bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Persistent Organic Pollutant Exposure and Thyroid Function among 12-Year-Old Children
Authors: Tillaut Hélène , Monfort Christine , Giton Frank , Warembourg Charline , Rouget Florence , Cordier Sylvaine , Lainé Fabrice , Gaudreau Eric , Garlantézec Ronan , Saint-Amour Dave , Chevrier Cécile
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) having numerous toxicological properties, including thyroid endocrine disruption. Our aim was to assess the impact of POPs on thyroid hormones among 12-year-old children, while taking puberty into consideration. Methods: Exposure to 7 PCBs, 4 OCPs, and 6 PFASs (in µg/L), and free tri-iodothyronine (fT3, pg/mL), free thyroxine (fT4, ng/dL), and thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH, mIU/L) were assessed through blood-serum measurements at age 12 years in 249 boys and 227 girls of the PELAGIE mother-child cohort (France). Pubertal status was clinically rated using the Tanner stages. For each POP, associations were estimated using linear regression, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Among boys, hexachlorobenzene and perfluorodecanoic acid were associated with decreased fT3 (log-scale; β [95% confidence interval] = -0.07 [−0.12,−0.02] and β = −0.03 [−0.06,−0.00], respectively). Intermediate levels of perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and PCB180 were associated, respectively, with increased and decreased fT4. After stratification on pubertal status, PCBs and OCPs were associated with decreased TSH only in the more advanced Tanner stages (3–5) and with decreased fT3 among early Tanner stages (1–2). Among girls, PFHxS was associated with decreased TSH (log-scale; β = −0.15 [−0.29,-0.00]), and perfluorooctanoic acid was associated with decreased fT3 (β2nd_tercile = −0.06 [−0.10,-0.03] and β3rd_tercile = −0.04 [−0.08,-0.00], versus. 1st tercile). Discussion: This cross-sectional study highlights associations between some POPs and thyroid function disruption, which appears consistent with the literature. Considering that the associations were sex-specific and moderated by pubertal status in boys, complex endocrine interactions are likely involved.
Association of Parental Cardiovascular Health With Disability-Adjusted Life Years in the Offspring: Results From the Framingham Heart Study
Authors: Muchira James M. , Gona Philimon N. , Mogos Mulubrhan F. , Stuart-Shor Eileen M. , Leveille Suzanne G. , Piano Mariann R. , Hayman Laura L.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are used to evaluate the relative burden of diseases in populations to help set prevention or treatment priorities. The impact of parental cardiovascular health (CVH) on healthy life years lost from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adult offspring is unknown. We compared parent-offspring CVD DALYs trends over the life course and examined the association of parental CVH with offspring CVD DALYs.

Methods:

Using data from the Framingham Heart Study, 4814 offspring-mother-father trios were matched for age at selected baseline exams. CVH score was computed from the number of CVH metrics attained at recommended levels: poor (0–2), intermediate (3–4), and ideal (5–7). CVD DALYs were defined as the sum of years of life lost and years lived with CVD. Age-sex-standardized life expectancy and disability weights were derived from the actuarial life tables and Global Burden of Disease study, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression was used to investigate the association of parental CVH with offspring CVD DALYs.

Results:

Over an equal 47-year follow-up, parents lost nearly twice the number of CVD DALYs compared to their offspring (23 234 versus 12 217). However, age-adjusted CVD DALYs were higher at younger ages and similar along the life course for parents and offspring. One-unit increase in parental CVH was associated with 5 healthy life months saved in offspring. Offspring of mothers with ideal versus poor CVH had 3 healthy life years saved (β=−3.0 DALYs [95% CI, −5.6 to −0.3]). No statistically significant association was found between paternal CVH categories and offspring CVD DALYs.

Conclusions:

Higher maternal and paternal CVH were associated with increased healthy life years in offspring; however, the association was strongest between mothers and offspring. Investment in CVH promotion along the life course has the potential to reduce the burden of CVD in the current and future generation of adults.
Nationwide Implementation of a Population Management Dashboard for Monitoring Direct Oral Anticoagulants: Insights From the Veterans Affairs Health System
Authors: Dorsch Michael P. , Chen Charity S. , Allen Arthur L. , Sales Anne E. , Seagull F. Jacob , Spoutz Patrick , Sussman Jeremy B. , Barnes Geoffrey D.
Published: December 2022

Background:

Direct oral anticoagulants are first-line therapy for common thrombotic conditions, including atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism. Despite their strong efficacy and safety profile, evidence-based prescribing can be challenging given differences in dosing based on indication, renal function, and drug-drug interactions. The Veterans Health Affairs developed and implemented a population management dashboard to support pharmacist review of anticoagulant prescribing. The dashboard includes information about direct oral anticoagulants and dose prescribed, renal function, age, and weight, potential interacting medications, and the need for direct oral anticoagulant medication refills. It is a stand-alone system.

Methods:

Using login data from the dashboard, nationwide implementation was evaluated using elements from the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework.

Results:

Between August 2016 and June 2020, 150/164 sites within the Veterans Health Affairs system used the dashboard, averaging 1875 patients per site. The dashboard was made available to sites on a staggered basis. Moderate or high adoption, defined as at least one login on at least 2 separate days per month, began slowly with 3/5 sites in the pilot phase but rapidly grew to 142/150 (94.7%) sites by June 2020. The average number of unique users per site increased from 2.4 to 7.5 over the study period. Moderate to high adoption of the dashboard’s use was maintained for > 6 months in 126/150 (84.0%) sites by the end of the study period.

Conclusions:

There was rapid and sustained implementation and adoption of a population health dashboard for evidence-based anticoagulant prescribing across the national United States Veterans Health Administration health system. The impact of this tool on clinical outcomes and strategies to replicate this care model in other health systems will be important for broad dissemination and uptake.
Habitat use and body temperature influence push-up display rate in the tree lizard, Urosaurus ornatus
Authors: Goerge Tyler M. , Miles Donald B.
Published: December 2022

Lizards engage in push-up displays to signal dominance and to secure access to important resources. The rate and patterns of push-up displays have been shown to vary based on both biotic and abiotic factors. We investigated push-up display rate in tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus, to determine contributions from potentially conflicting factors including sex, throat colour, microhabitat usage, social context, and thermal traits. We found that display rate was best described by an interaction between microhabitat and body temperature (Tb). The relationship between display rate and Tb was significantly different between three microhabitats: sunny dead trees, the inner branches of trees, and tree trunks. We suggest that this variation in display rate is driven by shifts in microhabitat temperature over the course of the day and spatial and temporal adjustments being made depending on the probabilities of being detected by both conspecifics and predators.
Chance Encounters
Authors: Hens Kristien
Published: December 2022

In this rigorous and necessary book, Kristien Hens brings together bioethics and the philosophy of biology to argue that it is ethically necessary for scientific research to include a place for the philosopher. As well as ethical, their role is conceptual: they can improve the quality and coherence of scientific research by ensuring that particular concepts are used consistently and thoughtfully across interdisciplinary projects. Hens argues that chance and uncertainty play a central part in bioethics, but that these qualities can be in tension with the attempt to establish a given theory as scientific knowledge: in describing organisms and practices, in a sense we create the world. Hens contends that this is necessarily an ethical activity.

Examining genetic research, biomedical ethics, autism research and the concept of risk, Hens illustrates that there is no ‘universal’ or ‘neutral’ state of scientific and clinical knowledge, and that attending to the situatedness of individual experience is essential to understand the world around us, to know its (and our) limitations, and to forge an ethical future.

Chance Encounters is aimed at a broad audience of researchers in bioethics, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, as well as biomedical and environmental scientists. It will also be relevant to policymakers, and the artwork by Christina Stadlbauer and Bartaku will be of interest to artists and writers working at the intersection of art and science.
6. A Dog Is a Dog Is a Dog
Authors: Hens Kristien
Published: December 2022

In this chapter I discuss whether and how an ontology can inform ethics. I use the example of ethics of companion animals to describe ethical naturalism and non-naturalism.
7. A Process Ontology for Bioethics
Authors: Hens Kristien
Published: December 2022

I continue on the path of a developmental outlook on life. I argue that such an outlook implies that bioethics focuses less on what we can control, for example, what we can know from our genes and more on dealing with chance and uncertainties. I use ideas from Whitehead and process philosophy to challenge a representational approach to bioethics.
8. Time, Culture and Creativity
Authors: Hens Kristien
Published: December 2022

I describe ideas from Isabelle Stengers, Ilya Prigogine and Stuart Kauffman and others to introduce aspects of creativity in life and how life is fundamentally creative. I also describe new materialist entanglements of ethics, ontology and epistemology to argue that, given this creativity of life and the universe, ethics is implied all the way down. Moreover, describing organisms and practices, and choosing how to describe them, is not a mere representation but creates the next possible world. Living is finding creative solutions and reflecting on the worlds we want our practices to create. Each ‘chance encounter’ entails possibilities, and our choices are deeply ethical.
14. Caring Responsibilities
Authors: Hens Kristien
Published: December 2022

I describe a care ethics approach that extends beyond individual human relations, using the ideas of Joan Tronto, Maria Puig De La Bellacasa and Viola Cordova. I argue that an ethic of care that is useful for bioethicists transcends the merely human and reflects an underlying truth that human existence is entangled with the world at large.
16. A Creative and Forward-Looking Bioethics
Authors: Hens Kristien
Published: December 2022

I have argued that the focus of bioethics must be on a livable future for everyone, human and non-human. In this chapter I argue that how to get to such a future is not so much a puzzle to be solved as it is an exercise in creativity and playfulness. At the same time, staying with the trouble means also thinking of ourselves as trouble and the troubles we make. It means being aware of the world-making of humans and other beings.
Procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide immunoassay on zeolite-modified gold interdigitated electrode for diagnosing osteoporosis
Authors: Han Xiaoqiang , Su Zhanglei , Liu Qiang , Gopinath Subash C. B. , Chen Jing
Published: December 2022

Osteoporosis is a condition that reduces the strength and density with bones and leads the fragile and fracture formation. Osteoporosis is increasing among elders, and it do not show any symptom until the first fracture forms. Osteoporosis diagnosis is usually done by quantifying the
patient’s bone mineral density (BMD). Procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) is highly correlated with BMD and helps for detecting and monitoring osteoporosis. This research was focused to generate a sensitive sandwich immunoassay to detect P1NP on interdigitated gold electrode
(AuIDE) sensor. Anti-polyclonal P1NP antibody was utilized as a capture probe and placed on IDE through amine-modified zeolite. The current response of polyclonal antibody was increased by enhancing the antibody concentration and saturated at 8 μg/mL. On the antibody immobilized
surface, P1NP sandwich was made by monoclonal antibody and attained the detection limit to 2 ng/mL on a linearity at 2–64 ng/mL [y = 2.426x +1.1497; R2 = 0.9957]. In addition, P1NP spiked serum shows a gradual increment of current responses with increasing
P1NP concentrations, while there is no noticeable response recorded with only serum, indicating the selective detection of P1NP.
An ultrasonography-based contrast-enhanced for distinguishing between benign and malignant hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Lu , Liu Geng-lin , Yi Lai , Yan Hui-qin , Feng Bin
Published: December 2022

To analyze the practical value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in liver benign and malignant tumors. 60 patients with liver tumors were chosen as research materials from June 2019 to October 2021, and their malignant and benign tumors were analyzed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Results
show ultrasonic imaging was used to test the sensitivity of liver malignant tumor, coincidence rate 92.7% to 92.9%, and index of 78 were significantly higher than that of conventional ultrasound (χ2 = 8.8000, 9.9068, 9.3544, p<0.01). The initial increase time
(18.25±3.04), peak time (35.73±8.43), decreased time (55.42±0.89), and continuous enhancement time (84.96±1.57) for benign liver tumors were all higher than those for malignant tumors (t = 5.3487, 5.4924, 37.0273, 82.0934, p <0.01). The peak intensity
of contrast enhanced ultrasound for benign tumors (19.57±3.43) was lower than that for malignant tumors (t = 4.3096, p<0.01). So, contrast-enhanced ultrasound has significant value in differentiating benign from malignant liver tumors.
The Forensic Ethics of Scientific Communication
Authors: Ward Tony
Published: December 2022

An important part of the work of forensic scientists is communicating accurate information to lay factfinders under conditions of uncertainty. It is an ethically demanding role as it obliges scientists to disclose information that may call their own authority into question. Similar issues arise in other areas of applied science, for example climate science. This article builds the ethical framework for scientific communication under uncertainty proposed by Keohane, Lane and Oppenheimer and argues that with some modifications their work provides useful guidance for forensic scientists. It also questions whether the current system of Streamlined Forensic Reporting is compatible with that framework.
Speaking Rate, Oro-Laryngeal Timing, and Place of Articulation Effects on Burst Amplitude: Evidence From English and Tamil
Authors: Narayan Chandan R.
Published: December 2022

The relationship between speaking rate and burst amplitude was investigated in plosives with differing oro-laryngeal timing: long-lag voice-onset time (VOT) (North American English) and short-lag VOT (Indian Tamil). Burst amplitude (reflecting both intraoral pressure and flow geometry of the oral channel) was hypothesized to decrease in pre-vocalic plosive syllables with the increase in speaking rate, which imposes temporal constraints on both intraoral pressure buildup behind the oral occlusion and respiratory air flow. The results showed that decreased vowel duration (which is associated with increased speaking rate) led to decreased burst amplitude in both short- and long-lag plosives. Aggregate models of bilabial and velar plosives (found in both languages) suggested lower burst amplitudes in short-lag stops. Place-of-articulation effects in both languages were consistent with models of stop consonant acoustics, and place interactions with vowel duration were most apparent with long-lag English stops. The results are discussed in terms of speaking rate and language-internal forces, contributing to burst amplitude variation and their implications for speech perception and potential to affect lenition phenomena.
Experiences of Vulnerability in Adult Male Prisoners: An Integrative Review
Authors: Heaslip Vanessa , Dugdale Caspian , Parker Jonathan , Johnsen Berit , Hean Sarah
Published: December 2022

Vulnerability linked to offenders tends to focus on victims and society. Understanding prisoner vulnerability is important to better address the negative impact of prison life. This article reviews the evidence of vulnerability reported by male prisoners. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, 3039 citations were filtered. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, highlighting four areas of vulnerability: uncertainty, environmental vulnerability, fear of harm, and loss of human connection. The article notes that basic principles for the treatment of prisoners are not met in many areas, indicating a need to shift conceptualizations of vulnerability.
A word about . . . Practicing borderless Christianity: Challenges and opportunities of the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Oladipo Caleb O.
Published: December 2022

The challenges and opportunities presented by Covid-19 are enormous, and Christians and non-Christians could take advantage of the pandemic to craft a borderless faith tradition. The Covid-19 pandemic has provided the opportunity to have a more comprehensive and positive image of every faith tradition, creating the best of all possible worlds for future generations.
Child health and COVID-19: How Mark 10 can inform a Christian ethic
Authors: Giunta-Stibb Hannah , Stibb Joshua
Published: December 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for children and families. While most of the public debate surrounding the pandemic naturally focused on mainstream concerns, vulnerable groups, including children, with unique concerns were pushed to the periphery. The fact that COVID-19 continues to impact these vulnerable groups gives Christians an opportunity to right past wrongs. In this article, we first describe the biblical priority Jesus gives to children as members of God’s kingdom by exploring Mark 10:13–16. We then highlight specific ways in which the consequences of public responses to COVID-19 disproportionately burdened children. Finally, we present two case studies through which we reimagine how Christians can respond to the collateral impacts of COVID-19 on children in a more biblically faithful manner.
Chasing gender equality norms: the robustness of sexual and reproductive health and rights
Authors: Barbé Esther , Badell Diego
Published: December 2022

This article studies Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) at the United Nations (UN). SRHR, a gender equality norm that applies human rights to sexuality and reproduction, have traditionally been supported by a network of actors led by the United States (US) and the European Union. Nevertheless, a rival network has contested SRHR since their conception in the early 1990s. We study the robustness of SRHR in five UN fora between 2009 and 2020, focusing on actor constellations, productive power and norm concordance. Between 2009 and 2016, the normative status quo was maintained, except in the Human Rights Council and the Security Council. In 2017, the US joined the network of rivals and accelerated the norm’s weakening in the Security Council and the Commission on Population and Development. However, to weaken or strengthen the norm further, both networks see a need to address SRHR outside the UN.
Treatment of Feeding Concerns in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of Behavioral Interventions With Caregiver Training
Authors: Hodges Abby K. , Hathaway Kristin L. , McMahon Meara X. H. , Volkert Valerie M. , Sharp William G.
Published: December 2022

Successful feeding intervention ultimately requires generalization and adoption of treatment into the home. Treatment models, however, differ regarding how and when caregivers are integrated into care delivery process. Some treatments involve a primary model of parent training with caregivers serving as co-therapist at the onset of intervention, while others involve a complimentary model where a therapist delivers the intervention and caregiver training occurs once the child’s behavior is stable. This review systematically evaluates the evidence-base regarding behavioral feeding intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with a specific focus on interventions involving parent training. Results provide further evidence regarding the potential benefits of behavioral intervention to improve feeding concerns in ASD, while also highlighting growing attention to documenting and/or evaluating parent training within the treatment literature. Important questions remain regarding factors guiding the use of a primary or complimentary model of parent training.
Affective Labor in Integrative STS Research
Authors: Branch T. Y. , Duché G. M.
Published: December 2022

Science and technology studies (STS) practitioners regularly use qualitative research methods to describe the structures and practices of science. Despite a long history of collaborative inter- and transdisciplinary research in the field, key aspects of this type of research remain underexplored. For example, much of the literature on positionality has focused on the vulnerable position of participants and there is considerably less work on how investigators can be vulnerable. We examine how investigators in collaborative sociotechnical integration (CSTI) are vulnerable by presenting two examples of CSTI research that require researcher vulnerability. This vulnerability has an emotional dimension, which also necessitates affective labor. We integrate recommendations from feminist-scholarship to minimize the affective cost to investigators and explore how they might apply to qualitative research more broadly.
Relationships between Depressive Symptoms, Appetite, and Quality of Life in Heart Failure
Authors: De Martini Gabriela De Angeli , Grisante Daiane Lopes , Gonçalves Alexia Louisie Pontes , D’Agostino Fabio , Lopes Juliana de Lima , Santos Vinicius Batista , Lopes Camila Takáo
Published: December 2022

This analytical, cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms, appetite, and quality of life (QoL) in 86 patients hospitalized with heart failure. Patients were assessed for depressive symptoms, appetite, and QoL using the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire, and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire, respectively. Relationships between sociodemographic and clinical variables, depressive symptoms, appetite, and QoL were analyzed using bivariate tests and linear regression models, with p < .05 considered significant. The factors associated with QoL were dependence for four activities of daily living (ADLs) (estimate = 15.4, 95% CI = 0.23 to 30.64, p = .046), minor depressive symptoms (estimate = –20.0, 95% CI = –28.3 to −11.73, p < .001), and appetite (estimate = –11.08, 95% CI = –20.5 to −1.62, p = .022). These results can support multi-professional assessment and development of interventions to promote better QoL, including addressing impaired appetite and food intake, the presence or increased intensity of depressive symptoms, especially in patients dependent for ADLs.
Cardiac Transcription Regulators Differentiate Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Cardiac Cells
Authors: Shafique Shumaila , Ali Syeda Roohina , Rajput Shafiqa Naeem , Salim Asmat , Khan Irfan
Published: December 2022

Stem cell-based therapy presents an attractive alternative to conventional therapies for degenerative diseases. Numerous studies have investigated the capability of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) to contribute to the regeneration of cardiomyocytes, and the results have encouraged further basic and clinical studies on the MSC-based treatment of cardiomyopathies. This study aimed to determine the potential of cardiomyogenic transcription factors in differentiating hUC-MSCs into cardiac-like cells in vitro. MSCs were isolated from umbilical cord tissue and were transduced with the transcription factor genes, GATA-4 and Nkx 2.5, via infection with lentiviruses, to promote differentiation into the cardiomyogenic lineage. Gene and protein expression were analysed with qPCR and immunocytochemical staining. After transduction, differentiated cardiac-like cells showed significant expression of cardiac genes and proteins, namely GATA-4, Nkx-2.5, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and myosin heavy chain (MHC). The cardiomyogenic-induced group significantly overexpressed cardiac-specific genes ( GATA-4, Nkx-2.5, cTnI, MHC, α-actinin and Wnt2). Expression of the calcium channel gene was also significantly increased, while the sodium channel gene was downregulated in the transduced hUC-MSCs, as compared to non-transduced cells. The results suggest that GATA-4 and Nkx-2.5 interact synergistically in the activation of downstream cardiac transcription factors, demonstrating the functional convergence of hUC-MSC differentiation into cardiac-like cells. These findings could potentially be utilised in the efficient production of cardiac-like cells from stem cells; these cardiac-like cells could then be used in various applications, such as for in vivo implantation in infarcted myocardium, and for drug screening in toxicity testing.
Do Opinions of Policy Target Population Deservingness Correlate to Public Service Motivation? Insights from Medicaid
Authors: Chattopadhyay Jacqueline , Piatak Jaclyn
Published: December 2022

Perceptions of the deservingness of policy target populations play a vital role in the policy process. Yet, little research has modeled assessments of deservingness as a function of core concepts from public administration. Arguably, one of the most robust insights into deservingness assessments is that they correlate to beliefs about who receives a policy's benefits—likely because of how different groups have been socially constructed over time. Using Medicaid as a lens of study, we test whether deservingness assessments also correlate to public service motivation (PSM). We find that deservingness assessments relate to PSM in many models. However, PSM is often insignificant in models that control for racial sentiments. We also fail to find evidence that PSM moderates the relationship between deservingness assessments and beliefs about who benefits from a policy.
Poverty Risks of Women in Ancient China: How Social Institutions Shaped the Poverty Risks Faced by Women During the Ming-Qing Period
Authors: Xu Jia , Ding Xiuzhen , Eggers Thurid
Published: December 2022

This article studies the Ming-Qing period (1368–1911), examining the differences in the poverty risks of Chinese women in various social positions after their husbands or fathers had died based on historical records and archives. We argue that women's poverty risks depended not only on their family's wealth but also on their social positions, which regulated their eligibility for various income sources such as dowry, family property, and assistance from their lineage or the government. Unlike most studies, we focus on the combination of various income sources for which women were eligible, via which they evaded poverty to different degrees.
Efficacy of hemoperfusion with Seraph-100 in series with single pass albumin dialysis in acute hepatitis B infection: A case report
Authors: Piscitani Luca , Leone Silvia , Di Biase Jessica , Salvati Lia , Sirolli Vittorio , Tunno Marilena , Bonomini Mario
Published: December 2022

Acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure is a cause of death in patients suffering from viral hepatitis, and many cases need liver transplantation. Infection from hepatitis B virus may range from asymptomatic to severe acute and fulminant hepatitis. In this setting, treatment is mainly supportive as there is no consensus on antiviral therapy based on non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Single-pass albumin dialysis is a liver-support technique for patients suffering from liver failure, that has shown effectiveness in the removal of both water-soluble and albumin-bound toxins, which accumulate due to impairment of the liver’s cleansing function. We report here the case of a 62-year-old male who presented with a severe acute hepatitis B infection, liver failure, and marked hyperbilirubinemia. Treatment with single-pass albumin dialysis combined with a hemoperfusion device was successful in improving clinical, physiological, and laboratory parameters.
Marital Quality and Alcohol Use among Couples in Mid- and Later-Life
Authors: Bulanda Jennifer Roebuck , Curl Angela L. , Roberts Amy Restorick
Published: December 2022

Spouses influence one another’s drinking behavior, but little research has explored how relationship quality may impact older couples’ alcohol use. Using data from the 2014–2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and actor-partner interdependence models, we examined how marital quality is related to total alcohol consumption and risk of heavy drinking for married couples over age 50. Neither husbands’ nor wives’ perceptions of negative marital quality were related to changes in heavy drinking or number of drinks consumed over the observation period. However, wives’ positive marital quality was associated with increased risk of heavy alcohol use for both wives and husbands, and with an increase in the number of drinks wives consume over time. Couples over age 50 do not appear to use alcohol as a way of coping with negative marital relationships, but rather may increase their drinking in the context of positive relationships.
Influence of process parameters on the catchment efficiency and geometric characteristics in laser metal deposition tracks for building thin-wall parts
Authors: Peter Reginald Elvis , Kumaraguru Senthilkumaran
Published: December 2022

This study investigates the influence of process parameters on catchment efficiency and geometric characteristics such as track height, track width, and wetting angle for low energy density inputs in the blown powder Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) process for building thin-walled parts or repair volumes. Initially, a pilot study was conducted to examine the process parameters that affect catchment efficiency and geometric characteristics, from which five different process parameters such as (i) Laser power, (ii) Carrier gas flow rate, (iii) Deposition speed, (iv) Stand-off distance, and (v) Powder feed rate were identified as parameters of significance to the study. The impacts of these process parameters on catchment efficiency and geometric characteristics were investigated experimentally, and the data were analyzed using ANOVA and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). An analytical model was developed to predict the catchment efficiency, which was validated through experimentation. A comparison was made between the analytical, empirical, and experimental models for catchment efficiency, and it was found that the error was less than 8% which shows relatively good agreement between the proposed and experimental measurements. Furthermore, an empirical-statistical method was employed to establish the relationship between the chosen process parameters, catchment efficiency, and geometric characteristics to fabricate a single continuous track. Based on these correlations, a process map was constructed to identify the optimal processing conditions to obtain a single continuous track of IN625 powder on SS304 substrate with a higher catchment efficiency. This study achieved a maximum catchment efficiency of 71% for a low-energy density input.
A Five-Step Approach to Replacing Challenging Behavior
Authors: McGuire Stacy N. , Meadan Hedda
Published: December 2022

Many students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) engage in challenging behavior on a daily basis. Such behaviors can have negative impacts on students, teachers, and families. In an effort to support students with EBD, this article provides general and special education teachers with a five-step process for teaching replacement behaviors. Each step is described in detail to illustrate how it can be applied.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening Practices of Part C Early Intervention Providers: A Brief Report
Authors: Wiegand Sarah D. , Brown Jennifer A. , Lieberman-Betz Rebecca G.
Published: December 2022

An early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can improve outcomes for children and assist families in accessing services. Part C providers are often tasked with screening for ASD. The purpose of this study was to survey Part C providers nationwide to understand their ASD screening practices and training needs and extend a survey conducted by Tomlin and colleagues. A total of 327 providers participated. Results indicated a majority of respondents (75.8%) screen for ASD using a variety of different measures, while only 26.9% are required by their program to conduct universal screenings. Most participants reported feeling confident in screening for ASD, discussing a child’s red flags with a family, referring a child for further evaluation, and discussing recent evidence surrounding ASD. An area where providers were less confident was working with interpreters to screen for ASD or discuss screening results and ASD with families with cultural or linguistic diversity. Despite high confidence levels in screening for ASD, a vast majority of participants reported they would be interested in attending a training on screening for ASD. Professional development surrounding screening for ASD and discussing ASD with families from diverse backgrounds may assist in improving Part C provider screening practices.
Derivation and Validation of a Prognostic Model for Mortality in Chinese Patients with Acute Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Zhang Jiarui , Ali Adila , Liu Yu , Peng Lige , Pu Jiaqi , Yi Qun , Zhou Haixia
Published: December 2022

Introduction

We aim to explore the risk factors for in-hospital mortality and to derive a prognostic model for patients with APE in China.

Materials and methods

Inpatients with APE were enrolled from West China Hospital between January 2016 and December 2019. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore risk factors for in-hospital mortality and develop a prognostic model.

Results

A total of 813 subjects with APE were included in this study, of whom 542 were in the training set and 271 were in the test set. Multivariable regression analyses indicated that age, male, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, elevated NT-proBNP or troponin T, malignancy, chronic renal insufficiency, and respiratory failure were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality. For the training set, the area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC curve was 0.899, with a sensitivity and specificity of 89.7% and 77.7%, respectively. The model had higher prediction accuracy than the PESI and sPESI.

Conclusions

The prediction model has proven excellent discrimination and calibration, which may be a useful tool to help physicians make decisions regarding the best treatment strategy.
DMVT-based observer design for general affine class of fractional-order nonlinear MIMO systems
Authors: Dehghani Firouzabadi Hamid , Akbarzadeh Kalat Ali
Published: December 2022

In this article, a new observer design technique is proposed for the general affine class of fractional-order nonlinear multi-input/multi-output (MIMO) systems. This study is presented based on the differential mean value theorem. One significant characteristic of the suggested approach is that the nonlinear dynamic of observer error is converted into a linear parameter-varying system. Stability and convergence of observation error are shown using the Lyapunov direct method leading to feasibility and existence of a solution for some linear matrix inequalities. The performance and efficacy of the proposed method are evaluated through some illustrated simulations.
A thermal EHL investigation for finite line contact under starved condition on bush-pin hinge pairs in industrial chains
Authors: Zhang Mingyu , Wang Jing , Venner C.H. , Sun Haoyang
Published: December 2022

During the operation of the industrial chains, serious starvation may happen so that the oil film is often too thin to effectively separate the bush-pin surfaces, resulting in surface damage of the pin since the bush surface is harder. In this paper, the effects of oil supply and equivalent radius of curvature on the variations of pressure, film thickness and temperature in the contact area are studied based on the thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) theory and a finite line contact lubrication model under oil starvation condition is employed. It is found that oil starvation and the increase of equivalent curvature radius will aggravate the stress concentration at the end of the contact area, and more oil supply is required in the contact area if the thermal rise is considered. An oil starvation mechanism of finite line contact EHL is proposed, in which in addition to the direct influence of oil supply, the interaction of film thickness, pressure and temperature in the contact area also play important roles. The reduction of minimum film thickness is proposed to measure the degree of oil starvation at the ends of the contact area. The oil starvation process of finite line contact is divided into four typical stages.
Cultural Humility, Human Research Ethics Review, and Informed Consent
Authors: Lahman Maria K. E. , Landram Suzanne , Teman Eric D. , Kincaid Tyler
Published: December 2022

The United States, through research ethics review, is complicit in ethically recolonizing countries into U.S. dominant understandings. This review and consent are seen as an all-encompassing ethical understanding and a discrete, one-time experience. Drawing on personal experiences and in-depth interviews with international and domestic subculture research participants and researchers, the authors argue that the United States ethics review must move toward a nuanced understanding of human ethics review that exhibits cultural responsiveness within culturally complex research, with a focus on cultural humility. Power, gender, sexuality, and relationships between participants, researchers, and research ethics boards are discussed.
Content Validity of the Left Ventricular Assist Device Bathing Assessment
Authors: Davey Kate , Winterbottom Lauren , Malevic Seada , Grajo Lenin
Published: December 2022

Many institutions recommend modified bathing techniques for individuals with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) due to infection risk. Although these techniques may be challenging for patients, there currently is no assessment to evaluate these skills and whether intervention programs have been successful. This article describes the development and content validation of the LVAD Bathing Assessment. The content validity index (CVI) process was used to determine the relevance of assessment items. Modified Kappa indices were calculated to account for the possibility of chance agreement among raters. Eight content validity experts rated each assessment item and provided feedback. The overall assessment and 44 of 47 individual items had excellent content validity (scale-level CVI [S-CVI] = 0.97; item-level CVI [I-CVI] > 0.78). Minor revisions were made based on feedback. Creation of an LVAD bathing assessment may improve care by identifying safety risks that may cause infection. Further studies for construct validation and reliability testing are needed.
Natural Products as Cancer Chemo Preventive Agents: Where We Stand
Authors: Boretti Alberto
Published: December 2022

This work briefly reviews cancer chemoprevention. This is a very challenging field, as products with a high level of toxicity such as chemotherapeutic agents may be proposed and accepted only under life-threatening conditions. Cancer chemoprevention is otherwise limited to completely safe substances, preferably having neither toxic nor side effects, administered in relatively low amounts. Phases of clinical trials, therapeutic end-points, and biomarkers of chemoprevention are difficult to be defined. The clinical trials needed to prove the efficacy of chemopreventive agents must be very long and extremely widespread to achieve significance, with many variables difficult to control, and therefore subjected to many confounding factors. This makes them almost impossible. It is, therefore, no surprise, if the progress of chemoprevention has been so far very limited. There are only a few examples of direct use of chemopreventive agents, under investigation, but with anything but established protocols, in addition to indirect uses such as general supplementation with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-supportive agents. Cancer chemoprevention remains a potentially very rewarding approach, certainly worth further study, but extremely difficult to pursue, in need of different methodological approaches to producing valuable chemopreventive compounds of clear dosages and benefits.
Computer vision syndrome and its determinants: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lema Asamene Kelelom , Anbesu Etsay Woldu
Published: December 2022

Objective:

Computer vision syndromes are becoming a major public health concern. Inconsistent findings existed on computer vision syndrome. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of computer vision syndrome and identify its determinants.

Methods:

In this study, the review was developed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Online electronic databases, including PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, and Google Scholar, were used to retrieve studies from 1 December to 9 April 2022. Quality assessment of the studies was performed using the JBI-MAStARI. RevMan and STATA 14 software were used for statistical analysis.

Result:

A total of 725 studies were retrieved, and 49 studies were included. The pooled prevalence of computer vision syndrome was 66% (95%, Confidence interval: 59, 74). Being female (Odd Ratio = 1.74, 95% Confidence interval [1.2, 2.53]), improper body posturing while using electronic devices (Odd Ratio = 2.65, 95% Confidence interval [1.7, 4.12]), use of electronic devices out of work (Odd Ratio = 1.66, 95% CI [1.15, 2.39]), no habit of taking breaks (Odd Ratio = 2.24, 95% Confidence interval [1.13, 4.44]), long duration of visual display terminal use (Odd Ratio = 2.02, 95% Confidence interval [1.08, 3.77]), short distance screen (Odd Ratio = 4.24, 95% Confidence interval [2.33, 7.71]), and general ergonomic practice (Odd Ratio = 3.87, 95% Confidence interval [2.18, 6.86]) were associated with increased odds of computer vision syndrome. However, good knowledge (Odd Ratio = 4.04, 95% Confidence interval [2.75, 5.94]) of computer vision syndrome was associated with decreased odds of computer vision syndrome.

Conclusion:

Nearly two in three participants had computer vision syndrome. Being female, improper body posturing, use of electronics devices out of work, no habit of taking a break, long-hour duration of visual display terminal use, short-distance screen, and general ergonomic practice were associated with increased odds of computer vision syndrome.
Screen media and non-screen media habits among preschool children in Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Finland: Insights from an unsupervised clustering approach
Authors: Chia Michael , Komar John , Chua Terence , Tay Lee Yong , Kim Jung-Hyun , Hong Kwangseok , Kim Hyunshik , Ma Jiameng , Vehmas Hanna , Sääkslahti Arja
Published: December 2022

The main purpose of the research was to describe the daily screen media habits and non-screen media habits like indoor and outdoor play, and sleep of preschool children aged 2 to 6 years from Singapore, South Korea, Japan, and Finland using a content-validated online questionnaire (SMALLQ®) and unsupervised cluster analysis. Unsupervised cluster analysis on 5809 parent-reported weekday and weekend screen and non-screen media habits of preschool children from the four countries resulted in seven emergent clusters. Cluster 2 ( n = 1288) or the Early-screen media, screen media-lite and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity-lite family made up 22.2% and Cluster 1 ( n = 261) or the High-all-round activity and screen media-late family made up 4.5%, respectively represented the largest and smallest clusters among the seven clusters that were emergent from the pooled dataset. Finland was best represented by Cluster 2 and Japan was best represented by Cluster 3 ( High-screen media-for-entertainment and low-engagement family). Parents from Finland and Japan displayed greater homogeneity in terms of the screen media and non-screen media habits of preschool children than the parents from South Korea and Singapore. South Korea was best represented by Clusters 6 ( Screen media-physical activity-engagement hands-off family) and 7 ( Screen media-lite, screen media-late and high-physical activity family). Singapore was best represented by Clusters 4, 5, 6 and 7, and these clusters ranged from Low all-round activity-high nap time family to Screen media-lite, screen media-late and high-physical activity family. Future research should explore in-depth reasons for the across-country and within-country cluster characteristics of screen media and non-screen media habits among preschool children to allow for more targeted interventions.
Assessing care-related regret among nurses specialized in multiple sclerosis: A psychometric analysis of a new assessment battery
Authors: Ballesteros Javier , Bueno-Gil Guillermo , Rodríguez-Antigüedad Alfredo , Sempere Ángel P , del Río Beatriz , Baz Mar , Medrano Nicolás , Saposnik Gustavo , Maurino Jorge
Published: December 2022

Experiences of regret associated with caring for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) can affect medical decisions. A non-interventional study was conducted to assess the dimensionality and item characteristics of a battery including the Regret Intensity Scale (RIS-10) and 15 items evaluating common situations experienced by nurses in MS care. A total of 97 nurses were included. The RIS-10 showed good internal reliability and a unidimensional structure according to Mokken analysis. All-item homogeneity coefficients exceeded 0.30, whereas scalability for the overall RIS-10 was 0.66, indicating a strong scale. This battery showed adequate psychometric properties to evaluate regret among MS nurses.
A Scoping Review of Factors Contributing to Late-Stage Diagnosis of Breast Cancer in Racial and Ethnic Minority (African American and Hispanic) Women
Authors: Yoda Salamata , Theeke Laurie A.
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to examine the factors contributing to the late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer in African American and Hispanic women. Databases were electronically searched using Academic Search Complete; Alt Health Watch; APA PsycInfo; CINAHL with Full Text; Health and Psychosocial Instruments; Health Source—Consumer Edition; Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition; and MEDLINE. Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework was followed. The five levels of the socio-ecological model were used as theoretical guidelines. Social determinants of health (at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy levels) limited the adherence to breast cancer screening and led to the late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer, which impacted the survival rates. Multi-level efforts are required to address the social determinants of health, which impede care accessibility, and improve health outcomes for women experiencing health inequalities.