bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electronically Monitored Youth: Stigma and Negative Social Functioning
Authors: Kotlaja Marijana M. , Wylie Lindsey E.
Published: March 2023

This study assesses how wearing an EM affects stereotype-consistent delinquent attitudes and cognitions, and whether feeling stigmatized for wearing an EM contributes to broader negative functioning for youth enrolled in an EM program. A total of 98 juveniles currently enrolled in an EM program were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: (a) Stigma Salience (prompted to think about and describe wearing an EM), and (b) Stigma Non-salience (prompted to think about and describe their day). As hypothesized, youth with greater personal and group stigma for wearing an EM, also reported greater negative experiences while wearing an EM. This research can inform evidence-based practitioners, academics, and policymakers considering and crafting regulations for youth on EM or consider alternatives to EM.
The Italian Americans’ pro-fascist lobby in the United States: Continuities and discontinuities with the liberal regime
Authors: Luconi Stefano
Published: March 2023

Studies have highlighted the role of fascism in shaping Italian immigrants in the United States and their progeny into a pressure group that influenced Washington's foreign policy to the benefit of Italy. That interpretation has drawn primarily on Italian Americans’ mobilization to prevent the US Congress from passing sanctions against Mussolini's regime during the Ethiopian War and to financially support that colonial venture. Yet, fascism initially hesitated to resort to Italian Americans’ lobbying potential. The exploitation of their political clout implied the newcomers’ acquisition of US citizenship and their children's disavowal of their parents’ nationality. This course of action apparently conflicted with the retention of the immigrants’ allegiance to the homeland and, consequently, met the opposition of Fascist ideologues in Italy and of leaders of the fasci in the United States. Furthermore, contrary to conventional scholarly wisdom, Mussolini's regime conceived nothing new when it urged Italian Americans to mobilize politically and forged them into a pro-Fascist lobby. Rather, it replicated a strategy that Vittorio Rolandi Ricci, the last Liberal ambassador in Washington, had already envisaged.
Choosing Where to Fight: Do Social Networks Distinguish American ISIS Foreign Fighters from ISIS-Inspired Terrorists?
Authors: Jensen Michael A. , Ferguson Neil , Kane Sheehan , LaFree Gary
Published: March 2023

Why did some American citizens choose to travel to fight in Syria and Iraq rather than engage in Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-inspired terrorism in the United States? We conducted a social network analysis (SNA) on a sample ( n = 224) of extremists who either plotted ISIS-inspired attacks within the United States or attempted to travel to Syria or Iraq to join the group between 2013-2020. We test how network size, network interconnectedness, and the importance of trusted network members impact the choice of American ISIS offenders to travel or plot terrorist attacks. Our results show that Americans were more likely to choose to travel to fight when they had access to large, dense networks that were embedded with trusted associates. Those without access to similar networks abandoned their preferences for foreign fighting and instead plotted attacks within the United States. The findings provide pertinent policy implications for countering violent extremism.
Completeness of Race and Ethnicity Reporting in Person-Level COVID-19 Surveillance Data, 50 States, April 2020–December 2021
Authors: Erickson Scott , Bokota Rachael , Doroshenko Christine , Lewandowski Kate , Osei Kojo , Flannery Kaeli , Dominguez Adrian
Published: March 2023

Objectives:

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color have borne a disproportionate incidence of COVID-19 cases in the United States. However, few studies have documented the completeness of race and ethnicity reporting in national COVID-19 surveillance data. The objective of this study was to describe the completeness of race and ethnicity ascertainment in person-level data received by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through national COVID-19 case surveillance.

Methods:

We compared COVID-19 cases with “complete” (ie, per Office of Management and Budget 1997 revised criteria) data on race and ethnicity from CDC person-level surveillance data with CDC-reported aggregate counts of COVID-19 from April 5, 2020, through December 1, 2021, in aggregate and by state.

Results:

National person-level COVID-19 case surveillance data received by CDC during the study period included 18 881 379 COVID-19 cases with complete ascertainment of race and ethnicity, representing 39.4% of all cases reported to CDC in aggregate (N = 47 898 497). Five states (Georgia, Hawaii, Nebraska, New Jersey, and West Virginia) did not report any COVID-19 person-level cases with multiple racial identities to CDC.

Conclusion:

Our findings highlight a high degree of missing data on race and ethnicity in national COVID-19 case surveillance, enhancing our understanding of current challenges in using these data to understand the impact of COVID-19 on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Streamlining surveillance processes to decrease reporting incidence and align reporting requirements with an Office of Management and Budget–compliant collection of data on race and ethnicity would improve the completeness of data on race and ethnicity for national COVID-19 case surveillance.
Water-bearing effect on mechanical properties and interface failure mode of coal–rock combination samples
Authors: Zhang Zhai-nan , Chi Xiao-lou , Yang Ke , Lyu Xin , Fu Qiang , Wang Yu
Published: March 2023

The coal and rock mass in water-rich mines with underground waterproof coal-and-rock pillars will be inevitably eroded by groundwater. The mechanical properties and interface failure mode of coal–rock mass under high-moisture conditions directly affect the mine stability and operation safety. This study performed uniaxial compression tests of samples from coal, rock, and their combination with different water contents, the evolution law of mechanical properties and acoustic emission (AE) damage characteristics of coal–rock combinations (C-RC) with different water contents were studied. The C-RC interface failure modes at different water contents were clarified. The results showed that the deterioration of average peak strength of coal, rock, and C-RC was obvious with increased water content. The deterioration degree in the descending order was as follows: C-RC > coal mass > rock mass. The maximum AE ringing number first increased rapidly and then sharply dropped, while the AE cumulative ringing number dropped slowly and then rapidly, reflecting the internal crack propagation patterns in C-RC. The failure mechanism of water-bearing C-RC was related to coal–rock strength ratio and the water-bearing effect of coal–rock interface. When the water-bearing state of C-RC changed from dry to saturated, the macro-failure mode showed the law of only coal fracture (0%)—minor fracture at the coal–rock interface (4%)—both coal and rock fracture (8%)—only coal fracture (12%). With increased water content, the water-bearing effect of C-RC interface gradually prevailed in the C-RC failure pattern.
The Performativity of AI-powered Event Detection: How AI Creates a Racialized Protest and Why Looking for Bias Is Not a Solution
Authors: Drage Eleanor , Frabetti Federica
Published: March 2023

This article builds a theoretical framework with which to confront the racializing capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered real-time Event Detection and Alert Creation (EDAC) software when used for protest detection. It is well-known that many AI-powered systems exacerbate social inequalities by racializing certain groups and individuals. We propose the feminist concept of performativity, as defined by Judith Butler and Karen Barad, as a more comprehensive way to expose and contest the harms wrought by EDAC than that of other “de-biasing” mechanisms. Our use of performativity differs from and complements other Social Studies of Science and Technology (STS) work because of its rigorous approach to how iterative, citational, and material practices produce the effect of race. We focus on Geofeedia and Dataminr, two EDAC companies that claim to be able to “predict” and “recognize” the emergence of dangerous protests, and show how their EDAC tools performatively produce the phenomena which they are supposed to observe. Specifically, we argue that this occurs because these companies and their stakeholders dictate the thresholds of (un)intelligibility, (ab)normality, and (un)certainty by which these tools operate and that this process is oriented toward the production of commercially actionable information.
Muslim Diasporas: An Examination of the Issues of the Second and Third Generation Muslims in Europe
Authors: Ghatas Ishak M.
Published: March 2023

This article studies the issues of the emerging second and third generations of post-war Muslim migrants in Europe. There has always been some presence of Muslims in Europe, but immigrants who came in the post-Second World War (WWII) period represent the majority of today's Muslim diasporas in Europe. They are referred to as the ‘first generation’. This division is made to distinguish between those who had moved permanently to a country other than their country of birth, from the second/third-generation immigrants referring to those who were born in Europe. This article explores issues of second and third-generation Muslims in Europe, contrasting and comparing them with their parents’ experiences. Family socialisation has significant effects supporting the effective transmission of religious identification, belief and practices to the next generation. The younger generations may receive a ‘transmitted package of heritage’ from the first generation, but they are not born in a vacuum, rather are exposed to a different mainstream cultural identity coming from the media, non-Muslim (The term non-Muslim refers to anyone who does not define himself as belonging to or practising the Islamic faith.) friends and educational institutions in the new environments. They are not expected to be just passive recipients. They try to relate to both heritages and negotiate in such a way as to maintain relations with family and achieve full European citizenship. For the younger generations in Europe, greater contact and exchange between the races and cultures is the key towards the future even if it is contested within their own community.
Artificial intelligence in public health: the potential of epidemic early warning systems
Authors: MacIntyre Chandini Raina , Chen Xin , Kunasekaran Mohana , Quigley Ashley , Lim Samsung , Stone Haley , Paik Hye-young , Yao Lina , Heslop David , Wei Wenzhao , Sarmiento Ines , Gurdasani Deepti
Published: March 2023

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate automated early warnings in epidemic surveillance by harnessing vast open-source data with minimal human intervention has the potential to be both revolutionary and highly sustainable. AI can overcome the challenges faced by weak health systems by detecting epidemic signals much earlier than traditional surveillance. AI-based digital surveillance is an adjunct to—not a replacement of—traditional surveillance and can trigger early investigation, diagnostics and responses at the regional level. This narrative review focuses on the role of AI in epidemic surveillance and summarises several current epidemic intelligence systems including ProMED-mail, HealthMap, Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources, BlueDot, Metabiota, the Global Biosurveillance Portal, Epitweetr and EPIWATCH. Not all of these systems are AI-based, and some are only accessible to paid users. Most systems have large volumes of unfiltered data; only a few can sort and filter data to provide users with curated intelligence. However, uptake of these systems by public health authorities, who have been slower to embrace AI than their clinical counterparts, is low. The widespread adoption of digital open-source surveillance and AI technology is needed for the prevention of serious epidemics.
History and philosophy of geography I: Heterodox progress, critical scepticism and intellectual voluminosity
Authors: Puente-Lozano Paloma
Published: March 2023

Amongst recent contributions to the field, this report detects ongoing and emergent topics within disciplinary histories and reflects on the evolving meaning of the ‘international’ character of geography as it has been conceived and practised over the years. A set of books on the long-standing efforts to internationalise the geographical community, and on the intellectual histories of critical geographies, constitute an outstanding resource for historical reflection and self-awareness. The report argues for further critical interrogation of how recent calls to pluralise, internationalise and radicalise the history and philosophy of geography interact with prevailing historiographical stances, sets of theories and philosophical moods.
Comparative Study of Different Condition Indices Using Michigan Department of Transportation’s Flexible Distress Data
Authors: Hasnat Mumtahin , Singh Rahul Raj , Kutay M. Emin , Bryce James , Haider Syed Waqar , Cetin Bora
Published: March 2023

The condition of a country’s roadway infrastructure significantly affects its economic development. Highway agencies that manage pavements often communicate their road network condition by using single or multiple composite condition indices. Each agency relies on its condition index to make maintenance decisions and perform budget allocation. Generally, these condition indices follow a similar level of the rating scale (100 to 0, where 100 denotes perfect condition). However, because of different numbers of distress inputs with different units, different severity levels, and different deduct points and mathematical formulas, condition indices are often incomparable. Consequently, research focused on comparing different distress indices using a highway agency’s pavement distress data is lacking. The objective of this study is to provide a comparative analysis of different condition indices using Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) flexible distress data, as part of an effort to develop a new index for Michigan. In this process, 2,081 flexible pavement sections were identified from MDOT’s Pavement Management System database, and five different condition indices were evaluated and compared against MDOT’s Distress Index. Comparison results were presented through scatter plots and statistical analysis results. MDOT’s maintenance records were also used to compare the ranges of magnitudes of various indices computed at the time when various types of maintenance activities took place. Finally, this study resulted in recommendations for selecting a new condition index and calibration needs of deduct points and equations.
Formation of Coordinated Alliance for China Railway Express Platforms Considering Logistics Cost Sharing
Authors: Wei Hairui , Wu Fan
Published: March 2023

Lack of coordination, mutual independence and disorderly competition among China Railway Express platforms gives rise to high logistics costs; in contrast, horizontal collaboration could form a pool of logistics resources with a scale effect to effectively reduce operating costs. This paper presents a methodology to build a coordinated alliance of China Railway Express platforms in a cost-sharing model. A hybrid approach is proposed, using the gravity model of cross-border logistics, variable-weighted Shapley value, cargo volume decision-making model, and cross-border logistics cost analysis model. Seven China Railway Express platforms in southwest China: Chengdu, Chongqing, Guiyang, Kunming, Liuzhou, Nanning and Zunyi, are selected as examples for empirical analysis. The results demonstrate that alliance is an effective way to control costs, however, issues of railway connectivity can lead to deflection of the optimal alliance and insufficient capacity can affect the stability of the alliance.
Sterilized and Satisfied: Outcomes of Childfree Sterilization Obtainment and Denials
Authors: Lemke Jillian , Mollen Debra , Buzolits Johanna Soet
Published: March 2023

As more women choose to forgo motherhood, childfree women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB) are important to study, particularly given pronatalist ideals that can make the choice not to have children difficult to exercise. Although temporary contraception prevents motherhood, physicians sometimes discourage or deny women access to more permanent options, including sterilization, due to their belief that childfree women and those AFAB will regret their decision. From a reproductive justice framework, we examined psychological outcomes of sterilization approval and denials among a sample of 154 childfree women and nonbinary people AFAB who sought and either obtained or were denied sterilization. Participants completed measures of psychological well-being, self-esteem, and sexual quality of life. Childfree participants who obtained sterilization reported higher self-esteem, better sexual quality, and higher well-being than childfree individuals who were denied the procedure. Neither age nor time since making the sterilization request accounted for the differences between the groups in terms of sexual quality of life and psychological well-being. Collectively, these findings offer the first empirical evidence of the potential outcomes among childfree women seeking sterilization.
Tolerability and Safety of Lacosamide in Neonatal Population
Authors: Bamgbose Olajumoke , Boyle Frances , Kean Adam C. , Stefanescu Beatrice M. , Wing Sarah
Published: March 2023

Lacosamide is a newer antiepileptic medication used in refractory neonatal seizures with limited safety and efficacy data. This case series spans 4 years and includes 38 neonates cared for in the neonatal, pediatric, and cardiovascular intensive care units, who received lacosamide for refractory seizures. Because lacosamide affects atrioventricular node function in adults, among other metrics, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes were monitored closely in these neonates. Within this cohort, 2 neonates were found to have atrial bigeminy on ECG and telemetry. Otherwise, lacosamide was generally well tolerated with sleepiness being the most common symptom noted. This case series reports data on the tolerability of lacosamide and emphasizes the importance of monitoring key cardiac intervals with ECG before and after the use of lacosamide in this population.
Electrosynthesis of silver metallonanocomposites in the 1-vinyl-1.2.4-triazole copolymer matrix with methacrylic acid
Authors: Sargsyan SH , Sargsyan AS , Khizantsyan KM , Aghajanyan IG , Sargsyan TS , Margaryan KS , Pompella A
Published: March 2023

Silver nanocomposites were synthesized by the electrochemical method in the matrix of a copolymer of 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole with methacrylic acid, by combining the process of electrochemical polymerization with cathodic precipitation of metals on metal electrodes. In the electronic spectra of nanocomposites, absorption bands appear with a maximum in the region of 417–421 nm, which is typical for systems with zero valence silver. The IR spectra show that the polymer structure hardly changes during the formation of nanocomposites and films. The presence of silver in the amorphous polymer phase is indicated by the results of X-ray diffraction studies. The silver content in nanocomposites is 0–9%, which leads to an increase in the viscosity of nanocomposite solutions compared to solutions of the initial copolymers. Transmission electron microscopy data show that the synthesized nanocomposites consist of particles with a diameter of 1–12 nm, predominantly spherical.
Ethics and frontline nursing during COVID-19: A qualitative analysis
Authors: O’Mathúna Dónal , Smith Julia , Zadvinskis Inga M , Monturo Cheryl , Kelley Marjorie M , Tucker Sharon , Miller Pamela S , Norful Allison A , Zellefrow Cindy , Chipps Esther
Published: March 2023

Background

Nurses experienced intense ethical and moral challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our 2020 qualitative parent study of frontline nurses’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic identified ethics as a cross-cutting theme with six subthemes: moral dilemmas, moral uncertainty, moral distress, moral injury, moral outrage, and moral courage. We re-analyzed ethics-related findings in light of refined definitions of ethics concepts.

Research aim

To analyze frontline U.S. nurses’ experiences of ethics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research design

Qualitative analysis using a directed content methodology.

Participants and research context

The study included 43 nurses from three major metropolitan academic medical centers and one community hospital in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic, midwestern, and western United States.

Ethical considerations

Participant privacy and data confidentiality were addressed.

Findings

Moral dilemmas arose from many situations, most frequently related to balancing safety and patient care. Moral uncertainty commonly arose from lacking health information or evidence about options. Moral distress occurred when nurses knew the right thing to do, but were prevented from doing so, including with end-of-life issues. Moral injury (accompanied by suffering, shame, or guilt) occurred after doing, seeing, or experiencing wrongdoing, often involving authority figures. Nurses expressed moral outrage at events and people within and outside healthcare. Despite difficult ethical situations, some nurses exemplified moral courage, sometimes by resisting policies they perceived as preventing compassionate care, guided by thinking about what was best for patients.

Discussion

This content analysis of ethics-related subthemes revealed conceptual characteristics and clarified distinctions with corresponding exemplars. Conceptual clarity may inform responses and interventions to address ethical quandaries in nursing practice.

Conclusions

Ethics education in nursing must address the moral dilemmas of pandemics, disasters, and other crises. Nurses need time and resources to heal from trying to provide the best care when no ideal option was available.
Identification of common pathway and hub genes in the degeneration of both annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus in intervertebral disc
Authors: Zhang Linyuan , Cui Xu , Huang Haohan
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the common pathways and hub genes related to oxidative stress (OS) and autophagy of both annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) based on the data obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.

Methods

The Gene expression data for human intervertebral discs was obtained from the GEO database, including the AF and NP of both non-degenerated disc and degenerated disc. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the limma package in R language. DEGs related to OS and autophagy were obtained using Gene Ontology (GO) database. Analyses of the GO, signaling pathways, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, and hub genes were performed using AnnotationDbi package, DAVID, GSEA, STRING database, and Cytoscape software, respectively. Finally, the online tool of NetworkAnalyst and the Drug Signatures database (DSigDB) were used to screen for transcriptional factors and potential drugs of the hub genes.

Results

There were 908 genes associated with OS and autophagy found. A total of 52 DEGs were identified, included five upregulated and 47 downregulated genes. These DEGs were mainly involved in mTOR signaling pathway and the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway. The top 10 hub genes were CAT, GAPDH, PRDX1, PRDX4, TLR4, GPX7, GPX8, MSRA, RPTOR, GABARAPL1. Besides, FOXC1, PPARG, RUNX2, JUN, and YY1 were identified as the key regulatory factors of hub genes. L-cysteine, oleanolic acid, and berberine were potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of IDD.

Conclusions

Common hub genes, signaling pathways, transcription factors, and potential drugs associated with OS and autophagy were identified, which provides significant basis for further mechanism research and drug screening of IDD.
Improvements (or not!) in the hand trajectory of stroke patients due to practice of a virtual game
Authors: Passos Pedro , Diniz Ana , Galvão Silveira Fernandes Aline Braga , Oliveira dos Passos Jacilda , Dantas de Macedo Borges Lorenna Raquel , Campos Tania Fernandes
Published: March 2023

Movement trajectories contain important spatio-temporal information to characterise human activities that require displacements (eg grasp an object). A trajectory (dis)similarity measure is highly relevant in trajectory data analysis. The main purpose of this study was to develop a running version of the Procrustes Method to quantify dissimilarity between trajectories along time, as a method that can be used in further research. Empirical data was used to quantify changes in stroke patients’ movements in a daily life task (drinking water) after participating in a combined rehabilitation program (virtual reality plus conventional therapy). Results of the simulation study reflected the reliability of the Running Procrustes Method to quantify the dissimilarity between trajectories continuously over time. For the empirical data, this method identified critical parts of the drinking water task, providing information that might suggest beneficial effects of the combined program in stroke patients’ daily life tasks.
Phytochemical screening and antibacterial assessment of two macroalgae Ulva papenfussi and Ulva nematoidea (Chlorophyta) against the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus
Authors: Vargas Cárdenas Jessie , Chávez Pérez Jorge , Martínez Ordinola Nancy , Soto Rodríguez Ivan , Brito Luis Otavio , Peixoto Silvio Ricardo Maurano , Galvez Alfredo Olivera
Published: March 2023

This study was conducted to determine whether the macroalgae Ulva papenfussi and Ulva nematoidea could be alternatives for preventing Litopenaeus vannamei vibriosis caused by the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Phytochemical screening was performed on methanolic extracts to qualitatively determine the main groups of bioactive compounds, previous to an in vitro antibacterial test against V. parahaemolitycus. Phenols, polyphenols, flavonoids, and the high presence of carbohydrates were found in both macroalgae. U. papenfussi showed more presence of lipids and alkaloids than U. nematoidea. Macroalgae extracts prepared (v:v) with a 1:1 methanol: dichloromethane solvent was used for the in vitro test using the disc diffusion method (MDD). Filter paper discs impregnated with 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mg of the extracts showed antibacterial activity against V. Parahaemolitycus in a dose-dependent manner in both macroalgae. The inhibition zone varied significantly ( p < 0.05) from 8.33 ± 0.12 to 11.41 ± 0.73 mm for 1 to 3 mg of extract levels, respectively. In conclusion, both macroalgae have antibacterial activity in their crude extracts against this bacteria. It is suggested to evaluate it as a feed additive for L. vannamei. This study is the first report on a phytochemical screening and antibacterial activity of these macroalgae against V. parahaemolyticus.
UltraSound guided PEripheral Catheterization increases first-atTempt success RAte in hospitalized patients when compared with conventional technique: SPECTRA - Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Hansel Leandro Augusto , Junges Marina , Santos Marina Scherer , Hirakata Vânia Naomi , do Nascimento Rodrigo Ceratti , Czerwinski Gabriela Petró Valli , Saffi Marco Aurélio Lumertz , Ferro Eduarda Bordini , Jacobsen Daniele Volkmer , Rabelo-Silva Eneida Rejane
Published: March 2023

Background:

Peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) insertion is the most common invasive procedure in the hospital setting. Ultrasound guided PIVC insertion in specific populations and settings has shown patient care benefits.

Objective:

To compare the success rate of first attempts of ultrasound guided PIVC insertion performed by nurse specialists with conventional PIVC insertion performed by nurse assistants.

Method:

Randomized, controlled, single-center clinical trial registered on the ClinicalTrials.gov platform under registration NTC04853264, conducted at a public university hospital from June to September 2021. Adult patients hospitalized in clinical inpatient units with an indication for intravenous therapy compatible with a peripheral venous network were included. Participants in the intervention group (IG) received ultrasound guided PIVC performed by nurse specialists from the vascular access team, while those in the control group (CG) received conventional PIVC by nurse assistants.

Results:

The study included a total of 166 patients: IG ( n = 82) and CG ( n = 84), mean age 59.5 ± 16.5 years, mostly women ( n = 104, 62.7%) and white ( n = 136, 81.9%). Success rate on the first attempt of PIVC insertion in IG was 90.2% and in CG was 35.7% ( p < 0.001), with a relative risk of 2.5 (95% CI 1.88–3.40) for success in IG versus CG. Overall assertiveness rate was 100% in IG and 71.4% in CG. Regarding procedure performance time, the medians in IG and CG were 5 (4–7) and 10 (6–27.5) min respectively ( p < 0.001). As for the incidence of negative composite outcomes, IG had lower rates compared to CG, 39% versus 66.7% ( p < 0.001), generating a 42% lower probability of negative outcomes in IG, 0.58 (95% CI: 0.43–0.80).

Conclusion(s):

Successful first-try insertion was higher in the group receiving ultrasound-guided PIVC. Moreover, there were no insertion failures and IG presented lower insertion time rates and incidence of unfavorable outcomes.
The impact of vascular access satisfaction on health-related quality of life in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis: A 2-year follow-up study
Authors: Wu Min , Li Meng-Ting , Zhang Liu-Ping , Wei Dong , Han Yu-Chen , Gao Min
Published: March 2023

Background:

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been demonstrated to predict mortality in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Vascular access (VA) is critical for MHD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the change in HRQoL among MHD patients with a 2-year follow-up and to explore the impact of VA satisfaction on HRQoL in this population.

Methods:

229 MHD patients in two dialysis centers were included in this observational prospective study. VA satisfaction was assessed using the Vascular Access Questionnaire (VAQ). The 36 Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire was employed to evaluate HRQoL scores. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the influencing factors of HRQoL.

Results:

A total of 229 MHD patients were enrolled in the study, and 198 individuals (86.46%) completed the 2-year follow-up. HRQoL decreased statistically significantly from baseline to the 2-year follow-up across all dimensions. Multivariable analyses showed that the overall score, social functioning score, dialysis-related complication score of VAQ influenced HRQoL in the study population. Furthermore, HRQoL total scores and scores on the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) domains were significantly higher in the satisfied VA group than in the dissatisfied group at baseline. After the 2-year follow-up, patients with a higher level of VA satisfaction reported higher HRQoL than patients with lower VA satisfaction.

Conclusion:

Our data suggested that VA satisfaction was significantly associated with HRQoL in MHD patients. These findings imply that surgeons and nephrologists should incorporate patient satisfaction into VA surgical decision-making.
Do different wiping techniques in phlebotomy have an effect on vessel visibility, procedural success, and phlebotomy-related complications?
Authors: Korkut Sevda , Ülker Türkan , Güler Sevil , Gürsoy Şebnem
Published: March 2023

Background:

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different wiping techniques used in phlebotomy on vein visibility, procedural success, and phlebotomy-related complications.

Materials and methods:

This single-center, comparative, randomized study was conducted with 90 patients in the internal medicine clinic of a tertiary hospital. During the phlebotomy procedure, the phlebotomy site was wiped with circular technique in the Group-I, vertical technique in the Group-II, and vertical + circular technique in the Group-III.

Results:

There was a significant difference between the three groups in terms of vein visibility after wiping of the phlebotomy site ( p < 0.05). The time spent for blood sampling was shorter in the Groups I and II ( p > 0.05). In the 3-day follow-up after the blood sample was taken, the ecchymosis and hematoma rates of the groups were similar ( p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Vertical wiping and vertical + circular wiping techniques used in the cleaning of the phlebotomy site increased the visibility of the vein compared to only circular wiping. The time spent for blood sampling was shorter in the vertical wiping and vertical + circular wiping groups.
Under New Management: Transplanted GABAergic Progenitors Control Adult Neurogenesis
Authors: Buchanan Gordon F.
Published: March 2023

[Box: see text]
The significance of Th1,Th2,Th17and treg cells in the prediction and evaluation of ulcerative colitis
Authors: Zhang Yu , Shi Wei , Cao Gaigai , Li Jingru , Wang Haijiao , Hao Chonghua
Published: March 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate clinical significance of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Tregs proportions in predicting and evaluating UC.

Methods

A total of 101 UC patients diagnosed by the Department of Gastroenterology of the Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital were recruited. This is a retrospective study. The proportions of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Tregs in the peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry.

Results

The proportions of Th1, Th2 and Th17 cell in UC patients were higher than healthy controls ( p < 0.001); The area under the curve (AUC) values of Th1, Th1/Treg and Th17/Treg were all >0.900 in predicting UC ( p < 0.001), with the cut off values being 15.25%, 4.885 and 0.425, respectively. In addition, Th1, Th17, Treg, Th17/Treg, Th2/Treg, Th1/Treg and Th17/Treg were statistically significant among the mild to severe group ( p < 0.05). The percentage of Treg cells was negatively correlated with Mayo Score, while the percentages of Th17 cell, Th17/Treg, Th1/Treg, Th2/Treg were positively correlated with Mayo score ( p < 0.05). Notably, Th17/Treg was closely related to Mayo score (r = 0.513, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The dysregulation of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Tregs is a significant phenomena of immune disorder in UC, and these auxiliary indicators correlate with increased disease severity. The analysis of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Tregs possesses certain clinical significance in the prediction and evaluation of UC.
‘It’s a few weeks I’ll cherish forever’: Transformative curriculum-specific learning, language awareness and cultural literacy development for Australian students in Vietnam through New Colombo Plan mobility programs
Authors: Tran Ly Thi , Bui Huyen
Published: March 2023

Despite a range of internationalisation efforts at the government and institutional levels, Vietnam remains on the periphery of the existing scholarship on international education, especially inbound mobility. Drawing on interviews with 38 participants, this article provides insights into how Australian students arrive at a comparative, international perspective in their field of study and develop Vietnamese cultural literacy during their short-term mobility to Vietnam. The study also brings to the fore the hindrances, in particular language barrier, facing Australian students in mobility programs. The article points out how the New Colombo Plan can play an important role in raising the awareness of the value of learning an Asian language like Vietnamese and enriching Vietnamese cultural literacy among young Australians. It concludes with practical recommendations for incorporating the development of regional languages and cultural literacy in learning abroad programs.
Project SAPPORO (StAff prescription – bluPORt optimization): Quality improvement report on the expanded use of secured medication lockers for hospital staff during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Neo Zhi Yang , Foo Elston Sheng Kai , Ng Li Xian , Poh Yao Hui
Published: March 2023

Background

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Pharmacy department set up a novel 24-h medication locker service in November 2019 to serve hospital staff on work shifts who were unable to collect medication within the pharmacy operating hours. However, the initial uptake rate was modest.

Objectives

Primary objective was to increase the daily locker service uptake by staff from five lockers to 42 lockers (100%) in 6 months, starting from June 2020. Secondary objectives include exploring the cost savings and impact of the locker service on the pharmacy’s operational efficiency, as well as compare the medication collection experience of hospital staff using the locker service and in the pharmacy.

Methods

FOCUS-PDSA was the adopted QI methodology. Two Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were used to implement the final identified solutions. PDSA cycle one focused on improving publicity and educational efforts. PDSA cycle two then focused on expanding the service to include the entire hospital campus staff and setting up a self-registration booth at the pharmacy entrance.

Results

The primary objective of achieving 100% locker utilization was attained in October 2020, with daily average service uptake rate increasing from 12.6 at baseline to 49.8 by the end of PDSA cycle 2. Annual pharmacist manpower savings of 0.88 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) was also achieved. Locker service users gave a higher average satisfaction score compared to those who collected from the pharmacy.

Conclusion

Project SAPPORO successfully increased the daily locker service, providing hospital campus staff with increased convenience and positive medication collection experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Involvement in Chemotherapy Decision Making among Patients with Stage II and III Colon Cancer
Authors: Austin Jessica D. , Shelton Elizabeth , Crookes Danielle M. , Tehranifar Parisa , Neugut Alfred I. , Shelton Rachel C.
Published: March 2023

Background. To explore preferred and actual involvement in chemotherapy decision making among stage II and III colon cancer (CC) patients by sociodemographic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal communication factors. Methods. Cross-sectional exploratory study collecting self-reported survey data from stage II and III CC patients from 2 cancer centers located in northern Manhattan. Results. Of 88 patients approached, 56 completed the survey. Only 19.3% reported shared involvement in their chemotherapy decisions. We observed significant differences in preferred involvement by gender, with women preferring more physician-controlled decisions. CC patients with higher levels of decisional self-efficacy significantly preferred shared decisions ( F = 4.4 [2], P = 0.02). Actual involvement in decisions differed by race (physician controlled 33% for White v. 67% for Other, P < 0.01), age (shared control 18% for ≤55 y, 55% for 55–64 y, and 27% for 65+ y, P = 0.04), and perception of choice (shared control 73% “yes” v. 27% “no,” P = 0.02). Actual or preferred involvement did not differ by stage. Significantly higher levels of medical mistrust (discrimination t = 2.8 [50], P = 0.01; lack of support t = 3.6 [49], P < 0.01), and lower levels of decisional self-efficacy ( t = 2.5 [49], P = 0.01) were reported among women. Discussion. Reports of shared involvement around chemotherapy decisions is limited among CC patients. Factors influencing preferred versus actual chemotherapy decision making are complex and may differ; hence, more research is needed to understand and address factors contributing to discordance between preferred and actual involvement in chemotherapy decision making for CC patients.

Highlights

Shared involvement around chemotherapy decisions remains limited for patients diagnosed with colon cancer. Sociodemographic (age, race, gender), interpersonal (medical mistrust), and intrapersonal (decisional self-efficacy, perception of choice) factors that influence preferred involvement in chemotherapy decision making may differ from those influencing actual involvement in chemotherapy decision making. Shared involvement in chemotherapy decisions may look different than currently conceptualized, notably when uncertainty around the benefits exists.
LGBTQ+ Healthcare Teaching in UK Medical Schools: An Investigation into Medical Students’ Understanding and Preparedness for Practice
Authors: Barber Alice , Flach Alexander , Bonnington Jack , Pattinson Emily M
Published: March 2023

OBJECTIVES

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans* and queer/questioning + (LGBTQ+) healthcare teaching within UK medical schools is currently lacking, potentially impacting on patients’ confidence in health services and ability to access care. The current study conducted a multi-site analysis aiming to investigate medical students' perceptions towards the teaching of LGBTQ+ healthcare in UK medical schools, as well as to gain a greater understanding of medical students’ level of knowledge of LGBTQ+ healthcare, and preparedness for working with LGBTQ+ patients.

METHODS

Medical students (N = 296) from 28 UK institutions responded to a 15-question online survey distributed via course leads and social media. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was conducted, as well as statistical analysis of quantitative data using SPSS.

RESULTS

Only 40.9% of students reported having any teaching on LGBTQ+ healthcare, 96.6% of whom said this was one-off or very irregular sessions. Only 1 in 8 felt their knowledge and skills on LGBTQ+ healthcare was sufficient. 97.2% of students questioned wanted more knowledge on LGBTQ+ healthcare.

CONCLUSION

The current study highlighted that UK medical students felt underprepared for working with LGBTQ+ patients due to insufficient education. Given that teaching on LGBTQ+ healthcare is often optional and extra-curricular, it may not be reaching those who need it most. The authors are calling for the mandatory inclusion of LGBTQ+ healthcare in the teaching of all UK medical schools, within their individual curriculum frameworks, and with regulatory support from the General Medical Council. This will ensure a wider understanding among medical students, and subsequently qualified doctors, of the health inequities and unique health issues LGBTQ+ people face, which will better equip them to provide high-quality care to LGBTQ+ patients, and start to tackle the inequities they face.
Identification and validation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte-related prognosis signature for predicting prognosis and immunotherapeutic response in bladder cancer
Authors: Li Canxuan , Xie Weibin
Published: March 2023

Background

It has been discovered that tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are essential for the emergence of bladder cancer (BCa). This study aimed to research TIL-related genes (TILRGs) and create a gene model to predict BCa patients' overall survival.

Methods

The RNA sequencing and clinical data were downloaded from the TGCA and GEO databases. Using Pearson correlation analysis, TILRGs were evaluated. Moreover, hub TILRGs were chosen using a comprehensive analysis. By dividing the TCGA-BCa patients into different clusters based on hub TILRGs, we were able to explore the immune landscape between different clusters.

Results

Here, we constructed a model with five hub TILRGs and split all of the patients into two groups, each of which had a different prognosis and clinical characteristics, TME, immune cell infiltration, drug sensitivity, and immunotherapy responses. Better clinical results and greater immunotherapy sensitivity were seen in the low-risk group. Based on five hub TILRGs, unsupervised clustering analysis identify two molecular subtypes in BCa. The prognosis, clinical outcomes, and immune landscape differed in different subtypes.

Conclusions

The study identifies a new prediction signature based on genes connected to tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, providing BCa patients with a new theoretical target.
Whole-genome sequencing analysis of two heat-evolved Escherichia coli strains
Authors: McGuire Bailey E. , Nano Francis E.
Published: March 2023

Background

High temperatures cause a suite of problems for cells, including protein unfolding and aggregation; increased membrane fluidity; and changes in DNA supercoiling, RNA stability, transcription and translation. Consequently, enhanced thermotolerance can evolve through an unknown number of genetic mechanisms even in the simple model bacterium Escherichia coli. To date, each E. coli study exploring this question resulted in a different set of mutations. To understand the changes that can arise when an organism evolves to grow at higher temperatures, we sequenced and analyzed two previously described E. coli strains, BM28 and BM28 ΔlysU, that have been laboratory adapted to the highest E. coli growth temperature reported to date.

Results

We found three large deletions in the BM28 and BM28 ΔlysU strains of 123, 15 and 8.5 kb in length and an expansion of IS10 elements. We found that BM28 and BM28 ΔlysU have considerably different genomes, suggesting that the BM28 culture that gave rise to BM28 and BM28 ΔlysU was a mixed population of genetically different cells. Consistent with published findings of high GroESL expression in BM28, we found that BM28 inexplicitly carries the groESL bearing plasmid pOF39 that was maintained simply by high-temperature selection pressure. We identified over 200 smaller insertions, deletions, single nucleotide polymorphisms and other mutations, including changes in master regulators such as the RNA polymerase and the transcriptional termination factor Rho. Importantly, this genome analysis demonstrates that the commonly cited findings that LysU plays a crucial role in thermotolerance and that GroESL hyper-expression is brought about by chromosomal mutations are based on a previous misinterpretation of the genotype of BM28.

Conclusions

This whole-genome sequencing study describes genetically distinct mechanisms of thermotolerance evolution from those found in other heat-evolved E. coli strains. Studying adaptive laboratory evolution to heat in simple model organisms is important in the context of climate change. It is important to better understand genetic mechanisms of enhancing thermotolerance in bacteria and other organisms, both in terms of optimizing laboratory evolution methods for various organisms and in terms of potential genetic engineering of organisms most at risk or most important to our societies and ecosystems.