bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Value of the systemic immune-inflammation index in predicting poor postoperative outcomes and the short-term prognosis of heart valve diseases: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Xiang Jun , He Ling , Li Donglin , Wei Shuliang , Wu Zhong 
Published: October 2022

ObjectiveSystemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a novel biomarker that can predict poor outcomes in tumours, nervous system diseases and chronic heart failure. Here, we investigated the predictive value of SII on the poor postoperative outcomes and short-term prognosis of heart valve diseases (HVDs).Design, setting and participantsThis retrospective cohort study enrolled all consecutive patients with HVDs (aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral stenosis and mitral regurgitation) who underwent surgery (valve replacement or valve repair) at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College between 2017 and 2020.Main outcomes and measuresMajor complications in the perioperative period, all-cause mortality within 30 days and readmission within 30 days.ResultsA total of 431 patients with HVDs were enrolled in this study, including 202 males and 229 females, aged 58.9±27.3 years. SII levels of patients in the poor outcomes group were significantly higher than those of patients in the favourable outcomes group (658.40±436.29 vs 335.72±174.76, respectively; p<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR 1.064, 95% CI 1.026 to 1.104, p=0.025), SII (OR 1.034, 95% CI 1.012 to 1.631, p=0.008) and aortic cross-clamping time (OR 1.013, 95% CI 1.004 to 1.023, p=0.006) were independent risk factors for poor outcomes and short-term prognosis in patients with HVD. The area under the curve of poor outcomes predicted by SII in patients with HVD was 0.806 (95% CI 0.763 to 0.848) and the optimised cut-off value 423.8×109 /L, with a sensitivity of 70.3% and specificity of 81.1%. The incidence of poor outcomes (p<0.001), 30-day mortality (p<0.001) and 30-day readmission rate (p=0.026) in the high SII group was significantly higher than that in the low SII group.ConclusionsSII is closely related to poor postoperative outcomes and short-term prognosis of HVD and can serve as an independent predictive factor.
Surgical mask wearing behaviour in COVID-19 pandemic and influenza seasons: a cross-sectional study on healthcare professional students and staff’s perspective in Southern California
Authors: Lui Kin Long , Daher Noha , López David , Kim Veronica , Tan Laren , Cohen Pamela Monterroso , Alismail Abdullah 
Published: October 2022

ObjectiveTo investigate healthcare professional staff and students’ perception of wearing surgical masks before and after their experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, and to evaluate the impact on mask wearing behaviour in future influenza seasons.DesignCross-sectional study using anonymous survey.Setting and participantsHealthcare students and staff from a healthcare academic institution in Southern California participated in the mask survey study. Survey results were collected from June to November 2021. A total of 305 respondents responded to the survey, with 173 being healthcare students and 132 being working healthcare staff.OutcomesThe study examined respondents’ perceptions and hospital mask wearing behaviour before and after their COVID-19 pandemic experience, as well as during previous and future influenza seasons.ResultsTwo hundred and sixty-four (86.6%) respondents agreed that wearing a surgical mask reduces infection and limits transmission of infectious disease, yet prior to the pandemic, only a small proportion wore a mask in the hospital or during patient care. After experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic, more respondents indicated that they would continue to wear a mask when they are in a hospital in general (n=145, 47.5%), during patient care (n=262, 85.9%), during influenza seasons throughout the hospital (n=205, 67.2%) and during influenza seasons during patient care (n=270, 88.5%).ConclusionThe pandemic experience has greatly influenced the health prevention behaviours of healthcare students and staff. After the pandemic, many respondents will continue to practice surgical mask wearing behaviour in the hospital, especially during face-to-face patient care. This demonstrates a significant change in health prevention perceptions among the current and the future generation of healthcare professionals.
Effect of USAID-funded obstetric ultrasound service interventions on maternal and perinatal health outcomes at primary healthcare facilities in Ethiopia: a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Yitbarek Kiddus , Tuji Alemu , Alemayehu Yibeltal Kiflie , Tadesse Derebe , Tadele Afework , Tsegaye Sentayehu , Abera Yared , Abrar Mohammed , Ibrahim Ahmed , Esmael Salah , Belete Mebrie , Mohammed Abdella , Shekabdulahi Muktar , Olani Hundessa , Selamu Arab , Medhin Girmay , Gerbaba Mulusew J 
Published: October 2022

ObjectiveA dimensional shift in the health service delivery in the primary healthcare setting is required to raise maternal and child well-being. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of US Agency for International Development-funded obstetric ultrasound service on maternal and perinatal health outcomes at Ethiopia’s primary healthcare facilities.DesignWe employed a quasi-experimental study design.SettingThe study was conducted in primary health centres located in four regions of Ethiopia.ParticipantsWe used 2 years’ data of 1568 mothers from 13 intervention and 13 control primary health centres. Data were obtained from Vscan, antenatal care (ANC), delivery and postnatal care registers.InterventionUse of portable obstetric ultrasound service during pregnancy.Outcome measuresThe primary outcome variables include complete four ANC visits, referral during ANC, delivery in a health facility and having postnatal care and continuum of care. The secondary outcome variable was perinatal death.ResultsWith the kernel matching approach, we have found that having four or more ANC visits was decreased after the intervention (average treatment effect (ATE): −0.20; 95% CI: −0.23 to –0.09), and the rest of the indicators, including referral during ANC (ATE: 0.01; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.34), institutional delivery (ATE: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.34) and postnatal care (ATE: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.37), were significantly raised because of the intervention. Similarly, we have found that perinatal death dropped considerably due to the intervention.ConclusionThe findings show a consistent increase in maternal health service use because of the introduction of obstetric ultrasound services at the primary health centre level. Furthermore, early detection of complications and following referral for specialty care were found to be high. The consistent rise in maternal health service use indicators calls for additional trial to test the effect of obstetric ultrasound service in other locations of the country. Furthermore, evaluating the predictive values, sensitivity and specificity of the obstetric ultrasound service is important.
Identification of Melanoma Subsets Based on DNA Methylation Sites and Construction of a Prognosis Evaluation Model
Authors: Tengda Li , Cheng Qian , Yi Sun 
Published: October 2022

Background. Melanoma is a lethal skin malignant tumor, and its formation or development is regulated by various genetic and epigenetic molecules. Although there are traditional methods provided for the doctors to evaluate the patients’ prognosis or make the diagnosis, the novel method based on epigenetic markers is still needed to make the early diagnosis. Results. We identified 256 melanoma-independent prognosis-related methylation sites (

P

< 0.0001) and divided patients into seven methylation subgroups. Methylation levels and survival time in the C2 subgroup were lower than that of other clusters (

P

< 0.05). We established the predicted model of prognosis risk for melanoma using the significantly changed methylation sites in C2. The model efficiently divided patients into high- and low-risk groups (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.833). Risk scores and patient survival time were negatively correlated (rs = −0.325,

P

< 0.0001). Genes corresponding to the independent prognosis-associated methylation sites were enriched in cancer- and immunology-related pathways. We identified 35 hub genes. DOK2, GBP4, PSMB9, and NLRC5 were significantly changed according to methylation subgroups, survival, tumor stages, and T categories and were positively correlated, which was validated in the testing group (

P

< 0.05). The levels of DOK2, GBP4, PSMB9, and NLRC5 had an opposite trend to their methylation sites in patients with poor prognosis. Conclusions. We identified seven DNA methylation subtypes and constructed a highly effective prognosis risk assessment model. The transcript levels of key genes corresponding to the independent prognosis-related methylation sites were significantly changed in patients according to prognosis and positively correlated with each other, indicating they may collaboratively promote melanoma formation. These findings further our understanding of the mechanism of melanoma and provide new targets for diagnosis and treatment.
Articulated Imperialism in Pakistan: a Dialectic of ‘Strategic’ and ‘Dependency’ Fixes
Authors: Khan Danish 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
The role of the internal political economic factors of the peripheral countries tends to remain largely muted in the analysis of imperialism. To redress this the paper put forwards an articulated conceptualization of imperialism in the context of the postcolonial state of Pakistan by underscoring the significance of domestic political economic factors in mediating and regulating an imperialist political settlement. Imperialist political settlement is mediated by a combination of two interrelated processes—strategic fix and dependency fix. ‘Strategic fix’ is about addressing actual or perceived political, economic and militaristic challenges --- encapsulating both territorial and capitalist logics of power --- to core countries of the capitalist world system. Whereas, the ‘dependency fix’ is about preventing a radical progressive restructuring in dominated countries (e.g., Pakistan) to ensure a favorable socio-economic order for the domestic elites. One of the key implications of envisioning imperialist domination as a dialectic of strategic and dependency fixes is that it makes visible the shared interests of Pakistani ruling elites and the imperialist forces of blocking progressive and emancipatory political and socio-economic transformation in Pakistan. Therefore, the paper argues that an effective counter-hegemonic project against imperialism needs to incorporate strategies of progressive radical transformation of a dominated country.
The Relationship Between Behavior Aspects of Executive Functions and Personality Traits in Healthy Young Adults
Authors: Nikolašević Željka , Krstić Tatjana , Rajšli Akoš , Bugarski Ignjatović Vojislava 
Published: October 2022

Executive functions (ЕF) are complex cognitive processes that govern our behavior and thoughts. Associations between personality traits and executive functions clarify the mechanisms of a person’s ability to function in everyday situations. The main goal of this study was to explore different personality dimensions relevant to the prediction of two different executive functions – Inhibition and Working Memory. The Big Five Inventory and the Adult Executive Functioning Inventory (ADEXI) were administered on a community sample comprising 549 young adults aged 18–35 years (mean age 22.10 years, SD 3.13). After controlling for age, gender and level of education, Conscientiousness and Extraversion were the most predictive personality traits, while Neuroticism and Agreeableness made specific contributions to the prediction of one of the two executive measures: Working Memory or Inhibition. Specifically, high Conscientiousness and Extraversion with low Neuroticism were significant predictors of Working Memory ability. On the other hand, high Conscientiousness and Agreeableness with low Extraversion predicted better Inhibition ability. These findings support the conclusion that these dimensions of individual differences seem to have numerous points of overlap at both psychological and neurobiological levels, but differences between these constructs are still significant.
Poisonous Exports: Pesticides, Peasants, and Conservation Paradigms in Guatemala
Authors: Grandia Liza 
Published: October 2022

U.S. intervention in Guatemala’s agricultural autonomy over the past 80 years has been a toxic blend of commission and omission. From the Green Revolution on, the United States has exported both harmful pesticides and ideological frameworks to persuade indigenous and other locally rooted small farmers to abandon traditional, chemical-free agriculture. Although U.S.-funded programs suggested that with proper labor protocols agrochemicals can be applied without harm on export plantations, there are no conditions for "safe use" under real-life conditions for small subsistence farmers, many of whom live in close proximity to protected areas. Transnational biodiversity conservation organizations have remained oddly silent on this issue, and indigenous and peasant movements have not yet mobilized against pesticides because of a paucity of information about their dangers and the “slow” violence of their impacts on health. To decolonize agriculture and conservation will require a more inclusive environmentalism aligned with peasant movements that take seriously the real conditions of risk and vulnerability in the majority-Maya Guatemalan countryside. La intervención estadounidense en la autonomía agrícola de Guatemala en los últimos 80 años ha sido una mezcla tóxica de comisiones y omisiones. A partir de la Revolución Verde en adelante, Estados Unidos ha exportado tanto pesticidas dañinos como marcos ideológicos para persuadir a los pequeños agricultores indígenas y otros agricultores con arraigo local de abandonar la agricultura tradicional y libre de químicos. Aunque los programas financiados por Estados Unidos sugirieron que, siguiendo los protocolos laborales adecuados, no había peligro en utilizar agroquímicos en las plantaciones de exportación, no existen condiciones para su “uso seguro” en contextos de la vida real tal y como atañe a los pequeños agricultores de subsistencia, muchos de quienes viven muy cerca de áreas protegidas. Las organizaciones transnacionales de conservación de la biodiversidad han permanecido extrañamente silenciosas respecto al tema, y los movimientos indígenas y campesinos aún no se han movilizado contra los pesticidas debido a la poca información sobre sus peligros, así como la “lenta” violencia de sus impactos en la salud. Una descolonización de la agricultura y la conservación requerirá de un ambientalismo más inclusivo y alineado con los movimientos campesinos; uno que tome en cuenta las condiciones reales de riesgo y vulnerabilidad en el campo guatemalteco, con su población mayoritariamente maya.
La red que crece: Platform Politics and Social Struggle in Neoliberal Guatemala
Authors: Sippert Eric 
Published: October 2022

Free-trade policies have opened the Guatemalan economy to international forces and sparked massive internal and international migration, creating new forms of social struggle produced by and engaging with these processes. A review of the 2008 advent of a grassroots organization in Western Highland Guatemala involved in binational United States–Guatemalan fair trade and migrant and solidarity organizing uses the concept of the platform instead of the network to highlight continuities and ruptures between past and present struggles. This perspective disrupts the vertical/horizontal dichotomy in social movement studies and sheds light on the effects of technological change on grassroots resistance to neoliberalism. Las políticas de libre comercio han abierto la economía guatemalteca a las pujanzas internacionales y provocado una migración masiva tanto interna como internacional, creando nuevas formas de lucha social producidas por y comprometidas con estos procesos. Este repaso del advenimiento, en 2008, de una organización de base en las Tierras Altas Occidentales de Guatemala involucrada en promover el comercio justo binacional entre Estados Unidos y Guatemala, así como la organización migrante y los nexos de solidaridad, utiliza el concepto de la plataforma en lugar de la red para resaltar las continuidades y rupturas entre luchas pasadas y presentes. Esta perspectiva irrumpe en la dicotomía vertical/horizontal subyacente a los estudios de movimientos sociales y nos brinda una perspectiva sobre los efectos del cambio tecnológico en las resistencias de base al neoliberalismo.
Effect of X-ray exposure on nano-mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube incorporated silicone polymer nanocomposites: An AFM-based study
Authors: Vadivel M , Jayakumar Sangeetha , Lahiri B B , Philip John 
Published: October 2022

Nano-mechanical properties of silicone polymer-based nanocomposites loaded with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) as nanofillers are probed here using the atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique. Further, the effects of MWCNT concentration and X-ray exposure on the nano-mechanical and topographic properties of the polymer nanocomposites are systematically studied. The root mean square surface roughness is found to increase by ∼123% when the neat polymer matrix is loaded with 2.5 wt.% of MWCNT, whereas, for a fixed MWCNT concentration, the surface roughness is found to increase by ∼171% after X-ray irradiation. This is attributed to the X-ray induced polymer degradation, polymer pull-out and poor filler-matrix interaction leading to the aggregation of MWCNT. Adhesion force and adhesion energy are estimated from the AFM-based force-displacement curves. Both quantities are found to increase with MWCNT concentration. After an exposure to diagnostic X-rays (30–70 keV), the adhesion force is found to increase by ∼4 times, which is attributed to the increased tip-surface contact area due to the higher surface roughness of the X-ray exposed samples. Further, the variation of adhesion energy with filler concentration is found to be in agreement with the theoretical values obtained from the Johnson, Kendall and Roberts (JKR) model. The elastic modulus is found to increase with the filler concentration due to an increase in adhesion force. The obtained results are beneficial for the optimal design of nanofiller loaded polymer nanocomposites for various applications, including the fabrication of lead-free radio-opaque nanocomposites.
Use of Anatomic Radiographic Horizons for the Lateral Center-Edge Angle in the Classification of Hip Dysplasia
Authors: Megerian Mark F. , Strony John T. , Mengers Sunita R. , Joseph Noah M. , Salata Michael J. , Wetzel Robert J. 
Published: October 2022

Background: The lateral center-edge angle of Wiberg (LCEA) and Tönnis angle (TA) rely on a “horizon” that functions as a reference point for measurements of hip dysplasia on weightbearing anteroposterior pelvis radiographs. There are 3 different horizons that are currently utilized depending on surgeon preference: (1) a line parallel to the radiographic floor (F), (2) a line that connects the inferior portions of the acetabular teardrops (ATs), or (3) a line that connects the ischial tuberosities (ITs). It is imperative to accurately assess the degree of hip dysplasia on initial workup to select the appropriate surgical intervention. Purpose: To assess how the choice of a radiographic horizon affects the measurements of the LCEA and TA. The secondary purpose was to assess how the horizon affected the classification of hips as either normal, borderline dysplastic, or dysplastic. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The LCEA and TA were measured on all preoperative weightbearing anteroposterior pelvis radiographs for 186 consecutive patients who underwent hip preservation surgery between February 2016 and November 2020 (140 hip arthroscopic procedures, 46 combined hip arthroscopic procedures with periacetabular osteotomy), 3 times per hip, each time using an F, AT, and IT horizon. The Student t test was used to analyze the differences in the measurements of the LCEA and TA, and discordance rates in the dysplasia classification between horizons were quantified. Results: For the entire study population, the mean LCEAF (23.4°± 7.4°) was significantly greater than the mean LCEAIT (23.1°± 7.2°) (95% CI, −0.634 to −0.003; P = .047) and mean LCEAAT (23.0°± 7.1°) (95% CI, −0.723 to −0.139; P = .004). There was no difference between the LCEAIT and LCEAAT (95% CI, −0.305 to 0.080; P = .251). When stratified by hip arthroscopic surgery, the mean LCEAF (26.3°± 5.6°) was significantly greater than the mean LCEAAT (25.8°± 5.3°) (95% CI, −0.845 to −0.162; P = .004). Overall, there was a 17.7% and 18.3% discordance rate in the dysplasia classification using the LCEAIT and LCEAAT compared with the LCEAF, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the mean TAIT, TAAT, and TAF for the entire study population, the arthroscopic surgery group, and the combined arthroscopic surgery and periacetabular osteotomy group. Conclusion: There was no statistical difference between the AT and IT horizons for LCEA measurements. The dysplasia classification was in better agreement between the 2 anatomic horizons compared with the F horizon. The TA was not affected by changes in the horizon.
A hybrid cartilage extracellular matrix-based hydrogel/poly (ε-caprolactone) scaffold incorporated with Kartogenin for cartilage tissue engineering
Authors: Mohsenifard Sadaf , Mashayekhan Shohreh , Safari Hanieh 
Published: October 2022

Despite extensive studies, hydrogels are unable to meet the mechanical and biological requirements for successful outcomes in cartilage tissue engineering. In the present study, beta cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified alginate/cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM)-based interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel was developed for sustained release of Kartogenin (KGN). Furthermore, the hydrogel was incorporated within a 3D-printed poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/starch microfiber network in order to reinforce the construct for cartilage tissue engineering. All the synthesized compounds were characterized by H1-NMR spectroscopy. The hydrogel/microfiber composite with a microfiber strand size and strand spacing of 300 μm and 2 mm, respectively showed a compressive modulus of 17.2 MPa, resembling the properties of the native cartilage tissue. Considering water uptake capacity, degradation rate, mechanical property, cell cytotoxicity and glycosaminoglycan secretions, β-CD-modified hydrogel reinforced with printed PCL/starch microfibers with controlled release of KGN may be considered as a promising candidate for using in articular cartilage defects.