bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Fast Multi-Frequency Iterative Acoustic Boundary Element Method Solver Based on a Preconditioned Accelerated Recycling Strategy
Authors: Panagiotopoulos Dionysios , Desmet Wim , Deckers Elke
Published: September 2023

Common multi-frequency solution strategies for acoustic systems are either associated with high computational costs or resort to model reduction strategies, which potentially induce considerable approximation errors. In that context, this work proposes a fast multi-frequency solver for acoustic Boundary Element Method (BEM) analyses that combines conventional preconditioners with an accelerated recycling strategy, achieving in that way a fast and accurate iterative solution. Specifically, by approximating both the system and the related preconditioner by individual affine expressions, an upfront Galerkin projection on a global deflation basis is facilitated, therefore enabling the deployment of the accelerated recycling scheme. The latter acts by accelerating the construction of the related deflation projectors, therefore leading to a significantly faster recycling procedure. Finally, the efficiency of the global deflation basis is guaranteed through an Automatic Krylov subspaces Recycling for Deflation (AKR-D) [D. Panagiotopoulos, W. Desmet and E. Deckers, An accelerated subspaces recycling strategy for the deflation of parametric linear systems based on model order reduction, Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 403 (2023) 115765] algorithm and thus, the cumulative number of iterations required by an iterative solver within a frequency sweep is drastically decreased. The proposed multi-frequency solver is tested on two industrially relevant examples of an interior and an exterior scattering problem, benchmarked against the traditional solution strategies.
On the degradation of vanadium-based phosphate framework electrode materials in aqueous environments
Authors: Tediashvili Davit , Pilipavičius Jurgis , Juodkazytė Jurga , Vilčiauskas Linas
Published: September 2023

Na3V2(PO4)3 and Na3V2(PO4)2F3 with their relatively high capacities and redox potentials are among the most studied and applied positive electrode materials in non-aqueous sodium-ion batteries. However, their stability in aqueous environments is relatively low limiting the application of these materials in aqueous batteries or deionization cells. In this study, we provide a comprehensive analysis of Na3V2(PO4)3 and Na3V2(PO4)2F3 degradation in aqueous media using a number of techniques such as standard electrochemical methods, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffractometry, and rotating ring-disc electrode method. The latter allows for real time in situ/operando degradation analysis. The results show that Na3V2(PO4)3 suffers from chemical vanadium dissolution in neutral pH, whereas it is negligible in Na3V2(PO4)2F3. The results obtained in unbuffered electrolytes by the ring-disc electrode technique explicitly show that Na3V2(PO4)3 and Na3V2(PO4)2F3 generate most of the soluble V(V) species during the charging process. Whereas at lower pH, there is an additional electrochemically-induced generation of soluble V(IV) species during discharging as well. The overall results suggest that fluoride ions significantly increase the structural stability of phosphate materials in aqueous environments and a careful electrolyte design with controlled proton and water activity could enable the use of Na3V2(PO4)2F3 in water-based electrochemical devices.
Experimental Study on Hydrodynamic Performance of the Integrated Floating Breakwater-Wind Turbine Device
Authors: Guo Jianting , Wu Renhao , Gao Xubing , Yang Yuxin
Published: September 2023

This study presents the design of an integrated floating breakwater-wind turbine device. The hydrodynamic performance was evaluated in a two-dimensional water tank under typical operating conditions to investigate its kinematic response and wave dissipation effect, while the original design was improved and optimized to enhance the overall performance of the integrated device. The improved integrated device had lower heave and sway motion amplitudes, better wave resistance, and better wave dissipation performance than the prototype. The improved integrated device can effectively reduce costs and optimize the allocation of resources by using a floating breakwater as a carrier for wind power generation and has broad application prospects.
Peripheral Arteriovenous Malformation Embolization Using Squid
Authors: Ahmad Saima , Uddin Moeez
Published: September 2023

Background and Objectives. Head and neck arteriovenous malformations and fistulae treatment without reflux and with nidal penetration can pose a particular challenge to the interventional radiologist. Squid, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer-based liquid embolic agent, was developed primarily for neuroradiologic interventions with limited applicability being described in the management of peripheral arteriovenous malformations. We present a study evaluating the safety and efficacy of using squid (18 and 12) alone and in combination with other embolic agents for peripheral arteriovenous malformation embolization in a cohort of adult and paediatric patients. Materials and Methods. Between January 2018 and December 2020, twenty patients (7 men and 13 women) with peripheral high-flow arteriovenous malformations who were treated primarily with arterial embolization using squid were retrospectively included. Anatomical sites being treated included the head and neck (16), extremities (2), uterus (1), and pelvis (1). Squid was used as the sole embolic agent in 15 patients, and transarterial embolization was employed in all cases except one where direct puncture embolization was used. Treatments were delivered over one or two sessions, with or without surgery. A total of 27 sessions were carried out with an interval time ranging from 6 to 36 months between sessions. Results. Technical success was achieved in all cases. In those patients treated with squid alone, 13 exhibited total devascularization following embolization, and a further 4 required surgical excision to achieve complete obliteration of the arteriovenous malformation. There were no major complications, cases of microcatheter entrapment, or dimethyl sulfoxide-related pain recorded. On follow-up, one patient reported persistent pain, and another patient developed a garlicky taste. All other patients reported complete resolution of symptoms following treatment. Conclusion. This study demonstrates the successful use of squid in managing peripheral arteriovenous malformations with low complication rates and long-term stable results, therefore validating its efficacy when used alone or in combination with other embolic agents. Squid may be the preferred embolic agent in any interventional radiologist’s armamentarium as it offers formulations with varying viscosities (squid-18 and squid-12). We conclude that squid should be considered as a first-line embolic agent in the management of peripheral arteriovenous malformations.
A High-Frequency Planar-Configured Millimeter-Wave MIMO Antenna for Fifth-Generation NR Operations
Authors: Tiwari Poonam , Gahlaut Vishant , Kaushik Meenu , Shastri Anshuman , Siddiqui Gulman , Singh Bhupender
Published: September 2023

This article presents a simple planar millimeter-wave (mm-wave) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna with four closely spaced radiating elements. The antenna is intended to enhance the bandwidth for 5G new radio (NR) applications and also cover the industrial Ka-band (26.5-40 GHz), Q-band (30-50 GHz), and U-band (40-60 GHz) frequency ranges. The antenna is designed using Rogers RT/duroid 5880 substrate with a size of

25
×
26
×
1.6

 mm3. The proposed antenna consists of four identical radiating elements with two of them positioned in a linear configuration facing each other, while the other two elements are placed opposite to the first two, which improves isolation between the elements. Across the entire operating frequency range (26-60 GHz), the antenna demonstrated excellent performance, including 34 GHz wide bandwidth, high isolation of >25 dB, nearly omnidirectional radiation patterns, high gain of 11.1 dB with a high radiation efficiency of 94%, low envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) of 0.0068, and high diversity gain (DG) of 9.967 dB. The simulated findings exhibit a strong positive correlation with the experimental results. The proposed MIMO antenna design is a promising solution for 5G NR applications.
Developing Clinical Risk Prediction Models for Worsening Heart Failure Events and Death by Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Authors: Parikh Rishi V. , Go Alan S. , Bhatt Ankeet S. , Tan Thida C. , Allen Amanda R. , Feng Kent Y. , Hamilton Steven A. , Tai Andrew S. , Fitzpatrick Jesse K. , Lee Keane K. , Adatya Sirtaz , Avula Harshith R. , Sax Dana R. , Shen Xian , Cristino Joaquim , Sandhu Alexander T. , Heidenreich Paul A. , Ambrosy Andrew P.
Published: September 2023

Background

There is a need to develop electronic health record–based predictive models for worsening heart failure (WHF) events across clinical settings and across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Methods and Results

We studied adults with heart failure (HF) from 2011 to 2019 within an integrated health care delivery system. WHF encounters were ascertained using natural language processing and structured data. We conducted boosted decision tree ensemble models to predict 1‐year hospitalizations, emergency department visits/observation stays, and outpatient encounters for WHF and all‐cause death within each LVEF category: HF with reduced ejection fraction (EF) (LVEF <40%), HF with mildly reduced EF (LVEF 40%–49%), and HF with preserved EF (LVEF ≥50%). Model discrimination was evaluated using area under the curve and calibration using mean squared error. We identified 338 426 adults with HF: 61 045 (18.0%) had HF with reduced EF, 49 618 (14.7%) had HF with mildly reduced EF, and 227 763 (67.3%) had HF with preserved EF. The 1‐year risks of any WHF event and death were, respectively, 22.3% and 13.0% for HF with reduced EF, 17.0% and 10.1% for HF with mildly reduced EF, and 16.3% and 10.3% for HF with preserved EF. The WHF model displayed an area under the curve of 0.76 and mean squared error of 0.13, whereas the model for death displayed an area under the curve of 0.83 and mean squared error of 0.076. Performance and predictors were similar across WHF encounter types and LVEF categories.

Conclusions

We developed risk prediction models for 1‐year WHF events and death across the LVEF spectrum using structured and unstructured electronic health record data and observed no substantial differences in model performance or predictors except for death, despite differences in underlying HF cause.
Vertebral Tortuosity Is Associated With Increased Rate of Cardiovascular Events in Vascular Ehlers‐Danlos Syndrome
Authors: Stephens Sara B. , Shalhub Sherene , Dodd Nicholas , Li Jesse , Huang Michael , Oda Seitaro , Kancherla Kalyan , Doan Tam T. , Prakash Siddharth K. , Weigand Justin D. , Asch Federico M. , Beecroft Taylor , Cecchi Alana , Shittu Teniola , Preiss Liliana , LeMaire Scott A. , Devereux Richard B. , Pyeritz Reed E. , Holmes Kathryn W. , Roman Mary J. , Lacro Ronald V. , Shohet Ralph V. , Krishnamurthy Rajesh , Eagle Kim , Byers Peter , Milewicz Dianna M. , Morris Shaine A.
Published: September 2023

Background

Arterial tortuosity is associated with adverse events in Marfan and Loeys‐Dietz syndromes but remains understudied in Vascular Ehlers‐Danlos syndrome.

Methods and Results

Subjects with a pathogenic
COL3A1
variant diagnosed at age <50 years were included from 2 institutions and the GenTAC Registry (National Registry of Genetically Triggered Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms and Cardiovascular Conditions). Height‐adjusted vertebral artery tortuosity index (VTI‐h) using magnetic resonance or computed tomography angiography was calculated. Associations between VTI‐h and outcomes of (1) cardiovascular events (arterial dissection/rupture, aneurysm requiring intervention, stroke), or (2) hollow organ collapse/rupture at age <50 years were evaluated using receiver operator curve analysis (using outcome by age 30 years) and mixed‐effects Poisson regression for incidence rate ratios. Of 65 subjects (54% male), median VTI‐h was 12 (interquartile range, 8–16). Variants were missense in 46%, splice site in 31%, and null/gene deletion in 14%. Thirty‐two subjects (49%) had 59 events, including 28 dissections, 5 arterial ruptures, 4 aneurysms requiring intervention, 4 strokes, 11 hollow organ ruptures, and 7 pneumothoraces. Receiver operator curve analysis suggested optimal discrimination at VTI‐h ≥15.5 for cardiovascular events (sensitivity 70%, specificity 76%) and no association with noncardiovascular events (area under the curve, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.22–0.78]). By multivariable analysis, older age was associated with increased cardiovascular event rate while VTI‐h ≥15.5 was not (incidence rate ratios, 1.79 [95% CI, 0.76–4.24],
P
=0.185). However, VTI‐h ≥15.5 was associated with events among those with high‐risk variants <40 years (incidence rate ratios, 4.14 [95% CI, 1.13–15.10],
P
=0.032), suggesting effect modification by genotype and age.

Conclusions

Increased arterial tortuosity is associated with a higher incidence rate of cardiovascular events in Vascular Ehlers‐Danlos syndrome. Vertebral tortuosity index may be a useful biomarker for prognosis when evaluated in conjunction with genotype and age.
Sleep Variability, Eating Timing Variability, and Carotid Intima‐Media Thickness in Early Adulthood
Authors: Hoopes Elissa K. , Witman Melissa A. , D'Agata Michele N. , Brewer Benjamin , Edwards David G. , Robson Shannon M. , Malone Susan K. , Keiser Thomas , Patterson Freda
Published: September 2023

Background

Day‐to‐day variability in sleep patterns and eating timing may disrupt circadian rhythms and has been linked with various adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. However, the extent to which variability in sleep patterns and eating timing relate to atherosclerotic development in subclinical stages remains unclear.

Methods and Results

Generally healthy adults (N=62, 29.3±7.3 years, 66% female) completed 14 days of sleep and dietary assessments via wrist accelerometry and photo‐assisted diet records, respectively. Variability in sleep duration, sleep onset, eating onset (time of first caloric consumption), eating offset (time of last caloric consumption), and caloric midpoint (time at which 50% of total daily calories are consumed) were operationalized as the SD across 14 days for each variable. Separate regression models evaluated the cross‐sectional associations between sleep and eating variability metrics with end‐diastolic carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT) measured via ultrasonography. Models adjusted for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, sleep duration, and total energy intake. Each 60‐minute increase in sleep duration SD and sleep onset SD were associated with a 0.049±0.016 mm (
P
=0.003) and 0.048±0.017 mm (
P
=0.007) greater CIMT, respectively. Variability in eating onset and offset were not associated with CIMT; however, each 60‐minute increase in caloric midpoint SD was associated with a 0.033±0.015 mm greater CIMT (
P
=0.029). Exploratory post hoc analyses suggested that sleep duration SD and sleep onset SD were stronger correlates of CIMT than caloric midpoint SD.

Conclusions

Variability in sleep patterns and eating timing are positively associated with clinically relevant increases in CIMT, a biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis, in early adulthood.
Relationship Between Time‐Varying Achieved High‐Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Risk of Coronary Events Depends on Haptoglobin Phenotype Within the ACCORD Lipid Study
Authors: Warren Rachel A. , Carew Allie S. , Andreou Pantelis , Levy Andrew P. , Sapp John , Lache Orit , Ginsberg Henry N. , Rimm Eric B. , Herman Christine , Kirkland Susan , Cahill Leah E.
Published: September 2023

Background

The Hp (haptoglobin)2‐2 phenotype (~40% of people) is associated with dysfunctional high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) that is heavily oxidized in hyperglycemia, which may explain why raising HDL‐cholesterol (HDL‐C) does not reliably prevent coronary artery disease (CAD) in diabetes.

Methods and Results

In this observational study using longitudinal data from the ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) lipid trial, time‐varying (achieved) HDL‐C updated at 4, 8, and 12 months, and annually thereafter over a mean of 4.7 years, was analyzed in relation to risk of CAD and secondary outcomes using Cox proportional hazards regression with time‐varying covariables among participants with (n=1781) and without (n=3191) the Hp2‐2 phenotype. HDL‐C did not differ between the phenotypes throughout the study. Having low HDL‐C (<40 mg/dL for male participants and <50 mg/dL for female participants) was associated with a greater risk of CAD compared with non‐low HDL‐C among participants with the non‐Hp2‐2 phenotype (hazard ratio [HR], 1.48 [95% CI, 1.18–1.87]) but not among the Hp2‐2 phenotype (HR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.70–1.35];
P
interaction=0.03). Similarly, an inverse relationship was observed between HDL‐C quintiles and CAD risk among participants without the Hp2‐2 phenotype, whereas no significant inverse relationship was observed among participants with the Hp2‐2 phenotype (
P
interaction=0.38). Among the Hp2‐2 phenotype group, having low HDL‐C was associated with higher risk of CVD mortality (HR, 2.09 [95% CI, 1.05–4.13]), and compared with the lowest HDL‐C quintile, higher quintiles were associated with lower risk of CVD mortality and congestive heart failure.

Conclusions

Hp phenotype modified the association between HDL‐C and risk of CAD in the ACCORD lipid study, suggesting that HDL dysfunction in the Hp2‐2 phenotype may hinder CAD‐protective properties of HDL‐C.
Sex Differences in Patients With Cryptogenic Cerebrovascular Events Undergoing Transcatheter Closure of Patent Foramen Ovale
Authors: Farjat‐Pasos Julio I. , Guedeney Paul , Houde Christine , Alperi Alberto , Robichaud Mathieu , Côté Mélanie , Montalescot Gilles , Rodés‐Cabau Josep
Published: September 2023

Background

Scarce data exist on sex differences in patients with cryptogenic cerebrovascular events undergoing patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure. This study aimed to determine the sex differences in clinical profile, procedural characteristics, and long‐term outcomes of patients with cryptogenic cerebrovascular events undergoing PFO closure.

Methods and Results

A retrospective cohort was used, including 1076 consecutive patients undergoing PFO closure because of a cryptogenic cerebrovascular event. Patients were divided into 2 groups: 469 (43.6%) women and 607 (56.4%) men. The median follow‐up was 3 years (interquartile range, 2–8 years). Women were younger (46±13 versus 50±12 years;
P
<0.01) and had a higher risk of paradoxical embolism score (6.9±1.7 versus 6.6±1.6;
P
<0.01). Procedural characteristics and postprocedural antithrombotic therapy were similar. At follow‐up, there were no differences in atrial fibrillation (women versus men: 0.47 versus 0.97 per 100 patient‐years; incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.55 [95% CI, 0.27–1.11];
P
=0.095; adjusted
P
=0.901), stroke (0.17 versus 0.07 per 100 patient‐years; IRR, 2.58 [95% CI, 0.47–14.1];
P
=0.274; adjusted
P
=0.201), or transient ischemic attack (0.43 versus 0.18 per 100 patient‐years; IRR, 2.58 [95% CI, 0.88–7.54];
P
=0.084; adjusted
P
=0.121); nevertheless, women exhibited a higher incidence of combined ischemic cerebrovascular events (0.61 versus 0.26 per 100 patient‐years; IRR, 2.58 [95% CI, 1.04–6.39];
P
=0.041; adjusted
P
=0.028) and bleeding events (1.04 versus 0.45 per 100 patient‐years; IRR, 2.82 [95% CI, 1.41–5.65];
P
=0.003; adjusted
P
=0.004).

Conclusions

Compared with men, women with cryptogenic cerebrovascular events undergoing PFO closure were younger and had a higher risk of paradoxical embolism score. After a median follow‐up of 3 years, there were no differences in stroke events, but women exhibited a higher rate of combined (stroke and transient ischemic attack) cerebrovascular events and bleeding complications. Additional studies are warranted to clarify sex‐related outcomes after PFO closure further.
Differences in Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation Incidence and Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery According to Assessment Method and Definition: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Perezgrovas‐Olaria Roberto , Alzghari Talal , Rahouma Mohammed , Dimagli Arnaldo , Harik Lamia , Soletti Giovanni J. , An Kevin R. , Caldonazo Tulio , Kirov Hristo , Cancelli Gianmarco , Audisio Katia , Yaghmour Mohammad , Polk Hillary , Toor Rajbir , Sathi Swetha , Demetres Michelle , Girardi Leonard N. , Biondi‐Zoccai Giuseppe , Gaudino Mario
Published: September 2023

Background

Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is the most frequent complication of cardiac surgery. Despite clinical and economic implications, ample variability in POAF assessment method and definition exist across studies. We performed a study‐level meta‐analysis to evaluate the influence of POAF assessment method and definition on its incidence and association with clinical outcomes.

Methods and Results

A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies comparing the outcomes of patients with and without POAF after cardiac surgery that also reported POAF assessment method. The primary outcome was POAF incidence. The secondary outcomes were in‐hospital mortality, stroke, intensive care unit length of stay, and postoperative length of stay. Fifty‐nine studies totaling 197 774 patients were included. POAF cumulative incidence was 26% (range: 7.3%–53.1%). There were no differences in POAF incidence among assessment methods (27%, [range: 7.3%–53.1%] for continuous telemetry, 27% [range: 7.9%–50%] for telemetry plus daily ECG, and 19% [range: 7.8%–42.4%] for daily ECG only;
P
>0.05 for all comparisons). No differences in in‐hospital mortality, stroke, intensive care unit length of stay, and postoperative length of stay were found between assessment methods. No differences in POAF incidence or any other outcomes were found between POAF definitions. Continuous telemetry and telemetry plus daily ECG were associated with higher POAF incidence compared with daily ECG in studies including only patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

Conclusions

POAF incidence after cardiac surgery remains high, and detection rates are variable among studies. POAF incidence and its association with adverse outcomes are not influenced by the assessment method and definition used, except in patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.
Introduction: Enacting Peace Amid Violence: Nonviolent Civilian Agency in Violent Conflict
Authors: Bliesemann de Guevara Berit , Allouche Jeremy , Gray Felicity
Published: September 2023

Worldwide, civilians experiencing violence make agential choices about how they interact with conflict landscapes. This special issue assembles contributions that specifically deepen our understanding of nonviolent civilian agency amid violence. Our Introduction embeds these contributions in a wider overview of the study of civilian agency in war. First, we unpack the state/military versus civilian binary upon which dominant scholarship’s idea of agency in violent conflict is often still based and show how this has contributed to an analytical gap in our understanding of nonviolent civilian action. We then provide an overview of the growing literature that has started to fill this gap and discuss how its recentering of nonviolence and civilian agency enables a more nuanced understanding of conflict management and transformation across diverse contexts. Finally, we provide an overview of the contributions to this special issue and how they take the state of the art of scholarly work forward.
The Right to Work and American Inequality
Authors: VanHeuvelen Tom
Published: September 2023

Labor historians describe Right to Work (RTW) as among the most consequential pushbacks against the early twentieth-century ascent of labor unions. Yet research on the economic consequences of RTW remains mixed, with nearly all research centered empirically and theoretically on the time surrounding RTW passage. In the current study, I use 41 waves of longitudinal data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics between 1968 and 2019 to empirically and theoretically extend the mechanisms that link RTW and economic outcomes. First, following the vast majority of research on RTW, I show the demobilizing effects for labor following RTW passage: mean wages decline, wage inequality increases, and the union premium is halved in the middle and lower portion of the wage distribution. Second, I move theoretical focus beyond the time surrounding law enactment, arguing for a second-order effect whereby RTW institutionalizes a logic of polarized economic distributions and low labor power. To test this mechanism, I develop a novel strategy of comparison across respondents who are differentially mobile across state boundaries. I find individuals who cross RTW contexts experience a unique decline in mean wages and increase in wage variance, but this distinct trend can be explained by state-level institutional variation across RTW and non-RTW states. Thus, RTW is not only consequential in the periods around its passage, but also in establishing a long-standing, high-inequality regime. Results reveal multiple mechanisms by which RTW contributes to the long-run processes of union decline and broadly shared inequality growth.
Marching to Her Own Beat: Asynchronous Teamwork and Gender Differences in Performance on Creative Projects
Authors: Ranganathan Aruna , Das Aayan
Published: September 2023

Women have traditionally been held back from performing to their full potential in creative project teams, where they typically constitute a minority. However, due to recent technological developments, the structure of teamwork is rapidly evolving. Specifically, teamwork is now often performed asynchronously: members of teams work at different times, by themselves, rather than simultaneously and together. How will this shift to asynchronous teamwork affect the performance of men and women on creative project teams? This article argues that women will perform better when teamwork is asynchronous rather than synchronous, because working alone will afford them greater freedom for creative expression. We argue that men will not experience the same boost in performance, and thus the spread of asynchronous teamwork has the potential to reduce gender disparities in performance. We explore this question in the context of folk-music ensembles in eastern India. After collecting ethnographic and interview data from folk musicians to develop our theory, we conducted a field experiment in which individual singers, men and women, recorded a song both synchronously and asynchronously with the same set of instrumentalists. This article contributes to the study of gender inequality, creativity, and the temporal restructuring of work.
The Impact of Fibrinogen to Prognostic Nutritional Index Rate on Prognosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Igarashi Yosuke , Shirai Yoshihiro , Tanji Yoshiaki , Hamura Ryoga , Yanagaki Mitsuru , Abe Kyohei , Onda Shinji , Furukawa Kenei , Matsumoto Michinori , Tsunematsu Masashi , Ikegami Toru
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the ratio of serum fibrinogen to prognostic nutritional index (PNI; Fbg/PNI) in patients undergoing resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Methods

A total of 140 patients who had undergone resection for pancreatic cancer were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to a Fbg/PNI ≥8.8 or <8.8. Survival data were analyzed using the log-rank test for univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazards for multivariate analysis.

Results

Fbg/PNI was a significant prognostic indicator in univariate analysis for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Fbg/PNI retained significance in multivariate analysis for OS (hazard ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.77; P < .01) in addition to tumor differentiation and nodal involvement. Fbg/PNI was a significant independent prognostic indicator of poor DFS on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 1.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.26; P = .03).

Conclusion

Preoperative Fbg/PNI is a novel significant independent prognostic indicator for OS and DFS following resection of pancreatic cancer with curative intent.
Assessing Complication Risk of Pressure Equalizing Tube Placement in Children With Velocardiofacial Syndrome (22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome/DiGeorge Syndrome)
Authors: Kloosterman Nicole , Freeman Michael H. , Belcher Ryan H.
Published: September 2023

Introduction:

Persistent tympanic membrane perforation is a known complication of pressure-equalizing (PE) tube insertion. Conductive hearing loss and otorrhea can necessitate surgical repair of these perforations. Long-term tympanostomy tube placement can increase the risk of these complications. Patients with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) typically require prolonged PE tube placement and are thought to have higher risk of requiring additional otologic interventions after PE tube placement. To date, no work has established rates of post-PE tube complications requiring myringoplasty or tympanoplasty in patients with VCFS.

Methods:

A retrospective case review including all patients with VCFS at a single large children’s hospital between the years 2000 and 2020 was performed. Number of PE tube insertions required and additional otologic interventions performed were the primary endpoints assessed.

Results:

Of 212 total patients with VCFS, 66 (31%) underwent PE tube placement. Of these children, 46 (70%) required 2 or more sets of PE tubes. A total of 53 patients (80.3%) required no otologic interventions apart from PE tube insertions. Of the 13 patients (19.7%) requiring additional otologic surgery, 6 (9.5%) underwent myringoplasty, and 9 patients (13.6%) required tympanoplasty. There was no significant difference in tympanoplasty ( P > 1), myringoplasty ( P > 1), or other surgical intervention rates ( P = .7464) between VCFS patients with any type of cleft palate versus those with anatomically normal palates.

Conclusion:

This work suggests that most VCFS patients that require tubes, require at least 2 sets of PE tubes, and that the rate of post-PE tube complications requiring further otologic surgery is an order of magnitude higher than the rate established at this institution. Counseling for PE tube placement in VCFS patients may require specific dialogue regarding the substantially increased risk of complications and effort to build appropriate expectations for surgical outcomes regardless of palatal status.
Perspectives on Professional Development Among University and Community Pediatric Hospitalists
Authors: Sun Vivien K. , Chappell-Campbell Laura , Blankenburg Rebecca , Sznewajs Aimee
Published: September 2023

Multiple professional societies have emphasized the importance of professional development for physicians. This qualitative study aimed to explore pediatric hospitalists’ perceptions of professional development needs and to refine a framework for professional development in pediatric hospital medicine (PHM). We conducted four focus groups in April to May 2019 with 19 pediatric hospitalists at six clinical sites within a single institution. Participants identified key components of professional development including skill development, personal growth, career satisfaction, and individualization. Hospitalists agreed upon 8 domains of professional development: clinical excellence, advocacy, global health, health care administration, informatics, medical education, quality improvement, and research. They also identified missing the mentorship necessary to change their passions into career advancement, highlighted barriers and facilitators, and noted that an alignment in personally meaningful projects to what is meaningful to the institution was in everyone’s best interests. Faculty programs should build infrastructure to aid pediatric hospitalists in achieving their career goals.
Gender and Clientelism: Do Expectations of Patronage Penalize Women Candidates in Legislative Elections?
Authors: Schuler Paul
Published: September 2023

How does the salience of clientelism in politics impact voter support for women legislative candidates? Existing research finds little bias against women legislative candidates in survey experiments. Where bias exists, it is due to “role congruity,” where voters penalize women because of a perceived lack of specific traits or issue preferences suitable for the position. Building on existing work, I theorize that the ability to deliver patronage is a “role” voters might find stereotypically incongruous with women. Using two waves of a nationally representative survey in Vietnam, I generate preregistered predictions about the impact of a clientelism prime on bias against women legislative candidates. I then test the prediction, with results showing that when clientelism is primed, bias against women candidates increases. These results provide evidence that clientelism has gendered effects on political representation. It also theorizes an additional “role” that could penalize women at the polls.
Creativity and the collective Renaissance: A hermeneutic-imaginary approach
Authors: Bergua José Angel
Published: September 2023

This article builds on a powerful statement by Hans Joas regarding creativity, with which he claims ‘the self escapes its bounds and loses itself in pursuit of the forces of sociality that make it up’. To develop this argument, we propose a hermeneutic approach that centres on myths and rituals that narrate how subjective and collective orders are dissolved within the indeterminate ( apeiron). Although this question has been further explored within theoretical frameworks that discuss the death drive, the body without organs, the inoperative community and so on, these approaches do not refer to the subsequent rebirths, which the logos seems incapable of tackling but which traditional wisdom manages to address. The lesson that this ancient wisdom can pass on to sociology is that the communitas can act as the apeiron of the social from which the self and society itself escape their bounds to be reborn.
What is left unsaid: Omissions in biographical narratives
Authors: Correia Sónia Bernardo , Caetano Ana
Published: September 2023

When we ask people to tell us the story of their lives, it is not the full extent of their biographies that we have access to, but only a partial version of it. Biographical narratives are permeated by processes of selection that imply highlighting some things while omitting others. Most of the time, what is left unsaid cannot be fully acknowledged, precisely because it is not explicitly verbalised. In the scope of the research project Biographical echoes, we were able to identify significant events and relationships in a person’s life that were not disclosed in autobiographical accounts but were unveiled in hetero-biographical ones by close people who were interviewed about that person’s life. The triangulation of data allowed us to access elements of a biography that would otherwise have remained unseen. By taking omissions as units of analysis, we characterised their main features and identified three distinct profiles of omissions using a Multiple Correspondence Analysis: relational, light and taboo. We argue that the act of omitting something is a meaningful social action with implications at both the biographical and analytical levels.
Retaining Family Identity: Lived Experience of Caregiving in the Black Community
Authors: Duncan Lessep T. , Smith Mark
Published: September 2023

Aimed at exploring the lived experiences of family caregivers of care recipients in the Black community, this study uses Heideggerian phenomenology to elucidate the meaning of caregiving as defined from the lived experiences of the caregivers themselves. Using a nonprobability purposive design, 12 caregivers from the Black community were interviewed to examine their cultural and lived experiences of caring for family members with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementia (ADRD). Six main themes related to the caregiving role and experience were identified. These themes coalesced to generate a major theme of Maintaining a Family Identity. While the experience of caregiving was expressed as emotionally difficult, family caregiver’s cultural backgrounds emphasized a responsibility to provide care. This led to an ambivalent perception of formal support. Utilization of formal support to address caregiving difficulties was considered acceptable when it was in line with caregivers’ need to retain a sense of familial responsibility and consistency of identity. Gaining further insight into cultural factors associated with the caregiving experience included the need for increased sensitivity in providing services that addressed the psychoemotional stress that can arise from Black caregivers’ dilemma in attempting to maintain familial identity. Attention to the familial relationship within the Black community will assist policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to develop services that caregivers in the Black community consider acceptable, accessible, and effective in enhancing their caregiving experiences.
On the mechanical and mathematical properties of the stiffness and compliance coupling tensors of composite anisotropic laminates
Authors: Vannucci Paolo
Published: September 2023

The problem of determining the general and relevant mechanical and mathematical properties of the stiffness, [Formula: see text], and compliance, [Formula: see text], tensors describing the bending-extension coupling of anisotropic laminates is addressed in this paper. A set of theoretical results is proposed, showing some peculiarities of these tensors, from the mathematical and mechanical point of view. The theoretical analysis and the mechanical results are obtained through an extensive use of the so-called polar formalism, introduced as early as 1979 by Prof. G. Verchery.
Butyrate Inhibits Dendritic Cell Activation and Alleviates Periodontitis
Authors: Wu L. , Luo Z. , Chen Y. , Yan Z. , Fu J. , Jiang Y. , Xu J. , Liu Y.
Published: September 2023

Dendritic cells (DCs) can mediate inflammation-related bone resorption that is crucial in the development of periodontitis. Butyrate is a critical by-product of microbes with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we found that butyrate inhibited the activation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced DCs and generation of inflammatory cytokines by DCs. Moreover, butyrate regulated glycolysis in LPS-induced DCs via the G-protein-coupled receptor/hypoxia-inducible factor–1α pathway. In addition, butyrate inhibited the maturation of CD11c+MHC-II+ DCs in vivo, suppressing local inflammatory infiltration and ultimately alleviating bone resorption in a periodontitis model. Our results imply that butyrate suppresses the activation of LPS-induced DCs by modulating their metabolism, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases.
Unpacking Intersectional Inequities in Flu Vaccination by Sexuality, Gender, and Race-Ethnicity in the United States
Authors: Hsieh Ning
Published: September 2023

Health care research has long overlooked the intersection of multiple social inequalities. This study examines influenza vaccination inequities at the intersection of sexuality, gender, and race-ethnicity. Using data from the 2013 to 2018 National Health Interview Survey (N = 166,908), the study shows that sexual, gender, and racial-ethnic identities jointly shaped flu vaccination. Specifically, White gay men had the highest vaccination rate (56%), while Black bisexual women had the lowest rate (23%). Across Black, Hispanic, and White individuals, sexual minority women had lower vaccination rates than heterosexual women, but sexual minority men had higher or similar vaccination rates than heterosexual men. Economic enabling, noneconomic enabling, and need-based factors together explained a substantial portion of these gaps. However, they cannot explain all the disadvantages faced by Black lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual women and Black heterosexual men. Findings offer new evidence of hidden health care inequities and inform health policies from an intersectional perspective.
The Mental “Weight” of Discrimination: The Relationship between Perceived Interpersonal Weight Discrimination and Suicidality in the United States
Authors: Graham Carlyn E. , Frisco Michelle L.
Published: September 2023

Extant research has investigated the relationship between body weight and suicidality because obesity is highly stigmatized, leading to social marginalization and discrimination, yet has produced mixed results. Scholars have speculated that factors associated with body weight, such as weight discrimination, may better predict suicidality than body weight itself. We consider this possibility among a sample of 12,057 adult participants ages 33 to 43 in Wave V of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health through investigation of the relationships between weight discrimination and two dimensions of suicidality—suicide ideation and attempts. We also examine gender as a moderator of these relationships. We find that weight discrimination is positively associated with both suicide ideation and attempts, and this relationship is similar among men and women. Our findings underscore the need to address issues of weight discrimination in our society to better promote mental well-being.
Are Pre-Service Educators Prepared to Implement Personalized Learning?: An Alignment Analysis of Educator Preparation Standards
Authors: Zhang Ling , Carter Richard Allen , Bloom Lisa , Kennett Daron W. , Hoekstra Nicholas J. , Goldman Samantha R. , Rujimora James
Published: September 2023

Traction is growing for personalized learning (PL) as an educational innovation that aims to provide learning experiences to meet diverse learning needs. However, little research has investigated how PL is positioned in professional standards that provide guidance on teacher education across content-specific disciplines and for diverse learner populations. Using an alignment methodology, this study identified and analyzed 193 out of 654 educator preparation standard components in the U.S. education system for the presence of teaching practices that may better respond to the need for PL implementation. This research revealed different percentages of standard components reflecting expectations for educators to understand learner characteristics, tailor instruction to learner needs, and advocate for promoting learning outcomes for individual learners. Moreover, noticeable patterns exist among standards across disciplines and for diverse learner populations regarding how they focus on knowledge, competencies, and dispositions in relation to preparing educators for PL implementation.
How have digital mobility platforms responded to COVID-19 and why does this matter for ‘the urban’?
Authors: Hodson Mike , Lockhart Andy , McMeekin Andrew
Published: September 2023

Digital mobility platforms have become increasingly pervasive over the last decade or so in a wide variety of urban contexts. Much digital mobility platform activity has focused on city centres and urban cores, where returns on investment are often seen to be greatest, where existing transport infrastructure can be thick and where there are concentrated circulations of people. The global spread of coronavirus from early 2020 resulted in widespread policies of social distancing and lockdowns. Though there was a geographical unevenness to such policies, COVID-19 saw dramatic reductions in urban public transport provision and use, and new forms of experimentation with urban infrastructures, including with digital mobility platforms. How digital mobility platforms have responded to COVID-19 is not clearly understood and requires systematic research engagement. To address this we ask: how have digital mobility platforms responded to COVID-19 and what are the implications of this for ‘the urban’? We develop a stylised understanding of six digital platform responses to COVID-19. The status of these six responses is that they are synthetic and propositional and need to be systematically tested in a variety of actually existing urban contexts.
A Latent Profile Analysis of the Consensual and Non-Consensual Sexting Experiences among Canadian Adolescents
Authors: Holfeld Brett , Mishna Faye , Craig Wendy , Zuberi Samar
Published: September 2023

Different patterns of sexting behaviors were examined to provide a more nuanced understanding of the context in which sexting occurs among adolescents. Participants were 1,000 Canadian adolescents (50.2% girls) between 12 and 18 years ( Mage = 15.21, SD = 2.00) who completed measures of sexting, cyber bullying and victimization, problematic social media use, self-regulation, and demographics. Contrary to our hypotheses, three latent profiles of sexting represented the frequency of sexting rather than whether the sexting was consensual versus non-consensual or with a partner versus non-partner. Participants in the moderate and high sexting profiles representing one fifth of youth, reported less self-regulation, experienced more cyber victimization, and engaged in more cyber bullying and problematic social media use than those in the no/low sexting profile. Our findings support the normalcy approach to education, which considers some sexting among healthy developmental behaviors.
Can Medicaid be a Solution to the Problem? Underinsurance in Medicaid Expansion Versus Non-Expansion States
Authors: Izguttinov Aniyar , Trogdon Justin G.
Published: September 2023

The positive effects of Medicaid expansions have been extensively documented in the literature. However, it is not clear whether the reform has had an equally meaningful effect with respect to underinsurance, which is the state of having health insurance yet lacking adequate coverage or facing substantial financial risks upon usage of services. Based on a quasi-experimental difference-in-differences approach, we analyzed the data from a nationally representative sample to estimate the effect of Medicaid expansion on the probability of underinsurance among the non-elderly low-income adult population of the U.S. We found no evidence of significant changes in the likelihood of underinsurance due to Medicaid expansion during the first 4 years after the ACA implementation. However, a supplementary analysis of the longer-term impact (2018-2019) suggests that there might be a time lag between Medicaid expansion and its effect on underinsurance. It is important to realize that expansion of coverage alone may not be sufficient to protect millions of Americans, particularly those with low incomes, from underinsurance. It is, therefore, crucial for policymakers to build legislative frameworks that protect individuals from excessive healthcare expenses and prevent treatment avoidance or delay.