Cultural intelligence of chemical engineering students: A demographics study

An empirical investigation into the influence of demographic characteristics as foundations of cultural intelligence of chemical engineering students is addressed for the first time in this study. Following a validated cultural intelligence methodology, 108 UK final-year BEng students responded to questions spanning the four dimensions of cultural intelligence: metacognitive, cognitive, motivational and behavioural cultural intelligences. Overseas students reported a wider understanding of cross-cultural situations (cognitive intelligence), whereas UK students were more confident of their capabilities to perform and adjust themselves in cross-cultural scenarios (motivational intelligence). Ethnicity also played a key role; Asian students showed the highest cognitive cultural intelligence but also the lowest motivational intelligence, whereas black minority ethnic (BME) students reported the highest motivational cultural intelligence.A fundamental understanding of the relationships between demographic characteristics and the four dimensions of cultural intelligence is needed to drive the transition towards a more global engineering educational strategy, where students can receive an enhanced support to efficiently deal with decision making, adaptive and task performance and adjustment in cross-cultural academic environments

Review of best practice in cardiac rehabilitation for women

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease is defined as damage to, or narrowing of, arteries due to atherosclerosis and is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among women worldwide. Cardiovascular disease is recognized to be both a leading cause of mortality and an undertreated condition for women. The goals of this review manuscript are to present the current background literature specific to cardiac rehabilitation programs for women and serve as a knowledge translation strategy to help raise therapists’ awareness of the need for cardiac rehabilitation programs specifically designed for female patients. Methods: A review of best practice literature in cardiac rehabilitation for women. Results: With current increasing trends in risk factors, including stress, obesity, poor diet, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle, the future burden could be overwhelming from the perspective of individuals’ health and health authorities’ resources. Conclusions: Emerging research clearly demonstrates the need for cardiac rehabilitation programs tailored for women and highlighting the unique features of program delivery that can reduce the risk of under-referral and treatment program dropout

Reversible spin storage in metal oxide—fullerene heterojunctions

We show that hybrid MnOx/C60 heterojunctions can be used to design a storage device for spin-polarized charge: a spin capacitor. Hybridization at the carbon-metal oxide interface leads to spin-polarized charge trapping after an applied voltage or photocurrent. Strong electronic structure changes, including a 1-eV energy shift and spin polarization in the C60 lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, are then revealed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy, in agreement with density functional theory simulations. Muon spin spectroscopy measurements give further independent evidence of local spin ordering and magnetic moments optically/electronically stored at the heterojunctions. These spin-polarized states dissipate when shorting the electrodes. The spin storage decay time is controlled by magnetic ordering at the interface, leading to coherence times of seconds to hours even at room temperature

More anxious than depressed: prevalence and correlates in a 15-nation study of anxiety disorders in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background Anxiety disorder, one of the highly disabling, prevalent and common mental disorders, is known to be more prevalent in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) than the general population, and the comorbid presence of anxiety disorders is known to have an impact on the diabetes outcome and the quality of life. However, the information on the type of anxiety disorder and its prevalence in persons with T2DM is limited. Aims To assess the prevalence and correlates of anxiety disorder in people with type 2 diabetes in different countries. Methods People aged 18–65 years with diabetes and treated in outpatient settings were recruited in 15 countries and underwent a psychiatric interview with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Demographic and medical record data were collected. Results A total of 3170 people with type 2 diabetes (56.2% women; with mean (SD) duration of diabetes 10.01 (7.0) years) participated. The overall prevalence of anxiety disorders in type 2 diabetic persons was 18%; however, 2.8% of the study population had more than one type of anxiety disorder. The most prevalent anxiety disorders were generalised anxiety disorder (8.1%) and panic disorder (5.1%). Female gender, presence of diabetic complications, longer duration of diabetes and poorer glycaemic control (HbA1c levels) were significantly associated with comorbid anxiety disorder. A higher prevalence of anxiety disorders was observed in Ukraine, Saudi Arabia and Argentina with a lower prevalence in Bangladesh and India. Conclusions Our international study shows that people with type 2 diabetes have a high prevalence of anxiety disorders, especially women, those with diabetic complications, those with a longer duration of diabetes and poorer glycaemic control. Early identification and appropriate timely care of psychiatric problems of people with type 2 diabetes is warranted

Characterization of the Clinical and Immunologic Phenotype and Management of 157 Individuals with 56 Distinct Heterozygous NFKB1 Mutations

Background: An increasing number of NFKB1 variants are being identified in patients with heterogeneous immunologic phenotypes. Objective: To characterize the clinical and cellular phenotype as well as the management of patients with heterozygous NFKB1 mutations. Methods: In a worldwide collaborative effort, we evaluated 231 individuals harboring 105 distinct heterozygous NFKB1 variants. To provide evidence for pathogenicity, each variant was assessed in silico; in addition, 32 variants were assessed by functional in vitro testing of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells (NF-κB) signaling. Results: We classified 56 of the 105 distinct NFKB1 variants in 157 individuals from 68 unrelated families as pathogenic. Incomplete clinical penetrance (70%) and age-dependent severity of NFKB1-related phenotypes were observed. The phenotype included hypogammaglobulinemia (88.9%), reduced switched memory B cells (60.3%), and respiratory (83%) and gastrointestinal (28.6%) infections, thus characterizing the disorder as primary immunodeficiency. However, the high frequency of autoimmunity (57.4%), lymphoproliferation (52.4%), noninfectious enteropathy (23.1%), opportunistic infections (15.7%), autoinflammation (29.6%), and malignancy (16.8%) identified NF-κB1-related disease as an inborn error of immunity with immune dysregulation, rather than a mere primary immunodeficiency. Current treatment includes immunoglobulin replacement and immunosuppressive agents. Conclusions: We present a comprehensive clinical overview of the NF-κB1-related phenotype, which includes immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, autoinflammation, and cancer. Because of its multisystem involvement, clinicians from each and every medical discipline need to be made aware of this autosomal-dominant disease. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and NF-κB1 pathway-targeted therapeutic strategies should be considered in the future.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

MitraClip after failed surgical mitral valve repair: an international multicenter study

BackgroundRecurrence of mitral regurgitation (MR) after surgical mitral valve repair (SMVR) varies and may require reoperation. Redo mitral valve surgery can be technically challenging and is associated with increased risk of mortality and morbidity. We aimed to assess the feasibility and safety of MitraClip as a treatment strategy after failed SMVR and identify procedure modifications to overcome technical challenges.Methods and ResultsThis international multicenter observational retrospective study collected information for all patients from 16 high-volume hospitals who were treated with MitraClip after failed SMVR from October 29, 2009, until August 1, 2017. Data were anonymously collected. Technical and device success were recorded per modified Mitral Valve Academic Research Consortium criteria. Overall, 104 consecutive patients were included. Median Society of Thoracic Surgeons score was 4.5% and median age was 73 years. At baseline, the majority of patients (82%) were in New York Heart Association class >= III and MR was moderate or higher in 86% of patients. The cause of MR pre-SMVR was degenerative in 50%, functional in 35%, mixed in 8%, and missing/unknown in 8% of patients. The median time between SMVR and MitraClip was 5.3 (1.9-9.7) years. Technical and device success were 90% and 89%, respectively. Additional/modified imaging was applied in 21% of cases. An MR reduction of >= 1 grade was achieved in 94% of patients and residual MR was moderate or less in 90% of patients. In-hospital all-cause mortality was 2%, and 86% of patients were in New York Heart Association class <= II.ConclusionsMitraClip is a safe and less invasive treatment option for patients with recurrent MR after failed SMVR. Additional/modified imaging may help overcome technical challenges during leaflet grasping.Cardiolog

Inborn errors of type I IFN immunity in patients with life-threatening COVID-19.

Clinical outcome upon infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ranges from silent infection to lethal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We have found an enrichment in rare variants predicted to be loss-of-function (LOF) at the 13 human loci known to govern Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3)- and interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7)-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity to influenza virus in 659 patients with life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia relative to 534 subjects with asymptomatic or benign infection. By testing these and other rare variants at these 13 loci, we experimentally defined LOF variants underlying autosomal-recessive or autosomal-dominant deficiencies in 23 patients (3.5%) 17 to 77 years of age. We show that human fibroblasts with mutations affecting this circuit are vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2. Inborn errors of TLR3- and IRF7-dependent type I IFN immunity can underlie life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia in patients with no prior severe infection

Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with life-threatening COVID-19

Background: We previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15–20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in ~ 80% of cases. Methods: We report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia. Among the 928 patients tested for autoantibodies against type I IFN, a quarter (234) were positive and were excluded. Results: No gene reached genome-wide significance. Under a recessive model, the most significant gene with at-risk variants was TLR7, with an OR of 27.68 (95%CI 1.5–528.7, P = 1.1 × 10−4) for biochemically loss-of-function (bLOF) variants. We replicated the enrichment in rare predicted LOF (pLOF) variants at 13 influenza susceptibility loci involved in TLR3-dependent type I IFN immunity (OR = 3.70[95%CI 1.3–8.2], P = 2.1 × 10−4). This enrichment was further strengthened by (1) adding the recently reported TYK2 and TLR7 COVID-19 loci, particularly under a recessive model (OR = 19.65[95%CI 2.1–2635.4], P = 3.4 × 10−3), and (2) considering as pLOF branchpoint variants with potentially strong impacts on splicing among the 15 loci (OR = 4.40[9%CI 2.3–8.4], P = 7.7 × 10−8). Finally, the patients with pLOF/bLOF variants at these 15 loci were significantly younger (mean age [SD] = 43.3 [20.3] years) than the other patients (56.0 [17.3] years; P = 1.68 × 10−5). Conclusions: Rare variants of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I IFN immunity genes can underlie life-threatening COVID-19, particularly with recessive inheritance, in patients under 60&nbsp;years old

Achieving comprehensive remission or low disease activity in rheumatoid patients and its impact on workability &ndash; Saudi Rheumatoid Arthritis Registry

Hani Almoallim,1&ndash;3 Nahid Janoudi,2 Fahdah Alokaily,4 Zeyad Alzahrani,5 Shereen Algohary,3 Hanan Alosaimi,3,6 Suzan Attar3,7 1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Alqura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medicine, Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Alzaidi Chair of Research in Rheumatic Diseases, Umm Alqura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 4Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Medicine, Faculty of King Saud bin Abdulaziz for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Medicine, King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Purpose: Ability to work is an important endpoint in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is not clear what outcome measures should be used to guide treatment in order to maximize workability. This study addressed the impact of RA on workability in a Saudi population and examined the correlation between objective measures of disease activity and reduced workability. This will allow better understanding of treatment targets that will translate into improved workability. Patients and methods: Data were collected through a digital patient record keeper: The Rheumatoid Arthritis Saudi Database. Male and female patients, &ge;18 years of age, that met the American College for Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of RA, were recruited, regardless of treatment. Demographic and disease-specific data were collected. Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) was used to define patients as low (DAS-28 &le;3.2) vs high (DAS-28 &gt;3.2) disease activity. Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, and musculoskeletal ultrasound 7 joint score were documented also. The work productivity and activity impairment (WPAI) score was used to measure absenteeism, presenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment. DAS-28 score was correlated with WPAI score and linear regression used to identify the demographic and measures of treatment response that predict improvement in WPAI score. Results: Higher absenteeism and more activity impairment were seen for patients with persistent DAS-28 &gt;3.2 (non-achievers). HAQ and VAS scores correlated with presenteeism, overall work impairment, and activity impairment. Conclusion: Disease activity, as defined by DAS-28 score, correlates with absenteeism and work impairment in a Saudi population. However, on linear regression analysis, HAQ and VAS scores were the only measures predictive of work impairment. These scores should be used to monitor response to treatment regimens that aim to maximize work potential for Saudi individuals. Keywords: rheumatoid arthritis, work impairment, WPAI score, disease activity, HAQ score, VAS scor