bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short aramid fiber reinforced thermotropic liquid crystalline polyester composites: Fabrication, thermal, and mechanical properties
Authors: Eom Tae-Gyeong , Song Young-Gi , Seo Minyoung , Kim Seok-Ju , Park Jin-Hyeok , Jeon Gil-Woo , Jeong Young Gyu
Published: March 2023

We conducted a study to analyze the impact of short aramid fibers (AFs) on the melt-rheological behavior, thermal transition, thermal stability, and mechanical durability of thermotropic liquid crystal polyesters (TLCPs). By using different AF loading contents ranging from 3–15 wt%, we produced TLCP matrix composites through masterbatch-based melt-compounding and injection-molding. The SEM images and FT-IR spectra demonstrate that the AFs are dispersed in the TLCP matrix with a microfibrillar structure through good interfacial adhesion caused by specific intermolecular interactions between the TLCP and AFs. As a result, the complex viscosity, shear storage/loss moduli, and thermal transition (melt-crystallization, glass transition, and melting) temperatures of the composites increase with increasing AF filler content. However, the melt-crystallization and melting enthalpies increase only at low AF loading contents of 3–5 wt%. At high AF contents of 7–15wt%, the enthalpies decrease owing to the partial aggregation of AF fillers. The thermogravimetric analysis proves that the thermal stability of TLCP/AF composites improves when the AF filler is introduced. The dynamic mechanical analysis using the stepped isothermal method shows that the addition of 5 wt% AF to the TLCP leads to an approximately 150% improvement in elastic moduli and long-term mechanical durability at elevated temperatures.
The Canadian Landscape of Genetics and Genomics in Nursing: A Policy Document Analysis
Authors: Puddester Rebecca , Limoges Jacqueline , Dewell Sarah , Maddigan Joy , Carlsson Lindsay , Pike April
Published: March 2023

Background

Genetics and genomics (GG) are transforming approaches to healthcare in Canada and around the globe. Canadian nurses must be prepared to integrate GG in their practice, but modest research in this area suggests that Canadian nurses have limited GG competency. Countries that have integrated GG across nursing provided guidance to nurses about the practice implications of GG through regional nursing policy documents. These documents propelled action to integrate GG across nursing. Little is known about the GG content in the nursing policy document infrastructure in Canada.

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the guidance for GG-informed nursing practice as provided by Canadian nursing organizations in official professional documents.

Methods

Qualitative document analysis was used. A hybrid inductive/deductive analysis approach was used to analyze findings within the diffusion of innovation theory framework.

Results

There is an overall lack of depth and breadth of Canadian nursing documents that include content related to GG. Of the (n  =  37) documents analyzed, four themes were generated including (a) GG guidance in nursing education; (b) regulators’ requirements for foundational GG knowledge, (c) Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) as an early catalyst to GG integration; and (d) early adopters in speciality practice.

Conclusion

There are opportunities to enhance the guidance available to Canadian nurses for the application of GG, through documents of nursing professional associations, nursing education accreditation organizations, and regulatory bodies. Findings suggest oncology and perinatal nurses are the early adopters which is an important consideration in future strategies to implement GG into Canadian nursing.
Rural Home Care Nursing During COVID-19
Authors: Pavloff Michelle , Labrecque Mary Ellen , Bally Jill , Kirychuk Shelley , Lasiuk Gerri
Published: March 2023

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to be a challenging time for the nursing profession globally. Research indicates that the care of patients with COVID-19 has caused significant psychological stress for nurses. Although much of the world's attention has been on nurses working in emergency departments and intensive care units, the pandemic also posed significant challenges for nurses providing home care services in rural communities.

Purpose

The purpose of this work was to describe the experiences of rural Canadian home care nurses during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The data for this analysis was derived from a study that explored the continuing education needs of rural home care nurses. Since the data collection for the primary objective occurred in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 related themes were created using interpretive description methodology. Snowball and purposive sampling were used to recruit rural home care registered nurses who were employed in the central and southern areas of a western Canadian province.

Results

Six themes were constructed from the data including: Nurses Must Work, Constant State of Flux, Threatened Safety, Loss of Learning Opportunities, Fearing the Unknown, and Hindsight is Easy.

Conclusion

The experiences of rural home care nurses during COVID-19 reflects the chaos, uncertainty, and fear that was felt globally. Based on the findings of this study, recommendations for future pandemic planning are suggested.
Frequency of Physical Activity Done with a Companion: Changes Over Seven Years in Adults Aged 60+ Living in an Australian Capital City
Authors: Smith Genevieve S. E. , Moyle Wendy , Burton Nicola W.
Published: March 2023

Objectives:This study examined how often adults 60+ years were physically active with a partner, close family, friends, and neighbors, over 7 years. Methods: Data from 2062 adults living in an Australian capital city were collected using a mail survey at four time points and analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. Results: A partner was the most frequent companion at all time points. From baseline to 7 years, the greatest decline was activity with family 1–4x/month (.79 [.64–.98]) and ≥5x/month (.54 [.36–.80]). There were also decreases in activity 1–4x/month with a partner (OR = .75, [.62–.92]), friends (.55 [.44–.68]), and neighbors (.79 [.64–.98]). Physical activity with friends or neighbors ≥5x/month did not decline. Discussion: Findings extend understanding of physical activity and activity companions among older adults. More research is needed to understand factors contributing to changes in activity done with companions.
Performance analysis of porous-based taper-shaped fin for enhanced heat transfer rate using cuckoo search algorithm
Authors: Ranjan Alok , Das Ranjan , Pal Sagnik , Majumder Arindam , Deb Madhujit
Published: March 2023

This paper deals with the thermal and fluid flow behavior of porous and non-porous fins. Initially, a solid heat sink with circular fins is analyzed and validated. Further work is done making circular tapered porous fin of the same volume and height as of uniform circular fin. The geometrical parameters are porosity (Ø = 0.1–0.92), pore diameter ( dp), fiber diameter ( df), radius ratio ( R*), and pores per inch (PPI = 10). Four different cases viz., case I ( R* = 1.2), case II ( R* = 1.5), case III ( R* = 2), and case IV ( R* = 4) of taper porous fins are considered in a computational domain with Reynolds number ( Re) ranging 400–1900 (based upon channel inlet parameter) and air as working fluid. The Forchheimer–Brinkman extended Darcy model is considered to characterize the flow in porous media. The value of Nusselt number ( Nu), friction factor ( f), and thermal performance factor (TPF) is evaluated. Results reveal that, for case I at Ø = 0.92 and PPI = 10, the value of Nu and TPF is approximately 63% and 159% higher than solid circular fin at Re = 1876.11. For case IV, the reduction in pressure drop is approximately 21.15% compared to solid circular fin at Re = 1876.11. For optimum Nu, a cuckoo search optimization is evaluated using the response surface method. Upon examination, the optimum Nu is obtained at the combination of R* = 1.2, Ø = 0.92, and Re = 1876.11, which got validated against the numerical work with 0.15% accuracy.
Comprehensive study of diesel engine characteristics of valves coated by titanium nitride (TiN)
Authors: Sivakumar E R , Krishna Ram , Senthilkumar P , Krishnakumar T S , Colak Ilhami
Published: March 2023

Nano-structured coatings have been used to simulate adiabatic engines with the aim of not only reducing heat rejection and thermal fatigue protection of the metallic surfaces but also potentially reducing internal combustion engine emissions. With this research work, the main emphasis is on optimizing the best coating thickness and studying the effects of nano-structured coatings on the engine's fuel consumption and thermal efficiency with the support of varying conditions. Emission measurements of hydrocarbon (HC), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2) were also conducted in this study. In this study, the inlet and exhaust valves were coated with titanium nitride (TiN) material, using a magnetron sputtering technique. TiN was deposited at different thicknesses, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 microns, over the whole surface of the internal and exhaust valves. The results showed that the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and NOx emissions were increased, and the specific fuel consumption, CO, and HC emissions were decreased for the thermal coated exhaust valve compared to the standard engine. Peak cylinder pressures for 4 µm thick coatings increased by up to 8.30% in the thermal barrier coating (TBC) engine, particularly at high power outputs; however, exhaust gas temperatures were generally lower, indicating noble gas expansion in the power stroke that initiated the peak cylinder pressure rise and impacted BTE, which increased by 1.6%. The result demonstrates that the TiN coating on the valve serves superior performance to the engine up to an optimum coating thickness beyond which the performance drops off. The characteristics are examined by using an experimental setup and measuring experimental values from the setup for different conditions.
Experimental and numerical investigation of thermal-hydraulic performance of bi-metallic (Al-Cu) plate fin heat sink
Authors: Ghafelehbashi SME , Talaee MR
Published: March 2023

In this research, an experimental study of thermal-hydraulic performance of bi-metallic (Al-Cu) plate fin heat sink (PFHS) under forced convection in wind tunnel is investigated. The key parameters such as pressure drop, Reynolds and Nusselt numbers, heat transfer coefficient, thermal resistance, power pumping and profit factor have studied. Then the PFHS has simulated and the results have validated with test. A good agreement is seen in the results of pressure drop between test and simulation. The results show an increase of performance of the applied bi-metal sink compared with similar single aluminum one in available literature. Finally, in order to improve the thermal behavior of PFHS, porous materials have been used in numerical simulation. Because of using a porous layer in the fin spaces, the pressure drop has been increased in comparison with the normal state. Thus, pumping power has increased which means the more energy consumption is needed for the cooling process so the profit factor is decreased. On the other hand, the amount of thermal resistance is decreased by 12% compared with bi-metallic PFHS without porous materials. The results of this study could be used as the fundamental of the future researches.
Application of smart wayside object controllers to railway signalling systems for decarbonisation
Authors: Liu Zhendong , Jerresand Alexandra , Diamant Micaela , Zarov Filipp , Berg Mats , Bonnevier Fredric , Malas Josef
Published: March 2023

In railway signalling systems, trackside equipment and signalling devices are controlled by wayside object controllers (OC). With the application of radio communication to wirelessly transmit command control and signals, the cost of cabling and installation has been significantly reduced. However, for non-electrified regional lines in rural areas, dedicated cables are still installed along the track to drive the wayside object controllers, which increases both capital and operational costs. With the development of renewable energy sources (RES) and wayside energy storage systems (ESS), a concept of smart wayside object controllers (SWOC) is proposed, which are autonomous, off-grid and powered by local renewable energy sources to reduce the related costs. To assist future system development, this work develops methods to not only calculate power and energy demand for system configuration but also estimate the life cycle cost in long-term operation. A case study based on a railway test site in Sweden is performed. This study shows that it is sufficient to use 100% local renewable energy sources to power the SWOC, trackside equipment and signalling devices. Compared with the existing system, the SWOC shows a significant cost saving in long-term operation by removing cabling and installation, reducing trackside maintenance and replacing the power supply with renewable energy power sources for decarbonisation. Therefore, the SWOC shows its significant benefits over the existing system from both economical and environmental aspects. In the end, some suggestions for future development and implementation of SWOC are given.
Global value chains and environment performance: Insights from global database
Authors: Thi Mai Hoa Tran , Ha Le Thanh , Thi Thanh Huyen Nguyen , Thi Thu Ha Nguyen , Ngoc Tran Anh
Published: March 2023

Our article is the first attempt to investigate the association between global value chains (GVC) and environmental performance (EP). We employ two dimensions, including human health's and ecosystem's protection, to capture the EP, while GVC is classified backward and forward based on the foreign and domestic value-added to the total exports. By applying the formal empirical estimation procedure to a global sample of 30 low-income and lower-middle-income and 27 upper-middle-income and 33 high-income countries during the 2000 to 2018 period, some key findings are highlighted. Our estimates emphasize the importance of GVCs on EP through their influences on environmental health and ecosystem vitality. By distinguishing between the effects of different types of GVC, we reveal that being engaged in forward GVC plays a more critical role in improving the environment than backward GVC. By studying the short-run and long-run effects, our study suggests that the GVC involvement has adverse effects in the short term, but positive results appear in the long term. Notably, the investigation into the mechanism of the GVC-EP nexus provides empirical evidence to explain how being included in GVCs affects the environment and sustainability of a country. Finally, our study indicates that there are heterogenous effects of GVC on EP and these effects are conditional on a country's income level. It is more likely that the impacts of GVC become more pronounced for high-income countries.
Precipitation variability, vegetation turnover, and anthropogenic disturbance over the last millennium in the Atacama highlands of northern Chile (19°S)
Authors: Domic Alejandra I , de Porras María Eugenia , Capriles José M , Zamora-Allendes Andrés , Ivory Sarah J , Maldonado Antonio
Published: March 2023

The Late-Holocene history of hydroclimatic variability in the Atacama Desert offers insights into the effects of precipitation and humans on ecosystems in one of the most extremely arid regions of the world. However, understanding the effects of regional precipitation variability in relation to local ecological stressors remains to be fully resolved. Here, we present a pollen-based qualitative precipitation reconstruction derived from fossil rodent middens recovered from two sites near Laguna Roja (LRO; n = 25) and Isluga (ISL; n = 15) in the Atacama highlands (19°S) of northern Chile. At LRO, the fossil pollen record shows multi-centennial hydroclimatic anomalies during the last millennium, with wetter than present phases at 1155–1130, 865–670, and 215–80 cal yrs BP, and similar to present conditions between 1005 and 880 cal yrs BP. In contrast, the ISL record shows a wet phase during 1115–840 cal yrs BP, suggesting that meso-ecological processes were as important in vegetation turnover as regional hydroclimate anomalies. Wetter conditions derived from LRO partially overlap with the Medieval Climate Anomaly (865–670 cal yrs BP) and with the latest part of the Little Ice Age (215–80 cal yrs BP). Furthermore, no strong anthropogenic signal was identified possibly related to the remote location of the records. Palynological diversity analyses evidence increasing diversification of plant communities during wet events at both sites. In correlation to existing regional hydroclimatic records from the Western Andes, our precipitation reconstruction verifies that centennial-scale changes in the strength of the South American Summer Monsoon (SASM) and partial influence of El Niño-like (ENSO) conditions drove vegetation turnover in the Atacama Desert during the last millennium.
Efficacy of Demineralized Bone Matrix for Revision Alveolar Bone Grafting in Patients Previously Treated with Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP-2)
Authors: Francoisse Caitlin A. , Sescleifer Anne M. , Okeke Raymond I. , Tyson Cody V. , Plikaitis Christina
Published: March 2023

Objective

This study investigates the effectiveness of demineralized bone matrix (DBX) to close alveolar clefts in patients previously treated with bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) who remained with bone nonunion.

Design

This is an IRB-approved retrospective, single-center study.

Setting

This study was conducted at a tertiary academic center

Patients/Participants

We searched for all surgical encounters with the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 42210 from the years 2013–2019. Included patients were diagnosed with cleft alveolus, previous BMP-2 exposure and required revision bone grafting during mixed dentition for persistent alveolar defects.

Interventions

17 patients underwent revision alveolar bone grafting (ABG) with either DBX (n = 10) or autograft (n = 7) to repair persistent bony cleft.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

The primary study outcome measured was alveolar bone graft revision failure described as continued alveolar nonunion.

Results

The median age at revision ABG was 13.1 ± 3.3 years, with a mean follow-up time of 4.9 years (1.1–9.2 years). Patients were 53% male, 47% had a unilateral cleft lip and alveolus. 58.8% of patients were treated with DBX in the cleft, 41.2% treated with autograft from iliac crest. Overall, 11.8% (n = 2) of all revisions failed, requiring a second revision. The average time to reoperation was 2.06 years, and both were re-grafted with autograft. There was no statistically significant difference between the type of bone graft source used and the failure rate obtained ( P = .1544).

Conclusions

DBX and autologous iliac crest bone grafts achieve similar alveolar union rates during revision ABG in patients treated with previous BMP-2 to the alveolar cleft.
Family Chaos, Interparental Conflict, and Preschooler Adjustment: Comparing Mediation and Moderation Models
Authors: Noble Chelsea , Schudlich Tina Du Rocher , Schudlich Eve Du Rocher
Published: March 2023

Children residing in chaotic homes exhibit greater behavior and adjustment problems. Proximal factors, such as interparental conflict, may play a role, although the ways in which these factors interplay in predicting adjustment problems is unclear. We explored different models for how chaos and conflict work together to predict child adjustment. We hypothesized that chaos would both moderate and mediate the relationship between interparental conflict and preschooler adjustment and that there would be a stronger pattern of associations for fathers than mothers. A community sample of 70 families with preschoolers participated in the current study. Parents engaged in a conflict resolution task during which their child was present. Interparental conflict was coded assessing for specific positive and negative conflict expressions, intensity of emotional expressions, and degree of resolution. Conflict codes were sorted into three categories: positive, angry, and depressive conflict. Parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) assessing child adjustment and the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS) assessing levels of chaos and disruption in the home. Path analyses revealed evidence for mediation in the father: fathers’ angry conflict was significantly predictive of greater chaos, which was in turn predictive of greater child peer problems. No evidence of mediation was found for mothers. Chaos also moderated associations between conflict and child adjustment for both mothers and fathers, such that dimensions of conflict were significantly associated with child adjustment in high chaos, but not low chaos homes. Clinical implications are discussed.
Childhood Maltreatment and its Mental Health Consequences among University's Students
Authors: ElBarazi Amani Safwat
Published: March 2023

Background: Childhood maltreatment is associated with a higher likelihood of developing a mental illness during adolescence and adulthood.Objective: (1) Investigate the correlations between CM and depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) (2) assess the depression, anxiety, OCD, and DER in a sample of Egyptian university students in two-time points (baseline, and 12-months later). Participants and Setting: A total of 319 university students were asked to complete questionnaires. Method: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS), and Emotion Regulation Difficulties Questionnaire (DERS). Results: Childhood maltreatment significantly affects students’ depression. t(1) = 40.1, p < .000, anxiety t(1) = 16.3, p < .000, OCD t(1) = 22.9, p < .000 and emotional regulation problems. t(1) = 105.6, p < .000. 2) After 1 year of university, students felt more depressed, anxious, had more obsessions and compulsions, and had greater difficulty regulating their emotions ( ps < .000) Conclusions: Childhood maltreatment should be considered as a serious health threat with significant impacts on mental health. Specific treatment and prevention approaches for university students’ mental health problems are urgently needed. Implications for Marriage and Family Counselors are included.
Prevalence of Cancer in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism: A Retrospective Nationwide Case-Control Study in Sweden
Authors: Glise Sandblad Katarina , Hansson Per-Olof , Philipson Jacob , Mahmoud Ahmad , Karlsson Per , Rosengren Annika , Sörbo Jan
Published: March 2023

Cancer is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). We aimed to define sex-specific risk of preceding cancer in patients with a first-time VTE by conducting a nationwide Swedish registry-based study including 298 172 patients with VTE and 1 185 079 matched controls. This included 44 685 patients with a diagnosis of cancer at/or within 1 year before a VTE diagnosis. Female patients with VTE had a higher multivariable adjusted odds ratios of preceding cancer than male patients with VTE (5.5 [99% confidence interval 5.4-5.7] vs 3.9 [3.8-4.0]). The highest risk of cancer in patients with VTE were found for pancreatic cancer (women: 19.6 [15.8-24.4]; men: 17.2 [13.7-21.6]) and brain cancer (women: 17.4 [12.9-23.4]; men: 17.5 [13.8-22.2]). Weak associations were seen between VTE and bladder/urothelial cancer (women: 1.31 [1.12-1.53]; men: 1.34 [1.23-1.47]), prostate cancer (men: 2.17 [2.07-2.27]), malignant melanoma (women: 2.51 [2.07-3.05]; men: 2.67 [2.23-3.18]), and kidney cancer (women: 3.20 [2.49-4.11]; men: 3.33 [2.79-4.07]). In conclusion, associations with VTE were weak for bladder/urothelial cancer and kidney cancer, and strong for pancreatic, brain, and biliary cancers.
Topical netarsudil for treatment of glaucoma with elevated episcleral venous pressure: A pilot investigation in sturge-weber syndrome
Authors: Kaufman Aaron R , Elhusseiny Abdelrahman M , Edward Deepak P , Vajaranant Thasarat Sutabutr , Aref Ahmad A , Abbasian Javaneh
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Topical netarsudil 0.02% may reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) by decreasing episcleral venous pressure (EVP), which carries theoretical utility for glaucoma associated with elevated EVP. A role for netarsudil in patients with elevated EVP is evaluated in a pilot investigation using a cohort of individuals with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS).

Methods

Retrospective study of patients with SWS and glaucoma who were treated with netarsudil. Five patients (six eyes) were identified. Data collected included demographics, visual acuity, IOP, glaucoma medical and surgical treatments, and adverse effects of netarsudil.

Results

Mean age was 13.6  ±  8.5 years. EVP elevation was presumed based on clinical stigmata and/or historical features. Mean number of baseline glaucoma medications was 3.3  ±  1.2. There was a significant reduction in the IOP at netarsudil initiation (mean 26.2  ±  4.5 mmHg) to 1 month of netarsudil therapy (mean 20.2  ±  3.8 mmHg, p  =  0.0283 ) and latest IOP on netarsudil (mean 17.6  ±  1.4 mmHg, p  =  0.0034). Mean duration of netarsudil therapy was 18.7  ±  11.8 months. Three patients required additional glaucoma procedures; one patient required an additional glaucoma medication. Three eyes (50%) developed conjunctival hyperemia. One patient discontinued netarsudil at 29 months, to reduce drop burden.

Conclusions

Netarsudil can effectively reduce IOP in patients with SWS, even when used as a fourth or fifth glaucoma medication. A possible role for netarsudil in the management of patients with elevated EVP is suggested pending further future investigations.
The influence of corneal tunnel length on surgically induced astigmatism after various types of microincision phacoemulsification
Authors: Wilczynski Michal , Kucharczyk-Pospiech Magdalena , Omulecki Wojciech
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the influence of the corneal tunnel length on surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) after 3 phacoemulsification techniques.

Methods

Patients who underwent a planned phacoemulsification surgery with an implantation of a foldable, acrylic IOL were selected for the study. All surgeries were performed under topical anaesthesia, with the same phaco machine. Group I consisted of 30 eyes of 30 patients after bimanual 1.4 mm microincision cataract surgery (B-MICS). Group II consisted of 30 eyes of 30 patients after coaxial 1.8 mm microincision cataract surgery (C-MICS). Group III consisted of 30 eyes of 30 patients after coaxial 2.4 mm small incision cataract surgery (C-SICS). Best corrected visual acuity, autorefractometry, tonometry, a slit lamp examination and anterior segment OCT were performed preoperatively and 1, 7, 30 and 90 days postoperatively. The temporal peripheral corneal thickness and the chord length of the main incision were measured. Vector method was used to calculate SIA.

Results

Mean preoperative BCVA was 0.52 ± 0.19 and it improved to 0.98 ± 0.05 (p < 0.05). Mean corneal tunnel chord length was 1.30 ± 0.16 mm 90 days postoperatively in group I, 1.30 ± 0.19 mm in group II and 1.48 ± 0.22 mm in group III. SIA was 0.54 ± 0.48 mm in group I, 0.45 ± 0.21 mm in group II and 0.62 ± 0.30 mm in group III. There were no correlations between the chord length of the corneal tunnel and SIA calculated with using vector analysis method.

Conclusions

Unlike the incision width, the length of the clear corneal tunnel in small incisions and microinicions, has no significant influence on SIA.
Cosmetic iris implants - double edge sword
Authors: Chauhan Tulika , Chaturvedi Isha , Bhardwaj Kanika , Kush Yuganki , Dabas Garvita , Teja Krishna
Published: March 2023

Iris implants were originally described as an option to treat photophobia and glare associated with aniridia, coloboma, corectopia or any other causes of acquired or congenital iris defects. They are not designed to be used in healthy phakic eyes and not approved by regulatory bodies anywhere in the world for cosmesis. However, widespread publicity and the compulsive need for beautification has popularised the use of these implants illicitly. Implantation into phakic eyes causes mechanical irritation of angle structures leading to chronic inflammation, pigment dispersion, prolonged endothelial cell loss and compression of the trabecular meshwork. The consequences are dire, leading to presentation of such patients with serious complications involving the cornea, angle, and lens. Here we give an extensive review of available literature on cosmetic iris implants and also describe a case with bilateral cosmetic iris implants (New-ColorIris). The patient presented with corneal decompensation, glaucoma, and cataract in both eyes, seven years after the implantation and was successfully managed with explantation of the device followed by a DMEK Triple procedure.
Intimate Partner Violence Against Brazilian Mothers is Associated With Their Children’s Lower Quality-of-Life Scores: A Cross-Sectional Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mélo Tainá Ribas , Araujo Luize Bueno de , Rosa Jainy da Costa , Arantes Maryana , Israel Vera Lúcia , Signorelli Marcos Claudio
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic led to family and routine reorganization, triggering social problems. Women were further exposed to domestic violence, especially intimate partner violence (IPV), with consequences to their and their children’s health. However, few Brazilian studies address the issue, especially considering the pandemic and its restrictive measures. The objective was to verify the relationship between mothers’/caregivers’ IPV and their children’s neuropsychomotor development (NPMD) and quality of life (QOL) during the pandemic. Seven hundred one female mothers/caregivers of children (0-12 years old) responded to the online epidemiological inquiry. NPMD was investigated with the Caregiver Reported Early Development Instruments (CREDI-short version); QOL, with the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™); and IPV, with the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS). The independence chi-square test was used, with Fisher’s exact statistics, in SPSS Statistics 27®. Children whose mothers were exposed to IPV were 2.68 times as likely to have a “low” QOL score (χ2(1) = 13.144, P < .001; φ = 0.137). This indicates a possible environmental influence on the children’s QOL, which may have been aggravated by strict social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Peer support for accepting distressing reality: Expertise and experience-sharing in psychiatric peer-to-peer group discussions
Authors: Weiste Elina , Stevanovic Melisa , Uusitalo Lise-Lotte , Toiviainen Hanna
Published: March 2023

Peer-based interventions are increasingly used for delivering mental health services to help people with an illness re-examine their situation and accept their illness as part of their life story. The role of the peer supporter in these interventions, known as experts-by-experience (EbE), is situated between mutual peer support and semi-professional service delivery, and they face the challenge of balancing an asymmetric, professional relationship with a reciprocal, mutuality-based, equal relationship. This article investigates how EbEs tackle this challenge when responding to clients’ stories about their personal, distressing experiences in peer-based groups in psychiatric services. The results show how the EbEs responded to their clients’ experience-sharing with two types of turns of talk. In the first response type, the EbEs highlighted reciprocal experience-sharing, nudging the clients toward accepting their illness. This invoked mutual affiliation and more problem-talk from the clients. In the second response type, the EbEs compromised reciprocal experience-sharing and advised clients on how to accept their illness in their everyday lives. This was considered less affiliative in relation to the client’s problem description, and the sequence was brought to a close. Both response types involved epistemic asymmetries that needed to be managed in the interaction. Based on our analysis, semi-professional, experience-based expertise involves constant epistemic tensions, as the participants struggle to retain the mutual orientation toward peer-based experience-sharing and affiliation.
Inclusive social norms and nationals’ positive intergroup orientations toward refugees: The moderating role of initial prejudice and intergroup contact
Authors: Valsecchi Giulia , Berent Jacques , Borinca Islam , Green Eva G. T. , Falomir-Pichastor Juan M.
Published: March 2023

Research on the interplay between inclusive norms and intergroup contact on improving intergroup orientations has yielded conflicting results, suggesting either that an experience of personal contact is necessary to have a positive effect of inclusive norms or that such personal experience is not always necessary. To clarify this issue, across four studies ( N = 835), we investigated the influence of inclusive norms on positive intergroup orientations as a function of personal experiences of intergroup contact. Study 1 demonstrated that inclusive norms are more strongly correlated with experiences of personal contact with outgroups with whom opportunities of contact are more (i.e., immigrants) than less (i.e., refugees) frequent. Study 2 provided experimental evidence for this finding showing that inclusive norms increase prejudiced nationals’ willingness to engage in future contact with immigrants but not with refugees, suggesting that conformity to inclusive norms depends on varying contact opportunities with the outgroups. Studies 3 and 4 confirmed that prejudiced nationals conformed to inclusive norms specifically when experienced positive contact with a refugee (experimentally induced with the imagined contact paradigm), compared with no contact (Study 3) or negative contact (Study 4). We discuss the implications of these findings for research on intergroup contact, social influence, and intergroup relations.
The language of priorities: Aneurin Bevan, Welsh labour and the politics of the past
Authors: Davies Nye
Published: March 2023

The past is integral to Labour Party politics, serving as a constant reference point in articulating a politics for the present and in responding to defeats. In Wales, however, 100 years of electoral dominance means that Welsh Labour has not had to respond to defeat in the same way. This article therefore analyses how Welsh Labour utilises the past when constructing its brand, articulating its ideology and challenging opponents. To do this, it analyses Welsh Labour politicians’ references to Aneurin Bevan, a significant figure in Labour history. The analysis argues that while Welsh Labour’s engagement with the past has helped it to maintain electoral dominance, the references do not engage critically with the party’s traditions, risk ideological inertia and signal potential dangers for the dominant party in a one-party dominant system.
A randomized trial comparing percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) and radiologically inserted percutaneous gastrostomy (RIG)
Authors: Sundbom Magnus , Cabrera Eladio , Nyman Rickard , Barbier Charlotte Ebeling , Johnson Ulf , Ljungdahl Mikael
Published: March 2023

Background and objective:

At present, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the procedure of choice in establishing a permanent feeding tube in patients with chronic severe dysphagia. This is the first prospective randomized study in adults comparing PEG with radiologically inserted gastrostomy (RIG).

Methods:

Randomization of 106 patients, eligible for both techniques, to PEG (pull method) or RIG. The groups were comparable in terms of age, body mass index, and underlying diseases. Adverse events were reported 10 and 30 days after the operative procedure, and mortality was up until 6 months. The validated European Quality of life 5 Dimensions 3 level version (EQ-5D) questionnaire was used for health status measurements.

Results:

The procedures were successfully completed in all patients. The median operative time was 10 min for PEG and 20 min for RIG (p < 0.001). The overall rate of adverse events was lower for PEG (22%) than for RIG (51%, p = 0.002), mostly due to less local self-limiting stoma reactions and tube problems. The 30-day mortality was lower after PEG (2% versus 14%, p = 0.020). Patient-scored health status remained low for the entire cohort, with an EQ-5D utility index of 0.164. Self-rated health was low but improved in the RIG group (52.5 from 41.1, out of 100).

Conclusion:

PEG can be recommended as the primary procedure in patients in need of a feeding gastrostomy, mainly due to a lower frequency of tube complications. However, as the two techniques complement each other, RIG is also a valid alternative method.

Clinical trial registration:

International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number ISRCTN17642761. https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN17642761
Blood management practices during rapid transfer of urgent trauma patients pre- and post-implementation of ROTEM®-guided transfusion
Authors: Wyssusek Kerstin H. , Wagner Matthew K. , Lee Julie , Okano Satomi , Wullschleger Martin , van Zundert André A.
Published: March 2023

Objective

The ‘Red Blanket’ protocol fast tracks trauma patients with severe blood loss to the designated trauma operating theatre directly from the hospital helipad or Emergency Department. This study aimed to assess the impact of patient blood management (PBM) strategies on severely injured trauma patients treated under the ‘Red Blanket’ protocol at a quaternary referral hospital.

Methods

This retrospective review was conducted on all urgent trauma cases that were treated under the ‘Red Blanket’ protocol in a ten-year period between January 2007 and December 2017. The use of blood products and patient outcomes was compared between the 3.5-year periods pre- and post-ROTEM® implementation on 30th June 2014 (Jan 2011-June 2014 versus July 2014-Dec 2017).

Results

During the study period, 120 trauma patients were treated under the ‘Red Blanket’ protocol at our institution. Intention to treat analysis showed a reduction in fresh frozen plasma usage following the introduction of ROTEM®-guided transfusion. Furthermore, subgroup analysis suggested reduced blood product usage in patients who survived.

Conclusions

Patient blood management is a coordinated package of systems and tools, including education, patient logistics, anaemia management, intraoperative cell salvage, rotational thromboelastometry and massive transfusion protocols that together conserve blood products and improve outcomes. The implementation of ROTEM®-guided transfusion demonstrated a reduction in fresh frozen plasma usage.
Management of a penetrating vertebral artery injury in a peripheral hospital
Authors: Wu Michael , Tay Jia , Lloyd David
Published: March 2023

Vertebral artery (VA) injuries in penetrating trauma are rare but can be life threatening. Management is often reliant on interventional radiology (IR), although such services may be lacking in peripheral centres. We report a case of a 22-year-old man who sustained a right VA injury from a stab wound to the posterolateral neck that was managed in a rural hospital. On presentation, the patient was initially haemodynamically stable but began exsanguinating heavily whilst undergoing imaging and was subsequently transferred to the operating theatre. Intraoperatively, bleeding was noted from the C5/C6 interforaminal space. Due to difficulty with exposure and lack of specialist surgical services, bimanual pressure was continuously applied to the wound whilst awaiting the arrival of a vascular surgeon and neuro-interventionalist who were transported by air from a tertiary hospital. At the time of angiography, bleeding had ceased and no further intervention was required. This case highlights the importance for surgeons in peripheral centres to be aware of some of the operative manouvres used in managing VA injuries including the utility of continued direct pressure. Moreover, it serves as a reminder that there remains a role for operative intervention in the unstable patient despite increasing reliance on radiological techniques to treat such injuries.
Bifurcations of Liouville tori of coupled sextic anharmonic oscillators
Authors: El-Sabaa Fawzy M , Amer Tarek S , Gad Hadeer M , Bek Mohamed A
Published: March 2023

In the current paper, the problem of sextic anharmonic oscillators is investigated. There are three integrable cases of this problem. Emphasis is placed on two integrable cases, and a full description of each one is provided. The separated functions of the first and second integrability cases are transformed from a higher degree to the third and fourth degrees. Respectively, the periodic solution is obtained using Jacobi’s elliptic functions. The topology of phase space and Liouville tori’s bifurcations are discussed. The phase portrait is studied to determine singular points and classify their types in addition to the graphic representation for each of them. Finally, the numerical illustrations are introduced using the Poincaré surface section to emphasize the problem’s integrability.
Numerical simulation of actuation processes and decoupling pyroshock of a pressure cartridge-type pin puller
Authors: Wang Jingcheng , Xiong Shihui , Wen Yuquan , Wang Yadong
Published: March 2023

In this study, a finite element model of a pressure cartridge-type pin puller is used to simulate the actuation process and predict the actuation shock using the deflagration equation of state and the fluid-structure coupling algorithm of the MSC/Dytran. The established model is validated by comparing the simulation results with the experimental results for pressure and actuation shocks. Based on the established finite element model, the contribution of the four shock sources to the actuation shock is quantitatively decoupled by changing the state of the pin puller. The results demonstrate that the maximum shock caused by the piston impact was 7454.33 G in the analysis frequency range of 500 Hz–10 kHz. The piston impact was the primary contributor to the actuation shock, accounting for approximately 80.80%. The contribution of the shock caused by payload release was approximately 18.56%. However, the total contributions of the shock generated by the pyrotechnic charge combustion and piston cutting off the shear pin were less than 1%. The conclusions of this study can provide a reference for the structural and shock-reduction design of pressure cartridge-type pyrotechnic separation devices.
A bicultural model of social work with immigrants: Professional interventions, acculturation orientations, and burnout of social workers
Authors: Tartakovsky Eugene , Baltiansky Gil
Published: March 2023

In the present study, we developed a bicultural model of social work with immigrants consisting of professional interventions rooted in the dominant and the immigrant cultures. We further developed scales measuring the two types of interventions and investigated their connections with acculturation orientations and burnout of social workers working with immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) in Israel. The study was cross-sectional. The sample included 313 social workers, 254 Israeli-born and 59 born in the FSU. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

In their work with immigrants, social workers equally used interventions rooted in the immigrant and the dominant cultures, and the two types of interventions were complimentary. Stronger adherence to the acculturation orientation related to preserving the immigrant culture was associated with more frequent use of interventions rooted in the immigrant culture. In addition, more frequent interventions rooted in the immigrant culture were associated with a higher level of personal accomplishment. On the other hand, more frequent use of interventions rooted in the dominant culture was associated with a higher level of burnout. Immigrant social workers reported a higher level of personal accomplishment but also a higher level of burnout than their colleagues belonging to the dominant group.

Applications

The main conclusion of the present study relates to the importance of accepting the immigrant culture and learning to effectively apply professional interventions rooted in both the immigrant and the dominant cultures in social work with immigrants.
Encountering the world with voice search: A young immigrant and emergent bilingual child’s digital literacies
Authors: Yoon Yeojoo
Published: March 2023

This article explores a 4-year-old recent immigrant and emergent bilingual child’s encounter with voice search technology to understand how assemblages among a young immigrant child, his voice, his family, digital technology, and materials create new possibilities for the understanding of ethnolinguistically marginalized children and families' literacies and digital literacies practices. Data in this article is taken from a larger ethnographic case study and drawn from the child’s home and the preschool classroom. Situated in critical posthumanist scholarship and vital materialism, I show that a child’s unbounded digital and media access and unpredictable encounters through his voice and crossing over languages take part in redistributing the hierarchy of bodies, performances, and productions. Finally, I suggest that understanding children’s use of voice search as one of their key ways of doing literacies and making meaning and noticing the unpredictable, intimate, and playful literacies can help us disrupt the traditional, assimilatory conceptualization of digital literacies.
Nanokaolin reinforced carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber/polyurethane blend-based latex with enhanced tensile properties and chemical resistance
Authors: Aung QL , Chow WS , Yong YP , Lam CN
Published: March 2023

The demand for gloves (e.g., disposable gloves, medical gloves) is increasing due to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Stability in the supply chain in the glove industry is important, and thus strategies are used to solve the problem of the shortage of nitrile gloves. The blending of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) with polyurethane (PU) and the use of the nanocomposite concept is among the feasible approaches. The present study aims to investigate the effects of nanokaolin (NK) on the tensile and chemical properties of carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/polyurethane (PU) latex blends. Three different loadings of NK (10, 20, and 30 parts per hundred rubber) were added to the NBR/PU (at a blending ratio of 85/15). The zeta potential showed that all the NBR compounds exhibit good colloidal stability. The incorporation of NK increased the crosslink density and tensile strength of the NBR/PU latex blends. The highest tensile strength was achieved when the NK loading was 20 phr. All the NBR blends and nanocomposites (NBR/PU-based) possess tensile properties that fulfill the requirements for glove application. The chemical resistance of NBR compounds was increased by the incorporation of NK due to the higher crosslink density and barrier properties contributed by the NK.