bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural damage identification method based on vibration statistical indicators and support vector machine
Authors: Lei Jiayan , Cui Yiguan , Shi Wei
Published: March 2022

This study presents a support vector machine (SVM) based structural damage detection approach for a steel frame model. Totally 10 structural scenarios including one undamaged and nine damaged cases (D1–D9) are defined by replacing different column elements to reduce the lateral stiffness between layers. Sensors are laid out at each layer of the frame structure to pick up acceleration response stirred up by the simulated white noise excitations. Statistical analysis is carried out and three damage indictor features are extracted from 800 samples of record duration. Subsequently, the SVM classifiers are developed to conduct a series of indictor fusion schemes to identify multiple damage states. The results indicate that the approach has good identification performance with damage features from three indicators, especially for a high dimensional input eigenvector. Meanwhile, acceptable detection accuracy can be obtained in situations with incomplete measurement; the robustness in terms of the resistance against noise is also discussed.
International students on the edge: The precarious impacts of financial stress
Authors: Wilson Shaun , Hastings Catherine , Morris Alan , Ramia Gaby , Mitchell Emma
Published: March 2022

International students are an important global cohort of ‘noncitizens’ whose experiences are central concerns for urban sociologists and migration scholars. Drawing on survey fieldwork conducted among international students in the private rental sector in Sydney and Melbourne during 2019, this article provides new knowledge about the hardships experienced by international students who report financial stress. Using a modified scale developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we highlight the accelerating role of high levels of financial stress in producing disruptive events such as housing evictions and fears of homelessness, as well as reliance on inadequate housing like ‘hot-bedding’. Financial stress is significantly more likely for students from low-GNI (gross national income) countries and higher stress reduces wellbeing. Access to paid employment, however, does not ‘protect’ against higher financial stress. We conclude that higher education policymakers need tools and policies to prevent disruptive life events among international students related to financial stress, particularly those associated with housing.
The jailhouse divergence: Why debtors’ prisons disappeared in 19th century Europe and flourished in West Africa
Authors: Balakrishnan Sarah
Published: March 2022

It has been argued that the debtors’ prison was abolished in 19th century Europe and North America because the institution contradicted the principles of modern capitalism; by confining debtors for unpaid loans, it punished the poor while hampering the creditor, who could not be repaid by a debtor rotting in jail. This essay revises these assumptions through a study of debtors’ prisons in 19th century Ghana. It argues that, in both Europe and West Africa, the debtors’ prison historically emerged as a hostage-taking institution. Families paid their members’ loans to free them. In 19th century Ghana, this system proved crucial to the spread of mercantile capitalism; debt inmates were released within a week and creditors were repaid in full. However, in Euro-America, a new belief in homo economicus as the ‘self-made man’ portrayed insolvency as an individual failure. The European nuclear family also reduced the financial base supporting the debtor. The result was that debtors faced months, if not years, behind bars. This essay suggests that debtors’ prisons disappeared in Europe, while flourishing in West Africa, not due to the emergence of capitalism, but because of the social fabric of credit relations—the financial obligations of Africa kin networks versus European families.
Assessing the influence of DMLS production process factors on fatigue resistance of Maraging steel MS1 in the finite life domain using ANN prediction abilities
Authors: Olmi Giorgio , Bogojević Nebojša , Ćirić-Kostić Snežana , Croccolo Dario , Tomić Jelena , Šoškić Zlatan
Published: March 2022

Analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) is a standard statistic method for assessment of the influence of various factors on fatigue resistance in the finite life domain. However, the previous research has shown that this method was not capable to determine with sufficient confidence if the build orientation, the thickness of allowance for machining, and the position in the production chamber affect fatigue resistance of Maraging steel MS1 products made by direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) technology. To contribute to a better understanding of the subject, the results of fatigue test experiments were used for training of four types of artificial neural networks (ANN) for assessment of fatigue resistance in the finite life domain. Each ANN had different structure of inputs, which corresponded to a different combination of the factors of DMLS production process. The differences between the predictive abilities of the ANN were attributed to influences of the respective factors on the fatigue resistance of the material in the finite life domain. The approach was verified by the agreement with the conclusive results of ANOVA analyses. Furthermore, in the cases when ANOVA does not lead to a clear result, the analyses of the predictive ability of the ANN strongly suggest that build orientation and thickness of allowance do not influence, while the position of a part in production chamber influences, the fatigue resistance in the finite life domain of Maraging steel MS1 produced by DMLS technology.
Simulation study on transient performance of a marine engine matched with high-pressure SCR system
Authors: Xia Chong , Zhu Yuanqing , Zhou Song , Peng Hui , Feng Yongming , Zhou Weihao , Shi Jie , Zhang Jin
Published: March 2022

The high-pressure SCR system is suitable for low-speed marine engines that burn high-sulfur fuel, but it will cause the increase of the exhaust back pressure of main engine, which will affect the main engine’s performance and fuel consumption. At the same time, due to the large weight and size of the SCR reactor, the overall heat storage performance of the SCR reactor is large, which makes the temperature difference between the front and back of the turbine in the start-up and shutdown of the main engine and transient conditions, affecting the transient response performance of the turbine. In this paper, 6S46ME marine low-speed diesel engine and its high-pressure SCR system are taken as the research object, the co-simulation model is constructed by using GT-Suite coupled with a programming software, and the accuracy of the test model is verified. The influence of high-pressure SCR system on the performance of main engine is analyzed, and it finds that the fuel consumption of the main engine at low load increases significantly greater than that at high load, and the exhaust temperature of the main engine changes differently at different loads. On this basis, the co-simulation model was used to analyze the matching performance of high-pressure SCR system under the transient conditions such as the main engine Tier II/Tier III mode switching process, fast-loading, normal-loading and fast-unloading. The results show that the slow cut-in/cut-out of SCR reactor is beneficial to the stable operation of the main engine system, and the cut-in/cut-out time of high-pressure SCR system greatly affects the transient fuel consumption of the main engine, and the maximum increase of fuel consumption is about 3.6 g/kW·h; In addition, the thermal inertia of the reactor has a greater impact on the performance of the main engine at low load, but not at high load.
Is History the Same as Evolution? No. Is it Independent of Evolution? Certainly Not
Authors: Konner Melvin
Published: March 2022

History is full of violence and oppression within and between groups, and although group conflicts enhance within-group cooperation (mediated by oxytocin, which promotes parochial altruism) the hierarchy within groups ensures that spoils accrue very unevenly. Darwin suggested, and we now know, that sexual selection is as powerful as selection by mortality, and the main purpose of survival is reproduction. Male reproductive skew is greater than that among females in all societies, but the difference became much greater after the hunting-gathering era, and the rise of so-called “civilization” was everywhere a process of predatory expansion, producing kingdoms and empires where top males achieved astounding heights of reproductive success. This was shown by historical and ethnographic data now strongly confirmed by genomic science. Psychological research confirms that group identity, out-group stigmatization, leadership characterized by charisma, the will to power, narcissism, sociopathy, and cruelty, and followership characterized by hypnotic obedience, loss of individuality, and cruelty are integral parts of human nature. We can thank at least ten or twelve millennia of microevolutionary processes such as those described above, all more prominent in males than females. Followers in wars have faced a difficult risk-benefit analysis, but if they survived and won they too could increase their reproductive success through the rape and other sexual exploitation that have accompanied almost all wars. For modern leaders, social monogamy and contraception have separated autocracy from reproductive success, but only partly, and current worldwide autocratic trends still depend on the evolved will to power, obedience, and cruelty.
Self-Reported Listening Abilities in Educational Settings of Typically Hearing Children and Those Who Are Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing
Authors: Squires Bonita , Kay-Raining Bird Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

Children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (D/HH) learning in inclusive educational settings must be aware of how well they hear and understand spoken language to advocate for themselves. This study explored elementary-age children’s self-reported listening abilities using thematic analysis of brief interviews. Participants were 16 D/HH and 16 typically hearing (TH) 7- to 12-year-old monolingual English speakers in Canada. Children were asked about their ability to hear and understand the teacher, other students, and people in different environments. Findings showed surprising similarities across groups in terms of numbers of “no difficulty” responses and awareness of listening barriers related to speaker and environmental characteristics. Unsurprisingly, children who are D/HH were more likely to discuss hearing technologies and to attribute difficulties to their hearing abilities. Findings suggest that children who are D/HH with poor speech discrimination in noise abilities require support in developing awareness of and expressing difficulties with listening abilities.
Early Clinical Outcomes of Initial Launch of the Zenith Alpha Abdominal Endovascular Graft in Japan
Authors: Fujimura Naoki , Ichihashi Shigeo , Obara Hideaki , Asakura Toshihisa , Komooka Masatoshi , Onitsuka Seiji , Kurimoto Yoshihiko , Kato Hiroaki , Ohki Takao
Published: March 2022

Purpose:

This study retrospectively evaluated the 12-month outcomes of the Zenith Alpha Abdominal Endovascular graft (Zenith Alpha AAA, Cook, Inc, Bloomington, Indiana), which was launched partially in Japan in March 2019, starting with 9 selected sites.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed of all endovascular aneurysm repairs (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysms using the Zenith Alpha AAA. Late complications were defined as any aneurysm-related events occurring >30 days after EVAR, including an aneurysm sac enlargement of >5 mm and any reinterventions performed. Endoleaks without sac enlargement or reinterventions were excluded from late complications.

Results:

During the study period, 79 EVARs using the Zenith Alpha AAA were performed. The mean age was 76.6±6.9 years old, 91.1% of patients were male, and the mean aneurysm diameter was 51.1±7.5 mm. Instructions for use violation was observed in 27 patients (34.2%), most frequently being a severely angulated proximal neck (>60°). There were 4 intraoperative complications, including 2 unintentional partial renal artery coverages caused by the premature anchoring of the exposed suprarenal stent barb to the aortic wall, which was a result of the design change of the top cap deletion. Since it was a partial coverage without flow impairment and since renal stenting was unsuccessful, it was left untreated and had no subsequent renal function impairment. During the mean follow-up of 444±123 days, 74 patients completed 12 months of follow-up. Freedom from late complications at 12 months was 90.8%, which included 2 limb occlusions (2.5%). Of 71 patients with a 12-month computed tomography scan, there was only 1 type 1a endoleak (1.3%), 1 sac enlargement of >5 mm (1.3%), and an aneurysm sac shrinkage of >5 mm was observed in 42.2% of patients. There was no type 3 endoleak during the follow-up.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated that the new generation of low-profile Zenith Alpha AAA has satisfactory early clinical outcomes, comparable to those obtained with the conventional Zenith endovascular graft. Long-term follow-up is needed to determine whether these favorable outcomes persist.
Hemodynamic Study of Stanford Type B Aortic Dissection Based on Ex Vivo Porcine Aorta Models
Authors: Liang Shichao , Jia Heyue , Dong Huiwu , Li Zhenfeng , Zhou Guojing , Zhang Xuehuan , Chen Duanduan , Xiong Jiang
Published: March 2022

Background:

In this study, we aimed to evaluate hemodynamic influence of the dissected aortic system via various ex vivo type B aortic dissection (AD) models.

Methods:

Twenty-four raw porcine aortas were harvested and randomly divided into 4 groups to create various aortic models. Model A was the control group, while models B to D indicated the AD group, where models B and C presented a proximal primary entry with the false lumen (FL) lengths of 15 and 20 cm, respectively, and model D presented a 20 cm FL with a proximal primary entry and a distal reentry. All the aortic models were connected to a mock circulation loop to attain the realistic flow and pressure status. The flow distribution rate (FDR) of the aortic branches was calculated. Doppler ultrasound was applied to visualize the AD structure and to attain the velocity of flow in both the true and false lumens. Several sections of the AD were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histologic evaluation after the experiment.

Results:

This study demonstrated that higher pressures were found for the AD group compared with the control group. The mean systolic pressures at the inlet of models A to D were 113.34±0.81, 120.58±0.52, 117.76±0.82, and 115.87±0.42 mm Hg, respectively. The FDRs of the celiac artery in models A to D were 8.65%, 8.32%±0.15%, 7.87%±0.13%, and 8.03%±0.21%, respectively. By ultrasound visualization, the velocity of the flow at the entry to the FL in the AD group ranged in 10 to 92 cm/s. The dissection flap presented pulsatile movement, especially in the models B and C which contained 1 primary entry without distal reentries. Histological examinations indicated that AD was located between the intimal and medial layers.

Conclusions:

Our ex vivo models demonstrated that the configuration of the dissected aorta influenced the pressure distribution. Moreover, the dissection flap affected the FDR of the aortic branches that possibly inducing malperfusion syndrome.
A Labor of (Queer) Love: Maintaining “Cozy Wholesomeness” on Twitch During COVID-19 and Beyond
Authors: Youngblood Jordan
Published: March 2022

This article explores the idea of “cozy wholesomeness” in streaming on the Twitch platform through the example of an LGBTQ+ content creator, her partner, and her development of an ongoing domestic space which welcomed queer audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on a span of streams from November 2020 to January 2021, the article first seeks to define cozy wholesomeness as a streaming process that combines choice of game, style of streaming, and audience interest to form an experience driven by intimacy, sincerity, and active resistance to alt-right mentalities even as the concept itself potentially becomes a product or marketing hook. For this particular streamer, producing a supportive, active chat community driven by cozy wholesomeness inevitably collides with sustaining streaming as a profitable venture—a process compounded by Twitch’s own interest in commoditizing queer content as a way of displaying its own apparent diversity.
Nanocarriers Call the Last Shot in the Treatment of Brain Cancers
Authors: Mehrabian Amin , Mashreghi Mohammad , Dadpour Saba , Badiee Ali , Arabi Leila , Hoda Alavizadeh Seyedeh , Alia Moosavian Seyedeh , Reza Jaafari Mahmoud
Published: March 2022

Our brain is protected by physio-biological barriers. The blood–brain barrier (BBB) main mechanism of protection relates to the abundance of tight junctions (TJs) and efflux pumps. Although BBB is crucial for healthy brain protection against toxins, it also leads to failure in a devastating disease like brain cancer. Recently, nanocarriers have been shown to pass through the BBB and improve patients’ survival rates, thus becoming promising treatment strategies. Among nanocarriers, inorganic nanocarriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, liposomes, polymers, micelles, and dendrimers have reached clinical trials after delivering promising results in preclinical investigations. The size of these nanocarriers is between 10 and 1000 nm and is modified by surface attachment of proteins, peptides, antibodies, or surfactants. Multiple research groups have reported transcellular entrance as the main mechanism allowing for these nanocarriers to cross BBB. Transport proteins and transcellular lipophilic pathways exist in BBB for small and lipophilic molecules. Nanocarriers cannot enter via the paracellular route, which is limited to water-soluble agents due to the TJs and their small pore size. There are currently several nanocarriers in clinical trials for the treatment of brain cancer. This article reviews challenges as well as fitting attributes of nanocarriers for brain tumor treatment in preclinical and clinical studies.
Disasters as Ambivalent Multipliers: Influencing the Pathways from Disaster to Conflict Risk and Peace Potential Through Disaster Risk Reduction
Authors: Peters Laura E. R.
Published: March 2022

Disasters, including disaster-related activities, have been shown to precipitate, intensify, and lengthen violent conflicts, yet disasters have also demonstrated the potential to reduce violent conflict, encourage cooperation, and build peace. Disaster-conflict and disaster-peace literature has sought to establish causal and linear relationships, but research has not explored with the same rigour the causal mechanisms linking these phenomena in long-term processes of social–political change and how they are influenced by human actions and inactions. This research fills this gap by drawing on in-depth interviews with disaster risk reduction (DRR) professionals in 25 disaster- and conflict-affected countries in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa to analyse the pathways leading from disasters and disaster-related activities to violent conflict and peace. The findings highlight how these pathways can be deliberately swayed towards peace potential through DRR.
School Interrupted: Recovering Learning Losses Related to COVID-19
Authors: Wortham Donna G. , Forgety Grimm Loren
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic plunged education communities into an emergency mode of operation and challenged the pedagogic core of education. Schools across America suddenly lost access to everything essential to their daily educational practices, including face-to-face interactions with students. School administrators scrambled to devise remote learning plans, only to find those plans woefully susceptible to erupting inequities. As schools move into a recovery mode of teaching and learning, educators and policymakers have an opportunity to reimagine interventions to abate and negate learning losses.
HbA1c and Infection in Diabetic Elective Hand Surgery: A Veterans Affair Medical Center Experience 2012-2018
Authors: Coady-Fariborzian Loretta , Anstead Christy
Published: March 2022

Background:

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is an indicator of glucose control over a 3-month period. The plastic surgery service began screening HbA1c levels prior to surgery when a trend in infectious complications was noted in diabetics. We made a cutoff value of < 8% for elective hand surgery.

Methods:

The institutional review board approved a 7-year retrospective chart review (#201900402) 2012 through 2018 of our elective diabetic hand surgery cases. Data collected included: surgery, HbA1c levels within 3 months before surgery, glucose finger sticks day of surgery, and infectious complications up to 30 days after surgery. A Fisher exact test using a P value of < .05 and a logistic regression analysis using a P value of < .05 were used to determine statistical significance between infectious complications and screening.

Results:

In all, 848 cases were recorded in the data base. Infection complication rates before and after screening were not statistically significant ( P = .44). All major complications (3) requiring a return to the operating room involved surgery within the flexor sheath before screening was enforced. This was not statistically significant ( P = .25). The relative risk of an infectious complication involving the flexor sheath in unscreened patients was 3.66. A logistic regression analysis found no correlation with infectious complications based on the 3 variables of screening time ( P = .99), preoperative finger stick values ( P = .12), or HbA1c levels ( P = .29).

Conclusion:

The data did not support our guidelines for enforcing HbA1c cutoff levels prior to elective hand surgery. Consider enforcing levels < 8% when the flexor sheath may be violated.
On the Road Again: Return to Driving Following Minor Hand Surgery
Authors: Frazier Mary C. , Hackley Darren T. , Locklear Tonja M. , Badger Ariel E. , Apel Peter J.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Patient return-to-driving following minor hand surgery is unknown. Through daily text message surveys, we sought to determine return-to-driving after minor hand surgery and the factors that influence return-to-driving.

Methods:

One hundred five subjects undergoing minor hand surgery received daily text messaging surveys postoperatively to assess: (1) if they drove the day before and if so; (2) whether they wore a cast, sling, or splint. Additional patient-, procedure-, and driving-related data were collected.

Results:

More than half of subjects, 54 out of 105, returned to driving by the end of postoperative day #1. While patient-related factors had no effect on return-to-driving, significant differences were seen in anesthesia type, procedure laterality, driving assistance, and distance. Return-to-driving was significantly later for subjects who had general anesthetic compared to wide awake local anesthetic with no tourniquet (4 ± 4 days vs 1 ± 3 days, P = 0.020), as well as for bilateral procedures versus unilateral procedures (5 ± 5 days vs 1 ± 3 days, P = 0.046). Lack of another driver and driving on highways led to earlier return-to-driving ( P = 0.040 and, P = 0.005, respectively).

Conclusions:

Most patients rapidly return to driving after minor hand surgery. Use of general anesthetic and bilateral procedures may delay return-to-driving. Confidential real-time text-based surveys can provide valuable information on postoperative return-to-driving and other patient behaviors.
Stentrievers : An engineering review
Authors: Ahmed Syed Uzair , Chen Xiongbiao , Peeling Lissa , Kelly Michael E.
Published: March 2022

The advent of endovascular therapy for acute large vessel occlusion has revolutionized stroke treatment. Timely access to endovascular therapy, and the ability to restore intracranial flow in a safe, efficient, and efficacious manner has been critical to the success of the thrombectomy procedure. The stentriever has been a mainstay of endovascular stroke therapy, and current guidelines recommend the usage of stentrievers in the treatment of large vessel occlusion stroke. Despite the success of existing stentrievers, there continues to be significant development in the field, with newer stentrievers attempting to improve on each of the three key aspects of the thrombectomy procedure. Here, we elucidate the technical requirements that a stentriever must fulfill. We then review the basic variables of stent design, including the raw material and its form, fabrication method, geometric configuration, and further additions. Lastly, a selection of stentrievers from successive generations are reviewed using these engineering parameters, and clinical data is presented. Further avenues of stentriever development and testing are also presented.
Impact of aneurysm diameter, angulation, and device sizing on complete occlusion rates using the woven endobridge (WEB) device: Single center United States experience
Authors: Fortunel Adisson , Javed Kainaat , Holland Ryan , Ahmad Samuel , Haranhalli Neil , Altschul David
Published: March 2022

Background

The Woven EndoBridge device is a novel treatment option for wide-necked bifurcation intracranial aneurysms (WNBA). While this device has had good results, there remains a subset of WNBA that fail this treatment. The main objective of this study is to identify risk factors that are associated with incomplete occlusion of WEB treated aneurysms at short-term follow up.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 31 patients with intracranial aneurysms who were treated with WEB at a single institution in the USA in 2019–2021. Data was collected via chart review on patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics, procedural details, and occlusion status at six months follow up. Bivariate analyses were performed comparing completely occluded aneurysms with neck remnants and residual aneurysms.

Results

16 (52%) had completely occluded aneurysms while 11 (35%) patients had a neck remnant, and 4 (13%) patients had a residual aneurysm at follow up. Patients with neck remnants and residual aneurysms had aneurysms with a larger diameter. A large aneurysm diameter is an independent risk factor for incomplete occlusion (OR 4.23 95% CI 1.08–16.53 P value = 0.038). Patients with residual aneurysms had an average difference between the aneurysm width and WEB diameter of −0.08mm compared to 1.2 mm in patients with occluded aneurysms. 75% of patients with a residual aneurysm presented with a ruptured aneurysm. Lastly, more patients with a residual aneurysm had an immediate angiographic outcome of incomplete occlusion.

Conclusion

Larger aneurysms are at risk for incomplete occlusion status post WEB treatment. Larger, ruptured aneurysms with minimal difference in aneurysm and WEB diameter that fail to occlude immediately post-treatment are more likely to present as residual aneurysms at short-term follow up.
Predicting crowdfunding economic success in the gulf cooperation council
Authors: Abdeldayem Marwan M , Aldulaimi Saeed H
Published: March 2022

This study aims to analyze crowdfunding’s economic success in the Gulf region as the Crowdfunding (CF) experience and practice in this part of the world tend to be unexplored in terms of research. In particular, the study examines whether the adoption of entrepreneurial finance (EF) principles in crowdfunding platforms affects the economic success of funding and entrepreneurs’ ability in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to access financial resources. The study uses an online questionnaire survey on Crowdfunding economic success in the GCC to collect information from the participants. Participants are investors, entrepreneurs, and startups from five Gulf countries (i.e., Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and UAE) in addition to several Crowdfunding platforms commonly used by crowdfunders in this region (such as Indiegogo, Kickstarter, Eureeca, Beehive and GoFundMe) with total members (102964). Signaling theory and principle-agent theory combine to make a theoretical foundation that explains the relationship between funders and fundraisers. The pilot sample consisting of 10 units was used to validate and verify the research instrument of the study. The research sample consists of 1145 respondents (sample size n = 1145) selected randomly from the five Gulf countries included in the study. The findings reveal that CF’s presence positively impacts economic fundraising success and that crowdfunding platforms are an effective financial technology (Fintech) tool for financing entrepreneurs in the GCC. We conclude with recommendations for future EF and CF research. The findings of this study will have implications for improvements in practices of economic and finance. They may be used as a guide towards advancing the management and performance of the crowdfunding platforms in the Gulf region. Presently, a very few number of published research on crowdfunding exist in this region. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, there is no single study investigating crowdfunding as an alternative financing source in the GCC.
Variability of Glycemic Outcomes and Insulin Requirements Throughout the Menstrual Cycle: A Qualitative Study on Women With Type 1 Diabetes Using an Open-Source Automated Insulin Delivery System
Authors: Mewes Darius , Wäldchen Mandy , Knoll Christine , Raile Klemens , Braune Katarina
Published: March 2022

Background:

The impact of hormone dynamics throughout the menstrual cycle on insulin sensitivity represents a currently under-researched area. Despite therapeutic and technological advances, self-managing insulin therapy remains challenging for women with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods:

To investigate perceived changes in glycemic levels and insulin requirements throughout the menstrual cycle and different phases of life, we performed semi-structured interviews with 12 women with T1D who are using personalized open-source automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis with an inductive, hypothesis-generating approach.

Results:

Participants reported significant differences between the follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and also during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. All participants reported increased comfort and safety since using AID, but were still required to manually adjust their therapy according to their cycle. A lack of information and awareness and limited guidance by health care providers were frequently mentioned. Although individual adjustment strategies exist, achieving optimum outcomes was still perceived as challenging.

Conclusions:

This study highlights that scientific evidence, therapeutic options, and professional guidance on female health-related aspects in T1D are insufficient to date. Further efforts are required to better inform people with T1D, as well as for health care professionals, researchers, medical device manufacturers, and regulatory bodies to better address female health needs in therapeutic advances.
Development and Feasibility of a Multidisciplinary Approach to AKI Survivorship in Care Transitions: Research Letter
Authors: Barreto Erin F. , May Heather P. , Schreier Diana J. , Meade Laurie A. , Anderson Brenda K. , Rensing Megan E. , Ruud Kari L. , Kattah Andrea G. , Rule Andrew D. , McCoy Rozalina G. , Finnie Dawn M. , Herges Joseph R. , Kashani Kianoush B. ,   For the ACT Study Group
Published: March 2022

Background:

Acute kidney injury (AKI) survivors are at heightened risk for poor short- and long-term health outcomes. Even among those who recover after an AKI episode, the risk for chronic kidney disease is 4- to 6-fold higher than in patients without AKI, underscoring the importance of identifying methods to improve AKI survivorship.

Objective:

The purpose of this report was to describe the development and feasibility of a novel multidisciplinary approach to caring for AKI survivors at care transitions (ACT).

Design:

Observational process improvement initiative.

Setting:

Single academic medical center in the United States.

Patients:

The studied population was adults with stage 3 AKI not discharging on dialysis who were established with a primary care provider (PCP) at our institution.

Methods:

An electronic health record tool was developed prior to implementation to identify AKI survivors. The ACT program encompassed engaging patients in the hospital, delivering education by nephrology-trained nurses before discharge, completing recommended laboratory testing after discharge, and conducting structured kidney-focused follow-up with a pharmacist and a PCP within 7 to 14 days after discharge. Patients could be referred for nephrology evaluation at the discretion of the PCP.

Results:

Preliminary data demonstrated that most AKI survivors of interest could be identified, educated, and followed up with this model. This strategy appeared feasible, scalable, and maximized the unique expertise of each member of the multidisciplinary team.

Limitations:

Small sample size, future assessment of process, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes needed.

Conclusions:

The multidisciplinary ACT workflow supported by clinical decision support was feasible and addressed gaps in existing care transition models. Team-based care delivery in primary care appears to be a mechanism to extend the capacity for kidney health monitoring for AKI survivors.
A national teledentistry study on the knowledge, attitudes, training and practices of private dentists
Authors: Giraudeau Nicolas , Bauer Mathieu , Tramini Paul , Inquimbert Camille , Toupenay Steve
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Nationally examine the self-perceived knowledge, attitudes and practices of TeleDentistry (TD) among dentists in private practice in France.

Methods

A descriptive questionnaire-based survey was conducted nationwide from 10 November 2020 to 13 December 2020. The national scale survey was both anonymous and voluntary and was sent by the National Board of Dentists to 42,464 private dentists that were officially registered in France. The questionnaire included 36 questions divided into various sections: (i) general profile (gender, age range, and university, where respondents completed their dental studies), (ii) general knowledge of telemedicine, and (iii) familiarity with current regulations on telemedicine and activities that qualify as telemedicine.

Results

Only 57.1% of dentists in private practice stated that they had never heard nor knew about TD (n=2,887). Only 1.5% (n=76) stated they had attended a training module on telemedicine and/or TD during their studies at university. Only 1.3% (n=26) of dentists who practised a TD activity stated that they knew about telemedicine regulations. Only 65.7% (n=2,020) of those who had never practised and 74.8% (n=1,485) who had practised TD acknowledged that they would like to practice TD.

Conclusions

In conclusion, this study found a significant need for TD education and training as well as on regulations. It may be necessary in the future to ensure that all stakeholders in the field of dentistry work together to improve these two topics for dental practitioners. It is also worth noting that TD and telemedicine are public health tools and that they could provide inequitable access to medical care. However, TD must be implemented to decrease inequality and ensure it does not do the opposite.
Perspectives and experiences with COVID-19 vaccines in people with MS
Authors: Ciotti John R. , Perantie Dana C. , Moss Brandon P. , Fitzgerald Kathryn C. , Cohen Jeffrey A. , Mowry Ellen M. , Naismith Robert T. , Chahin Salim
Published: March 2022

Background

People with MS may have unique perspectives on COVID-19 vaccines due to their condition and/or medications.

Objective

Assess perspectives and experiences with COVID-19 vaccination, and quantify variables impacting COVID-19 vaccine willingness in people with MS.

Methods

A survey captured demographics, MS characteristics, and COVID-19 infection and exposures data; opinions on COVID-19 vaccine safety, side effects, and efficacy; and experiences following vaccination. Chi-square tests and a logistic regression model were used to denote between-group differences and variables predicting vaccine willingness, respectively.

Results

Most (87.8%) of the 237 participants were willing to receive the vaccine. Fifteen percent held or delayed a DMT dose for vaccination. MS symptoms worsened in a minority (7.6% first/only dose; 14.7% second dose), and most side effects were mild (80.0%; 55.3%). Those not planning to receive the vaccine were primarily concerned with long-term safety (70.4%). Medical comorbidities (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=5.222; p=0.04) and following infection prevention precautions (aOR=6.330; p=0.008) were associated with vaccine willingness.

Conclusion

Most individuals with MS surveyed plan to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. People with MS experience similar side effects to the general population, and few experience transient MS symptom worsening. These results can inform conversations on vaccination between providers and people with MS.
CloudRT: A Chinese example of open science infrastructure and services
Authors: Guan Ke , He Danping , Zhong Zhangdui
Published: March 2022

As the backbone of the open science campaign, open science infrastructures (OSIs) play an increasingly important role in scientific innovation and the digital transformation of society. Nevertheless, OSIs still have a range of issues to contend with, particularly as they move towards more openness and a sustainable future. In this paper, as a case study of OSIs in China, we present the experience of operating CloudRT—the first and only open-access cloud-native high-performance computing ray-tracing platform in the world. Quantitative analysis demonstrates how such an OSI can produce an interdisciplinary impact beyond expectations. Moreover, the value of CloudRT is also shown through its acknowledgement by participants across the whole innovation chain, from pure science and engineering to applications in vertical industries. Both inspirations from this practice and its open challenges are discussed. Suggestions are put forward to guide the future efforts of stakeholders to develop a fruitful OSI ecosystem.
Association of Perinatal Factors With Severe Obesity and Dyslipidemia in Adulthood
Authors: Tadese Kristene , Ernst Vivian , Weaver Amy L. , Thacher Tom D. , Rajjo Tamim , Kumar Seema , Kaufman Tara , Wi Chung-Il , Lynch Brian A.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Perinatal factors including gestational age, birthweight, size for gestational age, delivery route, maternal parity, maternal age, maternal education, socioeconomic status, race, and sex, are associated with the future risk of obesity and co-morbid conditions. This study evaluated the relationship of birthweight for gestational age and perinatal factors with severe obesity and dyslipidemia in adulthood.

Methods:

We conducted a population-based, retrospective birth cohort study of infants born to residents of Olmsted County, MN between 1976 and 1982. Outcomes were assessed after age 18 years until October 2020, including severe obesity (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) and dyslipidemia (total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL, non-high density lipoprotein [non-HDL] cholesterol ≥145 mg/dL or HDL cholesterol <40 mg/dL). We obtained mother’s age, education level, and parity as well as newborn sex, race, type of delivery, single/multiple birth, gestational age, and birthweight from birth certificate data. Individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) of the household at birth was determined with the HOUSES index.

Results:

Of 10 938 birth cohort subjects, 7394 had clinic visits after age 18 years and were included, with 2630 having severe obesity (n = 798) or dyslipidemia (n = 2357) as adults. In multivariable models, female sex, singleton birth, less maternal education, and lower SES defined by HOUSES were independently associated with an increased risk of severe obesity in adulthood. Non-white race, singleton birth, and lower birthweight were independently associated with adult dyslipidemia. Birthweight for gestational age was not associated with severe obesity or dyslipidemia.

Conclusion:

Perinatal factors were associated with both severe obesity and dyslipidemia in adulthood. Lower SES at birth was predictive of severe obesity in adulthood, highlighting the opportunity to investigate modifiable perinatal social determinants to reduce the risk of severe obesity.
Sustainability of Islamic Banking Human Resources Through the Formulation of an Islamic Accounting Curriculum for Higher Education: Indonesian Perspective
Authors: Muhammad Rifqi , Nugraheni Peni
Published: March 2022

The growth of Islamic banks in Indonesia has not been followed by the availability of competence human resources that meet professional qualifications. Higher education institutions are the large provider of human resources to fulfill the needs of Islamic financial industry. The aim of this study is to formulate the accounting curriculum development in Higher Education Institution (HEI) to fulfill the needs of human resources in Indonesian Islamic banking. This study is descriptive qualitative using instrumental and pragmatic paradigm to illustrate the need of accounting profession in Islamic banks and accounting curriculum formulation for HEI. The curriculum design places more Islamic basic knowledge and Islamic accounting in addition to accounting knowledge standards. The analysis of this study is expected to be able to create a link and match between the education institutions and the Islamic financial industry so that the human resources produced by educational institutions can be optimally absorbed by the Islamic financial industry. The study focuses in the development of the accounting and auditing curriculum for Islamic banking in higher education institutions in Indonesia.
The Link Between Team Identification, Entrepreneurial Orientation, and Innovative Work Behavior and Its Dimensions in the Context of Pakistan
Authors: Shahid Muhammad , Chaudhry Shafaq , Bilal Muhammad , Amber Hina , Aslam Shoaib , Malik Shumaila , Shahzad Khuram
Published: March 2022

This study examined the effects of team identification (TI) on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and innovative work behavior (IWB) and its dimension (idea exploration, idea generation, idea promotion, and idea implementation). In addition, this research also studied the mediating role of entrepreneurial orientation in the relationship between team identification and innovative work behavior and its dimension. Data ( n = 357) were collected from employees working in software companies of Pakistan by using a time lag research design. Results advocated that team identification was significantly associated with entrepreneurial orientation and innovative work behavior and its dimensions. Likewise, entrepreneurial orientation mediates the association of team identification and innovative work behavior and its dimensions. Thus, this study presents distinctive insight into team identification in the IT sector, how team identification impact on innovative work behavior of employees through entrepreneurial orientation.
A Comparison of Mental-Health Outcomes in the United States and Italy at Different Levels of Cumulative COVID-19 Prevalence
Authors: Mancini Anthony D. , Prati Gabriele
Published: March 2022

How does the prevalence of COVID-19 affect people’s mental health? In a preregistered study ( N = 857), we sought to answer this question by comparing demographically matched samples in four regions in the United States and Italy with different levels of cumulative COVID-19 prevalence. No main effect of prevalence emerged. Rather, prevalence region had opposite effects, depending on the country. New York City participants (high prevalence) reported more general distress, posttraumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and COVID-19 worry than San Francisco (low prevalence). Conversely, Campania participants (low prevalence) reported more general distress, PTSD symptoms, and COVID-19 worry than Lombardy (high prevalence). Consistent with these patterns, we found that COVID-19 worry was more strongly linked with general distress and PTSD symptoms in New York City than San Francisco, whereas COVID-19 worry was more strongly linked with PTSD in Campania than Lombardy. In exploratory analyses, media exposure predicted and mapped on to geographic variation in mental-health outcomes.
Return to Play and Performance After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in National Football League Players
Authors: Mody Kush S. , Fletcher Amanda N. , Akoh Craig C. , Parekh Selene G.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Considerable variability exists in return-to-play rates after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and reconstruction (ACLR) among National Football League (NFL) players of different positions.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to compare return-to-play and performance levels by position in NFL players after ACLR. It was hypothesized that (1) ACL injuries have significant effects on the careers of NFL players, including return to play and performance, and (2) players of certain positions that involve relatively less pivoting and cutting perform better after ACLR.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

All NFL players who underwent ACLR between 2013 and 2018 were identified using the FantasyData injury database. Player characteristics, snap count, games played, games started, and performance metrics were collected for 3 years before and after injury using the Pro Football Reference database. Performance was measured using an approximate value (AV) algorithm to compare performance across positions and over time. Nonparametric tests were used to compare the pre- and postinjury data and the percentage change in performance between different positions.

Results:

Overall, 312 NFL players were included in this study, and 174 (55.8%) returned to play. Of the eligible players, only 28.5% (n = 59/207) remained in the league 3 years postinjury. Within the first 3 years postinjury, players played in fewer games (8.7 vs 13.7; P < .0001), started in fewer games (3.0 vs 8.3; P < .0001), had lower AVs (1.5 vs 4.3; P < .0001), and had decreased snap counts (259.0 vs 619.0; P < .0001) compared with preinjury. Quarterbacks were most likely to return to play (92.9% vs 53.7%; P = .0040) and to return to performance (2% vs 50% decrease in AV; P = .0165) compared with the other positions. Running backs had the largest decrease in AV (90.5%), followed by defensive linemen (76.2%) and linebackers (62.5%).

Conclusion:

The study findings indicated that NFL players are severely affected by ACL injury, with only 28.5% still active in the league 3 years after the injury. Running backs, defensive linemen, and linebackers performed the worst after injury. Quarterbacks were most likely to return to play and had superior postinjury performance compared with the other positions.