bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic and Prognostic Significance of Arachidonic Acid in Heart Failure
Authors: Ma Ke , Yang Jie , Shao Yihui , Li Ping , Guo Hongchang , Wu Jianing , Zhu Yi , Zhang Hui , Zhang Xu , Du Jie , Li Yulin
Published: March 2022

Background:

Accurate prediction of death is an unmet need in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (HF). Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites play an important role in the multiple pathophysiological processes. We aimed to develop an AA score to accurately predict mortality in patients with acute decompensated HF and explore the causal relationship between the AA predictors and HF.

Methods:

The serum AA metabolites was measured in patients with acute decompensated HF (discovery cohort n=419; validation cohort n=386) by mass spectroscopy. We assessed the prognostic importance of AA metabolites for 1-year death using Cox regression and machine learning approaches. A machine learning-based AA score for predicting 1-year death was created and validated. We explored the mechanisms using transcriptome and functional experiments in a mouse model of early ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Results:

Among the 27 AA metabolites, elevated 14,15-DHET/14,15-EET ratio was the strongest predictor of 1-year death (hazard ratio, 2.10,
P
=3.1×10
−6
). Machine learning-based AA score using a combination of the 14,15-DHET/14,15-EET ratio, 14,15-DHET, PGD2, and 9-HETE performed best (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.85). The machine learning-based AA score provided incremental information to predict mortality beyond BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide; ΔAUC: 0.19), clinical score (ΔAUC: 0.09), and preexisting Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry, Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure, and Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure scores (ΔAUC: 0.17, 0.17, 0.15, respectively). In the validation cohort, the AA score accurately predicted mortality (AUC:0.81). False-negative and false-positive findings, as classified by the BNP threshold, were correctly reclassified by the AA score (46.2% of false-negative and 84.5% of false-positive). In a murine model, the expression and enzymatic activity of sEH (soluble epoxide hydrolase) increased after myocardial infarction. Genetic deletion of sEH improved HF and the blockade of 14,15-EET abolished this cardioprotection. We mechanistically revealed the beneficial effect of 14,15-EET by impairing the activation of monocytes/macrophages.

Conclusions:

Our studies propose that the AA score predicts death in patients with acute decompensated HF and inhibiting sEH serves as a therapeutic target for treating HF.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04108182.
Disparities in Stroke: Associating Socioeconomic Status With Long‐Term Functional Outcome After Mechanical Thrombectomy
Authors: Nguyen Anh V. Tran , Cortez Gustavo M. , Aghaebrahim Amin , Sauvageau Eric , Hanel Ricardo A.
Published: March 2022

Background

Socioeconomic status is regarded as a significant predictor of poor outcomes after ischemic stroke. However, there is sparse evidence of its effect in patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy. This study aimed to explore the effect of socioeconomic status on long‐term functional outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy.

Methods

A retrospective, self‐adjudicated, single‐center study comparing favorable and unfavorable functional outcomes through risk factors, demographic factors, and neighborhood socioeconomic status was performed. Functional outcome was defined by modified Rankin scale scores evaluated at 90 days after thrombectomy.

Results

Factors that were independently associated with favorable functional outcome included age (odds ratio [OR], 0.97; 95% CI, 0.96–0.98 [
P
<0.001]), baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.92–0.97 [
P
<0.001]), baseline modified Rankin scale scores (OR, 3.02; 95%CI, 1.46–6.25 [
P
=0.003]), ischemic core size at presentation (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26–0.84 [
P
=0.011]), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.14–0.66 [
P
=0.003]), puncture‐to‐recanalization time (OR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98–1.00 [
P
=0.007]), median income based on zip code (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00–1.02 [
P
=0.016]), and final modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (OR, 6.05; 95% CI, 2.23–16.08 [
P
<0.001]).

Conclusions

Patients from zip codes with higher median income who achieved successful reperfusion during mechanical thrombectomy were more likely to achieve a long‐term favorable functional outcome.
Annotation Curricula to Implicitly Train Non-Expert
Annotators
Authors: Lee Ji-Ung , Klie Jan-Christoph , Gurevych Iryna
Published: March 2022

Annotation studies often require annotators to familiarize themselves with the task, its annotation scheme, and the data domain. This can be overwhelming in the beginning, mentally taxing, and induce errors into the resulting annotations; especially in citizen science or crowdsourcing scenarios where domain expertise is not required. To alleviate these issues, this work proposes annotation curricula, a novel approach to implicitly train annotators. The goal is to gradually introduce annotators into the task by ordering instances to be annotated according to a learning curriculum. To do so, this work formalizes annotation curricula for sentence- and paragraph-level annotation tasks, defines an ordering strategy, and identifies well-performing heuristics and interactively trained models on three existing English datasets. Finally, we provide a proof of concept for annotation curricula in a carefully designed user study with 40 voluntary participants who are asked to identify the most fitting misconception for English tweets about the Covid-19 pandemic. The results indicate that using a simple heuristic to order instances can already significantly reduce the total annotation time while preserving a high annotation quality. Annotation curricula thus can be a promising research direction to improve data collection. To facilitate future research—for instance, to adapt annotation curricula to specific tasks and expert annotation scenarios—all code and data from the user study consisting of 2,400 annotations is made available.1
Efficient Prestimulus Network Integration of Fusiform Face Area Biases Face Perception during Binocular Rivalry
Authors: Rassi Elie , Wutz Andreas , Peatfield Nicholas , Weisz Nathan
Published: March 2022

Ongoing fluctuations in neural excitability and connectivity influence whether or not a stimulus is seen. Do they also influence which stimulus is seen? We recorded magnetoencephalography data while 21 human participants viewed face or house stimuli, either one at a time or under bistable conditions induced through binocular rivalry. Multivariate pattern analysis revealed common neural substrates for rivalrous versus nonrivalrous stimuli with an additional delay of ∼36 msec for the bistable stimulus, and poststimulus signals were source-localized to the fusiform face area. Before stimulus onset followed by a face versus house report, fusiform face area showed stronger connectivity to primary visual cortex and to the rest of the cortex in the alpha frequency range (8–13 Hz), but there were no differences in local oscillatory alpha power. The prestimulus connectivity metrics predicted the accuracy of poststimulus decoding and the delay associated with rivalry disambiguation suggesting that perceptual content is shaped by ongoing neural network states.
The Crusade of the Pen: Developed During the Colonial Period and Dismantling the Discourse of the War on Terror
Authors: Meyler Ruairí
Published: March 2022

In March 2021, Pope Francis visited Iraq, highlighting the challenges faced by the Christian community in Iraq and meeting with the Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. By engaging in this interreligious dialogue with al-Sistani, Pope Francis reminded us of another interreligious episode from the Crusades between Saint Francis and Sultan al-Kamil and challenged our perspective on the Crusades. This paper submits that in order to facilitate the repairing of relations between Christian and Muslim communities in the Middle East, we must dismantle the War on Terror discourse and in particular the nineteenth century Crusader images that underpin it and follow the example of Pope Francis in recovering not only a more ecumenical vision of the Crusades but also of the relationship between Middle Eastern Christians and Muslims. This article aims to dismantle this discourse which divides Muslim and Christian communities both in the West and in the Middle East by examining the use of Crusader imagery from Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt to the present, arguing that our modern images of the Crusades are developed in the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and it is these ahistorical images that also fuel the rhetoric surrounding the War on Terror.
Adaptation and Change among Asian Muslim Immigrants in the West
Authors: Singh David Emmanuel
Published: March 2022

Drawing on a variety of sources, this paper highlights the reality of diverse choices immigrants make as they come to terms with crises. Two theoretical domains are used to explain the disparate responses instead of simply identifying the options adopted by the immigrants and describing them. The first is ‘modernity’ understood here in its expanded sense, i.e.: it is not just an idea unique to the West but that it is ‘variegated’ or ‘multiple’. The second is ‘conversion’, involving the idea of it being a dynamic process, especially for those dealing with crises. The immigrant responses converge around these ideas thus revealing how some of them find answers within Islam (through re-visioning) and others who find them outside Islam (through conversion). This illustrates how ‘Muslim modernity’ expresses itself in the heart of the West but also highlights the agency of some who seek change through a radical affiliation with Christianity and secular humanism. The underlying argument is that Muslim responses are far more diverse and varied than existing literature shows.
The Bible and Women’s Subordination
Authors: Phaipi Chingboi Guite
Published: March 2022

Tribal Christian patriarchal societies promulgate women subordination as biblical by using the creation stories in Gen 2–3. This paper re-examines the narrative of Gen 2–3, whether women subordination is promulgated in the text. Terms and logic often used for women subjugation—such as the woman created to be ‘helper’ for the man, the woman being created later and from the man, the man to ‘rule’ the woman—are not so straightforward as they seem. A close analysis of the biblical narratives demonstrates that these terms, in their root meanings, are rather ambiguous. Rather than subordination, sameness and togetherness between the man and the woman are emphasized throughout the narrative of Gen 2–3.
Analyzing the Water Confined in Hydrogel Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Ma Biao , Cai Wensheng , Shao Xueguang
Published: March 2022

Analysis of the confined water in hydrogels is essential for understanding the chemical and physical properties. Methods to quantify the content and study the structure of water in hydrogel using near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy were proposed. The NIR spectra of poly-N,N-dimethylacrylamide (PDMAA) hydrogel with different water contents were measured at different temperatures. A partial least squares (PLS) model was established using the spectra of the samples with water content ( w h) from 0.9 to 387.6%. Continuous wavelet transform (CWT) was adopted to calculate the resolution enhanced spectra from which the spectral features of water species with free OH (S0) and with one or two hydrogen bonds (S1 and S2) was obtained. The variation of these water species with water content suggests the existence of the water molecules bonding to NH groups by one hydrogen bond (S1NH) and hydrating the CH groups of the polymer network and bulk-like water. Moreover, the variation of water structures with temperature shows that the release of bulk-like water occurs in the phase transition of the hydrogel, but the S1NH and the hydration water stay unchanged. The former explains the sudden volume shrinkage for the phase transition and the latter may be the reason for the shape memory effect in the repeated swelling and deswelling of hydrogels.
Performance Improvement of Handheld Raman Spectrometer for Mixture Components Identification Using Fuzzy Membership and Sparse Non-Negative Least Squares
Authors: Zhao Xin , Liu Caizheng , Zhao Ziyan , Zhu Qibing , Huang Min
Published: March 2022

Due to the advantages of low price and convenience for end-users to conduct field-based, in-situ analysis, handheld Raman spectrometers are widely used in the identification of mixture components. However, the spectra collected by handheld Raman spectrometer usually have serious peak overlapping and spectral distortion, resulting in difficulties in component identification in the mixture. A novel method for mixture components identification based on the handheld Raman spectrometer was proposed in this study. The wavelet transform and Voight curve fitting method were used to extract the feature parameters from each Raman spectral peak, including Raman shift, maximum intensity, and full width at half-maximum (FWHM), and the similarities between the mixture and each substance in the database were calculated by fuzzy membership function based on extracted feature parameters. Then, the possible substances in the mixture were preliminarily screened out as candidates according to the similarity. Finally, the Raman spectra of these candidates were used to fit the spectra of the mixture, and the fitting coefficients obtained by sparse non-negative least squares algorithm were employed to further determine the suspected substance in the mixture. The Raman spectra of 190 liquid mixture samples and 158 powder mixture samples were collected using a handheld Raman spectrometer and these spectra were used to validate the identification performance of the proposed method. The proposed method could achieve good identification accuracy for different mixture samples. It shows that the proposed method is an effective way for the component identification in mixture by using a handheld Raman spectrometer.
Optimised Pre-Processing of Raman Spectra for Colorectal Cancer Detection Using High-Performance Computing
Authors: Woods Freya E. R. , Jenkins Cerys A. , Jenkins Rhys A. , Chandler Susan , Harris Dean A. , Dunstan Peter R.
Published: March 2022

Spectral pre-processing is an essential step in data analysis for biomedical diagnostic applications of Raman spectroscopy, allowing the removal of undesirable spectral contributions that could mask biological information used for diagnosis. However, due to the specificity of pre-processing for a given sample type and the vast number of potential pre-processing combinations, optimisation of pre-processing via a manual “trial and error” format is often time intensive with no guarantee that the chosen method is optimal for the sample type. Here we present the use of high-performance computing (HPC) to trial over 2.4 million pre-processing permutations to demonstrate the optimisation on the pre-processing of human serum Raman spectra for colorectal cancer detection. The effect of varying pre-processing order, using extended multiplicative scatter correction, spectral smoothing, baseline correction, binning and normalization was considered. Permutations were assessed on their ability to detect patients with disease using a random forest (RF) algorithm trained with 102 patients (510 spectra) and independently tested with a set of 439 patients (1317 spectra) in a primary care patient cohort. Optimising via HPC enables improved performance in diagnostic abilities, with sensitivity increasing by 14.6%, specificity increasing by 6.9%, positive predictive value increasing by 3.4%, and negative predictive value increasing by 2.4% when compared to a standard pre-processing optimisation. Ultimate values of these metrics are very important for diagnostic adoption, and once diagnostics demonstrate good accuracy these types of optimisations can make a significant difference to roll-out of a test and demonstrating advantages over existing tests. We also provide tips/recommendations for pre-processing optimisation without the use of HPC. From the HPC permutations, recommendations for appropriate parameter constraints for conducting a more basic pre-processing optimisation are also detailed, thus helping model development for researchers not having access to HPC.
Connettivi e unità fraseologiche in italiano L2: un’indagine parallela
Authors: Malagnini Francesca , Fioravanti Irene
Published: March 2022

Questo studio presenta un’analisi corpus-based dell’uso e della produzione dei connettivi e delle unità fraseologiche dell’italiano in apprendenti di italiano L2 di diversi livelli di competenza linguistica. I connettivi e le unità fraseologiche rivestono un ruolo chiave nell’uso di una L2. Da un lato, i connettivi aiutano gli apprendenti a organizzare la struttura informativa del testo e a collegare frasi e blocchi testuali. Dall’altro, le unità fraseologiche influenzano positivamente la fluenza e l’uso della L2. Gli apprendenti tendono a usare sia i connettivi sia le unità fraseologiche fin dalle prime fasi dell’apprendimento. Tuttavia, lo sviluppo dell'uso di quest’ultimi sembra non essere lineare nella L2. Il presente studio indaga, quindi, se e in quale misura ci sia un progresso nell’uso dei connettivi e delle unità fraseologiche in apprendenti di italiano L2.
The Grand Challenge for Research on the Future of Coaching
Authors: Boyatzis Richard E. , Hullinger Alicia , Ehasz Sharon F. , Harvey Janet , Tassarotti Silvia , Gallotti Anna , Penafort Frances
Published: March 2022

The popularity of coaching as a development activity in organizations has outpaced the research. To inspire research and strengthen our intellectual foundation, the Thought Leadership Institute of the International Coaching Federation invited 35 of the most recognized coaching scholars and 12 coaching leaders to three two-hour discussions. Each session began with three presenters briefly sharing observations about what we know and need to find out. The three sessions focused on: (1) the desired outcomes of coaching; (2) the process and mechanism of coaching; and (3) coaching for people from distinctive cultures, genders, and context. A fourth theme emerged as the major gap in the research about the competencies of effective coaches. This paper summarizes the discussions. Twenty-two specific research needs for the coming years are identified and presented, clustered within the four themes. This should provide guidance for graduate students, faculty and consultants considering research on coaching.
The UN’s Reports on Gender Stereotypes in Muslim Countries—Differentiation of Economic Development
Authors: Kertcher Chen , Turin Ornat
Published: March 2022

This paper explores the differences in the content of commentary reports that the United Nations (UN) addressed to Islamic countries in the Stereotypes section. A significant association was found between types of violations and the level of the state’s economic development. For high-income level countries, the commentaries addressed social perceptions violations. For low-level income countries, the commentaries focused on physical practices violations. Hence, the Islamic character of the country was found to be a minor factor in comparison with the state level of development. The UN’s approach to gender stereotypes in low-income countries involves simplification and reduction, as it treats the symptoms rather than the causes.
Mentoring Graduate Students in Music Education: A Mixed-Methods Phenomenological Study
Authors: Bond Vanessa L. , Vasil Martina , Derges Julie D. , Nichols Bryan E.
Published: March 2022

Mentoring is a critical element in the well-being, socialization, and professional identity development of graduate students. Yet in music education, little is known about the graduate student mentoring experience from the mentors’ perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine music teacher educators’ perspectives on and experiences with graduate student mentoring. We used a concurrent nested approach to mixed-methods phenomenological research (QUAN + PHEN) with a survey of a national sample of music teacher educators ( N = 142) and a phenomenology built from a three-interview series with individuals ( n = 6) at various career stages. After analyzing each phase separately, we engaged in data integration and interpretation of study findings to reveal a description of current mentoring practices and beliefs. Key elements include relationship building, a multilayered community of practice, and intentional acts of anticipatory socialization that empower students as they transition to the role of colleague.
Selected Factors of Psychological Reactions Among Polish Respondents to the Outbreak of Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Włostowska Karolina , Trylińska-Tekielska Elżbieta , Drewnik Monika , Pietraszewska Dorota
Published: March 2022

COVID-19 global pandemic has had a profound impact on the quality of life and mental state of the community. The aim of the study was the preliminary assessment of social isolation on individual mental state due to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A detailed online questionnaire was conducted in the period from March 2020 to March 2021 among 587 persons from Poland. Most respondents (46.2%) expect a professional psychological support. This is followed by expectations of psychoeducation (37%) and understanding (34.4%). During the pandemic, most people deal with stress by watching TV series It is a form of escape into a different reality. Obtained results demonstrate that place of residence does not corelate with fear of coronavirus. Statistically significant differences occurred when answers regarding aspects of living during pandemic were checked against gender of respondents. Women experience pandemic-related anxiety more severely than men. This research highlights that psychological care should be part of the wider health care system in the time of crisis.
Pedagogical Translanguaging and Its Application to Language Classes
Authors: Cenoz Jasone , Gorter Durk
Published: March 2022

Pedagogical translanguaging refers to the use of different planned strategies based on activating students’ resources from their whole linguistic repertoire . The aim of this article is to examine the theoretical foundations of pedagogical translanguaging and its application in the classroom. The core characteristics of pedagogical translanguaging will be discussed in relation to the languages, students and programmes. Pedagogical translanguaging embraces different practices, but they all share the characteristic of being planned by the teacher with a pedagogical purpose and using resources from the students’ whole linguistic repertoire. In this way it is different from spontaneous translanguaging. Translanguaging practices aim at activating the students’ multilingual and multimodal repertoires so that they can benefit from their own multilingualism. Translanguaging practices can have strong or weak forms depending on the degree of pedagogical intervention that takes place in the process of learning and the use of two or more languages in the same class session. Some strong translanguaging practices use resources from different languages in the same class so as to develop metalinguistic awareness, while other weaker forms are based on the cross-linguistic coordination of activities carried out in different classes. The article will also discuss the challenges that the implementation of pedagogical translanguaging poses for language teachers.
State Violence and Collective Victimhood in a Militarised State
Authors: Sitlhou Hoineilhing
Published: March 2022

The implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur exemplifies how certain spaces and populations become margins through the administrative practices of the state. The state is endowed with the authority to categorise as legitimate or illegitimate the various forms of violence and practices toward its citizens. This action of the state has resulted in the formation of associations like the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and Extrajudicial Execution Victim Families Association via the shared experience of violence and collective victimhood, connecting those families or individuals who are more adversely affected by AFSPA. The diverging perspectives and experiences of state violence are juxtaposed in order to display both the anguish and expectations of the victims’ families as also the commitments of the perpetrators towards the democratic state. Finally, the narratives of violence, sufferings and testimonies are repositioned and anchored to juridical and political discourse, in order to find the meanings of justice, healing and reparation in a militarised society like Manipur.
Opportunities to Improve Quality Outcomes: Integrating Nutrition Care Into Medicare Advantage to Address Malnutrition and Support Social Determinants of Health
Authors: Arensberg Mary B. , Saal-Ridpath Kaitlyn , Kerr Kirk , Phillips Wendy
Published: March 2022

Medicare Advantage (MA) is a public–private healthcare program for older adults and individuals with disabilities in the United States (US). MA enrollees receive their benefits from private health plans and the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries in MA plans continues to increase. MA plan enrollees typically have more socioeconomic risk factors compared to traditional Medicare enrollees. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of MA plans’ flexibilities to address socioeconomic risk factors, or social determinants of health (SDOH), and to tailor benefits and services to meet individual MA enrollee needs. Poor nutrition—often termed malnutrition or protein calorie malnutrition—is a problem for many Medicare beneficiaries. Malnutrition can prolong recovery and increase medical complications and readmissions. Up to half of older Americans are at risk for malnutrition or are malnourished. Nutrition-related supplemental benefits offered by MA plans can most effectively help address malnutrition and impact SDOH and quality outcomes as part of multi-modal interventions. Multi-modal interventions integrate quality nutrition care throughout the MA care process. This Editorial explores the issue of older adult malnutrition and SDOH and the nutrition-related supplemental benefits currently offered by MA plans. It also identifies opportunities for further nutrition benefit development and impact, including through integration in MA outcome measurements and quality frameworks.
A Long Walk with Amartya Sen: An Unfinished Journey
Authors: Sobhan Rehman
Published: March 2022

Amartya Sen, Home in the World, A Memoir. Allen Lane, 2021, 480 pp., ₹564, ISBN: 9781846144868 (Hardcover).
Book review: Kumkum Roy, The Challenge of Democratization: Learning and Teaching History in the 21st Century
Authors: Jha Ajit
Published: March 2022

Kumkum Roy, The Challenge of Democratization: Learning and Teaching History in the 21st Century, 2020; New Delhi, 230pp., (E-book).
Book review: Uma Chakravarti and Sadhna Arya (Ed.), Stree Adhyan: Ek Parichay
Authors: Singh Lata
Published: March 2022

Uma Chakravarti and Sadhna Arya (Ed.), Stree Adhyan: Ek Parichay, (Hindi) Vani Prakashan, 2021, 456 pp., ₹648. ISBN: 978-8194939801 ( Hardcover).
Health Conditions and Morbidities Among Older Adults in the States of India
Authors: Deb Surajit
Published: March 2022

The present contribution forms the thirteenth installment of our on-going series, Social Change Indicators. In this installment, we have deliberated on the health conditions of older adults in India which have exacerbated because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past five issues, we looked specifically at the social and economic challenges brought on by the pandemic . The topics covered included vulnerable household across social classes, poverty and migration, living conditions for social distancing, social protection networks and the displacement of rural labour. In this part, we examine health conditions among older adults, aged 60 and above, in different states of India. We present the state’s ranking according to self-rated health status as well as the morbidity prevalence for the 60 plus population. We also look at the prevalence of chronic health conditions, such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, asthma and lung disease, among older adults in different states of India.
Cognitive Impairment and Mild to Moderate Dysphagia in Elderly Patients: A Retrospective Controlled Study
Authors: Maniaci Antonino , Lechien Jérome R , La Mantia Ignazio , Iannella Giannicola , Ferlito Salvatore , Albanese Gianluca , Magliulo Giuseppe , Pace Annalisa , Cammaroto Giovanni , Di Mauro Paola , Vicini Claudio , Cocuzza Salvatore
Published: March 2022

Background: To investigate whether cognitive impairment in elderly patients could correlate with the severity of swallowing disorders detectable through the endoscopic fiber optic evaluation. Methods: Elderly patients (≥65 years) performing a swallowing evaluation were included and divided according to the Dysphagia outcome and severity scale (DOSS). Neurological evaluation and Mini-Mental test examination (MMET) were administered to detect cognitive impairment. Results: Significantly worse swallowing function was reported in the cognitive impairment group than the control one (40% vs 19%; P = .001). A different significant distribution of swallowing performance was detected according to the patient’s MMET score ( P < .001; P < .001; P = .01). At the ANOVA test among dependent variables assessed, only age>65 and MMET<10 were significantly correlated with swallowing function (F = 3.862, P = .028; F = 17.49, P = .000). Conclusions: The elderly patient has an increased risk for unrecognized swallowing disorders, with a prevalence of mild to moderate forms. Assessment of cognitive performance could facilitate the identification of swallowing disorders by providing a higher level of suspicion for silent aspiration in subjects with poor MMET scores.
Boring People: Stereotype Characteristics, Interpersonal Attributions, and Social Reactions
Authors: van Tilburg Wijnand A. P. , Igou Eric R. , Panjwani Mehr
Published: March 2022

Unfortunately, some people are perceived as boring. Despite the potential relevance that these perceptions might have in everyday life, the underlying psychological processes and consequences of perceiving a person as “boring” have been largely unexplored. We examined the stereotypical features of boring others by having people generate (Study 1) and then rate (Study 2) these. We focused on occupations (e.g., data analytics, taxation, and accounting), hobbies (e.g., sleeping, religion, and watching TV), and personal characteristics (e.g., lacking humor and opinions, being negative) that people ascribed to stereotypically boring others. Experiments then showed that those who were ascribed boring characteristics were seen as lacking interpersonal warmth and competence (Study 3), were socially avoided (Study 4), and enduring their company required compensation (Study 5). These results suggest that being stereotyped as a bore may come with substantially negative interpersonal consequences.
State Aid Causing Distinct Incentives? Quasi-Experimental Measurement of the Effects of Grants on Private Enterprises in North Macedonia
Authors: Petreski Marjan
Published: March 2022

The objective of this study is to measure the effects of state aid distributed to private enterprises in North Macedonia on the enterprises’ efficiency. We examine the governmental Plan for Economic Growth (PEG) pursued through the Financial Support of Investment Law (FSIL) and the Fund for Innovation and Technological Development (FITD). We rely on a rigorous impact evaluation method, whereby comparison groups are sourced from the pool of rejected applicants for the two programs. We pursue conditional matching on firms’ observables and then apply the difference-in-differences method to isolate the effect of the subsidy. FSIL State Aid showed largely ineffective, with producing hardly any difference in sales, investment, wages, or profits among recipients, except employment. These results demonstrate the absence of the incentive effect as it relates to FSIL state aid. On the other hand, the FITD State Aid showed to be considerably effective, as the recipients were found to have increased their sales revenue and their investment in technology and profits, corroborating the presence of the incentive effect as it relates to FITD state aid. Notwithstanding the legitimacy of the policy objective to equalize domestic and foreign firms in terms of their access to state aid, these findings document partial failure of the PEG to do so due to its structural problems.

JEL classification: H25, C90
Use of a novel Likert scale instrument to assess patient satisfaction following endovascular and surgical treatment of pelvic venous disorders
Authors: Gavrilov Sergey G , Grishenkova Anastasiya S , Mishakina Nadezhda Yu , Krasavin Gennady V
Published: March 2022

Objective

The study was aimed at assessing satisfaction with endovascular and surgical treatment, using a novel Likert scale procedure satisfaction instrument, in patients with pelvic venous disorder (PeVD) caused by the gonadal vein reflux.

Methods

This prospective cohort study included 100 women with PeVD who underwent gonadal veins embolization with coils (GVE group, n = 71) or gonadal veins endoscopic resection (GVR group, n = 29) in 2012–2020. The GVE was performed under local anesthesia and sedation, and was left-sided in 61, right-sided in three, and bilateral in seven patients. The GVR was performed under general anesthesia through transperitoneal ( n = 19) or retroperitoneal ( n = 10) access with three access ports in both cases. The GVR was left-sided in 19, right-sided in one, and bilateral in nine patients. To assess satisfaction with GVE and GVR treatment of PeVD, patients were asked to evaluate statements related to their experience using a new Likert scale instrument. The responses for each item were compared between the groups at Day 7 (D7) and at Month 6 (M6) after the procedure, as was a summary score of all the responses at both time points. The summary score allowed categorization on a spectrum from “completely satisfied” to “completely dissatisfied.”

Results

The comparison between GVЕ and GVR groups at D7 showed that 80% and 100% of patients, accordingly, reported the overall summary satisfaction, 49% and 79% agreed with a complete pelvic pain relief by D7, 79% and 0% agreed with the absence of a significant discomfort during the first postoperative day, 71% and 100% reported no need for analgesics to relief pain in the assess area, 80% and 100% reported fast return to daily activity, and 19.7% and 100% still experienced pelvic pain at D7 (pain in the GVR group was more severe and required the use of analgesics) (all p < .05). At the same time, 94% and 96% patients were satisfied with the aesthetic result of the procedure at D7 ( p = n.s.). The comparison between GVЕ and GVR groups at M6 showed that 100% of patients in both groups reported overall satisfaction with treatment ( p = n.s.), 96% and 100% confirmed a complete pelvic pain relief by M6, 79% and 65% agreed with the absence of a significant discomfort after the procedure, 79% and 65% reported no need for analgesics, 83% and 100% reported about the return to daily activity (all p < .05), and 100% in both groups were satisfied with the aesthetic result of the procedure ( p = n.s.).

Conclusions

In patients with PeVD, both GVE and GVR are associated with a high, although not significantly different, overall treatment satisfaction in the long term and have advantages and disadvantages. GVE is associated with less severe post-procedural pain, while GVR provides faster relief of pelvic pain and a return to usual daily activity.
Comparison of tissue biomarkers in arterial and vein (arteriovenous fistula) aneurysms
Authors: Shahri Jamal J , Saberianpour Shirin , Bayegi Saeed N
Published: March 2022

Introduction and objectives

Aneurysms are distinguished by inflammation, matrix degradation, and apoptosis of smooth muscle cells. In this study, specialized aneurysms tissue markers including venous and arterial aneurysms were studied.

Material and methods

The present cross-sectional study was conducted throughout January–September 2021. Tissue samples were collected during surgery. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains, have been utilized to identify different aneurysm types and the morphologic alterations that serve as the foundation for aneurysm diagnosis. Measurement of collagen type III, IV, CCR2, metalloproteinase (2 and 13), and granzyme K was done by ELISA method. Results were presented as the mean  ±  standard deviation and analyzed by t tests (Graph Pad Prism 8.4.3.686)

Results

During the period from January to September 2021, 14 patients with peripheral venous and arterial aneurysms were referred to Alavi Vascular Surgery Hospital and underwent surgery. Of these, 10 patients were matched and remained available for study. The level of type 3 collagen was significantly reduced in arterial aneurysm compared to venous aneurysm ( p < 0.05). Granzyme K in arterial aneurysm showed increase compared to venous aneurysm ( p < 0.05). Metalloproteinase 2 in arterial aneurysms higher than venous aneurysm ( p < 0.001). Metalloproteinase 13 in arterial aneurysm also showed increase compared to venous aneurysm ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Results of this study shows differences in the level of tissue biomarkers in arterial and vein (arteriovenous fistula) aneurysms.
Effects of leg compression and calf muscle contraction by active ankle motion on venous hemodynamics in sitting individuals
Authors: Suehiro Kotaro , Morikage Noriyasu , Harada Takasuke , Samura Makoto , Nagase Takashi , Takeuchi Yuriko , Mizoguchi Takahiro , Ike Soichi , Suzuki Ryo , Hamano Kimikazu
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To clarify the effects of compression and active ankle motion on venous hemodynamics in healthy sitting individuals.

Methods

In the sitting position, 14 participants performed plantar flexion and dorsiflexion of the ankle for 3 s each without compression. Changes in the calf volume were recorded using air plethysmography. Subsequently, the process was repeated with the application of tubular elastic bandage (TEB), followed by anti-thrombotic stocking (ATS).

Results

The median interface pressure at the calf was 16 mmHg with TEB and 21 mmHg with ATS. Without compression ( N), the median venous volume was 76 mL. This was reduced to 58 mL with TEB and 56 mL with ATS ( p < .01 vs. N for both). On the other hand, ejection volume by plantar flexion in N (27 mL) was not significantly changed with TEB (31 mL) or ATS (31 mL). Also, ejection volume by dorsiflexion in N (53 mL, p < .001 vs. plantar flexion) was not significantly changed with TEB (53 mL, p < .01 vs. plantar flexion) or ATS (41 mL, p < .05 vs. plantar flexion).

Conclusions

The venous volume, which is defined as the change in enclosed calf volume from elevation to dependency, in the sitting position reduced similarly with TEB and ATS; however, the ejection volumes did not change significantly. Dorsiflexion exerted a larger ejection volume than plantar flexion in the sitting position.
Psychometric properties of the Brazilian short-version of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire
Authors: Almeida Mariana Quixabeira Guimarães , Dibai-Filho Almir Vieira , Guirro Rinaldo Roberto de Jesus , Guirro Elaine Caldeira de Oliveira , Fonseca Marisa de Cássia Registro , Avila Mariana Arias
Published: March 2022

Objective

To translate, cross-culturally adapt and assess measurement properties of the translated version of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Settings

University healthcare facility and online.

Participants

People with chronic neck pain (n = 178).

Interventions

Not applicable.

Main outcome measures

Participants answered the translated version of Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire, the Neck Disability Index, the Numerical Rating Scale for pain, the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Seven to ten days after that, a subset of 84 participants answered the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire again. The structural (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses) and construct validities, internal consistency, reliability and concordance were assessed. Level of significance was set at 5%.

Results

Participants’ (35.6 ± 13.5 years old) with symptoms duration of 54.4 ± 60.4 months scored 25.5 ± 14.0 on the Brazilian Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire and 11.9 ± 5.8 on the Neck Disability Index. The structural analysis showed that the short version of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire has an adequate structure to measure disability due to neck pain. Correlations with other questionnaires were between 0.268 and 0.678, Cronbach's alfa was 0.76, intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.96, standard error of measurement was 2.74 and minimal detectable change was 7.60.

Conclusion

The short version of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire is valid and reliable to be used in patients with chronic neck pain, as it presented adequate measurement properties of structural and construct validity, reliability and concordance.
Familism Values, Family Assistance, and Prosocial Behaviors Among U.S. Latinx Adolescents
Authors: Zhao Chang , White Rebecca M. B. , Roche Kathleen M.
Published: March 2022

Among U.S. Mexican adolescents living in established immigrant communities, high familism values are positively associated with compliant, emotional, and dire prosocial behaviors via sociocognitive and cultural psychological mechanisms. Less is known about the behavioral mechanisms that may explain these associations, or about prosocial behaviors among U.S. Latinxs residing in emerging immigrant destinations. We examined the cross-sectional, intervening variable associations among familism values, family assistance behaviors, and culturally salient prosocial behaviors among 547 U.S. Latinx adolescents residing in an emerging immigrant destination ( M age = 12.8 years; 55.4% girls). Familism values and family assistance behaviors promoted emotional and dire prosocial behaviors for boys and girls, and promoted compliant prosocial behaviors for boys only. Familism also had direct associations with all three prosocial behaviors for boys and girls. Family assistance behaviors may be a mechanism via which adolescents develop compliant, emotional, and dire prosocial behaviors.
Early Adolescents’ Gender Typicality and Depressive Symptoms: The Moderating Role of Parental Acceptance
Authors: Xiao Sonya Xinyue , Hoffer Aubrey , Martin Carol Lynn , Jenkins Diana L.
Published: March 2022

In a school sample of early adolescents, we expanded the view of gender typicality to include adolescents who varied in the extent of felt similarity to own- and other-gender peers, and examined how their felt own- and other-gender similarity, are related to depression. Further, we examined the moderating role of parental acceptance of gender atypicality. Participants were 504 ethnically/racially diverse sixth graders ( Mage = 11 years, SD = 0.56, 51.6% boys) and their parents. Path analyses showed that adolescents’ felt own-gender similarity, but not felt other-gender similarity, was negatively related to depression. Further, when parental acceptance was high, adolescent depression was low, even for adolescents who had cross-gender tendencies or low own-gender tendencies. Tendencies of atypicality were only related to risk for depression when parental acceptance was low. These findings support previous research that many variations of gender typicality exist, and highlighted the importance of parental acceptance of gender atypicality.
Technology Learning and the Adoption of Telehealth Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Authors: Qin Weidi
Published: March 2022

The present study aims to examine changes in the prevalence of telehealth utilization in older adults before and during the COVID-19 outbreak, and to investigate the relationship between learning a new technology and the adoption of telehealth during the outbreak. The study sample came from the National Health and Aging Trend Study COVID-19 Supplement ( N=1769). The adoption of telehealth was assessed for utilization of emails and video calls to communicate with healthcare providers. Logistic regressions were performed to test the study aims. The findings showed that older adults substantially increased the utilization of telehealth during the outbreak. Additionally, learning a new technology is related to the adoption of both emails and video calls to access telehealth. The findings suggest that older adults may be motivated and able to quickly learn a new technology that is required to access telehealth during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Apports de la post-phénoménologie à l’étude de la consommation d’objets techniques : principes et perspectives applicatives – illustrées par le cas du self-tracking
Authors: Robert-Demontrond Philippe
Published: March 2022

De plus en plus de travaux en marketing mobilisent actuellement des théories, conceptuellement novatrices, qui repensent les distinctions communément établies entre les objets et les sujets. S’inscrivant dans cette perspective, cet article propose d’introduire en marketing la théorie post-phénoménologique, récemment développée en philosophie. Un exposé synthétique en est fait, qui présente ses principaux cadres conceptuels et les traduit en guide d’investigation. Pour illustrer l’intérêt et la portée de la post-phénoménologie, une étude empirique est effectuée, portant sur les technologies de métrologie personnelle ou self-tracking. Les résultats rapportés permettent d’apprécier les apports de la post-phénoménologie. Celle-ci invite à une autre façon de penser et questionner la consommation des objets techniques, en les reconnaissant porteurs d’une intentionnalité. Elle dessine une alternative aux théorisations actuelles sur l’agentivité de l’objet. Elle propose un cadre analytique performant, qui structure et systématise l’examen des manières dont les objets techniques modulent les relations au monde des consommateurs : non seulement leur expérience du monde, mais encore leur expérience de cette expérience du monde.
Profiles of Community Violence Exposure, Moral Disengagement, and Bullying Perpetration: Evidence from a Sample of Italian Adolescents
Authors: Esposito Concetta , Spadari Eleonora M. , Caravita Simona C. S. , Bacchini Dario
Published: March 2022

According to the Pathologic Adaptation Model of community violence exposure, repeated experiences of violence within the community lead youth to accept violence as a normative and legitimate strategy to cope with conflict, thus increasing their involvement in aggressive behaviors. This hypothesis has been under-investigated with reference to bullying at school. Using a person-centered analytical approach (latent profile analysis), this study examines the mediating role of moral disengagement as a type of normalizing cognition about violence, in the relationship between profiles of community violence exposure and perpetration of bullying. Eight hundred and two adolescents (11–18 years; 43.4% girls) from two different urban and societal contexts in Italy (Milan vs. Naples) participated in the study. Four profiles of exposure to community violence emerged. Context site and age influenced belonging to the four profiles. Being moderately exposed to violence, both as a victim and as a witness, was significantly associated with higher levels of moral disengagement and bullying perpetration. Being exposed as a witness and as a victim, and being exposed only as a witness were associated with bullying perpetration via the increase of moral disengagement. These findings support the Pathologic Adaptation Model and indicate that adolescents who experience higher levels of community violence, as a witness or both as a witness and a victim, are more likely to develop morally disengaged beliefs about violence, which in turn would increase the likelihood to perpetrate bullying. Results are also discussed in the context of social diversity.