bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suicide and Self-Harm in Children and Adolescents Admitted to PICUs in the United States
Authors: McCluskey Casey K. , Klein Margaret J. , Steward Sarah C. , Rotta Alexandre T.
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVES:

To characterize the epidemiology of children and adolescents admitted for deliberate self-harm to PICUs in the United States by examining patient demographics, diagnoses, modes of self-harm, and outcomes.

DESIGN:

Descriptive analysis of a large, multicenter, quality-controlled database.

SETTING:

The 137 PICUs participating in the Virtual Pediatric Systems database during the study period.

PATIENTS:

Children between 6 and 18 years old admitted to a participating PICU from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2017, with a diagnosis involving deliberate self-harm or a suicide attempt.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Of 9,197 admissions for self-harm, females accounted for 6,740 (73.3%), whereas males incurred 174 of the 284 deaths (61.3%). Admissions for self-harm doubled over the study period (0.56% in 2009 vs 1.13% in 2017), with an increase observed across every age group. After PICU care, most patients were transferred to a general care floor (51.1%) or to a psychiatric rehabilitation facility (31.8%). Intentional drug ingestion (84%) was the most common mode of self-harm but was associated with less than 1% of the fatalities. Asphyxia/hanging or firearms were a factor in 411 (4.5%) and 106 (1.2%) of the admissions but were associated with 117 (28.5%) and 55 (51.9%) of the deaths, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

PICU admissions due to self-harm increased for all age groups during the study period. Females accounted for most of these admissions, whereas males accrued most of the in-hospital deaths. Intentional drug ingestion was the most common mode of self-harm and was rarely fatal, whereas asphyxia and firearms were the mechanisms associated with the highest mortality.
Circulating Biomarkers in Glioblastoma
Authors: Mathios Dimitrios , Phallen Jillian
Published: September 2021

Liquid biopsy approaches for detection of circulating biomarkers of cancer have been utilized in oncology in many clinical settings from early detection to disease monitoring. Recent approaches have focused on circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, and circulating RNAs in a variety of biofluids. However, very little progress has been made in implementing such approaches for detection of brain tumors, despite the tremendous clinical need for earlier and less invasive diagnosis, as well as more accurate assessment of disease status. In this review, we highlight the recent methodological improvements in the field of liquid biopsy technologies specifically for glioblastoma. Although many retrospective and few prospective studies have been conducted to assess the utility of circulating biomarkers for detection of brain tumors, none have yet moved forward to clinical implementation.
Clinical Targeting of Altered Metabolism in High-Grade Glioma
Authors: Scott Andrew J. , Lyssiotis Costas A. , Wahl Daniel R.
Published: September 2021

High-grade gliomas are among the deadliest of all cancers despite standard treatments, and new therapeutic strategies are needed to improve patient outcome. Targeting the altered metabolic state of tumors with traditional chemotherapeutic agents has a history of success, and our increased understanding of cellular metabolism in the past 2 decades has reinvigorated the concept of novel metabolic therapies in brain tumors. Here we highlight metabolic alterations in advanced gliomas and their translation into clinical trials using both novel agents and already established drugs repurposed for cancer treatment in an effort to improve outcome for these deadly diseases.
Improving Pediatric Drug Safety in Prehospital Emergency Care—10 Years on
Authors: Kaufmann Jost , Uhl Stefanie , Singer Eva , Eifinger Frank , Klein Tobias , Lechleuthner Alex , Engelhardt Thomas , Wappler Frank , Böhmer Andreas
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The Pediatric Emergency Ruler (PaedER) is a height-based drug dose recommendation tool that was reported to reduce life-threatening medication errors by 90%. The PaedER was introduced into the Cologne Emergency Medical Service (EMS) in 2008 along with educational measures, publications, and lectures for pediatric drug safety. We reviewed the impact of these continuously ongoing measures on medication errors after 10 years.

Methods

The PaedER was introduced and distributed to all 14 emergency ambulances and 2 helicopters staffed with emergency physicians in the city of Cologne in November 2008. Electronic records and medical protocols of the Cologne EMS over two 20-month periods from March 2007 to October 2008 and March 2018 to October 2019 data sets were retrieved. The administered doses of either intravenous, intraosseous, intranasal, or buccal fentanyl, midazolam, ketamine, or epinephrine were recorded. Primary outcome measure was the rate of severe drug dosing errors with a deviation from the recommended dose of greater than 300%.

Results

A total of 59 and 443 drug administrations were analyzed for 2007/08 and 2018/19, respectively. The overall rate of drug dosing errors decreased from 22.0% to 9.9% (P = 0.014; relative risk reduction, 55%). Four of 5 severe dosing errors for epinephrine were avoided (P < 0.021; relative risk reduction, 78%). Documentation of patient’s weight increased from 3.2% in 2007/08 to 30.5% in 2018/19 (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The distribution of the PaedER combined by educational measures significantly reduced the rates of life-threatening medication errors in a large EMS. Those results should motivate further initiatives on pediatric drug safety in prehospital emergency care.
Association of the VACS Index With Hospitalization Among People With HIV in the NA-ACCORD
Authors: Qian Yuhang , Moore Richard D. , Coburn Sally B. , Davy-Mendez Thibaut , Akgün Kathleen M. , McGinnis Kathleen A. , Silverberg Michael J. , Colasanti Jonathan A. , Cachay Edward R. , Horberg Michael A. , Rabkin Charles S. , Jacobson Jeffrey M. , Gill M. John , Mayor Angel M. , Kirk Gregory D. , Gebo Kelly A. , Nijhawan Ank E. , Althoff Keri N.
Published: September 2021

Background:

People with HIV (PWH) have a higher hospitalization rate than the general population. The Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) Index at study entry well predicts hospitalization in PWH, but it is unknown if the time-updated parameter improves hospitalization prediction. We assessed the association of parameterizations of the VACS Index 2.0 with the 5-year risk of hospitalization.

Setting:

PWH ≥30 years old with at least 12 months of antiretroviral therapy (ART) use and contributing hospitalization data from 2000 to 2016 in North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design (NA-ACCORD) were included. Three parameterizations of the VACS Index 2.0 were assessed and categorized by quartile: (1) “baseline” measurement at study entry; (2) time-updated measurements; and (3) cumulative scores calculated using the trapezoidal rule.

Methods:

Discrete-time proportional hazard models estimated the crude and adjusted associations (and 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of the VACS Index parameterizations and all-cause hospitalizations. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) assessed the model fit with each of the VACS Index parameters.

Results:

Among 7289 patients, 1537 were hospitalized. Time-updated VACS Index fitted hospitalization best with a more distinct dose–response relationship [score <43: reference; score 43–55: aHR = 1.93 (95% CI: 1.66 to 2.23); score 55–68: aHR = 3.63 (95% CI: 3.12 to 4.23); score ≥68: aHR = 9.98 (95% CI: 8.52 to 11.69)] than study entry and cumulative VACS Index after adjusting for known risk factors.

Conclusions:

Time-updated VACS Index 2.0 had the strongest association with hospitalization and best fit to the data. Health care providers should consider using it when assessing hospitalization risk among PWH.
The Pandemic Brain: neuroinflammation in healthy, non-infected individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Brusaferri Ludovica , Alshelh Zeynab , Martins Daniel , Kim Minhae , Weerasekera Akila , Housman Hope , Morrisey Erin J. , Knight Paulina C. , Castro-Blanco Kelly A. , Albrecht Daniel S. , Tseng Chieh-En , Zürcher Nicole R. , Ratai Eva-Maria , Johnson-Akeju Oluwaseun , Mercaldo Nathaniel D. , Hadjikhani Nouchine , Veronese Mattia , Turkheimer Federico , Rosen Bruce R. , Hooker Jacob M. , Loggia Marco L.
Published: September 2021

Background

The impact of COVID-19 on human health extends beyond the morbidity and death toll directly caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In fact, accumulating evidence indicates a global increase in the incidence of fatigue, brain fog and depression, including among non-infected, since the pandemic onset. Motivated by previous evidence linking those symptoms to neuroimmune activation in other pathological contexts, we hypothesized that subjects examined after the enforcement of lockdown/stay-at-home measures would demonstrate increased neuroinflammation.

Methods

We performed simultaneous brain Positron Emission Tomography / Magnetic Resonance Imaging in healthy volunteers either before (n=57) or after (n=15) the 2020 Massachusetts lockdown, using [11C]PBR28, a radioligand for the glial marker 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO). First, we compared [11C]PBR28 signal across pre- and post-lockdown cohorts. Then, we evaluated the link between neuroinflammatory signals and scores on a questionnaire assessing mental and physical impacts of the pandemic. Further, we investigated multivariate associations between the spatial pattern of [11C]PBR28 post-lockdown changes and constitutive brain gene expression in post-mortem brains (Allen Human Brain Atlas). Finally, in a subset (n=13 pre-lockdown; n=11 post-lockdown), we also used magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantify brain (thalamic) levels of myoinositol (mIns), another neuroinflammatory marker.

Findings

Both [11C]PBR28 and mIns signals were overall stable pre-lockdown, but markedly elevated after lockdown, including within brain regions previously implicated in stress, depression and “sickness behaviors”. Moreover, amongst the post-lockdown cohort, subjects endorsing higher symptom burden showed higher [11C]PBR28 PET signal compared to those reporting little/no symptoms. Finally, the post-lockdown [11C]PBR28 signal changes were spatially aligned with the constitutive expression of several genes highly expressed in glial/immune cells and/or involved in neuroimmune signaling.

Interpretation

Our results suggest that pandemic-related stressors may have induced sterile neuroinflammation in healthy individuals that were not infected with SARS-CoV-2. This work highlights the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-related lifestyle disruptions on human brain health.

Funding

R01-NS094306-01A1, R01-NS095937-01A1, R01-DA047088-01, The Landreth Family Foundation.
Caspase-4/11 exacerbates disease severity in SARS-CoV-2 infection by promoting inflammation and thrombosis
Authors: Eltobgy Mostafa , Zani Ashley , Kenney Adam D. , Estfanous Shady , Kim Eunsoo , Badr Asmaa , Carafice Cierra , Daily Kylene , Whitham Owen , Pietrzak Maciej , Webb Amy , Kawahara Jeffrey , Eddy Adrian C. , Denz Parker , Lu Mijia , Mahesh KC , Peeples Mark E. , Li Jianrong , Zhu Jian , Que Jianwen , Robinson Richard , Mejia Oscar Rosas , Rayner Rachael E. , Hall-Stoodley Luanne , Seveau Stephanie , Gavrilin Mikhail A. , Tedeschi Andrea , Partida-Sanchez Santiago , Roberto Frank , Hemann Emily A. , Abdelrazik Eman , Forero Adriana , Nimjee Shahid M. , Boyaka Prosper , Cormet-Boyaka Estelle , Yount Jacob S. , Amer Amal O.
Published: September 2021

SARS-CoV-2 is a worldwide health concern, and new treatment strategies are needed1. Targeting inflammatory innate immunity pathways holds therapeutic promise, but effective molecular targets remain elusive. Here, we show that human caspase-4 (CASP4), and its mouse homologue, caspase-11 (CASP11), are upregulated in SARS-CoV-2 infections, and thatCASP4expression correlates with severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans. SARS-CoV-2-infectedCasp11-/-mice were protected from severe weight loss and lung pathology, including blood vessel damage, compared to wild-type (WT) and gasdermin-D knock out (Gsdmd-/-)mice. GSDMD is a downstream effector of CASP11 and CASP1. Notably, viral titers were similar in the three genotypes. Global transcriptomics of SARS-CoV-2-infected WT,Casp11-/-andGsdmd-/-lungs identified restrained expression of inflammatory molecules and altered neutrophil gene signatures inCasp11-/-mice. We confirmed that protein levels of inflammatory mediators IL-1β, IL6, and CXCL1, and neutrophil functions, were reduced inCasp11-/-lungs. Additionally,Casp11-/-lungs accumulated less von Willebrand factor, a marker for endothelial damage, but expressed more Kruppel-Like Factor 2, a transcription factor that maintains vascular integrity. Overall, our results demonstrate that CASP4/11, promotes detrimental SARS-CoV-2-associated inflammation and coagulopathy, largely independently of GSDMD, identifying CASP4/11 as a promising drug target for treatment and prevention of severe COVID-19.
Household Density and Influences from Family and Friends Shape Vaccine Intent Among Latino Families in the San Francisco Bay Area
Authors: Wojcicki Janet M , Escobar Milagro , Mendez Andrea DeCastro , Martinez Suzanna
Published: September 2021

Background

Latino have had higher case counts, hospitalization rates and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic nationally and in the state of California. Meanwhile, Latino vaccination rates remain lower than those of non-Hispanic Whites. COVID-19 vaccine nonintent, defined as intent not to vaccinate for COVID-19, among Latino individuals continues to be an issue in the state of California.

Methods

Families from three Latino longitudinal mother child cohorts previously recruited in the San Francisco Bay Area were surveyed telephonically from February to July 2021 to assess attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination and prior vaccination, in general, for themselves and their children. Risk for vaccine nonintent was assessed using Mann-Whitney rank sum non-parametric test for continuous predictors and chi-squared tests for categorical ones.

Results

Three hundred and eighteen families were surveyed from the Telomere at Birth (TAB), Hispanic Eating and Nutrition (HEN) and Latino Eating and Diabetes Cohort (LEAD). Approximately 36% from TAB and 28% from HEN/LEAD indicated COVID-19 vaccine nonintent for themselves and/or their children. Risk factors for vaccine nonintent included lower maternal age (p=0.01), concern about vaccine side effects (p<0.01) and prior history of a household members being infected with COVID-19 (p<0.01) and indexes of household crowding including number of people sharing a bathroom (p=0.048). Vaccine intent was also associated with receiving vaccine input from friends (p=0.03), family (p<0.01) and/or coworkers (p=0.02) compared with those who were not planning on getting COVID-19 vaccination. It is possible that those with non-intent have received limited input from families, friends and/or coworkers.

Discussion

Latino families living in crowded living situations who may not have received any COVID-19 advice family, coworkers or friends are at particular risk for COVID-19 vaccine nonintent. Community based grassroots interventions that focus on trusted individuals with close ties to the community counseling about COVID-19 vaccination could help to boost vaccination rates in this population group.
Racial and ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 mortality within Texas carceral settings
Authors: Marquez Neal , Moreno Destiny , Klonsky Amanda , Dolovich Sharon
Published: September 2021

Several analyses have highlighted racial and ethnic disparities related to COVID-19 health outcomes across the United States. Less focus has been placed on more localized contexts, such as carceral settings, where racial and ethnic inequities in COVID-19 health outcomes also exist, but the proximal drivers of inequality are different. In this study, we analyzed mortality rates among incarcerated people in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to assess racial and ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality. We obtained monthly demographic and mortality information of the TDCJ population from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2021 from TDCJ monthly reports and open record requests filed by the Texas Justice Initiative. We estimated the risk of COVID-19 mortality for the Hispanic and Black population relative to the White population using a Bayesian regression framework, adjusting for sex and age. In the first 12 months of the pandemic, Hispanic and Black all-cause mortality rates were higher than that of the White population, reversing the pattern observed the 12 months prior. Adjusted risk of COVID-19 mortality relative to the White population was 1.96 (CI 1.32–2.93) for the Hispanic population and 1.66 (CI 1.10–2.52) for the Black population. We find that COVID-19 mortality has disproportionately impacted Hispanic and Black individuals within the TDCJ population. As the proximal mechanisms which drive these inequalities are likely different than those which lead to racial inequalities in the non-incarcerated populations, future studies should look to assess and address the specific drivers of COVID-19 related disparities in carceral settings.
Rotating co-flow jets with horizontal lip and shape transition
Authors: S.A. Dawn Pradeeb , Thanigaiarasu Subramanian , Premanand Nagarajakrishnan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Control over large-scale coherent structures and stream-wise vortices lead to enhanced entrainment/conservation of the jet which is desirable for most free jet applications such as design of combustion chamber in jet engines and flame length elongation of welding torch used for metal cutting.

Design/methodology/approach

A co-flow nozzle with lip thickness of 2 mm, between the primary (inner) and secondary (outer) flow, is selected. Three nozzle combinations are used, i.e. C–C (circle–circle), C–E (circle–ellipse) and C–S (circle–square) for acquiring comparative data. For these nozzle combinations, inner nozzle exit plane is kept as a circle, whereas the outer nozzle exit planes are varied to circle, ellipse and square. The exit plane area of outer nozzle for the nozzle combinations has equivalent diameter, De. The nozzles are fabricated in a way that the outer nozzle can be rotated along the longitudinal axis, keeping the inner nozzle intact.

Findings

The C–C nozzle combination is effective in low Mach number regime in decaying the jet, when the rotational component is introduced. Around 30% reduction in the jet core length is observed for the C–C nozzle combinations without any lip. The C–E nozzle shows sedative result in decaying or preserving the jet. The C–S nozzle combination shows interesting phenomenon, whereby the low subsonic case tends to conserve the jet by 15% and the higher subsonic case tends to decay the jet by 10%.

Originality/value

The developed nozzle systems show both conservative and destructive effect on the jet, which is desirable for the mentioned applications.
Topological derivatives via one-sided derivative of parametrized minima and minimax
Authors: Delfour Michel C.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The object of the paper is to illustrate how to obtain the topological derivative as a semidifferential in a general and practical mathematical setting for d-dimensional perturbations of a bounded open domain in the n-dimensional Euclidean space.

Design/methodology/approach

The underlying methodology uses mathematical notions and powerful tools with ready to check assumptions and ready to use formulas via theorems on the one-sided derivative of parametrized minima and minimax.

Findings

The theory and the examples indicate that the methodology applies to a wide range of problems: (1) compliance and (2) state constrained objective functions where the coupled state/adjoint state equations appear without a posteriori substitution of the adjoint state.

Research limitations/implications

Direct approach that considerably simplifies the analysis and computations.

Originality/value

It was known that the shape derivative was a differential. But the topological derivative is only a semidifferential, that is, a one-sided directional derivative, which is not linear with respect to the direction, and the directions are d-dimensional bounded measures.
The current quality criteria of MRI reports distributed to healthcare stakeholders in Jordan
Authors: Ayasrah Mohammad
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Many international radiology societies, including American College of Radiologists (ACR), have established guidelines for optimum forms and contents of medical imaging reports to ensure high quality and to guarantee the satisfaction of both the referring physician and the patient. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the criteria of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports in Jordan according to the standards of the ACR.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was conducted in early January 2021 for two weeks. An invitation letter was sent to 85 MRI centers of various health-care sectors in Jordan to participate in the study. Each invitee was requested to send at least ten different MRI reports. The study used a questionnaire containing the checklist of the latest edition 2020 of ACR’s practice parameter to communicate the diagnostic imaging results and the demographic information of the participating MRI centers. Seven basic elements were assessed for content-related quality of MRI reports, which are administrative data, patient demographics, clinical history, imaging procedures, clinical symptoms, imaging observations and impressions. Statistical analyses were used to evaluate the data.

Findings

Forty-one MRI centers participated in the study with 386 different MRI exam reports. The majority (92%) of the reports were computer-generated. Free texted unstructured reports and head-structured reports had an almost equal percentage of around 40%. Exam and radiologist demography as well as exam findings criteria were 100% available in all reports. The percentage of exam conclusion, and exam description and techniques were 2% and 4.9%, respectively (N = 368). There was a positive association between computer-generated reports and the presence of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS)/health information systems r = 0.443.

Originality/value

Structured and free text unstructured reporting were the common types of MRI exam reports in Jordan. Handwriting exam reporting existed in few MRI centers, particularly in those that had no PACS and radiology information systems.
Expected competencies of construction project managers in Zimbabwe
Authors: Moyo Tirivavi , Chigara Benviolent
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Increased construction risk due to the complexity and numerous construction performance challenges requires improved construction project managers’ competence. However, contextual interrogation of these competencies is limited. This paper aims to report on a study that sought to determine the expected competencies of construction project managers and assesses the existence of statistically significant differences due to gender, designation and educational levels of respondents.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research design was instituted through the administration of a questionnaire survey on Project Managers, Architects, Engineers and Quantity surveyors working for consultants and contractors’ organizations. Descriptive and inferential statistics analysed significant differences due to demographic variables. Factor analysis was also used to reveal interrelated significant sets of competencies expected of construction project managers.

Findings

Factor analysis determined 11 significant components with the highest-ranked components comprising organizational savvy and experience in managing project constraints. The univariate analysis determining effective communication, leadership and good team-building skills as being the three most critical expected competencies. Significant differences due to educational levels were established, with shortcomings existing in those with Diplomas.

Research limitations/implications

The higher education institutions need to establish curricula designs that align with the competency expectations. Mentorship programmes within construction organizations can also be significant in bridging the existing competence gap. However, due to the exploratory nature of the study, the insights of clients were not considered.

Originality/value

The study determined competencies for construction project managers and demographic-specific interventions.
A review and compilation of critical success factors for the implementation of maintenance at Nigerian public universities
Authors: Yusuf Mahmood , Yusuf Mahmood , Abdullah Mohd Asmoni Mat Naim
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the existing literature on critical success factors (CSFs) for maintenance implementation in Nigerian universities and compile them in a single format to determine if gaps may exist.

Design/methodology/approach

Many relevant articles were searched using keywords extracted from a preliminary literature review. The second round of articles abstract study resulted in 40 articles been selected for this compilation. Inductive coding technique and content analysis methodology were used to identify the constructs of the CSFs. Subsequently, a critical analysis of the reviewed literature identified some gaps in the literature studied.

Findings

This literature review reveals that lack of maintenance policy, maintenance culture, shortage of building facilities and overpopulation in Nigerian universities are the major problems affecting maintenance implementation success. Additionally, most researchers concentrate on the identification of CSFs without providing the strategies for implementing them.

Research limitations/implications

More in-depth research must be carried out on the study of CSFs to implement maintenance policy and culture in Nigerian universities. Duplication in the frequency analysis of the success factors is a significant limitation in this research work and is attributed to the secondary search used as the primary methodology for many articles cited.

Originality/value

This paper provides an in-depth compilation and analysis of all previously identified success factors for maintenance implementation in Nigerian universities using a structured methodological approach.
Compromise pricing in luxury
Authors: Parguel Béatrice , Fraccaro Annalisa , Macé Sandrine
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Going beyond odd and even prices, this paper aims to explore the rationale behind the widespread practice of setting prices ending in “50” or “80” in the luxury industry. The authors argue that when they set such prices, managers agree to reduce their profit margin to limit the anticipated guilt luxury consumers associate with luxury shopping while also protecting their brand luxury. The authors label these prices compromise prices and formally define compromise pricing as the practice of choosing a price’s ending so that the price falls below (but not just below) a round number to boost sales without damaging brand luxury.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the observation of the overrepresentation of prices ending in “50” and “80” in the luxury clothing category, an experiment explores the impact of compromise prices on anticipated guilt and brand luxury in the luxury watch category. Then, to identify when luxury pricing managers typically favor compromise prices, multinomial regressions investigate prices collected on two online luxury fashion retailers for the luxury clothing and handbag categories.

Findings

Compromise prices reduce the anticipated guilt luxury consumers associate with luxury shopping compared with even prices while enhancing brand luxury compared with odd prices and interestingly, with even prices also. This finding gives rationale to luxury managers’ preference for compromise prices in the ninth hundred (i.e. €X950, €X980), especially for higher-priced products, i.e. when the potential for price underestimation and/or the risk of damaging brand luxury are more important.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the field of luxury pricing by providing evidence to an original price-ending practice, coined compromise pricing, which consists in agreeing to a slight reduction in prices and unit margin to protect brand luxury.
Evaluating the benefits of inclusive community singing towards well-being: narratives of diverse community members attending an inclusive singing group
Authors: Nyashanu Mathew , Pfende Farai , Osborne John
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the benefits of an inclusive community singing group towards well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used an exploratory qualitative study (EQS) approach. Semi-structured questions were devised and used to elicit participants’ experiences on the impact of an inclusive community singing group towards well-being. A thematic approach underpinned by the four phases of The Silences Framework was used to analyse the data.

Findings

This study found the following benefits of an inclusive community singing group towards well-being Connecting with others, Physical improvement, Learning new skills, Giving to others and Mindfulness.

Originality/value

This study concluded that inclusive community singing plays a pivotal role in enhancing the health and well-being of communities.
A study of interdisciplinary accounting research: analysing the diversity of cited references
Authors: Xu Lina , Dellaportas Steven , Wang Jin
Published: September 2021

This study investigates the degree of disciplinary diversity among the reference lists of articles published between 1990 and 2019 in three leading interdisciplinary accounting research journals. The results reveal that the cited references are not a homogeneous field but based on a diverse set of disciplines consisting mostly of business, sociology, economics and psychology. Further analysis of a subset of the data finds that the level of citations is negatively associated with measures of diversity, suggesting that scholars are active in widening the spread of cited disciplines but are not rewarded in terms of citations.
Malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos disease)
Authors: Xu Qiuyun , Lin Mengting , Zhang Liangliang , Chen Suni , Gong Ting , Cheng Bo , Ji Chao
Published: September 2021

Malignant atrophic papulosis (Degos disease) is a rare syndrome of multiple‐system vascular diseases with unknown etiology. It can affect the skin, gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. Here, we report a 58‐year‐old woman with extensive porcelain‐white atrophic papules. Based on the clinical manifestations, skin biopsy and colonoscopy, a diagnosis of malignant atrophic papulosis was confirmed.
Adherence to suggestions after dermatology consultation in a tertiary hospital – a retrospective analysis
Authors: Joseph Joseph , Truong Kelvin , Smith Annika , Fernandez‐Penas Pablo
Published: September 2021

Dermatology consultation is a valuable inpatient service in Australian hospitals. Adherence rates to consultative advice in international literature range between 67.4% and 93%. This study identifies that adherence rates to suggested investigations and management in a tertiary Australian hospital are at the lower end of the range reported in previous literature.
Late Development of Early Visual Perception: No Topology‐Priority in Peripheral Vision Until Age 10
Authors: Tang Hongsi , Song Rujiao , Hu Yueyan , Tian Yixin , Lu Zhonghua , Chen Lin , Huang Yan
Published: September 2021

Topological property (TP) is a basic geometric attribute of objects, which is preserved over continuous and one‐to‐one transformations and considered to be processed in early vision. This study investigated the global TP perception of 773 children aged 6–14, as compared to 179 adults. The results revealed that adults and children aged 10 or over show a TP priority trend in both central and peripheral vision, that is, less time is required to discriminate TP differences than non‐TP differences. Children aged 6–8 show a TP priority trend for central stimuli, but not in their peripheral vision. The TP priority effect in peripheral vision does not emerge until age ˜10 years, and the development of central and peripheral vision seems to be different.
Risedronate use to attenuate bone loss following sleeve gastrectomy: Results from a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Beavers Kristen M. , Beavers Daniel P. , Fernandez Adolfo Z. , Greene Katelyn A. , Swafford Ashlyn A. , Weaver Ashley A. , Wherry Sarah J. , Ard Jamy D.
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of 150 mg once monthly oral risedronate use in the prevention of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) associated bone loss. Twenty‐four SG patients (56 ± 7 years, 83% female, 21% black) were randomized to risedronate or placebo for 6 months, with an optional 12‐month assessment. Outcome measures included 6 (n = 21) and 12 (n = 14) month change in dual energy x‐ray absorptiometry‐acquired regional areal bone mineral density (aBMD). Six‐month treatment effect estimates [mean (95% CI)] revealed significant between group aBMD differences at the femoral neck [risedronate: +0.013 g/cm2 (−0.021, 0.046) vs. placebo: −0.041 g/cm2 (−0.067, −0.015)] and lumbar spine [risedronate: +0.028 g/cm2 (−0.006, 0.063) vs. placebo: −0.029 g/cm2 (−0.054, −0.004)]; both p ≤ 0.02. When followed postoperatively to 12 months, differential aBMD treatment effects were observed at the total hip [risedronate: −0.035 g/cm2 (−0.061, −0.009) vs. placebo: −0.072 g/cm2 (−0.091, −0.052)] and lumbar spine [risedronate: +0.012 g/cm2 (−0.038, 0.063) vs. placebo: −0.052 g/cm2 (−0.087, −0.017)]; both p < 0.05. Preliminary treatment effect estimates signal 6 months of risedronate use may be efficacious in reducing aBMD loss at the axial skeleton post‐SG, with benefit largely maintained throughout the 1‐year postoperative period. Confirmatory data from an adequately powered trial are needed.
D‐mannose alleviates osteoarthritis progression by inhibiting chondrocyte ferroptosis in a HIF‐2α‐dependent manner
Authors: Zhou Xueman , Zheng Yingcheng , Sun Wentian , Zhang Zhenzhen , Liu Jiaqi , Yang Wenke , Yuan Wenxiu , Yi Yating , Wang Jun , Liu Jin
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Chondrocyte ferroptosis contributes to osteoarthritis (OA) progression, and D‐mannose shows therapeutic value in many inflammatory conditions. Here, we investigated whether D‐mannose interferes in chondrocyte ferroptotic cell death during osteoarthritic cartilage degeneration.

Materials and methods

In vivo anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)‐induced OA mouse model and an in vitro study of chondrocytes in an OA microenvironment induced by interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) exposure were employed. Combined with Epas1 gene gain‐ and loss‐of‐function, histology, immunofluorescence, quantitative RT‐PCR, Western blot, cell viability and flow cytometry experiments were performed to evaluate the chondroprotective effects of D‐mannose in OA progression and the role of hypoxia‐inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF‐2 α) in D‐mannose‐induced ferroptosis resistance of chondrocytes.

Results

D‐mannose exerted a chondroprotective effect by attenuating the sensitivity of chondrocytes to ferroptosis and alleviated OA progression. HIF‐2α was identified as a central mediator in D‐mannose‐induced ferroptosis resistance of chondrocytes. Furthermore, overexpression of HIF‐2α in chondrocytes by Ad‐Epas1 intra‐articular injection abolished the chondroprotective effect of D‐mannose during OA progression and eliminated the role of D‐mannose as a ferroptosis suppressor.

Conclusions

D‐mannose alleviates osteoarthritis progression by suppressing HIF‐2α‐mediated chondrocyte sensitivity to ferroptosis, indicating D‐mannose to be a potential therapeutic strategy for ferroptosis‐related diseases.
Difficult to digest: Takeovers of distressed banks in Vietnam
Authors: Phung Giang , Troege Michael
Published: September 2021

Government‐induced or voluntary takeovers are frequently used as an indirect way to bail out distressed banks. In this paper, we analyse the impact of acquisitions on banking performance in Vietnam. To demonstrate that the acquirer is not simply inheriting the properties of the underperforming targets, we compare the performance of the merged bank to the pro forma consolidated performance of the acquirer and the target before the merger. We show that takeovers during and after the financial crisis substantially weaken profitability and liquidity and that this negative effect persists for a period of at least 6 years. These findings show that shareholders should be wary of acquisitions and suggest that stabilizing banks through mergers may have detrimental indirect long‐term consequences on the efficiency of financial systems and ultimately economic growth.
Prevalence of non‐adherence and non‐compliance during maintenance therapy in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and their associations with survival
Authors: Kristjánsdóttir Elsa Rán , Toksvang Linea Natalie , Schmiegelow Kjeld , Rank Cecilie Utke
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Explore patient adherence and physician compliance to protocol guidelines during maintenance therapy, including the association with survival in adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods

Blood counts, aminotransferase levels and prescribed 6‐mercaptopurine (6MP)/methotrexate (MTX) doses were compared with the protocol guidelines to assess compliance. Non‐adherence to the prescribed medication was confirmed in patients with unmeasurable 6MP metabolite levels and suspected in patients with low 6MP metabolites concurrent with aminotransferase and white blood cell count within normal ranges, while potential intermittent non‐adherence was defined by >1.9 fold fluctuating 6MP metabolites.

Results

Physicians’ non‐compliance with insufficient dose increments of 6MP/MTX despite white blood cell counts above the target level comprised a median of 20.1% (interquartile range 9.7‐39.3%) of the observed time in maintenance therapy, yet no association to relapse was found (P = .17). Non‐adherence to 6MP was confirmed in 9.8% (5 of 51 patients), suspected in an additional 9.8% (5 of 51 patients), and intermittent non‐adherence was suspected in 52.6% (20 of 38 patients).

Conclusion

Although no association between non‐compliance and leukemic relapse was found, likely due to lack of power, increased attention to this phase of ALL therapy is indicated.
New records of scale insects and mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha) in Kenya
Authors: Macharia Isaac , Kibwage Pamela , Heya Helen M. , Makathima Fredrick , Olubayo Dorothy , Guantai Mary , Kinuthia Wanja , Ouvrard David , Watson Gillian W.
Published: September 2021

Seventeen scale insect and mealybug species (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha) are recorded from Kenya for the first time. Specimens were collected during surveys in 2017‒2020 and the new records comprised Coccidae: the species group of Ceroplastes rusci (L.) and Protopulvinaria pyriformis (Cockerell); Diaspididae: Africonidia mkuzensis Ben‐Dov, Aonidiella rex Balachowsky, Aspidiella sacchari (Cockerell), Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi, Cryptoparlatoreopsis ?meccae Hall, Fiorinia fioriniae (Targioni Tozzetti), Lepidosaphes tokionis (Kuwana), Oceanaspidiotus spinosus (Comstock), Parlatoria proteus (Curtis), Pinnaspis aspidistrae (Signoret) and Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni Tozzetti); and Pseudococcidae: Chaetococcus bambusae (Maskell), Phenacoccus parvus Morrison, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green and Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley. Information is also provided on the Diaspididae: Parlatoria pergandii Comstock and Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) following the first report of these 2 species published earlier this year. Some of the above species were damaging crops.
Parenting perceptions and stress at treatment intake among families of children with autism
Authors: Mire Sarah S. , Benoit Julia S. , Fritz Jennifer N. , Racine Madeline D. , Fein Rachel H. , Raff Natalie S. , Rosenbrock Georgina , Dawson Kyle
Published: September 2021

Objective

To identify caregiver cognitions and perceptions that may contribute to parenting stress among families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who receive treatment for severe behaviors.

Background

Caregivers of children with ASD and comorbid problem behaviors often report significantly elevated stress, but contributors to this phenomenon are not well understood. Caregiver cognitions and perceptions potentially explain such high stress and, therefore, may represent a malleable intervention point that could positively affect treatment outcomes and whole family well‐being.

Method

Caregivers seeking function‐based treatment for their children at a community‐accessible clinic (n = 29) completed standardized measures of parenting stress and of perceptions about ASD and about child behavior severity.

Results

Parenting stress measured at intake did not differ between the Elevated and Within Normal Limits groups in terms of child or caregiver demographics, such as household income or ethnicity. However, caregiver negative feelings associated with an ASD diagnosis were significantly higher in the Elevated group, and caregivers in the Elevated group perceived their children's behaviors as more severe, even though all children were being treated for severe behavior problems.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that a key differentiator between parents who report elevated self‐reported stress at intake and those who do not are caregivers’ cognitive representations of their child's diagnosis and behavioral severity.

Implications

Aligned with psychological constructivism, understanding the role of caregivers’ perceptions among ASD‐affected families may aid in better tailoring interventions, which ultimately may improve treatment retention and enhance treatment outcomes.
Post‐disturbance canopy recovery and the resilience of Europe’s forests
Authors: Senf Cornelius , Seidl Rupert
Published: September 2021

Aim

Forest ecosystems around the globe are facing increasing natural and human disturbances. Increasing disturbances can challenge forest resilience, that is, the capacity of forests to sustain their functions and services in the face of disturbance. Quantifying resilience across large spatial extents remains challenging, as it requires the assessment of the ability of forests to recover from disturbance. Here we analysed the resilience of Europe’s forests by means of satellite‐based recovery and disturbance indicators.

Location

Continental Europe (35 countries).

Time period

1986–2018.

Major taxa studied

Gymnosperm and angiosperm woody plant species.

Methods

We used a comprehensive set of manually interpreted reference plots and random forest regression to model annual canopy cover from remote sensing data across more than 30 million disturbance patches in Europe over the time period 1986–2018. From annual time series of canopy cover, we estimated the time it takes disturbed areas to recover to pre‐disturbance canopy cover levels using space‐for‐time substitution. We quantified forest resilience as the ratio between canopy disturbance and recovery intervals, with critical resilience defined as forest areas where canopy disturbances occurred faster than canopy recovery.

Results

On average across Europe, forests recover to pre‐disturbance canopy cover within 30 years. The resilience of Europe’s forests to disturbance is high, with recovery being > 10 times faster than disturbance on 69% of the forest area. However, 14% of Europe’s forests had low or critical resilience, with disturbances occurring as fast or faster than forest canopy can recover.

Main conclusions

We conclude that Europe’s forests are widely resilient to past disturbance regimes, yet changing climate and disturbance regimes could erode resilience.
Estimating HLA haplotype frequencies from homozygous individuals – A Technical Report
Authors: Seitz Susanne , Lange Vinzenz , Norman Paul J. , Sauter Jürgen , Schmidt Alexander H.
Published: September 2021

We estimated HLA haplotype frequencies based on individuals homozygous for 4, 5 or 6 loci. Validation of our approach using a sample of over 3.4 million German individuals was successful. Compared to an expectation‐maximization algorithm, the errors were larger. However, our approach allows the unequivocal detection of rare haplotypes.
The effect of progressive muscle relaxation on sleep quality and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kılıç Nermin , Parlar Kılıç Serap
Published: September 2021

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of progressive muscle relaxation on sleep quality and fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods

This randomized controlled study was conducted with 72 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who applied to the rheumatology outpatient clinic of a university hospital between January and May 2018. The data were collected using the Patient Information Form, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Fatigue Severity Scale. After the patients in the intervention group completed the forms, patients were given training with regard to the application of progressive muscle relaxation which they subsequently performed, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Fatigue Severity Scale forms were repeated after 6 weeks.

Results

After performing progressive muscle relaxation for 6 weeks, the total score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the fatigue score decreased among patients in the intervention group; no change was observed among the patients in the control group. A statistical difference was found between the two groups in terms of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index's and Fatigue Severity Scale's mean scores.

Conclusion

Progressive muscle relaxation can be recommended to enhanced sleep quality and reduce fatigue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Two Problems of Moral Luck for Brain‐Computer Interfaces
Authors: Miller Daniel J.
Published: September 2021

Brain‐computer interfaces (BCIs) are devices primarily intended to allow agents to move prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, and other mechanisms by forming intentions or performing certain mental actions. In this article, I illustrate how the use of BCIs leads to two unique and unrecognised problems of moral luck. In short, it seems that agents who depend upon BCIs for bodily movement or the use of other mechanisms (henceforth ‘BCI agents’) may end up deserving of blame and legal punishment more so than standard counterparts simply due to factors beyond their control. My aim is to explore whether we can avoid the implication that BCI agents are subject to these unique sources of moral luck. In doing, so I offer a number of possible solutions and then defend one of these solutions as the best. As it turns out, the solution I defend addresses both problems of moral luck at once and has broader implications for theorising about moral luck as well as the epistemic condition on moral responsibility.