bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-β2GPI-domain I antibody is associated with extra-criteria manifestations in a large prospective antiphospholipid syndrome cohort in China
Authors: Zhou Yangzhong , Hu Chaojun , Qi Wanting , Long Yin , Huang Can , Wang Qian , Tian Xinping , Zhao Jiuliang , Li Mengtao , Zeng Xiaofeng
Published: August 2023

Background

Anti-β2GPI-domain I (β2GPI-DI) antibody is pathogenic in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), but its additional clinical associations and diagnostic value are controversial.

Methods

A total of 378 patients were included, of which 119 patients diagnosed with primary APS, 50 with APS secondary to SLE (SAPS group), 209 with SLE without APS (SLE group). Serum anti-β2GPI-DI IgG was measured using chemiluminescent immunoassay. Extra-criteria manifestations were analysed, including thrombocytopenia, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, valvular lesions, APS nephropathy and non-vascular neurological manifestations.

Results

In 169 patients with APS, 55 (32.5%) were positive for anti-β2GPI-DI IgG, accounting for 77.5% of those with anti-β2GPI IgG positivity. It is shown that 96.4% of those with anti-β2GPI-DI IgG also showed triple positivity in classic antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs). The positivity of anti-β2GPI-DI IgG was significantly associated with recurrent thrombosis before APS diagnosis (p=0.015), microvascular thrombosis (p=0.038), but not with pregnancy morbidity (PM). Notably, patients with extra-criteria manifestations showed significantly higher positivity (p=0.001) and titres (p<0.001) in anti-β2GPI-DI IgG, especially for thrombocytopenia and APS nephropathy. In multivariable analysis, anti-β2GPI-DI IgG positivity (OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.29 to 6.70), secondary APS, arterial hypertension and Coombs’ test positivity independently predicted extra-criteria manifestations (C-index 0.83, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.90). After a median follow-up of 25 months, patients with anti-β2GPI-DI IgG also showed a tendency of more extra-criteria events, but not thrombotic events. Anti-β2GPI-DI was positive among 8.1% of the SLE controls, and showed high specificity (91.9%) in diagnosing SAPS among patients with SLE as compared with classic aPLs.

Conclusion

Anti-β2GPI-DI IgG was associated with extra-criteria manifestations in patients with APS. Further studies are warranted to validate its predictive values and potential role in daily practice.
A data driven real-time perception method of rock condition in TBM construction
Authors: Li Xu , Wu Lei-jie , Wang Yu-jie , Liu Huan , Chen Zu-yu , Jing Liu-jie , Wang Yu
Published: August 2023

In tunnel boring machine (TBM) construction, the presence of collapsible rock mass (CRM) can lead to accidents such as collapse and jamming. This study presents a novel CRM early warning strategy based on real-time TBM rock fragmentation data to improve safety and efficiency in CRM conditions. The strategy includes a qualitative classification model and a quantitative probability model for CRM identification. The results indicate that the distribution dissimilarity index β effectively reflect the significance of variables across CRM and non-CRM datasets. Various parameters, including TPI, FPI, WR, and AF, show discriminatory ability between CRM and non-CRM samples. In particular, the CRM-weighted index, which combines the strengths of the individual indices, achieves a distributional dissimilarity index of 1.05, significantly higher than any of the individual indices. The qualitative classification model proves effective in identifying samples from collapse areas, demonstrating ability to identify samples located in adverse geological condition. The quantitative model shows that the probability of CRM is generally higher in adverse geological area samples, particularly in zones where collapse has occurred, with a CRM probability is approaching 1. The proposed strategy provides accurate early warnings to prevent collapse accidents and represents a practical approach to improving the safety and efficiency.
CFD modelling of initial stages of dam-break flow
Authors: Esmaeeli Mohsenabadi Saeid , Nistor Ioan , Mohammadian Abdolmajid , Kheirkhah Gildeh Hossein
Published: August 2023

Cases of dam failures are seen almost every year globally, and the propagation of rapidly varying unsteady flows resulting from those dam failures has significant environmental and economic consequences. A three-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics model was created to solve unsteady Reynolds-Averaged equations to investigate the generation and propagation of dam-break flows and reflected flood waves in the presence of a trapezoidal bottom obstacle. The dam-breaks were modelled using OpenFOAM based on the Volume of Fluid method employing the Finite Volume Method, and the performance of various Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes turbulence models, including the realizable k −  ε, SST k −  ω (Shear Stress Transport k − ω), and v2 −  f models, has been evaluated. To assess the capabilities of the different turbulence models, quantitative comparisons of numerical simulations with laboratory experiments were completed, and it was found that the SST k −  ω model performed better in predicting the free surface profiles and negative bore propagation speeds than the realizable k −  ε and v2 −  f models.
Spin-0 bosons near rotating stars
Authors: Pinho E. O. , Barros C. C.
Published: August 2023

In this work we study the effects of rotating stars on the behavior of bosons close to their surfaces. For this task, metrics determined by the rotation of these stars will be taken into account. We will consider the Klein–Gordon equation in the Hartle–Thorne metric and in the one proposed by Berti et al. by considering some kinds of stars. Pions and Higgs bosons will be investigated as examples. By solving the equations, the main effect that may be observed is a rotational phase,$$\delta _R$$δR, that depends on the angular momentum of the star,J, in the wave function of the boson. Corrections of higher orders inJare also investigated.
Asymptotic states for kink–meson scattering
Authors: Evslin Jarah
Published: August 2023

The definition of a quantum state corresponding to a wave packet far from a global soliton is considered. We define an asymptotic quantum state corresponding to a localized wave packet of elementary quanta far from a kink. We demand that the state satisfies two properties. First, it must evolve in time via a rigid translation of the wave packet, up to the usual wave packet spreading and corrections which are exponentially suppressed in the distance to the kink. Second, the state must be invariant under a simultaneous translation of the kink and the wave packet. We explicitly construct the leading quantum corrections to an asymptotic state consisting of a meson approaching a kink. We expect this construction to readily generalize to elementary quanta in the presence of any global soliton.
Addendum Signature-causality reflection generated by Abelian gauge transformations
Authors: Garat Alcides
Published: August 2023

An addendum for one hidden issue in manuscript “Signature-causality reflection generated by Abelian gauge transformations” is outlined.
A Modified Decision-Making Optimization Approach During Machining of Carbon Fabric and Reduced Graphene Oxide Reinforced (CF/rGO) Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Kesarwani Shivi , Verma Rajesh Kumar , Jayswal S. C.
Published: August 2023

Manufacturing industries are rapidly growing with varying customer needs, and efficient quality control tools are widely used to optimize product/process performances. This paper highlights the modified quality control module to optimize the milling performances of polymer nanocomposites. The carbon fabric and reduced graphene oxide reinforced (CF/rGO) polymer composites are machined at varying process constraints. The experimentation was designed according to Taguchi’s orthogonal array. The Milling performances were optimized using a multi-criterion decision-making (MCDM) tool based on a combination distance-based assessment (CODAS) optimization method. The desired value of surface roughness (Ra) and cutting force (Fc) is examined during the machining of the developed polymer. CODAS optimization module efficiently combined the various contradictory parametric outcomes into a single objective assessment value (Hi), which could not be possible by utilizing the usual conventional Taguchi method. Specifically, the optimal machining conditions were found to be rGO wt.%—1, speed—2000[Formula: see text]rpm, feed—80[Formula: see text]mm/min, DoC—1.5[Formula: see text]mm. Overall, the findings demonstrate the practicality of the recommended MCDM tool, which outperformed the usual conventional Taguchi method. The optimal assessment score of CODAS was noted as 1.904, which confirms the better viability of the current MCDM approach. This study contributes to the advancement of efficient quality control tools that can be widely used to optimize product/process performances in manufacturing industries.
Children's Acquisition and Application of Norms
Authors: Schmidt Marco F.H. , Rakoczy Hannes
Published: August 2023

All human societies are permeated by collectively shared entities that govern daily social interactions and promote coordination and cooperation: norms. While the study of norm development is not new to developmental psychology, it has only recently been the target of an interdisciplinary wave of research using new methodologies and (often) complementary theoretical accounts to describe and explain the origins and potentially species-unique aspects of human norm psychology. Here we review recent developmental research showing that young children swiftly acquire and infer norms in a variety of social contexts. Moreover, children actively enforce these norms, even as unaffected bystanders, when third parties do things the wrong way. This research suggests that the foundations of human norm psychology can be found in early childhood. Deeper insights into the ontogenetic roots of norm psychology may contribute to understanding the evolutionary emergence of human cooperation and its maintenance in the contemporary world.
Variability in Plant–Herbivore Interactions
Authors: Wetzel William C. , Inouye Brian D. , Hahn Philip G. , Whitehead Susan R. , Underwood Nora
Published: August 2023

Plants and herbivores are remarkably variable in space and time, and variability has been considered a defining feature of their interactions. Empirical research, however, has traditionally focused on understanding differences in means and overlooked the theoretically significant ecological and evolutionary roles of variability itself. We review the literature with the goal of showing how variability-explicit research expands our perspective on plant–herbivore ecology and evolution. We first clarify terminology for describing variation and then review patterns, causes, and consequences of variation in herbivory across scales of space, time, and biological organization. We consider how incorporating variability improves existing hypotheses and leads to new ones. We conclude by suggesting future work that reports full distributions, integrates effects of variation across scales, describes nonlinearities, and considers how stochastic and deterministic variation combine to determine herbivory distributions.
Life as a Guide to Its Own Origins
Authors: Harrison Stuart A. , Rammu Hanadi , Liu Feixue , Halpern Aaron , Nunes Palmeira Raquel , Lane Nick
Published: August 2023

The origin of life entails a continuum from simple prebiotic chemistry to cells with genes and molecular machines. Using life as a guide to this continuum, we consider how selection could promote increased complexity before the emergence of genes. Structured, far-from-equilibrium environments such as hydrothermal systems drive the reaction between CO2 and H2 to form organics that self-organize into protocells. CO2 fixation within protocells generates a reaction network with a topology that prefigures the universal core of metabolism. Positive feedback loops amplify flux through this network, giving a metabolic heredity that promotes growth. Patterns in the genetic code show that genes and proteins arose through direct biophysical interactions between amino acids and nucleotides in this protometabolic network. Random genetic sequences template nonrandom peptides, producing selectable function in growing protocells. This context-dependent emergence of information gives rise seamlessly to an autotrophic last universal common ancestor.
Gas Microfilms in Droplet Dynamics: When Do Drops Bounce?
Authors: Sprittles James E.
Published: August 2023

In the last ten years, advances in experimental techniques have enabled remarkable discoveries of how the dynamics of thin gas films can profoundly influence the behavior of liquid droplets. Drops impacting onto solids can skate on a film of air so that they bounce off solids. For drop–drop collisions, this effect, which prevents coalescence, has been long recognized. Notably, the precise physical mechanisms governing these phenomena have been a topic of intense debate, leading to a synergistic interplay of experimental, theoretical, and computational approaches. This review attempts to synthesize our knowledge of when and how drops bounce, with a focus on ( a) the unconventional microscale and nanoscale physics required to predict transitions to/from merging and ( b) the development of computational models. This naturally leads to the exploration of an array of other topics, such as the Leidenfrost effect and dynamic wetting, in which gas films also play a prominent role.
Surface Interaction Effect and Mechanism of Methionine Derivatives as Novel Inhibitors for Alkaline Copper CMP: Insights from Molecular Simulation and Experimental Analysis
Authors: Zhan Ni , Niu Xinhuan , Liu Jianghao , Zuo Yida , Yan Han , Luo Fu , Qu Minghui , Xian Wenhao , Zhou Jianwei
Published: August 2023

To prevent excessive corrosion caused by the slurry in the copper (Cu) chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process, a corrosion inhibitor is normally required. In this study, the methionine (Met) derivative FMOC-L-Methionine (Fmoc-Met-OH) was explored as a corrosion inhibitor for Cu film CMP in weak alkaline conditions (pH = 8.5). A comprehensive evaluation was conducted to confirm the efficiency of Fmoc-Met-OH as a corrosion inhibitor, combining experiments and theoretical calculations. The results showed that Fmoc-Met-OH could effectively inhibit the corrosion of Cu, with a high inhibition efficiency (IE) of 78.26% while maintaining a high removal rate (RR) of 5703 Å min−1, a low static etch rate (SER) of 676 Å min−1, and a low surface root mean square deviation (Sq) of 1.41 nm. Simultaneously, the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) tests and electrochemical analysis confirm that Fmoc-Met-OH molecules can form a dense and ordered adsorption film on the Cu surface. According to the density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, it was verified that Fmoc-Met-OH exhibited strong chemical adsorption on Cu substrates, as evidenced by the high binding energy (E
Binding) value, low energy gap (ΔE), and radial distribution function (RDF) analysis. The findings provided theoretical evidence of the better inhibition effectiveness of Fmoc-Met-OH at a molecular or atomic level.
Cigarette smoke-induced injury induces distinct sex-specific transcriptional signatures in mice tracheal epithelial cells
Authors: Ghosh Baishakhi , Chengala Pratulya Pragadaraju , Shah Sonya , Chen Daniel , Karnam Vaishnavi , Wilmsen Kai , Yeung-Luk Bonnie , Sidhaye Venkataramana K.
Published: August 2023

The study underscores the importance of considering sex-specific differences in the airway epithelium in respiratory diseases such as COPD. Differences in gene expression between males and females at baseline and in response to chronic injury in the airway epithelium could have implications on disease susceptibility, both in COPD and other respiratory diseases. Therefore, understanding these differences is crucial for developing targeted therapies to treat respiratory diseases based on a sex-specific manner.
SentMask: A Sentence‐Aware Mask Attention‐Guided Two‐Stage Text Summarization Component
Authors: Zhang Rui , Zhang Nan , Yu Jianjun
Published: August 2023

The text summarization task aims to generate succinct sentences that summarise what an article tries to express. Based on pretrained language models, combining extractive and abstractive summarization approaches has been widely adopted in text summarization tasks. It has been proven to be effective in many existing pieces of research using extract‐then‐abstract algorithms. However, this method suffers from semantic information loss throughout the extraction process, resulting in incomprehensive sentences being generated during the abstract phase. Besides, current research on text summarization emphasizes only word‐level comprehension while paying little attention to understanding the level of the sentence. To tackle this problem, in this paper, we propose the SentMask component. Taking into account that the semantics of sentences that are filtered out during the extraction process is also worth considering, the paper designs a sentence‐aware mask attention mechanism in the process of generating a text summary. By applying the extractive approach, the paper first selects the most essential sentences to construct the initial summary phrases. This information leads the model to modify the weights of the attention mechanism, which provides supervision for the generative model to ensure that it focuses on the sentences that convey important semantics while not ignoring others. The final summary is constructed based on the key information provided. The experimental results demonstrate that our model achieves higher ROUGE and BLEU scores compared to other baseline models on two benchmark datasets.
Analyzing Nexus between Economic Complexity, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Quality in Japan: A New Evidence from QARDL Approach
Authors: Shah Muhammad Haroon , De Chun Huang , Wang Yichu , Ullah Irfan , Hassan Syed Tauseef , Fareed Zeeshan
Published: August 2023

The economic complexity index is an effective dimensionality reduction tool that is applied to forecast and predict future economic growth, income, and environmental quality. Renewable energy plays an important role in mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions. This study explores the nexus between economic complexity, renewable energy, FDI, trade, and environmental quality in Japan for the period 1970Q1-2019Q4. We use carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as dependent variable while economic complexity index (ECI), foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow, renewable energy (RNE), and trade as explanatory variables. This study applies a quantile autoaggressive approach for analysis; the result of this study suggests a long-run implication of the ECI, FDI, GDP, RNE, and trade for the CO2 emissions. While only RNE and trade show mixed results in the short run, the rest of the variables do not have short-run implications. This implies that emissions mostly result in the industrial production activities only in the long run and in some quantiles only in the short run. The Japanese government may adopt different measures to reduce the CO2 emissions in the country, such as carbon tax and tax exemption on renewable energy investment. Furthermore, the government may adopt the renewal energy in production, which could achieve sustainable development goal.
Material Cost and Benefit Analysis for Dust Injection Technology in EAF Steelmaking Process and EAF Dust Treatment with CaO Addition
Authors: Koide Shunsuke , Tsubone Akira , Kubota Shusei , Yamaguchi Kazuyoshi , Nagasaka Tetsuya
Published: August 2023

In the electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking process, electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) is inevitably generated. The dust injection method is known as one of the effective technologies to reduce the total amount of EAFD generation. In this technology, Zn in the injected dust is enriched in the secondary dust, and Fe is transferred to the slag. In this work, the effect of dust injection technology on the recovered/lost amounts of Zn and Fe is quantitatively evaluated based on the mass balance calculation. Furthermore, in terms of dust and slag treatment costs, the potential of new EAFD treatment technology (the lime addition method) which enables simultaneous Zn and Fe recovery is discussed. By introducing the lime addition method, Zn and Fe can be recovered as resources, and the total income from these sales outweighs the cost of the chemicals used for recovery. This indicates that the treatment costs paid by EAF companies can be significantly low. The dust injection technology reduces the total quantity of dust shipped, but increases the total amount of slag and Fe loss. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the appropriate value of the amount of dust injection by balancing the waste treatment cost and the amount of metal resource recovery.
Effect of Potassium Permanganate as an Ethylene Scavenger and Physicochemical Characterization during the Shelf Life of Fresh Banana (Musa paradisiaca)
Authors: Gutierrez-Aguirre Brayan Ronaldo , Llave-Davila Ramiro Enmanuel , Olivera-Montenegro Luis Alberto , Herrera-Nuñez Esteban , Marzano-Barreda Luis Alejandro
Published: August 2023

The conventional method of employing low temperatures for storage and distribution has long been the standard approach for preserving most fruits and vegetables. This practice is likewise prevalent in the retail industry, which relies on similar methods for transporting and maintaining the quality of perishable products on their shelves. The aim was to preserve bananas (Musa paradisiaca) using an ethylene scavenger, potassium permanganate, which is contained in small paper bags, to increase the storage and distribution time at low cost. The bananas were distributed in four plastic containers at a temperature of 23°C, three of the treatments contained different concentrations of potassium permanganate, and one was potassium permanganate free. The experimental period was 19 days, and the variations in weight loss, pH, titratable acidity, texture, color, and total soluble solids were analyzed. Potassium permanganate effectively reduced the changes in their physiological ripening.
Some Interesting Inequalities for the Class of Generalized Convex Functions of Higher Order
Authors: Liu Limei , Saleem Muhammad Shoaib , Yasin Faisal , Aslam Kiran Naseem , Wang Pengfei
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we study a generalized version of strongly reciprocally convex functions of higher order. Firstly, we prove some basic properties for addition, scalar multiplication, and composition of functions. Secondly, we establish Hermite-Hadamard and Fejér type inequalities for the generalized version of strongly reciprocally convex functions of higher order. We also include some fractional integral inequalities concerning with this class of functions. Our results have applications in optimization theory and can be considered extension/generalization of many existing results.
Generating a Murine PTEN Null Cell Line to Discover the Key Role of p110β-PAK1 in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Invasion
Authors: Wang Haizhen , Zhou Yu , Chu Chen , Xiao Jialing , Zheng Shanshan , Korpal Manav , Korn Joshua M. , Penaloza Tiffany , Drake Richard R. , Gan Wenjian , Gao Xueliang
Published: August 2023

Although androgen deprivation treatment often effectively decreases prostate cancer, incurable metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) eventually occurs. It is important to understand how CRPC metastasis progresses, which is not clearly defined. The loss of PTEN, a phosphatase to dephosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate in the PI3K pathway, occurs in up to 70% to 80% of CRPC. We generated a mouse androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line (PKO) from PTEN null and Hi-Myc transgenic mice in C57BL/6 background. We confirmed that this PKO cell line has an activated PI3K pathway and can metastasize into the femur and tibia of immunodeficient nude and immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice. In vitro, we found that androgen deprivation significantly enhanced PKO cell migration/invasion via the p110β isoform-depended PAK1-MAPK activation. Inhibition of the p110β-PAK1 axis significantly decreased prostate cancer cell migration/invasion. Of note, our analysis using clinical samples showed that PAK1 is more activated in CRPC than in advanced prostate cancer; high PAK1/phosphorylated-PAK1 levels are associated with decreased survival rates in patients with CRPC. All the information suggests that this cell line reflects the characteristics of CRPC cells and can be applied to dissect the mechanism of CRPC initiation and progression. This study also shows that PAK1 is a potential target for CRPC treatment.

Implications:

This study uses a newly generated PTEN null prostate cancer cell line to define a critical functional role of p110β-PAK1 in CRPC migration/invasion. This study also shows that the p110β-PAK1 axis can potentially be a therapeutic target in CRPC metastasis.
Supplementary Video S1 from Natural Killer Cell Activation by Ubiquitin-specific Protease 6 Mediates Tumor Suppression in Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Jain Kanika , Henrich Ian C. , Quick Laura , Young Robert , Mondal Shreya , Oliveira Andre M. , Blobel Gerd A. , Chou Margaret M.
Published: August 2023

Live cell imaging of NK92 killing USP6/RD-ES cells
Supplementary Figure S7 from Natural Killer Cell Activation by Ubiquitin-specific Protease 6 Mediates Tumor Suppression in Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Jain Kanika , Henrich Ian C. , Quick Laura , Young Robert , Mondal Shreya , Oliveira Andre M. , Blobel Gerd A. , Chou Margaret M.
Published: August 2023

Gating strategy for myeloid lineages in peripheral blood
Supplementary Figure S5 from Natural Killer Cell Activation by Ubiquitin-specific Protease 6 Mediates Tumor Suppression in Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Jain Kanika , Henrich Ian C. , Quick Laura , Young Robert , Mondal Shreya , Oliveira Andre M. , Blobel Gerd A. , Chou Margaret M.
Published: August 2023

Paracrine feedforward loop between NK and USP6-A673 cells
Supplementary Figure S3 from Natural Killer Cell Activation by Ubiquitin-specific Protease 6 Mediates Tumor Suppression in Ewing Sarcoma
Authors: Jain Kanika , Henrich Ian C. , Quick Laura , Young Robert , Mondal Shreya , Oliveira Andre M. , Blobel Gerd A. , Chou Margaret M.
Published: August 2023

Primary mouse and human NK killing assays
Association of Employment Disruptions and Financial Hardship Among Individuals Diagnosed with Cancer in the United States: Findings from a Nationally Representative Study
Authors: Halpern Michael T. , de Moor Janet S. , Han Xuesong , Zhao Jingxuan , Zheng Zhiyuan , Yabroff K. Robin
Published: August 2023

Financial hardship (FH), defined as adverse patient effects due to cancer costs, is experienced by approximately half of individuals diagnosed with cancer. Many individuals diagnosed with cancer also experience disruptions with their employment. This study examines associations of employment disruptions and FH among a nationally representative sample of individuals diagnosed with cancer in the United States. We utilized 2016/2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Experiences with Cancer data from individuals who worked for pay following cancer diagnosis. Employment disruption included taking extended paid time off work; switching to part-time/less demanding jobs; and/or retiring early due to cancer diagnosis/treatment. FH domains included: material (e.g., borrowing money/financial sacrifices); psychologic (e.g., worrying about medical bills/income); and behavioral (delaying/forgoing healthcare services because of cost). Multivariable logistic regression analyses determined associations of employment disruption and FH. Among 732 individuals with a cancer history, 47.4% experienced employment disruptions; 55.9% experienced any FH. Any FH was significantly more common among individuals with versus without employment disruptions across multiple measures and domains (68.7% vs. 44.5%; P value of difference <0.0001). Individuals with employment disruptions were more likely to have any FH [OR, 2.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.62–3.52] and more FHs (OR, 2.76; 95% CI, 1.96–3.89]. This study highlights that employment disruptions are common and significantly associated with multiple domains of FH among individuals with a cancer history. Employer workplace accommodation, physician discussions regarding potential impacts of cancer care on employment, and other policies to minimize employment disruptions among individuals diagnosed with cancer may reduce FH in this vulnerable population.

Significance:

Individuals diagnosed with cancer may have employment disruptions; they may also develop FHs. People with cancer who have employment changes are more likely to also have FHs. Physicians and employers can help individuals with cancer through advancing planning, workplace assistance, and improved medical leave and insurance policies.
Questioning Ethiopia’s University Education Philosophy
Authors: Ayalew Sisay Tamrat , Belay Degwale Gebeyehu
Published: August 2023

This paper aims to explore the two contradictory debates about the educational philosophy of universities in the context of Ethiopia. It also explores how the understanding of the philosophy of university is shaped by environmental factors and exacerbates the marginalisation of youth. On the one hand, universities are perceived as places where knowledge, that can solve a certain problem. On the other hand, universities are places where knowledge is produced and disseminated irrespective of its immediate use value. This study found out that the understanding of the philosophy of education varies across time and place. In the Ethiopian context, there is neither a disinterested pursuit of knowledge nor the instrumentalist epistemology, nor a synthesis of the two. It disregards the value of knowledge altogether and overly simplified the philosophy of instrumentalist epistemology to extent of buying and selling certificates even in the absence of formal training.
Multiple Markov Chains for Categorial Drought Prediction on the U.S. Drought Monitor at Weekly Scale
Authors: Cao Junjun , Guan Fu , Zhang Xiang , Nam Won-Ho , Leng Guoyong , Gao Haoran , Ye Qingqing , Gu Xihui , Zeng Jiangyuan , Zhang Xu , Huang Tailai , Niyogi Dev
Published: August 2023

Predicting drought severity is essential for drought management and early warning systems. Although numerous physical model-based and data-driven methods have been put forward for drought prediction, their abilities are largely constrained by data requirements and modeling complexity. There remains a challenging task to efficiently predict categorial drought, especially for the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM). Aiming at this issue, multiple Markov chains for USDM-based categorial drought prediction are successfully proposed and evaluated in this paper. In particular, this study concentrated on how the Markov order, step size, and training set length affected prediction accuracy (PA). According to experiments from 2000 to 2021, it was found that the 1-step and first-order Markov models had the best accuracy in predicting droughts up to 4 weeks ahead. The PA steadily dropped with increasing step size, and the average accuracy at monthly scale was 88%. In terms of seasonal variability, summer (July–August) had the lowest PA while winter had the highest (January–February). In comparison with the western region, the PA in the eastern United States is 25% higher. Moreover, the length of the training set had an obvious impact on the PA of the model. The PA in 1-step prediction was 87% and 78% under 20- and 5-yr training sets, respectively. The results of the study showed that Markov models predicted categorical drought with high accuracy in the short term and showed different performances on time and space scales. Proper use of Markov models would help disaster managers and policy makers to put mitigation policies and measures into practice.
Australia’s unethical deportation practice discriminates against New Zealanders with mental illness: ‘Everybody needs good neighbours!’
Authors: Artus Julie , Davison Lorraine , Bismark Marie , Every-Palmer Susanna
Published: August 2023

In this article, we explore Australia’s deportation of people with mental illness from an ethical and human rights perspective. We outline the legislative framework regulating migration policy in Australia, focussing on Section 501 (s.501) of the Migration Act 1958 (which makes provision for deportation of non-residents on character grounds) and on the recently issued Direction 99 (which provides guidance on visa refusal and cancellation under s.501). We find the definition of a failed character test embedded within the legislative framework to be discriminatory, in that it conflates mental illness with character attributes. We present recent data on s.501 deportees sourced from the New Zealand Police and Manatū Hauora (the New Zealand Ministry of Health). Drawing on our clinical experiences working in forensic psychiatry and rehabilitation services, we describe some of our patients’ experiences and the detrimental effects of deportation on their health and well-being. We argue that deportation of people with mental illness contravenes principles of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery, is discriminatory and constitutes a moral wrong. Furthermore, while we recognise that recent policy changes reflect a tempering of the previous hard-line policy stance, it remains to be seen what effects they will have in practice. We question whether the new guidance will be enough to improve the treatment of and outcomes for those with mental illness, or whether the changes represent a case of too little, too late.
Suicide in Later Life in Uruguay: A Suicide Note Analysis
Authors: Hein Pablo , Chávez-Hernández Ana-María , Padilla Gustavo M. , Valadez Figueroa Isabel
Published: August 2023

Suicide is a significant public health challenge worldwide, with inconsistent behavioral patterns. This study examined the psychological processes underlying 191 suicide notes left by older adults in Uruguay, a country doubling global and regional suicide rates, with the highest prevalence among those aged 60+. Uruguay highlights in the region as a high-income country. Through content analysis with an inter-judge strategy, the notes revealed that loneliness, loss of interest, and loss of meaning for life, were prevalent. Financial hardship was not a primary reason for suicide. Social connectedness was highlighted as a factor for reducing suicide risk in older adults, particularly those with ill health and physical impairment. The study sheds light on the need to expand social services aimed at reducing loneliness and the need to combat ageism and social prejudice towards suicide in Uruguay, providing valuable insights into suicide prevention strategies for older adults in diverse social settings.
Impact of exercise interventions on quality of life and depression in lung cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lu Ying , Bai Xuelian , Pan Chengwen
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Depression is also a common concern for lung cancer patients and is of concern because it negatively impacts overall well-being. This study summarizes the existing literature on the impact of exercise interventions on quality of life and depression in patients diagnosed with lung cancer.

Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases was performed to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of exercise interventions on depression and quality of life in patients with lung cancer. Two evaluators collected information from the chosen studies utilizing a standardized data extraction form. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tool.

Results

Nine RCTs were included in the meta-analysis, with 798 participants. The pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) for the effect of exercise interventions on depression was −0.60, representing a statistically significant reduction in depression levels following exercise interventions ( p < 0.001). The pooled SMD for the effect of exercise interventions on quality of life was 0.61, indicating a statistically significant association between quality of life and exercise interventions ( p < 0.001).

Conclusion

There is evidence that exercise may benefit the mental health of individuals with lung cancer, including improvements in depression symptoms and quality of life, based on the intervention studies reviewed here. Given the heterogeneity in findings, however, additional randomized controlled trials are needed to augment the existing findings. Nevertheless, there appears to be sufficient evidence for now to encourage primary care physicians to recommend exercise for patients with lung cancer, while offering guidelines on how to gradually and safely increase physical activity depending on the patient's health status.
Relationships Between Diverse Forms of Anxiety With Intrapersonal Functioning Among Older Adults
Authors: Mock Colleen Elaine , Segal Daniel L.
Published: August 2023

This study assessed how clinical anxiety, anxiety about aging, and death anxiety related to one another and to intrapersonal functioning. Older adults completed the Geriatric Anxiety Scale, Anxiety About Aging Scale, Death Anxiety Scale-Extended, and Intrapersonal Problems Rating Scale. Clinical anxiety was strongly correlated with anxiety about aging ( r = .50) and death anxiety ( r = .59), and anxiety about aging and death anxiety were strongly positively correlated with each other ( r = .51). Intrapersonal problems were significantly and strongly positively correlated with clinical anxiety ( r = .79), anxiety about aging ( r = .50), and death anxiety ( r = .56). Multiple regression results showed that the three types of anxiety accounted for a large amount of variance in intrapersonal problems. Findings suggest strong comorbidities between diverse forms of anxiety with some unique features. Intrapersonal deficits may be prominent in the presence of diverse forms of anxiety. Screening should consider these relationships.
The Influence of Modifiable Risk Factors on Postoperative Outcomes in Patients Receiving Surgery for Resection for Acoustic Neuroma
Authors: Nasrollahi Tasha S. , Shahrestani Shane , Borrelli Michela , Hopp Martin L. , Wu Arthur W. , Tang Dennis M. , Yu John S.
Published: August 2023

Acoustic neuromas are the most common tumor of the cerebellopontine angle that are associated with a number of symptoms that negatively impact a patient’s quality of life. While the mainstay of treatment for these benign tumors remains microsurgical resection, there is limited research exploring how certain modifiable risk factors (MRFs) may affect the perioperative course. The purpose of this study was to investigate how MRFs including malnutrition, obesity, dyslipidemia, uncontrolled hypertension, and smoking may affect postoperative rates of readmission and nonroutine discharges. We utilized the 2016 and 2017 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Readmissions Database. MRFs were queried using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) coding for categories including malnutrition, obesity, dyslipidemia, smoking, alcohol, and hypertension. The statistical analysis was done using RStudio (Version 1.3.959). Chi-squared tests were done to evaluate differences between categorical variables. The Mann–Whitney U-testing was utilized to evaluate for statistically significant differences in continuous data. The “Epitools” package was used to develop logistic regression models for postoperative complications and post hoc receiver operating characteristic curves were developed. Pertaining to nonroutine discharge, predictive models using malnutrition outperformed all other MRFs as well as those with no MRFs ( P < .05). In the case of readmission, models using malnutrition outperformed those of obesity and smoking ( P < .05). Again, an increase in predictive power is seen in models using dyslipidemia when compared to obesity, smoking, or uncontrolled hypertension. Lastly, models using no MRFs outperformed those of obesity, smoking, and uncontrolled hypertension ( P < .05). This is the first study of its kind to evaluate the role of MRFs in those undergoing surgical resection of their acoustic neuroma. We concluded that certain MRFs may play a role in complicating a patient’s perioperative surgical course.
Predictors of Functional Outcomes and Recovery Time Following Tympanoplasty
Authors: Wu Xuan , Zhang Qing , Huang Yu , Wang Xi , Feng Guodong
Published: August 2023

Objectives: To identify the predictors of tympanoplasty success including graft success, hearing outcomes, and recovery time. Methods: Patients who underwent a tympanoplasty between January 2019 and July 2022 were enrolled. Hearing outcomes were measured by air-bone gap from pure tone. Demographic data of the patient, surgical parameters, and Ossiculoplasty Outcome Parameter Staging (OOPS) were reviewed and evaluated to predict the success of tympanoplasty using univariate and multivariate logistic or Cox regression analyzes. Results: Of 138 patients, 151 procedures were studied. At the 6-month follow-up visit, the overall graft success was 90.7% and the overall hearing success was 40.4%. There was a correlation between the OOPS index and postoperative hearing success (Spearman r = 0.322). Blood loss > 10 ml and OOPS ≥ 4 were independent predictors of hearing failure. Blocked aditus ad antrum and blood loss > 10 ml were independent predictors of prolonged recovery time. Conclusions: The OOPS index exhibits a strong predictive influence on hearing outcomes after tympanoplasty. A predictive model that combines the amount of blood loss and blockage of aditus ad antrum can serve as a useful tool in predicting postoperative recovery time.
Buckling assessment of GFRP and carbon fiber-reinforced plastic filament-wound tubes using an acoustic emission-based methodology
Authors: Alimirzaei Sajad , Ahmadi Najafabadi Mehdi , Bani Mohammad Ali Amir , Pahlavan Lotfollah
Published: August 2023

The aim of this research is to investigate the failure mechanisms of the filament-wound composite tubes under axial compressional loading by using an acoustic emission approach. First, the mechanical properties of ±45°C composite tubes were obtained experimentally. Then, failure due to the buckling phenomenon and crashworthiness characteristics were studied utilizing numerical simulation and experimental methods. Tubes were next simulated in ABAQUS software, and a continuum damage mechanics model was implemented in a progressive framework to assess the failure modes. From the macroscale view, results showed that the damage behavior of composite tubes turned out to be dominated by local buckling followed by a post-buckling field, which is generated by longitudinal cracks along the winding direction. On the micro-scale, the acoustic emission-based procedure based on the wavelet packet transform method was adopted. The hierarchical modeled assessment resulted in the identity of four clusters of AE signals. In GFRP tubes, the fiber breakage and fiber/matrix separation could mostly control the higher percentage of damage and cause to increase the energy absorption. Finally, by comparing the results obtained from micro and macro scales, the local buckling failure mode was attributed to the low content of fiber/matrix debonding in the structure.
Identifying Trajectories of Maltreatment Revictimization and Juvenile Justice Outcome: A Latent Class Analysis of Subtype, Timing, and Chronicity
Authors: Cho Minhae , Miu Bing , Lee Chi Hyun
Published: August 2023

Continued exposure to abuse or neglect is a strong predictor for immediate and long-term negative developmental outcomes including developmental delays, disabilities, poor school performance, criminal behavior, and mental health issues. The purpose of this study was to identify distinct subgroups of children with repeat victimization based on maltreatment timing, subtype, and chronicity and to examine how the unique subgroups are related to youth’s juvenile justice outcome. Using data from Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect, this study included 286 children (47% males, 41% blacks) with more than one report for substantiated maltreatment from birth to age 17. Latent class analysis was employed to identify heterogeneity in the patterns of maltreatment revictimization. Four latent classes emerged: (a) Prevailing Early Neglect (52.6%); (b) Co-occurring Maltreatments in Preschool Age (20.1%); (c) Incremental Neglect with Sexual Abuse in School Age (18.7%); and (d) Co-occurring Maltreatments in School Age (8.6%). Black children were overrepresented in Incremental Neglect with Sexual Abuse in School Age compared to white and other racial groups of children. Ordinal logistic regression analysis indicated that there was no significant difference in the juvenile justice outcome across four subgroups of children with revictimization. Our person-centered investigations of maltreatment subtype, timing, and chronicity highlight the need for precise assessment and prevention strategies based on a more nuanced understanding of various patterns of childhood maltreatment revictimization.
Systematic Review: Safety and Efficacy of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines in Pregnant Women
Authors: Lam Julie Ngoc , Nehira Jeffrey , Phung Olivia , Deng Bin
Published: August 2023

Since pregnant women were excluded from clinical trials for vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is limited data on the safety and efficacy of vaccines in this population. This systematic review explored the safety and efficacy of mRNA vaccines in pregnant women. A literature search was performed using Ovid databases through November 2021 for all studies evaluated efficacy and safety of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women. A total of five studies including 42,782 women were included in the systematic review. Humoral immunity to COVID-19 was detected in pregnant women who received the vaccine and no differences found in spike-specific T-cell responses. Incidence of high-grade chronic villitis is higher in the unvaccinated group with adjusted odds ratio of .31 (.1-.97), P < .05. Vaccination in pregnant women resulted in 12.6% spontaneous abortions (SAB) with 92.3% occurring in the first trimester, .1% stillbirth (>20 weeks gestation), 9.4% preterm birth (<37 weeks gestation), and 2.2% congenital abnormalities. The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are immunogenic in pregnant women and no obvious safety concerns observed. There is no increased incidence of adverse reactions in pregnant women. Our finding supports that pregnant women should receive the vaccination at their earliest convenience regardless of trimester.