bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engagement of Sexual Violence Survivors in Research: Trauma-Informed Research in the THRIVE Study
Authors: Anderson Katherine M. , Karris Maile Y. , DeSoto Alexandra Fernandez , Carr Sara Giovanna , Stockman Jamila K.
Published: September 2022

Given the potential for retraumatization among survivors of sexual violence engaged in research, we aimed to provide pertinent knowledge and exemplification of the integration of trauma-informed practice to research with survivors. Grounded in trauma-informed care, we discuss the need for trauma-informed research, drawing upon experiences and data from a longitudinal case-control study on sexual violence. Through trauma-informed research settings, we can improve research experiences for survivors of sexual violence, as demonstrated by positive experiences of participants in The THRIVE Study. By meeting the needs of survivors, researchers can increase participation while maximizing the research quality and advancement of research.
Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders in Adults Requiring Cardiac Surgery: Screening, Prevention, and Management
Authors: Rengel Kimberly F. , Boncyk Christina S. , DiNizo Daniella , Hughes Christopher G.
Published: September 2022

Neurocognitive changes are the most common complication after cardiac surgery, ranging from acute postoperative delirium to prolonged postoperative neurocognitive disorder. Changes in cognition are distressing to patients and families and associated with worse outcomes overall. This review outlines definitions and diagnostic criteria, risk factors for, and mechanisms of Perioperative Neurocognitive Disorders and offers strategies for preoperative screening and perioperative prevention and management of neurocognitive complications.
Design analysis and testing of flat sandwich panels under bird strike
Authors: Konik Radoslaw , Kassapoglou Christos , Nguyen Dean
Published: September 2022

A non-linear energy-based analytical approach to design flat sandwich panels resistant to bird strike is presented. The approach is then complemented by numerical simulation in Abaqus using smooth particle hydrodynamics to model the bird and a non-linear stress-strain model for the core material. Flat sandwich panels were designed to deform and just fail when the maximum deflections are reached for given strike energies. The panels designed with this approach were tested using gelatin birds and two different material combinations with non-toughened and toughened facesheet and core materials. The analytical and numerical approaches were found to be conservative as they predicted failure onset for the bird energies selected while the tests showed no damage. The maximum deflection and maximum strains at different locations of the panels were well predicted by the numerical analysis, but the predictions departed significantly from the tests after the first peak was reached.
Decarbonisation of the Transport Sector in Nigeria
Authors: Akujor Chidi E , Uzowuru Emmanuel E , Abubakar Sambo S , Amakom Chijioke M
Published: September 2022

We reviewed the various sub-sectors of the Nigerian transport sector with their corresponding energy consumption rates. Results show that all the sub-sectors are solely dependent on fossil fuels to meet their energy demands and requirements, thus making the transport sector the highest consumer of fossil fuels, and consequently, the highest contributor to carbon footprint. This necessitates the need for gradual decarbonisation of the sector, but not at the expense of the nation’s economy, since the transport sector contributes about 3% of the nation’s GDP. We have therefore outlined measures to decarbonise the sector. These include revitalisation of the rail and water transport; encouragement of mass transit; improving the state of security on Nigerian roads; employment of low-carbon fuels (biodiesels); and use of electric vehicles.
Local fashion, global imagination: Agency, identity, and aspiration in the diasporic Hmong community
Authors: Shi Tian
Published: September 2022

Dress has been used as a visual avowal of social status, personality, personal taste, identity, and philosophy throughout history. This article aims to assess the changing dress practices and understand the meaning of ethnic dress in the diasporic community in a super-connected era. This article examines the cultural–historical contexts that contribute to dress practices at the macro level and individuals’ perceptions at the micro level. This article demonstrates how the Hmong experience can contribute to the knowledge of dress as a vehicle of agency, identity, and aspiration in fashion and material culture studies. In doing so, this article provides new insights into a growing area of research by exploring the emotionality of materials in terms of how imagination and aspiration of ethnicity are inscribed in and ascribed to dress and clothing in diasporic groups.
Quantitative evaluation and pharmacokinetic characteristics of the irreversible BTK inhibitor zanubrutinib in mouse plasma using LC-MS/MS
Authors: Cheng Kai , Wei Junsong , Kou Jianrong , You Huining , Li Min , Feng Weiyi
Published: September 2022

Zanubrutinib (BGB-3111) belongs to the class of irreversible inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) for treating B-cell malignancies. A validated assay with excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and simplicity is required to measure plasma concentration and investigate its pharmacokinetics. The plasma of mice containing zanubrutinib and roxithromycin (internal standard) was processed with acetonitrile for protein precipitation. Then the supernatant was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer using electrospray ionization in the positive mode. Zanubrutinib was given to mice intragastrically at 30 mg/kg to determine its pharmacokinetic parameters. The method was verified and showed good linearity in the range of 0.1–100 ng/mL. The method's sensitivity, accuracy, and precision were all within acceptable bounds. By this method, the pharmacokinetic profile of zanubrutinib in mouse plasma was measured.
Bayesian discrete conditional transformation models
Authors: Carlan Manuel , Kneib Thomas
Published: September 2022

We propose a novel Bayesian model framework for discrete ordinal and count data based on conditional transformations of the responses. The conditional transformation function is estimated from the data in conjunction with an a priori chosen reference distribution. For count responses, the resulting transformation model is novel in the sense that it is a Bayesian fully parametric yet distribution-free approach that can additionally account for excess zeros with additive transformation function specifications. For ordinal categoric responses, our cumulative link transformation model allows the inclusion of linear and non-linear covariate effects that can additionally be made category-specific, resulting in (non-)proportional odds or hazards models and more, depending on the choice of the reference distribution. Inference is conducted by a generic modular Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm where multivariate Gaussian priors enforce specific properties such as smoothness on the functional effects. To illustrate the versatility of Bayesian discrete conditional transformation models, applications to counts of patent citations in the presence of excess zeros and on treating forest health categories in a discrete partial proportional odds model are presented.
Chinese Preschool Children’s Home Numeracy Experiences and their Mathematical Abilities
Authors: Pan Yuejuan , Hu Bi Ying , Hunt Jessica , Wu Zhongling , Chen Yuewen , He Mengyang
Published: September 2022

The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between Chinese preschool children’s home numeracy experiences and their mathematical abilities. The parents of 515 4- to 5-year-old preschool children reported their frequency of participation in home numeracy activities, and the children were assessed on their math ability. The results revealed that the parents engaged in both formal and informal math activities at home. Family socioeconomic status showed significant positive correlations with number game and number application activities. Parental involvement in number skills activities positively predicted young children’s formal and informal math ability, while number application activities positively predicted young children’s informal math ability. These results suggest that parents should pay attention to both formal and informal activities in support of their children’s math learning at home.
Same, Same but Different: Comparing Program Fidelity at Early Versus Late Adopters of a Successful Long-Term School-Based Physical Activity Intervention
Authors: Nielsen Jonas Vestergaard , Smedegaard Søren , Klakk Heidi , Skovgaard Thomas
Published: September 2022

Schools have been identified as a promising setting for promoting physical activity (PA). Yet, to realize changes at the population level, successful school-based PA programs need to go to scale. The Svendborgproject is an effective school-based program promoting additional physical education (PE) lessons. The aim of this study is to determine program fidelity across different school groups, representing early and late adopters of the Svendborgproject, and how these are adapting the intervention. Three different school groups were identified, covering the original intervention schools and two groups of late adopters consisting of four former control schools, and five normal schools without any previous connection to the program. A PE teacher questionnaire (n = 122) was used to determine school fidelity. The results show that, while the original intervention schools have implemented the program with the highest fidelity, all schools have implemented the program with medium to high fidelity. It is suggested that having front-runner schools achieving early success with the program both strengthens political project support and provides strategies to back late adopters’ implementation of the program. Furthermore, results from the current study suggest that continual promotion of the program by school heads is less important if support is established at the structural and organizational macro level. Finally, we highlight the importance of scaling up organizational capacity when scaling up program reach to assure a workable balance between fidelity and improving the fit to specific contexts.
Efficacy and Safety of Venous Sac Embolization With or Without Feeding Artery Embolization Versus Feeding Artery Embolization Alone in the Management of Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformations: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Taxak Avichala , Verma Mansi , Pandey Niraj Nirmal , Singh Vishwajeet , Kumar Sanjeev , Jagia Priya
Published: September 2022

Purpose:

To evaluate by meta-analysis the safety and efficacy of venous sac embolization (VSE) with or without feeding artery embolization versus feeding artery embolization (FAE) alone in the management of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs).

Methods:

This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus till August 31, 2021 to identify studies comparing the safety and efficacy of VSE with or without FAE versus FAE alone in PAVMs. The success of treatment was assessed by comparing the number of PAVMs with ≥70% decrease in the size of draining vein/sac between the 2 groups. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated using the random-effects inverse-variance model and were used to compare pooled therapeutic efficacy between the groups.

Results:

Three studies were found eligible for the meta-analysis. The included studies had a total of 169 patients (119 females and 50 males). The total number of PAVMs was 298, and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia was present in 119 patients. The success of treatment was higher with VSE as compared to FAE (OR=3.54, 95% CI=1.66–7.56). The minor complications were similar in both groups, and one major complication occurred in the FAE group. More coils were used in the VSE group.

Conclusions:

The present systematic review and meta-analysis has consolidated the evidence that VSE with or without FAE is more efficacious than FAE alone in the management of PAVMs without any increase in the associated risk of sac rupture or coil migration.

Clinical Impact

Until high-quality data from a prospective, multicentric, randomized controlled trial becomes available, the evidence consolidated by the present systematic review and meta-analysis showing the efficacy of venous sac embolization (with or without feeding artery embolization) over feeding artery embolization alone, can be used for clinical decision-making in the management of pulmonary arterio-venous malformations.
Investigation of quasi-static punching penetration behavior of Kevlar plain-woven fabric
Authors: El Messiry Magdi , Eltahan Eman
Published: September 2022

Punching resistance properties of the fabric are vital for several applications such as slash-resistant clothing. In this paper, the penetration of a puncher through a plain Kevlar woven fabric was analyzed to recognize the process of punching and the mechanism of yarn breakage. The model focused on the study of the difference between fabric that is woven from the continuous multifilament yarn or the spun yarn and the effects of their yarn structure on punching resistance. The relation between the warp and weft yarns and the punching resistance force of the fabric at different punching speeds was investigated. This work focused on the potentiality to use fabric from coarse Kevlar spun yarns instead of continuous filament yarns to enhance the punching resistance. Samples of fabrics were tested on a specially designed set-up to investigate the behaviour of warp and weft yarns under punching load. A basic understanding of the damage to the fabric under punching has been developed. The ANOVA analysis of the specific punching force and energy shows that the fabric types have a significant effect on the specific punching force and energy. The use of the fabrics from spun yarns increased specific punching force by 145% while the specific punching energy was elevated by 210% in comparison to fabrics from continuous filament yarns. The current study opens a new research road to the application of Kevlar spun fabric from spun yarns.
Behavior of woven fabric composite under tensile loads in different directions using acoustic emission
Authors: Dehnad Milad , Dolatabadi Mehdi Kamali , Najafabadi Mehdi Ahmadi , Asgharian Jeddi Ali Asghar
Published: September 2022

The woven fabric composites were used in different industries for their special specification. This study aimed to address failure mechanisms in single-layer woven fabrics. The acoustic emission (AE) technique and wavelet transform were used for composite structural health monitoring and failure rate evaluation. From a mechanical study viewpoint, the load-displacement behavior of plain-woven glass composite was examined under tension in the principal directions (0 and 90°) and off-axis (30, 45, and 60°). The results indicated that off-axis samples are deformed and curled due to the slippage and rotation of warp and weft yarns. The mechanical measurements were synchronized with the AE data in an acousto-mechanical study. The load-displacement behavior of samples was zoned out with two criteria: frequency and energy. Eventually, three failure modes were identified: matrix damage, interface damage, and fiber breakage. The results showed that events with a frequency above 400 kHz at different angles could be attributed to fiber breakage. Also, the applied force angle effectively affects the type of fiber failure (tensile and shear failure). It was found that in addition to tensile failure, shear failure also increases sharply by increasing the angle between the main directions. So that the maximum number of shear fiber failures occurred at the angle of 45° between the main directions. On the off-axis, the number of fibers exposed to the load also increased, increasing the number of breakages.
Numerical modeling on off-axial fatigue behavior and failure characterization of 3D braided composites
Authors: Li Ang , Zhang Chao
Published: September 2022

Fatigue is an important factor leading to the structural failure of 3D braided composites during the service. In this paper, a meso-scale finite element analysis (FEA) model based on continuum damage mechanics (CDM) is developed to study the fatigue damage behavior and predict the fatigue life of 3D braided composites subjected to off-axial tension loadings. Stress analysis, failure criteria and material properties degradation scheme in the meso-scale model are implemented by a user-material subroutine UMAT based on ABAQUS/Standard solver. The damage initiation and propagation of 3D braided composites under diverse off-axial fatigue loadings are simulated and analyzed in detail and the corresponding off-axial fatigue lives are obtained from the predicted S- N curves. The proposed FE modeling provides a suitable reference for the numerical research on the off-axial fatigue problems in other textile composites.
Preparation and characterization of a flexible lithium ion electrode based on carbonized cotton fabric
Authors: Li Renkun , Wang Xiwen , Yang Jin
Published: September 2022

In order to prepare flexible electrode with excellent performance, cotton fabric was used as the substrate in this study. The surface of cotton fabric was modified by polydopamine(PDA). The cotton fabric was then carbonized. Finally, a three-dimensional porous flexible electrode for carbonized cotton fabric was prepared. The maximum stress of the flexible electrode is 0.5 MPa. With the increase of carbonization temperature, the specific capacity of flexible electrode increases gradually. The specific capacity of flexible electrode reaches 282 mAh.g−1 at 0.1c charge/discharge rate. The specific capacity of flexible electrode reaches 200 mAh.g−1 at 5C charge/discharge rate. The specific capacity retention rate of the flexible electrode is above 95% when the cycle is 100 weeks at 0.1 c and 600 weeks at 5C. CV test results show that with the decrease of scanning rate, the more stable the cyclic performance of flexible electrode is, the better the reversibility of Li+ stripping/embedding is. The conductivity of the flexible electrode increases with the increase of carbonization temperature. The surface resistance and AC impedance of the flexible electrode are reduced. When the carbonization temperature is 1000°C, the surface resistance of the flexible electrode is 2 Ω.−1, and the AC impedance is 5 Ω.
Experimental study on abrasive water jet machining of WCFC reinforced flax/wire mesh/hemp composite
Authors: Singh Quberk Jeeva , Rajamurugan G
Published: September 2022

Conventional machining of composite material was challenging due to delamination, tool wear, fiber pull-out, spalling, fiber fraying, heat generation, and excessive stresses. The non-conventional machining process was preferred for high-strength materials to produce complicated shapes with a better surface finish. This research describes an experimental analysis of abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) on flax/wire mesh/hemp reinforced epoxy composite. In addition, recycling of waste carbon fiber composite (WCFC) was also practiced and reused as a filler particle along with the fabricated hybrid composite. The hybrid composite was fabricated using the hand layup technique with 20.3 wt% of fiber, 10.5 wt% of wire mesh, and 2 wt% of WCFC. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of standoff distance, traverse speed, and abrasive mass flow rate on the output responses such as kerf angle (θ) and surface roughness (Ra). The design of experiments found that surface finish was improved with optimum process parameters. It was detected that spalling defects, wear track, and micro-cutting were noteworthy in the machined hybrid composite concerning high standoff distance and abrasive mass flow rate. Morphological study in the cut surface of the hybrid composite was analyzed through a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the fiber characterization was done through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).
Plant extract delivery and antibacterial properties of nano bacterial cellulose in the presence of dendrimer, chitosan, and herbal materials
Authors: Azarmi Reyhaneh , Ashjaran Ali , Nourbakhsh Shirin , Talebian Aazam
Published: September 2022

This study mainly aimed to evaluate the antibacterial impact of bacterial cellulose (BC) including dendrimer, chitosan, Henna, Green tea and Malva sylvestris in various bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The produced bacterial cellulose was evaluated by antimicrobial (AATCC 25923 and AATCC 27853), cytotoxicity, swelling, drug delivery, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy tests. Antibacterial activity raised with increasing concentration of herbals and the most of antimicrobial effect belonged to G. tea. Cytotoxic test demonstrated that all of the samples did not have cytotoxic effect and viability percent for sample of BC with Henna, G. tea, and M. sylvestris extract were respectively 95.87%, 94.69% and 90.64%. Among the samples, the G. tea sample has the most swelling. In addition, delivery of the drug in water and phosphate buffer medium was the controlled release. Additionally, the most of the release related to the herbal drug Henna. SEM results showed BC with a highly porous three dimensional network structure. The considerable role of chitosan and dendrimer was evident in drug uptake and release. FTIR analysis demonstrated the presence of active groups in BC structure.
The effect of ethanol immersion on fit performance and comfort of a fit tested reusable mask
Authors: Li Katy HK , Yeung David CM , Ling Lowell
Published: September 2022

Reusable high-filtration mask could be a solution for the global demand of disposable N95 and the environmental problems caused during a pandemic. We evaluated the effect of ethanol cleaning on the fit performance and comfort rating of Totobobo Masks, a reusable high-filtration mask. Healthy volunteers underwent quantitative fit testing with the Totobobo mask using a PortaCount Plus respirator fit tester. Fit factor ≥100 was considered adequate fit. Masks were then cleaned in 70% ethanol and air drying. Volunteers underwent a second and third fit test after each 15 cycles of ethanol cleaning. The proportion of adequate fit for Totobobo masks and overall fit factor were compared before and after each clean. Forty nine participants were recruited, of which 22/49 (44.9%) achieved adequate fit with Totobobo mask on the first fit test. Subsequently, 17/22 (77%) and 9/17 (53%) participants achieved adequate fit during the second and third fit tests, respectively. Proportion of adequate fit was similar before and after the first 15 cycles of ethanol cleaning ( p = .063) but lower after the second 15 cycles of ethanol cleaning ( p = .008). Fit factor was similar between the first and second fit tests ( p = 0 .808) and the second and third fit tests ( p = .125). Twenty out of 22 rated the Totobobo mask more comfortable than commercially available N95 masks. All participants rated the comfort level as either better or similar before and after cleaning. There is no significant drop in fit performance and comfort of Totobobo mask with up to 15 cycles of cleaning with 70% ethanol.
A study of the effect of PEG-1000 phase change materials coating on selected fabric properties
Authors: Niles Nilhan , Vijayarajah Vithursha
Published: September 2022

Phase change materials (PCM) are materials that are used as latent heat storage media due to their ability to undergo change from one phase to another. The use of PCM to enhance the temperature self-regulating feature of textiles has become prevalent in recent times. A PCM is incorporated into the textile substrate using various means, one of which is coating. However, the process of coating the textile substrate with the PCM material, as well as the effect of the material itself, may result in the reduction of certain key properties of the textile material. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of a Sodium Alginate microencapsulated PEG-1000 coating (applied by the pad-dry-cure method) on selected properties of a 100% polyester single jersey knitted fabric, namely bursting strength, thickness, drape coefficient, air permeability, moisture regain and fabric weight. The material and coating were selected on the basis of availability, use and cost. The study showed that the coating provided small increases in the bursting strength, weight, moisture regain and thickness, and a substantial increase in the drape coefficient of the fabric. The air permeability could not be properly assessed due to an instrument error. As such the coating could be presumed to have caused a slight impairment to the overall comfort of the fabric.
Reducing foot plantar pressure using superelastic nitinol monofilaments as spacer yarns in a novel weft knitted spacer fabric insole
Authors: Hamedi Mohsen , Salimi Parisa
Published: September 2022

Insoles as devices for plantar pressure reduction have developed and undergone many clinical experiments to deliver better performance, helping patients with diabetic foot ulceration. Elastomer foams are used as the base material in commercial diabetic foot insoles. However, their energy absorption capacity degrades because of microclimate in footwear and their shape deform during usage. Therefore insoles with better-cushioning properties and durability are required. In this paper, a novel insole with 3D spacer fabric with superelastic nitinol monofilaments (NiTi) is introduced. The fabricated insole and commercial Plastazote insoles (PLT) are experimentally compared on five healthy persons with measuring plantar pressure right after wearing and 1 month after. The temperature increase is also measured after 15 min of walking. Statistical analysis is used to evaluate insoles performance. Although NiTi and PLT showed a reduction in peak plantar pressure (PPP) right after wearing, after one month, 48.5% and 43.8% reduction in mean PPP for NiTi and 28% and 23.9% for PLT were observed compared to without-insole condition on the right and left foot respectively. NiTi delivered 11.8% and 13.9% PPP increases on right and left foot compared to 61% and 61.8% respectively in PLT after 1 month. Lower temperature increase and homogenous plantar surface pressure distribution were also seen on NiTi. Eventually, the proposed NiTi insole delivered higher cushioning properties, enhanced breathability, more uniform pressure distribution, and superior endurance compared to PLT as a commercial insole. Therefore, it is a promising device for protecting the diabetic foot against pressure, impact and preventing ulceration.
LCDAE: Data Augmented Ensemble Framework for Lung Cancer Classification
Authors: Ren Zeyu , Zhang Yudong , Wang Shuihua
Published: September 2022

Objective: The only possible solution to increase the patients’ fatality rate is lung cancer early-stage detection. Recently, deep learning techniques became the most promising methods in medical image analysis compared with other numerous computer-aided diagnostic techniques. However, deep learning models always get lower performance when the model is overfitting. Methods: We present a Lung Cancer Data Augmented Ensemble (LCDAE) framework to solve the overfitting and lower performance problems in the lung cancer classification tasks. The LCDAE has 3 parts: The Lung Cancer Deep Convolutional GAN, which can synthesize images of lung cancer; A Data Augmented Ensemble model (DA-ENM), which ensembled 6 fine-tuned transfer learning models for training, testing, and validating on a lung cancer dataset; The third part is a Hybrid Data Augmentation (HDA) which combines all the data augmentation techniques in the LCDAE. Results: By comparing with existing state-of-the-art methods, the LCDAE obtains the best accuracy of 99.99%, the precision of 99.99%, and the F1-score of 99.99%. Conclusion: Our proposed LCDAE can overcome the overfitting issue for the lung cancer classification tasks by applying different data augmentation techniques, our method also has the best performance compared to state-of-the-art approaches.
Optimal Treatments for NSCLC Patients Harboring Primary or Acquired MET Amplification
Authors: Sun Dantong , Tao Junyan , Yan Weihua , Zhu Jingjuan , Zhou Hai , Sheng Yingying , Xue Chaofan , Li Hong , Hou Helei
Published: September 2022

Background: In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring MET mutations, MET-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been proven to achieve a good response. However, the relative efficacy of different therapeutics in primary NSCLC patients with MET amplification and the treatment options for patients harboring acquired MET amplification after the failure of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-TKIs remain unclear. Methods: In total, 33 patients harboring primary MET amplification and 9 patients harboring acquired MET alterations identified by next-generation sequencing were enrolled. A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the efficacy of different therapeutics. In addition, studies reporting various treatments for patients harboring MET alterations were included in the meta-analysis. Results: In our cohort of patients harboring primary MET amplification, crizotinib displayed better efficacy than immunotherapy and chemotherapy, as demonstrated both in first-line ( P = .0378) and second-line treatment regimens ( P = .0181). The disease control rates for crizotinib, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy were 81.8%, 72.7%, and 63.6%, respectively. In particular, the median progression-free survival (PFS) time after immunotherapy in patients harboring MET amplification and high programed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (>50%) was only 77.5 days. The meta-analysis revealed that the median PFS times after crizotinib and immunotherapy were 4.57 and 2.94 months, respectively. In patients harboring acquired MET amplification, chemotherapy plus bevacizumab had superior efficacy (310.0 days vs 73.5 days, P = .0360) compared with MET-TKIs ± EGFR-TKIs. Conclusions: Immunotherapy showed a low response in patients harboring MET alterations, even those with concurrent high PD-L1 expression. MET-TKIs might be an optional treatment with worth-expecting efficacy. However, chemotherapy plus bevacizumab could benefit the subpopulation of patients harboring acquired MET amplification after the failure of EGFR-TKIs.
Surviving the Storm—Surviving Status Epilepticus
Authors: Widdess-Walsh Peter
Published: September 2022

[Box: see text]
Community cohesion and violence against women in Ghana, Pakistan, and South Sudan: A secondary data analysis
Authors: Poix Sébastien , Ibrahim Nuha , Scriver Stacey , Raghavendra Srinivas , Duvvury Nata , Elmusharaf Khalifa
Published: September 2022

Background:

Much knowledge has been accumulated on individual-level risks and protective factors of violence against women. However, the influence of factors operating at the community level, such as community cohesion, remains unclear, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study examined whether community cohesion, a combined measure of mutual trust and tolerance, affects women’s likelihood of experiencing intimate partner violence, violence perpetrated by a family member, and violence occurring in public spaces.

Methods:

Data on 4785 women aged between 18 and 60 years in Ghana, Pakistan, and South Sudan, initially collected by the ‘What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls’ Research and Innovation Programme, were used for this study. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between a composite measure of community cohesion and recent experience of physical, sexual, and psychological violence while controlling for different individual-, community-, and state-level variables.

Results:

Multivariate analyses revealed that community cohesion was associated with lower risks of public spaces violence (adjusted odds ratio = 0.396, 95% confidence interval = 0.312–0.503, P < 0.001) and family member violence (adjusted odds ratio = 0.839, 95% confidence interval = 0.754–0.934, P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant association between intimate partner violence and community cohesion, but adjusted models showed that women with more developed social networks were at higher risks of experiencing intimate partner violence (adjusted odds ratio = 1.104, 95% confidence interval = 1.062–1.148, P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that community cohesion may have a protective effect against the most visible forms of violence against women. However, this effect may be attenuated or even eliminated by other individual- or household-level mechanisms in the case of violence between intimates or family members.
Preconception cannabis use: An important but overlooked public health issue
Authors: Skelton Kara R , Young-Wolff Kelly C
Published: September 2022

Cannabis is the most commonly used federally illicit drug among pregnant women in the United States, and the prevalence and frequency of prenatal cannabis use are increasing. The preconception period – typically thought of as the 3-12 months immediately preceding pregnancy – is a distinct and critical period for women’s health that has often been overlooked when examining prenatal cannabis use. Given that substance use behaviors typically develop before pregnancy, and risk factors associated with prenatal cannabis use are often present prior to conception, preventive approaches to addressing prenatal cannabis use would benefit from focusing on women who use cannabis prior to pregnancy. In order to ensure preconception cannabis use is brought to the forefront of cannabis prevention efforts, we recommend additional research, patient education, and clinician training focused on preconception cannabis use.
Perceived vulnerability to immigration policies among postpartum Hispanic/Latina women in the MADRES pregnancy cohort before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hernandez-Castro Ixel , Toledo-Corral Claudia M , Chavez Thomas , Habre Rima , Grubbs Brendan , Al-Marayati Laila , Lerner Deborah , Lurvey Nathana , Lagomasino Isabel , Eckel Sandrah P , Dunton Genevieve F , Farzan Shohreh F , Breton Carrie V , Bastain Theresa M
Published: September 2022

Introduction and Objectives:

Research suggests that perceived immigration policy vulnerability has important health implications. Coupled with the mental and physical stressors accompanying the postpartum period and a growing awareness of the discrimination and structural racism experienced by marginalized communities globally, the coronavirus disease 2019 period may have exacerbated stress among vulnerable populations, specifically postpartum Hispanic/Latina women. This study evaluated perceived immigration policy vulnerability (i.e. discrimination, social isolation, and family threats) in early postpartum Hispanic/Latina women in Los Angeles before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Methods:

The Perceived Immigration Policy Effects Scale (PIPES) was administered cross-sectionally at 1 month postpartum to 187 Hispanic/Latina women in the MADRES cohort. Respondents between September 2018 and March 2020 were classified as “pre-pandemic” ( N = 128), between March 2020 and July 2020 as “early pandemic” ( N = 38), and between August 2020 and November 2021 as “later pandemic” ( N = 21). Average PIPES subscale scores were dichotomized into “higher” and “lower” groups (⩽median, >median) and logistic regression models were performed.

Results:

Approximately half of participants had incomes of <$50,000 (50.3%) and were Latin American born (54.6%). After adjusting for age, nativity, education, income, postpartum distress, and employment status, early pandemic respondents had 5.05 times the odds of a higher score on the perceived discrimination subscale (95% CI: 1.81, 14.11), 6.47 times the odds of a higher score on the social isolation subscale (95% CI: 2.23, 18.74), 2.66 times the odds of a higher score on the family threats subscale (95% CI: 0.97, 7.32), and 3.36 times the odds of a higher total score (95% CI: 1.19, 9.51) when compared to pre-pandemic respondents. There were no significant subscale score differences between later pandemic and pre-pandemic periods.

Conclusion:

Higher perceived immigration policy vulnerability was reported among postpartum women during the early coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic versus pre-pandemic periods. This suggests greater social inequities during the early pandemic period.
Stress during pregnancy: An ecological momentary assessment of stressors among Black and White women with implications for maternal health
Authors: Omowale Serwaa S , Gary-Webb Tiffany L , Wallace Meredith L , Wallace John M , Rauktis Mary E , Eack Shaun M , Mendez Dara D
Published: September 2022

Background:

Stress can lead to adverse physiological and psychological outcomes. Therefore, understanding stress during pregnancy provides insight into racial disparities in maternal health, particularly Black maternal health.

Objectives:

This study aimed to describe (1) daily exposure to self-reported stress levels during pregnancy, and (2) sources of stress among participants that identified as Black or White using data collected via ecological momentary assessment.

Methods:

We leveraged survey data from the Postpartum Mothers Mobile Study, a prospective longitudinal study using ecological momentary assessment data collection methods to describe patterns of stress during pregnancy. This article is descriptive and documents patterns of self-reported stress levels and sources of stress. Frequencies and percentages of stress responses were computed to describe these patterns.

Results:

The sample ( n = 296) was 27% Black ( n = 78) and 63% White ( n = 184). Results were based on at least one measurement of that stress level during pregnancy. A similar number of Black and White participants reported no stress during pregnancy. White (85%–95%) and Black (60%–70%) participants reported low to moderate levels of stress. Black participants (38%) and White participants (35%) reported experiencing high stress. Black and White participants reported similar sources of stress: stress from a partner, too many things to do, a baby or other children, and financial concerns. White participants reported work as a top stressor, and Black participants reported financial issues as a top source of stress.

Conclusion:

This study provides insight into daily exposure to stress that has implications for maternal health. We described patterns of self-reported stress and sources of stress among Black and White participants. The daily exposures to stress reported by this sample exist within a context of root causes of structural inequities in education, health care, income, wealth, and housing that must be addressed to achieve maternal health equity.
Comparison of endoscopic and open surgery in life-threatening large spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage: A propensity-matched analysis
Authors: Lin Kun , cheng Lin Zhi , hai Tang Yin , Wei De , Gao Chuang , Jiang Rongcai
Published: September 2022

Background:

Conventionally, open surgery (OS), including standard craniotomy (SC) and decompressive craniectomy (DC) with hematoma evacuation, is adopted to treat life-threatening large spontaneous supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Recently, endoscopic surgery (ES), a minimally invasive surgical treatment, has gained increased popularity. However, the safety and efficacy of ES for life-threatening large ICH is uncertain.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ES for life-threatening large ICH and compare it with traditional OS.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and imaging data of consecutive supratentorial ICH patients with preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ⩽ 8, who underwent ES or OS between May 2015 and October 2021. To minimize bias in case selection, propensity score matching was performed (ratio 1:2, caliper o.2). The primary outcome was a prognosis-based dichotomized (favorable or unfavorable) outcome of the 5-point Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at 6 months. Favorable outcome was defined as a GOS score of 4 to 5 at 6 months. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to ensure the robustness of the findings.

Results:

Of 695 patients who underwent surgical treatment for spontaneous ICH, 191 patients were identified to be eligible, with 58 patients in the ES group and 133 patients in the OS group. Propensity score matching improved covariate balance and generated a comparable cohort (53 ES and 106 OS) for all analyses. The ES group had a higher incidence of the primary outcome of favorable outcome at 6 months (ES 20/53 (37.7%) vs. OS 22/106 (20.8%); propensity score–matched relative risk (RR) (95% CI) = 1.74 (1.13–2.68); p = 0.013). Sensitivity analysis showed the result was stable.

Conclusion:

ES is a safe treatment for life-threatening large spontaneous supratentorial ICH patients and may achieve better outcomes than OS.
Vanillic Acid Attenuates Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension by Enhancing NO Signaling Pathways
Authors: Wang Shan , Sun Xuyang , Wang Zhuguo , Zhou Shengjin , Su Shanshan , Nan Xingmei , Lu Dianxiang , Li Zhanqiang
Published: September 2022

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe progressive disease characterized by elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, and eventual progression to right heart failure and death. This study aimed to examine the effect of the natural product vanillic acid (VA) on monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH in rats. The arginase inhibitory activity and enzyme kinetic reaction of VA were also investigated. The results showed that VA could improve pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary artery vascular remodeling, and right ventricular remodeling induced by MCT in rats and reduce the degree of pulmonary tissue fibrosis. Moreover, VA downregulated the gene and protein expression levels of Hif-2α, Hif-1β, and Arg2 and increased the P-eNOS/eNOS levels, thus increasing nitric oxide (NO) levels in PAH rats. Furthermore, VA was determined to be a mixed competitive arginase inhibitor with an IC50 of 26.1 μM. In conclusion, the arginase inhibitor VA exerted protective effects on MCT-induced PAH and pulmonary vascular remodeling by enhancing NO signaling pathways.
Are Current Prophylactic Programs Effective in Preventing Patellar Tendinopathy in Athletes and Recruits? A Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis
Authors: Wang Shaowei , Lyu Buwei
Published: September 2022

Context:

Patellar tendinopathy (PT), or jumper’s knee, is a chronic painful overuse patellar tendon injury. For PT, prevention is more important than treatment. However, there is still a lack of strong evidence to confirm the effectiveness of prevention.

Objective:

This study will analyze by meta-analysis the effect of a prophylactic program on high PT risk people (but without PT) in reducing PT occurrence.

Data Sources:

PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Ebscohost, from inception to January 11, 2022.

Study Selection:

A study comparing the effects of prophylactic programs and controls on the risk of PT was included in the analysis. After a database search with search terms ((patellar tendinopathy) OR (jumper’s knee) OR (patellar tendinitis) OR (patellar tendinosis) OR (patellar tendonitis)) AND ((Prevent*) OR (prophyla*)), a total of 1444 items were obtained. Of these, 11 studies with 6091 participants were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Level of Evidence:

Level 2.

Data Extraction:

The first author’s name, publication year, study design, country, population, mean age, sex, prophylactic program, control, study duration, and the frequency or incidence of PT in each group were extracted.

Results:

A total of 11 articles were included in the analysis. Overall, no significant difference was considered in the risk of PT between the prophylactic program and control groups based on the random-effect model (odds ratio [OR], 0.85; 95% CI, 0.67, 1.08; P = 0.18). In the recruit subgroup, there was even a tendency to elevate the risk of PT occurrence after prophylaxis was executed (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 0.68, 5.28; P = 0.22). In athletes, the prophylactic program tended to decrease the risk of PT compared with the control (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.63, 1.04; P = 0.10); however, the difference was not statistically significant. Trial sequential analysis results suggested that prophylaxis may still be effective for athletes, but this needs to be confirmed with a larger sample size.

Conclusion:

The risk of PT cannot be reduced with the current prophylactic program. However, for athletes, the negative results may be due to insufficient sample size.
International migrants and coronavirus disease 2019 vaccinations: Social Media, motivated information management, and vaccination willingness
Authors: Seo Hyunjin , Liu Yuchen , Ittefaq Muhammad , Shayesteh Fatemeh , Kamanga Ursula , Baines Annalise
Published: September 2022

Objective

This study examines how those who were born outside the United States and migrated to the country in the past decade used social media and other online sites to deal with uncertainties around the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In particular, we examine how they used digital communication technologies to tap into online resources and social connections both in the United States and their origin country and how various aspects of online information management were associated with their willingness to get vaccinated against the virus.

Method

We conducted an online survey and in-depth interviews with international migrants aged 18–64 years who moved to the United States in 2011 or later and were living in two neighboring states in the US Midwest as of spring 2021. Since this research involves understanding how these international migrants dealt with uncertainties related to coronavirus disease 2019 vaccinations, we collected the survey and interview data when each state had a vaccination rate of less than 10% and very limited vaccination eligibility for those aged 64 years and below.

Results

Our results show that international migrants” perceived uncertainty, positive and negative emotions, efficacy, and outcome expectancy affect their information seeking related to the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination. In addition, issue salience moderates the effect between information seeking and vaccine willingness.

Conclusion

This research provides relevant and timely scholarly and policy implications that help advance research in this area and better support international migrant communities during public health crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Revising English Language Course Curriculum Among Graduate Students: An EAP Needs Analysis Study
Authors: Song Yan , Zhou Jing
Published: September 2022

Although English for Academic Purposes (EAP) needs among undergraduate and graduate students in both English as a second language and English as a foreign language contexts have been widely researched, there is still a scarcity of research on the EAP needs of graduate students in less-developed parts of China. Adopting a mixed-methods approach (MMR) and collecting data through a questionnaire from student and teacher interviews, this study examined the views of graduate students at a public university in northwestern China on the importance of academic speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. The study also examined the graduate students’ general perceptions of their English classes, and the problems they had with academic speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Additionally, students’ and teachers’ perspectives on EAP were compared and contrasted. The findings revealed that productive skills were rated as more important as compared to receptive skills. Furthermore, over 82% of the comments on their English classes were negative. Several important issues and specific pedagogical implications for curriculum design were discussed.