bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is the “Preferred” Color Temperature Transferable from Near-Vision to Ambient Home Lighting? An Exploratory Study with People Who Have Central Visual Field Loss
Authors: Vincent Claude , Bourassa Julie , Cimon Nathalie , Verville Paule , Dumont Frédéric
Published: December 2020

Introduction:

The literature supports the importance of adequate lighting for people with visual impairments, but little is known regarding ambient color temperature at home, and the evaluation process is not standardized. Thus, this study aimed to test a method for evaluating the preferred ambient color temperature, established with a near-vision assessment in clinic, and by using standardized tools to evaluate the effects at home for people with central visual field loss.

Methods:

An exploratory quasi-experimental study was conducted with three interventions and six observation times. A convenience sample of eight women and two men with central visual field loss, aged 64–91 years with visual acuity between 6/21 (20/69) and 6/48 (20/158), was recruited. Two certified low vision therapists realized evaluations with Minnesota Low-Vision Reading Test, International Reading Speed Texts, a Visual Comfort Scale, a Digital Light Meter LX1330B, and Home Environment Lighting Assessment. The LuxIQ and various illuminated magnifiers were used for clinical interventions. Home lighting interventions were individualized and aimed to apply participants’ preferred color temperature in a selected room.

Results:

The use of the LuxIQ and illuminated magnifiers showed positive effects in near-vision for all participants by increasing reading speed and visual comfort. Home lighting interventions in participants’ kitchen ( n = 4), living room ( n = 4), or office ( n = 2) also had beneficial effects on their visual comfort and ability to perform activities of daily living. The choice of preferred color temperature was transferable from near-vision to ambient lighting for all participants but one and varied widely.

Discussion:

Innovative preliminary data support the importance of ambient color temperature for people with visual impairments and suggest an efficient standardized evaluation method. Further research is needed to obtain statistically significant empirical evidence in this field. Implications for practitioners: It could be beneficial for low vision therapists to evaluate the individual ambient color temperature preferences of people with visual impairments by using standardized tools.
The Accessible Museum: Towards an Understanding of International Audio Description Practices in Museums
Authors: Hutchinson Rachel S. , Eardley Alison F.
Published: December 2020

Introduction:

Audio description (AD) in museums is crucial for making them accessible for people with visual impairments. Nevertheless, there are limited museum-specific AD guidelines currently available. This research examines current varied international practitioner perspectives on museum AD, focusing on imagery, meaning, emotion and degrees of objectivity, and the regional differences (Europe and United States) in AD traditions, in order to better understand how AD can be used to enhance access to museums.

Methods:

Forty-two museum describers from 12 countries responded to a questionnaire requiring fixed-choice and free-text responses about the purpose and construction of museum AD.

Results:

Inference tests showed that European describers agreed more strongly than American describers that AD should “explore meaning” ( U = 91.00 , N1 = 24, N2 = 14, p = .03), and “create an emotional experience” ( U = 89.50, N1 = 24, N2 = 14, p = .03), rating the use of cognitive prompts as more important ( U = 85.50, N1 = 21, N2 = 14, p = .04). Qualitative data enriched this understanding by exploring participant responses on the themes of mental imagery, objectivity and interpretation and cognitive prompts. This highlighted broader agreement between regions on mental imagery, but more acceptance of interpretation in AD from the European respondents.

Discussion:

American and European describers’ opinions differ regarding the purpose of AD: whether it is about conveying visual information or whether broader interpretations should be incorporated into descriptions for audiences with visual impairments.

Implications for practitioners:

These findings indicate that further discussion is needed regarding the purpose of museum AD and, in particular, the way in which objectivity is contextualized. They raise questions about AD providing visual information and/or seeking to address a wider museum experience, including the stimulation of curiosity or emotion.
Physical Activity Levels, Enjoyment, and Perceptions of Barriers to Physical Activity of Adolescents with Visual Impairments in Turkey
Authors: Gür Kamer , Beyhan Abdullah , Aktan Çiydem , Akbulut Eda , Sezer Merve , Çelik Şehriban , Çakıcı Tuba
Published: December 2020

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to determine the physical activity (PA) status of adolescents with visual impairment, their enjoyment of the PA, and their perception of barriers to PA.

Design and Methods:

This descriptive study was conducted with 110 adolescents with visual impairment. The data collection tools consisted of the (ALP-R2)-Physical Activity Subscale, the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PAES), Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaires, and an Observation Form. The data were analyzed using frequencies, correlation, and Kappa tests.

Results:

It was observed that 60% of the participants stated that they did not engage in PA, 58.2% said they did not engage in PA to the extent of breaking out in a sweat and increasing their heartbeat, and 48.2% indicated that they never did PA 3 times a week for 20 minutes or more. The PAES mean score was 55.1 ± 5.5; the Physical Activity Subscale mean score was 12.5 ± 4.1 ( r = 0.42; p < 0.01).

Discussion:

Our findings were consistent with the results of other studies in that the changeable external factors and parental attitudes perceived as obstacles were similar.

Implications for practitioners:

Most of the participants wanted to be more active. Most of the adolescents’ answers to the questions about the perceived barriers to PA were contrary to what had been expected. Although the adolescents said they did not engage in PA, the number of adolescents who perceived changeable factors such as the environment and parents’ attitudes as barriers was not negligible.
Stab Injury of the Petrosal Bone: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Högerle Catalina , Nörenberg Dominik , Biczok Annamaria , Kunz Mathias , Baumeister Philipp , Uhl Bernd
Published: December 2020

Penetrating traumas of the head are generally life-threatening injuries, whose management poses a substantial challenge for emergency department teams. These injuries are characteristically violence-associated and frequently accompanied by damage of essential organs including brain, meninges, large vessels, cranial nerves, eyes, viscerocranium, internal ear, and/or labyrinth. Here, we present an exceptional case of head trauma caused by a knife blade, which was stuck deep inside in the petrous bone. After the extraction of the knife, the patient had very few immediate and no long-term post-traumatic complications. In conclusion, high-end technical equipment as well as an interdisciplinary team of specialized physicians is recommended for the management of penetrating head trauma to optimize the outcome.
Carl Schmitt, the chameleon
Authors: Kaiser Anna-Bettina
Published: December 2020

This comment focuses on part III of the book, ‘Carl Schmitt’s 21st Century’, by William Scheuerman. It raises two points. The first point concerns the author’s continuity thesis. According to Scheuerman, Schmitt’s ideas ‘exhibit more continuity than widely asserted’. This has consequences both for how we should read Schmitt and for how we should approach authors who use his concepts (such as in the US counterterrorism debate Scheuerman discusses in chapter 10). This comment wants to question this view and instead wants to propose what might be called a chameleon thesis. Schmitt’s thinking contains repeated shifts that are not accidental (1). This may also have implications for how we view attempts to use Schmitt in contemporary thought (2).
Nonclinical Safety Assessment of FHTR2163, An Antigen-Binding Fragment Against HTRA1 for the Treatment of Geographic Atrophy
Authors: Dere Edward , Crowell Susan , Maia Mauricio , Schuetz Chris , Lai Phillip , Bantseev Vladimir , Booler Helen
Published: December 2020

FHTR2163 is an antigen-binding fragment of a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody directed against high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) that is being developed as a potential intravitreal (ITV) treatment for patients with geographic atrophy (GA), an advanced form of dry age-related macular degeneration. The nonclinical toxicology program was designed to assess the safety and tolerability of HTRA1 inhibition following ITV administration of FHTR2163 to support ITV administration in patients with GA. FHTR2163 was well tolerated in a single-dose ITV-administered 8-day toxicity study in cynomolgus monkeys following a 50 µL high (>700 mOsm/kg) osmolality formulation up to 12.5 mg/eye; however, 100 µL (2× 50 µL injections) of a high-osmolality formulation resulted in transient retinal detachment. Repeat-dose ITV administration every 2 weeks of FHTR2163 was well tolerated in 8- and 26-week studies with ITV injection of 100 µL (2× 50 μL) of iso-osmolar formulation up to 15 mg/eye, or 50 µL of the high-osmolality formulation up to 12.5 mg/eye. Observed transient and reversible ocular effects included inflammation and perivascular infiltrates, consistent with an immune response attributed to the administration of heterologous (humanized) protein. Overall, FHTR2163 was well tolerated, and the nonclinical package supported the continued clinical development of FHTR2163 in patients with GA.
30‐Day Postoperative Outcomes Following Transcervical Zenker’s Diverticulectomy in the Elderly: Analysis of the NSQIP Database
Authors: Moroco Annie E. , Saadi Robert A. , Patel Vijay A. , Lehman Erik B. , Gniady John P.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To compare the effect of patient factors, including age, on 30‐day postoperative outcomes and complications for patients undergoing transcervical Zenker’s diverticulectomy.

Study Design

Retrospective cross‐sectional analysis.

Setting

American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Database.

Methods

Patients who underwent open Zenker’s diverticulectomy (Current Procedural Terminology code 43130) were queried via the NSQIP (2006‐2018). Outcomes analyzed include patient demographics, medical comorbidities, admission type, operative characteristics, length of admission, postoperative complication, readmission, and reoperation.

Results

A total of 614 patients were identified. Mean age at time of surgery was 71.1 years, with 13.4% older than 85 years. Outpatient procedures were performed in 29.8%. Postoperative complications occurred in 6.7%, with reoperation and readmission rates of 6.4% and 7.2%, respectively. A mortality rate of 0.3% was observed. Only smoking status (odds ratio, 2.94; P =. 008) and history of congestive heart failure (odds ratio, 10.00; P =. 014) were shown to have a significant effect on postoperative complications.

Conclusion

Smoking status confers a high risk for postoperative complication. Age was not an independent risk factor associated with adverse outcomes following open diverticulectomy, suggesting this procedure can be safely performed in patients with advanced age.
Skeletal Muscle Index’s Impact on Discharge Disposition After Head and Neck Cancer Free Flap Reconstruction
Authors: Jones Alexander Joseph , Campiti Vincent Joseph , Alwani Mohamedkazim , Novinger Leah J. , Bonetto Andrea , Sim Michael W. , Yesensky Jessica A. , Moore Michael G. , Mantravadi Avinash V.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To determine the role of skeletal muscle index (SMI) in the assessment of frailty and determination of discharge to post–acute care facilities (PACF) after head and neck cancer free flap reconstruction (HNCFFR).

Study Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting

Single‐institution, academic tertiary referral center.

Methods

Adult patients undergoing HNCFFR from 2014 to 2019 with preoperative abdominal computed tomography imaging were retrospectively analyzed. Patient demographics, 5‐factor modified frailty index (5‐mFI), body mass index (BMI), SMI at the third lumbar vertebra, oncologic history, perioperative data, and Clavien‐Dindo (CD) complications were collected. Binary logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of discharge disposition.

Results

The cohort consisted of 206 patients, 62 (30.1%) of whom were discharged to PACF. Patients discharged to PACF were of older age (65.4 vs 57.1 years, P <. 0001) and had a lower SMI (38.8 vs 46.8 cm2/m2, P <. 0001), higher 5‐mFI (≥3; 25.8% vs 4.2%, P <. 0001), and greater incidence of stage IV (80.6% vs 64.1%, P =. 0211) aerodigestive cancer (80.6% vs 66.7%, P =. 0462). Patients discharged to PACF experienced more blood transfusions (74.2% vs 35.4%, P <. 0001), major postoperative complications (CD ≥3, 40.3% vs 12.9%, P <. 0001), and delirium (33.9% vs 4.2%, P <. 0001). After adjusting for pre‐ and postoperative factors, multivariate binary logistic regression identified age (P =. 0255), 5‐mFI (P <. 0042), SMI (P =. 0199), stage IV cancer (P =. 0250), aerodigestive tumor (P =. 0366), delirium (P <. 0001), and perioperative blood transfusion (P =. 0144) as independent predictors of discharge to PACF.

Conclusions

SMI and 5‐mFI are independently associated with discharge to PACF after HNCFFR and should be considered in preoperative planning and assessment of frailty.
Trends in Use and Timing of Intratympanic Corticosteroid Injections for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Jin Michael C. , Qian Z. Jason , Cooperman Shayna P. , Alyono Jennifer C.
Published: December 2020

Objective

Oral corticosteroids are treatment mainstays for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). Recent studies suggest that intratympanic (IT) steroid injections may be effective as an alternate or adjunctive therapy. We sought to investigate nationwide trends in treatment patterns for SSNHL.

Study Design

Retrospective cross‐sectional study.

Setting

A large nationwide health care claims database spanning 2007 to 2016.

Methods

Patients with SSNHL were identified from the IBM Watson Health MarketScan Database. Multivariable logistic, linear, and Cox regression were used for demographic‐ and comorbidity‐adjusted analyses.

Results

Overall, 19,670 patients were included. Between 2007 and 2016, use of oral corticosteroids alone decreased (83.6% to 64.6%, P <. 001), while use of IT corticosteroids alone and combination IT‐oral corticosteroids increased (IT only, 7.9% to 15.1%, P =. 002; IT‐oral, 8.5% to 20.4%, P <. 001). During the study period, time to treatment initiation decreased for both administration modalities, though more dramatically for IT corticosteroids (IT, 124.0 to 10.6 days, P <. 001; oral, 42.6 to 12.7 days, P <. 001). In patients receiving both IT and oral corticosteroids, concurrent first‐line use increased (25.2% to 52.8%, P <. 001). Repeat injections have also become more common but may raise risk of persistent tympanic membrane perforations (vs no injection; hazard ratio [first injection] = 7.95, 95% CI = 5.54‐11.42; hazard ratio [fifth or higher injection] = 17.47, 95% CI = 6.93‐44.05).

Conclusion

SSNHL management increasingly involves early IT steroids as an alternative or adjunctive option to oral steroids. Use of repeat IT corticosteroid injections has also increased but may raise risk of persistent tympanic membrane perforations and subsequent tympanoplasty. Future decision analysis and cost‐effectiveness studies are necessary to identify an optimal care pattern for SSNHL.
Quantitative Assessment of the Immune Microenvironment in Patients With Iatrogenic Laryngotracheal Stenosis
Authors: Davis Ruth J. , Lina Ioan , Green Benjamin , Engle Elizabeth L. , Motz Kevin , Ding Dacheng , Taube Janis M. , Gelbard Alexander , Hillel Alexander T.
Published: December 2020

Objective

Iatrogenic laryngotracheal stenosis (iLTS) is characterized by fibroinflammatory narrowing of the upper airway and is most commonly caused by intubation injury. Evidence suggests a key role for CD4 T cells in its pathogenesis. The objective of this study is to validate emerging multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) technology for use in the larynx and trachea while quantitatively characterizing the immune cell infiltrate in iLTS. In addition to analyzing previously unstudied immune cell subsets, this study aims to validate previously observed elevations in the immune checkpoint PD‐1 and its ligand PD‐L1 while exploring their spatial and cellular distributions in the iLTS microenvironment.

Study Design

Controlled ex vivo cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary care center.

Methods

mIF staining was performed with formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded slides from 10 patients with iLTS who underwent cricotracheal resection and 10 control specimens derived from rapid autopsy for CD4, CD8, CD20, FoxP3, PD‐1, PD‐L1, and cytokeratin.

Results

There was greater infiltration of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, CD20+ B cells, FoxP3+CD4+ Tregs, and FoxP3+CD8+ early effector T cells in the submucosa of iLTS specimens as compared with controls (P <. 05 for all). PD‐1 was primarily expressed on T cells and PD‐L1 predominantly on CD4+ cells and “other” cells.

Conclusion

This study leverages the power of mIF to quantify the iLTS immune infiltrate in greater detail. It confirms the highly inflammatory nature of iLTS, with CD4+ cells dominating the immune cell infiltrate; it further characterizes the cellular and spatial distribution of PD‐1 and PD‐L1; and it identifies novel immunologic targets in iLTS.
Over the hills and far away: Middle to Late Woodland archaeology and toolstone conveyance at Hyre Mound (46RD1), West Virginia
Authors: Rosencrance Richard L , Hirshman Amy J
Published: December 2020

The archaeology of the eastern West Virginia uplands remains significantly understudied compared to other areas of the Appalachian Plateau. Bettye Broyles’ excavations at the Hyre Mound site (46RD1) in 1963 recovered a variety of artifacts within and directly adjacent to a burial mound but the excavations remain largely unpublished. We provide a report of Broyles’ excavations, new radiocarbon dates, and an analysis of the lithic raw material frequencies at the site. Material culture and ceremonial practices suggest the initial mound construction dates to the Middle Woodland period. Radiocarbon dating of cultural features confirms that people also used the locality during the Late Woodland period. Lithic raw material frequencies indicate a preference for non-local, Hillsdale chert found ∼100 km from the site throughout both time periods. The directionality of toolstone conveyance supports existing models that emphasize the quality and location of raw material sources and the orientation of the region’s physiography.
i-MANN: A Web-Based System for Data Management of Mental Health Research in India
Authors: Kaur Jasmine , Verma Vijay C , Kumar Vinit , Singh Ravinder , Bhatia Triptish , Sahu Sushree , Manak Madhur , Buttolia Harish Kumar , Choudhary Bhavik , Sharma Yogesh Singh , Shah Santosh Kumar , Kumar Prabhat , Kaur Jasleen , Deshpande Smita , Singh Harpreet
Published: December 2020

Background:

National Mental Health Program (NMHP) was launched by the government with an aim to improve mental health of the society through precise and focused interventions and policies. In order to provide reliable data and evidence for NMHP, there is a strong requirement of a comprehensive system for integrative collection, storage, and analysis of data generated by this program.

Methods:

Data collection tools, questionnaires, instruments, and scales provided by the National Coordinating Unit were digitized using the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) framework (version 2.30). The rules for data validation and automated scoring were implemented as per the scales. The developed system ( i-MANN, ICMR-Mental Health Assessment National Network) is based on modular architecture with role-based access to data input forms and dashboards.

Results:

The data are stored on a centralized server at ICMR. i-MANN captures data on basic and advanced demographic details followed by category specific forms from 15 multicentric ICMR-funded projects. Data collection module is divided into 12 categories containing 93 scales/instruments with built-in validation rules, scoring patterns, and indicators. As of August 2020, the system contains 17,690 records.

Conclusions:

i-MANN is the first web-based, modular, robust, and extendable system for collection, integration, management, and analysis of data on mental health in India.
Protocol for Development of the Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire: The Screening Version of the Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism
Authors: Chakraborty Satabdi , Bhatia Triptish , Sharma Vikas , Antony Nitin , Das Dhritishree , Sahu Sushree , Sharma Satyam , Shriharsh Vandana , Brar Jaspreet S , Iyengar Satish , Nimgaonkar Vishwajit L , Deshpande Smita N
Published: December 2020

Introduction:

Autism is included as a certifiable disability in the Indian Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016. The Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA), developed by the Government of India and mandated for certifying disability, is a detailed instrument that needs trained mental health experts and takes time to administer. The current project was planned to develop a simple, easy to use screening tool based on the ISAA to identify possible cases in the community.

Methods:

The project is planned in three phases. During the first phase, data collected during the development of the ISAA ( N = 433/436 children with autism) will be used to identify questions answered as frequently, mostly, and always. During the second phase, the psychometric properties of the screening tool based on these items will be evaluated among research participants recruited from hospitals and special schools ( n = 100). In the third phase, the screening questionnaire will be administered in the community ( n = 500).

Results:

The most frequently answered questions will be selected for inclusion in the proposed screening tool. The number of items in the screening tool will be kept as few as possible, with yes or no responses

Discussion:

Indian Autism Screening Questionnaire (IASQ) will be tested as a screening version of ISAA, which can be used by community health workers, teachers, or school counselors. The IASQ will not provide a diagnosis of autism. A positive screening result should be followed by a thorough assessment by a trained specialist. Analyzing the psychometric properties of the test can help ensure cost-effective screening of the community to identify autism.
Effectiveness of a Brief Psychological Intervention Delivered by Nurse for Depression in Pregnancy: Study Protocol for a Multicentric Randomized Controlled Trial from India
Authors: Raghuveer Pracheth , Ransing Ramdas , Kukreti Prerna , Mahadevaiah Mahesh , Elbahaey Wafaa Abdelhakim , Iyengar Satish , Pemde Harish , Deshpande Smita N.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Perinatal depression (PD) has important implications for maternal and infant well-being but largely goes undetected. There is a need to develop low-intensity psychosocial interventions applicable to obstetric health care facilities.

Objective:

To assess the effectiveness of a brief psychological intervention for mild to moderate PD delivered by a nurse as compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU).

Methods:

This study is a randomized, open-label, parallel-group, multicentric trial being conducted in four sites of India. A total of 816 pregnant women with mild to moderately severe depression (Patient Health Questionaire-9 score of 5–19) are being assessed for the effectiveness of the intervention. Participants are randomly allocated to two groups of trial intervention (psychological intervention given by nurse) and TAU. The primary outcome is to compare the proportion of women reporting improvement across both groups. Participants are serially followed-up in each trimester and at 6, 10, 14 weeks, and 6 months postpartum. Secondary outcomes include pregnancy outcomes, feeding practices, physical growth, and immunization status of the infants.

Conclusion:

It is a prospective pregnancy birth cohort with a robust design and long-term follow-up. This is one of the largest studies utilizing non-specialist health workers for the screening and management of PD. This study also holds promise to cast light on the course and outcome of depression during pregnancy in different parts of India. It is envisaged to help in developing a sound screening and referral-based protocol for obstetric settings.
Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Among 18- to 49-Year-Old Women: A Comparative Study
Authors: Göger Seda , Cingil Dilek
Published: December 2020

Introduction

The prevalence of obesity has become a remarkable public health concern in a global extent. This study aimed to examine the difference between the healthy lifestyle behaviors of women with normal weight and those who are obese.

Method

This comparative descriptive study included a total of 302 women aged 18–49 years.

Results

According to regression analysis; duration of education (β = −0.154), (age (β = 0.376), presence of obese individuals in the family (β = 0.177) and HLSBS II scores (β = −0.115) were the factors that affected the BMI. The predictive value of these variables was 34.1%.

Discussion

A significant difference was found between women with normal weight and obese women in terms of several sub-dimensions and overall HLSBS II score. We recommend that healthcare staff should design training and counseling services to improve the health behaviors of overweight and obese women.
Consumer Choicemaking and Choicelessness in Hyperdigital Marketspaces
Authors: Dholakia Nikhilesh , Darmody Aron , Zwick Detlev , Dholakia Ruby Roy , Fırat A. Fuat
Published: December 2020

Technologies, especially Internet-based digital ones, are reshaping choice processes – actual considerations and actions, as well as perceptions of these – in massive, often fundamental, ways. In this paper, our goal is to explore choice processes in general, and especially choice processes in hyperdigital marketspaces (i.e., with massively, pervasively interconnected things) with examples drawn from U.S. macro consumption contexts. We start with a short review of discourses on choice and choicelessness and then shift to the emerging era of technology-shaped choice processes that are especially observable in contemporary hyperdigital marketspaces. For the increasingly large swaths of market segments that consume, indeed live, digitally, we find deft symbolic sublimations and inversions happening, wherein manipulation is perceived as autonomy enhancing.
Evaluation of the effect of myelotomy on nerve function in rats with spinal cord injury by diffusion tensor imaging
Authors: Liu Yi , Liu Changbin , Qin Chuan , Zhang Xin , Feng Hao , Wang Zhanjing , Li Jianjun
Published: December 2020

Background

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe central nervous system injury that can generally induce different degrees of sensory and motor dysfunction

Purpose

To clarify the changes of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters after spinal cord myelotomy in rats with SCI.

Material and Methods

Eighteen Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into the Sham group (n=6), SCI group (n=6), and Mye group (n=6), respectively. The DTI values at 1, 3, 7, and 21 days after modeling were collected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The spinal specimen at the injury site was collected on the 21st day for Nissl’s staining to assess the changes in neurons.

Results

The fractional anisotropy (FA) values in both the SCI group and Mye group significantly decreased. In addition, the FA values between the two groups were statistically significant ( P < 0.001). The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) values all decreased and then increased ( P < 0.001). Pearson correlation test showed that the ADC, MD, and AD values were positively correlated with the Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) score. Nissl’s staining showed a higher number of Nissl’s bodies, and deep staining of Nissl’s bodies in the Mye group, while the morphology of neurons was relatively good. The number of neurons in the Mye group was significantly higher after myelotomy compared to the SCI group ( P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The DTI parameters, especially ADC values, could non-invasively and quantifiably evaluate the efficacy of myelotomy for rats with SCI.
Multiple failures of internal fixation for treatment of periprosthetic femoral refracture: a case report and literature review
Authors: Shen Jing , Zhang Yang , Yu Guisong , Ji Weifeng
Published: December 2020

We herein report a case involving three failures of internal fixation after periprosthetic femoral fracture (Vancouver type B1). The patient had low bone mass (T-score of −1.7) and was overweight (body mass index of 28.7 kg/m2) but had no sign of femoral stem loosening. The first open reduction with internal fixation was performed according to the recommended treatment. Unexpectedly, three treatment failures subsequently occurred, after which the patient finally attained endurable walking activity. A literature review indicated that the intrinsic biomechanical problems of Vancouver B1 fractures have not been thoroughly addressed. Choosing the correct surgical strategy for Vancouver B1 fractures is essential to avoid complications and ensure healing. A sufficient locking plate and cable system should be used after the first failure if revision was not performed the first time.
Selection of spinal surgery and hip replacement sequence in patients with both degenerative scoliosis and hip disease
Authors: Zhang Haocong , Yu Hailong , Zhang Meng , Huang Zijun , Xiang Liangbi , Liu Xinwei , Wang Zheng
Published: December 2020

Objective

To discuss how the sequence of spinal surgery and hip replacement is determined for patients with both degenerative scoliosis and hip disease.

Methods

Twenty-six patients treated for both degenerative scoliosis and hip disease from June 2012 to June 2015 were retrospectively studied. Eleven patients underwent hip replacement followed by lumbar surgery (Group A), and 15 patients underwent lumbar surgery followed by hip replacement (Group B). The average follow-up duration was 1.5 years. Related indicators were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively.

Results

The parameters showing significant differences between Groups A and B after surgery were acetabular anteversion, the Oswestry functional disability score, and the Harris hip score. Postoperatively, five patients in Group A had unequal shoulder heights and inclination of the trunk to one side. After lumbar surgery and before total hip arthroplasty in Group B, eight patients could not walk, and the limitation was more severe than that preoperatively.

Conclusion

Spinal surgery may be performed first to resolve lumbar nerve symptoms and restore sagittal balance of the spine; hip replacement may then be performed to simplify hip replacement difficulties and resolve the imbalance after spinal surgery. Severely limited range of motion exists after lumbar surgery and before total hip arthroplasty.
Identification of plasma microRNA-22 as a marker for the diagnosis, prognosis, and chemosensitivity prediction of osteosarcoma
Authors: Diao Zhen-bin , Sun Tian-xiao , Zong Yi , Lin Bo-chuan , Xia Yuan-sheng
Published: December 2020

Objective

MicroRNA (miR)-22 plays crucial roles in malignant tumors and is involved in regulation of chemosensitivity. Additionally, altered expression of circulating miR-22 has been reported in various cancers. This study was designed to investigate plasma miR-22 expression in patients with osteosarcoma (OS) and determine its diagnostic, prognostic, and chemosensitivity prediction value.

Methods

Plasma miR-22 levels in 120 patients with OS and 120 healthy controls were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Associations of plasma miR-22 expression with the patients’ clinicopathological features and prognosis were then assessed.

Results

Plasma miR-22 levels in patients with OS were significantly lower than those in healthy controls. Low plasma miR-22 levels were correlated with large tumor size, advanced clinical stages, positive distant metastasis, and poor tumor response to preoperative chemotherapy. Plasma miR-22 could discriminate OS patients from controls and distinguish patients with a good response to therapy from those with a poor response to therapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that low plasma miR-22 expression was a significant independent predictor of unfavorable prognosis.

Conclusions

Altered plasma levels of miR-22 might serve as a novel, noninvasive biomarker for OS diagnosis, prognosis, and chemosensitivity prediction.
Fusarium species causing invasive fungal pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient: a case report
Authors: Chae Seung Yoon , Park Hye Mi , Oh Tae Hoon , Lee Jong Eun , Lee Hyo-jae , Jeong Won Gi , Kim Yun-Hyeon
Published: December 2020

Fusarium is a large genus of filamentous fungi that are rarely associated with disease in humans. In the clinical setting, Fusarium species are often difficult to distinguish from other fungal organisms, particularly Aspergillus species. Invasive fungal pneumonia caused by Fusarium species has rarely been reported, especially in immunocompetent patients. In this study, we reported a case of invasive Fusarium pneumonia in a previously healthy 68-year-old woman. The disease was initially misdiagnosed as invasive Aspergillus pneumonia because of the similarity in radiologic and histopathologic findings between these conditions. After Fusarium was identified via microbiological analysis, the antifungal agent was changed, and the patient recovered fully.
Immediate pneumothorax after neurosurgical procedures
Authors: Zhang Jinzhu , Xu Kan , Chen Xuan , Qi Bin , Hou Kun , Yu Jinlu
Published: December 2020

Objective

Pneumothorax after neurosurgical procedures is very rare and incompletely understood. This study was performed to explore the clinical characteristics and pathogenesis of pneumothorax after neurosurgery.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated patients admitted from December 2016 to April 2019 for treatment of spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. The inclusion criteria were neurosurgical procedures (open surgeries or endovascular intervention) performed under general anesthesia, no performance of central venous puncture during surgery, and occurrence of pneumothorax immediately after the neurosurgical procedure.

Results

Eight patients developed pneumothorax after neurosurgical procedures for spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage under general anesthesia. Of the eight patients, seven had aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and one had left temporal–parietal hemorrhage. The lung injury prediction score (LIPS) was 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9.5 in three, one, two, one, and one patient, respectively. During the operation, volume-controlled ventilation (tidal volume, 8–10 mL/kg) was selected for all patients.

Conclusions

Neurogenic pulmonary edema, inappropriate mechanical ventilation, and stimulation by endotracheal intubation might conjointly contribute to postoperative pneumothorax. To avoid this rare entity, mechanical ventilation with a low tidal volume or low pressure during general anesthesia should be adopted for patients with hemorrhagic cerebrovascular diseases involving the temporal lobe and a LIPS of >3.
Comparative In Vitro and In Vivo Studies on Feline, Canine, and Human Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ito Soma , Chambers James K. , Mori Chikako , Sumi Ayumi , Omachi Tetsuo , Nakayama Hiroyuki , Uchida Kazuyuki
Published: December 2020

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor, and most human MCC cases are infected by Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). However, the underlying pathogeneses of MCC in animals remain unclear. In the present study, newly established cell lines from feline and canine MCC, a MCPyV-positive human MCC cell line, and MCC tissues from 25 cats and 1 dog were examined and compared pathologically. Feline and canine MCCs were composed of tumor cells arranged in trabeculae and solid packets. Twenty out of 25 feline MCC cases (80%) had other proliferative cutaneous lesions, such as carcinoma in situ and squamous cell carcinoma. Among the 25 feline MCC cases, tumor cells were immunopositive for cytokeratins (CKs), including CK5/6 (4/25 cases, 16%), CK7 (5, 20%), CK18 (25, 100%), CK19 (20, 80%), and CK20 (20, 80%). The tumor cells of feline MCC were also immunopositive for synaptophysin (24/25, 96%) and CD56 (22/25, 88%). The tumor cells of canine MCC were immunopositive for CK18, CK19, CK20, and synaptophysin. Cultured feline and canine MCC cells grew in adherent monolayers and exhibited diffuse cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for CKs, whereas human MCC cells grew in suspension and exhibited dot-like cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for CKs. Differences in the distribution of CKs between human and animal MCC may be attributed to cell adhesion propensities. MCPyV genes and antigen were not detected in feline or canine MCC, suggesting a different etiology from human MCC.
Visualising regional inequalities in the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic in England and Wales
Authors: Bambra Clare , Norman Paul , Johnson Niall Philip Alan Sean
Published: December 2020

We examine regional inequalities in mortality from the 1918 pandemic in England and Wales. Crude mortality rates (per 100,000 for June 1918 to May 1919) from the Registrar General’s 1920 report were directly allocated to crude mortality rates for 306 administrative units. A custom GIS ShapeFile was constructed to map the rates first as a choropleth and then as a cartogram. The visualisations show a clear north-south divide in mortality in England with the northern areas and – to a lesser extent – the midlands and Wales having higher rates than the south. It also demonstrates an urban-rural divide with more sparsely populated areas – across both England and Wales – having lower rates.
Functional division and location choices of Chinese outward FDI: The case of ICT firms
Authors: Wang Junsong , Wei Yehua Dennis , Lin Bingquan
Published: December 2020

This study analyzes how political factors, cultural and geographical distance, and agglomeration affect the distribution of Chinese outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) through a study of information and communication technologies (ICT) firms using nested logit models. The results show that ownership, Chinese ethnic networks, and sectoral agglomeration are the most important factors. Political risk does not have a consistent effect on OFDI, state-owned enterprises are inclined to invest in countries with a higher level of political risk. We also find that various functions display different locational preferences and that there is a clear trend toward vertical agglomeration among various functions. By integrating place-based political institutions and space-based cultural and geographical distance into the research, our study unfolds the complexity of location decisions regarding Chinese OFDI. It highlights the importance of national, industrial, and functional idiosyncrasies in determining OFDI location choices.
Terminal velocity: The speed of extortion in Guatemala City
Authors: O’Neill Kevin Lewis
Published: December 2020

Guatemala City is racked by the practice of extortion: the act of obtaining goods and/or money through the threat of force. Transportation workers are a particularly vulnerable population, with a homicide rate four times the national average. While social scientists, policy experts, and asylum advocates rightly observe that extortionists control territory, lost in this literature is an appreciation for how these violent actors also govern victims’ experience of time and velocity. This article, in response, develops ethnographically the concept of terminal velocity to assess how the violent extraction of payments from transportation workers routinely presses these drivers up against the practical limits of Guatemala City. This includes the downward pull of extortion, which compels them to drive at ever-increasing speeds, and the upward drag of road congestion, poor infrastructure, and human fatigue that inevitably caps their acceleration.
The Mission Mentoring Programme: an initiative for council employees to become mentors to looked after children
Authors: Cosma Pandelitsa , Soni Anita
Published: December 2020

The Mission Mentoring Programme is an innovative scheme that supports council employees to become mentors for looked after children. It was first piloted in 2015, proved successful with rewarding outcomes and has continued to grow and attract interest. This article presents a case study of a young man who participated in the programme and found it helpful for his transition to adulthood and intended employment. It summarises his views and experiences along with those of his mentor and the virtual school headteacher who established the programme. The article begins with a review of the literature on mentoring interventions and sets the background to the programme. Key themes identified highlight the importance of the matching process between mentor and mentee, potential ways of developing the corporate parenting role, destigmatising the care experience and improving children's life chances. The article concludes with a discussion of the programme's potential contribution to welfare services and ways in which it might develop.
The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on children who become looked after in Derby City
Authors: Peet Heather , Teh Corina
Published: December 2020

This article compares the needs and background characteristics of children who became looked after by an English local authority between April and July in 2019 and the same three months in 2020, with the aim of identifying any impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which broke out in March 2020 and continued for some months thereafter. It scrutinises the two cohorts, comparing children's age, gender, ethnicity, entry to care with siblings and reasons for admission. Differences attributable to the pandemic were found.
Peri-ictal headaches in the paediatric population – prospective study
Authors: Zawadzka Marta , Pilarska Ewa , Konieczna Seweryna , Szmuda Marta , Matheisel Agnieszka , Lemska Anna , Modrzejewska Sandra , Mazurkiewicz-Bełdzińska Maria
Published: December 2020

Introduction

The co-occurrence of headache and epilepsy is well-documented in the adult population. The aim of the prospective study was to analyse in the paediatric population the correlations between the types of peri-ictal headaches and types of seizures. Furthermore, an attempt was made to find trends in characteristic features of peri-ictal headaches. Material: A total of 57 children with peri-ictal headache were enrolled in the study. The participants’ guardians were asked to keep a diary of the seizure and peri-ictal headache episodes during a 180-day period. During follow-up visits, systematic history regarding peri-ictal headaches was taken.

Results

A total of 913 seizure and 325 peri-ictal headache episodes were noted during the study. Post-ictal headaches were most common, occurring in < 1 h after the seizure, lasting minutes to hours and more likely to occur after generalised seizures, whereas pre-ictal headaches occurred 30–240 min before the seizure. In the analysed group, peri-ictal headaches were most often moderate in intensity. Only 30% of patients took analgesic medication, usually to treat post-ictal headaches.

Conclusion

Peri-ictal headaches are a significant health problem for patients with epilepsy. The most common type are post-ictal headaches, and they are most likely to appear after a generalised seizure.
Framework for Country-Level Sustainable Transportation Policy Learning using Public Support as a Measure of Cultural Distance
Authors: Ni Xuenan , Moody Joanna , Zhao Jinhua
Published: December 2020

As the world shapes a global agenda to mitigate climate change, national governments are looking to define sustainable development strategies for the transportation sector. In this international landscape, countries will look to learn from one another, but identifying peer countries for this learning can prove a challenge. In this study, we measure public support for transportation policies and use this as a measure of cultural distance to identify peer countries. We modeled public support for 11 transportation policies in an international sample of 41,932 individuals in 51 countries or regions. Using a model that controls for individual effects, we measure pure country-level differences in public policy support. Measuring public support for different transportation policies can help policymakers understand how the public evaluates and envisions the role of government in shaping the current as well as future transportation system, and to anticipate difficulties of implementing certain types of policy because of public resistance. In general, we find the highest public support for a given policy appears in countries that have not yet seen significant investment in the target infrastructure or service. We show that considering public support for transportation policies gives a different perspective than traditional indicators of economic development or level of motorization, helping policymakers understand what the public wants and how they might build support for new transportation policies. Finally, we present a clustering framework that goes beyond development status and geographical adjacency to help identify peer countries for policy learning using public policy support as a measure of cultural distance.
Model-Based Rolling Matching Strategy for Crowdsourced Drivers and Delivery Tasks Considering Uncertain Transportation Duration
Authors: Zhang Qi , Liu Yang , Fan Zhi-Ping , Li Zong-Lin
Published: December 2020

The matching of crowdsourced drivers and delivery tasks is an important decision problem for the crowdsourced delivery platform. Although the existence of uncertainty of transportation duration in logistics delivery has been verified, uncertain transportation duration has not been considered in previous studies on the matching of crowdsourced drivers and delivery tasks. This would lead to the limitation that the results of the existing methods cannot meet the time requirements of senders. In this case, the profit and customer satisfaction of the crowdsourced delivery platform would decrease. In this paper, a model-based rolling matching strategy to match crowdsourced drivers and delivery tasks considering uncertain transportation duration is proposed. In addition, it is assumed that the crowdsourced delivery platform also has some dedicated drivers to implement the delivery tasks that cannot be implemented by crowdsourced drivers. First, a simpler problem is described, which is to match crowdsourced drivers and delivery tasks considering uncertain transportation duration in a static data environment. Then, a model is proposed to solve the above problem. Based on the proposed model, this paper further proposes a rolling procedure to solve the problem in a data refreshing environment. Moreover, a heuristic algorithm is presented for combining multiple delivery tasks to solve the one-to-many matching. Finally, a case study and comparison are given to illustrate the validity and the contribution of the proposed matching strategy. The results show that the proposed matching strategy has a distinct advantage of cost savings.