• Human Ecology Research
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.123-139
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• 2023

The study examined the mediating effect of internalized shame on the relationship between affiliate stigma and interpersonal anxiety among adolescents with siblings who had autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the moderated mediating effect of mother-adolescent communication openness. The participants consisted of 139 adolescents (boys 48.9%, high-school students 79.8%) who had siblings with ASD. Interpersonal anxiety, affiliate stigma, internalized shame, and mother-adolescent communication openness were measured using the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (La Greca & Lopez, 1998), the Affiliate Stigma Scale (Mak & Cheung, 2008), the Internalized Shame Scale (Cook, 1988), and the Parent-Adolescent Communication Scale (Barnes & Olson, 1982), respectively. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficients. Process Macro Models 4 and 7 were used to examine the mediating effect and the moderated mediating effect. The results indicated that internalized shame mediated the effect of affiliate stigma on interpersonal anxiety among adolescents who had siblings with ASD. However, there was no significant moderated mediating effect of mother-adolescent communication openness on the relationship between affiliate stigma, internalized shame and interpersonal anxiety. These findings suggest that it is necessary to improve social awareness of individuals with ASD and their family members to prevent adolescents who have siblings with ASD from having affiliate stigma and to help them reduce interpersonal anxiety. The results also highlight the importance of counseling programs for adolescents with siblings with ASD as a way of preventing or alleviating their interpersonal anxiety by reducing internalized shame, even where they experience affiliate stigma.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.88 no.5
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• pp.451-462
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• 2023

Lumped Damage Mechanics (LDM) is a theory proposed in the late eighties, which assumes that structural collapse may be analyzed as a two-phase phenomenon. In the first (pre-localization) stage, energy dissipation is a continuous process and it may be modelled by means of the classic versions of the theory of plasticity or Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM). The second, post-localization, phase can be modelled assuming that energy dissipation is lumped in zones of zero volume: inelastic hinges, hinge lines or localization surfaces. This paper proposes a new LDM formulation for cracking in concrete structures in tension. It also describes its numerical implementation in conventional finite element programs. The results of three numerical simulations of experimental tests reported in the literature are presented. They correspond to plain and fiber-reinforced concrete specimens. A fourth simulation describes also the experimental results of a new test using the digital image correlation technique. These numerical simulations are also compared with the ones obtained using conventional Cohesive Fracture Mechanics (CFM). It is then shown that LDM conserves the advantages of both, CDM and CFM, while overcoming their drawbacks.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2024

Background: The coracoacromial ligament (CAL) is frequently observed to be damaged during arthroscopy and it is unclear how demographic, anatomic, and radiographic factors are related to CAL degeneration in full-thickness rotator cuff tears. Methods: A prospective study was conducted of patients at a single institution undergoing shoulder arthroscopy for first-time, full-thickness rotator cuff tears. We evaluated preoperative anteroposterior radiographs to obtain critical shoulder angle, glenoid inclination, acromial index, acromiohumeral distance, lateral acromial angle, and acromial morphology. We documented CAL quality, rotator cuff tear size and pattern during arthroscopy. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors for encountering severe CAL fraying during arthroscopy. Results: Shoulders had mild CAL degeneration in 58.1% of cases, whereas severe CAL degeneration was present in 41.9% of shoulders. Patients with severe CAL attrition were significantly older (62.0 years vs. 58.0 years, P=0.042). Shoulders with severe CAL attrition had large rotator cuff tears in 54.1% of cases (P<0.001), and tears involving the infraspinatus (63.2% vs. 29.6%, P=0.003). The severe degeneration group was more likely to have a larger critical shoulder angle measurement on preoperative radiographs than those in the mild attrition group (36.1°±3.6° [range, 30°-45°] vs. 34.1°±3.8° [range, 26°-45°], P=0.037). Conclusions: While the clinical impact of CAL degeneration remains uncertain, increased severity of CAL degeneration is associated with older age, larger rotator cuff tear size, presence of infraspinatus tearing, and increased preoperative critical shoulder angle. Level of evidence: III.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.240-247
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• 2022

Background/Aims: Few studies have measured the accuracy of prognostic scores for upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) among cancer patients. Thereby, we compared the prognostic scores for predicting major outcomes in cancer patients with UGIB. Secondarily, we developed a new model to detect patients who might require hemostatic care. Methods: A prospective research was performed in a tertiary hospital by enrolling cancer patients admitted with UGIB. Clinical and endoscopic findings were obtained through a prospective database. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to gauge the power of each score. Results: From April 2015 to May 2016, 243 patients met the inclusion criteria. The AIMS65 (area under the curve [AUC] 0.85) best predicted intensive care unit admission, while the Glasgow-Blatchford score best predicted blood transfusion (AUC 0.82) and the low-risk group (AUC 0.92). All scores failed to predict hemostatic therapy and rebleeding. The new score was superior (AUC 0.74) in predicting hemostatic therapy. The AIMS65 (AUC 0.84) best predicted in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: The scoring systems for prognostication were validated in the group of cancer patients with UGIB. A new score was developed to predict hemostatic therapy. Following this result, future prospective research should be performed to validate the new score.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.236-241
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• 2024

Background: Gasoline, a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds is classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Gasoline station attendants, consistently exposed to its hazardous components, may face genotoxic effects. This study aimed to assess the influence of varying work shift durations on DNA damage in gasoline station attendants. Methods: Ninety individuals from three locations in southern México were studied. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and DNA damage was assessed using the comet assay. Demographic, occupational, and lifestyle data were collected. Statistical analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. Results: Significant differences in DNA damage parameters were observed between exposed and unexposed groups. The impact of tobacco, alcohol, and exercise on DNA damage was negligible. Extended work shifts (12 and 24 hours) showed heightened DNA damage compared to 8-hour shifts and the unexposed group. A novel finding revealed a modest but significant correlation between DNA damage and job seniority. Conclusion: The study highlights the intricate relationship between occupational exposure to gasoline components, DNA damage, and work shift lengths. Extended shifts correlate with heightened genotoxic effects, emphasizing the importance of personalized safety measures. The significant correlation between DNA damage and job seniority introduces occupational longevity as a determinant in the genetic health of gasoline station attendants. This discovery has implications for implementing targeted interventions and preventive strategies to safeguard workers' genetic integrity throughout their years of service. The study calls for further exploration of unconsidered factors in understanding the multifactorial nature of DNA damage in this occupational setting.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.36-49
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• 2023

Objective: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are benign congenital lesions. The estimated prevalence is 10-18 per 100,000 individuals, with an incidence rate of 1.1-1.4 per 100,000 person-year; only 12% of AVMs present symptoms during life. It is important to study different characteristics associated with AVMs because these patients require multidisciplinary treatment. Methods: A descriptive, observational, longitudinal, and retrospective study was carried out from January 15, 2016 to October 19, 2021. Convenience sampling was used on patients diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation. Sociodemographic data was obtained, such as: sex, age, site, predominant symptoms, clinical debut, type of malformation, data associated with post therapy evolution, type of embolizing agent used, associated complications, Rankin scale, and death. Results: Data from 535 procedures was collected, we calculated an incidence of 4.4 cases per million inhabitants. Ninety procedures in 56 patients that used endovascular therapy were obtained with a female-male ratio of 0.75 and an age distribution of 35±14 (SD). A 36.3±11.5 (SD) mm diameter was registered. There was a 33% success rate for endovascular surgery. Conclusions: The multidisciplinary treatment of AVMs is made up of three pillar techniques: microsurgical resection, embolization, and radio-neurosurgery. It is extremely important to make an appropriate decision, with an emphasis on achieving better functional outcomes for the patient. Although neurological endovascular therapy was initially used as an adjuvant treatment for neurosurgery and radio-neurosurgery, it has been used more and more frequently as the first line of treatment.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.462-467
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• 2023

Thrombectomy procedures following intra-aneurysmatic lesions are extremely rare, and few cases have been reported. This article describes a microsurgical intra-aneurysmatic thrombectomy (MIaT) for a distal anterior cerebral artery (DACA) aneurysm. We present the case of a 48-year-old female that was admitted to the emergency room, showing neurologic deterioration with focal deficits. A computed tomography angiography (CTA) scan revealed an aneurysm located in the distal segment of the left anterior cerebral artery. During the surgical procedure, after clipping, a well-formed clot was visualized through the aneurysm's wall obstructing the left DACA flow. We proceeded to open the aneurysm's dome to remove the thrombus and clip the aneurysm neck, re-establishing the flow of the left DACA. Intra-aneurysmatic thrombosis can occur as a complication during clipping, obstructing the distal flow of vital arteries and causing fatal results in the patient's postoperative status. MIaT is a good technique for restoring the flow of the affected vessel and allows a secure aneurysm clipping after thrombus removal.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10061-10066
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• 2015

Background: The aetiological relationship between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer (CC) is widely accepted. Our goal was to determine the prevalence of HPV types in Mexican women attending at the Mexican Institute for Social Security from different areas of Mexico. Materials and Methods: DNAs from 2,956 cervical samples were subjected to HPV genotyping: 1,020 samples with normal cytology, 931 with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LGSIL), 481 with high grade HGSIL and 524 CC. Results: Overall HPV prevalence was 67.1%. A total of 40 HPV types were found; HPV16 was detected in 39.4% of the HPV-positive samples followed by HPV18 at 7.5%, HPV31 at 7.1%, HPV59 at 4.9%, and HPV58 at 3.2%. HPV16 presented the highest prevalence both in women with altered or normal cytology and HPV 18 presented a minor prevalence as reported worldwide. The prevalence ratio (PR) was calculated for the HPV types. The analysis of PR showed that HPV16 presents the highest association with CC, HPV 31, -33, -45, -52 and -58 also demonstrating a high association. Conclusions: The most prevalent HPV types in cervical cancer samples were -16, -18, -31, but it is important to note that we obtained a minor prevalence of HPV18 as reported worldwide, and that HPV58 and -52 also were genotypes with an important prevalence in CC samples. Determination of HPV genotypes is very important in order to evaluate the impact of vaccine introduction and future cervical cancer prevention strategies.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1152-1159
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• 2013

Four male lambs (Katahdin; average live weight $25.9{\pm}2.9$ kg) with "T" type cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square experiment to evaluate the influence of supplemental dry distillers grain with solubles (DDGS) levels (0, 10, 20 and 30%, dry matter basis) in substitution for dry-rolled (DR) corn on characteristics of digestive function and digestible energy (DE) of diet. Treatments did not influence ruminal pH. Substitution of DR corn with DDGS increased ruminal neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion (quadratic effect, p<0.01), but decreased ruminal organic matter (OM) digestion (linear effect, p<0.01). Replacing corn with DDGS increased (linear, $p{\leq}0.02$) duodenal flow of lipids, NDF and feed N. But there were no treatment effects on flow to the small intestine of microbial nitrogen (MN) or microbial N efficiency. The estimated UIP value of DDGS was 44%. Postruminal digestion of OM, starch, lipids and nitrogen (N) were not affected by treatments. Total tract digestion of N increased (linear, p = 0.04) as the DDGS level increased, but DDGS substitution tended to decrease total tract digestion of OM (p = 0.06) and digestion of gross energy (p = 0.08). However, it did not affect the dietary digestible energy (DE, MJ/kg), reflecting the greater gross energy content of DDGS versus DR corn in the replacements. The comparative DE value of DDGS may be considered similar to the DE value of the DR corn it replaced up to 30% in the finishing diets fed to lambs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2014

Forty-eight Pelibuey${\times}$Katahdin male intact lambs ($23.87{\pm}2.84$ kg) were used in an 84-d feeding trial, with six pens per treatment in a $2{\times}2$ factorial design arrangement. The aim of the study was to evaluate the interaction of two dietary energy levels (3.05 and 2.83 Mcal/kg ME) and two dietary protein levels (17.5% and 14.5%) on growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass traits. The dietary treatments used were: i) High protein-high energy (HP-HE); ii) High protein-low energy (HP-LE); iii) Low protein-high energy (LP-HE), and iv) Low protein-low energy (LP-LE). With a high-energy level, dry matter intake (DMI) values were 6.1% lower in the low-protein diets, while with low-energy, the DMI values did not differ between the dietary protein levels. Energy levels did not influence the final weight and average daily gain (ADG), but resulted in lower DMI values and higher gain efficiencies. No effects of protein level were detected on growth performance. The observed dietary net energy (NE) ratio and observed DMI were closer than expected in all treatments and were not affected by the different treatments. There was an interaction (p<0.03) between energy and protein level for kidney-pelvic and heart fat (KPH), KPH was higher in lambs fed high energy and high protein diet but not in high energy and low protein diet. The KPH was increased (20.2%, p = 0.01) in high-energy diets, while fat thickness was increased (21.7%, p = 0.02) in high-protein diets. Therefore, it is concluded that dietary energy levels play a more important role in feed efficiency than protein levels in finishing lambs with a high-energy diet (>2.80 Mcal/kg ME). Providing a level of protein above 14.5% does not improves growth-performance, dietary energetics or carcass dressing percentage.