bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nationwide Registry‐Based Analysis of Infective Endocarditis Risk After Pulmonary Valve Replacement
Authors: Stammnitz Clara , Huscher Dörte , Bauer Ulrike M. M. , Urban Aleksandra , Nordmeyer Johannes , Schubert Stephan , Photiadis Joachim , Berger Felix , Klaassen Sabine ,   the German Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects Investigators
Published: February 2022

Background

Infective endocarditis (IE) after pulmonary valve replacements in congenital heart disease is a significant concern. This study aimed to identify specific long‐term risk factors for IE after percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation or surgical pulmonary valve replacement.

Methods and Results

All patients with congenital heart disease from the National Register for Congenital Heart Defects with at least 1 pulmonary valve replacement before January 2018 were included. A total of 1170 patients (56.3% men, median age at study inclusion 12 [interquartile range {Q1–Q3} 5–20 years]) received 1598 pulmonary valve replacements. IE occurred in 4.8% of patients during a follow‐up of total 9397 patient‐years (median 10 [Q1–Q3, 6–10] years per patient). After homograft implantation 7 of 558 (1.3%) patients developed IE, after heterograft implantation 31 of 723 (4.3%) patients, and after Melody valve implantation 18 of 241 (7.5%) patients. Edwards Sapien and mechanical valves were used less frequently and remained without IE. The incidence of IE in heterografts excluding Contegra valves was 7 of 278 (2.5%), whereas the incidence of IE in Contegra valves was 24 of 445 (5.4%). The risk of IE was not increased compared with homografts if Contegra valves were excluded from the heterografts (hazard ratio [HR], 2.60;
P
=0.075). The risk of IE was increased for bovine jugular vein valves, Contegra valves (HR, 6.72;
P
<0.001), and Melody valves (HR, 5.49;
P
<0.001), but did not differ between Melody valves and Contegra valves (HR, 1.01;
P
=0.978).

Conclusions

Bovine jugular vein valves have the highest risk of IE, irrespective of the mode of deployment, either surgical or percutaneous.
Abū Yūsuf’s Ikhtilāf Abī Ḥanīfa wa-Ibn Abī Laylā and the Transmission of Knowledge in the Formative Period of the Ḥanafī School
Authors: Hanif Sohail
Published: February 2022

In this essay, I address the longstanding debate on attributing legal texts to formative-period authors by focusing on the transmission of one early text: Ikhtilāf Abī Ḥanīfa wa-Ibn Abī Laylā, attributed to Abū Yūsuf (d. 182/798), and its reception by one early jurist: Abū Jaʿfar al-Ṭaḥāwī (d. 321/933). I argue that al-Ṭaḥāwī’s written work attests to the existence of multiple independent transmissions of Abū Yūsuf’s text and that these transmissions confirm the attribution of the text to Abū Yūsuf. I then reflect on the formative-period written materials consulted by al-Ṭaḥāwī and his contemporaries, arguing that their access to material from a period in which oral transmission was predominant gave them a unique standing in the eyes of classical-era jurists. Finally, I reflect on the role of digests (mukhtaṣars), particularly those of al-Ṭaḥāwī and al-Qudūrī (d. 428/1037), in sealing the movement from orality in the formative period to fixed written texts in the classical period.
Recent Scholarship on the Imperial Reception of Cicero
Authors: Sillett Andrew James
Published: February 2022

This article reviews two monographs recently published on the subject of Cicero’s reception in the imperial period: Keeline’s 2018 The Reception of Cicero in the Early Roman Empire and La Bua’s 2019 Cicero and Roman Education. As Cicero’s Nachleben is assuming a position of increasing salience in classical studies, this review contextualizes these two volumes within over a century of scholarship on the subject. Keeline’s book demonstrates the critical importance of the schoolroom in shaping almost every aspect of Cicero’s posthumous reception, while La Bua’s methodically elucidates how Cicero’s speeches were taught and read in the classrooms of the empire. The article concludes with an argument for a new approach to studying the reception of Cicero in this period.
‘Live Bread for the Starved Folk’: Some Perspectives on Holy Communion
Authors: Goroncy Jason
Published: February 2022

This essay argues that ecclesial existence involves learning to view the world and to move in it in ways informed by the Christian community’s sacramental practices. Of particular concern here is the practice of Holy Communion. This looking and moving is not about one thing; it is rather about many things. Frequently, such discussions are exhausted by fruitless debates about the metaphysics of the elements, or strangled by concerns to defend certain prescriptive practices or shibboleths. This essay is unconcerned with these matters. Instead, it brings together some observations about the practices of the Lord’s Supper with a range of themes representative of commitments shared by Christian communities broadly – people, God, stories, hospitality, power, catholicity, martyrdom, and hope – with the intention of provoking a thicker assessment of eucharistic modes of being in the world, and promoting practices marked by the kinds of imaginative freedom that the gospel instigates.
Seafood Without the Sea: Article 20 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, the ‘Justifiability Test’ and Innovative Technologies in a Sustainable Blue Economy
Authors: de Amstalden Mariela
Published: February 2022

With the growing global demand for seafood and ocean ecosystems increasingly at risk, advances in the field of cellular aquaculture provide a unique opportunity to foster sustainable fisheries. However, the successful commercialization of cell-based seafood requires the adoption of the regulation on product labelling. This article explores the trademarks issues of cell-based foods specifically and whether these types of intellectual property rights can contribute to the promotion of sustainable fisheries in the so-called ‘blue economy’. It examines the extent to which international trademark protection has the ability to contribute to better ocean governance by accommodating higher public policy imperatives, the recent case law on Article 20 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, and the newly adopted ‘justifiability test’ for special requirements as they apply to trademarks. It appraises some of the legal implications for the regulatory design of domestic labelling regulation as they apply to cell-based seafood.
Examination of Chemical Reaction on Three Dimensional Mixed Convective Magnetohydrodynamic Jeffrey Nanofluid Over a Stretching Sheet
Authors: Vaidya Hanumesh , Rajashekhar C. , Mebarek-Oudina F. , Prasad K. V. , Vajravelu K. , Ramesh Bhat B.
Published: February 2022

This article aims to explore the mixed flow of MHD transmission of the three-dimensional Jeffery nanoliquid via a bidirectional stretching sheet. The impact of the chemical reaction rate and the absorption/heat induction on the flow field is assessed. A velocity slip with convective
boundary conditions and zero mass concentration conditions is considered. Dimensional quintiles are reassembled into dimensionless equations using the appropriate modification of the equations. The OHAM process was adopted to resolve non-linear equations. The behavior of the parameters involved
in the velocity, temperature, and filtration of nanoparticle species is interpreted in detail. It is noteworthy that Deborah’s number augments the velocity profiles, and the recurring trend is reflected in the temperature and nanoparticle filtering profiles. The combined outcomes are
compared through existing literature to ensure the precision of different case solutions.
Impact of the North Atlantic Sea Surface Temperature Tripole on the Northwestern Pacific Weak Tropical Cyclone Frequency
Authors: Jin Rui , Yu Hui , Wu Zhiwei , Zhang Peng
Published: February 2022

Previous studies focused on the intense TCs in the central-southeastern western North Pacific (WNP), whose variability is intimately linked to El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the extratropical sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) in the Pacific. Compared with them, weak TCs (WTCs) are more numerous and form farther northwestward. The great number of WTCs and thereby the landfall cases may also cause huge damage to countries in Southeast Asia. However, their modulators are far from fully understood. Our research emphasizes the delayed impact of the early spring North Atlantic tripole SSTA (NAT) on the WTC formation frequency through the “capacitor” effect of sea ice (SIC) and SST in the Barents Sea. Detailed analysis indicates that a positive NAT may modulate an anomalous high in the Barents Sea–North Europe and decrease the local low cloud cover. Thus, more downward solar radiation tends to heat the local SST and decrease the SIC. This warmer Barents Sea could maintain through the typhoon season and excite a significant southeastward wave train, with several centers in the Arctic, central Asia, and East Asia. The abnormal easterly wind to the south of the anticyclone in East Asia facilitates the cyclonic anomaly in the South China Sea, the Philippines, and the subtropical WNP, which reinforces the local monsoon trough and favors the WTC formation there. A physical-based empirical model is developed for the WTC frequency, and hindcast is performed from 1979 to 2018. It shows the early spring NAT effectively improves the prediction skill for the WTC frequency, which can be considered as a crucial source of predictability for WTCs.

Significance Statement

Previous studies have focused on the western North Pacific intense TCs. The great number of weak TCs (WTCs) and thereby the landfall cases may also cause huge damage. However, modulators for WTCs have not been fully understood. This research emphasizes the potential impact of the early spring North Atlantic tripole SSTA (NAT) pattern on the WTC frequency through the persistent sea ice and sea surface temperature in the Barents Sea. By considering the NAT signal, the seasonal forecasting skill for WTC frequency is effectively improved. Therefore, the NAT signal may help better understand the WTC variability about 1–2 seasons in advance.
A Hybrid Ultra-short-term and Short-term Wind Speed Forecasting Method based on CEEMDAN and GA-BPNN
Authors: Shang Yi , Miao Lijuan , Shan Yunpeng , Gnyawali Kaushal Raj , Zhang Jing , Kattel Giri
Published: February 2022

Reliable ultra-short-term and short-term wind speed forecasting is pivotal for clean energy development and grid operation planning. During the wind forecasting process, decomposing the measured wind speed into data with different frequencies is a solution for overcoming the nonlinearity and the randomness of the natural wind. Existing forecasting methods, a hybrid method based on empirical mode decomposition and the back propagation neural network optimized by genetic algorithm (EMD-GA-BPNN), rely on partial decomposing the measured wind speed into data with different frequencies and subsequently achieving forecasting results from machine learning algorithms. However, such method can roughly divide IMF signals in different frequency domains, but each frequency domain contains signals with multiple frequencies. The condition reflects that the method cannot fully distinguish wind speed into data with different frequencies and thus it compromises the forecasting accuracy. A complete decomposition of measured wind speed can reduce the complexity of machine learning algorithm, and has become a useful approach for precise simulations of wind speed. Here, we propose a novel hybrid method (CEEMDAN-GA-BPNN) based on the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) by completely decomposing the measured wind speed. The decomposition results are put into the back propagation neural network optimized by genetic algorithm (GA-BPNN), and the final forecasting results are achieved by combining all the output values by GA-BPNN for each decomposition result from CEEMDAN. We benchmark the forecasting accuracy of the proposed hybrid method against EMD-GA-BPNN integrated by EMD and GA-BPNN. From a wind farm case in Yunnan Province, China, both for ultra-short-term forecasting (15 minutes) and short-term forecasting (1 hour), the performance of the proposed method exceeds EMD-GA-BPNN in several criteria, including root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and coefficient of determination (R2). The forecasting accuracy in decomposed components of low frequencies outperform components of high and middle frequencies. Fine improvement of the error metric (in percentage) in ultra-short-term/short-term forecasting is found by the complete decomposition method CEEMDAN-GA-BPNN: RMSE (7.0% and 8.6%), MAE (7.41% and 7.9%), MAPE (11.0% and 8.7%), and R2 (2.2% and 11.0%), compared with the incomplete decomposing method EMD-GA-BPNN. Our result suggests that CEEMDAN-GA-BPNN could be an accurate wind speed forecasting tool for wind farms development and intelligent grid operations.
How Do Employees React When Their CEO Speaks Out? Intra- and Extra-Firm Implications of CEO Sociopolitical Activism
Authors: Wowak Adam J. , Busenbark John R. , Hambrick Donald C.
Published: February 2022

Business leaders have traditionally avoided wading into society’s debates. Yet more and more CEOs are taking visible public stands on hotly contested issues, engaging in what has come to be called CEO sociopolitical activism. Despite its growing prevalence and potentially major implications, this class of executive behaviors remains largely unexplored by organizational scholars. Our study tests and elaborates on stakeholder alignment theory to investigate the influence of CEO activism on employees’ attitudes and behaviors, particularly its effects on employees’ organizational commitment and support for the ideology underpinning the CEO’s public stance. Our theoretical predictions hinge on the degree of alignment between the CEO’s stance and the prevailing ideological tilt of the employee population, as well as the degree to which employees view the CEO as a credible leader. We test our ideas in the context of a highly publicized letter signed by nearly 100 public company CEOs in opposition to North Carolina’s controversial 2016 “bathroom bill.” Relying on multiple data sources to examine differences between firms whose CEOs signed the letter and firms whose CEOs declined the invitation to sign, we find general support for our theory, indicating that CEO activism has important intra- and extra-firm implications.
India’s Neighbourhood Vaccine Diplomacy During COVID-19 Pandemic: Humanitarian and Geopolitical Perspectives
Authors: Singh Bawa , Singh Sandeep , Singh Balinder , Chattu Vijay Kumar
Published: February 2022

In recent years, India has established itself as the world’s ‘pharmacy hub’, and this claim was proven once again when it delivered COVID-19 vaccines to its citizens, neighbouring nations and across the globe. Following the philosophy of humanitarianism through the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, India has decided to provide the COVID-19 health assistance to its immediate neighbouring countries. India’s immediate neighbourhood refers to the countries that are geographically adjacent to it. In addition, India’s vaccine diplomacy has exposed geopolitical fault lines in South Asia as China’s vaccine diplomacy aims to outpace India in the region. Against this background, the main objective of this paper is to explain and examine India’s vaccine diplomacy as an instrument of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that India’s health-focused approach has proved effective and aligned with its national interests. This review demonstrates that India’s health diplomacy has had an impact on medical and humanitarian assistance reciprocation at the regional and international levels. As a result of this strategy, during the second wave of the pandemic, India received medical devices and vaccines from other countries in dealing with COVID-19.
Necessary conditions of the length and correct way of wearing of a nonmedical mask for younger Japanese women
Authors: Morishima Mika , Yoneda Akari
Published: February 2022

Textile masks used in industrial, medical and daily settings cover the wearer’s nose and closed and open mouth. Masks have been made by different mask manufacturers as a result of the sudden shortage of masks due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. However, there has been no clear standard design of a mask for daily use. Therefore, this study obtained the necessary conditions of the shape and length of the mask sheet and the correct way of wearing for 99.7% of a target population.

The examination was based on newly acquired data for Japanese young women (20–27 years of age) under an open-mouth condition. In the anthropometry, the three-dimensional facial shape was measured for 68 women through three-dimensional motion capture. Using the three-dimensional coordinates, sheet patterns of four sizes constructed from triangles were analyzed. The third and fourth largest patterns were shown to have higher fitting performance in a t-test. Moreover, the numbers of people suited to the patterns calculated using a cumulative distribution function reveal that the third largest pattern had a proper length of the sheet that was not oversized. The necessary lengths of the sheet for 99.7% of the target population under open-mouth conditions were 130.4 mm and 148.5 mm in the horizontal and vertical direction, respectively. The present study thus provided the necessary conditions and correct way of wearing for the sheet design. The masks should be further studied in terms of their wearability, filtration and comfort in the near future.
Economic Policy Uncertainty and International Tourism Demand: A Global Vector Autoregressive Approach
Authors: Kuok Rockie U Kei , Koo Tay T. R. , Lim Christine
Published: February 2022

In a globalized environment, a major shock or event can reverberate across tourism interdependent countries over time. This paper aims to empirically examine how economic policy uncertainty (EPU) emanating from a large country may influence inbound and outbound tourism in other countries. Using Global Vector Autoregressive (GVAR) model and two alternative measures of EPU, the study finds the modeled effects of EPU are dependent on the source of EPU measures, level of internationalization, and type of trade-weights used. Notably, the results show the “decline-rebound-overshoot” effect of EPU shock on tourism demand, and capture the link between capital flight and outbound travel from China in times of surge in EPU. This research highlights that GVAR is able to capture previously unobserved empirical insights because assessing the international impact of shocks such as economic crises, pandemics, and political instability necessitates accounting for cross-sectional interdependence in tourism flows between many countries.
Use of Low-Activity Nuclear Density Gauge in Iron Oxide-Rich Soils
Authors: Londynsky Elizabeth N. , Ooi Phillip S. K.
Published: February 2022

Nuclear density gauges (NDG) have been widely used for field compaction control. However, their shortcomings include the burden of licensing with nuclear regulatory agencies, gauge maintenance, storage and transportation restrictions, requirement to wear dosimeters, and radiation safety training. A recently developed low-activity NDG (LANDG) alternative utilizes a low-strength gamma ray source to measure soil density that is Nuclear Regulatory Commission exempt in the U.S.A. and its territories. An accompanying non-nuclear moisture probe yields the moisture content by measuring the dielectric constant of the soil. This study aims to compare the LANDG results with those of the NDG in two common soil types on the island of Oahu, Hawaii: volcanic soils and coralline soils. Coralline soils are partially broken down remains of coral comprised primarily of calcium carbonate. Volcanic soils are basalt derivatives rich in iron oxide and the question arises as to whether the iron oxide will affect the dielectric value resulting in erroneous moisture content measurements. This research shows that the LANDG and NDG measurements of total unit weight are in good agreement for both soils. The moisture content measurements from the LANDG’s accompanying moisture probe are in good agreement with those of the NDG in coralline soils but are less satisfactory in volcanic soils. A plausible explanation is offered. Moisture offsets may be applied to the moisture probe’s measurements to reduce scatter and increase accuracy. Instances of when this is required are suggested.
When love wins: Framing analysis of the Indian media’s coverage of Section 377, decriminalization of same-sex relationships
Authors: Paul Newly
Published: February 2022

In 2018, the Indian Supreme Court overturned Section 377 of the Penal Code which criminalized consensual homosexual sex between adults. This study examines the Indian media’s framing of this repeal, the sources quoted and the prominence given to the issue. Findings reveal that the human/civil rights frame was most common; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) sources were most prominent, and the issue was covered prominently in most major media outlets.
Characteristic investigation of a flow-dependent inertia hydraulic converter driven by an equivalent fast switching valve
Authors: Chen Xiaoming , Zhu Yuchuan , Wiens Travis , Bitner Doug , Ling Jie
Published: February 2022

To acquire a linear load pressure with the potential of energy-saving compared with conventional throttling hydraulic systems, a switched hydraulic circuit (referred to as a flow-dependent inertia hydraulic converter) featuring a flow-dependent inertial effect was proposed. In this device, the flowing fluid modulated by an equivalent fast switching valve allows the fluid inertance at the connection pipe and rotation inertia incorporated in the flywheel to be combined. The theoretical and simulation models of the flow-dependent inertia hydraulic converter were established, and then the flow-dependent inertia was discussed and quantified. The predictions of the load pressure, flywheel speed and system efficiency were confirmed by experimental measurements. Results indicated that the theoretical and simulation predictions match well with the experiments for this configuration. The pressure wave propagation effect within the connection pipe is responsible for the variation in the transient load pressure and flywheel speed that is initially modulated by the rotation inertia theoretically, which seriously questions the predecessor's hypothesis of using a compressible volume to model the upstream connection pipe. The parabolic mean suction flow induced by the flow-dependent inertia draw our attention to the available supply flowrate and duty cycle. Finally, the throttling loss and system efficiency that varies with the desired characteristics is superior to that of conventional throttling hydraulic systems theoretically, and an acceptable system efficiency was obtained under the premise of ignoring friction experimentally.
Impact of Education on Student Nurses' Advocacy and Ethical Sensitivity
Authors: Nesime Demirören , Belgin Akın
Published: February 2022

The nursing literature emphasizes that there are still inadequacies, differences, and inconsistencies in the definition of nurses' advocacy role, and that nursing education plays an important role in educating nurses for patient advocacy. The aim of the present study is to determine the effects of advocacy education onsocial justice advocacy and ethical sensitivity. Pre-test, post-test, parallel group, randomized controlled study. The study was carried out on 80 undergraduate nursing students in Turkey. Students was divided into experimental (40) and control (40) groups. Experimental group received advocacy education cirruculum. Both groups were applied as Socio-Demographic Characteristics, as pre- test and post-tests Social Justice Advocacy Scale, and Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire. The data were statistically evaluated with, the chi-square test, Two-Way Anova. The study was approved by Selcuk University Faculty of Health Sciences Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (09.25.2019/1218). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. The pre-test score of the intervention group and that of the control group were similar(p > 0.05). The study group's post-test score was significantly higher than its pre-test score and the post-test score of the control group “social justice advocacy skills” and “moral sensitivity Questionnaire.” In two-way analysis of variance in repeated measures, there was a significant main effect of the type of groups. The two-way ANOVA results in repeated measures showed that group-time interaction was significant. The advocacy education cirruculum the experimental group increased in the social justice advocacy knowledge, attitude and skills and moral sensitivity. The advocacy education cirruculum the experimental group increased the social justice advocacy skills and moral sensitivity. The Advocacy education cirruculum can be suggested to be integrated into the undergraduate nursing curriculum.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomographic Assessment of Maxillary Sinus Characteristics in Patients With Cleft Lip and Palate: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Srivastav Sukeshana , Tewari Nitesh , Duggal Ritu , Goel Shubhi , Rahul Morankar , Mathur Vijay Prakash , Yadav Rahul , Upadhyaya Ashish Dutt
Published: February 2022

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the maxillary sinus characteristics of patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP).

The study included manuscripts which met the following criteria: (1) study of individuals with CLP in any age group or gender and (2) study of individuals in whom assessment of maxillary sinus characteristics had been done by cone-beam computed tomography. Studies with (1) individuals having special health-care needs and (2) individuals with any syndrome affecting the development of the head and neck were excluded.

In total, 11 articles were included in the review, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pooled maxillary sinus volume (MSV) on the cleft sides of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) was found to be 9433.14 mm3 (95% CI, 7453.99-11 412.30), which was significantly smaller than that of controls. The meta-analyses also revealed significantly reduced MSV on the cleft sides of patients with UCLP. The differences between cleft and noncleft sides of the patients with UCLP were not found to be statistically significant. Strength-of-evidence was found to be moderate in 4 characteristics, along with 10 out of 11 articles showing low risk-of-bias.

It was concluded that MSV was reduced and mucosal thickening was increased/present in patients with CLP as compared with controls. The differences between MSV of cleft and noncleft sides of the patients with UCLP could not be established. However, heterogeneity was found in terms of sample size, stratification of samples by age, and evaluation of some confounding factors.
An Examination of the Latent Constructs in Risk Tools for Individuals Who Sexually Offend: Applying Multidimensional Item Response Theory to the Static-2002R
Authors: Brouillette-Alarie Sébastien , Lee Seung C. , Longpré Nicholas , Babchishin Kelly M.
Published: February 2022

Multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) was used to study the construct validity of the Static-2002R, an actuarial scale for the assessment of reoffending among adult men who sexually offended. Using a sample of 2,569 individuals with a history of sexual crime, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) extracted three factors: Persistence/Paraphilia, General Criminality, and Youthful Stranger Aggression. MIRT confirmed the factor structure identified in the EFA model and provided item-level data on discrimination and difficulty. All Static-2002R items showed moderate to very high discrimination and covered a wide range of risk levels (i.e., difficulty). MIRT analyses attested to the construct validity of the scale, as no items were identified as problematic and the resulting factor structure was consistent with that of earlier studies. Considering the stability of results pertaining to the factor structure of the Static-2002R and the advantages of dimensional scoring, we recommend the integration of dimensional scores in the scale.
Procedural outcomes associated with use of the AngioVac System for right heart thrombi: A safety report from RAPID registry data
Authors: Moriarty John M , Liao Millie , Kim Grace Hyun J , Yang Eric , Desai Kush , Ranade Mona , Plotnik Adam N
Published: February 2022

Background: Right heart thrombi can be a source of considerable morbidity and mortality, especially when associated with pulmonary embolism. Methods: To understand the safety and procedural efficacy associated with vacuum-assisted thrombectomy using the AngioVac System (AngioDynamics, Latham, NY, USA) to remove right heart thrombi, we conducted a subanalysis of the Registry of AngioVac Procedures in Detail (RAPID) multicenter registry representing 47 (20.1%) of 234 participants in the registry. Forty-two (89.4%) patients had thrombi located in the right atrium alone, three (6.4%) in the right ventricle alone, and two (4.3%) in both the right atrium and ventricle. Four (8.5%) patients had concomitant caval thrombi, three (6.4%) also had catheter-related thrombi, and one (2.1%) patient had both caval and catheter-related thrombi with their right heart thrombi. Results: Extracorporeal bypass time was less than 1 hour for 39 (83.0%) procedures. Seventy to 100% removal of thrombus was achieved in 59.6% of patients. Estimated blood loss was less than 250 cc for 43 procedures (91.6%). Mean hemoglobin decreased from 10.7 ± 2.2 g/dL preoperatively to 9.6 ± 1.6 g/dL postoperatively. Transfusions were administered for eight procedures (17.0%), with only one (2.1%) patient receiving more than 2 units of blood. Six patients (12.8%) experienced procedure-related adverse events, including three (6.4%) patients who experienced distal emboli and three (6.4%) patients who developed bleeding-related complications. All adverse events resolved prior to discharge. There was one death (2.1%) reported that was not procedure related. Conclusion: Vacuum-assisted thrombectomy can be performed safely in patients with right heart thrombi. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04414332.
Handwriting legibility across different writing tasks in school-aged children
Authors: Fogel Yael , Rosenblum Sara , Barnett Anna L.
Published: February 2022

Background: In school, children are required to perform a range of handwriting tasks. The writing needs to be legible to the child and other readers. The aim of this study was to examine handwriting legibility across different writing tasks and to explore which components might predict overall handwriting legibility.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data from 148 school-aged children across writing scripts obtained from the Detailed Assessment of Speed of Handwriting: copying-best, copying-quickly and free-writing.

Results: Results showed that letter formation was the major predictor of the total HLS score, and significant differences in handwriting legibility were found across the three tasks.

Conclusions: The HLS is a practical tool that can benefit occupational therapists who work in schools by assessing handwriting legibility across different handwriting tasks.
Biomarkers of sleep disturbance in adults with chronic illness: A scoping review
Authors: Winders Samantha , Lyon Debra E. , Stechmiller Joyce K. , Kelly Debra Lynch
Published: February 2022

Objectives

The purpose of this scoping review was to identify which biomarkers for sleep disturbance were the most prevalent and significant in the literature across chronic illnesses.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, to provide a map of the existing literature on the biomarkers of sleep disturbance in adults with chronic illness. Peer-reviewed articles published between 2010–2020 were included if they measured a biomarker and discussed sleep deprivation, disturbance, or dysfunction secondary to a chronic illness.

Results

A total of 21 articles were included and synthesized using data charting. There were 24 different biomarkers identified, most commonly collected through serum. Biomarkers were grouped, then biomarkers and correlations with sleep were identified and mapped.

Discussion

Overall, the most common biomarkers studied were interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), c-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Cytokines were the most commonly studied biomarkers, with a majority of studies focusing on pro-inflammatory cytokines. Based on the results of this review, CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) showed themost significant correlations with sleep across all chronic illnesses. Future research is still needed to identify an ideal biomarker for sleep disturbance that can be used across chronic illnesses.
The Association of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia on Postoperative Complications and Periprosthetic Joint Infections Following Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Gordon Adam M , Horn Andrew R , Lam Aaron W , Sheth Bhavya K , Choueka Jack , Sadeghpour Ramin
Published: February 2022

Background

A recently proposed risk factor for periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) in men is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The objective was to explore the association of BPH on 1) 90-day complications, 2) length of stay (LOS), 3) readmission rates, and 4) healthcare expenditures following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).

Methods

A retrospective query was performed using a nationwide claims database from January 2005 to March 2014 for male patients undergoing primary TSA. The study cohort included 5067 patients with BPH while 50,720 patients served as the comparison cohort. Logistic regression determined the association of BPH on complications and readmissions. A p value less than 0.001 was significant.

Results

Patients with BPH had higher incidence and odds (36.8 vs. 6.2%; OR: 2.73, p < 0.0001) of all ninety-day medical complications including PJIs (0.49 vs. 0.32%; OR: 1.54, p  < 0.001). BPH patients had longer in-hospital LOS (3- vs. 2-days, p  < 0.0001). Study group patients had higher 90-day episode of care reimbursements ($13,653 vs. $12,688), p  < 0.0001).

Conclusions

BPH is associated with increased complications and healthcare expenditures following total shoulder arthroplasty. The investigation can be used to educate BPH patients of the possible adverse events which may occur within ninety-days following primary TSA for the treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis.
Enhancing decision making with machine learning: The case of aurora crowdlending platform
Authors: Jutasompakorn Pearpilai , Perdana Arif , Balachandran Vivek
Published: February 2022

The crowdlending industry is a fast-growing financial technology (fintech) sector that brings together borrowers and lenders. As an alternative financial intermediary, the crowdlending industry plays an essential role in reducing the financial exclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggling to obtain funds from traditional financial intermediaries such as commercial banks. With the onset of Covid-19 and the deteriorating economies worldwide, Singapore crowdlending platforms have come under pressure due to the increasing default rate of their borrowers. This case study illuminates the challenges faced by Aurora (pseudonym), a crowdlending platform that operates in Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. In response to high default rates during Covid-19, Aurora’s management made improvement to its current machine learning-based credit scoring model in June 2021. This case study describes the challenges Aurora faced in identifying relevant features for the machine learning model, data preparation and cleansing, and selecting the appropriate credit model algorithms to replace its current approval process.
The Development and Validation of a Lemma-Based Yes/No Vocabulary Size Test
Authors: Masrai Ahmed
Published: February 2022

Vocabulary size measures serve important functions, not only with respect to placing learners at appropriate levels on language courses but also with a view to examining the progress of learners. One of the widely reported formats suitable for these purposes is the Yes/No vocabulary test. The primary aim of this study was to introduce and provide preliminary validity evidence for a lemma-based vocabulary size test (LVST), which has been designed to measure L2 learners’ receptive vocabulary size of English. The test was administered to 219 participants. Various validity measures were operationalized to examine the performance of the test. Results show high reliability indices for the test in terms of parallel forms and internal consistency. The results also indicate that a single dimension underlies the test construct, and that the test is capable of distinguishing learners of varying proficiency levels. Concerning the item difficulty, results show approximately a linear order of difficulty across frequency levels. The test also correlated significantly with a measure of general English proficiency. The results, collectively, suggest that the LVST can usefully measure the intended construct of receptive vocabulary size, and greatly extends the range of vocabulary size measurement provided by other Yes/No tests.
PTSD Symptoms and Functional Impairment among Nurses Treating COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Ayotte Brian J. , Schierberl Scherr Anna E. , Kellogg Marni B.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Nurses providing direct care for patients with COVID-19 may be at particular risk for developing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little is known about how these symptoms are related to workplace and non-workplace impairment.

Objective

We examined if PTSD symptoms mediated the relationship between treating patients with COVID-19 and functional impairment.

Methods

An online survey collected data regarding demographic and workplace variables, PTSD symptoms, functional impairment, distracted practice, and if the nurse treated patients with confirmed COVID-19. Data collected in November 2020 from 218 primarily White and female nurses were analyzed. We followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines in reporting the methods and results.

Results

Analyses involved two steps: (a) calculating descriptive statistics, conducting univariate tests, and examining correlations among study variables; and (b) conducting a path analysis examining the mediating role of PTSD symptoms in the relationship between treating patients with COVID-19 and functional outcomes. Univariate tests found that nurses who had a diploma/associate's/bachelor's and nurses who treated patients with COVID-19 reported more PTSD symptoms, functional impairment, and distracted practice compared to nurses with graduate degrees and those who did not treat patients with COVID-19. Compared to nurses who reported having access to adequate PPE, nurses who reported not having access to adequate PPE reported more PTSD symptoms but lower functional impairment and distracted practice. Men reported lower distracted practice scores than women. In step two of the analyses, the path model suggested that treating patients with COVID-19 was indirectly related to both distracted practice and functional impairment through PTSD symptoms.

Conclusion

The probable PTSD symptoms and work- and non-work-related functional impairment of nurses working with patients with COVID-19 highlight the importance of developing interventions that help these essential workers address vulnerabilities associated with working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Genetic diversity and multidrug resistance of phylogenic groups B2 and D in InPEC and ExPEC isolated from chickens in Central China
Authors: Lu Qin , Zhang Wenting , Luo Ling , Wang Honglin , Shao Huabin , Zhang Tengfei , Luo Qingping
Published: February 2022

Background

Avian colibacillosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). APEC causes a wide variety of intestinal and extraintestinal infections, including InPEC and ExPEC, which result in enormous losses in the poultry industry. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of InPEC and ExPEC in Central China, and the isolates were characterized using molecular approaches and tested for virulence factors and antibiotic resistance.

Results

A total of 200 chicken-derived E. coli isolates were collected for study from 2019 and 2020. The prevalence of B2 and D phylogenic groups in the 200 chicken-derived E. coli was verified by triplex PCR, which accounted for 50.53% (48/95) and 9.52% (10/105) in ExPEC and InPEC, respectively. Additionally, multilocus sequence typing method was used to examine the genetic diversity of these E. coli isolates, which showed that the dominant STs of ExPEC included ST117 (n = 10, 20.83%), ST297 (n = 5, 10.42%), ST93 (n = 4, 8.33%), ST1426 (n = 4, 8.33%) and ST10 (n = 3, 6.25%), while the dominant ST of InPEC was ST117 (n = 2, 20%). Furthermore, antimicrobial susceptibility tests of 16 antibiotics for those strains were conducted. The result showed that more than 60% of the ExPEC and InPEC were resistant to streptomycin and nalidixic acid. Among these streptomycin resistant isolates (n = 49), 99.76% harbored aminoglycoside resistance gene strA, and 63.27% harbored strB. Among these nalidixic acid resistant isolates (n = 38), 94.74% harbored a S83L mutation in gyrA, and 44.74% harbored a D87N mutation in gyrA. Moreover, the prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) in the isolates of ExPEC and InPEC was 31.25% (15/48) and 20% (2/10), respectively. Alarmingly, 8.33% (4/48) of the ExPEC and 20% (2/10) of the InPEC were extensively drug-resistant (XDR). Finally, the presence of 13 virulence-associated genes was checked in these isolates, which over 95% of the ExPEC and InPEC strains harbored irp2, feoB, fimH, ompT, ompA. 10.42% of the ExPEC and 10% of the InPEC were positive for kpsM. Only ExPEC isolates carried ibeA gene, and the rate was 4.17%. All tested strains were negative to LT and cnf genes. The carrying rate of iss and iutA were significantly different between the InPEC and ExPEC isolates (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the highly pathogenic groups of InPEC and ExPEC in Central China. We find that 50.53% (48/95) of the ExPEC belong to the D/B2 phylogenic group. The emergence of XDR and MDR strains and potential virulence genes may indicate the complicated treatment of the infections caused by APEC. This study will improve our understanding of the prevalence and pathogenicity of APEC.
Functional interaction between S100A1 and MDM2 may modulate p53 signaling in normal and malignant endometrial cells
Authors: Nakagawa Mayu , Higuchi Shyoma , Hashimura Miki , Oguri Yasuko , Matsumoto Toshihide , Yokoi Ako , Ishibashi Yu , Ito Takashi , Saegusa Makoto
Published: February 2022

Background

S100A1 expression is deregulated in a variety of human malignancies, but its role in normal and malignant endometrial cells is unclear.

Methods

We used endometrial carcinoma (Em Ca) cell lines to evaluate the physical and functional interaction of S100A1 with p53 and its negative regulator, mouse double minute 2 (MDM2). We also evaluated the expression of S100A1, p53, and MDM2 in clinical samples consisting of 89 normal endometrial and 189 Em Ca tissues.

Results

S100A1 interacted with MDM2 but not p53 in Em Ca cell lines. Treatment of cells stably overexpressing S100A1 with Nutlin-3A, an inhibitor of the p53/MDM2 interaction, increased expression of p53-target genes including p21waf1 and BAX. S100A1 overexpression enhanced cellular migration, but also sensitized cells to the antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of Adriamycin, a genotoxic agent; these phenotypes were abrogated when S100A1 was knocked down using shRNA. In clinical samples from normal endometrium, S100A1 expression was significantly higher in endometrial glandular cells of the middle/late secretory and menstrual stages when compared to cells in the proliferative phases; high S100A1 was also positively correlated with expression of MDM2 and p21waf1 and apoptotic status, and inversely correlated with Ki-67 scores. However, such correlations were absent in Em Ca tissues.

Conclusion

The interaction between S100A1 and MDM2 may modulate proliferation, susceptibility to apoptosis, and migration through alterations in p53 signaling in normal- but not malignant-endometrial cells.
The degree of consistency of applying parental dietary and sedentary behavior rules as indicators for overweight in children: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ruiter Emilie L. M. , Fransen Gerdine A. J. , Kleinjan Marloes , van der Velden Koos , Molleman Gerard R. M. , Engels Rutger C. M. E.
Published: February 2022

Background

Review studies increasingly emphasize the importance of the role of parenting in interventions for preventing overweight in children. The aim of this study was to examine typologies regarding how consistently parents apply energy-balance related behavior rules, and the association between these typologies and socio-demographic characteristics, energy balance-related behaviors among school age children, and the prevalence of being overweight.

Methods

For this cross-sectional study, we had access to a database managed by a Municipal Health Service Department in the Netherlands. In total, 4,865 parents with children 4–12 years of age participated in this survey and completed a standardized questionnaire. Parents classified their consistency of applying rules as “strict”, “indulgent”, or “no rules”. Typologies were identified using latent class analyses. We used regression analyses to examine how the typologies differed with respect to the covariates socio-demographic characteristics, children’s energy balance-related behaviors, and weight status.

Results

We identified four stable, distinct parental typologies with respect to applying dietary and sedentary behavior rules. Overall, we found that parents who apply “overall strict EBRB rules” had the highest level of education and that their children practiced healthier behaviors compared to the children of parents in the other three classes. In addition, we found that parents who apply “indulgent dietary rules and no sedentary rules” had the lowest level of education and the highest percentage of non-Caucasians; in addition, their children 8–12 years of age had the highest likelihood of being overweight compared to children of parents with “no dietary rules”.

Conclusions

Parents’ consistency in applying rules regarding dietary and sedentary behaviors was associated with parents’ level of education and ethnic background, as well as with children’s dietary and sedentary behaviors and their likelihood of becoming overweight. Our results may contribute to helping make healthcare professionals aware that children of parents who do not apply sedentary behavior rules are more likely to become overweight, as well as the importance of encouraging parents to apply strict dietary and sedentary behavior rules. These results can serve as a starting point for developing effective strategies to prevent overweight among children.