bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relation Between New York Heart Association Functional Class and Remnant Cholesterol, and Non-high Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Coronary Heart Disease Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Cheng Qi , Li Zhu , Wang Xu , Wang Shuo , Liu Yijia , Huang Mengnan , Li Yue , Xue Xiaoxue , Bu Huaien , Yang Rongrong , Xu Yilan , Li Lin , Gao Shan , Zheng Yanchao , Yu Chunquan
Published: April 2022

Remnant cholesterol (RC) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the association between RC, non-HDL-C, and CHD patients with T2DM has not been comprehensively investigated. We analyzed the association between RC, non-HDL-C, and cardiac function in CHD patients with T2DM. Of the 22 022 CHD patients from six hospitals in Tianjin, 5373 (24.4%) patients with T2DM had higher levels of RC and non-HDL-C ( P < .001) than those without T2DM. Among CHD patients with T2DM, RC and non-HDL-C were positively associated with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class Ⅱ [RC: odds ratio (OR), 1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.50–2.01; P < .01; non-HDL-C: OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.15–1.31; P < .01]. After adjusting for confounding factors, this association remained (RC: OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03–1.45; P < .05; non-HDL-C: OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02–1.17; P < .05). These findings provide evidence of an independent positive association between RC, non-HDL-C, and NYHA functional classes. More research is warranted to confirm these findings and determine the mechanisms involved.
Should Propranolol Remain the Gold Standard for Treatment of Infantile Hemangioma? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Propranolol Versus Atenolol
Authors: Chen Tiffany , Gudipudi Rachana , Nguyen Shaun A. , Carroll William , Clemmens Clarice
Published: April 2022

Background:

Although propranolol has been established as the gold standard when treatment is sought for infantile hemangioma, concerns over its side effect profile have led to increasing usage of atenolol, a beta-1 selective blocker.

Methods:

A systematic review of PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Cochrane was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using MeSH terms and keywords for the terms propranolol, atenolol, and infantile hemangioma, including alternative spellings. All randomized control trials (RCTs) or cohort studies directly comparing outcomes of hemangioma treatment with atenolol and propranolol were included. A meta-analysis with pooled mean differences, pooled odds ratios, and analysis of proportions was performed.

Results:

A total of 669 participants in 7 studies (3 RCTs and 4 cohort) were included. Propranolol showed a significantly higher rate of complete response compared to atenolol (73.3% vs 85.4%, P = .0004). The pooled mean difference of 0.07 (95% CI –0.12, 0.27) in Hemangioma Activity Score (HAS) was not statistically significant. In terms of side effects, there were significantly more agitation and bronchial hyperreactivity events in the propranolol group ( P = .0245 and P < .0001, respectively). Overall, there was a significantly greater number of adverse events in the propranolol group compared to the atenolol group (185 vs 117, P < .00001). The overall pooled odds ratio was 2.70 (95% CI 1.90, 3.84), indicating that there is 2.7 times higher odds of adverse events in the propranolol group.

Conclusion:

Propranolol treatment leads to a significantly higher rate of complete response than atenolol. However, its use must be weighed against its greater side effect profile.
Crime Discounting of Violent Victimization: The Role of Crime Type and Incident-Level Correlates
Authors: Muniz Caitlyn N. , Powers Ráchael A. , Bleeker Kacy
Published: April 2022

Many crime victims do not report their victimization and rates of reporting are disparate across crime types. While research has established victims are least likely to report sexual assault, less known is whether the crime discounting process affects reporting rates and whether this process differs by crime type. This paper thus examines reporting for robbery, sexual assault, and physical assault incidents, particularly exploring victims who indicated their incident was “not a crime.” Using the National Crime Victimization Survey (n = 15,012) and a series of logistic regressions, this study found that, holding a number of incident-level correlates constant, crime type was the most salient predictor of reporting to police and nonreporting because the incident was “not a crime.”
Criminalization of femicide in Latin America: Challenges of legal conceptualization
Authors: Pasinato Wania , de Ávila Thiago Pierobom
Published: April 2022

The concept of femicide was created within the feminist theoretical field of studies influencing Law reform in Latin America. Eighteen countries throughout the region have criminalized femicide based on different legal provisions, in intimate and nonintimate relations. This article aims to provide a comparison of legal definitions of femicide as adopted in Latin American legal frameworks and to analyze the challenges of using law to give a name to the gender-based killings of women. The transition of the concept to law may partially impact its potential since other forms of gender-based violence may be hidden in a general clause of ‘gender prejudice’. It may also lead to restricted recognition in the legal system since traditionally this system operates in a conservative way wherein individual criminal liability has limitations in addressing institutional discrimination. Despite regional challenges, criminalization has contributed to raising social awareness on gendered killings. It has induced improvements in statistics and pushed for more attention on prevention policies and support for survivors and relatives. Nevertheless, current conservative movements tend to stress only the punitive approach and entail backlash on gender equality policies. This comparative study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the concept in the region.
Positioning and Fit in Designing and Executing Qualitative Research
Authors: Zilber Tammar B. , Meyer Renate E.
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we aim to help researchers think, design, and execute their empirical journey by mapping the terrain of choices common in qualitative research. We offer a matrix that relates to various dimensions—the level at which to study the phenomenon (level of analysis), types of field materials, time orientation of research and data, the analytic approach, and the unit of data (unit of analysis). This matrix is intended to support making informed decisions that result in specific research designs and the continuous process of reflection as to how these choices open and limit the ability to answer the research question and offer an analytic generalization based on the findings.
Investigation of mechanical, physicochemical, and thermal properties of new fiber from Silybum marianum bark fiber
Authors: Laifa Fakhreddine , Rokbi Mansour , Amroune Salah , Zaoui Moussa , Seki Yasemin
Published: April 2022

The present investigation aimed to understand the physicochemical properties of the new cellulosic fiber extracted from the bark of Silybum marianum (SM), in view of using it as a potential reinforcement for polymer composites. The morphological and anatomy, physical, thermal and mechanical properties of fibers were firstly discussed in this paper. The Silybum marianum fibers (SMF) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), optical microscope, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and single fiber tensile test. The average Young’s modulus and the breaking stress data presented by the fibers are 15.97 GPa and 201.16 MPa, respectively. XRD reveals the presence of cellulose with a crystallinity index of 45%. Thermal stability (250°C) and maximum degradation temperature (357.72°C) of the SMF are established by the thermogravimetric analysis. An analysis of the mechanical properties was carried out on a population of 35 samples using Weibull statistics with two and three parameters.
Deriving Constitutional Implications: The Role of ‘External’ Sources in the Text and Structure Approach
Authors: Avgoustinos Costa
Published: April 2022

The High Court applies the ‘text and structure approach’ when deriving constitutional implications. This requires implications to be drawn from the ‘text’ and ‘structure’ of the document. A particular line of criticism has been made by some scholars that frames this approach as a falsehood. According to these scholars, judges claim to be drawing implications solely from the ‘text’ and ‘structure’ but are, in fact, employing ‘external’ sources when carrying out this task. I argue that this criticism is misguided. Judges are using ‘external’ sources to help illuminate the ideas conveyed by, or contained within, the ‘text’ and ‘structure’. This means that their use of ‘external’ sources is not necessarily a circumvention of the text and structure approach but an accompaniment to it. The relevant scholars’ critique seems to be rooted in flawed conceptualisations of the Constitution’s ‘text’ and ‘structure’ and their ideational content. This work examines the problems with the relevant scholars’ critique and offers what I consider to be a more accurate explanation of the operation (and shortcomings) of the text and structure approach.
Cultivating Community College Pathways to STEM Leadership: Examining the Relationships Between Gender, Upward Transfer, and Students’ Computing Leadership Identity
Authors: Blaney Jennifer M.
Published: April 2022

Objective: Upward transfer pathways are an important mechanism for advancing gender equity in STEM. Yet, little is known about how students access lucrative STEM careers and leadership positions via community colleges. This study explores the factors that may promote computing leadership identity among upward transfer students, focusing specifically on gender differences in upward transfer computing student experiences. Methods: This study relies on longitudinal survey data from N = 1,955 computing majors across 15 universities in the United States. I used linear regression with tests of two- and three-way interaction terms to examine how factors associated with computing leadership identity might differ by upward transfer student status and gender. Results: Findings highlight how faculty mentorship, peer support, and involvement in student groups might shape leadership identity among all computing students. Other findings show that time spent working for pay is positively associated with leadership identity for non-transfers but negatively associated with leadership identity for upward transfer students. Significant three-way interactions show that parent career and sense of belonging in computing are uniquely associated with leadership identity for upward transfer women. Conclusions: This study identifies contextual factors that are uniquely associated with computing leadership identity for upward transfer students, while identifying ways in which institutions can increase upward transfer students’ access to college experiences that are positively associated with leadership identity for all students. Future directions for research are discussed, including opportunities for researchers to test the impact of specific interventions to promote leadership identity, aspirations, and behaviors for upward transfer students.
Words of Warning: A Randomized Study of the Impact of Assorted Warning Letters on Academic Probation Students
Authors: Moss Brian G. , Kelcey Ben
Published: April 2022

Objective: Superiority experiments supply a critical lens to probe higher education interventions because they can dismantle the collective effect of a program and identify the relative contribution of the core components. However, such lines of inquiry are generally absent in higher education literature. We draw on experimental data to probe the dominant mechanisms of a simple but promising academic probation intervention. Methods: We used a 2 × 2 factorial experiment designed to unpack the effects of an academic probation intervention and identify the dominant mechanism. Within this framework, 500 academic probation students were assigned to one of four treatment conditions or a control condition. Treatment groups were assigned to receive notification of academic probation status by either certified or regular mail (factor A) that contained either a standard or embellished letter (factor B). Results: We found that students who received embellished warning letters significantly improved subsequent academic performance. The impact on performance was 0.35 grade points when notification sent by regular mail and amplified to 0.48 grade points when sent via certified mail. The routine notification communication message did not differ from the treatment as usual method regardless of mail delivery method. Conclusions: These findings suggest the availability of low-cost, scalable interventions are available and can be identified to positively impact at-risk students’ academic achievement.
Free Cash Flows and Price Momentum
Authors: Fu Jiajia , Xu Fangming , Zeng Cheng , Zheng Liyi
Published: April 2022

This study investigates the role of free cash flows and (cross-sectional and time-series) price momentum in predicting future stock returns. Past returns and free cash flows each positively predict future stock returns after controlling for the other, suggesting that cash flows and momentum both contain valuable and distinctive information about future stock returns. A strategy of buying past winners with high free cash flows and shorting past losers with low free cash flows significantly outperforms the traditional momentum trading strategy. The enhanced performance is not sensitive to investor sentiment, time variations, or transaction costs. Further analysis shows that the incremental cash flow effects are largely attributable to net distributions to equity/debt holders. Overall, our findings shed light on the role of corporate fundamentals in technical trading strategies.
Comparison of Routine Hematology, Coagulation, and Clinical Chemistry Parameters of Cynomolgus Macaques of Mauritius Origin With Cynomolgus Macaques of Cambodia, China, and Vietnam Origin
Authors: Arndt Tara , Meindel Mandy , Clarke Joseph , Shaw Amanda , Gregori Michela
Published: April 2022

Cynomolgus macaques ( Macaca fascicularis) are commonly used in safety assessment and as translational models for drug development. Recent supply chain pressures, exportation bans, and increased demand for drug safety assessment studies exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted the investigation of utilizing macaques of different geographic origin in preclinical toxicity studies. This study compares routine hematology, coagulation, and clinical chemistry endpoints of 3 distinct subpopulations of mainland Asia origin (Cambodia, China, and Vietnam) with Mauritius origin macaques compiling results of 3,225 animals from 123 regulatory toxicology studies conducted at North American and European Union contract research organization facilities between 2016 and 2019. Results were generally similar amongst the subpopulations compared in this study. Few notable differences in hematology test results and several minor differences in serum biochemistry and coagulation test results were identified when 3 distinct subpopulations of mainland Asia origin macaques were compared with Mauritius origin macaques. Our findings support the use of different origin macaques in drug development programs; however, emphasizes the importance of maintaining consistency in geographic origin of animals within a study.
Revisiting Marginal Intra-Industry Trade and Portuguese Labour Market
Authors: Leitão Nuno Carlos , Braz Henrique Freixa , Oliveira Pedro
Published: April 2022

Objectives

This study aims to empirically test the smooth adjustment hypothesis (SAH) in the Portuguese labour market during 2000–2018, considering changes in employment, wage, productivity, consumption and the marginal intra-industry trade.

Research Design

So, following the literature, a greater marginal intra-industry trade intensity should reduce adverse shocks expressed in temporary inefficiencies such as undesirable job search costs and workers’ relocation and retraining. According to state of the art, our research strategy considered a battery of diagnosis tests about the random generating process of variables included in a dynamic panel data model.

Methods

The extensive work developed in this paper is a further step to introduce recent techniques such as the Method of Moments Quantile Regression and the cointegration panel models to infer long-term dynamics.

Results and Conclusions

Overall, the main point is that we find evidence confirming the hypothesis mentioned above, showing that mutual interactions reduce adverse shocks above mentioned. Thus, the study demonstrates that the marginal intra-industry trade promotes smooth adjustment in the Portuguese economy.
The Revolution Will Be Forwarded: Interrogating India's WhatsApp Imaginary
Authors: Maddox Jessica , Kanthawala Shaheen
Published: April 2022

WhatsApp is one the world's most popular social media apps, as well as one of the most popular chat-based, closed platforms. Utilizing the insights from 19 in-depth interviews, we approach WhatsApp from a cultural perspective of ritual communication, seeking to understand how people make sense of WhatsApp use in their daily lives. We found WhatsApp is largely used to maintain community and fellowship with friends, coworkers, family, and even acquaintances or strangers. However, WhatsApp use is not wholly cohesive or harmonious. Social life on WhatsApp can become highly fragmented given numerous groups, and more groups mean more messages that individuals struggle to keep up with. We define the central nature of WhatsApp in Indian social life as India's WhatsApp imaginary, in which ritualized mobile media practices intertwine with cultural contexts to transcend borders, connect people via mobile affordances, and sustain daily social and business lives.
Implementation of the graduated compression as an adjunct to pharmaco-thromboprophylaxis in surgery trial results across the UK
Authors: Lawton Rebecca , Shalhoub Joseph , Davies Alun H
Published: April 2022

Objectives

This study aims to examine uptake and dissemination of a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA)–funded trial – Graduated compression as an Adjunct to Pharmaco-thromboprophylaxis in Surgery (GAPS) (project number: 14/140/61) amongst health professionals in the UK. This study aims to evaluate the impact of the trial on venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention policies 7 months after publication.

Method

A 12-question online survey emailed to 2750 individuals via several vascular societies, 34 VTE Exemplar Centre leads and 1 charity over a 3-month period.

Results

In total, 250 responses were received; a 9.1% response rate. Over half of all respondents (52.4%) had read the GAPS trial results prior to completing the survey. Precisely, 77.1% said their hospital had not yet made changes or did not intend to make changes to local hospital VTE policy based on the GAPS trial.

Conclusions

Findings must be interpreted in the context of the low response rate. Further in-depth interviews would aid understanding of barriers to implementing change.
Does a powerlifting inspired exercise programme better compliment pain education compared to bodyweight exercise for people with chronic low back pain? A multicentre, single-blind, randomised controlled trial
Authors: Gibbs Mitchell T , Morrison Natalie MV , Raftry Sean , Jones Matthew D , Marshall Paul W
Published: April 2022

Background

Contemporary management of chronic low back pain involves combined exercise and pain education. Currently, there is a gap in the literature for whether any exercise mode better pairs with pain education. The purpose of this study was to compare general callisthenic exercise with a powerlifting style programme, both paired with consistent pain education, for chronic low back pain. We hypothesised powerlifting style training may better compliment the messages of pain education.

Methods

An 8-week single-blind randomised controlled trial was conducted comparing bodyweight exercise (n  =  32) with powerlifting (n  =  32) paired with the same education, for people with chronic low back pain. Exercise sessions were one-on-one and lasted 60-min, with the last 5–15 min comprising pain education. Pain, disability, fear, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, anxiety, and depression were measured at baseline, 8-weeks, 3-months, and 6-months.

Results

No significant between-group differences were observed for pain ( p≥0.40), or disability ( p≥0.45) at any time-point. Within-group differences were significantly improved for pain ( p ≤ 0.04) and disability ( p ≤ 0.04) at all time-points for both groups, except 6-month disability in the bodyweight group ( p  =  0.1). Behavioural measures explained 39–60% of the variance in changes in pain and disability at each time-point, with fear and self-efficacy emerging as significant in these models ( p ≤ 0.001)

Conclusions

Both powerlifting and bodyweight exercise were safe and beneficial when paired with pain education for chronic low back pain, with reductions in pain and disability associated with improved fear and self-efficacy. This study provides opportunity for practitioners to no longer be constrained by systematic approaches to chronic low back pain.
Effect of midazolam on delirium in critically ill patients: a propensity score analysis
Authors: Shi He-Jie , Yuan Rui-Xia , Zhang Jun-Zhi , Chen Jia-Hui , Hu An-Min
Published: April 2022

Objective

To observe the association between exposure to midazolam within 24 hours prior to delirium assessment and the risk of delirium.

Methods

We performed a systematic cohort study with two sets of cohorts to estimate the relative risks of outcomes among patients administered midazolam within 24 hours prior to delirium assessment. Propensity score matching was performed to generate a balanced 1:1 matched cohort and identify potential prognostic factors. The outcomes included the odds of delirium, mortality, length of intensive care unit stay, length of hospitalization, and odds of being discharged home.

Results

A total of 78,364 patients were included in this study, of whom 22,159 (28.28%) had positive records. Propensity matching successfully balanced covariates for 9348 patients (4674 per group). Compared with no administration of midazolam, midazolam administration was associated with a significantly higher risk of delirium, higher mortality, and a longer intensive care unit stay. Patients treated with midazolam were relatively less likely to be discharged home. There was no significant difference in hospitalization duration.

Conclusions

Midazolam may be an independent risk factor for delirium in critically ill patients.
Late venous laceration after inappropriate placement of a left internal jugular hemodialysis catheter: a case report
Authors: Hu Xiaohua , Xue Cheng , Wu Bibo , Yu Hua , Liang Congdie , Zhang Liming
Published: April 2022

Central venous catheterization is a necessary and common method of building the circulation pathways of patients with end-stage kidney disease. Venous rupture is a severe and fatal complication of central venous catheterization. We herein present a case of slowly occurring venous rupture after reinsertion of a left internal jugular vein (IJV) catheter. A man in his early 70s was hospitalized with end-stage kidney disease. We inserted a hemodialysis catheter through the left IJV. A short section of the patient’s catheter slipped out 1 month later. The original catheter was reinserted at its primary position without a guidewire. The patient reported chest pain and developed hypotension during dialysis the next day. He underwent femoral venous catheter insertion and heparin-free dialysis. The patient finally recovered and underwent regular hemodialysis using an arteriovenous fistula in the left forearm. This is the first reported case of venous laceration after repeated left IJV catheterization. Left IJV catheterization is associated with high rates of complications and should be closely monitored with the help of radiography during and after the operation. Central venous catheters should be carefully placed with clear knowledge of their direction and location to prevent serious complications.
Unilateral pulmonary oedema: a case report and literature review
Authors: Su Wei-Xue , Qian Xue-Feng , Jiang Li , Wu Yun-Fu , Liu Jun
Published: April 2022

Acute myocarditis is often secondary to an acute virus infection, which can be the first manifestation of upper respiratory tract symptoms, followed by chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain and other non-specific symptoms. In severe cases, it can quickly progress to serious complications such as heart failure, shock and respiratory failure. Laboratory examinations can show an increase of myocardial injury markers, infection and inflammatory indicators. Cardiac ultrasound can detect the weakening of the myocardial contraction and valve regurgitation. On imaging, bilateral pulmonary oedema demonstrates symmetrical infiltration along the hilum of lung, called the “butterfly shadow”. This current case report describes a patient with unilateral pulmonary oedema caused by myocarditis that was initially misdiagnosed and treated as pneumonia. The patient was subsequently treated with the application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and he made a full recovery. A review of this case highlights that when a patient’s symptoms are not typical, a comprehensive examination and evaluation are required to avoid incorrect treatment.
How Can Theories Represent Social Phenomena?
Authors: Fuhse Jan A.
Published: April 2022

Discussions in sociological theory often focus on ontological questions on the nature of social reality. Against the underlying epistemological realism, I argue for a constructivist notion of theory: Theories are webs of concepts that we use to guide empirical observations and to make sense of them. We cannot know the real features of the social world, only what our theoretical perspectives make us see. Theories therefore represent social phenomena by highlighting certain features and relating them in a logical system. In this system, theoretical sentences can be considered true if they meet two conditions: (1) They are consistent with the theory at hand and (2) adequately map empirically observable relations between objects denoted by theoretical constructs. Truth is therefore relative to a perspective; it is not objectively determinable. Theories should be assessed not for their ontologies but for what they allow us to see and how they connect to empirical observations.
Gun violence as a public health issue: Media advocacy, framing and implications for communication
Authors: McKeever Brooke W. , Choi Minhee , Walker Denetra , McKeever Robert
Published: April 2022

Following a recent push to reframe gun violence as a public health issue, an online survey (N = 510) helped explore frame salience and frame adoption through the lens of media advocacy. Findings revealed that gun control and gun rights frames are salient, and television, social media and newspapers are the most popular sources of gun violence information. Individuals are being held responsible, while background checks were the most salient and adopted solution among Americans. Three gun rights organizations were the most salient organizations from media coverage related to gun violence. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Blood serum levels of selected biomarkers of oxidative stress among printing workers occupationally exposed to low-levels of toluene and xylene
Authors: Dehghan Haghighi Javid , Hormozi Maryam , Payandeh Abolfazl
Published: April 2022

Printing workers (PWs) are exposed to a mixture of solvents, yet the health risks associated with such exposuer are unknown. This study aimed to compare the serum levels of selected biomarkers of oxidative stress among occupationally exposed PWs to low-level of toluene and xylenes and unexposed controls. Associations between levels of such biomarkers and occupational exposures to toluene and xylene were also investigated. Urinary levels of hippuric acid (HA) and methyl hippuric acids (MHAs) as exposure biomarkers of toluene and xylenes, respectively, and serum levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were measured among the 84 subjects, comprising 44 PWs and 40 unexposed subjects. Mean concentrations of urinary HA and MHAs of PWs showed a significant increase compared with the unexposed controls. Although levels of urinary biomarkers of exposure to toluene (HA) and xylenes (MHAs) were well below the biological exposure indices (BEIs; ACGHI), PWs presented significantly increased serum levels of MDA, and significantly decreased serum activities of SOD and GPx compared to the unexposed controls. However, for serum TAC and CAT activity, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. Correlation analyses indicated that urinary levels of HA and MHAs were positively correlated with MDA levels and negatively correlated with GPx and SOD. Our study suggested that the alterations evidenced in serum levels of MDA, SOD, and GPx could be involved in the oxidative stress caused by co-exposure to low levels of toluene and xylene. Further investigation is needed to clarify the effect of low-level occupational exposure to solvents among PWs.
Endothelin-1 down-regulated vascular endothelial growth factor A is involved in trichloroethene-induced kidney injury
Authors: Xie Haibo , Zhang Xuesong , Peng Jiale , Deng Lihua , Wang Feng , Zhang Jiaxiang , Zhu Qixing
Published: April 2022

The mechanism of kidney injury in occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis due to trichloroethylene exposure is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1)/vascular endothelial-derived growth factor-A (VEGF-A) in trichloroethylene (TCE)-induced renal injury. Forty BALB/c female mice were used in this study to build the TCE-sensitization mouse model. Transmission electron microscopic observation, histological examination, periodic acid-Schiff staining, serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, and urinary total protein levels were used to reflect renal injury. Glypican1, syndecan1, ET-1 and VEGF-A protein levels were measured by western blot. Serum ET-1 level was also measured. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) were detected by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that TCE-sensitized mouse kidneys were damaged and accompanied by increased serum ET-1. After treatment with CGS 35066, the inhibitor of endothelin converting enzyme-1 (ECE-1), kidney ET-1, TNF-α and VCAM-1 levels decreased, and renal function improved in TCE+CGS 35066–sensitized positive mice. In addition, kidney VEGF-A, glomerular endothelial cell glypican1 and syndecan1 levels increased, and endothelial cell damage was alleviated after treatment with CGS 35066. The results suggest that inhibiting ECE-1 could alleviate glomerular endothelial cell injury by inhibiting ET-1 expression, thus promoting endothelial cell repair by upregulating VEGF-A.
Legal System Disclosure Experiences of Young Adult Children Exposed to Domestic Violence
Authors: Kahovec Amie E. , Haselschwerdt Megan L.
Published: April 2022

Children exposed to domestic violence (DV) disclose their experiences to a variety of people, including informal (e.g., peers), formal (e.g., doctors), and legal (e.g., police) support systems. Legal system disclosure is more common than formal system disclosure yet remains understudied leaving unanswered questions about the nature of those who choose to disclose and factors that influence their disclosure decision. Guided by communication privacy management theory and Johnson’s typology of domestic violence (DV), this study addressed gaps in the CEDV literature through a theoretical thematic analysis of the DV exposure and legal system disclosure experiences of 25 young adults exposed to father-mother-perpetrated DV during their childhood. Findings from this study show that half of the participants had no legal system disclosure (n = 12; nondisclosers) and half had at least some legal system disclosure (n = 13; disclosers). Varying types of violence exposure and levels of exposure were factors that impacted youths’ decisions to disclose to legal systems. Escalation of violence was a key factor that drove legal system disclosure, but other factors including how the young adults and their communities perceived their fathers, the match between the youth’s goals for disclosure and the outcomes upon disclosing, along with family privacy norms and family boundaries were influential in guiding decision making over time. This study has implications for practitioners working with DV-exposed youth, as our findings unpack the conditions under which youth choose to (not) disclose, the factors influencing these decisions, and how the responses and reactions from legal support systems inform future disclosure decisions.
A Cross-Cultural Investigation of the Association between Betrayal Trauma and Dissociative Features
Authors: Fung Hong Wang , Chien Wai Tong , Chan Chitat , Ross Colin A.
Published: April 2022

Betrayal trauma theory proposes that betrayal and non-betrayal traumas are different in terms of their nature and impacts. The theory predicts that dissociation is more strongly related to betrayal than to non-betrayal trauma, however there is a lack of cross-cultural evaluation of the theory. One competing theory is the socio-cognitive model, which proposes that dissociative amnesia (DA) and identity dissociation (ID) are the results of social influence and are not trauma-related conditions. This study aimed to test the hypotheses based on betrayal trauma theory and investigated the relationship between trauma, dissociation and other mental health problems in two culturally different convenience samples of people seeking web-based educational interventions for dissociation ( N = 83 English speakers and N = 82 Chinese speakers). Compared with childhood non-betrayal trauma, childhood betrayal trauma had a statistically stronger relationship with dissociation and borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms in both samples. DA and ID symptoms were cross-culturally associated with childhood betrayal trauma after controlling for other variables (including sample membership, age, depression levels, medication treatment and non-betrayal trauma). Participants with DA/ID symptoms reported significantly more trauma-related symptoms in both samples. The findings supported the cross-cultural application of the betrayal trauma theory for dissociative features and BPD symptoms. Implications for research and practice (e.g., child protection, assessment for survivors of childhood betrayal trauma) are highlighted.
Social Support as a Buffer of the Association between Sexual Assault and Trauma Symptoms Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals
Authors: Grocott Lauren R. , Schlechter Thomas E. , Wilder Shannon M. J. , O’Hair Cayla M. , Gidycz Christine A. , Shorey Ryan C.
Published: April 2022

The prevalence of experiencing sexual assault is alarmingly high among Transgender and Gender Diverse people (TGD; people whose gender identities and/or expressions are not traditionally associated with their sex assigned at birth) and is associated with various mental health sequalae. Perceived social support has been shown to abate the negative outcomes of sexual assault among cisgender individuals, yet little is known about this association among TGD people, especially which provider of support (i.e., family, friends, or significant others) may be most beneficial. To that end, 191 TGD adults were recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk to examine perceived social support as a potential moderator of the association between sexual assault victimization and post-sexual assault trauma symptomology. Results showed an interaction trending toward significance between sexual assault and support from a significant other. Decomposition of this interaction demonstrated that sexual assault was associated with post-assault trauma symptoms when support from a significant other was low (ß = .25, p < .05) but not high (ß = .10, p = .089). The interaction between sexual assault and perceived social support was not significant for perceived support from friends ( p = .133) or family ( p = .954). Findings highlight the need for additional research on perceived social support as a potential buffering mechanism between sexual assault and post-assault symptomology in TGD people.
Reproductive Coercion and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization Among a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Young Adult Sample
Authors: Muñoz Emily A. , Le Vi Donna , Lu Yu , Shorey Ryan C. , Temple Jeff R.
Published: April 2022

Reproductive coercion is an understudied form of intimate partner violence (IPV) that occurs when a person attempts to control the autonomous reproductive decision making of their intimate partner. Previous research has demonstrated that individuals who experience reproductive coercion are more likely to experience other forms of IPV (e.g., physical and sexual). Research has also shown that Black/African American and Latinx/Hispanic individuals are at an increased risk of experiencing reproductive coercion compared to their White/Non-Hispanic peers. However, most of the research on reproductive coercion has been conducted in family-planning clinics where IPV is reported at a higher rate than in community samples. Thus, using a diverse community sample of female-identifying young adults ( N = 370) who were recruited as part of an ongoing longitudinal study on dating violence, we examined the prevalence of lifetime reproductive coercion and its relationship with other forms of IPV, as well as the differences in prevalence among racial and ethnic groups. Lifetime prevalence of being victimized by any form of reproductive coercion was 11.4%. Results indicated that individuals who experienced reproductive coercion were more likely to experience physical and sexual IPV relative to those who did not experience reproductive coercion. With respect to race/ethnicity, 5.6% of White participants, 10.5% of Black/African American participants, and 14.8% of Hispanic/Latinx participants reported experiencing reproductive coercion. Chi-square analyses showed Hispanic/Latinx participants had a significantly higher prevalence of reproductive coercion when compared to White/Non-Hispanic participants. These findings suggest a need for additional research on culturally-specific risk and protective factors related to reproductive coercion among Hispanic/Latinx individuals to identify potential intervention and prevention strategies.
Thermoplastic elastomers based on recycled high-density polyethylene/ground tire rubber/ethylene vinyl acetate: Effect of ground tire rubber regeneration on morphological and mechanical properties
Authors: Fazli Ali , Rodrigue Denis
Published: April 2022

This work investigates the properties of different types of regenerated recycled rubbers (RR1 and RR2) to produce thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) based on recycled high-density polyethylene (RHD) as the matrix. The higher regeneration degree of RR2 (24%) compared to RR1 (15%) was able to better restore the plasticity and processability of the ground tire rubber (GTR). So better entanglement between RR2 free chains and the thermoplastic macromolecules was obtained inducing stronger interfacial interaction leading to higher elongation at break (159%) and impact strength (342 J/m) of the blends filled with 80 wt.% RR2. To further improve the adhesion and achieve rubber-like properties, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) was used as a compatibilizer. The microstructure analysis showed that uniform dispersion of the particles and ground tire rubber encapsulation by EVA increased the resistance to crack propagation and failure of the compatibilized blends. The swelling, mechanical and physical properties of the ternary blends (RHD/GTR/EVA) showed that EVA improved the interfacial interactions between GTR and RHD which was confirmed by enhanced elongation at break (203%) and impact strength (379 J/m) by the addition of 10 wt.% EVA.
A Distributional Semantic Online Lexicon for Linguistic Explorations of Societies
Authors: Dahlberg Stefan , Axelsson Sofia , Gyllensten Amaru Cuba , Sahlgren Magnus , Ekgren Ariel , Holmberg Sören , Schwarz Jonas Andersson
Published: April 2022

Linguistic Explorations of Societies (LES) is an interdisciplinary research project with scholars from the fields of political science, computer science, and computational linguistics. The overarching ambition of LES has been to contribute to the survey-based comparative scholarship by compiling and analyzing online text data within and between languages and countries. To this end, the project has developed an online semantic lexicon, which allows researchers to explore meanings and usages of words in online media across a substantial number of geo-coded languages. The lexicon covers data from approximately 140 language–country combinations and is, to our knowledge, the most extensive free research resource of its kind. Such a resource makes it possible to critically examine survey translations and identify discrepancies in order to modify and improve existing survey methodology, and its unique features further enable Internet researchers to study public debate online from a comparative perspective. In this article, we discuss the social scientific rationale for using online text data as a complement to survey data, and present the natural language processing–based methodology behind the lexicon including its underpinning theory and practical modeling. Finally, we engage in a critical reflection about the challenges of using online text data to gauge public opinion and political behavior across the world.
Evidence That a Greater Presence of Latinx Faculty or Administrators Raises the Completion Rates of Various Cohorts of Community College Students
Authors: Wassmer Robert , Galloway Meredith
Published: April 2022

Only a quarter of full-time U.S. students complete their desired goal from community college attendance, with the rate of success even lower for Latinx students. This panel-data regression study looks for evidence regarding the expected influence of increasing the presence of Latinx faculty or administrators on cohort completion rates for all students, only Latinx students, and sub-samples of these two cohort types divided further by economic advantage or college preparation. We find that a one-percentage-point increase in Latinx faculty among full-time instructors or a similar increase in Latinx representation among administrators positively influences nearly all cohort completion rates.
Paradoxical Excitation Following Intravenous Lorazepam Administration for Alcohol Withdrawal – A Case Presentation and Literature Review
Authors: Gonzalez Jimmy , Upadhyaya Vandan D. , Manna Zachary T. , Sharma Aditya R. , Christopher Jason , Douedi Steven , Sen Shuvendu
Published: April 2022

Benzodiazepines are commonly used medications which are clinically useful towards the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, seizures, anxiety disorders, among other indications. Benzodiazepine use is also known to cause the rare phenomenon of paradoxical excitation whose mechanism has many postulated theories. We report this rare presentation of paradoxical excitation with the use of lorazepam in a 50-year-old male being treated for alcohol withdrawal. We also review the underlying pathophysiology, pharmacology, and current literature as it relates to this excitation. An inability to recognize this adverse effect and to appropriately withhold the agent may adversely affect a patient’s course of treatment in the inpatient setting.
Using Conditional Inference Trees to (Re)Explore Nonprofit Board Composition
Authors: Simonoff Jeffrey S. , Abzug Rikki
Published: April 2022

This Research Note introduces nonprofit scholars to the contemporary analytical tool of conditional inference trees as a means to shed more light on the institutional forces behind the changing composition of nonprofit boards of trustees. Revisiting the data of the Six-Cities Cultures of Trusteeship Project, this note illustrates the illuminating power of conditional inference trees for analyzing data (particularly categorical data), not well served by significance testing. Applying these popular models adds depth, nuance, and increased clarity to some of the original findings from the Six-Cities research project. This empirical case serves as a how-to for future researchers hoping to more flexibly model the relative impact of institutional (and other) variables on nonprofit organization structures, as well as expand their methodological toolkit when dealing with all sorts of regression problems.
Transparent polyimide films with ultra-low coefficient of thermal expansion
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Yang Zhenghui , Piao Fengyu , Guo Haiquan
Published: April 2022

According to the application requirements of colorless transparent polyimide (CPI) film for low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) in the field of OLED display, the new aromatic dianhydride monomers with amide bond structure were synthesized, namely s-ABDA, i-ABDA, EADA. Furthermore, a series of CPI films were prepared by two-step method from the reaction of as-synthesized dianhydrides with 2.2′-bis (trifluoromethyl) −4.4′-diaminobiphenyl (TFMB) or trans-1.4′-cyclohexanediamine ( t-CHDA). Based on the analysis of performance results, the incorporation of amide group and biphenyl, benzene or ether bond into dianhydride monomer helped this new type of transparent polyimide film with excellent optical properties (T550 nm> 88%), great heat stability (CTE <4.4 ppm/K; Tg >314°C; Td5% >478°C) and good mechanical strength (σ > 208 MPa). The film s-ABDA/TFMB showed ultra-low CTE value at 4.4 ppm/K, aligning with the maximum birefringence, indicating that the role of hydrogen bonding was of great benefit to the regulation of thermal expansion.
Prediction of cement specific surface area in the cement mill grinding process: A method combining dual-frequency principal component analysis and extreme gradient boosting
Authors: Shi Xin , Xu Qingquan , Zheng Lizhao , Hao Xiaochen , Zhao Yantao
Published: April 2022

The cement specific surface area is an important indicator of cement quality. The accurate prediction of the cement specific surface area aims to guide operators to control the cement grinding process to improve product quality while reducing system energy consumption. However, due to the complexity of the cement grinding process, the process variables have coupling, time-varying delay, nonlinear characteristics, and different sampling frequency. Herein, we proposed the specific surface area prediction model, which combined dual-frequency principal component analysis and extreme gradient boosting (DF-PCA-XGB). In order to solve the problem of difficulty in modeling due to different sampling intervals of related data, this paper analyzes the low-frequency sampling data and high-frequency sampling data under multiple working conditions, and establishes prediction models respectively. Aiming at the data redundancy problem of high-frequency and low-frequency variable data in the introduced time window, a method based on the combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) cross-validation is proposed to reduce data redundancy while retaining most of the characteristics of the data. The final specific surface area prediction results were obtained by weighting the high-frequency data model and the low-frequency data model. The simulation results showed that the prediction method in this paper can improve the prediction accuracy of the specific surface area of the finished cement product under multiple working conditions with high stability and has promising application in the cement manufacturing process.