bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low Power Adiabetic Logic System for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Mailsamy M. , Rukkumani V. , Srinivasan K.
Published: January 2022

There have been significant advances in sensors and device structures in the medical industry, particularly in implanted medical devices. Increasingly complex electronic circuitry may now be implanted in the human body thanks to compact, high-energy batteries and hermetic packaging.
These gadgets must adhere to strict power consumption guidelines due to the battery recharging schedule. Designing energy-efficient circuits and systems becomes increasingly important as a result of this fact. Adiabatic circuits provide a hopeful alternative for traditional circuitry in case
of low energy design. Because of power-clock phases synchronization complexity, designing and functionally verifying presenting 4-phase adiabatic circuitry takes longer. Accordingly, multiple clock generators are used typically and can reveal enhanced consumption of energy in the network of
clock distribution. Furthermore, they are not suitable for designing in high-speed because of their clock skew management and high complexity issues. In this paper, TMEL (True multi-phase energy recovering logic), the first energyrecovering/adiabatic logic family is presented for biomedical
applications, which functions using the scheme multiple-phase sinusoidal clocking. Moreover, a system of SCAL, a source-coupled variation with TMEL having enhanced energy efficiency and supply voltage scalability, is introduced. A novel true multi-phase Approach and Source-coupled adiabatic
logic for energy effective communication system is proposed. The adiabatic logic is employed for both write and read side operation. The CMOS inverter is integrated with TMEL cascades, which in turn reduces leakage loss. In SCAL, the optimal performance at any operating circumstance is attained
byan adjustable current source in each gate. SCAL, and TMEL, are capable of outperforming existing adiabatic logic families concerning operating speed and energy efficiency. The performance analysis was carried and simulated through 45 nm CMOS inverter in terms of leakage power, delay, and
power consumption. In particular, for the clock rates that range from 10 MHz to 200 MHz, the proposed SCAL was more energy-efficient and less dissipative on comparing their pipelined or purely combinational CMOS counterparts. In biomedical equipment, the system may be included into the low-power
design since it is energy efficient and very robust. Improvements in VLSI technology, such as increased dynamic range, low-voltage EEPROMs (electrically eraseable programmable ROMs), and specific sensor techniques, are also expected to contribute to advancements in implanted medical devices
in the near future.
An Energy Efficient Trust Based Routing Scheme Using Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization for Wireless Sensor Based Healthcare Networks
Authors: Gnana Selvan S. , Muthu Lakshmi I.
Published: January 2022

Healthcare networks are so sensitive and requires faster yet reliable data transmission. The problem based on congestion degrades the resources that lead to the failure of sensor nodes and faulty node misbehavior. In addition to this, increased energy computation, network performance
minimizes the network lifetime. So to overcome such drawbacks, this paper proposes trust-based congestion aware using Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization (HPSO) in Wireless Sensor based Healthcare Networks (WSHN). The proposed approach comprises two significant phases. The initial phase involves
the calculation of congestion state among various nodes and the of trust values. Thus an optimal congestion metric is obtained. In the second phase, two diverse metrics namely distance and trust congestion metrics are executed using HPSO algorithm for optimal data packet routing from the base
stations to the source node. This article presents a novel HPSO algorithm that utilises two distinct operators, namely the emigration and immigration processes, as well as the mutation process of the Bio-geographical based Optimization (BBO) algorithm, for presenting the optimal data routing
protocol. The experimental outcomes and comparison analysis demonstrate that the proposed strategy outperforms several alternative approaches.
Ultra-Low Power and High Sensitivity of Joint Clock Gating Based Dual Feedback Edge Triggered Flip Flop for Biomedical Imaging Applications
Authors: Prema S. , Karthikeyan N. , Karthik S.
Published: January 2022

To adapt to varied working situations, the latest biomedical imaging applications require low energy consumption, high performance, and extensive energy-performance scalability. State-of-the-art electronics with higher sensitivity, higher counting rate, and finer time resolution are
required to create higher precision, higher temporal resolution, and maximum contrast biomedical images. In recent days, the system’s power consumption is important critically in modern VLSI circuits particularly for the low power application. In order to decrease the power, a power
optimization technique must be used at various design levels. The low power use of logic cells is a proficient technique for decreasing the circuit level power. Dual Feedback edge triggered Flip Flop (DFETFF) is considered for biomedical imaging applications in the proposed system. Initially,
the high dynamic range voltage is given as input signal. The comparator output is then retried at the comparator end. The integration capacitor is employed for storing remaining voltage signal. The comparator voltage is then given to the capacitor reset block. In the proposed work, a capacitor-reset
block that employs clock signal takes up a dual-feedbackedge-triggered Flip-flop as an alternative of a conventional type for reducing the final output signals errors. Dual feedback loops assure that feedback loops do not tri-state at the time of SET restoration, a scheme that could lead to
SEUs in latches if a single delay component and a single feedback loop are used. In digital system, Clock gating is a competent method of lessening the overall consumption of power along with deactivating the clock signal selectively and is useful for controlling the usage of clock signal
asynchronously in reference to input-signal current. The integration-control (Vint) signal is employed in controlling the integration time. On the termination of integration, the signal level phase is kept, also similar one is send to arrangement all through read period. As a result,
the simulation was carried out after the design layout and the estimations of performance were made and are compared with traditional approaches to prove the proposed mechanism effectiveness for future biomedical applications.
Indian Ocean Subtropical Underwater and the Interannual Variability in Its Annual Subduction Rate Associated with the Southern Annular Mode
Authors: Nie Xunwei , Liu Hao , Xu Tengfei , Wei Zexun
Published: January 2022

In this study, the Indian Ocean Subtropical Underwater (IOSTUW) was investigated as a subsurface salinity maximum using Argo floats (2000–20) for the first time. It has mean salinity, potential temperature, and potential density values of 35.54 ± 0.29 psu, 17.91° ± 1.66°C, and 25.56 ± 0.35 kg m−3, respectively, and mainly extends between 10° and 30°S along the isopycnal surface in the subtropical south Indian Ocean. The annual subduction rate of the IOSTUW during the period of 2004–19 was investigated based on a gridded Argo dataset. The results revealed a mean value of 4.39 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) with an interannual variability that is closely related to the southern annular mode (SAM). The variation in the annual subduction rate of the IOSTUW is dominated by the lateral induction term, which largely depends on the winter mixed layer depth (MLD) in the sea surface salinity (SSS) maximum region. The anomalies of winter MLD are primarily determined by SAM-related air–sea heat flux and zonal wind anomalies through modulation of the buoyancy. As a result, the annual subduction rate of the IOSTUW generally increased when the SAM index showed negative anomalies and decreased when the SAM index showed positive anomalies. Exceptional cases occurred when the wind anomaly within the SSS maximum region was weak or was dominated by its meridional component.

Significance Statement

The Indian Ocean Subtropical Underwater (IOSTUW) is characterized as a subsurface salinity maximum in the subtropical south Indian Ocean, and it has potential contribution to regional sea level change and interoceanic salinity exchange. The purpose of this work is to give a more precise description of the IOSTUW and to better understand the formation process of this water mass. Our results shine new light on hydrological characteristics of the IOSTUW based on an observational dataset collected during the past two decades. In addition, the formation of the IOSTUW was found to be closely related to the leading mode of variability in the atmospheric circulation of the Southern Hemisphere though air–sea heat flux and surface wind anomaly.
Mucoepidermoid Carcinomas of the Larynx
Authors: Richards Holden W. , Bertelsen Caitlin , Hamilton Bronwyn , Sauer David , Schindler Joshua
Published: January 2022

Objectives:

Discussions regarding the specific management and outcomes for laryngeal MEC are limited to very small, single-institution case series. To look further into the diagnosis and management of these uncommon non-squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx, we present 3 recent cases of laryngeal MEC treated at our institution.

Methods:

Patients at a tertiary hospital treated for MEC between October 2019 and December 2020 were retrospectively identified. Chart review, imaging analysis, and histologic slide creation were completed for all patients.

Results:

We identified and treated 2 patients with high-grade supraglottic and 1 patient with intermediate-grade glottic MEC. These patients presented to our clinic with a primary complaint of either gradual, worsening dysphonia, dysphagia, or both. All patients underwent laryngovideostroboscopy as well as panendoscopy with directed submucosal biopsy, which was consistent with MEC. MRI was performed in 2 of the cases further elucidating the extent of submucosal spread. PET-CT was performed in all 3 cases, and none demonstrated evidence of regional or distal metastases. Surgically, high-grade MEC lesions were treated with a total laryngectomy. The intermediate MEC lesion was managed with a supracricoid partial laryngectomy (SCPL). Surgical margins were free of tumor in all cases with no nodal metastases by modified radical neck dissection. Radiation therapy was offered to both high-grade MEC patients and declined by one. Radiation was not recommended to the patient with intermediate-grade MEC as we believed that the risk of additional treatment outweighed the benefit.

Conclusion:

We believe that MEC of the larynx should be considered in patients with atypical submucosal laryngeal masses. Laryngovideostroboscopy, MRI, and PET imaging may be valuable in determining the extent of the lesions and planning appropriate surgery. Postoperative radiation therapy should be considered a per tumor grade in other more studied sites, as there is no data on efficacy in laryngeal MEC.
Demystifying Essays as an “A-Typical” Publication Format
Authors: Lindebaum Dirk
Published: January 2022

Essays as an “a-typical” publication format is an unhelpful narrative emerging in some business schools. In response, I demonstrate that essays have both intrinsic and extrinsic worth in advancing knowledge and having “impact” on practice and policy.
Stakeholder Engagement: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Kujala Johanna , Sachs Sybille , Leinonen Heta , Heikkinen Anna , Laude Daniel
Published: January 2022

Stakeholder engagement has grown into a widely used yet often unclear construct in business and society research. The literature lacks a unified understanding of the essentials of stakeholder engagement, and the fragmented use of the stakeholder engagement construct challenges its development and legitimacy. The purpose of this article is to clarify the construct of stakeholder engagement to unfold the full potential of stakeholder engagement research. We conduct a literature review on 90 articles in leading academic journals focusing on stakeholder engagement in the business and society, management and strategy, and environmental management and environmental policy literatures. We present a descriptive analysis of stakeholder engagement research for a 15-year period, and we identify the moral, strategic, and pragmatic components of stakeholder engagement as well as its aims, activities, and impacts. Moreover, we offer an inclusive stakeholder engagement definition and provide a guide to organizing the research. Finally, we complement the current understanding with a largely overlooked dark side of stakeholder engagement. We conclude with future research avenues for stakeholder engagement research.
Traveling Alone or Together? Neighborhood Context on Individual and Group Juvenile and Adult Burglary Decisions
Authors: Chamberlain Alyssa W. , Boggess Lyndsay N. , Fisher Taylor
Published: January 2022

Neighborhood characteristics are important considerations when offenders make targeting decisions. Movement patterns among adults and juveniles vary widely, which impacts both the number of crime opportunities and the range of neighborhoods to which an offender is exposed. We test whether offending patterns among adult and juvenile burglars vary based on distances traveled, the types of neighborhoods targeted, and whether suspects acted alone or in a group. Using discrete choice modeling, we draw upon a unique sample of cleared burglaries in a representative city in the south over a 13-year period. Results show that adult burglars consistently travel further and are more sensitive to neighborhood conditions than their juvenile counterparts, but that group participation makes little difference in target decisions.
Construction and Validation of the Perception of Attention to Diversity Scale (PADS)
Authors: Cuadrado Esther , Domínguez-Herrera Blas , Luque Bárbara , Moyano Manuel , Tabernero Carmen
Published: January 2022

The main objective of this study was to develop and validate a reliable and valid scale that allows the measurement of the perception that teachers have of attention to diversity in the classroom: the Perception of Attention to Diversity Scale (PADS). To this end, 456 teachers answered a survey. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a robust adjustment of the expected bifactorial structure. The two factors identified were the perception of attention (a) related to the Specific Educational Needs, with five items, and (b) related to cultural diversity, with four items. The patterns of relationship between the scale and its factors with other psychological variables supported the construct validity. The study provides a useful tool both to measure the perception that teachers have of the levels of attention to diversity they offer in the classroom, and to analyze the relationship that such perception can have with different study variables.
Experience, impact and needs of informal parental caregivers around the communication of a diagnosis of schizophrenia
Authors: Forcheron Véra , Sacareau Elodie , Bourgeois Jérôme , Pouchon Arnaud , Polosan Mircea , Gaboreau Yoann , Dondé Clément
Published: January 2022

Aims:

To qualitatively characterize the experience, impact and needs of informal family caregivers around the communication of a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Methods:

In all, 13 informal family caregivers were recruited. All were parents. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore their experience of the diagnosis of schizophrenia, the impacts of the diagnosis and the needs related to the diagnosis around its communication. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, codes generated and mixed deductive–inductive thematic analysis undertaken.

Results:

Participants described receiving the diagnosis of schizophrenia for their relative as a devastating experience, although some nuanced the experience with a sense of relief of finally naming the disorder and getting access to care. Caregivers’ experience and representations prior to hearing the diagnosis played an important role in the way the ‘news’ was internalized. The communication of the diagnosis constituted a starting point for acceptance of the reality of the illness in participants. Numerous unmet needs around the communication of the diagnosis were reported by participants, including personnalized support, specific explanations about the disorder and guidance on their role as caregiver.

Conclusion:

A specific attention must be given to the communication of the diagnosis of schizophrenia to the informal family caregivers. Information giving must be early, comprehensive, personalized and embedded into tailored education and support programmes for caregivers to facilitate illness acceptance and adaptation.
Satisfaction with Telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic: Patients’ and psychiatrists’ report from a University Hospital
Authors: Torales Julio , Vilallba-Arias Jorge , Bogado José Andrés , O’Higgins Marcelo , Almirón-Santacruz José , Ruiz Díaz Noelia , García Oscar , Amarilla-Salvioni Diego , Castaldelli-Maia João Mauricio , Ventriglio Antonio , Barrios Iván
Published: January 2022

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to important changes in the approach to patients worldwide. Different agencies have proposed and implemented telemedicine-based care services in order to ensure access to health care for all people.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to determine the satisfaction of patients using the Telepsychiatry service offered by the Department of Psychiatry of the Hospital de Clínicas (National University of Asunción, Paraguay).

Methods:

A cross sectional and descriptive study has been conducted. Participants were recruited through a phone-based survey. Satisfaction with Telepsychiatry has been measured with an adapted version of a satisfaction survey in Teleneurology. As a complement, psychiatrists from the Hospital de Clínicas were also interviewed about their rate of satisfaction with Telepsychiatry.

Results:

A total of 530 patients were included, 51.3% of whom were women. The consultation satisfaction scale ranged between 2.15 and 4.30 with a mean score of 3.02 ± 0.32. Cronbach’s alpha for the scale was .897, indicating a good internal consistency. Patients’ satisfaction was higher for the perception of Telepsychiatry and lower for the doctor-patient relationship. Of the physicians, 87.5% were satisfied with the Telepsychiatry service.

Conclusion:

The satisfaction overall score indicates patients’ general satisfaction with the quality of care in Telepsychiatry, mainly regarding the perception of health care. and lower satisfaction with the doctor-patient relationship. Nine out of 10 psychiatrists felt satisfied with the Telepsychiatry service and considered that the degree of patient’s satisfaction was acceptable during the Telepsychiatry consultation.
Does goal ambiguity influence the program structure of nonprofit human service organizations?
Authors: Kwon Sunae
Published: January 2022

This study presents an alternative to outcome management based on accountability by analyzing the ambiguity of nonprofit human service organizations’ program goals and program structures. A total of 761 programs were chosen from the 2010–2020 annual plans of P Rehabilitation Center for analysis. The program goals were analyzed according to quantitative accuracy and outcome attainability standards and the program structures were analyzed using the program theory model. Human service organizations need to have a logical program structure according to the program goal, and it is necessary to minimize logical errors in the program structure.
Navigating the clinician-researcher role in health social work: Reflections from practice
Authors: Morris Rae , Borja Celeste
Published: January 2022

This Voices from Practice article shares reflections of two social workers on our dual-role experiences when conducting qualitative health research as trained clinicians. Reflections and considerations are shared for health care social work research trainees to prepare for and navigate the integration of the clinician-researcher role in social work.
Factors Affecting Citizen Participation in Local Development Planning in Murewa District, Zimbabwe
Authors: Nyama Vellim , Mukwada Geofrey
Published: January 2022

Local governments are the bedrock for sound public administration because of their role in promoting bottom-up socio-economic development. Although Zimbabwe has made strides in ensuring citizens’ participation in local government processes, local authorities and other stakeholders still rely on the top-down approaches, marginalising the needs of the local citizens. The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors that affect the active participation of citizens in local governance in the Murewa District in Zimbabwe. Based on a multistage sampling approach, involving purposive sampling and stratified random sampling, interviews were conducted with 30 local government officials, while a questionnaire survey was administered to 396 citizens in four wards within the district. Complementary data were collected through focus group discussions and field observations. Thematic analysis was employed on data generated from interviews, focus group discussions and field observations, while the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version 16) was used to analyse quantitative data from the questionnaire survey. The results show that more than 50% of the residents in the district felt that local government leadership side lined them in development planning. Some citizens reported that officials used development planning meetings to further their political agendas. The study recommends enhancement of citizen participation through citizen empowerment programmes such as educational and political leadership training programmes that transform the marginalised communities into autonomous communities that are capable of determining their own destiny.
Suspecting the Figures: What Church Leaders Think About Government’s Commitment to Combating COVID-19 in Nigeria
Authors: Agbo Uchechukwu M. , Nche George C.
Published: January 2022

Public trust in government can significantly determine the outcome of health policies in any society. Hence, studies have been gauging peoples’ level of trust in their governments’ commitment and capacity to win the fight against COVID-19. However, these studies have omitted religious leaders. This is despite the fact that religious leaders play key roles in the area of health in many societies. The present study, therefore, explored the opinions church leaders have about the credibility of the COVID-19 statistics and other government responses in Nigeria. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 church leaders drawn from Anglican, Catholic, and Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. A descriptive narrative approach was employed in the thematic organization and analysis of data. Findings show that only one participant expressed confidence in the credibility of the COVID-19 statistics and other government’s responses. The rest, with the exception of one participant who was uncertain, was distributed between those who believe the statistics and other government efforts are exaggerated and those who believe they are false. The study also found that denominational affiliation mattered with respect to the perceptions about the credibility of the COVID-19 statistics and other government responses. Implications of findings for policy and research are discussed.
Organized Crime–Terror Nexus: Interrogating the Linkage Between Banditry and Terrorism in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Okoli Al Chukwuma , Nwangwu Chikodiri
Published: January 2022

This paper examines the phenomenon of crime–terror nexus from the standpoint of the linkage between banditry and Boko Haram insurgency in Northern Nigeria. Using a descriptive analysis predicated on a combination of primary and secondary studies, the paper reveals that both groups have functionally adapted each other’s structures and strategies. While Boko Haram and its splinter groups have occasionally engaged in acts of banditry, there has been mutual co-option by both groups as the exigencies of their operations demand. Nigeria’s drive at mitigating the banditry-terrorism conundrum must proceed with a pragmatic understanding of the gamut and dynamics of their situational nexuses.
A Comprehensive Understanding of the Use of e-Learning in Continuing Education: Experiences of Pharmacists in a Public Health System
Authors: Lorenzoni Andrigo Antonio , Buendgens Fabiola Bagatini , Manzini Fernanda , Rech Norberto , Leite Silvana Nair
Published: January 2022

Introduction: The health and education sectors have experienced rapid technological development. In this scenario, the use of Internet technology has grown as an option for the expansion of continuing education (CE), as it allows professionals to develop educational activities with flexibility, autonomy, and convenience. E-learning has gained popularity and currently, thousands of online courses are being offered. However, studies of e-learning in professional training have presented only a few specific foci of study. Objective: to develop a comprehensive approach to understand both the experience and the complex scenario of the use of e-learning in the CE for pharmacists. Method: Field research in 10 Brazilian states through interviews and focus groups with alumni of a CE e-learning specialization course for pharmacists in public health. Data analysis used the model of socio-technical systems and was based on a framework with the components Objectives, People, Processes, Culture, Technology, Infrastructure, and Scenario. Results: The People and Culture components indicated the assimilation and normalization of technologies in the educational process. Although the infrastructure (technical and organizational) was deficient in some regions, the Technology component suggested that the characteristics of the course design, associated with the personal characteristics of the students, provided ways to overcome obstacles. The objectives of the use of distance education seem to be related to the possibility of greater accessibility and autonomy. The Processes component, in turn, revealed the burden that a e-learning course puts on the pharmacist. Conclusion: E-learning proved to be useful to enable and expand access to education, providing pharmacists with an opportunity for CE. On the other hand, e-learning contributes to the normalization of the precarious working conditions of pharmacists, attributing to individuals the sole responsibility for the CE even in an institutional CE program, which results in work overload.
Quantification of chronic diseases presenting in the Emergency Department and their disposition outcomes: A hospital-based cross-sectional study in north India
Authors: Pannu Ashok Kumar , Saroch Atul , Kumar Mohan , Behera Ashish , Nayyar Gursimran Singh , Sharma Navneet
Published: January 2022

A knowledge of the extent and distribution of chronic comorbidity plays an essential role in providing appropriate care, and allocating health resources to the patients admitted to the emergency department. We performed a cross-sectional study to quantify the chronic diseases presenting in the Emergency Department of PGIMER, Chandigarh (India). Out of 205 patients, 133 (64.9%) had pre-existing comorbidity. Common were chronic kidney disease (29, 14.1%), chronic liver disease (23, 11.2%), diabetes mellitus (21, 10.2%), malignancy (20, 9.8%), cardiac diseases (17, 8.3%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (9, 4.4%). The median Charlson comorbidity index score was 2 (range, 0–9). In-hospital mortality was 43 (21%) and was predicted by older age (median, 60 v. 50 years; p-value, 0.017). Deaths with previous stroke (66.6%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (55.6%), and diabetes (28.6%) were higher than cardiac (2.3%) and renal (6.9%) comorbidity. Increasing comorbidity requires a shift in existing models of emergency care.
Community College Presidential Leadership: How Presidents Think and Act to Support the Holistic Needs of Their Students
Authors: Burmicky Jorge , Duran Antonio
Published: January 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore how public community college presidents draw upon data, their core values, and lived experiences to make decisions about how they can best respond to the holistic needs of their students. Method: Utilizing secondary elite focus group data with 15 community college presidents in Texas, we employed a general qualitative approach to analyze the data through a conceptual framework that integrates community college leadership and holistic student development theory. Results: Our findings revealed that community college presidents make decisions primarily through select data sources such as external survey organizations and their own core belief systems. Although community college presidents agreed on the most pressing day-to-day issues affecting community college students today, the way in which they framed their decisions and perceptions varied across individuals and institutional contexts. As such, common strategies for addressing holistic student support are presented in this study. Contributions: The residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to impact community colleges in the short and long term. As a result, community college presidents are pressed to develop leadership competencies to enhance their decision-making process. This study offers timely implications closely tied to community college leadership and student development theory to inform how community college leaders can enact relevant, data-driven policies, and practices to support their students holistically.
Surgical Neck Emphysema Post Elective Tonsillectomy: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Assiri Hassan , Ibrahim Yaser , Alghulikah Abdulrahman
Published: January 2022

Neck emphysema after tonsillectomy surgery is very rare. We present a case documenting the conservative management of a post-tonsillectomy neck swelling, accompanied by crepitus. Computed tomography revealed a large air density at the region of the right masticator space and the masseter muscle, proximal to other deep neck spaces and muscles. Further investigations of her associated symptoms resulted in an additional diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. We have also explored the signs and symptoms associated with such cases, along with a discussion of the literature published on surgical emphysema post-tonsillectomy.
Parenting During a Pandemic: Predictors of Parental Burnout
Authors: Swit Cara S. , Breen Rose
Published: January 2022

The global pandemic, COVID-19, has resulted in significant changes in many aspects of our lives. For parents, the impact has been great as they combine work, family, and homeschooling while maintaining the wellbeing of themselves and their family. COVID-19 has brought about challenges that many parents have not faced before, putting them at risk for parental burnout. The goal of this study was to investigate risk and protective factors that predict parental burnout during COVID-19. Eighty-six parents (75 mothers; M age = 40.73; SD = 7.88) living in New Zealand during COVID-19 lockdown participated in the survey. Results showed parental violence, parental constellation, unemployment, major decreases in finances, and living in a disadvantaged neighborhood were the strongest predictors of parental burnout. Child independence and parental emotional regulation were the strongest protective predictors of parental burnout. COVID-19 restrictions did not predict parental burnout. Findings highlight that promoting protective factors may support parental equilibrium during future crises.
Familial Predictors of Alcohol and Drug Use-Related Problems Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults
Authors: Miller Sara E. , Maggs Jennifer L. , Eiden Rina D. , Almeida David M.
Published: January 2022

This study evaluated whether recent family member alcohol and substance use problems (ASP) and density of family ASP (i.e., number of members with ASP) predict alcohol-related problems and drug use-related problems among middle-aged and older adults. Data were drawn from participants (age 42–93 years, n = 2168) in the longitudinal Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS). Poisson regression models revealed that adults’ alcohol- and drug use-related problems were predicted by similar problems among family members. In particular, parent and partner ASP, but not child ASP, predicted alcohol-related problems in the middle-aged and combined samples, while only partner ASP predicted participants’ drug use-related problems. In addition, density of family ASP predicted alcohol-related problems, but not drug use-related problems. There were no gender interactions. Study findings highlight that understanding how adult children, spouses, and aging parents impact each other’s substance use should be a priority of future aging and family research.
Does Aid Drive Migration? Evidence from a Shift-Share Instrument
Authors: Fitchett Hamish , Wesselbaum Dennis
Published: January 2022

Foreign aid payments have been a key policy response by Global North countries to reduce increased migration flows from the Global South. In this article, we contribute to the literature on the relationship between aid and international migration flows and estimate the contemporaneous effect of bilateral aid payments on bilateral, international migration flows. The fundamental problem in analyzing this relationship is endogeneity, or reverse causality. To address this issue and achieve causal inference, we use a shift-share, or Bartik, instrument. Examining migration flows between 198 origin countries and 16 OECD destination countries over 36 years (1980−2015), we find a positive relationship between aid and migration. A ten-percent increase in aid payments will increase migration by roughly 2 percent. We further document non-linearity in the relationship between aid and migration and find an inverted U-shaped relationship between aid and migration flows. The findings presented here have implications for the design of bilateral and multilateral aid policies and for achieving various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by stressing the importance of a better coordination between aid and immigration policies.
A cry for help: Dramatherapists can intervene to change the language and environment in mental health care by engaging critically with the new diagnostic category of Complex PTSD
Authors: Widnall Lee-Anne
Published: January 2022

In funded healthcare settings, access to dramatherapy and other arts therapies is limited. Patients suffering the long-term emotional effects of childhood or prolonged trauma are often not helped by short-term funded therapies. These therapies that engage in the diagnostic model of suffering with disorder specific research speak little to those suffering multiple traumas. This leaves dramatherapists unable to reach those most in need of their skills. At the same time, survivors are left bewildered and shamed again as they ‘fail’ to benefit from the limited symptom management approaches on offer. While the diagnostic model of suffering may be approaching obsolescence, what still seems a long way away is a major overhaul of the mainstream understanding of suffering and mental health that could fuel a reorganisation of how services are delivered and research conducted. In this context, the new diagnostic criteria of Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the International Classification of Diseases-11 provides an opportunity and perhaps even a rallying cry for dramatherapists to evidence how our skills can provide a framework and method for survivors to re-imagine themselves and understand and claim their place in the world by loosening the chains of fear and shame.
Postural control and risk of falling in people who are blind: The effect and durability of perturbation and vestibular exercises
Authors: Moghadas Tabrizi Yousof , Mansori Mohammad Hani , Karimizadeh Ardakani Mohammad
Published: January 2022

The aim of this study was to compare the effect and durability of perturbation and vestibular exercises on balance and the risk of falling in people with visual impairment (VI). Thirty-six men with VI were divided into three groups, including a control and two experimental (perturbation and vestibular) groups. The experimental groups performed perturbation and vestibular exercises for 4 weeks and three sessions per week. Biodex balance system was used to assess balance and falling risk before and after training interventions. To evaluate the effects within and between groups at three levels of measurement: pre-test, post-test, and durability effect between three groups, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and one-way ANOVA were used. Repeated measures ANOVA test showed that both experimental groups showed significant improvements in static balance, dynamic balance, and falling risk. In comparison between the groups, the results showed that in the post-test and durability stages, there was a significant difference between the groups and the perturbation exercise group had a greater effect on the dependent variables. Due to the effectiveness of exercises, it is recommended that people with VI pay attention to balance-based perturbation exercises to strengthen the somatosensory system and vestibular exercises to strengthen the vestibular system.
Linking maternal involvement in child online learning to child adjustment during the COVID-19 pandemic: The moderating role of maternal mindfulness
Authors: Lam Chun Bun , Lam Chung Sze , Chung Kevin Kien Hoa
Published: January 2022

In the face of COVID-19, many schools have to educate their students using online activities. During this time, whether and how parents are involved may be of particular importance for young children—who are less able to learn independently via the Internet due to their developmental immaturity. Therefore, this study examined the cross-sectional association of maternal involvement in child online learning with child adjustment during the COVID-19 pandemic and tested maternal mindfulness as a moderator. Data were collected from 236 mothers of kindergarten-aged children (mean age = 55.91 months; 75% of them were girls) during the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong, China. Using paper-and-pencil questionnaires, mothers rated their involvement and mindfulness and their children’s pre-academic ability and internalizing and externalizing behaviors and provide demographic information. Regression models revealed that maternal involvement was associated positively with child pre-academic ability and negatively with child internalizing behaviors, but such associations were only significant for children with more mindful mothers. Maternal mindfulness did not moderate the negative association between maternal involvement and child externalizing behaviors. Findings highlighted the role of maternal mindfulness in child development, suggesting that it may be crucial to promote maternal involvement and mindfulness during the pandemic and perhaps beyond.
Incident infection during the first year of treatment – A comparison of clozapine and paliperidone palmitate long-acting injection
Authors: Mace Shubhra , Dzahini Olubanke , Cornelius Victoria , Langerman Hadar , Oloyede Ebenezer , Taylor David
Published: January 2022

Background:

To examine the risk of infection in patients prescribed clozapine compared with patients prescribed paliperidone palmitate long-acting injection (PPLAI).

Method:

A retrospective, 1-year, cohort study conducted on events occurring in eligible patients beginning treatment for the first time with clozapine or PPLAI between June 2017 and June 2019 in a UK mental health trust providing in-patient and out-patient services.

Results:

The study included 64 patients starting clozapine and 120 patients starting PPLAI. Incidence of infection was greater in clozapine starters than in PPLAI starters (28% vs 6%; p = 0.001; adjusted odds ratio 5.82 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.15–15.76, p = 0.001). Infectious episodes in clozapine patients were not related to changes in neutrophil counts. Incident infection in the clozapine group was highest in the first 3 months of treatment. The most commonly reported infection in the clozapine group was chest infection; however, the majority of infections were non-chest-related.

Conclusion:

Patients starting clozapine showed a substantially increased likelihood of infection compared with patients starting PPLAI.
Glucose sparing by glycogenolysis (GSG) determines the relationship between brain metabolism and neurotransmission
Authors: Rothman Douglas L , Dienel Gerald A , Behar Kevin L , Hyder Fahmeed , DiNuzzo Mauro , Giove Federico , Mangia Silvia
Published: January 2022

Over the last two decades, it has been established that glucose metabolic fluxes in neurons and astrocytes are proportional to the rates of the glutamate/GABA-glutamine neurotransmitter cycles in close to 1:1 stoichiometries across a wide range of functional energy demands. However, there is presently no mechanistic explanation for these relationships. We present here a theoretical meta-analysis that tests whether the brain’s unique compartmentation of glycogen metabolism in the astrocyte and the requirement for neuronal glucose homeostasis lead to the observed stoichiometries. We found that blood-brain barrier glucose transport can be limiting during activation and that the energy demand could only be met if glycogenolysis supports neuronal glucose metabolism by replacing the glucose consumed by astrocytes, a mechanism we call Glucose Sparing by Glycogenolysis (GSG). The predictions of the GSG model are in excellent agreement with a wide range of experimental results from rats, mice, tree shrews, and humans, which were previously unexplained. Glycogenolysis and glucose sparing dictate the energy available to support neuronal activity, thus playing a fundamental role in brain function in health and disease.
MRI evaluation of cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) in obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Wu Pei-Hsin , Rodríguez-Soto Ana E , Wiemken Andrew , Englund Erin K , Rodgers Zachary B , Langham Michael C , Schwab Richard J , Detre John A , Guo Wensheng , Wehrli Felix W
Published: January 2022

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at elevated risk of developing systemic vascular disease and cognitive dysfunction. Here, cerebral oxygen metabolism was assessed in patients with OSA by means of a magnetic resonance-based method involving simultaneous measurements of cerebral blood flow rate and venous oxygen saturation in the superior sagittal sinus for a period of 10 minutes at an effective temporal resolution of 1.3 seconds before, during, and after repeated 24-second breath-holds mimicking spontaneous apneas, yielding, along with pulse oximetry-derived arterial saturation, whole-brain CMRO2 via Fick’s Principle. Enrolled subjects were classified based on their apnea-hypopnea indices into OSA (N = 31) and non-sleep apnea reference subjects (NSA = 21), and further compared with young healthy subjects (YH, N = 10). OSA and NSA subjects were matched for age and body mass index. CMRO2 was lower in OSA than in the YH group during normal breathing (105.6 ± 14.1 versus 123.7 ± 22.8 μmol O2/min/100g, P = 0.01). Further, the fractional change in CMRO2 in response to a breath-hold challenge was larger in OSA than in the YH group (15.2 ± 9.2 versus 8.5 ± 3.4%, P = 0.04). However, there was no significant difference in CMRO2 between OSA and NSA subjects. The data suggest altered brain oxygen metabolism in OSA and possibly in NSA as well.
The electrophysiological features of X-linked juvenile retinoschisis in a young male: a case report
Authors: Yan Weiming , Wang Yunpeng , Ye Qian , Chen Xiaohong , Chen Yanjin , Jiang Chuan , Chen Meizhu
Published: January 2022

This case report describes the detailed electrophysiological features and the corresponding relationship with the structural changes in a case of X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS). A 25-year-old male presented with a history of several years of decreased visual acuity in both eyes. The best corrected visual acuity was 20/200 in oculus dexter (OD) and 20/80 in oculus sinister. Retinoschisis was found in the macula by optical coherence tomography, which was more severe in OD. Electroretinogram revealed a similar electronegative waveform in both eyes. Visual evoked potential detected a reduced amplitude and delayed phase in P100-wave, which was worse in OD. The patient was diagnosed as XLRS and advised to undergo continuous medical observation. He was followed up for the next year, with no significant change in retinal function and structure being observed. These current findings suggest that electrophysiology permits the detailed analysis of the clinical picture of XLRS and helps to gain a deeper understanding of the pathogenesis.
A rare form of intoxication: acute methyl ethyl ketone peroxide poisoning
Authors: Sun Cece , Jian Tianzi , Li Yaqian , Cui Siqi , Shi Longke , Yu Guangcai , Kan Baotian , Jian Xiangdong
Published: January 2022

We report two suicidal cases of acute methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) poisoning. A woman in her late 60s suffered from oral mucosal erosion, functional impairment of the heart, liver and other organs, pulmonary inflammation, elevated inflammatory markers, pleural effusion, hypoproteinemia and metabolic acidosis after oral administration of approximately 50 mL of MEKP. After admission, the patient was administered hemoperfusion four times, 8 mg of betamethasone for 6 days and symptomatic support. Hemoperfusion had an obvious effect on the treatment of oral MEKP poisoning. After discharge, the patient developed progressive dysphagia and secondary esophageal stenosis. Supplementary feeding was administered with a gastrostomy tube after the patient was completely unable to eat. A man in his mid-40s developed oropharyngeal mucosal erosion, bronchitis and esophageal wall thickening after oral administration of 40 ml MEKP. After receiving total gastrointestinal dispersal, 80 mg of methylprednisolone was administered for 7 days, and symptomatic supportive treatment was provided. Slight dysphagia was observed after discharge, and there was no major effect on the quality of life. Patients with acute oral MEKP poisoning should be followed up regularly to observe its long-term effects on digestive tract corrosion and stenosis.
Validation of the local applicability of the ‘TIB’ Olfactory Test Device in the era of COVID-19
Authors: Jiang Rong-San , Wang Jing-Jie , Liang Kai-Li , Shih Kai-Hsiang
Published: January 2022

Objective

To evaluate the validity and test–retest reliability of the novel ‘TIB’ Olfactory Test Device (TIB) and to determine its normative values.

Methods

The study stratified the study subjects into normosmic, hyposmic and anosmic groups according to their olfactory function. The olfactory function of the subjects was evaluated using both the traditional Chinese version of the University of Pennsylvania of Smell Identification Test (UPSIT-TC) and the TIB. The normosmic group was used to retest with the UPSIT-TC and TIB at an inter-test interval of at least 7 days. The cut-off scores of TIB among the three different groups were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.

Results

This study enrolled 180 subjects: 60 in each group. The mean scores of TIB were 44.1 for the normosmic group, 27.5 for the hyposmic group and 10.9 for the anosmic group. The TIB scores were significantly different across the three groups. There was a significant correlation between the first and second TIB tests ( r = 0.506). The cut-off scores were 41 for normosmic subjects and 24 for hyposmic subjects.

Conclusion

The validity and test–retest reliability results suggest that the TIB is an appropriate olfactory test for the Taiwanese population.