bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) Reflects Myocardial Inhomogeneities in Hemodialyzed Patients
Authors: Bołtuć Kamila , Bociek Arkadiusz , Dziugieł Robert , Bociek Martyna , Zapolski Tomasz , Dąbrowski Wojciech , Jaroszyński Andrzej
Published: September 2020

Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death in chronically hemodialyzed (HD) patients. In this group, inflammation exerts significant impact on the prevalence of CVD morbidity and mortality. Spatial QRS-T angle is an independent and strong predictor of CV events, including sudden cardiac death (SCD), both in general population and HD patients. Pathogenesis of widened QRS-T angle is complicated and is not well established. Objectives. The study is aimed at evaluating whether inflammation process can contribute to the wide QRS-T angle. Patients and Methods. The retrospective study was performed on 183 HD patients. The control group consisted of 38 patients. Demographic, biochemical, vectorcardiographic, and echocardiographic data were evaluated in all patients. Inflammation process was expressed as neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), as well as C-reactive protein (CRP). Results. Both NLR (3.40 vs. 1.95 (p<0.0001)) and spatial QRS-T angle (50.76 vs. 93.56 (p<0.001)) were higher in the examined group, compared to the control group. Similarly, CRP was higher in the examined group than in the control group (8.35 vs. 4.06 (p<0.001), respectively). The QRS-T angle correlated with NLR, CRP, some structural echocardiographic parameters, parathormone (PTH), and calcium (Ca) concentrations. Multiple regression analysis showed that NLR is an independent QRS-T angle predictor (r=0.498, p=0.0027). The ROC curve analysis indicated the cut-off point of NLR equaled 4.59, where the sensitivity and specificity were the highest for predicting myocardial inhomogeneities expressed as widened QRS-T angle. Conclusion. The NLR, as an inflammation marker, may indicate myocardial inhomogeneities in HD patients.
Towards a Severity Assessment Method for Potential Cyber Attacks to Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: He Qiyi , Meng Xiaolin , Qu Rong
Published: September 2020

CAV (connected and autonomous vehicle) is a crucial part of intelligent transportation systems. CAVs utilize both sensors and communication components to make driving decisions. A large number of companies, research organizations, and governments have researched extensively on the development of CAVs. The increasing number of autonomous and connected functions however means that CAVs are exposed to more cyber security vulnerabilities. Unlike computer cyber security attacks, cyber attacks to CAVs could lead to not only information leakage but also physical damage. According to the UK CAV Cyber Security Principles, preventing CAVs from cyber security attacks need to be considered at the beginning of CAV development. In this paper, a large set of potential cyber attacks are collected and investigated from the aspects of target assets, risks, and consequences. Severity of each type of attacks is then analysed based on clearly defined new set of criteria. The levels of severity for the attacks can be categorized as critical, important, moderate, and minor. Mitigation methods including prevention, reduction, transference, acceptance, and contingency are then suggested. It is found that remote control, fake vision on cameras, hidden objects to LiDAR and Radar, spoofing attack to GNSS, and fake identity in cloud authority are the most dangerous and of the highest vulnerabilities in CAV cyber security.
Performance Optimization of Microvalves Based on a Microhole Array for Microfluidic Chips
Authors: Sun Cuimin , You Hui , Xie Yang , Xu Ronald X.
Published: September 2020

A microfluidic chip with a microvalve based on a microhole array is proposed in this paper for the POCT of tumor marker proteins. In order to control the biochemical reaction time accurately and obtain a higher testing sensitivity, the parameters of the microhole array are optimized basing on the investigation of the effects of the variation of those parameters on the fluid rate and the residual liquid value in the microvalve region. By conducting liquid flow experiments using microvalves based on microhole arrays with varying microstructural parameters, the residual rate of reaction products is demonstrated to be proportional to the depth and diameter of the microholes and inversely proportional to the distance between the microhole centers. A comprehensive analysis indicates that a microhole depth of 95 μm, a microhole diameter of 230 μm, and a distance between microhole centers of 250 μm not only ensure a sufficiently long delay time, but also reduce the residual rate of reaction products, thereby providing an optimum microvalve performance that maximizes the detection efficiency and accuracy of microfluidic chips.
The Pathogenic and Therapeutic Potential of the Gaze of the Other in the Clinic of “Eating Disorders”
Authors: Esposito Cecilia Maria , Stanghellini Giovanni
Published: September 2020

Building on the optical-coenaesthetic disproportion model of so-called eating disorders, this paper provides a framework for the psychotherapy of people affected by these conditions. This model characterizes “eating disorders” as disorders of embodiment and identity, where a sense of unfamiliarity with one’s own flesh, experienced as shifting and incomprehensible, leads to an impairment in the constitution of the Self and thus of one’s own identity. Since there is a deficit of the coenaesthetic experience of the embodied Self, greater importance is assumed by body perception conveyed from without. To these persons, their corporeality is principally given as a body-object “to be seen” from a third-person perspective, rather than as a body-subject “to be felt” from a first-person perspective. The Other’s look serves as an optical prosthesis to cope with dis-coenaesthesia and as a device through which these persons can define themselves. They are unable to accept the hiatus between “being a body” and “having a body,” constitutively present in every human being, forcibly trying to recouple it, and finally ending up objectifying themselves to succeed. The external foundation of the Self thus takes the form of a constriction one can never be completely free of. Psychotherapy should thus accompany persons affected by eating disorders in their encounter with the miscarried dialectic between feeling oneself from within and seeing oneself from without through the gaze of the Other, so keenly feared by people desperately in search of self-control. Tactfully, the clinician accompanies the patient in taking a stance towards her symptom as the outcome of this miscarried dialectics, which is one premise for overcoming it. The clinician’s gaze becomes the herald of recognition, allowing the patient to feel accepted in terms of her individuality. Feeling themselves touched by a gaze that waives its alienating potential in order to signify acceptance reactivates the identity-forming dialectics. Their body is thus revealed as the receiver of gazes, but also rediscovers its own possibility for self-determination starting out from these gazes. This intersubjective resonance between the clinician’s gaze and the patient reactivates the identity-making dialectics between body-subject and body-object, creating the relational premises for overcoming the symptom.
Children’s Capacities and Role in Matters of Great Significance for Them
Authors: McEwan-Strand Amy , Skivenes Marit
Published: September 2020

How do decision-makers in the judiciary approach children’s capacities as set out in Article 5 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child? Children in public care who cannot be reunified with their birth parents may be adopted, but are children given agency in these cases that are highly important to the involved children? We examine all judgments on adoptions from care made in Norway in a six-year period (2011-2016) involving children aged 4-17 years old, a total of 169 judgments. These cases are decided after a two- to three-day hearing in the court-like County Board. The results of our analysis are discouraging because many children are absent in the decision-maker’s justification and conclusion about adoption. Young children do not have their capacity assessed, and older children’s capacity undergoes a shallow assessment at best, and typically only their opinion is mentioned. Age is commonly used as a proxy for competency and maturity, and the role children’s opinion plays in the cases as well as in the decision-making is unclear overall. Possible explanations for this situation may be lack of guidelines for how to give children agency, that decision-makers do not have sufficient competency in assessing children’s capabilities, and/or that decision-makers are not aware of their obligations or are not willing to give children agency.
On two new deep-water snapping shrimps from the Indo-West Pacific (Decapoda: Alpheidae: Alpheus)
Authors: ANKER ARTHUR
Published: September 2020

Two new deep-water species of the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 are described based on the material collected by the expeditions BIOPAPUA, BOA1 and MIRIKY, organised by the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris. Alpheus alaincrosnieri n. sp. from the A. brevirostris (Olivier, 1811) group is described based on material dredged at depths of 198–408 m near the coasts of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Madagascar. This species also occurs in the Philippines, based on morphological characters of a mutilated specimen from Masbate reported by Chace (1988). Alpheus alaincrosnieri n. sp. is unique within the A. brevirostris group, in having small orbital teeth. In most other features, A. alaincrosnieri n. sp. is morphologically closest to A. kagoshimanus Hayashi & Nagata, 2000, A. longipalma Komai & Ohtomi, 2018, A. macroskeles Alcock & Anderson, 1894, A. nonalter Kensley, 1969 and A. acutocarinatus De Man, 1909. Alpheus vanuatu n. sp. is described based on several specimens dredged at depths of 231–331 m off Espirito Santo, Vanuatu. This species most likely represents a deep-water member of the newly defined A. paracrinitus species group, sharing most morphological characters with A. tenuipes De Man, 1910 and A. labis Banner & Banner, 1982.
The idealization of ‘compassion’ in trainee nurses’ talk: A psychosocial focus group study
Authors: Dashtipour Parisa , Frost Nollaig , Traynor Michael
Published: September 2020

Why do nurses in training continue to draw on the ideal of compassion when responding to their experiences of nursing work in the UK National Health Service (NHS), despite the difficulties that they face in developing compassionate, long-term relationships with patients in practice? To answer this question, we draw from a psychosocial analysis of focus group data from 49 trainee nurses in the NHS. First, we show how this ideal leads them to blame qualified nurses for failures in patient care. We suggest this is an unconscious defence against the anxiety evoked both by the vulnerability of their position as those who need to gain access to the profession, and of being unable to conduct compassionate nursing work. Second, we emphasize that less powerful occupational groups, such as trainee nurses, may adopt defences that underpin dominant organizational policy, such as idealization, despite further disadvantaging their group and benefitting those in power. We conclude by questioning the particular emphasis on compassion in nurses’ training, which can prevent occupational solidarity and the ability to reflect on the structural and organizational factors required to conduct patient-centred nursing work.
3D Co-culture of Cancer-Associated Fibroblast with Oral Cancer Organoids
Authors: Zhao H. , Jiang E. , Shang Z.
Published: September 2020

Limits of the available model have, in the long term, challenged the studies of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their interplay with cancer stem cells, one of the key driving forces of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In the present study, the 3-dimensional organoid model was employed to investigate whether co-culture with paralleled CAFs promotes stem-like properties of OSCC. Experimentally, tumor organoids and paralleled CAFs were generated from patients with OSCC. Then, the CD44+ cells in organoids were sorted out by flow cytometry and co-cultured with CAFs in Matrigel. The results showed that co-culture with CAFs enhances the organoid-forming ability of CD44+ cells and that this effect was blocked when production or uptake of lactate in CAFs or CD44+ cells was inhibited. Furthermore, the expression levels of CD44 and OCT-4 were detected in organoids incubated with lactate, via immunofluorescence or Western blot assay. The results demonstrated that treatments with lactate promote the organoid-forming ability of CD44+ cells, as well as the expression of CD44 and OCT-4 at the protein level in OSCC organoids.
Application of a new one-dimensional deep convolutional neural network for intelligent fault diagnosis of rolling bearings
Authors: Xie Shenglong , Ren Guoying , Zhu Junjiang
Published: September 2020

As one of the key parts of rotary machine, the fault diagnosis and running condition monitoring of rolling bearings are of great importance for normal working and safe production of rotary machine. However, the traditional diagnosis approaches merely count on artificial feature extraction and domain expertise. Meanwhile, the existing convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have the problem of low fault recognition rates. This paper proposes a novel convolutional neural network with one-dimensional structure (ODCNN) for the automatical fault diagnosis of rolling bearings, which adopts six sets of convolutional and max-pooling layers to extract signal features and applies a flattening convolutional layer followed by two fully-connected layers for feature classification. The architectures of one-dimensional LeNet-5, AlexNet, and the proposed ODCNN are illustrated in detail, followed by the obtaining of training and testing samples, which is pre-processed by overlapping the vibration signals of rolling bearings. Finally, the classification experiment is carried out. The experimental results show that the ODCNN has higher fault diagnosis rates and can achieve high accuracy with load variant. Additionally, the extracted features of three CNNs are visualized, which illustrate that the new CNN has a better classification capacity.
Observational Study: Predictors of a Successful Functional Outcome in Persons Who Receive Physical Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Lieberz Dalerie , Regal Ronald , Conway Pat
Published: September 2020

A retrospective design was employed to determine what factors are predictive of achieving a successful outcome for individuals with knee osteoarthritis following an episode of physical therapy. Success was defined as achieving the minimum clinically important difference with the change in the lower extremity functional scale (LEFS). Receiving guideline adherent care was hypothesized to increase odds of success. Data for treatment interventions, health care utilization, patient characteristics, and LEFS scores were collected from electronic health records from 2014–2018 across 34 outpatient clinics. The sample (N = 706) was primarily female, White, and older adults. Receiving guideline adherent care did not predict odds of achieving success. Patient age, initial LEFS score, opioid prescription, number of visits, and Medicare/Medicaid insurance were predictive of the outcome. Increasing age after 65 years predicted decreased odds of success. Older adults showed improved odds with an opioid prescription and with increased number of visits from two through 18 therapy sessions. Opportunities exist for further health services research on optimal management of knee OA, including underutilization of physical therapy (only 6% in this study), measuring adherence to CPGs, determining recommended intensity for interventions, and the effects of non-physical therapy interventions such as opioid use on outcomes.
“A Blessing and a Curse” Couples Dealing with Ambivalence Concerning Grandparental Involvement During the Transition to Parenthood—A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Zartler Ulrike , Schmidt Eva-Maria , Schadler Cornelia , Rieder Irene , Richter Rudolf
Published: September 2020

This contribution provides an investigation of first-time parents’ experiences and strategies in dealing with ambivalence—i.e., the simultaneous presence of contradictory emotions—regarding grandparental involvement during the transition to parenthood. The study is based on qualitative longitudinal case studies comprising in-depth individual interviews with 11 Austrian couples of first-time mothers and fathers prebirth, and six months and two years after childbirth ( n = 66 interviews). Parents reported ambivalent feelings toward grandparental involvement during all stages of the transition process. We identified three parental strategies for dealing with ambivalence: inclusion, delimitation, and exclusion. Intracouple dynamics are shown to be the key aspect in the variation of these strategies over time. These dynamics are captured in three longitudinal patterns: parallel, divergent, and convergent paths. Overall, the study points to the complexity and fluidity of intergenerational relationships and demonstrates the challenges of negotiating ambivalence within couples and families during the transition to first-time parenthood.
PD-1 blockade in deficient mismatch repair mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach: new hope for an orphan disease
Authors: Riccò Beatrice , Salati Massimiliano , Reggiani Bonetti Luca , Dominici Massimo , Luppi Gabriele
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinoma (MANEC) is an uncommon and aggressive tumor arising throughout the entire gastrointestinal tract. Treatment options are limited, and survival is dismal with conventional therapies.

Case description:

We present the case of a 66-year-old man who was diagnosed with a locally advanced MANEC of the gastroesophageal junction. He was treated with perioperative chemotherapy and total gastrectomy. After anastomotic tumor recurrence was detected, he underwent three systemic regimens, including chemoradiotherapy. The patient was then tested for mismatch repair (MMR) protein status, revealing defective expression of MLH1 and PMS2 proteins. Treatment with anti–programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab was started and radiologic response is ongoing after 11 months. Clinical benefit was evident, and no immune therapy–related side effect was detected.

Conclusions:

To our knowledge, this is the first report of a heavily pretreated and rapidly progressing deficient MMR gastroesophageal MANEC experiencing a durable benefit from anti-PD1 treatment.
Recent developments in s-triazine holding phosphorus and nitrogen flame-retardant materials
Authors: Mishra Nikita , Vasava Dilip
Published: September 2020

Flame retardants are chemical compounds when mixed or incorporated in to polymers provide varying degrees of flammability protection. Flammable polymeric materials are ubiquitous with a wide array of applications. However, recent studies have shown potential environmental and health concerns with certain halogen-containing flame retardants. Thus, it has now become a necessity to explore new and effective materials that are safer and environmentally benign. In this context, halogen-free phosphorus- and nitrogen-containing flame retardants have attracted much attention worldwide. Moreover, s-triazine is the central focus because of its excellent charring effect. General strategies for synthesizing s-triazine compounds mostly via nucleophilic substitution reaction have been highlighted. This review provides a comprehensive description on design and synthesis of flame-retardant materials with significant flammability performance.
Can Neighborhood Planning in Shrinking Cities Achieve Demolition Goals? A Conformance and Performance Evaluation of Neighborhood Action Plans in Youngstown, Ohio
Authors: Gao Shuqi , Ryan Brent D.
Published: September 2020

We examine conformance and performance dimensions of demolition recommendations in seven “Neighborhood Action Plans” (NAPs) issued between 2015 and 2017 in the shrinking city of Youngstown, Ohio. We use geographic information systems (GIS) to compare plan-suggested and actual demolitions. We examine whether overall statistics are similar and who was responsible for demolition. We conduct interviews with informants to understand causality. We find that NAPs are better implemented from performance than from conformance perspectives, but that nongovernmental organization (Land Bank) demolitions conformed more closely than local government. Interviewees provided several causes: procedural differences, overlapping responsibilities, influence of political decision makers on plan implementation, and shifting NAP goals.
Hydrolytic degradation of star-shaped poly(ε-caprolactone)s with different number of arms and their cytotoxic effects
Authors: Ponjavic Marijana , Nikolic Marija S , Stevanovic Sanja , Nikodinovic-Runic Jasmina , Jeremic Sanja , Pavic Aleksandar , Djonlagic Jasna
Published: September 2020

Star-shaped polymers of biodegradable aliphatic polyester, poly( ε-caprolactone), PCL, with different number of arms (three, four, and six) were synthesized by ring-opening polymerization initiated by multifunctional alcohols used as cores. As potential biomaterials, synthesized star-shaped poly( ε-caprolactone)s, sPCL, were thoroughly characterized in terms of their degradation under different pH conditions and in respect to their cytotoxicity. The in vitro degradation was performed in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and hydrochloric acid solution (pH 1.0) over 5 weeks. Degradation of sPCL films was followed by the weight loss measurements, GPC, FTIR, and AFM analysis. While the most of the samples were stable against the abiotic hydrolysis at pH 7.4 after 5 weeks of degradation, degradation was significantly accelerated in the acidic medium. Degradation rate of polymer films was affected by the polymer architecture and molecular weight. The molecular weight profiles during the degradation revealed random chain scission of the ester bonds indicating bulk degradation mechanism of hydrolysis at pH 7.4, while acidic hydrolysis proceeded through the bulk degradation associated with surface erosion, confirmed by AFM. The in vitro toxicity tests, cytotoxicity applying normal human fibroblasts (MRC5) and embryotoxicity assessment (using zebra fish model, Danio rerio), suggested those polymeric materials as suitable for biomedical application.
Association of Teen Dating Aggression With Risk Behavior and Academic Adjustment
Authors: Datta Pooja , Cornell Dewey , Konold Tim
Published: September 2020

This study constructed a six-item Teen Dating Aggression (TDA) scale, investigated the prevalence of TDA in a statewide sample, and identified associations between TDA and high-risk behaviors and academic adjustment. Based on a review of literature, TDA included physical harm, threats to harm, verbal aggression, forced sexual contact, coercion to use alcohol or drugs, and harassment after the relationship ended. The sample consisted of 32,428 students (Grades 9–12) in 320 Virginia high schools who completed a statewide school climate survey. Participation rates were 99% for schools and 80.5% for students. Confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression analyses investigated the associations between TDA and high-risk behaviors and poor academic adjustment. School fixed-effects analyses accounted for school-level influences in student responses. Nearly four in 10 students (39%) reported experiencing at least one form of dating aggression in the past year. The 12,596 students who experienced TDA (40%) in the past year reported more marijuana use (26% vs. 13%), alcohol use (40% vs. 22%), fighting (13% vs. 5%), suicidal ideation (31% vs. 13%), and suicide attempts (17% vs. 5%), as well as lower school engagement, educational aspirations, and grades than 19,832 students who dated without TDA. The current study emphasized the need for dating aggression to be a focus of secondary school prevention programs due its associations with poorer academic performance, high-risk behavior with potentially serious mental health consequences. Accurate assessment of TDA can also guide the evaluation of intervention programs that target TDA.
Experimental investigation of linear low density polyethylene composites based on coir for rotational molding process
Authors: Gupta Nikita , Ramkumar PL.
Published: September 2020

Rotational Molding is a plastic manufacturing process mainly implemented to produce stress free hollow products. Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) is widely preferred as base resin for molding roto molded product, but it displays moderate value in some critical applications where strength is the major criteria. Additives can fill the gap in sustaining the necessary strength needed. In the present work, an attempt has been made to analyze the optimum percentage of coir reinforced with LLDPE for rotational molding technique to provide requisite processability for rotational molding process. Coir in its powder form is mixed at concentrations varying in the range of 3% to 20% with respect to LLDPE. In order to justify the prerequisite of processability for rotational molding, various experiments namely FTIR, MFI, rheology and thermal analysis were conducted. FTIR suggested the range of 5% to 15% wherein the significance of LLDPE and coir peaks can be observed. MFI test supported FTIR result which ended in considering 3% to 12% by weight ratio suitable in terms of flow ability. Rheological and thermal analysis subjecting to shear and heat parameter respectively, confirmed the range of 10 weight percentage of coir or below is suitable in terms of material processability. From the experimental results, it is concluded that 10% or less concentration of coir fiber in LLDPE as an optimum range of blend yielding better processability for rotational molding process.
Outcome of Corticosteroid Injections, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, and Radiofrequency Thermal Lesioning for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
Authors: Erden Tunay , Toker Berkin , Cengiz Omer , Ince Bugra , Asci Seyda , Toprak Ali
Published: September 2020

Background:

Chronic heel pain with plantar fasciitis is relatively common and can affect adults of all ages regardless of an active or sedentary lifestyle. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of corticosteroid injection (CSI), extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), and radiofrequency thermal lesioning (RTL) treatments in chronic plantar heel pain that has been unresponsive to other conservative treatments.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed the results of 217 patients treated with CSI ( n = 73), ESWT ( n = 75), and RTL ( n = 69). The treatment efficacy and pain intensity, as measured using the visual analog scale, were recorded and compared at the 6-month follow-up.

Results:

Pain intensity decreased significantly in all patients. However, it decreased significantly more in the CSI and RTL groups than in the ESWT group ( P < .001). Age, sex, body mass index, calcaneal spur presence, and symptom duration were similar among 3 groups ( P > .05). No complications were noted after the CSI, ESWT, or RTL sessions.

Conclusion:

CSI, ESWT, and RTL successfully treated chronic plantar heel pain that did not respond to other conservative treatments; however, CSI and RTL yielded better therapeutic outcomes.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative study.
Understanding Forgiveness After Leaving an Abusive Relationship: The Voices of Chinese Female Intimate Partner Violence Survivors
Authors: Wu Qinglu , Wang Ling , Choi Anna Wai-Man
Published: September 2020

Forgiveness is known to play an important role in recovery studies of female intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors. However, survivors’ understanding of forgiveness remains unclear. This study explored forgiveness through semi-structured interviews with 25 Chinese women. The results indicate that forgiveness is an unintended process that comprises the alleviation of a grudge held against former partners and a reframed understanding of them. It does not involve reconciliation. Moreover, establishment of clear boundaries is a precondition for forgiveness. The findings supplement knowledge on forgiveness and the importance of cognitive reframing, emotion regulation, and establishing clear boundaries in forgiveness and recovery.
Clinical perspective on pain in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Yilmazer Cigdem , Lamers Ilse , Solaro Claudio , Feys Peter
Published: September 2020

Pain is an important and frequent symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS), which leads to a low quality of life, increased disability level, and lack of employment and mental health. Recently, studies have shown increased interest in pain in MS and there is a growing evidence of its prevalence. However, the literature suffers from lack of experimental studies focusing on pain reduction. This topical review summarizes the current knowledge about pain in MS with its definitions, assessments, treatments and rehabilitation within a holistic perspective.
Gender discrimination and women’s HPA activation to psychosocial stress during the postnatal period
Authors: Volpe Vanessa V. , Dawson Danyelle N. , Laurent Heidemarie K.
Published: September 2020

Stress due to discrimination may contribute to physiological dysregulation and health risk during the postnatal period. This study examined longitudinal associations between gender discrimination and women’s cortisol responses to subsequent stress. Mothers ( N = 79) reported gender discrimination and completed mother-infant stress tasks with saliva sampling for cortisol at 6, 12, and 18 months postnatal. Multilevel modeling results indicated more overall gender discrimination was associated with higher cortisol. Changes in gender discrimination were not associated with cortisol over time. Gender discrimination may be a factor in women’s postnatal stress and associated health risk via the sensitization of physiological stress responses.
“A woman’s life is tension”: A gendered analysis of women’s distress in poor urban India
Authors: Atal Saloni , Foster Juliet
Published: September 2020

The mental health of women living in poverty is a growing public health concern, particularly in India where the burden of illness is compounded by critical shortages in mental health providers and fragmented services. This was an exploratory study which sought to examine low-income women’s perceptions of mental illness and its management in the context of urban poverty in India. This research was prompted by the lack of empirical studies documenting how women in marginalized sections of society understand mental illness. Data were collected through a combination of 10 focus group discussions and two individual interviews with a total of 63 women residing in low-income areas of Mumbai. Social representations theory was used to explore shared meanings of mental illness among women in this setting. Thematic analysis of the data showed that women use the expression “tension” to talk about mental illness. Tension was described both as an ordinary part of life and a condition having its origins in more profound gender-related stressors, particularly pressures surrounding motherhood, chronic poverty and domestic conflict. Approaches to managing tension were pluralistic and focused on the resumption of social roles. Findings are consistent with other studies in similar cultural contexts, suggesting a shared, transnational character to women’s distress and the need for scholarship on women’s mental health in low-income settings to be more attuned to gendered forms of marginalization.
Improving Lifelong Learning by Fostering Students’ Learning Strategies at University
Authors: Endres Tino , Leber Jasmin , Böttger Cornelius , Rovers Sane , Renkl Alexander
Published: September 2020

The foundation of how students usually learn is laid early in their academic lives. However, many or even most students do not primarily rely on those learning strategies that are most favorable from a scientific point of view. To change students’ learning behavior when they start their university education, we developed a computer-based adaptive learning environment to train favorable learning strategies and change students’ habits using them. This learning environment pursues three main goals: acquiring declarative and conditional knowledge about learning strategies, consolidating that knowledge, and applying these learning strategies in practice. In this report, we describe four experimental studies conducted to optimize this learning environment ( n = 336). With those studies, we improved the learning environment with respect to how motivating it is, investigated an efficient way to consolidate knowledge, and explored how to facilitate the formation of effective implementation intentions for applying learning strategies and changing learning habits. Our strategy-training module is implemented in the curriculum for freshman students at the Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg (Germany). Around 120 students take part in our program every year. An open version of this training intervention is freely available to everyone.
Study on bonding ability of melt-spun polypropylene/polyethylene blend fibers
Authors: Moradi Tomik , Esfahani Mirhadi Seyed , Ebrahimi Hamid , Khosroshahi Ali , Safapour Siyamak
Published: September 2020

This article investigates melt spinning of polypropylene (PP) with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) blend fibers at different compositions, as well as the effects of HDPE and LLDPE on the bonding ability of blend fibers in thermal bonding process at different temperatures have been studied. HDPE and LLDPE were added to PP at 3, 5, 7, and 10 wt% to measure the upper threshold of such blends. While HDPE was added up to 7 wt%, PP/LLDPE blend fibers were only spun up to 3 wt% of LLDPE. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that increasing both HDPE and LLDPE contents lead to higher crystallinity values due to polyethylenes nucleating effect on PP. By adding HDPE and LLDPE, the tensile strength of blend fibers before and after bonding was decreased drastically compared to pure PP fibers. On the other hand, the addition of HDPE to PP and increasing bonding temperature enhanced bonding strength.
Balancing Safety and Independence for People With Epilepsy Under Threat of SUDEP
Authors: Noe Katherine
Published: September 2020

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How Deep Learning Solved My Seizure Detection Problems
Authors: Antonoudiou Pantelis , Maguire Jamie L.
Published: September 2020

[Box: see text]
Hemorrhagic risk factors of endovascular onyx embolization of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas
Authors: Liu Peng , Chen Xiheng , You Wei , Li Youxiang , Lv Ming , Lv Xianli
Published: September 2020

Background and purpose

Hemorrhagic complication is a disastrous complication of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) embolization. This study was to analyze the possible risk factors for the hemorrhagic complication caused by endovascular embolization of DAVFs.

Methods

From January 2012 to July 2016, a total of 267 patients with intracranial DAVFs received endovascular Onyx embolization at our hospital. The demographic information, clinical presentation, angiographic features, endovascular treatment and hemorrhagic complications were reviewed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the risk factors contributing to the post-procedural hemorrhagic complications.

Results

In 267 patients of DAVF treated with endovascular embolization, procedure-related hemorrhagic complication occurred in 12 (4.5%) patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the pial arterial supplier (OR 13.630; 95% CI, 1.556–119.368; P = 0.018), giant venous aneurysm (OR 15.196; 95% CI, 2.505–92.183; P = 0.003) and Onyx volume ≥ 6 ml (OR 1.138; 95% CI, 1.006–1.288; P = 0.040) were significant factors associated with these hemorrhagic complications.

Conclusions

Hemorrhagic complications associated with endovascular DAVF embolization are not negligible. The pial arterial supplier, giant venous aneurysm and higher Onyx volume in one session may be risk factors for endovascular DAVF embolization.
Iterative Thematic Inquiry: A New Method for Analyzing Qualitative Data
Authors: Morgan David L. , Nica Andreea
Published: September 2020

Because themes play such a central role in the presentation of qualitative research results, we propose a new method, Iterative Thematic Inquiry (ITI), that is guided by the development of themes. We begin by describing how ITI uses pragmatism as a theoretical basis for linking beliefs, in the form of preconceptions, to actions, in the form of data collection and analysis. Next, we present the four basic phases that ITI relies on: assessing beliefs; building new beliefs through encounters with data; listing tentative themes; and, evaluating themes through coding. We also review several notable differences between ITI and existing methods for qualitative data analysis, such as thematic analysis, grounded theory, and qualitative content analysis. The use of ITI is then illustrated through its application in a study of exiters from fundamentalist religions. Overall, the two most notable features of ITI are that it begins the development of themes as early as possible, through an assessment of initial preconceptions, and that it relies on writing rather than coding, by using a continual revision of tentative results as the primary procedure for generating a final set of themes.
Sex differences in intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Voigt S , van Os HJA , van Walderveen MAA , van der Schaaf IC , Kappelle LJ , Broersen A , Velthuis BK , de Jong PA , Kockelkoren R , Kruyt ND , Algra A , Wermer MJH ,   on behalf of the DUST study group
Published: September 2020

Background and aim

To investigate sex differences with respect to presence and location of atherosclerosis in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Methods

Participants with acute ischemic stroke were included from the Dutch acute stroke trial, a large prospective multicenter cohort study performed between May 2009 and August 2013. All patients received computed tomography/computed tomography-angiography within 9 h of stroke onset. We assessed presence of atherosclerosis in the intra- and extracranial internal carotid and vertebrobasilar arteries. In addition, we determined the burden of intracranial atherosclerosis by quantifying internal carotid and vertebrobasilar artery calcifications, resulting in calcium volumes. Prevalence ratios between women and men were calculated with Poisson regression analysis and adjusted prevalence ratio for potential confounders (age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol use).

Results

We included 1397 patients with a mean age of 67 years, of whom 600 (43%) were women. Presence of atherosclerosis in intracranial vessel segments was found as frequently in women as in men (71% versus 72%, adjusted prevalence ratio 0.95; 95% CI 0.89–1.01). In addition, intracranial calcification volume did not differ between women and men in both intracranial internal carotid (large burden 35% versus 33%, adjusted prevalence ratio 0.93; 95% CI 0.73–1.19) and vertebrobasilar arteries (large burden 26% versus 40%, adjusted prevalence ratio 0.69; 95% CI 0.41–1.12). Extracranial atherosclerosis was less common in women than in men (74% versus 81%, adjusted prevalence ratio 0.86; 95% CI 0.81–0.92).

Conclusions

In patients with acute ischemic stroke the prevalence of intracranial atherosclerosis does not differ between women and men, while extracranial atherosclerosis is less often present in women compared with men.
Outcomes following acute poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid bleed – Is early definitive treatment better than delayed management?
Authors: Gittins Adam , Talbott Nick , Gilani Ahmed A , Packer Greg , Browne Richard , Mullhi Randeep , Khan Zaheed , Whitehouse T , Belli Antonio , Mehta Rajnikant L , Gao-Smith Fang , Veenith Tonny
Published: September 2020

Background/objective

Patients with poor-grade subarachnoid bleed (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies grades 4–5) often improve their neurocognitive function months after their ictus. However, it is essential to explore the timing of intervention and its impact on long-term outcome. We compared the long-term outcomes between immediate management within 24 h and delayed management after 24 h in patients following poor-grade subarachnoid bleed.

Methods

This was a retrospective population-based study, including patients with poor-grade subarachnoid bleed who received definitive management between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2016 in a large tertiary neurocritical care unit. The primary outcome was adjusted odds ratio of favourable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale 4–5) for survivors at 12 months following discharge, as measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale. The secondary outcomes included adjusted odds ratio of a favourable outcome at discharge, 3 months and 6 months following discharge and survival rate at 28 days, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months following haemorrhage.

Results

A total of 111 patients were included in this study: 53 (48%) received immediate management and 58 (52%) received delayed management. The mean time delay from referral to intervention was 14.9 ± 5.8 h in immediate management patients, compared to 79.6 ± 106.1 h in delayed management patients. At 12 months following discharge, the adjusted odds ratio for favourable outcome in immediate management versus delayed management patients was 0.96 (confidence interval (CI) = 0.17, 5.39; p = 0.961). At hospital discharge, 3 months and 6 months, the adjusted odds ratio for favourable outcome was 3.85 (CI = 1.38, 10.73; p = 0.010), 1.04 (CI = 0.22, 5.00; p = 0.956) and 0.98 (CI = 0.21, 4.58; p = 0.982), respectively. There were no differences in survival rate between the groups at 28 days, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months (71.7% in immediate management group vs. 82.8% in delayed management group at 12 months, p = 0.163).

Conclusions

Immediate management and delayed management after poor-grade subarachnoid bleed are associated with similar morbidity and mortality at 12 months. Therefore, delaying intervention in poor-grade patients may be a reasonable approach, especially if time is needed to plan the procedure or stabilise the patient adequately.
Immunotherapy in prostate cancer: current state and future perspectives
Authors: Handa Shivani , Hans Bandhul , Goel Shokhi , Bashorun Hafis O. , Dovey Zach , Tewari Ashutosh
Published: September 2020

Metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (PCa) remains an incurable entity. In the era of immunotherapy, the complex PCa microenvironment poses a unique challenge to the successful application of this class of agents. However, in the last decade, a tremendous effort has been made to explore this field of therapeutics. In this review, the physiology of the cancer immunity cycle is highlighted in the context of the prostate tumor microenvironment, and the current evidence for use of various classes of immunotherapy agents including vaccines (dendritic cell based, viral vector based and DNA/mRNA based), immune checkpoint inhibitors, Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, antibody-mediated radioimmunotherapy, antibody drug conjugates, and bispecific antibodies, is consolidated. Finally, the future directions for combinatorial approaches to combat PCa are discussed.
Lifestyle Enclaves in the Instagram City?
Authors: Boy John D. , Uitermark Justus
Published: September 2020

Commentators and scholars view both social media and cities as sites of fragmentation. Since both urban dwellers and social media users tend to form assortative social ties, so the reasoning goes, identity-based divisions are fortified and polarization is exacerbated in digital and urban spaces. Drawing on a dataset of 34.4 million interactions among Amsterdam Instagram users over half a year, this article seeks to gauge the level of fragmentation that occurs at the interface of digital and urban spaces. We find some evidence for fragmentation: users form clusters based on shared tastes and leisure activities, and these clusters are embedded in four distinct lifestyle zones at the interface of social media and the city. However, we also find connections that span divisions. Similarly, places that are tagged by Instagram users generally include a heterogeneity of clusters. While there is evidence that Instagram users sort into groups, there is no evidence that these groups are isolated from one another. In fact, our findings suggest that Instagram enables ties across different groups and mitigates against particularity and idiosyncrasy. These findings have important implications for how we should understand and study social media in the context of everyday life. Scholars should not only look for evidence of division through standard network analytic techniques like community detection, but also allow for countervailing tendencies.
Secondary osteoarthritis of the knee due to 40-year nonunion of a medial femoral condyle fracture: A case with good outcome without arthroplasty
Authors: Li Man Lung Moses , Chung Kwong-Yin , Cheung Kin-Wing , Tang Ning , Chiu Kwok-Hing
Published: September 2020

Isolated femoral condyle fracture is an uncommon entity. It accounts for only 0.65% of all femoral fractures, with lateral condyle involvement three times more frequently than the medial condyle. In neglected cases, nonunion and malalignment may occur, which results in osteoarthritis of the knee due to uneven distribution of load across respective compartments. In treating such cases, both osteoarthritis and nonunion have to be tackled to reconstruct a stable, mobile, pain-free, and well-aligned knee joint. There are a number of surgical options, including excision of the nonunion fragment, fixation of the nonunion fragment with or without bone graft, and total knee arthroplasty with or without stem extension. In the following, we present a case of 40-year non union of the lateral condyle and our rationale of management for a relatively young lady. During the course of treatment, there was an unexpected success even though arthroplasty was not performed. A management strategy for this challenging condition was also suggested.
Staying Informed and Bridging “Social Distance”: Smartphone News Use and Mobile Messaging Behaviors of Flemish Adults during the First Weeks of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ohme Jakob , Vanden Abeele Mariek M. P. , Van Gaeveren Kyle , Durnez Wouter , De Marez Lieven
Published: September 2020

The authors explore patterns of smartphone use during the first weeks following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Belgium, focusing on citizens’ use of smartphones to consume news and to communicate and interact with others. Unique smartphone tracking data from 2,778 Flemish adults reveal that at the height of the outbreak, people used their smartphone on average 45 minutes (28 percent) more than before the outbreak. The number of smartphone pickups remained fairly stable over this period. This means that on average, users did not turn to their smartphones more frequently but used them longer to access news (54 percent increase), social media apps (72 percent increase), messaging apps (64 percent increase), and the voice call feature (44 percent increase). These smartphone use patterns suggest that smartphones are key instruments that help citizens stay informed, in sync, and in touch with society during times of crisis.