bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parents’ Discussions of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Death With Young Children
Authors: Su-Russell Chang , Greiner Csilla , Ermer Ashley , Russell Luke T.
Published: April 2023

Death and loss are often uncomfortable topics for adults to discuss with young children. Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, however, made the avoidance of these topics nearly impossible. The current study explored how 20 parents engaged with their young children (ages 3–6) in discussions about death, dying, and loss as they jointly experienced this global crisis. Interviews were conducted both prepandemic (Summer/Fall 2019) and a year later, at the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, before vaccines were approved (Summer 2020). Results suggest parents largely sought to balance sheltering children from stress and socializing them with socioemotional competencies. The pandemic context, however, brought parents a sense of urgency to scaffold their children’s ability to remain resilient after experiencing losses. Practical implications are discussed regarding how family nurses and other practitioners can provide support to families of young children during the COVID-19 pandemic and potential future global crises.
State Policy and the Breadth of Buprenorphine-Prescriber Networks in Medicaid Managed Care
Authors: Meiselbach Mark K. , Drake Coleman , Zhu Jane M. , Manibusan Brynna , Nagy Dylan , Sorbero Mark J. , Saloner Brendan , Stein Bradley D. , Polsky Daniel
Published: April 2023

Provider networks in Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) play a crucial role in ensuring access to buprenorphine, a highly effective treatment for opioid use disorder. Using a difference-in-differences approach that compares network breadth across provider specialties and market segments within the same state, we investigated the association between three Medicaid policies and the breadth of MMC networks for buprenorphine prescribers: Medicaid expansion, substance use disorder (SUD) network adequacy criteria, and SUD carveouts. We found that both Medicaid expansion and SUD network adequacy criteria were associated with substantially increased breadth in buprenorphine-prescriber networks in MMC. In both cases, we found that the associations were largely driven by increases in the network breadth of primary care physician prescribers. Our findings suggest that Medicaid expansion and SUD network adequacy criteria may be effective strategies at states’ disposal to improve access to buprenorphine.
The Inconsistency of Trauma-Related Journalism Education Goals and Instruction
Authors: Newman Elana , Madrigal Ilissa , Hight Joe
Published: April 2023

Many journalism students cover stories about tragedy and violence (trauma). Yet few journalism schools offer trauma training despite growing agreement among educators that early journalists need to learn about the impact of reporting trauma on victims, the community, and the journalists’ themselves. This contrast is puzzling. This study aimed to identify what trauma-related topics are valued and which are taught. First, 156 Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) members completed a survey rating the importance and extent of course coverage of self-care, trauma-informed interviewing, trauma’s impact on the community, and best trauma community reporting practices. The commonly deemed highly valued topics include ethics of accuracy, sensitivity, respect for survivors, and privacy rights. Self-care was deemed important but often not covered. Qualitative interviews provided context on pedagogical techniques, experiences, and barriers to teaching trauma.
Linear spring model to analyse the effect of interfacial imperfection on the propagation and attenuation of Love-type waves in viscoelastic-FGPM bedded structure
Authors: Mondal Sonali
Published: April 2023

This article is dedicated to analyse the propagation and attenuation behaviour of Love-type waves in an imperfectly bonded viscoelastic-functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) layered structure. The linear spring model is adopted to portray the interfacial imperfection. The wave solutions in the FGPM substrate are approximated using Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) approximation technique. Dispersion relation is obtained and found to be complex in nature, when traction-free and electrically short conditions are taken into account. Numerical example and computations have been presented to analyse the dispersion equation. The pronounced effects of different parameters such as gradient coefficients, layer’s width, interfacial imperfection, and dissipation factor on the phase velocity, as well as attenuation coefficient of the Love-type wave have been illustrated graphically. Obtained results may be used to achieve better performance of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices and Love-wave sensors.
Comparison of the Autopsy and Placental Findings in Second vs Third Trimester Stillbirth
Authors: Manjee Kiran , Price Erica , Ernst Linda M.
Published: April 2023

Background:

The pathology of second trimester fetal loss is not well-characterized due to lack of comprehensive autopsy studies. The purpose of this study is to compare autopsy pathology of second trimester and third trimester stillbirth.

Methods:

In this retrospective cohort study, fetal autopsies performed in-house with complete placental examination were included. From autopsy reports, maternal demographics, gestational age, sex, body and placental weight, congenital anomalies, and cause of death (COD) were obtained. Immediate COD was coded “probable” or “possible” according to Initial Causes of Fetal Death (INCODE).

Results:

Among 68 second trimester and 54 third trimester fetal autopsies, at least 1 probable COD was identified in 59/68 (87%) second trimester and 44/54 (81%) third trimester cases. 42/68 (62%) second trimester and 28/54 (52%) third trimester fetuses had probable COD secondary to placental pathology. Among placental causes, 29/42 (69%) second trimester and 14/28 (50%) third trimester stillbirths were related to compromised fetal microcirculation with umbilical cord abnormality.

Conclusions:

Among stillborn first and second trimester fetuses who undergo autopsy, the most prevalent COD is pathologic placental conditions, particularly those associated with umbilical cord obstruction. This study stresses the importance of placenta examination for establishing COD in both second and third trimester fetuses.
Measures of Fetal Growth and Cardiac Structure in Stillbirths With Placental Maternal Vascular Malperfusion: Evidence for Heart Weight Sparing and Structural Cardiac Alterations in Humans
Authors: Freedman Alexa A. , Price Erica , Franklin Andrew , Ernst Linda M.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Placental maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) is associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR). While FGR increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, the impact of MVM on fetal cardiac structure is understudied.

Methods:

We utilized a cohort of autopsied stillbirths; 29 with MVM as the cause of death and 21 with a cause of death unrelated to MVM. Fetal and organ weights and heart measurements were standardized by gestational age and compared between MVM and non-MVM stillbirths. Differences in standardized fetal organ and cardiac measures as compared to standardized fetal body weight were calculated to account for body size.

Results:

MVM stillbirths had smaller organ and heart weights than non-MVM stillbirths; however, after accounting for gestational age, heart weight was the least affected among all organs. In an analysis of organ weights relative to body size, heart weights were 0.31 standard deviations (SD) larger than expected relative to body weight (95% CI: 0.04, 0.57). Right and left ventricle thicknesses and mitral valve circumference were also larger than expected relative to body weight.

Conclusion:

Stillbirth due to MVM was associated with relative sparing of heart weight and other heart measurements. The significance of these findings in liveborn infants needs further study.
Debating the identity and indigeneity of the Batwa in post-genocide Rwanda: a review of the challenges and prospects from a human rights perspective
Authors: Baptiste Ndikubwimana Jean , Ayako Anangwe Kathleen , Nyarwath Oriare , Busalile Mwimali Jack , Mulinda Kabwete Charles
Published: April 2023

This study is a systematic review of the United Nations and African Union reports on the controversial identity of the Batwa and their recognition as an Indigenous people in post-genocide Rwanda. Using the criteria of inclusion and exclusion, 25 United Nations and African Union periodic reports dating from 2000 onwards were systematically selected and reviewed. The findings of the study indicate that both the United Nations and African Union agree and disagree on the position of the Government of Rwanda on the identity recognition and the strategies used to empower the Batwa. Therefore, lack of a unified position on the status of the Batwa grossly undermines the United Nations human rights–based approach leading to the violation of their rights. This study proposes a new thinking that rectifies the status of the Batwa as a historically marginalized people. The study also subscribes to the tenets of national unity advanced by the Government of Rwanda.
Treatment Court Family Nights: An Accessible and Adaptable Support for Families Engaging in Recovery
Authors: Palombi Laura , Van Deelen Anna , Hawn Andrew , Kosobuski Lucas , Katras Mary Jo
Published: April 2023

Introduction:

While public health measures including physical distancing and stay-at-home orders have clear benefits in COVID-19 mitigation and prevention, they have provided unique challenges for individuals with substance use disorder (SUD), including Treatment Court (TC) participants.

Methods:

This study involved a qualitative evaluation of TC Family Nights; one series of Family Nights was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic and the second series was adapted and held remotely due to COVID-19 distancing requirements.

Results:

Several important themes emerged, including general positive experiences, accessible session logistics, naloxone training, attention to stigma, building recovery capital, group engagement, social interaction, and community action. These themes will help inform future SUD recovery education.

Conclusion:

Online recovery support events provide a new model for courts and recovery organizations that seek multiple ways to provide connection and support for their participants and families during times when accessibility is prioritized, in-person activities are discouraged, and in resource-sparse and geographically isolated communities.
Technology-based interprofessional collaboration in primary care for home rehabilitation of the older adults: A dutch exploratory study
Authors: Alpay Laurence , Siemonsma Petra , Koster Ybranda , Verhoef John , Kassens Erzy , Flaton Pieter , Baars Koen , van Kessel Floor , Dallinga Joan
Published: April 2023

Primary healthcare professionals face an increasing number of geriatrics patients, and patient care often involves different disciplines. eHealth offers opportunities to support interprofessional collaboration (IPC). This exploratory study aimed to gain insight in 1) IPC in community-based rehabilitation, 2) facilitators and barriers for technology-based IPC and 3) technological IPC solutions envisioned by the primary healthcare professionals An focus group with six primary healthcare professionals and a design thinking session with four participants were conducted. Data analysis was based upon an IPC model. Results indicate that facilitators and barriers for IPC can be clustered in three categories: human, organization and technology, and provide some requirements to develop suitable IPC technological solutions Primary healthcare professionals recognise the urgency of working collaboratively. Current barriers are understanding each other’s professional vocabulary, engaging the older adults, and using technology within the patient’s environment. Further research is needed to integrate IPC components in a technological solution
Satisfaction of orthodontic Post-CCST training: A survey of trainee perceptions
Authors: Tsang Stacey , Mittal Tarun
Published: April 2023

Introduction:

This survey was undertaken as a second part to ‘Barriers to Post-CCST training in orthodontics: A survey of trainee perceptions’. Recruitment of Post-CCST trainees in certain areas of the country has attracted concerns as it has become increasingly difficult. This survey was undertaken to assess trainee satisfaction with Post-CCST training and to look at possible ways to improve trainee satisfaction and make Post-CCST training more desirable.

Methods:

The Training Grades Group (TGG) committee of the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) produced an online survey that was sent to all TGG members and newly qualified consultants in May 2021. All Post-CCSTs who entered training between February 2017 and October 2020, were asked to complete the survey.

Results:

There were 37 respondents, which gave a response rate of 62%. While 61% of respondents were satisfied with their Post-CCST training, 17% were ‘neither satisfied or dissatisfied’ and 6% were either ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’. Of the 37 respondents, 25 (67%) would apply for Post-CCST training again, 6 (16%) would not and 6 (16%) did not answer this question. When asked for possible suggestions for improvements to Post-CCST training to encourage greater satisfaction, the responses could be grouped into the following themes: Part-time training; Teaching; Time commitment; Salary; and Experience.

Conclusion:

In general, respondents were satisfied with Post-CCST training. There was a significant range of positive and negative responses to various aspects of training including multidisciplinary team clinic preparation, support, supervision and management experience. Suggestions for improvements echo the barriers to Post-CCST training survey.
Can Motivation, Opportunity and Ability Theory Informed Segments Be Validated in the Australian Defence Force?
Authors: Kitunen Anna , Rundle-Thiele Sharyn , Carins Julia , Deshpande Sameer
Published: April 2023

Background

Segmentation use in social marketing especially in improving the health of young adults is limited, and theory use within segmentation remains infrequent. A generalisable segmentation structure that can be reliably applied across different young adult’s samples may assist social marketers to move beyond one size fits all healthy eating programs.

Focus of the Article

Segmentation is an essential marketing principle which allows customising marketing activities to the needs of specific segments. Evidence shows that behaviour change is more likely when more principles are used, yet segmentation remains underutilised and a cross-sample validation of segments across different populations remains to be demonstrated.

Importance to the Social Marketing Field

Delivery of healthy eating programs targeted to group differences and accommodating a broader theory-based socio-ecological viewpoint is needed to engage with a cross section of young adults more effectively along with a cross-sample validation of segments across different populations to identify a valid segmentation structure that can be reliably applied across the Australian young adult population.

Methods

A replication study was conducted using the same constructs, items and analytical procedures as in the original study. Data was collected online and in person using a paper survey in two military bases to ensure a mix of Australian Defence Force (ADF) trainee types. Psychographic variables informed by the MOA framework were collected and used to segment the sample with two-step cluster analysis along with a demographic measure (education) and behavioural measure (eating behaviour) to repeat the segmentation analysis.

Results

The ability of the MOA framework to explain eating behaviour was confirmed in the ADF trainee sample, and two-step cluster analysis produced a similar segment structure to the original study with education, opportunity and motivation to eat healthy being the most important variables in segment formation.

Recommendations for Research or Practice

Segmentation is important for developing understanding that enables social marketers to design social change programs to meet the needs of young adults. This empirical replication study confirmed a similar theory-driven healthy eating segment solution across two young adult populations illustrating the value of using behavioural theories to draw segments and utilising the same theory to cross-validate the constructs in a comparable sample. Future research could use this approach to identify a valid segmentation structure that can be reliably applied across different populations and behavioural contexts.
Theories, Models, Frameworks, Guidelines, and Recommendations for Trauma-Informed Oral Healthcare Services: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mahood Emma , Shahid Mishel , Gavin Nicole , Rahmann Ann , Tadakamadla Santosh Kumar , Kroon Jeroen
Published: April 2023

Background:

Traumatic life experiences (TLE) are common and can affect a person’s physical being and health-related behaviors, including those related to oral health. This scoping review aimed to identify evidence exploring the implementation and provision of trauma-informed care (TIC) in oral health services delivery.

Methods:

Arksey and O’Malley’s framework with enhancements proposed by Levac et al. and Peters et al. was used. Studies were selected based on a preset inclusion and exclusion criteria and the population/concept/context framework. Primary charting of descriptive data was conducted, followed by thematic analysis to identify ideas common within the included literature. Searches were conducted in Medline (via Ovid), APA PsycINFO (via Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), Scopus, CINAHL (via EBSCO), and Cochrane databases. Google Scholar and ProQuest were used to identify grey literature.

Results:

The search identified 251 records, with fifteen records meeting the inclusion criteria. Limited models, frameworks, and recommendations for trauma-informed practices in oral health services were identified. Recommendations for TIC practices were identified, and clinical practice adjustments for dental practitioners were described to improve service delivery for patients who may have experienced trauma. Avenues for future research were identified.

Conclusions:

Limited evidence exists to guide trauma-informed practice in oral health service delivery. This scoping review highlights the need for further research into approaches and practices of TIC for oral health services delivery to assess their efficacy and the need to develop evidence-based TIC frameworks to meet the unique needs of oral health service providers and populations.
Should Long-Term Survival in Elderly Patients Presenting with Diabetic Foot Complications Impact Treatment Decision Making?
Authors: Yii Erwin , Tiong Jonathan , Farah Sam , Al-Talib Husein , Clarke Jonathan , Yii Ming Kon
Published: April 2023

Patients presenting with diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) and associated complications often require revascularisation. Although current evidence advocates for an open bypass first strategy if patients are expected to live more than two years, this may not be appropriate in octogenarians. We sought to investigate the survival of patients aged over 70 years presenting with complicated DFU and chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI) to clarify its prognosis and guide subsequent management. A database of patients admitted into a large tertiary service over the age of 70 years with DFU and CLTI between 2014 and 2017 were included. Survival data was obtained from medical records and public obituaries through to 2020. Patients were divided into three age groups: seventies (70-79 years), eighties (80-89 years) and nineties (≥90 years). Survival was evaluated using a stratified log-rank test and Kaplan–Meier methods. A total of 323 patients were included for analysis. Survival information was available for 225 patients (69%). Mean duration of follow-up was 19 months. There were 113 deaths recorded (35%). Mean survival for patients in their seventies, eighties and nineties was 63 months (95% CI 48.8-65.5), 37 months (95% CI 27.4-44.9) and 6 months (95% CI 2.3-19.2), respectively. In patients over 70 years of age presenting with DFU and CLTI, long-term survival decreases rapidly with increasing age, especially in the octogenarians. With recent technological advances and reduced morbidity, an endovascular approach may sufficiently treat acute presentations in octogenarians while reserving an open first strategy for younger patients with better long-term survival and adequate autologous conduit.
Effectiveness of Center of Pressure Trajectory as Anticipatory Postural Adjustment Measurement in Parkinson’s Disease With Freezing of Gait History
Authors: Kung Chien-Feng , Lai Yun-Ru , Chiu Wen-Chan , Lien Chia-Yi , Huang Chih-Cheng , Cheng Ben-Chung , Lin Wei-Che , Chen Yueh-Sheng , Yu Chiun-Chieh , Chiang Yi-Fang , Guo Yan-Ru , Chen Yin-Hong , Lu Cheng-Hsien
Published: April 2023

Background

Evidence showed that patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who have a history of freezing of gait (FOG) have hypometric anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) during gait initiation (GI) compared to PD without FOG.

Objectives

This study aimed to test the feasibility of center of pressure (COP) displacement during GI as the measure of APA in PD with and without a history of FOG.

Methods

Patients with PD underwent COP trajectory measurements, including duration, length, velocity, and acceleration in different phases of APA (APA1, APA2a, APA2, and LOC), as well as evaluation of New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOG-Q), Tinetti balance and gait score, and Postural Instability and Gait Difficulty (PIGD) score in the on and off medication states.

Results

The duration (seconds) of APA2a, APA2b, and LOC were highest while velocity in mediolateral direction ( X) (m/s), including APA1, APA2a, APA2b, and LOC showed lowest in PD with FOG. Velocity in the mediolateral direction in different phases of APA increased in patients with FOG after dopaminergic therapy. APA2a (seconds) and APA2b ( X) (m/s) were significantly associated with NFOG-Q part II, APA2b ( X) (m/s) was significantly associated with NFOG-Q part III, and APA2a (seconds) was significantly associated with Tinetti balance and gait and PIGD score.

Conclusions

PD with FOG history showed a favorable response of APAs to dopaminergic replacement. The APA parameters by COP trajectory, especially lateral COP shift toward the stance foot (APA2b ( X) (m/s) and APA2a (seconds)) are surrogate markers to assess PD with FOG history.
Early Subacute White Matter Hyperintensities and Recovery of Language After Stroke
Authors: Vadinova Veronika , Sihvonen Aleksi J. , Garden Kimberley L. , Ziraldo Laura , Roxbury Tracy , O’Brien Kate , Copland David A. , McMahon Katie L. , Brownsett Sonia L. E.
Published: April 2023

Background

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are considered to contribute to diminished brain reserve, negatively impacting on stroke recovery. While WMH identified in the chronic phase after stroke have been associated with post-stroke aphasia, the contribution of premorbid WMH to the early recovery of language across production and comprehension has not been investigated.

Objective

To investigate the relationship between premorbid WMH severity and longitudinal comprehension and production outcomes in aphasia, after controlling for stroke lesion variables.

Methods

Longitudinal behavioral data from individuals with a left-hemisphere stroke were included at the early subacute (n = 37) and chronic (n = 28) stage. Spoken language comprehension and production abilities were assessed at both timepoints using word and sentence-level tasks. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at the early subacute stage to derive stroke lesion variables (volume and proportion damage to critical regions) and WMH severity rating.

Results

The presence of severe WMH explained an additional 18% and 25% variance in early subacute ( t = −3.00, p = .004) and chronic ( t = −3.60, P = .001) language comprehension abilities respectively, after controlling for stroke lesion variables. WMH did not predict additional variance of language production scores.

Conclusions

Subacute clinical MRI can be used to improve prognoses of recovery of aphasia after stroke. We demonstrate that severe early subacute WMH add to the prediction of impaired longitudinal language recovery in comprehension, but not production. This emphasizes the need to consider different domains of language when investigating novel neurobiological predictors of aphasia recovery.
Arctic Quaternary Mammal Collections in the Museums of Yakutsk (Yakutia, East Siberia, Russia)
Authors: Boeskorov Gennady , Shchelchkova Marina
Published: April 2023

Many Ice Age fossil mammals remains are found in Yakutia, which occupies most of Eastern Siberia. In the city of Yakutsk, various museum and scientific institutions hold collections and exhibits of Quaternary mammals collected at different times in different locations in the Arctic zone of Yakutia. These collections mostly represents the Late Pleistocene Mammoth Fauna, and are housed in the Emelyan Yarosslavsky’s Yakutsk State Museum of History and Culture of the Peoples of the North, the Mammoth Museum, the Geological Museum of Diamond and Precious Metals Geology Institute, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Department of the Mammoth Fauna study, Academy of Sciences of the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic. These collections include woolly mammoth skeletons, other fragments of mammoths, woolly rhinoceros and horse carcasses, whole carcasses of steppe bison, cave lion cubs, and other fossil mammals, many bones and teeth of various mammals of the Mammoth Fauna. The study of these fossil mammal remains allow identification of features of their anatomy and morphology, as well as reconstruction of the ecological conditions at the time they were alive.
Navigating Change and Safety with Mercury in an Installation by Rebecca Horn
Authors: Hamilton Emily , Sotek Jeff , Poletski Steve
Published: April 2023

The Hydra-Forest: Performing Oscar Wilde (1988) by Rebecca Horn was created with a significant volume of mercury as part of a multi-component installation. This work was acquired by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in 1990 and was examined prior to exhibition in 2017 to 2018. The mercury developed black accretions that were considered visually problematic. Concerns surrounding the health and safety of conservation treatment and exhibition were raised and the museum partnered with Amec Foster Wheeler (now WSP USA) to develop appropriate handling, treatment, and storage procedures. SFMOMA conservation and curatorial staff were in dialog with the artist’s studio throughout this process and this collaborative process was essential in deciding how to exhibit this work moving forward.
Fossils From the Arctic in the Collections of the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway
Authors: Nakrem Hans Arne , Lindemann Franz-Josef , Hurum Jørn Harald , Hammer Øyvind
Published: April 2023

The fossils from the Arctic in the palaeontological collections of the Natural History Museum in Oslo (NHMO), Norway, cover most taxonomic groups and stratigraphic ages. They have proved useful in many research projects by adding important data, or by being the sole basis for these projects. The collections are well curated and most parts of them are registered in computer databases. Museum collections like those at the NHMO help to document the evolution of organismal groups in the (present-day) Arctic, and the palaeoecological and palaeoclimatological conditions they lived under. They are a resource for science by keeping records of fossils and rocks from remote locations, some of them with restricted access today (e.g., Novaya Zemlya, Russia). Not least they also document the history of scientific exploration and collecting culture over time. The history of exploration and appropriation of land in the Arctic, where many areas were considered to be “no man’s land” until the early twentieth century, is reflected in the collections, as is the building of a national Norwegian identity through polar expeditions in the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century.
“This is My Story”: Why People in Prison Participate in Qualitative Research
Authors: Di Marco Martín Hernán , Sandberg Sveinung
Published: April 2023

This study aims to understand why people agree to participate in qualitative research. While some studies have emphasized the motivation to participate in research, the nuances and underlying stories that favor participation have not yet been examined. Using data from repeated biographical open-ended interviews with men and women convicted of violent crimes in Argentina and Chile, we distinguish between stories emphasizing the interviews as a space or opportunity for a) healing and self-improvement, b) venting emotions, c) presenting alternative stories, and d) creating individual or systemic change. We also discuss stories that indicate a different direction, namely e) skepticism regarding research participation. The stories are discussed in view of self-presentations, the prison context, and issues of consent. Our study underscores the importance of critically exploring widespread narratives about the benefits of qualitative interviews. Understanding the stories that encourage or discourage participation in research allows for a more nuanced comprehension of the recruitment processes, consent to participate, and the qualitative interview dynamics.
Effects of thermal mass on transient thermal performance of concrete-based walls and energy consumption of an office building
Authors: Salehpour Benyamin , Ghobadi Mehdi , Ge Hua , Moore Travis
Published: April 2023

Reducing energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions is an essential part of the clean growth and climate change framework recently developed by the Canadian government, which emphasizes the importance of energy-efficient building constructions. In this paper, the effects of thermal mass and placement of the thermally massive layer within wall assemblies on the transient thermal performance of walls and energy performance of a case study office building were studied. Three climate conditions representative of the heating-dominated, temperate, and cooling-dominated climates were considered. As for the assessment of energy demands, two cases for the indoor air temperature were taken into account: (i) indoor temperature was maintained at 20°C throughout the year, and (ii) during summertime, there was a set-point of 24°C and a setback of 35°C during the rest of the day while during wintertime, the set-point and setback values were 22°C and 18°C, respectively. The cases were compared according to the resulting decrement factor, the time required to reach quasi-steady state conditions, amplitudes of changes of heat fluxes and indoor surface temperatures, and the energy demands. The results showed that, for the cases studied, the wall, for which the thermally massive layer is not directly exposed to the indoor and outdoor climate conditions, resulted in the lowest decrement factor, the minimum amplitude of changes of heat fluxes and indoor surface temperatures, and maximum time required to reach quasi steady-state conditions. As for the energy performance, on the other hand, the wall, for which the thermally massive layer is exposed to the interior and exterior climate conditions, performed best amongst the cases investigated.
Systemic disruptions: decolonizing indigenous research ethics using indigenous knowledges
Authors: Fournier Cathy , Stewart Suzanne , Adams Joshua , Shirt Clayton , Mahabir Esha
Published: April 2023

Research involving and impacting Indigenous Peoples is often of little or no benefit to the communities involved and, in many cases, causes harm. Ensuring that Indigenous research is not only ethical but also of benefit to the communities involved is a long-standing problem that requires fundamental changes in higher education. To address this necessity for change, the authors of this paper, with the help of graduate and Indigenous community research assistants, undertook community consultation across their university to identify the local and national ethical needs of Indigenous researchers, communities, and Elders. This paper provides an overview of the consultation process, the themes that emerged from the consultations, and a model of the Wholistic Indigenous Research Framework that emerged.
Interoception: Where do we go from here?
Authors: Murphy Jennifer
Published: April 2023

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in interest in interoception, the processing of internal bodily signals. This interest has been coupled by increased concerns regarding the measurement and conceptualisation of interoception. Focusing on cardiac interoceptive accuracy, I outline what I believe to be the most pressing issues in the field of interoception—specifically the continued reliance on the heartbeat counting task. I then provide an overview of what I believe to be more general limitations concerning how we measure and conceptualise individual differences in interoception and suggestions for a way forward. Specifically, I believe that by moving beyond single measurements, establishing optimal levels of interoceptive accuracy, and refocusing from accuracy to propensity, we may be able to uncover the real-life relevance of interoceptive abilities.
Syntactic adaptation leads to updated knowledge for local structural frequencies
Authors: Dempsey Jack , Liu Qiawen , Christianson Kiel
Published: April 2023

Syntactic adaptation has been shown to occur for various temporarily ambiguous structures, wherein an initially unexpected resolution becomes easier to process after repeated exposure. More controversial and less replicated is the claim that this adaptation towards a locally frequent structure occurs due to a strategic shifting of expectations to match short-term statistical regularities such that readers adapt away from the a priori more frequent structure. Experiment 1 replicates the initial adaptation towards a coordination garden path structure using self-paced reading; however, this paradigm has been criticised for its low reliability for detecting such small effects. To this end, Experiments 2 and 3 use a combination of self-paced reading and sentence completion tasks to replicate initial adaptation towards both coordination and reduced relative garden path structures and show evidence for a preference for these structures over their a priori more frequent alternatives. Together, these data reveal that participants may be tracking local structural statistics in real time; however, they may not be able to rapidly use that information to update processing behaviours.
Dual-tasking while using two languages: Examining the cognitive resource demands of cued and voluntary language production in bilinguals
Authors: de Bruin Angela , McGarrigle Ronan
Published: April 2023

The way bilinguals switch languages can differ depending on the context. In cued dual-language environments, bilinguals select a language in response to environmental cues (e.g., a monolingual conversation partner). In voluntary dual-language environments, bilinguals communicating with people who speak the same languages can use their languages more freely. The control demands of these types of language-production contexts, and the costs of language switches, have been argued to differ (Adaptive Control Hypothesis). Here, we used a dual-task paradigm to examine how cued and voluntary bilingual production differ in cognitive resources used. Forty Mandarin-English bilinguals completed two language-switching paradigms as the primary task; one in response to cues and one while using two languages freely. At the same time, they also had to respond to the pitch of tones (secondary task). Response times (RTs) on the secondary task, as well as naming times on the primary task, were shorter under the voluntary- than cued-naming condition. Task workload ratings were also higher under the cued- than voluntary-naming condition. This suggests more attentional resources are needed in a cued-naming context to monitor cues and select languages accordingly. However, the costs associated with switching from one language to the other were similar in both voluntary- and cued-naming contexts. Thus, while cued-naming might be more effortful overall, cued and voluntary switching recruited similar levels of cognitive resources.
A TLR4 agonist liposome formulation effectively stimulates innate immunity and enhances protection from bacterial infection
Authors: Hedges Jodi F. , Snyder Deann T. , Robison Amanda , Thompson Macy A. , Aspelin Klara , Plewa Jack , Baldridge Jory , Jutila Mark A.
Published: April 2023

Stimulation of innate immunity can protect against infectious insult and could be used in combination with other therapies. Since antibiotic resistance is an increasing concern, strategies to reduce the dose or eliminate the need for these drugs are warranted. Lipo-CRX is a formulation in which the TLR4 agonist CRX-527 is incorporated into lipid membranes in liposomes. Lipo-CRX is less inflammatory than either CRX-527 or LPS, but retains unique capacity to enhance host defense responses. We compared lipo-CRX to other agonists in vitro using mammalian cells and in vivo in mice, and assessed indicators of innate immune responses and protection from bacterial infection. Lipo-CRX is similar to E. coli LPS in its capacity to activate bovine γδ T cells and to recruit neutrophils into mouse lungs, but with less reactivity in the LAL assay. However, lipo-CRX uniquely induced the production of systemic innate immune cytokines. In the mouse model of brucellosis, delivery of lipo-CRX to the lungs reduced the dissemination of B. abortus. While lipo-CRX or the antibiotic ampicillin alone did not alter B. abortus burdens in the lung, the combination had a synergistic beneficial effect. Our data suggest that stimulating the innate immune system with lipo-CRX, either alone or when combined with antibiotics, can enhance bacterial clearance in the mouse model of brucellosis.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Guerrero-Arroyo Lizda , Faulds Eileen , Perez-Guzman M. Citlalli , Davis Georgia M. , Dungan Kathleen , Pasquel Francisco J.
Published: April 2023

Traditionally, the care of critically ill patients with diabetes or stress hyperglycemia in the intensive care unit (ICU) demands the use of continuous intravenous insulin (CII) therapy to achieve narrow glycemic targets. To reduce the risk of iatrogenic hypoglycemia and to achieve glycemic targets during CII, healthcare providers (HCP) rely on hourly point-of-care (POC) arterial or capillary glucose tests obtained with glucose monitors. The burden of this approach, however, was evident during the beginning of the pandemic when the immediate reduction in close contact interactions between HCP and patients with COVID-19 was necessary to avoid potentially life-threatening exposures. Taking advantage of the advancements in current diabetes technologies, including continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices integrated with digital health tools for remote monitoring, HCP implemented novel protocols in the ICU to care for patients with COVID-19 and hyperglycemia. We provide an overview of research conducted in the ICU setting with the use of initial CGM technology to current devices and summarize our recent experience in the ICU.
A dengue vaccine whirlwind update
Authors: Kariyawasam Ruwandi , Lachman Mark , Mansuri Saniya , Chakrabarti Sumontra , Boggild Andrea K.
Published: April 2023

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family with four serotypes (DENV1, DENV2, DENV3, and DENV4) circulating many tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Endemic in more than 100 countries, DENV results in over 400 million cases annually, a subset presenting with severe or life-threatening illnesses such as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS). While no specific treatments outside of supportive management exist, vaccines are an area of major research with two vaccines, Dengvaxia® (CYD-TDV) and Denvax® (TAK003), recently licensed for clinical use. CYD-TDV is highly efficacious in children 9 years or older who have had prior DENV infection due to the high risk of severe disease in seronegative children aged 2–5 years. Meanwhile, TAK003 has shown efficacy at 97.7% and 73.7% against, DENV2 and DENV1, respectively, in phase 3 clinical trials across Latin America and Asia in healthy children aged 4–16 with virologically confirmed dengue. Other vaccines including TV003 and TV005 continue to be developed across the world, with the hopes of entering clinical trials in the near future. We discuss the current state of vaccine development against dengue, with a focus on CYD-TDV and TAK003 as promising novel vaccines to target this neglected tropical disease (NTD).
The role of uncertainty and affect in decision-making on the adoption of AI-based contact-tracing technology during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hong Soo Jung , Cho Hichang
Published: April 2023

Objective

This study explores how negative affect, perceived net equity, and uncertainty influence the public's privacy decision-making regarding the adoption of contact-tracing technology based on artificial intelligence (AI) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Four hundred and eighteen adults in the US participated in the study via Amazon Mechanical Turk in August 2020. Statistical analyses were performed using the PROCESS macro. Indirect effects and their significance were estimated using bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals (CIs) with resampling set to n = 5000.

Results

Perceived net equity was positively associated with low levels of perceived uncertainty regarding a COVID-19 contact-tracing application and intention to adopt it. Low levels of perceived uncertainty were positively associated with intentions to adopt such an application, thereby suggesting that a perceived level of uncertainty mediates the association between perceived net equity and adoption intentions. Anxieties regarding AI technology and COVID-19 risks both moderate the associations among perceived net equity, perceived level of uncertainty, and intentions to adopt the contact-tracing technology.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight how the differing sources of emotion influence the associations among rational judgment, perceptions, and decision-making about new contact-tracing technology. Overall, the results suggest that both rational judgments and affective reactions to risks are important influencers of individuals’ perceptions and privacy-related decision-making regarding a new health technology during the pandemic.
Differentiation and unity: A Cross-platform Comparison Analysis of Online Posts’ Semantics of the Russian–Ukrainian War Based on Weibo and Twitter
Authors: Tao Wei , Peng Yingtong
Published: April 2023

The current Russian–Ukrainian War sparked a new wave of misinformation across social media. However, there is a lack of cross-platform research approaches around war events. This article followed the path of comparative media analysis. We used a three-step method from Triangulation theory and gathered 309,260 relevant posts from both the Twitter and Weibo platforms. We found that (1) Weibo posts are synchronized with Chinese mainstream media, and there is an “Amplification” phenomenon; Twitter posts are delicate and provocative from the perspective of individual encounters; (2) the topics of Weibo are “wide and scattered,” together to form a panoramic broadcast of the conflict. While topics of Twitter formed a condemnation around the invasion war; (3) the positive and negative emotion volume has gone through three stages: “Confrontation,” “Polarization,” and “Extension” with the development of the war. Finally, though the two social media fields present different characteristics, the call for humanitarianism and peace constitutes the unity of public opinion.
Son preference and Chinese women's biological health risk in middle and older age: A life course study
Authors: Zou Hong , Peng Zhengcheng , Xu Hongwei
Published: April 2023

Son preference is a severe form of gender discrimination and can impair women's health. Drawing on retrospective data from a nationally representative sample, this life course study examines how experience of guardians’ son preference in childhood is associated with Chinese women's health in middle and older age. Using imbalanced sex ratio at birth at the prefecture level as a proxy, this study also examines the health implications of adulthood exposure to regional son preference. Our regression estimates show that childhood experience of the male guardian's son preference is associated with higher biological risks of developing systemic inflammation at the 2015 follow-up among middle-aged and older women who were disease-free at the 2011 baseline. In contrast, childhood experience of the female guardian's son preference is associated with lower risk of developing systemic inflammation or hypertension at the follow-up, conditional on being disease-free at the baseline. Adulthood exposure to stronger regional son preference is associated with higher risk of hypertension at the follow-up, independent of childhood experience of guardians’ son preference.
Emerging Methods and Challenges Associated With Teaching and Learning Media Studies During the COVID-19 Pandemic Induced Lockdowns in Zimbabwe and South Africa
Authors: Chibuwe Albert , Munoriyarwa Allen
Published: April 2023

COVID-19’s arrival in Zimbabwe and South Africa in early 2020 caused disruptions to all facets of life including education. It disrupted traditional notions of media studies’ teaching and learning. In the contexts of these disruptions, the present study interrogates how selected universities in Zimbabwe and South Africa adjusted to the new normal in so far as teaching and learning of media studies is concerned. It is a comparative analysis of selected Zimbabwean and South African universities. In-depth interviews with students and lecturers and participant observations were used to gather data whilst thematic analysis was utilized to analyze the data. The study found out South African universities adjusted far much better and easily than their Zimbabwean counterparts. This is because both lecturers and students were capacitated as opposed to the scenario in Zimbabwe where lecturers and students alike were not given gadgets to smoothen the transition to online learning. The data that was given to lecturers was too little whereas the data for e-learning was too exorbitant for the students. Furthermore, both lecturers and students noted that it is difficult to teach and learn practical modules online. However, universities in both countries utilized platforms such as Google classroom though students from rural areas in both countries were affected by the digital divide.