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AbstractFor nearly a century, electroencephalography (EEG) research has been a crucial tool in the study of brain activity, and this valuable research technique is becoming increasingly accessible due to recent advancements in technology. In this article, we report on a collaborative effort between cognitive neuroscientists and human–computer interaction (HCI) researchers to design, develop, and evaluate Sans Tracas – a cross-platform web application for running EEG experiments online. Using a multidisciplinary and user-centric iterative design approach, Sans Tracas was designed to be easy to use by researchers and study participants alike. To evaluate the feasibility of Sans Tracas for conducting online EEG experiments for people with varying EEG and Brain Computer Interface (BCI) knowledge, we conducted a study with 55 participants, followed by a semi-structured interview with 11 participants to uncover more qualitative insights into the usability and people’s perception of the platform. Results showed that the average number of trials to connect the Muse with Sans Tracas was 2.55 (SD = 3.42). The average time to complete the entire study was 17 minutes (SD = 4 minutes). Participants also found Sans Tracas fun to participate in EEG experiments independently and reported more interest in EEG and BCI research than before the study. We conclude that Sans Tracas is a usable platform for conducting online EEG studies and offers an alternative to traditional in-lab settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The daily reminders of life's fragility can lead to moral, emotional, and psychological distress. Establishing clear boundaries between work and non-work environments is a suggested approach to mitigate these adverse effects. Drawing on van Gennep's work on rites of passage, this paper explores the rituals and strategies employed by professionals dedicated to the dying/deceased to transition between their work and home environments. Through a qualitative interpretive phenomenological analysis of 23 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Israeli hospice social workers and undertakers, two main strategies emerged as "rites of passage": Physical Purification and Escapism. However, participants noted that these rituals were not always foolproof, with instances of "leakage" where elements from the realm of death and dying carried over into their personal lives. The study suggests that engaging in idiosyncratic rituals plays a crucial role in facilitating the reintegration of professionals involved in the care of the dead and dying, offering a means of expressing and containing challenging emotions and providing structure during the transitional phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the interrelations between advice seeking and the role of mentors in triggering entrepreneurial role identity and business-model change. Entrepreneurs' advice-seeking antecedents were found to be associated with entrepreneur-mentor fit at the individual and organizational levels. Entrepreneurs manifested four different types of advice-seeking behaviors, termed emotional-and-psychological-based advice seeking, experience-based advice seeking, reflexive-based advice seeking and self-sufficient advice seeking. Experience-based advice seeking and emotional-and-psychological-based advice seeking were associated with mentors' influence on entrepreneurial role identity and business-model change. Entrepreneurs characterized by emotiona-and-psychological-based advice seeking aimed to make more-independent decisions. Reflexive-based advice seeking was associated with mentors' triggering changes in the business model; whereas, entrepreneurs classified as self-sufficient sought out little mentorship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique voice of long-term bereaved siblings has been almost completely ignored in the literature. Using 14 semi-structured in-depth interviews, we examine the perspectives of Israeli siblings on their relationship with their bereaved parents. All informants experienced the sudden death of a brother during his army service and, as a result of the loss, became only children. The findings emphasise the complexity of these relationships, which were characterised by the participants’ experience of lack of recognition and subjective presence on the one hand and the heavy responsibility they feel for their parents on the other. These relational components are evident throughout the bereavement years – regardless of the gender or age of the sibling at the time of death – and were echoed in the social messages bereaved siblings received following the loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder associated with reduced quality of life and psychological distress (PD) including anxiety and depression. The mechanisms linking IBS to PD are unclear. Previous studies showed that body image and self-criticism may be contributory factors. Thus, the objective of this study was to test the potential mediating roles of these factors in the relationship between IBS and PD. Method: 507 adults participated, including 142 with IBS (Mean age = 31.9, SD = 11.7), and 365 healthy peers (Mean age = 26.2, SD = 6.4), ranging in age from 18 to 75. The majority of participants were women (78%). Self-report measures assessed IBS status, body appreciation, body dissatisfaction, self-criticism, sociodemographic status, depression, and anxiety. Path analysis tested the hypothesized mediation model. Results: IBS participants reported greater PD, lower body appreciation, higher body dissatisfaction, and higher self-criticism than controls. Body appreciation and self-criticism sequentially mediated the link between IBS status and both depression and anxiety. IBS was associated with reduced body appreciation, which in turn was linked to heightened self-criticism, thereby leading to elevated psychological distress. Conclusion: Results suggest IBS negatively impacts body image appreciation, fostering self-critical judgments that exacerbate psychological symptoms. This study is the first to demonstrate a significant association between body appreciation and IBS, specifically highlighting this relationship. Findings clarify the psychosocial pathways at play in the comorbidity of mental health issues in IBS. Physicians and other health professionals are advised to detect women with IBS who are distressed, and to offer them appropriate intervention to prevent downstream consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study is a qualitative analysis of 14 interviews with specialists in maternal-fetal medicine in Israel who implement feticide by injection at a late stage of pregnancy. The goal of this study was to reach an interpretive understanding of the physicians’ experience. The study focuses on five major themes: (1) involvement in the decision-making process; (2) emotional control and medical expertise; (3) perception of feticide as dirty work; (4) strategies to minimize the procedure’s inherent difficulty; and (5) the social and medical context of silence and silencing. The revealed themes capture the timeline of the procedure and address the individual, dyadic, and medical and social contexts in which feticide is carried out – all of which construct the physician’s experience. The concept of moral uncertainty is useful in conceptualizing the physicians’ experience, allowing researcher to draw policy and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique perspective of children communicating about the loss of a parent has rarely been studied. In this qualitative research, we interviewed 12 children aged 7–12 and asked them about their experience communicating their loss. The children's verbal and non-verbal communication was characterized by constant movements away from and closer to various aspects of their loss, illustrated by three main themes: (a) children either talking about the loss or not talking about it; (b) first talking about the loss and then stopping to talk about it; and (c) simultaneously talking and not talking about the loss. Based on Stern's interpersonal relational thinking, our findings indicate that children wish to talk about the loss but also to avoid talking about it. The possibility of choosing to talk and not to talk with themselves and close individuals about the loss allows children to think about and articulate their feelings and thoughts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Losing a spouse is a traumatic experience, especially at a younger age. This experience is arguably more intense and complex if the woman becomes a widow while pregnant. In the current study, we examined the strategies Israeli women who became widows while pregnant utilized to reconcile life and death. Twelve adult women who became widows while pregnant participated in this study, which involved in-depth semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis of the interview content revealed four main strategies utilized to reconcile their simultaneous paradoxical experience of both life and death: Passiveness – focusing on neither life nor death; Segregation – focusing on either life or death; Continuum – perceiving life and death are the same; and Integration – coming to terms with both life and death. The women commonly utilized multiple strategies while navigating this paradox, with most participants using all four at some point during their attempted reconciliation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A parent's death shakes the child's world and unbalances the family structure. School can be a source of support, yet there is scarce research on the experience of bereaved children in school a few years after the loss and from their own perspective. In this qualitative-phenomenological study we set out to identify the subjective experience of parentally bereaved children and adolescents in school, at least one year after the death. Twenty parentally bereaved children and adolescents were interviewed. Findings indicated that most felt they were regarded differently by staff at school. For some, this felt right, while others were uncomfortable. Most needed consideration and flexibility and wished the staff would discuss their needs with them. We conclude that it is important to directly inquire about and address each student's needs. School personnel should be better informed about how to deal with students' loss to help them in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent decades have witnessed numerous headline stories about white-collar crimes. These crimes, causing considerable harm to organizations, individuals, and society, warrant closer study. This article describes financial white-collar offenders mostly from a medium or high socioeconomic background who abuse their positions. It presents theoretical explanations for white-collar offending, together with associated psychological, personality, and cognitive traits that impair rational decision-making. Regarding their punishment, doubts have been cast regarding the possibility that even harsh criminal punishment achieves the aim of deterrence for white-collar offenders. This does not mean that offenders should go unpunished, and in certain cases it would even be justified to deal with them severely. It does, however, require more meaningful goals to be set for their punishment, such as maintaining social order, retribution, and, in some cases, possibly rehabilitation through psychological treatment. Therapeutic intervention could be effective in helping white-collar offenders tackle the root causes of their behaviors and in reducing the likelihood of reoffending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrorist organizations are presumed to specialize in the planning and execution of acts of terrorism, but to what extent do these groups actually employ terrorism? The answer can help inform the debate over whether such groups should be labeled terrorist organizations at all. We explore these questions by examining the relative use of terrorism vis-à-vis guerrilla tactics among 1,013 groups listed in the Global Terrorism Database from 1970 to 2019. We find, first, that "terrorist groups" have historically relied on a combination of terrorist and guerrilla tactics. Second, while terrorism has been the preferred mode of warfare in the first four decades examined, guerrilla tactics have predominated in the 2010s. Our findings imply that the use of the "terrorist group" label had empirical justifications in the first four, although not the most recent decade under review. The data support calls for the adoption of value-neutral labels for contemporary militant groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma (R/R-FL) often require multiple treatment lines. We performed a phase 1b/2 single-center clinical trial of autologous point-of-care anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells in R/R-FL patients treated patients with ≥ 2 treatment lines. All 26 patients enrolled received CAR T-cell infusion at a median of 11 days after leukapheresis. Seventy-seven percent of patients had POD24. At enrollment, disease stage was III-IV in 85% of the patients, 77% had high-risk FLIPI score, and 77% had progressive disease. Grade III-IV cytokine release and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndromes occurred in 12% and 16% of the patients, respectively. Overall response rate at 1-month was 88%. The median follow-up was 15.4 months. One-year overall and progression-free survival were 100% and 63%, respectively. In conclusion, point-of-care CAR T-cell, manufactured within 11 days, induced a high response rate with an acceptable safety profile in patients with high-risk R/R-FL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hand hygiene compliance (HHC) is recognised as a major factor in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. Healthcare workers (HCWs) compliance is still suboptimal. Simulation as an educational strategy may contribute to improved performance. This study aimed to assess the effect of simulation interventions led by nursing students on HCWs' HHC. A prospective quasi-experimental design with before and after intervention measurements was implemented in an 1150-bed tertiary hospital. Four consecutive periods, measuring before and after HHC, were examined in four hospital divisions. For each division, unique simulation activities were developed and led by nursing students, educators, and hospital leaders. Sixty seven students and 286 healthcare workers, along with two nurse educators, participated in the simulation sessions. HHC of all HCWs in the divisions was assessed by hospital infection control personnel. Hospital HHC rose across the four periods in all four divisions during this study. In three out of four periods and divisions, HHC increased significantly more in the simulation intervention groups compared to the overall hospital improvement. Student-led simulation for HCWs is an additional effective method to improve HHC. Nursing managers should consider joining forces with nursing educators to enable students to become agents of change in healthcare settings and encourage further collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed at studying isolated Fallopian tube torsion (IFTT) in a relatively large cohort of women and to evaluate different features of IFTT in comparison to a large cohort of women with non-IFTT adnexal torsion (NIAT). This was a retrospective cohort study. We included women with surgically confirmed ovarian and/or Fallopian tube torsion between March 2011 and June 2020. Fifty-four cases of IFTT were surgically confirmed during the study period and were compared to 422 surgically confirmed NIAT. The rate of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation treatments, current pregnancy, and vomiting was lower in the IFTT group compared with the NIAT group. Cervical tenderness and vaginal discharge were more common in the IFTT group. Oedematous and enlarged ovaries were less common in the IFTT group. In multivariate regression analysis, the following factors were independently associated with IFTT: (i) vaginal discharge [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 95% CI 8.16, 1.98–33.55]; (ii) cervical motion tenderness (aOR 95% CI 2.71, 1.01–7.29); (iii) fertility treatments (aOR 95% CI 0.26, 0.70–0.77); (iv) previous abdominal surgery (aOR 95% CI 0.46, 0.22–0.96); (v) vomiting (aOR 95% CI 0.38, 0.19–0.76); and (vi) enlarged ovary (aOR 95% CI 0.34, 0.18–0.65). In conclusion, we have identified factors positively and negatively associated with IFTT in a large cohort of women with adnexal torsion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic-assisted surgery has been a part of surgical procedures for more than two decades. Recently new robotic platforms with a different design entered the market. The modular design with independent arms enables increased flexibility of arm docking to increase the range of motion and instrument maneuverability. We herein present the first case series of robotic inguinal hernia repair using the Hugo RAS system (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Thirteen inguinal hernia repairs were performed on ten patients. A description of the Hugo RAS system as well as the new concept of modular design is presented along with the description of the operation setup. Mean docking time was 9.5 min and mean console time was 50.3 min and 74.7 min for unilateral and bilateral inguinal hernia repair, respectively. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. There was one conversion to laparoscopic surgery due to a technical issue with the robot. Conclusions: The modular design of independent arms seems to enhance maneuverability of the instruments and contribute to fewer arm collisions. Further clinical data and experience with this new surgical system are necessary to understand if this new design has advantages over the standard robotic platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An involution on [n] = {1, 2, . . ., n} is a permutation π1π2 · · · πn on [n] such that ππi = i for all i ∈ [n]. Let π = π1π2 · · · πn be any involution on [n]. We say that i is a covered fixed point of π if πi = i and there exists a, b such that 1 ≤ a < i < b ≤ n and πa = b. We say that ab is a covered arc of π if there exists c, d such that 1 ≤ c < a < b < d ≤ n, πa = b, and πc = d. In this paper, we study the generating function for the number of involutions on [n] according to the number of covered fixed points/covered arcs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on teachers' beliefs regarding the malleability of their teaching ability. It examines the relationships among teachers' growth mindset, flow, critically reflective behavior (CRB) and burnout. Whereas educational studies tend to focus more on teachers' behaviors rather than on their beliefs and feelings, the current study aims to deepen our understanding of the latter. Responses from 281 teachers to online questionnaires provided support to the majority of the research hypotheses. Teachers with a growth mindset were more likely to experience flow, practice CRB and feel less burnout. Moreover, the relationship between teachers' growth mindset and burnout was fully mediated by both flow and CRB, and flow partially mediated the growth mindset-CRB relationship. The findings imply that teachers with a growth mindset tend to experience higher levels of flow, practice more CRB and feel less burnout, suggesting that flow and CRB may explain these connections. The study contributes to the literature on teachers' mindsets and their professional behavior, and offers several implications to the theory and practice of teachers' professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss of a family member is often conceptualized as a disruption in one's life story. However, when a loss occurs prior to, or during, one's birth, the bereaved life stories are not interrupted by the loss, but rather begin with loss. The paper offers a new conceptualization of these losses as "congenital losses" and captures the core aspects of this phenomenon. A qualitative phenomenological analysis of 34 in-depth semi-structured interviews with offspring and siblings whose family members died before/during their birth revealed four main challenges presented by congenital loss: incoherency and fragmentation; storyownership; bond-establishment, and; identity challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores five Maulid Syaraf al-Anām ('The birth of the best of mankind') manuscripts produced in the Indonesian-Malay world. The five manuscripts all include the Arabic text of this well known and highly popular panegyric recited on the anniversary of the Prophet's birthday as well as on other auspicious occasions, with the Arabic translation into either Malay or Javanese written between the lines. Each manuscript was inscribed at a different site between the late 18th and late 19th centuries: one is from Aceh, another from the so-called 'Malay' diaspora in colonial Ceylon (present-day Sri Lanka), a third from Patani, in today's southern Thailand, while a fourth was copied in Mecca. These four include interlinear translations of the Arabic into Malay. The fifth manuscript, from Java, has a Javanese translation. Through a close reading of one narrative section of the Arabic Maulid and its translations, and their comparison with a vernacular telling, the article engages in a preliminary manner with questions of standardisation, creativity and cultural particularity within the wide, yet little-studied realm of interlinear translations from the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asante people of Ghana bear rich and distinct cultures, which help place the nation on the globe. Albeit, a number of traditional dances as an aspect of Asante culture have been endangered or are getting endangered due to them not being well communicated within their cultural contexts to audiences, their dance elements being less known and less performed. This study was therefore conducted to analyse Bɔsoɛ, an endangered Asante traditional dance in Ghana culturally, to revive the lost parts of Asante culture to the present and upcoming generations. The study employed narrative research method under the qualitative research design where the Ammamerɛso Agofomma dance performers and the Head of Performing Arts, all of the Centre for National Culture (CNC), Kumasi, were purposeively and conveniently selected to enact the dance and give narratives on the dance. Through semi-structured interview and non-participant observation, primary data comprising in-depth knowledge on the history, meanings, performance and other dance elements within B ɔ so ɛ were collected from the respondents for the study. The results proved that there were aspects of Asante culture within Bɔsoɛ and hence must be viewed as an Asante repository to be communicated well per its cultural contexts to any viewer or appreciator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This computational study characterises charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) states of aqueous thiocyanate anion using equation-of-motion coupled-cluster methods combined with electrostatic embedding quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) scheme. Equilibrium sampling was carried out using classical molecular dynamics (MD) with standard force-fields and QM/MM ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) using density functional theory. The two calculations yield significantly different local structure around solvated SCN − . Because of the diffuse character of CTTS states, they are very sensitive to the local structure of solvent around the solute and its dynamic fluctuations. Owing to this sensitivity, the spectra computed using MD and AIMD based snapshots differ considerably. This sensitivity suggests that the spectroscopy exploiting CTTS transitions can provide an experimental handle for assessing the quality of force-fields and density functionals. By combining CTTS-based spectroscopies with reliable theoretical modeling, detailed microscopic information of the solvent structure can be obtained. We present a robust computational protocol for modeling spectra of solvated anions and emphasise the use of an ab initio characterization of individual electronic transitions as CTTS or local excitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess COVID-19-pandemic related anxiety and emotional-behavioral difficulties among oncologic children and their caregivers. Prospective cohort study conducted from March to November 2020. 76 pediatric oncological and 28 nonmalignant hematological patients aged 1.6–23.4 years and their caregivers. A total of 104 families completed an age-specific self-report psychological assessment; of these, 20 oncologic families completed the assessment at two time points. Ten percent of the caregivers and 13.9% of the patients reported anxiety disorder. Additionally, 3.1% of the caregivers reported behavioral difficulties. No significant differences emerged between patients' self-reports and caregivers' reports. No differences emerged between oncological and nonmalignant hematological participants. The prevalence of anxiety associated with the COVID-19 pandemic was similar to the reported prevalence of anxiety following a diagnosis of pediatric malignancy. Real-time assessment of psychological effects revealed no COVID-19-associated anxiety. Nonetheless, late effects will need to be monitored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Do diasporas affect rebel tactics in the home country? We argue that diaspora organizations can influence tactics when rebel leaders are divided, and domestic political opportunity structures are restrictive. Drawing on a variety of primary sources, we analyze the influence of the Irish-American group Noraid on the Provisional IRA tactics during four episodes of the Troubles. When the military and political leadership of the Republican movement diverged over tactics, Noraid’s militant stance and support for Gerry Adams incentivized the simultaneous adoption of both violence and cooperation. Over time, the group also helped consolidate Adams’s leadership and overcome an organizational crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the effects of pregestational body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on maternal and neonatal outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: We conducted retrospective cohort analyses of outcomes among women with GDM who delivered at Shamir Medical Center, Israel (2017–2018). Results: We included 673 women with GDM in our analysis, 217 (32.24%) with appropriate GWG (aGWG), 247 (36.7%) with excessive GWG (eGWG), and 209 (31%) with insufficient GWG (iGWG). Cesarean section (CS) was less prevalent among women with iGWG (19.6%), compared with women with eGWG (31.2%) and aGWG (31.1%) (p = .008). Small for gestational weight (SGA) newborns were more prevalent in women with iGWG 9.1%, compared with 2% and 0.9% for women with eGWG and aGWG, respectively (p<.001). Large for gestational age (LGA) newborns were significantly more prevalent in women with eGWG 17.4% compared with 4.8% and 9.7% in patients with iGWG and aGWG women, respectively (p<.001). SGA and LGA newborns were more prevalent in women with iGWG and e-GWG across all pre-gestational BMI groups >18.5 kg/m². Conclusions: A complex interplay exists between pregestational weight, GWG, and GDM and pregnancy outcomes, specifically SGA and LGA newborns. A strict follow-up considering the pregestational BMI, GWG, blood glucose levels, treatment modality, and fetal abdominal circumference could assist in managing the complex interplay of patients with GDM for better neonatal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rates of pregestational (PGDM) and gestational diabetes (GDM), and their associated pregnancy complications, are rising. Pregnancies complicated by diabetes have increased cesarean delivery (CD) rates; however, there are limited data regarding the current rates of, and contributing factors to, these deliveries. The Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS) is a clinically relevant, standardized framework that can be used to evaluate and analyze cesarean rates. The objective of this study was to evaluate rates of, and indications for, intrapartum, unplanned CD among pregnancies complicated by diabetes, compared to normoglycemic (NG) pregnancies, in a large United States birth cohort. This retrospective cohort study used chart-abstracted data on births between 24 and 42 weeks' gestation at 17 hospitals that contributed to the Obstetrical Care Outcome Assessment Program database between 01/2016 and 03/2019. The CD rate for NG pregnancies, and pregnancies complicated by gestational and PGDM was calculated and compared using the Robson TGCS. The indications for intrapartum CD in patients with term, singleton, vertex gestations without a prior cesarean were then analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to compare the cesarean rate and indications for CD, between the diabetic groups and the NG group. Results were adjusted for maternal age, BMI, neonatal birth weight, and insurance status, as well as clustering by hospital. A total of 86,381 pregnant people were included in the study cohort. Of these 76,272 (88.3%) were NG, 8591 (9.9%) had GDM, and 1518 (1.8%) had PGDM. Compared to NG patients, overall cesarean rates were higher in patients with GDM (40.3% vs. 29.7%; aOR 1.25, 95%CI 1.18–1.31) and PGDM (60.0% vs. 29.7%; aOR 2.53, 95%CI 2.04–3.13). This finding remained true when the cohort was restricted to term, singleton, vertex laboring patients without a prior cesarean; compared to NG patients, the cesarean rate was higher in patients with GDM (17.4% vs. 12.2%, aOR 1.37, 95%CI 1.29–1.45) and PGDM (26.0% vs. 12.2%, aOR 2.55, 95%CI 2.00–3.25). The cesarean rate for fetal indications was similar in the GDM (5.7%) and NG (4.4%) groups, while those patients with PGDM had a significantly higher rate (10.4%; aOR 2.01, 95%CI 1.43–2.83). Similarly, the rate of cesarean for labor dystocia in patients with PGDM was significantly higher than in NG patients (16.9% vs. 7.0%, and aOR 2.28, 95%CI 1.66–3.13) while patients with GDM had an intermediate rate (10.6% vs. 7.0%, aOR 1.49, 95%CI 1.40–1.57). The CD rate is significantly higher in pregnancies complicated by diabetes, particularly pregestational, compared to NG pregnancies. Despite controlling for maternal factors and birth weight, pregnancies complicated by diabetes are more likely to undergo an unplanned intrapartum cesarean secondary to labor dystocia than their NG counterparts, but only pregnancies complicated by PGDM have an increased risk of cesarean for fetal indications. More research is needed to understand whether this higher cesarean rate is due to factors intrinsic to diabetes in laboring patients or is due to a difference in the way clinicians manage diabetics in labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) is an anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Outcomes of patients with out-of-commercial specification (OOS) CAR T products are not well characterized. We therefore assessed 37 adult patients who underwent leukapheresis for tisa-cel therapy in a single center. In nine (24%) patients, manufactured tisa-cel was considered OOS. Three of them (33%) received tisa-cel after institutional review board approval; 2/9 (22%) did not receive tisa-cel due to disease progression; and 4/9 (44%) received academic point-of-care (POC) CAR T-cell as salvage therapy, at a median of 35 days following OOS notification. Three of those four patients achieved a complete response. In univariate analysis, risk factors for OOS were ≥ 4 prior therapies or previous bendamustine exposure. In conclusion, we report high OOS incidence of 24% in real-life setting. Forty-four percent of those patients received POC CAR T-cell as salvage therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a major complication in patients with diffuse large B-Cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Diabetes mellitus (DM) has deleterious effects on the immune system resulting in an increased risk of infections. We evaluated patients with DLBCL who started frontline treatment with R-CHOP, and compared outcomes according to presence of DM comorbidity. Between 2013 and 2018, 218 patients with DLBCL were included. 46 patients (21%) had DM. Rate of admissions for FN was higher for patients with DM (0.7 vs. 0.46 admissions/patient, p =.016), also after age and gender-matched subgroup analysis (p =.004). Improved glycemic control during FN hospitalizations was associated with shorter hospitalizations. Metformin was associated with improved median overall survival in diabetic patients (89 vs. 64 months, p =.018). In conclusion, Patients with DLBCL and DM had higher rates of FN hospitalizations. Improved glycemic control during FN hospitalization was associated with shorter length of stay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying the factors impacting physical activity (PA) among adolescents and young adults with cerebral palsy (CP). Four focus groups were conducted, with a total of 22 participants with CP, aged 14–24 years, Gross Motor Function Classification (GMFCS) I–III. Our qualitative analysis drew on grounded theory and used Atlas software. Findings revealed four categories of factors impacting PA: (1) Musculoskeletal-pain and additional impairments related to activity limitations; (2) knowledge and exercising skills, and life skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, planning and organizing; (3) availability: lack of transportation, professional guidance, adapted and community-based programs, especially enjoyable activities; (4) social support from professionals (mainly physiotherapists) and peer support with socializing opportunities. Many opposed parental involvement. Those who attended special education schools and had moderate to severe learning disabilities saw PA as an opportunity for social contacts, limited by lack of availability. Those in mainstream schools with mild to no learning disabilities used PA for relieving pain and preserving function, limited by difficulty balancing PA and life goals. Service providers should inculcate knowledge and active-living skills during the transition to adulthood. Professional guidance needed to ensure inclusion in communal PA and offer adapted programs for young people with CP. There is a need for ongoing, accessible, adapted, community-based physical activity programs for young adults with CP guided by skilled professionals that can provide them with opportunities for enjoyable activities involving social interactions. When planning treatment interventions for children and young individuals with CP, healthcare providers should be aware of past therapeutic experiences and in collaboration with parents, are encouraged to be sensitive to possible tensions which may exist regarding their body care. Healthcare and educational professionals should provide young people with CP and their families with theoretical and practical knowledge about physical activity and its health benefits, as well as information about exercise options. Developing life skills in young adults with CP is important for helping them to effectively engage in physical activity and develop the competencies needed to achieve long term physical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural competence (CC), also known as cultural intelligence (CQ), is a necessary skill for caring professions. Little is known, though, about initial levels of CQ or differences in CQ levels between students in caring and non-caring programs. A group of first-year students (n = 172) from diverse demographic backgrounds and different fields of study (social work, nursing, behavioural sciences) participated in an online survey that assessed their CQ and background attributes. Significant differences were found across fields of study so that students pursuing caring professions were more receptive than their counterparts in non-caring fields to intercultural interaction in the motivational, cognitive, and meta-cognitive CQ dimensions with no significant difference in the behavioral dimension. Mastering a non-native language was also associated with motivational and cognitive CQ. These findings suggest that greater receptiveness to intercultural interaction among students pursuing caring professions needs to be nurtured in order to generate behavioral changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost half of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease after frontline immunochemotherapy. Although guidelines recommend histological confirmation of R/R disease, repeat biopsies are not always performed. We conducted a two-part study: a nationwide case-vignette survey among treating hematologists, and a single center retrospective analysis. In the survey part, all 64 participating physicians opted not to perform a repeat biopsy in at least one scenario, more often in refractory cases. In the retrospective part, 116 episodes of R/R aNHL among 61 patients were identified. Repeat biopsy was not performed in 72%, more often in refractory episodes, mostly due to low likelihood of alternative diagnoses or problematic location for biopsy. Our study suggests that many patients do not undergo repeat biopsy in R/R DLBCL, especially in refractory cases. Future studies and recommendations should address the necessity of repeat biopsy, according to patient and disease related characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attack on members of the Israeli team during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany, was a critical juncture in the understanding of terrorism as theatre and in the fusion between counterterrorism and special operation forces. It created a path dependency in the way the terrorist threat is perceived and handled. For Israel, the attack was one in an ever increasing and constantly changing terrorist threat that helped shape its security apparatus and led to the proliferation of special operation forces units within the military, police and border police. Globally, the attack led to a spur in the establishment of special operation units with specific counterterrorism and hostage rescuing expertise. Overall, the media coverage of the Munich massacre and the failure of the German security forces in handling the crisis contributed to the survivability of special operation forces units. These units specialised in counterterrorism operations and later-on appropriated other types of missions and responsibilities while tightening their political ties and enhancing their public image. Most notably of these was the Israeli Sayeret Matkal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to integrate over two decades of empirical research findings on teachers' organizational commitment (OC) to explore its antecedents and outcomes. Via a criteria-based approach, 68 peer-reviewed quantitative empirical articles published between 1994 and 2018 were identified and included for analysis. A systematic review revealed three core themes: demographic, within-person, and role-related predictors of teachers OC; interpersonal and contextual predictors of teachers' OC; and outcomes of teachers OC. Our review detected major "blind spots" related to antecedents, mediators, and moderators, and outcomes. Recommendations are provided to help advance knowledge on teachers' OC in upcoming decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Easy and safe methods of fascia closure are needed in order to reduce the risk for trocar site hernias without affecting procedure time significantly. Here we present a method for port site closure using heat induced collagen denaturation. Controlled heat-induced collagen denaturation was applied to laparoscopic trocar sites in living porcine animal models. These were compared to control trocar sites which were left open. Port sites were evaluated visually at days 14 and 28 after the procedure, and both visually and pathologically at post-procedural day 42. A total of 12 port sites were evaluated in three pigs. No incisional hernias were noted at any of the trocar sites in both groups. Histological evaluation revealed that one of the six control ports appeared to have a complete transfascial defect, whereas none of the study group trocars showed this finding. Furthermore, the study port sites showed a more robust scarring pattern. Heat-induced collagen denaturation in this preliminary study was found to be safe and allowed better scarring of the healing port sites. We believe that this technology may offer a safe and efficient closure of laparoscopic trocar sites. More studies are needed to further evaluate the true effectiveness of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complete or partial fundoplication remains controversial for the surgical treatment of GERD. While partial fundoplication is considered less effective, it is associated with less post-operative dysphagia and gas bloating compared with complete fundoplication. To compare the mechanical efficiency of the three different types of fundoplication. Two studies of the LES were performed on explanted stomachs: distensibility and failure point. Measurements were taken before and after fundoplication. There was no difference in distensibility between Nissen and Toupet fundoplication, however, the EGJ was more distensible following Dor fundoplication. According to failure point measurements, Nissen fundoplication was significantly more effective than Toupet, Toupet was significantly more effective than Dor (p =.016, p =.017, respectively). There were significant differences in distensibility between Dor and both Nissen and Toupet, however no statistical difference between Toupet and Nissen. There was a significant difference in effectiveness between all three types of fundoplication according to the failure point. These laboratory findings demonstrate that the mechanical orientation of Nissen and Toupet have similar functionality suggesting that Toupet is as good as Nissen. While in clinical studies Toupet has fewer post-operative complications these findings support the proponents of Toupet for GERD. Abbreviation: GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we critically appraised the literature by means of a systematic review on surgical education and propose an educational curriculum with the aid of available technologies. We performed a literature search on 10 May 2020 of Medline/PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and major journals with specific COVID-19 sections. Articles eligible for inclusion contained the topic of education in surgery in the context of COVID-19. Specific questions we aimed to answer were: Is there any difference in surgical education from pre-COVID-19 to now? How does technology assist us in teaching? Can we better harness technology to augment resident training? Two-hundred and twenty-six articles were identified, 21 relevant for our aim: 14 case studies, three survey analyses, three reviews and one commentary. The collapse of the traditional educational system due to social distancing caused a fragmentation of knowledge, a reduced acquisition of skills and a decreased employment of surgical trainees. These problems can be partially overcome by using new technologies and arranging 2-weeks rotation shifts, alternating clinical activities with learning. While medical care will remain largely based on the interaction with patients, students' adaptability to innovation will be a characteristic of post-COVID classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nonpregnant patients high insulin requirements are associated with hypoglycemia and weight gain but not with improvement in glucose control. The effect of insulin requirement on maternal and neonatal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is yet unknown. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancy according to insulin requirements in women with GDM who were followed and delivered at the Yitzhak Shamir Medical Center between 2006 and 2016. The daily insulin dose in units per body weight was divided into quartiles and analyses were performed to compare the lowest, highest, and two middle quartiles. The primary outcome was a composite of any of the following: cesarean-section (CS), preeclampsia, macrosomia and large for gestational age (LGA) birth weight, neonatal intensive care unit admission, need for phototherapy, and neonatal hypoglycemia. Women were divided according to their insulin requirements as follows: 79 (24.8%) women who needed <0.13 IU/kg/day of insulin (insulin-sensitive group), 160 (50%) women who needed 0.14–0.42 IU/kg/day of insulin (comparison-group), and the rest who needed >0.43 IU/kg/day of insulin (insulin resistant group). There were no differences in the composite outcome between the groups (64.6, 61.3, and 69.6% for the insulin sensitive-, comparison- and resistant- groups, respectively, p =.44). Women in the insulin-resistant group had higher fasting glucose levels in the first trimester (91, 98 and 102 mg/dL for women in the insulin sensitive-, comparison- and insulin-resistant groups, respectively; p =.01). Women in the insulin-sensitive group had significantly better glycemic control (fasting glucose levels ≤90 mg/dL and 1-hour and 2-hour postprandial glucose levels ≤140 mg/dL and ≤120 mg/dL for more than 80% of measurements) than those in the insulin-resistant group (70.3 versus 29.9%; p <.001). The rate of CS was significantly higher in the insulin-resistant group (42.3 versus 24.1%; p =.03), but the rate of LGA birth weight was surprisingly higher in the insulin-sensitive group (29.5 versus 16.7%, p =.04). After controlling for confounders, women in the insulin-sensitive group had a decreased risk for CS in relation to the comparison group (OR = 0.46, 95%CI 0.23–0.9, p =.025). We found no association between insulin requirements and adverse composite outcome in women with GDM. However, those with higher insulin requirements have poorer glucose control and higher rates of CS than those with lower insulin requirements. Larger studies are needed to inquire short- and long-term outcomes of insulin requirements on fetal and maternal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Front-of-package labels (FOPL) are designed to simplify nutrition information and to help consumers make healthier food choices. The Israeli government has implemented new regulations requiring mandatory red warning FOPL for high levels of sodium, sugar, or saturated fats. A voluntary green positive FOPL for products fitting the national nutritional recommendations was concurrently encouraged. In order to characterise adult consumers' current use of Nutrition Facts Tables (NFT) and their attitudes towards the new FOPL, a nationally representative cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted. Most of the 1,042 survey respondents reported frequent NFT use (76.2%) and intentions to purchase fewer red-labelled (81.1%) and more green-labelled products (85.0%). Consumers with higher BMI and lower education expressed higher intentions to use the new FOPL, but not higher current use of NFT. This finding suggests that these high-risk groups, which the new labels are meant to target, may indeed benefit from the new policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the beliefs of teachers regarding the malleability of their skills, and the factors they consider as enhancing or inhibiting teacher mindset. Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted. Findings revealed that both internal factors (e.g. background and success experiences) and external factors (e.g. learning climate, principal support and dictated changes) may enhance teacher growth mindset. Inhibitors included low status, unsupportive environments, and burnout. This qualitative research offers a new understanding of the various factors that teachers believe shape their mindset, and it has practical implications in fostering an attitude of growth among teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report cases of uveitis induced by biological therapy given for cancer. Methods: Retrospective review of medical charts of patients. Results: Included were six patients aged 14–81 years. Three were treated with vemurafenib and one each with nivolumab, ipilimumab, and osimertinib. The oncological diagnoses were metastatic thyroid carcinoma, pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, metastatic melanoma, adenocarcinoma of the lung, and metastatic breast cancer. Ocular manifestations appeared 4–82 weeks after the biological treatment was initiated. The most common ocular presentation was anterior uveitis. Onset was sudden in all cases. The median duration of uveitis was 70 weeks. Treatment included topical or systemic corticosteroids; one patient received a single intravitreal steroid injection in one eye. Conclusions: Uveitis may rarely be induced by treatment with biological agents for cancer. Both oncologists and ophthalmologists should be aware of this potential side effect. Early detection and management can prevent permanent complications and save the patient's vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late onset neutropenia (LON) after rituximab is a previously described complication. We aimed to assess and characterize LON after obinutuzumab, a novel anti-CD20 antibody, in the real-world setting and compare it to LON after rituximab therapy. We retrospectively analyzed 330 consecutive patients with lymphoproliferative neoplasms (rituximab-treated n = 283; obinutuzumab-treated n = 47). LON occurred in 23% patients with similar incidence in rituximab (n = 66, 23%) or obinutuzumab (n = 10, 21%) groups (p = 0.853). Patients treated for CLL and post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) were at higher risk to develop LON (multivariate analysis: HR for CLL − 6.62 CI 95% 1.33–32.92; HR for PTLD 15.82 CI 95% 2.04–122.4). Febrile neutropenia was uncommon during LON and occurred in 15 patients (4.5%; rituximab (n = 14) and obinutuzumab (n = 1). These data suggest that LON after obinutuzumab treatment is as common as with rituximab. The similarities in LON after rituximab and obinutuzumab argue for a possible class effect for anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zadie Smith's Intimations: Six Essays (2020) is a partial history of affectivity of the present, which I am speculatively positioning as a type of transnational archive of privileged pandemic-circumscribed life. Raymond Williams' work on a 'structure of feeling' is useful here to understand new patterns of experience that have emerged during this pandemic. Williams uses the phrase a 'structure of feeling' to distinguish between formally held beliefs or ideologies, and meanings and values as they are lived and felt in relation to those beliefs or ideologies. Theories of emotion, atmosphere and feeling broadly correspond to Williams's correlation of material, social and affective structures. Smith can help us theorize emergent affectivity from inside a pandemic-strained world through the narration of the ambiguous operational logic that her essays describe. She has created a continuum made up of affective normativities and transformative affectivities on either end, with her essays tracing the rhythms of privileged life across locales, to help us understand pandemic inspired change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Repertory Grid Technique (RGT) is a qualitative method, based on the Personal Construct Psychology (PCP) theory, which provides a powerful tool to elicit tacit personal construction systems, with minimal intervention and interpretation. Although the contributory potential of the RGT as a cognitive research tool in science education has been documented, few researchers are familiar with it. In this article we describe in detail the principles and steps of the RGT, and how it can be utilised, including practical recommendations and analyzed examples. We illustrate how different studies in science education have utilised the diverse models of the RGT to address different research questions, and its advantages and contribution to the field. We hope to open a window to the PCP theory and the use of the RGT as a profound method for science education research, which may have implications for teaching and learning processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy is a critical time period for supporting food security and maternal nutrition because of long-term potential impacts on the developing fetus. We conducted a pre-/post-analysis of pregnant WIC participants (n = 592) in San Francisco receiving $40/month of fruit and vegetable vouchers in addition to the standard WIC package. We compared pre-/post- changes to a comparison group of non-pregnant WIC participants (n = 108) receiving only the standard WIC package. We observed significant improvements in food security and mean daily frequency of total vegetables, combined fruits and vegetables, salad and non-fried potatoes (p <.05 for all comparisons). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sepsis is one of the major causes of maternal deaths (Morgan and Roberts [6]). Currently, there is no routine screening methodology for diagnosing I H. influenzae i carriage during pregnancy, despite only minor lower rates of invasive neonatal infections compared to group b streptococci (GBS): i.e. 3/100,000 versus 4/100,000 for I NTHi i and GBS, respectively (Collins et al. [2]). Invasive I H. i I influenzae i bloodstream infections occurred in 63% of case-patients, and 32% of infections were polymicrobial. Overall, 19 patients with I H. i I influenzae i maternal infection were enrolled (Table 1) and matched to 57 control patients. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: MRI guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a noninvasive technique for treating uterine fibroids. The presence of abdominal scars can limit the number of women eligible for the procedure, due to absorbance of beam energy. The goals of this study were to assess the number of women that fit the procedure and to compare outcomes among women with or without abdominal scars. Material and methods: A prospective cohort study of all women that were interested in MRgFUS in a single University-Affiliated Hospital between November 2012 and December 2019. Rates of women that were referred to further screening, fulfilled selection criteria and underwent the procedure were compared between patients with or without abdominal scars. We evaluated the treatment parameters of the two groups and used linear regression model predict non-perfused volume (NPV) at the end of the process. Results: Out of 701 patients, 21.8% were suitable for MRgFUS. Women with scars had significant lower NPV compared with women without scars (60% versus 82.4%, p = 0.021). No serious adverse events were reported in both groups. Linear regression models showed that fibroids' volume, stopping the treatment due to severe pain and the presence of abdominal scars had a statistically significantly negative effect on NPV (betas: -11.51, -6.96, and -6.29, p-values: <0.001, 0.003, and 0.007 respectively), while number of sonication had a statistically significantly positive effect on NPV (beta = 5.98, p = 0.011). Conclusion: Regardless of strict inclusion criteria, MRgFUS treatment is less efficient among women with abdominal scars, although still feasible for those who are interested in noninvasive option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation between pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and a present intrauterine device (IUD) has been debated. We aimed to evaluate the differences between IUD users and non-users among women hospitalised with a diagnosis of PID. Our hypothesis was that the role of a present IUD among PID patients is minimal, if any. We performed a retrospective cohort study during 2010–2018 in a tertiary university hospital. Overall, 474 hospitalised patients were diagnosed with PID. Of these, 121 patients were IUD users. The patients without an IUD were younger and had lower gravidity and parity. Among the patients without an IUD, higher rates of prior history of PID and fever at presentation were noticed. In 23.9% (29/121) of women, the IUD was inserted less than four weeks prior to the PID diagnosis. The patients with an IUD insertion-associated PID, had lower rates of tubo-ovarian abscess (2 (6.9%) versus 24 (26.0%), OR [95% CI] 0.18 (0.04–0.84), p =.02) at presentation, as well as a shorter length of stay (LOS) (median 4 versus 5 days, p =.05). In a patient in whom the IUD was retained, hospitalisation period was shorter (median LOS 4 days versus 5 days, p =.007). PID inpatients who carry an IUD represent a specific subset of patients with a milder disease. What is already known on this subject? The correlation between pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and a present intrauterine device (IUD) is debateable. What the results of this study add? PID inpatients who carry an IUD represent a specific subset of patients with milder disease. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our results show that in IUD users with PID, the practice of IUD removal as part of their PID treatment is of little benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of polatuzumab vedotin in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma outside clinical study are undetermined. This retrospective study examined the efficacy and safety of polatuzumab vedotin administered in real life settings. Forty-seven patients, 31 with de-novo DLBCL and 16 with transformed lymphoma, treated with polatuzumab-based regimen in 14 Israeli centers between June 2018 and November 2019, were included. Median age was 66.1 years (60.4–78.8) and median number of prior lines was 3 (2–7). The overall response rate was 61% (n = 29), including 40% complete responses (n = 19) and 21% (n = 10) partial responses. The median overall survival and progression-free survival were 8.3 months and 5.6 months, respectively. An ECOG PS ≥2 predicted a decreased overall survival (p = 0.045). Primary refractory vs relapsed disease (p = 0.005) and transformed vs de-novo DLBCL (p = 0.039) were associated with shorter PFS (p = 0.027). Our data show that polatuzumab-based regimen is an effective and tolerable treatment in relapsed/refractory DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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