bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vericiguat and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: Insights From the VICTORIA Trial
Authors: Butler Javed , Stebbins Amanda , Melenovský Vojtěch , Sweitzer Nancy K. , Cowie Martin R. , Stehlik Josef , Khan Muhammad Shahzeb , Blaustein Robert O. , Ezekowitz Justin A. , Hernandez Adrian F. , Lam Carolyn S.P. , Nkulikiyinka Richard , O’Connor Christopher M. , Pieske Burkert M. , Ponikowski Piotr , Spertus John A. , Voors Adriaan A. , Anstrom Kevin J. , Armstrong Paul W. ,   on behalf of the VICTORIA Study Group
Published: June 2022

Background:

We examined the effects of vericiguat compared with placebo in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction enrolled in VICTORIA (Vericiguat Global Study in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction) on health status outcomes measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and evaluated whether clinical outcomes varied by baseline KCCQ score.

Methods:

KCCQ was completed at baseline and 4, 16, and 32 weeks. We assessed treatment effect on KCCQ using a mixed-effects model adjusting for baseline KCCQ and stratification variables. Cox proportional-hazards modeling was performed to evaluate the effect of vericiguat on clinical outcomes by tertiles of baseline KCCQ clinical summary score (CSS), total symptom score (TSS), and overall summary score (OSS).

Results:

Of 5050 patients, 4664, 4741, and 4470 had KCCQ CSS (median [25th to 75th], 65.6 [45.8–81.8]), TSS (68.8 [47.9–85.4]), and OSS (59.9 [42.0–77.1]) at baseline; 94%, 88%, and 82% had data at 4, 16, and 32 weeks. At 16 weeks, CSS improved by a median of 6.3 in both arms; no significant differences in improvement were seen for TSS and OSS between the 2 groups (
P
=0.69, 0.97, and 0.13 for CSS, TSS, and OSS). Trends were similar at 4 and 32 weeks. Vericiguat versus placebo reduced cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization risk similarly across tertiles of baseline KCCQ CSS, TSS, and OSS (interaction
P
=0.13, 0.21, and 0.65).

Conclusions:

Vericiguat did not significantly improve KCCQ scores compared with placebo. Vericiguat reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization across the range of baseline health status.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02861534.
Differences in Prognostic Value of Myocardial Perfusion Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography Using High-Efficiency Solid-State Detector Between Men and Women in a Large International Multicenter Study
Authors: Tamarappoo Balaji K. , Otaki Yuka , Sharir Tali , Hu Lien-Hsin , Gransar Heidi , Einstein Andrew J. , Fish Mathews B. , Ruddy Terrence D. , Kaufmann Philipp , Sinusas Albert J. , Miller Edward J. , Bateman Timothy M. , Dorbala Sharmila , Di Carli Marcelo , Eisenberg Evann , Liang Joanna X. , Dey Damini , Berman Daniel S. , Slomka Piotr J.
Published: June 2022

Background:

Semiquantitative assessment of stress myocardial perfusion defect has been shown to have greater prognostic value for prediction of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in women compared with men in single-center studies with conventional single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) cameras. We evaluated sex-specific difference in the prognostic value of automated quantification of ischemic total perfusion defect (ITPD) and the interaction between sex and ITPD using high-efficiency SPECT cameras with solid-state detectors in an international multicenter imaging registry (REFINE SPECT [Registry of Fast Myocardial Perfusion Imaging With Next-Generation SPECT]).

Methods:

Rest and exercise or pharmacological stress SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging were performed in 17 833 patients from 5 centers. MACE was defined as the first occurrence of death or myocardial infarction. Total perfusion defect (TPD) at rest, stress, and ejection fraction were quantified automatically by software. ITPD was given by stressTPD-restTPD. Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the association between ITPD versus MACE-free survival and expressed as a hazard ratio.

Results:

In 10614 men and 7219 women, with a median follow-up of 4.75 years (interquartile range, 3.7–6.1), there were 1709 MACE. In a multivariable Cox model, after adjusting for revascularization and other confounding variables, ITPD was associated with MACE (hazard ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.05–1.1];
P
<0.001). There was an interaction between ITPD and sex (
P
<0.001); predicted survival for ITPD<5% was worse among men compared to women, whereas survival among women was worse than men for ITPD≥5%,
P
<0.001.

Conclusions:

In the international, multicenter REFINE SPECT registry, moderate and severe ischemia as quantified by ITPD from high-efficiency SPECT is associated with a worse prognosis in women compared with men.
Sex Differences in Culprit Plaque Characteristics Among Different Age Groups in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes
Authors: Seegers Lena Marie , Araki Makoto , Nakajima Akihiro , Yonetsu Taishi , Minami Yoshiyasu , Ako Junya , Soeda Tsunenari , Kurihara Osamu , Higuma Takumi , Kimura Shigeki , Adriaenssens Tom , Nef Holger M. , Lee Hang , McNulty Iris , Sugiyama Tomoyo , Kakuta Tsunekazu , Jang Ik-Kyung
Published: June 2022

Background:

Despite the significant decline in cardiovascular mortality in women over the past several decades, sex differences in the underlying pathology of acute coronary syndromes remain poorly understood. Previous postmortem studies have demonstrated sex differences in coronary plaque morphology with a higher prevalence of plaque erosion in young women and more plaque rupture in older women after menopause, whereas men showed no increase in prevalence of plaque rupture with age. However, in vivo data are limited.

Methods:

This study included patients who presented with acute coronary syndrome and underwent preintervention optical coherence tomography imaging of the culprit lesion. The culprit plaque was categorized as plaque rupture, plaque erosion or culprit plaque with calcification, and stratified by age. Features of plaque vulnerability at culprit lesion were also analyzed.

Results:

In 1368 patients (women=286), women and men had a similar distribution of culprit plaque morphology (plaque rupture versus plaque erosion). However, significant sex differences were found in the underlying mechanisms of acute coronary syndrome among different age groups: women showed a significant ascending trend with age in plaque rupture (
P
<0.001) and the features of plaque vulnerability such as lipid plaque (
P
<0.001), thin-cap fibroatheroma (
P
=0.005), and microstructures including macrophages, cholesterol crystals, and calcification (
P
=0.026). No trend was observed in men.

Conclusions:

Age related sex differences in culprit plaque morphology and vulnerability were identified in patients with acute coronary syndrome: prevalence of plaque rupture and vulnerability increased with age in women but not in men.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT01110538 and NCT03479723.
Fine-Tuning Cardiac Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor Signaling to Promote Health and Longevity
Authors: Abdellatif Mahmoud , Trummer-Herbst Viktoria , Heberle Alexander Martin , Humnig Alina , Pendl Tobias , Durand Sylvère , Cerrato Giulia , Hofer Sebastian J. , Islam Moydul , Voglhuber Julia , Ramos Pittol José Miguel , Kepp Oliver , Hoefler Gerald , Schmidt Albrecht , Rainer Peter P. , Scherr Daniel , von Lewinski Dirk , Bisping Egbert , McMullen Julie R. , Diwan Abhinav , Eisenberg Tobias , Madeo Frank , Thedieck Kathrin , Kroemer Guido , Sedej Simon
Published: June 2022

Background:

The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) pathway is a key regulator of cellular metabolism and aging. Although its inhibition promotes longevity across species, the effect of attenuated IGF1 signaling on cardiac aging remains controversial.

Methods:

We performed a lifelong study to assess cardiac health and lifespan in 2 cardiomyocyte-specific transgenic mouse models with enhanced versus reduced IGF1 receptor (IGF1R) signaling. Male mice with human IGF1R overexpression or dominant negative phosphoinositide 3-kinase mutation were examined at different life stages by echocardiography, invasive hemodynamics, and treadmill coupled to indirect calorimetry. In vitro assays included cardiac histology, mitochondrial respiration, ATP synthesis, autophagic flux, and targeted metabolome profiling, and immunoblots of key IGF1R downstream targets in mouse and human explanted failing and nonfailing hearts, as well.

Results:

Young mice with increased IGF1R signaling exhibited superior cardiac function that progressively declined with aging in an accelerated fashion compared with wild-type animals, resulting in heart failure and a reduced lifespan. In contrast, mice with low cardiac IGF1R signaling exhibited inferior cardiac function early in life, but superior cardiac performance during aging, and increased maximum lifespan, as well. Mechanistically, the late-life detrimental effects of IGF1R activation correlated with suppressed autophagic flux and impaired oxidative phosphorylation in the heart. Low IGF1R activity consistently improved myocardial bioenergetics and function of the aging heart in an autophagy-dependent manner. In humans, failing hearts, but not those with compensated hypertrophy, displayed exaggerated IGF1R expression and signaling activity.

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate that the relationship between IGF1R signaling and cardiac health is not linear, but rather biphasic. Hence, pharmacological inhibitors of the IGF1 pathway, albeit unsuitable for young individuals, might be worth considering in older adults.
Digital Therapeutics in Hypertension: Evidence and Perspectives
Authors: Kario Kazuomi , Harada Noriko , Okura Ayako
Published: June 2022

Digital therapeutics refers to the use of evidence-based therapeutic interventions driven by high-quality software programs to treat, manage, or prevent a medical condition. This approach is being increasingly investigated for the management of hypertension, a common condition that is the leading preventable cardiovascular disease risk factor worldwide. Digital interventions can help facilitate uptake of important guideline-recommended lifestyle modifications, reinforce home blood pressure monitoring, decrease therapeutic inertia, and improve medication adherence. However, current studies are only of moderate quality, and are highly heterogeneous in the interventions evaluated, comparator used, and results obtained. Therefore, additional studies are needed, focusing on the development of universally applicable and consistent digital therapeutic strategies designed with health care professional input and evaluation of these interventions in robust clinical trials with objective end points. Hopefully, the momentum for digital therapeutics triggered by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic can be utilized to maximize advancements in this field and drive widespread implementation.
Self-Replication in Neural Networks
Authors: Gabor Thomas , Illium Steffen , Zorn Maximilian , Lenta Cristian , Mattausch Andy , Belzner Lenz , Linnhoff-Popien Claudia
Published: June 2022

A key element of biological structures is self-replication. Neural networks are the prime structure used for the emergent construction of complex behavior in computers. We analyze how various network types lend themselves to self-replication. Backpropagation turns out to be the natural way to navigate the space of network weights and allows non-trivial self-replicators to arise naturally. We perform an in-depth analysis to show the self-replicators’ robustness to noise. We then introduce artificial chemistry environments consisting of several neural networks and examine their emergent behavior. In extension to this work’s previous version (Gabor et al., 2019), we provide an extensive analysis of the occurrence of fixpoint weight configurations within the weight space and an approximation of their respective attractor basins.
Research Grants Crowding Out and Crowding In Donations to Higher Education
Authors: Gannaway Grant , Heutel Garth , Price Michael
Published: June 2022

Using a dataset that includes every private donation made to a large public university from 1938 to 2012 and demographic information on all alumni, we examine the effects of public research funding on individual donations. Our dataset allows us to examine crowding effects on a small time scale and extensive donor characteristics. We estimate effects on the total number of donations (extensive margin) and on the average size of a donation (intensive margin). National Science Foundation research grants have a positive (crowd-in) effect on the extensive margin and a negative (crowd-out) effect on the intensive margin. We find no evidence of these effects from other sources of federal research funding. Previous donors and in-state residents respond differently to grants than do new donors and out-of-state residents, respectively.
Forced Return of Embedded Asylum-Seeking Families with Children to Armenia from a Children’s Rights Perspective
Authors: Zijlstra A. Elianne , Bonhage-Talsma Grytsje T. , Post Wendy J. , Kalverboer Margrite E.
Published: June 2022

Asylum-seeking families with children can be forced to return to their country of origin after staying several years in the Netherlands. The best interests of the child should play a role in return decisions. It is unclear whether the development of these children is threatened after forced return. This study aims to gain insight from a children’s rights perspective into the situation of children who were forced to return to Armenia. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews with 17 children and their parents. Results show that children are negative about their lives in Armenia after forced return. They experience psychosocial, identity and physical problems. Access to basic needs, care and education is limited. The parents’ emotional availability decreases. From a children’s rights perspective, it can be concluded that the decision to return children in this study did not meet their developmental needs, their best interests and children’s rights are contravened.
Inter-American Children and their Rights: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Judicial Decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
Authors: Silva Niño de Zepeda Rafael
Published: June 2022

This article focuses on the influence of courts and the achr in the social construction of childhood and children’s rights. Using critical discourse analysis, it explores the meanings and understandings of childhood and children’s rights that emerge from the judgments of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on family care, custody, adoption, deprivation of liberty and detention conditions. From this analysis, I argue that the iachr constructs a normative notion of the child according to which she is understood as being between the categories of human being, human becoming, subject of rights and object of protection and a concept of children’s rights according to which these are primarily thought of as their right to receive special measures of protection. The tensions between this complex view on childhood and a paternalistic approach to children’s rights reveals the need for a children’s rights specific international human rights law instrument for the Inter-American human rights system.
Children’s Rights in the Tourism Industry
Authors: Canosa Antonia , van Doore Kathryn E. , Beazley Harriot , Graham Anne
Published: June 2022

This article maps and critically discusses the intersection of childhood, human rights and tourism in scholarly research. Findings reveal this area of scholarship has received little attention beyond “adultist” and “protectionist” approaches, which construct children as too vulnerable to participate in tourism research, policy and practice. Through a systematic scoping review of relevant peer-reviewed scholarly articles, we argue for more child-centred, rights-based, and participatory approaches to engaging children in research about their lives in an area where their voices are often neglected. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (uncrc) was an important milestone in realising children’s rights, and while much has been achieved during this time, children’s rights research and scholarship must address certain fundamental issues to move into the future. This paper aims to respond to the recent call for more interdisciplinary efforts focused on children’s rights in the context of global development and tourism.
Due Process and Accountability Under Transitional Justice: Evidence from Mosul, Iraq
Authors: Mironova Vera , Whitt Sam
Published: June 2022

Do citizens care about due process rights when holding insurgent groups accountable for violence? We examine public perceptions of justice and fairness in judicial proceedings brought against suspected Islamic State (ISIS) militants and their supporters in Mosul, Iraq. We conducted a survey of Mosul residents and people in ISIS-affiliated displacement camps outside Mosul to evaluate public support for detainee due process rights. Using a trial and punishment survey experiment, we find that Mosul residents, while favoring capital punishment for ISIS involvement, are also sensitive to procedural due process rights of the accused. People with self-reported ISIS affiliations, in contrast, are more concerned with substantive due process, and do not see capital punishment outcomes as fair, regardless of procedural considerations. Although rebel group sympathizers and opponents have clashing perspectives on what constitutes equitable punishment for participation in insurgency, both recognize the importance of due process rights to long-term peace and security.
Effects of Defensive and Proactive Measures on Competition Between Terrorist Groups
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Subhayu , Sandler Todd
Published: June 2022

A two-stage game investigates how counterterrorism measures affect within-country competition between two rival terrorist groups. Although such competition is commonplace (e.g., al-Nusra Front and Free Syria Army; Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army; and al-Fatah and Hamas), there is no theoretical treatment of how proactive and defensive measures influence this interaction. Previous studies on rival terrorist groups are solely empirical concerning group survival, outbidding, and terrorism level, while ignoring the role that government countermeasures exert on the rival groups’ terrorism. In a theoretical framework, alternative counterterrorism actions have diverse impacts on the level of terrorism depending on relative group sizes and government-targeting decisions. In the two-stage game, optimal counterterrorism policy rules are displayed in terms of how governments target symmetric and asymmetric terrorist groups. Comparative statics show how parameter changes affect Nash or subgame perfect equilibrium outcomes.
Growth Mindset Predicts Cognitive Gains in an Older Adult Multi-Skill Learning Intervention
Authors: Sheffler Pamela , Kürüm Esra , Sheen Angelica M. , Ditta Annie S. , Ferguson Leah , Bravo Diamond , Rebok George W. , Strickland-Hughes Carla M. , Wu Rachel
Published: June 2022

Growth mindset (belief in the malleability of intelligence) is a unique predictor of young learners’ increased motivation and learning, and may have broader implications for cognitive functioning. Its role in learning in older adulthood is unclear. As part of a larger longitudinal study, we examined growth mindset and cognitive functioning in older adults engaged in a 3-month multi-skill learning intervention that included growth mindset discussions. Before, during, and after the intervention, participants reported on their growth mindset beliefs and completed a cognitive battery. Study 1 indicated that intervention participants, but not control participants, increased their growth mindset during the intervention. Study 2 replicated these results and found that older adults with higher preexisting growth mindsets showed larger cognitive gains at posttest compared to those with lower preexisting growth mindsets. Our findings highlight the potential role of growth mindset in supporting positive learning cycles for cognitive gains in older adulthood.
Place of Tubomanometry in Patulous Eustachian Tube Diagnosis
Authors: Ros Laetitia , Gargula Stéphane , Montava Marion , Michel Justin , Radulesco Thomas , Lavieille Jean‐Pierre
Published: June 2022

Objective

The aim of our study was to describe the diagnostic performances of tubomanometry (TMM) and to determine tubomanometric parameter thresholds for the diagnosis of patulous eustachian tube (PET).

Study Design

We performed a retrospective, monocentric study, including patients treated for PET vs control group.

Setting

This study was performed at the Otolaryngology Department of a tertiary‐care hospital in the south of France.

Methods

We collected epidemiologic and clinical data, as well as adjusted opening latency index (“R”‐index), rhinopharyngeal pressure threshold of tubal opening (Po), and velar contraction index (IVC) on TMM. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for determination of R index and Po thresholds.

Results

Twenty‐one patients (26 patulous ears) and 14 controls (24 normal ears) were included. The R index values and Po values were significantly lower in the PET group vs controls (0.46 vs 0.80, respectively; P < .05 for R index and 13.89 vs 26.42 mbar, respectively; P < .05 for Po). No significant difference was reported between the 2 groups on IVC measurement (P = .784). After ROC curve analysis, R index was the most discriminating factor to classify PET patients with 89% specificity and 76% sensitivity with a threshold ≤0.6. Po value ≤10 mbar could support this diagnosis with more than 83% specificity.

Conclusion

TMM is a reliable noninvasive method for positive diagnosis of PET. TMM could provide an accurate positive PET diagnosis and an objective evaluation for PET management.
The Green is the New Red? A Libertarian Challenge: The Radicals and the Friends of the Earth Italy, 1976–1983
Authors: Bonfreschi Lucia
Published: June 2022

This paper focuses on Italian libertarian and anti-authoritarian environmentalism, embodied at the political level by the Radical Party and by a small organization linked to it, the Amici della Terra, the Italian section of Friends of the Earth. It aims at highlighting their role within the environmentalist galaxy of associations, movements and committees and at studying their political strategy, the peculiarities of their cultural and political contribution to the Green movement, but also their clashes with the other components.

The paper analyses the Radical Party and Amici della Terra's support for anti-nuclear mobilizations in the late 1970s, especially against the construction of a nuclear plant in Montalto di Castro; how they provided a political outlet for many animal-rights movements and contributed to bringing conservationist associations closer to politics; and how they tried to build international links with other Green parties and associations. The paper highlights some political and ideological clashes between Radical environmentalism and the so-called ‘Red ecology’ around the referendum against nuclear power plants, the anti-hunting referendum and the mobilization for peace and the Amici della Terra's proposal to create local Green Lists. Thus it aims at adding a political interpretation to the cultural one – suggested by scholars – of the delay in the development of a Green party in Italy compared to other Western European countries.
Between State and Empire, Or How Western European Imperialism in Africa Redefined the Polish Nation
Authors: Cieslak Marta
Published: June 2022

The Warsaw positivists, one of Poland’s most influential intellectual collectives, emerged in the 1860s with an ambitious plan to strengthen the Polish nation. The self-proclaimed progressives, enamored with trends popular in Europe’s contemporary liberal circles, declared that Poles were a backward nation stuck in the feudal era. Consequently, they proposed comprehensive national reforms inspired by Western Europe, or the region that the Warsaw positivists designated to be the beacon of progress and civilization. However, as Western European empires intensified their colonial efforts in Africa in the final quarter of the nineteenth century, the Warsaw positivists felt compelled to reassess Western Europe through the lens of its ongoing imperial politics. This article examines the Warsaw positivist critique of Western European imperialism in Africa and argues that while the Warsaw positivists denounced Western European imperial methods, they stopped short of condemning imperialism per se. That allowed them to decry Western Europe for exploiting Africa and simultaneously justify Western European plans to subjugate the continent. Most importantly, the positivist critique of Western European actions in Africa opened space to redefine the place of Poles on the axis of progress and civilization. While never employing the category of whiteness explicitly, the Warsaw positivists included Poles in the increasingly racialized categories of civilization, progress, and Europeanness, even if, or perhaps particularly because, as a nation, Poles were politically vulnerable under the control of Russia, Germany and the Habsburg Empire, functioned on Europe’s margins, and in so many ways lagged behind Western Europe.
In and Against the State: The Making and Unmaking of the Barcelona May Days (1937)
Authors: Evans Danny
Published: June 2022

This article discusses the mobilization and demobilization of anarchist workers during the Barcelona May days of 1937. Using recently published and primary research, it analyses how and why these events took place. The article argues that the programmatic and organizational coherence of the uprising has traditionally been underestimated, due to a lack of historiographical attention to the activities of mid-level anarchist activists in the CNT and the FAI. Understanding the significance and potential of the May days is crucial to an appreciation of the dynamics of the anarchist movement during the Spanish civil war, the process of Republican state reconstruction, counterrevolutionary violence, and the revolutionary approach to the war effort.
Racialization of Disease: The Typhus-Epidemic, Antisemitism and Closed Borders in German-Occupied Poland, 1915–1918
Authors: Rybak Jan
Published: June 2022

This article analyses responses to the typhus epidemic in German-occupied Poland during the First World War. The German conquest of the Kingdom of Poland in 1915 not only instated a new political regime, but also brought about social misery on an unprecedented scale. Especially in larger cities, the poor segments of the population were made homeless or cramped into tiny apartments and suffered from hunger and disease. From 1915 outbreaks of typhus occurred in major cities, often found amongst the Jewish population. The German occupiers forcefully responded by fumigating houses, quarantining suspected cases, and forcing thousands of families into delousing facilities. These measures particularly targeted Jews as German medical officials identified them as the carriers and spreaders of the disease – some of them characterized typhus itself as a ‘Jewish disease’. In an effort to prevent the spread of the disease to Germany and to protect the German Volkskörper, Polish Jews – for the fact that they were Jews – were from 1918 onwards barred from crossing the border and thousands of Jewish migrant workers in German industry were arrested and deported. The article examines both the political and the medical context in which these policies were employed and analyses Jewish responses to both the spreading of the disease and the German anti-Jewish policies. It shows the close connection between health policy and antisemitic and nationalist ideological narratives and projects, and identifies this racialization of disease as a key moment in the development of German antisemitism.
Limited diagnostic facilities impeding the therapeutic approach of Mucopolysaccharidosis in Bangladesh: a case report
Authors: Pulock Orindom Shing , Pinky Susmita Dey , Hasan Syeda Humaida
Published: June 2022

In resource-constrained settings, mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) is a rare hereditary metabolic illness that frequently remains undiagnosed. We present a scenario that illustrates the challenges in diagnosing and managing MPS because of test inaccessibility, and we propose potential approaches to minimize the hurdles. We recommend that physicians anticipate a rare genetic disease, such as MPS, based on the clinical history findings from routine radiological investigations. Additionally, stakeholders should perform risk stratification and implement screening tests as soon as possible to ensure that patients are effectively enrolled in treatment programs.
Metabolic syndrome following a first episode of psychosis: results of a 1-year longitudinal study conducted in metropolitan Lisbon, Portugal
Authors: Coentre Ricardo , Levy Pedro , Góis Carlos , Figueira Maria Luísa
Published: June 2022

Objective

We aimed to assess the prevalence and course of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the associated metabolic parameters during the year following a first episode pf psychosis (FEP).

Methods

We performed a 1-year longitudinal observation of 60 patients who experienced FEP. MetS was defined using the modified definition of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. We assessed the metabolic parameters and socio-demographic and psychopathological data for the participants.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 27.1 years, and 33.3% of them were women. There was an increase in the prevalence of MetS from 6.7% to 11.7% during the year following the baseline assessment during the year following the baseline assessment ( p = 0.250). There were also significant increases in the prevalences of abnormal triglyceride concentration, waist circumference, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration during this period. In addition, there was a considerable worsening of the metabolic profile of the participants. No baseline parameters were identified to be predictors of MetS over the 1-year follow-up period.

Conclusions

We can conclude that metabolic abnormalities are common in patients with FEP and that these rapidly worsen during the first year following the diagnosis of FEP. Studies on interventions are needed to reduce metabolic risk to cardiovascular diseases following the FEP.
Refining the psychometric properties of the Trinity Student Occupational Performance Profile – A self-report measure of occupational performance difficulties within the student role
Authors: Lombard Kim , Nolan Clodagh , Heron Elizabeth
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Navigating the transition to university can pose occupational performance difficulties for students with mental health disabilities including those on the autism spectrum or with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This study aimed to refine the Trinity Student Occupational Performance Profile (TSOPP) – a self-report measure of occupational performance difficulties within the student role for students with mental health disabilities which is based on the Person-Environment-Occupation model.

Method

Data from 667 files were gathered from two Irish universities. Rasch analyses were conducted on the measure’s item-sets (i.e. Person N = 30; Environment N = 20; Occupation N = 24) and on an item-set which combined all 74 items. All item-sets were assessed for fit, rating scale functioning, dimensionality, reliability and separation indices.

Results

The TSOPP demonstrated stronger psychometric properties as a combined item-set which measures the ultimate construct of occupational performance difficulties within the student role. The 6-point scale was collapsed into a 4-point scale and 20 redundant items were removed. The item difficulty hierarchy provided empirical evidence for occupational performance difficulties in the student role.

Conclusion

The TSOPP is a valid and reliable self-report measure of occupational performance difficulties within the student role for students with mental health disabilities in higher education.
Priorities for returning to work after traumatic injury: A public and professional involvement study
Authors: Gavin James P , Kettlewell Jade , Elliott Abigail O , Ammour Sandra , Wareham Peter
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Following traumatic injury, occupational therapists (OTs) are pivotal in supporting people to return-to-work (RTW) and regain independence. Aim: to identify priorities for RTW after traumatic injury and highlight barriers hindering the process.

Method

We recruited 17 participants with direct (i.e. trauma survivor [ n = 11]; OT trauma survivor [ n = 2]) or indirect (i.e. OT [ n = 4]) experience of returning to work following traumatic injury. Online consultations, lasting 60 min, were guided by a semi-structured script ensuring relevant topics were covered. An inductive approach was used for coding themes using thematic analysis.

Findings

Sense of purpose, identity and social interaction were greater priorities for RTW, than financial stability. Major barriers were: pain and fatigue; adapting to physical changes; impacts on mental health; and lack of support (healthcare and the workplace). Participants (public and healthcare professionals) reported a lack of vocational rehabilitation in supporting trauma survivors RTW, but advocated occupational therapy for psychological recovery; purposeful engagement in occupations; and community support.

Conclusion

Restoring an individual’s self-identity and social connections, whilst helping control pain and fatigue, should be prioritised when planning occupational therapy for those returning to work after traumatic injury. This study was limited to ‘returners’, but can inform occupational therapy interventions for RTW.
A Critical Race Theory of Psychology as Praxis: Proposing and Utilizing Principles of PsyCrit
Authors: Crossing Adrianna E. , Gumudavelly Divya , Watkins Nia , Logue Caroline , Anderson Riana Elyse
Published: June 2022

Historically, psychological science has contributed to maintaining the hegemony of white normativity and a fallacious belief in objective science that speaks to one singular truth about race. Due to a widespread unfamiliarity with critical theories and research methods in the field, novel approaches to psychological scientific inquiry are warranted to support scholars in pursuing racially-just empirical inquiries with socially-just implications. This manuscript aims to (1) introduce an evolution from critical race theory in psychology to a set of principles to guide research praxis: PsyCrit and (2) demonstrate its utility through use in an exemplar qualitative study. Qualitative coding analysis of semi-structured interviews with four Black mothers and one Black father ( n = 5) participating in the Engaging, Managing, and Bonding through Race intervention was conducted to model the use of PsyCrit in practice and deepen our understanding of parent factors in Black families. This manuscript unpacks four aspects of the exemplar study utilizing four of the seven tenets of PsyCrit. The depth of analysis provided by the framework suggests that these principles may serve in guiding psychological researchers toward more nuanced investigations, especially as they relate to issues of race or racism.
“The Average Counsellor Wouldn’t Know”: Exploring How General Health Practitioners Understand and Respond to Domestic Violence
Authors: Loncar Nicole , Scott Katreena L.
Published: June 2022

Background

Individuals experiencing and perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV) are frequently in contact with general health and mental health services. Health service providers, including nurses, thus have a key role in identifying and responding to initial indicators of IPV risk.

Purpose

The present study provides descriptive information about current assessment and intervention practices of health and mental health service providers when patients are presenting with concerns about IPV.

Methods

A secondary data analysis of interviews with general health practitioners (n = 17) were coded and dominant themes analyzed through thematic analysis.

Results

The present study uncovered ways in which IPV-related risks are, and are not, recognized and responded to. A metaphorical visual display in the form of a “domestic violence supply room” depicts the level of access and degree of competency described by practitioners in respective areas of practice. Within reach for all practitioners is the knowledge of factors that increase risk and vulnerability to IPV. Out of reach is a comprehensive understanding of the needs of children and perpetrators as well as the consistent ability to consider intersectionality and be reflexive when working with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. The step ladder to improved IPV response, including formal supports such as training and procedures, is frequently described as lacking.

Conclusions

A consistent and empirically supported approach to IPV assessment and response is rare to find across generalist service provision. Although service providers possess basic knowledge of risk factors, organizational direction is needed to allow providers to address IPV confidently and effectively.
Perception of major life events and personality trait change
Authors: Haehner Peter , Rakhshani Andrew , Fassbender Ina , Lucas Richard E , Donnellan Michael Brent , Luhmann Maike
Published: June 2022

Major life events can trigger personality trait change. However, a clear, replicable pattern of event-related personality trait change has yet to be identified. We examined whether the perception of major life events is associated with personality trait change. Therefore, we assessed young adults’ personality traits at five measurement occasions within 1 year. At the second measurement occasion, we also assessed their perception of a recently experienced major life event using the Event Characteristics Questionnaire. Contrary to our expectations, perceived impact of the event was not associated with the amount of personality trait change, but perceived valence was associated with changes in agreeableness and neuroticism. Exploratory analyses revealed some weak associations between other perceived event characteristics and the amount of personality trait change as well as interactions between perceived event characteristics and event categories in predicting changes in neuroticism. In general, effect sizes were small, and associations depended on the time interval between pre-event and post-event personality assessment. Results indicate that perceived event characteristics should be considered when examining event-related personality trait change.
Current Perspectives on Teacher Unionization, and What They’re Missing
Authors: Lyon Melissa Arnold
Published: June 2022

Educational policy research on teacher unionization in the United States has been dominated by two theoretical perspectives: rent-seeking and teacher voice. While bringing valuable insights to bear, these views have mutated into rigid and often ideologically charged alternatives with strong normative claims about teacher collective bargaining. Drawing from a political economy framework, this article advances a distinct theoretical perspective focusing on the progressive coalition building activities of teachers’ unions (i.e., organizing and mobilizing to promote the interests of working people in policymaking). This perspective resolves previous theoretical anomalies of union behavior; provides many new avenues for research; and highlights distinct considerations for the practice of teacher organizing.
A temperature- and conversion-dependent cohesive zone approach for the calculation of process-induced damage in adhesive bondlines of multi-material structures
Authors: Griese Michael , Günther Niklas , Stammen Elisabeth , Dilger Klaus
Published: June 2022

Adhesive bondlines in multi-material car bodies underlie various influences from the production process. Especially the mismatch of the coefficient of thermal expansion during the oven process of cathodic dip coating can cause damage and weaken the joint strength. Temperature-dependent mechanical properties and the increasing conversion that describes the degree of cure of the adhesive are important parameters affecting the adhesive bondlines during production. To take these effects into account in numerical simulations, a cohesive zone approach, which is commonly used to model adhesive bondlines in structural simulations, is adapted to a one-component, hot curing, structural epoxy adhesive for body-in-white manufacturing and is extended with a reaction kinetic model of the curing reaction, conversion-dependent material properties, and temperature dependency. The investigation of the material properties using a rheometer and differential scanning calorimetry experiments is described. Furthermore, the cohesive zone model is presented and an experimental validation of the model using customized tapered-double-cantilever-beam specimens to investigate the crack opening behavior of incompletely cured adhesives shows a good agreement with the numerical data.
Aerodynamic performance investigation of an axial flow compressor under water ingestion
Authors: Ishaque Ghulam , Zheng Qun , Ahmad Naseem , Luo Mingcong , Aziz Arif
Published: June 2022

This paper presents numerical simulations of the effects of water ingestion in the axial flow compressor. A self-compiled droplet-wall interaction model is used to study the impingement of the droplets and the film fragmenting process on the surfaces of the compressor blades, which also included the splashing effects. The blade profile has been divided into small regions to effectively apply the rough wall model to capture the film-related flow losses, which has shown flow characteristics with better accuracy. The formation of water film, its shedding, the size, and the movement of droplets after film peeling have been investigated using unsteady simulations at different time intervals. The increased loss of characteristics, shortening of the operating range, and change of flow velocity angle were observed with increasing water content. Moreover, the current research work shown that an increase in the amount of water has severe aerodynamic effects that caused the shock waves to move an upstream location with an increase in intensity. A higher blockage is generated in the tip section flow as the amount of the water increased. Tip losses were very dominant as water injection rate increased, resulting an additional energy loss and performance degradation.
Photocatalytic membrane of TiO2/CNT decorated PAN nanofibers with enhanced performance under LED visible-light irradiation
Authors: Hastuti Lathifah Puji , Kusumaatmaja Ahmad , Darmawan Adi , Kartini Indriana
Published: June 2022

Incorporating TiO2 with CNTs and PAN nanofiber structures results in a photocatalytic membrane composite with an attractive response in the visible region. It offers an efficient process without post-treatment separation at the end of the photocatalytic treatment. The composite membranes were fabricated using electrospinning at 7 kV with 10 cm in the distance between needle tip and collector at a flow rate of 1 mL h−1. Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was used as the polymer matrix. All the as-spun composites exhibited randomly oriented nanofibers. CNT increased the fiber diameters from 324 to 463 nm. The bandgap of TiO2 also shifted from 3.15 to 2.76 eV at the narrowest The color removal kinetics follow the Langmuir-Hinshelwood pseudo-first-order kinetics model with the highest rate constant of 0.0225 min−1 shown by PAN/TiO2/CNT 20%. More than 95% color removal of methylene blue after 100 min irradiation has been achieved using LED lamps of low energy visible light (43.5 W). Such a result is supposed to be the highest employing low energy lamps.

[Formula: see text]
Immortalized Bone Mesenchymal Stromal Cells With Inducible Galanin Expression Produce Controllable Pain Relief in Neuropathic Rats
Authors: An Ke , Cui Yingpeng , Zhong Xiaolong , Li Kunhe , Zhang Jinjun , Liu Huiping , Wen Zhishuang
Published: June 2022

Management of chronic pain is one of the most difficult problems in modern practice. Grafted human telomerase reverse transcriptase–immortalized bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hTERT-BMSCs) with inducible galanin (GAL) expression have been considered to be a potentially safe and controllable approach for the alleviation of chronic pain. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to assess the feasibility of hTERT-BMSCs/Tet-on/GAL cells secreting GAL under the transcriptional control of doxycycline (Dox) for controllable pain relief. After transplanted into the subarachnoid space of neuropathic rats induced by spared nerve injury of sciatic nerve, their analgesic actions were investigated by behavioral tests. The results showed that the pain-related behaviors, mechanical allodynia, and thermal hyperalgesia were significantly alleviated during 1 to 7 weeks after grafts of hTERT-BMSCs/Tet-on/GAL cells without motor incoordination. Importantly, these effects could be reversed by GAL receptor antagonist M35 and regulated by Dox induction as compared with control. Moreover, the GAL level in cerebrospinal fluid and spinal GAL receptor 1 (GalR1) expression were correlated with Dox administration, but not GAL receptor 2 (GalR2). Meanwhile, spinal protein kinase Mζ (PKMζ) expression was also inhibited significantly. Taken together, these data suggest that inducible release of GAL from transplanted cells was able to produce controllable pain relief in neuropathic rats via inhibiting the PKMζ activation and activating its GalR1 rather than GalR2. This provides a promising step toward a novel stem cell–based strategy for pain therapy.
Female Leadership and Firm Value in an Emerging Economy: A Panel Data Framework
Authors: Arora Akshita
Published: June 2022

The diversity in a board may impact monitoring and decision-making in a company and thus, may have a bearing on firm value. In view of the importance of the ongoing debate that board gender diversity has generated, our study examines the link between gender diversity on a board and firm value in an emerging economy where women directors have become a mandatory part of the board. We investigate the issue using a panel data framework and a three-stage least squares method while addressing the endogeneity issues. Our data set consists of the top 500 listed companies for five years, that is, from 2015 to 2019. The data analysis shows that Indian boards had 5% female members’ participation in the boardroom in the year 2013, which has increased to 14% in 2019. The empirical analysis shows that the presence and fraction of female directors positively impact performance measures. The study suggests that compliance with regulatory authorities for the inclusion of woman directors has led to greater gender diversity to improve the company’s performance and generate economic gains. When diversity is embraced in its true sense in the corporate boardroom, decision-making by such a diverse team becomes unbeatable. The study advocates that companies need to appoint women on board not only to meet regulatory requirements but also to reap the benefits of gender diversity.