bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Verbesserung der Tropfenanwendungsrate bei Glaukomen
Authors: Rohrschneider Klaus
Published: August 2022

Purpose: To test the effectiveness of an intervention designed to improve glaucoma medication adherence. Design: Randomized, controlled trial at a Veterans Affairs (VA) eye clinic. Participants: Veterans with medically treated glaucoma who reported poor adherence and their companions if applicable. Methods: Participants, and their companions if applicable, were randomized to receive an intervention to improve medication adherence that included glaucoma education, personalized disease management suggestions, and a reminder aid, or the control arm that received education regarding general eye health. Main outcome measures: The average proportion of prescribed glaucoma medication doses taken on schedule over the 6 months after randomization according to an electronic monitor between participants in the 2 arms. Results: The mean proportion of prescribed doses taken on schedule was higher in the intervention group compared with controls (0.85 vs. 0.62, P < 0.0001). The difference in proportions between the 2 groups did not vary in regressions models adjusted for companion status, frequency of dosing, and race. The longitudinal model indicated that the intervention group had significantly higher adherence during the first month after randomization and continued to stay higher through 6 months (month by treatment interaction, P = 0.003). Conclusions: A multifaceted intervention can help improve glaucoma medication adherence. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03052257.
Risk Factors and Prognosis of Acute Kidney Injury after Cardiac Surgery in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Zhang Dong , Teng Jie , Luo Zhe , Ding Xiaoqiang , Jiang Wuhua
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) is one of the most prevalent complications of cardiac surgery, while the renal and overall prognoses of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with CSA-AKI are extremely poor. However, there is little published information on the occurrence of CSA-AKI in patients with CKD. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors and prognostic factors of cardiac surgery-related AKI in patients with CKD. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on CKD patients who underwent cardiac surgery at a tertiary referral teaching hospital. CSA-AKI was defined based on the KDIGO criteria. The risk factors for CSA-AKI and the factors affecting renal function recovery at discharge or death in patients with AKI were investigated. Results: Among 1638 CKD patients enrolled, the incidence of CSA-AKI was 50.55%. AKI patients’ in-hospital mortality was higher than patients without AKI (AKI vs. no AKI, 4.7 vs. 0.9%, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male (odds ratio [OR] 1.479), preoperative hypertension (OR 1.548), preoperative hemoglobin <110 g/L (OR 2.389), and aortic clamping time >58 min (OR 1.567) were independent risk factors for AKI after cardiac surgery in patients with CKD. Factors affecting renal function recovery of AKI patients included preoperative diabetes mellitus (OR 0.306), hyperchloremia (OR 0.927), estimate of the glomerular filtration rate (OR 1.034), and AKI progression. Compared with patients with AKI stage 1, the rate of renal function recovery in patients with AKI stage 2 and stage 3 was reduced by 78.9% and 82.3%, respectively. Conclusions: In the population of patients with CKD, the incidence of CSA-AKI was high, which significantly affected renal and overall prognosis. The prompt intervention of modifiable factors may help improve the prognosis of patients with CKD.
Molecular characterization and differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells from human rheumatoid arthritis cartilage
Authors: Bairapura Manjappa Akshay , Shetty Siddharth , Babu Santhosh , Shetty Reshma , Shetty Shantharam , Shetty Ananthram , Mohana Kumar Basavarajappa
Published: August 2022

The presence of mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) articular cartilage is sparsely investigated largely owing to the persistent pathogenic disease condition and lack of specific biomarkers. Considering the recent advancements for potential cell-based therapies in immunomodulatory diseases, such as RA, this in vitro study was aimed at investigating the cellular, molecular and differentiation characteristics of human RA cartilage-derived MPCs. Articular cartilage fragments from RA patients were obtained for the isolation and characterization of MPCs on their cellular and biological properties, cytogenic stability, pluripotency, and plasticity. Established MPCs were phenotypically identified using a panel of markers and their differentiation ability into mesenchymal lineages was assessed by cytochemical staining and the expression of molecular markers. MPCs displayed a heterogeneous population of cells with characteristic features of multipotent stem cells. Cells had higher viability, proliferative rate and colony-forming ability. Further, MPCs showed the expression of pluripotency markers, cytogenetic stability and minimal replicative senescence. In addition, MPCs differentiated into osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes, and modulated the expression of each lineage-specific gene markers. The results demonstrated the availability of a viable pool of MPCs residing in RA cartilage, which could serve as an ideal cell source for reinstating native homotypic cartilage.
Inhibition of Hypothalamic FTO Activates STAT3 Signal through ERK1/2 Associated with Reductions in Food Intake and Body Weight
Authors: Hu Fei , Yan Hua-Juan , Gao Cun-Xiu , Sun Wei-Wen , Long Yue-Sheng
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene is strongly associated with obesity which brings a major health threat. Altered expression of its encoded protein FTO in the hypothalamus has been identified to contribute to central control of appetite and body weight. However, its molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Methods: Mouse hypothalamic POMC cell line N43/5 was treated with FTO inhibitor rhein, FTO shRNA, or extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) inhibitor U0126 to inhibit FTO or ERK1/2. Rhein and U0126 were injected into lateral ventricle of the mice by intracerebroventricular cannulation. Western blotting and immunofluorescent assays were performed to monitor protein level. Results: This study identified that inhibition of FTO in N43/5 cells led to phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) at S727 site and induced p-STAT3-S727 nuclear translocation. We further showed that FTO inhibition promoted phosphorylation of ERK1/2; specific inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling by U0126 could abolish the effect of FTO inhibition on STAT3-S727 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Furthermore, we found that inhibition of hypothalamic FTO promoted STAT3-S727 phosphorylation in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus, and the mice showed reductions in food intake and body weight. In addition, inhibition of hypothalamic ERK1/2 could abolish the effects of FTO inhibition on STAT3-S727 phosphorylation, reductions of food intake and body weight. Conclusion: Our in vitro and in vivo data suggest that the inhibition of hypothalamic FTO could activate STAT3 through ERK1/2, which is potentially associated with reductions in food intake and body weight.
PREGNANT AND LACTATING Macaca nigra: BEHAVIOR AND FOOD SELECTION
Authors: Perwitasari-Farajallah Dyah , Eka Arismayanti , Indira Nurul Qomariah , Andre Pasetha , Dewi Apri Astuti , James O. Waterman
Published: August 2022

Pregnancy and lactation are reproductive phases that require large amounts of energy. Females in the reproductive period need good quality and quantity of food to provide nutrition for the fetus, milk production and child care. The mother will adapt to changes in behavior patterns and food type to meet these needs. The influence of parity and environmental conditions can affect the behavior patterns of females. During pregnancy, the Macaca nigra is known to have different proportion of activities in each period, while the behavior during the lactation phase in each mester is unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the behavior patterns in each mester and the food selection of Macaca nigra during the pregnancy and lactation phases, as well as the influence of female parity and environmental toward the behavior patterns. There were 39 females Macaca nigra observed from two groups from August 2018 to July 2019. An instantaneous focal sampling method was performed to observe females’ daily activities, continuous focal sampling to monitor food types and a selectivity index to analyze food type preferences. The results showed that the female Macaca nigra pattern was influenced by the reproductive phase, female parity and environmental conditions. Females at the end of the pregnancy and lactation phases had a high proportion of feeding and eat more arthropods. Primiparous females mostly performed resting activities. Food preference was influenced by reproductive factors and food availability. The choice of fruit could be affected by fruit availability, and their favorite food was D. mangiferum and Euginia sp.
An overview of the fish diversity and their threats in the Gowthami-Godavari Estuary in Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Ray Paromita , Malla Giridhar , J.A. Johnson  , K. Sivakumar
Published: August 2022

The fish diversity of different estuarine habitats of the Gowthami-Godavari River was studied from 2014 to 2017. We recorded 231 species of finfishes belonging to 27 orders, 81 families, and 167 genera. Perciformes was the most speciose order, followed by Carangiformes and Clupeiformes. Of the 231 species, one is an Endangered species (Silonia childreni), three are Vulnerable (Tenualosa toli, Cirrhinus cirrhosis, and Wallago attu), three are Near Threatened, and 11 are Data Deficient species. We also recorded five exotic species from the study area, of which Oreochromis mossambicus was the most dominant. The major threats, including potential impacts of river regulation and climate change on the estuarine habitats of Gowthami-Godavari, are also discussed.
Retinol and Retinol Binding Protein 4 Levels and Cardiometabolic Disease Risk
Authors: Schiborn Catarina , Weber Daniela , Grune Tilman , Biemann Ronald , Jäger Susanne , Neu Natascha , Müller von Blumencron Marie , Fritsche Andreas , Weikert Cornelia , Schulze Matthias B. , Wittenbecher Clemens
Published: August 2022

Background:

Despite mechanistic studies linking retinol and RBP4 (retinol binding protein 4) to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), epidemiological evidence is still conflicting. We investigated whether conflicting results of previous studies may be explained by differences in the association of retinol and RBP4 with cardiometabolic risk across subgroups with distinct sex, hypertension state, liver, or kidney function.

Methods:

We used case-cohorts nested in the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition)-Potsdam cohort (N=27 548) comprising a random sample of participants (n=2500) and all physician-verified cases of incident CVD (n=508, median follow-up time 8.2 years) and T2D (n=820, median follow-up time 6.3 years). We estimated nonlinear and linear multivariable-adjusted associations between the biomarkers and cardiometabolic diseases by restricted cubic splines and Cox regression, respectively, testing potential interactions with hypertension, liver, and kidney function. Additionally, we performed 2-sample Mendelian Randomization analyses in publicly available data.

Results:

The association of retinol with cardiometabolic risk was modified by hypertension state (
P
interaction CVD<0.001;
P
interaction T2D<0.001). Retinol was associated with lower cardiometabolic risk in participants with treated hypertension (hazard ratio
per SD
[95% CI]: CVD, 0.71 [0.56–0.90]; T2D, 0.81 [0.70–0.94]) but with higher cardiometabolic risk in normotensive participants (CVD, 1.32 [1.06–1.64]; T2D, 1.15 [0.98–1.36]). Our analyses also indicated a significant interaction between RBP4 and hypertension on CVD risk (
P
interaction=0.04). Regarding T2D risk, we observed a u-shaped association with RBP4 in women (
P
nonlinearity=0.01,
P
effect=0.02) and no statistically significant association in men. The biomarkers’ interactions with liver or kidney function were not statistically significant. Hypertension state-specific associations for retinol concentrations with cardiovascular mortality risk were replicated in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest a hypertension-dependent relationship between plasma retinol and cardiometabolic risk and complex interactions of RBP4 with sex and hypertension on cardiometabolic risk.
Rosuvastatin Slows Progression of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: The METEOR-China Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Zheng Huaguang , Li Hongwei , Wang Yilong , Li Zhanquan , Hu Bo , Li Xiaogang , Fu Lu , Hu Hongtao , Nie Zhiyu , Zhao Bilian , Wei Di , Karlson Björn W. , Bots Michiel L. , Meng XiangWen , Chen Yundai , Wang Yongjun , Cao Shiping , Cai Yefeng , Peng Daoquan , Fu Yaogao , Yuan Zuyi , Dong Yugang , Ma Genshan , Hong Wenke , Xu En , Li Huimin , Yue WenHua , Wang Yanjiang , Zheng Zeqi , Zhang Ningru , Zhang Xu , Fu Weiguo
Published: August 2022

Background:

Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease worldwide, including in China. Primary prevention, through lipid-lowering, could avert development of atherosclerosis. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a well-validated measure of atherosclerosis used in intervention studies as the primary outcome and alternative end point for cardiovascular disease events.

Methods:

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group study assessed the effects of rosuvastatin 20 mg/d compared with placebo on progression of CIMT over 104 weeks in Chinese people with subclinical atherosclerosis. The primary end point was the annualized rate of change in mean of the maximum CIMT measurements taken 7× over the study period from each of 12 carotid artery sites (near and far walls of the right and left common carotid artery, carotid bulb, and internal carotid artery). Secondary end points included CIMT changes at different artery sites and lipid-parameter changes. Safety was also assessed.

Results:

Participants were randomized (1:1) to receive rosuvastatin (n=272) or placebo (n=271). Baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups. The change in mean of the maximum CIMT of the 12 carotid sites was 0.0038 mm/y (95% CI, −0.0023–0.0100) for the rosuvastatin group versus 0.0142 mm/y (95% CI, 0.0080–0.0204) for the placebo group, with a difference of −0.0103 mm/y (95% CI, −0.0191 to −0.0016;
P
=0.020). For the CIMT secondary end points, the results were generally consistent with the primary end point. There were clinically relevant improvements in lipid parameters with rosuvastatin. We observed an adverse-event profile consistent with the known safety profile of rosuvastatin.

Conclusions:

Rosuvastatin 20 mg/d significantly reduced the progression of CIMT over 2 years in Chinese adults with subclinical atherosclerosis and was well tolerated.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02546323.
Branching Time Active Inference with Bayesian Filtering
Authors: Champion Théophile , Grześ Marek , Bowman Howard
Published: August 2022

Branching time active inference is a framework proposing to look at planning as a form of Bayesian model expansion. Its root can be found in active inference, a neuroscientific framework widely used for brain modeling, as well as in Monte Carlo tree search, a method broadly applied in the reinforcement learning literature. Up to now, the inference of the latent variables was carried out by taking advantage of the flexibility offered by variational message passing, an iterative process that can be understood as sending messages along the edges of a factor graph. In this letter, we harness the efficiency of an alternative method for inference, Bayesian filtering, which does not require the iteration of the update equations until convergence of the variational free energy. Instead, this scheme alternates between two phases: integration of evidence and prediction of future states. Both phases can be performed efficiently, and this provides a forty times speedup over the state of the art.
A Simple Model of Nonspiking Neurons
Authors: Naudin Loïs , Laredo Juan Luis Jiménez , Corson Nathalie
Published: August 2022

Due to the ubiquity of spiking neurons in neuronal processes, various simple spiking neuron models have been proposed as an alternative to conductance-based models (a.k.a. Hodgkin-Huxley–type models), known to be computationally expensive and difficult to treat mathematically. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no equivalent in the literature of a simple and lightweight model for describing the voltage behavior of nonspiking neurons, which also are ubiquitous in a large variety of nervous tissues in both vertebrate and invertebrate species and play a central role in information processing. This letter proposes a simple model that reproduces the experimental qualitative behavior of known types of nonspiking neurons. The proposed model, which differs fundamentally from classic simple spiking models unable to characterize nonspiking dynamics due to their intrinsic structure, is derived from the bifurcation study of conductance-based models of nonspiking neurons. Since such neurons display a high sensitivity to noise, the model aims at capturing the experimental distribution of single-neuron responses rather than perfectly replicating a single given experimental voltage trace. We show that such a model can be used as a building block for realistic simulations of large nonspiking neuronal networks and is endowed with generalization capabilities, granted by design.
Cities and Sustainable Ocean Governance: A Neglected Link
Authors: Stöfen-O’Brien Aleke , Doelle Alida J , Del Savio Linda
Published: August 2022

While the detrimental effects of cities have received increasing attention from decision-makers and scholars, their role in sustainable ocean governance and within public international law has often been neglected. This article aims to explore the ocean-city nexus at the interface of sustainability. This is done by reviewing the impacts of cities on the marine and coastal environment and by analysing potentially applicable rules and obligations in public international law. In the understanding that these questions are part of a broader discourse on the integration of non-State actors in public international law, it is demonstrated that cities may be important actors in sustainable ocean governance. With this, the article aims to contribute to the understanding of what sustainable cities may entail and to highlight the significance of the ocean-city nexus for sustainable development.
Dramaticules et autres catastrophes
Authors: Eigenmann Éric
Published: August 2022

Cet article analyse les motifs récurrents de l’écoute et du regard dans l’ensemble des dramaticules de Beckett rédigés en français. Il tient compte de la réalisation scénique, télévisuelle ou radiophonique des textes en question et fait la part de l’inaudible, de l’invisible, voire de l’inintelligible qu’ils mettent en scène. Etendant le questionnement à la réception des pièces du corpus, il inscrit les motifs mentionnés dans des dispositifs de perception qui contribuent à renverser les caractéristiques sémiotiques traditionnelles de la relation théâtrale et à dessiner un nouveau facteur d’unité esthétique au sein de ces « petits drames » beckettiens, par-delà les différences génériques.
Le « cirque Beckett »
Authors: Colin Marjorie
Published: August 2022

Le théâtre de Beckett est un théâtre hybride qui fait une large place à la clownerie. S’il s’agit tout d’abord de clowns tragiques marqués par le sceau du recommencement et de l’enfermement, voués au silence, à l’inaction, très vite, par l’entremise du jeu, s’opère une conversion du tragique en comique. La gestuelle et la rhétorique clownesque révèlent les délires jubilatoires qui attestent le refus d’un théâtre fermé sur lui-même. Peut-être est-ce là le « pari » de Beckett : par le clown, donner à « saisir » son théâtre, qui ne peut plus être celui d’un intellectuel pour les intellectuels. Le clown habite l’œuvre beckettienne pour en souligner la profonde universalité́ et faire de son théâtre, un théâtre pour tous.
Beckett et l’art minimal américain
Authors: Mougin Pascal
Published: August 2022

On ne peut comprendre l’importance majeure de l’œuvre de Beckett dans l’art contemporain sans revenir sur la réception de l’écrivain par les « néo-avant-gardes » américaines des années 1960 – l’art minimal en particulier –, qui marquent le moment inaugural, précisément, de l’art contemporain. Beckett fournit alors aux artistes ainsi qu’aux critiques qui les défendent une référence essentielle dans leur tentative de repenser la notion d’œuvre d’art et l’expérience esthétique contre les fondamentaux du modernisme tel que les conçoit Clement Greenberg. Pourtant, Beckett lui-même n’a semble-t-il jamais participé aux débats sur le minimalisme américain ni seulement évoqué les artistes new-yorkais. Et pour cause : les artistes de son temps qui l’intéressent sont tous des peintres de l’expressionnisme abstrait, autrement dit le courant moderniste contre lequel se positionne la nouvelle avant-garde new-yorkaise. Le hiatus est donc profond entre les références artistiques de l’écrivain et les artistes qu’il a lui-même inspirés. On s’intéressera ici à ce moment originel, qui reste largement ignoré par la critique française, ainsi qu’aux différentes lectures qui, rétrospectivement, en ont été proposées par la critique anglo-américaine des vingt dernières années.
An Application of Game Theory to Beckett’s Waiting for Godot and Endgame
Authors: Azodi Kaveh , Khazai Sara , Sabbagh Mahmoud Reza Ghorban
Published: August 2022

Waiting for Godot and Endgame are rich in terms of interaction between characters and their surrounding contexts. The present paper examines these interactions according to the mathematical theory of games proposed by Steven J. Brams in Divine Games: Game Theory and the Undecidability of a Superior Being. The framework of Search Decision is used to examine the differences between the two plays in terms of interaction between the “state of nature” and Person, which provides a clear understanding of the reasons behind strategies characters may take within uncertain environments.
Quality of Life of the Population of Kazakhstan: Assessment of the Main Parameters and Identification of Problem Areas
Authors: Chulanova Zaure K.
Published: August 2022

The purpose of the article is to study the main parameters characterizing the quality of life of the population of Kazakhstan in modern economic conditions and develop proposals for its improvement. The methodology of the study is based on a holistic approach, including the use of objective indicators of the quality of life that determine the material conditions and means of human livelihood, and subjective assessments of the population, social groups of their material and social well-being. Measuring and evaluating the level and quality of life of the population of Kazakhstan based on an integrated approach includes the use of the following methods: component analysis, normative and stratification, integral indicators, and subjective assessments of the population. The leading blocks of the life support system are considered, including the assessment of income and consumption in the conditions of maintaining socio-economic income differentiation; the social qualitative parameters of the life support system of the population, the most important indicators of the implementation of priority areas of development of labor potential in the innovative economy, modernization of housing policy are given.
Improving Assistive Technology Access for Students With Chronic and Complex Medical Conditions: Lessons Learned From Young Cancer Survivors
Authors: Carey Lisa B. , Harkins-Brown Andrea , Ruble Kathy , Paré-Blagoev E. Juliana , Milla Kimberly , Thornton Clifton P. , Jacobson Lisa A.
Published: August 2022

Students with chronic and complex medical conditions often require assistive technologies in order to accommodate both physical and cognitive needs. Survivors of childhood cancer who are eligible for special education offer a lens through which to examine barriers to assistive technology assessment, acquisition, use, and support for students with health impairments. In this article, we examine literature that suggests that special education students with a history of cancer are unlikely to gain access to assistive technology, despite clearly demonstrated needs. We discuss assistive technology literature to determine research-supported steps schools can take to increase and improve access to assistive technology for students with chronic and complex medical conditions.
Reading Jael with Women from a Traumatized Community
Authors: Dickie June F.
Published: August 2022

The story of Jael is interpreted in many different ways; the two main ones are that she is a hero to Israel, or she is a deceitful murderer. An incident that occurred in the Cape Flats, South Africa, some years ago throws light on local women’s interpretation of the Jael story. In the contemporary incident, a woman killed her son, but was viewed by women in the community not as a murderer but as a fellow-sufferer. In this study, women in the community and women in prison (some for murder) read the Jael text, act out the story, and share their views of what was happening in the biblical text. It is clear that contemporary women living in a violent community can contribute to a better understanding of the Jael text through their many parallel experiences.
Quits Versus Discharges Across Job Levels: Revisiting the Positive Side of Turnover
Authors: Simón Cristina , Avgerinos Emmanouil , Revilla Elena
Published: August 2022

Although the functional effects of turnover have been argued from the earliest research in the field, empirical evidence so far supports a general negative effect on unit performance, and attempts to explore its potential benefits are scarce. It has been argued that one reason for the absence of positive effects has to do with a lack of specificity of the turnover construct. The present study focuses on two sources of specificity: the reason for turnover and the job level of the departing employees. Our objective is to perform integrative research to analyze their joint effects and discuss how the four turnover scenarios created by their combination make their potential benefits of departures salient. We integrate arguments from human and social capital theories with the literature on team adaptation and change to develop our conceptual framework, and test our hypotheses using longitudinal monthly data from 5,202 stores of a large fashion multinational retailer in 39 countries. Our results provide evidence of a curvilinear relationship between staff quits and unit performance, and show that discharges are linearly beneficial both for managerial and staff positions, although at different degrees. Our findings demonstrate that differentiating between quits and discharges matters, and that the relative value conveyed by the job level of the departing employees is a relevant contingency in this distinct effect over performance.
Experience in Radical Remission: A Self Study and Framework
Authors: Wardell Diane Wind
Published: August 2022

The experience of a radical remission from a terminal diagnosis is essentially life altering. The purpose of this self-report is to provide a basis for understanding this event and to provide practitioners a guide for supporting patients during the transition process. A conceptual model is presented that outlines the structure and changes that are influenced during the transition process.
Ice particle distribution simulation in a transonic axial compressor based on Eulerian evaporation coupling model
Authors: Lai Anqing , Cheng Han , Li Meng , Pan Jie
Published: August 2022

High-altitude ice crystal icing of aero engine is a serious threat to flight safety. Previous studies on ice crystal icing focused on the influence of air flow on ice crystals, but ice crystals also affect the engine flow field, which is often ignored in the research on the influence of ice crystals on engines. Numerical simulation based on Eulerian method is adopted to realize the two-way coupling between the compressor air flow and the particles in this study. The approach is demonstrated using the NASA compressor stage 35. The changes of compressor and particle parameters with different inlet total water content, relative humidity, and median volume diameter are calculated and analyzed, and the influence of ice crystal on the compressor performance is studied. The results show that the variation of relative humidity has a great influence on the particle temperature, median volume diameter, and wet bulb temperature. Median volume diameter has a great influence on the melt ratio. The variation of total water content has little effect on particle temperature, total water content, median volume diameter, and wet bulb temperature. The particle parameters are affected by the flow field of the compressor. The parameters show that the icing is easy to occur at the leading edge of NASA stage 35 stator. By contrast, the overall compressor characteristics, after ice particle injection, the total pressure ratio, and isentropic efficiency of the compressor are increased without considering ice crystal accretion, and the chocking boundary and stall boundary are not affected.
Collaboration and Conflict at Chief Minister’s Initiative on Primary Healthcare (CMIPHC)
Authors: Bashir Mohsin , Ahmad Ferhana
Published: August 2022

This case study is about the organization Chief Ministers Initiative on Primary Health Care (CMIPHC). The organization was created as a collaboration between the Government of Punjab province in Pakistan and a local nonprofit organization named Punjab Rural Support Program (PRSP).

CMIPHC was given control of Basic Health Units (BHU) in 12 out of 36 districts of Punjab. However, the provincial health department retained the infrastructure in other aspects of public health. Despite signs of success, CMIPHC had come under criticism from the provincial health department officials and the local government administration throughout its operation.

In 2014, the conflict had reached a point where the provincial government had started considering the closure of CMIPHC and returning BHUs to the provincial health department. The final decision was to be taken after a third-party evaluation. While the CMIPHC leadership was confident that a third-party evaluation would favour the collaboration, they were still concerned about the financial and functional stability of their organization. This was because the leadership felt that some officials from the local health department were resentful of the fact that PRSP was treading on their turf.

This instruction manual uses a resource dependency framework to analyse the facts presented by the case and aims to help the students better understand the opportunities and threats posed by collaborative approaches to public service delivery.
Learning from Each Other: Comparing the Experiences of First-Generation Migrant, International, and Domestic Students at Irish Universities
Authors: Mihut Georgiana
Published: August 2022

Despite the potential for mutual learning, improvement of service provision, and the advancement of policy, research on first-generation migrant students and research on international students have remained stubbornly separate. This paper makes the case that education research would benefit from leveraging data on international students and that internationalization research and practice should more often include first-generation migrant students. To explore the benefits of this proposition, this article explores differences in the experiences of Irish-born domestic students, first-generation migrant students, and international students at Irish higher education institutions, using Eurostudent VI data collected in 2016. These comparisons show that first-generation migrant students report lower levels of preparation for the domestic labor market than both Irish-born domestic students and international students. International students are faring well on other indicators too, as they report higher levels of academic satisfaction and feeling more prepared for the international labor market than both first-generation migrant students and domestic students. Results also suggest that the academic satisfaction of the three groups of students is shaped by both common as well as divergent factors, indicating that interventions aimed to support each group may require additional tailoring. However, limitations of both quantitative and qualitative approaches to documenting the experiences of international students need to be considered as findings from this study and similar studies are used. By comparing the experiences of the three groups of students, this paper highlights the experience of first-generation migrant students, often overlooked in international higher education studies.
Identifying dominant components of vibrational energy flow in U-rib plates of bridge based on structural intensity
Authors: Kong Derui , Zhang Xun , Lu Bin , Li Cong , Liu Yuyi
Published: August 2022

Stiffened U-rib plates are the elementary components of steel box girders in bridges that directly bear the input external energy before transferring it to other components. Research on the dynamic characteristics of stiffened U-rib plates is the basis for examining vibration and noise in steel box girders. Most relevant studies have focused on the vibrational modes and single-frequency responses in this context, and few researchers have sought to optimize the design of stiffened U-rib plates to reduce responses due to vibrations and noise. This study identifies the global and local laws of vibrational transmission in stiffened U-rib plates subjected to harmonic loads through structural intensity (SI) analysis that is carried out by jointly using standard finite element software and a post-processing code created by the authors. The contributions of each component of vibrational waves are represented to reflect the dominant roles of the bending wave in the baseplate and the in-plane wave in the U-ribs, respectively. The effects of parameters of the U-rib plates on SI are also quantitatively investigated. SI analysis can be used as a new criterion for designing and optimizing bridges as well as formulating measures for vibration reduction.
Becoming ‘international’: Transgressing national identity as a ritual for class identification
Authors: Dugonjic-Rodwin Leonora
Published: August 2022

Asking how being ‘international’ relates to privilege, I analyse a role-play game, the Students’ League of Nations, where pupils and teachers from select international schools simulate the UN General Assembly in Geneva. I document distinctive practices of selection and visions of excellence as talent, using Bourdieu’s notion of ‘institutional rite’. I combine insider ethnography and quantitative analyses of the host school with a historical account of its’ elitism to bridge the gap between macro- and micro-analyses of ‘everyday nationalism’. I show how this game draws a symbolic boundary between ‘international’ and ‘local’ high schools by separating students who are considered worthy of transgressing their national identity from all others.
Adaptive time-stepping algorithms for the scalar auxiliary variable scheme of Navier-Stokes equations
Authors: Chen Hongtao , Wang Weilong
Published: August 2022

Adaptive time stepping is an important tool for controlling the simulation error and enhancing its efficiency in computational fluid dynamics. In this paper, we introduce two adaptive time-stepping algorithms based on the scalar auxiliary variable scheme for the Navier-Stokes equation. One way is to take equidistribution of energy decay to control the variance of the time steps, and in the other way, the relative error is involved to produce time steps. The numerical experiments show that the computational time is significantly saved by these methods.
Prospective evaluation of in situ screw fixation for stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis
Authors: DeVries Clarabelle A , Badrinath Raghav , Baird Samuel G , Bomar James D , Upasani Vidyadhar V
Published: August 2022

Purpose:

We aimed to determine which variables were associated with persistent symptoms or need for further surgery in patients treated with in situ fixation for stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis. We hypothesized that patients with greater proximal femoral deformity would require revision surgical intervention.

Methods:

We prospectively collected data on stable slipped capital femoral epiphysis patients who underwent in situ screw fixation at a single institution. Demographic and radiographic information, as well as patient-reported outcomes, were collected.

Results:

Forty-six patients (54 hips) with an average follow-up of 3.5 years (range: 2.0–8.5) and mean pre-op Southwick slip angle of 40.5° ± 19.4° were studied. We observed one complication following the index procedure (2%). Twelve hips (22%) went on to have a secondary procedure 2.7 ± 2.2 years after the index surgery. Severe slips were 14.8× more likely to undergo a secondary procedure than mild and moderate slips ( p < 0.001). We found no correlation between slip severity and patient-reported outcomes ( p > 0.6). Hips requiring a secondary procedure had significantly lower Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome scores (76.8 ± 18.4) at final follow-up compared to hips that did not require additional surgery (86.8 ± 15.7) ( p = 0.042).

Conclusion:

With minimum 2-year follow-up, 22% of patients required a secondary surgery. Patient-reported outcomes did not correlate with slip severity, but were found to be significantly higher in slipped capital femoral epiphysis patients that did not require a secondary procedure. Prophylactic treatment of all slip-related cam deformity was not found to be necessary in this prospective cohort. Patients with moderate-to-severe slips may require secondary surgery.

Level of Evidence:

Level II
Customer Sentiment Analysis and Prediction of Insurance Products’ Reviews Using Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Hossain Md Shamim , Rahman Mst Farjana
Published: August 2022

The study’s goal is to analyse and predict customer reviews of insurance products using various machine learning techniques. We gathered consumer rating data from the Yelp website and filtered the initial data set to only include insurance reviews. Following cleaning, the filtered summary texts were graded as positive, neutral or negative sentiments, and the AFINN and Valence Aware Dictionary for Sentiment Reasoning (VADER) sentiment algorithms were used to rate those sentiments. Furthermore, the current investigation employs five supervised machine learning approaches to divide customer ratings of insurance companies into three sentiment groups. The results of the current study revealed that the majority of customer reviews for the insurance products were negative, with the average number of words with negative sentiment being higher. In addition, current research discovered that while all of the approaches (decision tree, K Neighbours classifier, support vector machine (SVM), logistic regression and random forest classifier) can correctly classify review text into sentiment class, logistic regression outperforms in high accuracy. We analysed and predicted customer review messages using a variety of machine learning methods, which could help companies better understand how customers respond to their products and services. As a result, companies can learn how to use machine learning methods to better understand the behaviour of their customers.
Factors Associated With Urgency Urinary Incontinence Among Older Mexican American Women Aged 65 years and Older
Authors: Martinez Ariza , Rodriguez Martin A. , Al Snih Soham
Published: August 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine which socio-demographic, clinical, or functional factors are associated with urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) over 20-years of follow-up in a community-dwelling sample of Mexican American women aged 65 years and older without UUI at baseline. We included 1,358 women participants from the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly study conducted in the southwestern of US (Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas). Measures included self-reported UUI, socio-demographics, smoking status, body mass index, medical conditions, depressive symptoms, physical and cognitive function, and handgrip strength. We used generalized estimating equation models to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) of UUI as a function of socioeconomic, clinical, and functional factors. Self-reported UUI increased from 3.1% to 21.9% from baseline (1993/1994) to follow-up (2012/2013). Current smokers, obesity, arthritis, previous heart attacks, and depressive symptoms were factors associated with greater odds of UUI over time. Identification of these factors can help clinicians determine those at high risk of developing UUI. Preventing and/or treating the risk factors early may delay UUI and increase quality of life in this underserved population.
Prevalence of and factors independently associated with digital ischemic complications in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Guayboon Theerajet , Muangchan Chayawee
Published: August 2022

Objective:

To investigate the prevalence of and independent predictors for digital ischemic complications in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Method:

Patients enrolled in the Siriraj Systemic Sclerosis Cohort registry during 2013–2019 were classified as having or not having digital ischemic complications at the baseline and 1-year timepoints.

Results:

A total of 171 patients with systemic sclerosis were included. The prevalence of digital pulp loss, digital pitting scar, digital ulcer, and digital amputation at baseline and 1 year was 41.5%, 39.8%, 3.5%, 7.6% and 37.4%, 43.9%, 14.1%, 6.4%, respectively. Over half (58.5%) of overall systemic sclerosis had developed new digital ischemic complications during the 1-year follow-up. Those with digital ischemic complications at baseline were at high risk for developing new digital ischemic complications (odds ratio: 15.9). Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis is associated with digital ischemic complications (odds ratio: 6.0), digital pitting scar (odds ratio: 4.9), and digital pulp loss (odds ratio: 6.4). Tendon friction rub is associated with digital pitting scar (odds ratio: 5.0). Salt-and-pepper skin appearance is associated with digital pulp loss (odds ratio: 3.0) and digital ulcer (odds ratio: 6.9). Disease duration > 3 years is associated with digital ulcer (odds ratio: 4.4). Male gender is associated with digital ulcer (odds ratio: 5.4).

Conclusion:

Digital pulp loss, digital pitting scar, digital ulcer, and digital amputation were common manifestations of digital ischemic complications, and diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis was the strongest of the six independent predictors.
Book review: Rup Kumar Barman, Caste, Class and Culture: The Malos, Adwaita Malla Barman and History of India and Bangladesh
Authors: Goswami Pritam
Published: August 2022

Rup Kumar Barman, Caste, Class and Culture: The Malos, Adwaita Malla Barman and History of India and Bangladesh. New Delhi: Abhijeet Publications, 2020, 224 pp., ₹ 978-93-88865-49-4 (Hardback)
New data on melanostibite, Mn2Fe3+Sb5+O6
Authors: Musetti Silvia , Biagioni Cristian , Hålenius Ulf , Bonaccorsi Elena , Zaccarini Federica
Published: August 2022

Following the identification of a new occurrence of melanostibite from the Apuan Alps, the crystal chemistry of this mineral has been re-examined using specimens from its type locality, Sjögruvan, Örebro County, Sweden, and from the new occurrence, the Scortico–Ravazzone Mn ore deposit, Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy. Both specimens were examined through electron microprobe analysis, micro-Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data; Mössbauer spectroscopy was used for the Swedish specimen. Electron microprobe data indicate a close to ideal composition Mn2Fe3+Sb5+O6 for both samples, whereas Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed the trivalent oxidation state of Fe. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction for the Swedish and Italian specimens points to the acentric nature of melanostibite, space group R3. Refined unit-cell parameters of melanostibite from Scortico–Ravazzone and Sjögruvan are a = 5.2351(3), c = 14.3645(8) Å, V = 340.93(4) Å3, and a = 5.2314(2), c = 14.3518(8) Å, V = 340.15(3) Å3, respectively. Melanostibite is an homeotypic derivative of pyrophanite.
Determinants of low fifth minute Apgar score among newborns delivered by cesarean section at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern Ethiopia: an unmatched case control study
Authors: Ajibo Bahiru Darma , Wolka Eskinder , Aseffa Andualem , Nugusu Mitiku Ayele , Adem Abdi Oumer , Mamo Mebratu , Temesgen Ashagrie sintayehu , Debalke Getachew , Gobena Negeso , Obsa Mohammad Suleiman
Published: August 2022

Background

Apgar score is used to evaluate the neonates’ overall status and response to resuscitation, as well as its prognosis beyond the neonatal period. Low fifth minute Apgar scores is more frequent and is associated with markedly increased risks of neonatal mortality and morbidity. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of birth asphyxia is high (22.52%). Birth asphyxia contributes to significant neonatal morbidities and mortalities due to severe hypoxic-ischemic multi-organ damage, mainly brain damage. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify determinants of low fifth minute Apgar score among newborns delivered by cesarean section.

Methods

An unmatched case control study design was conducted. The Apgar score is based on measures of heart rate, respiratory effort, skin color, muscle tone, and reflex irritability. The data collection tool or checklist was adapted from previous study done at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In this study, cases were all newborns with Apgar score < 7 whereas controls were all newborns with Apgar score >  = 7. The study participants were selected by simple random sampling technique. Data was into Epidata version 4.6 and exported to SPSS software version 24. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the independent effect of different factors at P < 0.05.

Result

Factors associated with low Apgar score were fetal birth weight < 2.5 kg [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 8.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03 ‒ 64.59] P = 0.046, skin incision to delivery time (AOR = 5.27; 95% CI: 2.20 ‒ 12.60) P = 0.001, pregnancy induced hypertension (AOR = 4.58, 95% CI: 1.75 ‒ 11.92) P = 0.002, antepartum hemorrhage (AOR = 3.96; 95% CI: 1.75 ‒ 8.94) 0.001, general anesthesia (AOR = 3.37, 95% CI: 1.72 ‒ 6.62) P = 0.001, meconium stained amniotic fluid (AOR = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.32 ‒ 7.12) P = 0.009 and emergency cesarean section (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.13 ‒ 4.15) P = 0.019.

Conclusions

Fetal birth weight < 2.5 kg, skin incision to delivery time, pregnancy induced hypertension, antepartum hemorrhage, type of anesthesia, meconium stained amniotic fluid and type of cesarean section were factors independently associated with Apgar score. Therefore, it is important to work on identified risk factors to reduce the impacts low fifth minute Apgar score in the in early adulthood..