41 research outputs found

    Understanding and Addressing Arab-American Mental Health Disparities

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    The landscape of mental healthcare and focus on disparities research in the United States has vastly improved in recent years. However, Arab-Americans continue to be a commonly overlooked group within the scope of the research. This trend is especially worrisome given detrimental factors for Arab-Americans that have arisen as a factor of 9/11 and in the scope of the 2016 United States Presidential Election. This work explores barriers to accessing formal mental health care and offers recommendations to reconcile them for Arab-Americans. The present study completes this through a review of the literature and an interview conducted by the author of a panel of mental health professionals at a community health organization in order to gain a contemporary perspective of the issue. Salient suggestions that arise from this study are reducing stigma in the community by incorporating increased usage of primary care and religious providers as well as family therapies; the allocation of Arabic-speaking translators to clinics or a focus on hiring Arabic-speaking practitioners; supporting safety-net insurance funding; increased education on what psychotherapy and mental illness are; and pushing the necessity of professional training in the culture, religion, and preferences of Arab-Americans

    WIN55212-2 Modulates Intracellular Calcium via CB1 Receptor-Dependent and Independent Mechanisms in Neuroblastoma Cells

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    The CB1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) and extracellular calcium (eCa2+)-stimulated Calcium Sensing receptor (CaSR) can exert cellular signaling by modulating levels of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i). We investigated the mechanisms involved in the ([Ca2+]i) increase in N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells, which endogenously express both receptors. Changes in [Ca2+]i were measured in cells exposed to 0.25 or 2.5 mM eCa2+ by a ratiometric method (Fura-2 fluorescence) and expressed as the difference between baseline and peak responses (ΔF340/380). The increased ([Ca2+]i) in cells exposed to 2.5 mM eCa2+ was blocked by the CaSR antagonist, NPS2143, this inhibition was abrogated upon stimulation with WIN55212-2. WIN55212-2 increased [Ca2+]i at 0.25 and 2.5 mM eCa2+ by 700% and 350%, respectively, but this increase was not replicated by CP55940 or methyl-anandamide. The store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) blocker, MRS1845, attenuated the WIN55212-2-stimulated increase in [Ca2+]i at both levels of eCa2+. Simultaneous perfusion with the CB1 antagonist, SR141716 or NPS2143 decreased the response to WIN55212-2 at 0.25 mM but not 2.5 mM eCa2+. Co-perfusion with the non-CB1/CB2 antagonist O-1918 attenuated the WIN55212-2-stimulated [Ca2+]i increase at both eCa2+ levels. These results are consistent with WIN55212-2-mediated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization from store-operated calcium channel-filled sources that could occur via either the CB1R or an O-1918-sensitive non-CB1R in coordination with the CaSR. Intracellular pathway crosstalk or signaling protein complexes may explain the observed effects

    Comprehensive Assessment of the Properties of Cotton Single Jersey Knitted Fabrics Produced From Different Lycra States

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    This research aims to evaluate the properties of cotton single jersey knitted fabrics (SJKF) produced from cotton/spandex yarns at different Lycra states. So, four different SJKF were produced, namely 100% cotton, cotton with additional Lycra (full-platted), core, and dual-core-spun (DCS) yarns with the same loop length. The thermal comfort properties, fabric recovery, total hand value (THV), moisture management parameters, and air permeability were measured. The experimental results showed that the use of DCS yarns in the SJKF improves the fabric elastic recovery by 100%. The obtained values of air permeability, THV, and overall moisture management capacity of stretched SJKF are lower than 100% cotton fabric sample. Thermal absorptivity of core and dual-core samples increased by 27% and the water vapor permeability decreased by 18% compared to 100% cotton fabric sample

    Theoretical Porosity of Elastic Single Jersey Knitted Fabric Based on 3D Geometrical Model of Stitch Overlapping

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    To improve the dimensional stability of weft knitted fabrics, spandex yarns are incorporated with the base yarn by the plaiting technique. Adding spandex leads to stitch overlapping, increases the fabric thickness, and affects the pore’s size and distribution. This in turn affects the geometrical and physical properties of weft knitted fabrics such as air permeability. In this paper, the theoretical 3D modeling of stitch overlap, maximum set, and open structures is presented by using AutoCAD software. Fabric thickness was divided into several sections, and the theoretical porosity at each section was analyzed and calculated. Furthermore, single jersey knitted fabrics SJKF with and without spandex were produced to obtain overlapping (by using spandex weight percent, SWP 8%), and open structures. The calculated and theoretical overall porosity were calculated and compared. The study showed the influence of stitch overlapping on fabric porosity. Moreover, the results show that the proposed model captured to some extent the change in fabric porosity as its structure changes
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