism and SLE risk and severity.

Methods

The TaqMan™ SNP genotyping assay on a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system was employed to evaluate the polymorphism’s genotypes. Plasma IL-22 levels were determined by using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

The frequencies and genotypes of rs2227485 and rs1012356 in IL-22 between SLE patients and controls also haplotypes formed by the same SNPs revealed no statistically significant difference ( p > 0.05). Otherwise, logistic regression analysis revealed that patients carrying rs1012356 “TA + AA” genotype had increased risk for prediction of SLE activity (OR = 1.610, 95% CI = 1.339–2.760, p = 0.034) by lowering plasma IL-22 level.

Conclusions

Among Egyptian pediatric and adolescents, we confirm a combined model “TA + AA” in rs1012356 (A/T) of IL-22 in regression analysis, as an independent predictor for SLE activity by lowering IL-22 plasma levels. Despite neither SNP rs2227485 A/G in IL-22 gene nor haplotypes formed by the same two SNPs (rs2227485 A/G and rs1012356 A/T) were significantly associated with the clinical and/or laboratory manifestations of SLE.
360 Video Trend on YouTube Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Martínez Víctor Cerdán , García Alberto Luis García , Moraleda Ignacio José Martín
Published: September 2021

In 2015, YouTube was the first online platform to enable the option of uploading and playing 360-degree videos on the Internet. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the consumption of these videos rebounded. To conclude this, we performed a quantitative analysis with the data from searches for ‘360 video’ on YouTube from the four countries most affected by COVID-19 during the first months of the pandemic: the USA, the UK, Spain and Italy. Even though the analysis of variance (ANOVA), according to Fisher’s F (0.48 < 2.62), shows there is a correlation between searches in the USA, the UK, Spain and Italy for the past 10 years, the tendency changes when the first months of the pandemic are analysed. We conclude that each country’s restrictions, by which citizens were forced to stay at home during different dates, depending on the country, may have influenced the consumption of 360-degree videos on YouTube.