bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Societal Hegemony and the Evolution of Masculinity in Francis Selormey’s The Narrow Path and Asare Konadu’s A Woman in Her Prime
Authors: Duncan Emmanuel Godfred Kobina Essel , Ennin Theresah Patrine
Published: August 2023

Francis Selormey’s The Narrow Path and Asare Konadu’s A Woman in Her Prime are two novels that add to the rich Ghanaian literary tradition through their exploration of human relationships and the roles men play in these relationships. Despite gaining a cult readership, these texts have largely been ignored by scholars. This paper examines the men in these texts to reveal the images of masculinities presented and show whether or not they follow society’s hegemonic model or create their own paths. This paper argues that the societies presented by these novels do not allow for a rejection of hegemony, and the male characters in these novels unknowingly follow society’s ideal masculine values. By using the theory of masculinities as a character study tool, the differences in the gender performance of the male characters in the pre-colonial and colonial eras are made clear and control is established as an ideology of the colonial era.
Othering the Laughable
Authors: Anyaegbunam Chekwube
Published: August 2023

This article reviews the incongruity, the superiority, and the relief theories of humour. Challenging the dominant notion of humour as a coping mechanism, it explores humour’s potential for positive transformation. It investigates the uses of humour in Nigeria, including its social and even unsuspected psychological functions. It also inquires into the problem of a seeming rising incidence of unhappiness among Nigerians despite their much-vaunted humorous nature and despite the relief theory of humour being the dominant perspective in humour studies. By spotlighting the synergy of activism and art in humour, subliminal tendencies, and Nigerians’ distinct comic intelligence, the article attempts a nuanced analysis of the production and consumption of humour, with an accent on the growing activist-oriented humour on social media platforms, particularly Twitter. In contrast to traditional stand-up comedy, this activist-oriented humour is found to be generally geared towards real-time impact through a combined deployment of words and actions. The research puts forward illustrative examples of how social media humour has surpassed other more orthodox comedic practices and thereby engendered remarkable social and political impacts in Nigeria.
Adsorption of CO2 on the Surface of Fe(111): A First-Principles Study
Authors: Cen Dongliang
Published: August 2023

First-principle is used to study the structure parameters, adsorption energy, Bader charge, electronic density of states, charge-density transformation, and surface work function of CO2 molecule at various adsorption sites on the Fe(111) surface based on Density Function
Theory (DFT). Results show that the CO2 molecule is absorbed on the Fe(111) surface by combining Fe–C and Fe–O multiple bonds. The type of adsorption of most configurations is chemisorption. The most stable structure is BS-Y, with an adsorption energy of −0.8115
eV. The order of stability of adsorption sites is bridge site > hcp site > fcc site > top site. Carbon dioxide mostly reacts with the uppermost two layers of Fe atoms and just partially with the lowermost two levels. In addition, the chemical bonds between CO2 molecule
and Fe atoms are covalent, and the response mechanism is the hybridization of C-2s, C-2p, O-2s, and O-2p orbitals with Fe-3p, Fe-3d, Fe-4s orbitals, forming new chemical bonds. The BS-Y configuration has the smallest increment of work function,
indicating that the lowest escape energy is required for the electron to escape from the surface.
Dodecane/Silica Phase Change Microcapsules: Fabrication, Structure and Stability
Authors: Zhang Hua-Jian , Chen Xiao-Hui , Wang Fu-Qiang , Chen Ren-Shan , Han Ling
Published: August 2023

With the growing concern for energy and environmental issues, phase change materials are increasingly being recognized as a promising and eco-friendly energy storage material. However, the application of solid-liquid phase change materials is hindered by leakage issues. One effective
solution to this issue is the fabrication of phase change microcapsules by encapsulating phase change materials. In this study, we designed and prepared phase change microcapsules composed of dodecane core and silica shell via interfacial polymerization, utilizing tetraethyl orthosilicate
as the silicon source. The microstructure, composition, phase change properties and thermal stability of the microcapsules were analyzed using various techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, energy spectrum analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric
analysis. The findings revealed that the microcapsules had good microscopic morphology and uniform particle size of about 300–400 nm when the core–shell mass ratio was 5:5. Moreover, these microcapsules exhibited excellent phase change function and thermal stability.
Mechanism of Co(II)-Based Complex Hydrogels Loaded with Arginine Against Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Factors in Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Authors: Yang Lina , Zhou Zhicheng
Published: August 2023

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the main complications of patients with diabetes and seriously endangers the health of patients. In this study, a new Co(II)-based coordination polymer with the chemical formula of {[(CH3)2NH2]0.5[Co(BTA) (TAZ)0.5· 0.5DMA]}n(1) was synthesized and successfully loaded with arginine using the mixed ligand synthesis approach. With natural polysaccharide as raw material, HA/CMCS hydrogels loaded with arginine drug and exhibiting a metal–organic framework were prepared by chemical synthesis to control the release of arginine. The microstructure of the hydrogels was studied, and their efficacy in the treatment of DFU was evaluated. The hydrogels showed a highly porous morphology with good penetration between the pores and significantly inhibited the HG-induced decrease in cell activity and up-regulation of ROS levels to inhibit oxidative stress response. In addition, the hydrogels down-regulated the expression of TXNIP and NLRP3 to suppress the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Thus, these hydrogels have potential to be developed as a drug for DFU treatment.
The Mechanism of ITGB3 and PPIF Plasmid Construction on the Offspring of Rats with Intrauterine Adhesion and Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Shu Junjun , Lin Shixin , Wu Yu , Zhu Jun , Zou Xia , Zhu Hong , Gao Jun
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to develop an animal model of pathologic regeneration of intrauterine adhesions (IUA) and assess the impact of ITGB3 and PPIF plasmid construction on the offspring of rats with IUA. Thirty female SD rats were divided into an experimental group and a control group. In
the experimental group, the rats’ left and right endometrium underwent mild and severe mechanical damage using a self-made curette. The control group underwent a sham operation without endometrial injury. At various time points after surgery, uteruses were collected for analysis. Immunohistochemical
staining was performed to evaluate changes in major histocompatibility complex II molecule (MHC II) and 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) in endometrial cells. The study observed the inflammatory and hyperplastic changes in endometrial tissue and the repair process in rats with different endometrial
gland injuries. RNA interference (RNAi) sequences targeting the rat PPIF gene were designed and cloned into a lentivirus vector transfer plasmid, ITGB3. The number of endometrial glands decreased with increased mechanical injury. The PPIF short hairpin RNA (shRNA) fragment was successfully
cloned into the lentiviral vector. After mild mechanical injury, the endometrial tissue regenerated to a basic repair level, while severe mechanical injury led to incomplete repair and tissue fibrosis, resulting in IUA.
The Role of Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Associated Protein LRP11 in the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Pei Jinxian , Wang Huihui , Zhang Yan , Chen Tianshi
Published: August 2023

This study investigated the role of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-associated protein LRP11 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Analysis of TCGA and GTEx databases revealed that LRP11 expression was significantly increased in liver cancer tissues compared to normal tissues (P
<0.05). High expression of LRP11 was associated with shorter survival in liver cancer patients (P <0.05). Lentivirus transfection was used to create sh-NC and sh-LRP11 groups for further experiments. Silencing LRP11 in HepG2 cells resulted in a significant decrease in cell viability
(P <0.05), increased apoptosis rate (P <0.01), and upregulation of the apoptosis-related protein Bax (P <0.01) and downregulation of Bcl-2 (P <0.01). Moreover, the sh-LRP11 group showed a significant decrease in the S-phase of the cell cycle (P
<0.01) and reduced expression of Cyclin D1 (P <0.01). These findings indicate that LRP11 is highly expressed in liver cancer tissues and is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Suppression of LRP11 expression inhibits the proliferation of HCC cells, promotes apoptosis, and
affects cell cycle progression. These results contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC development and progression, as well as identifying potential therapeutic targets.
Narrowing the Blind Zone of the GPM Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar to Improve Shallow Precipitation Detection in Mountainous Areas
Authors: Shimizu Riku , Shige Shoichi , Iguchi Toshio , Yu Cheng-Ku , Cheng Lin-Wen
Published: August 2023

The Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR), which consists of a Ku-band precipitation radar (KuPR) and a Ka-band precipitation radar (KaPR) on board the GPM Core Observatory, cannot observe precipitation at low altitudes near the ground contaminated by surface clutter. This near-surface region is called the blind zone. DPR estimates the clutter-free bottom (CFB), which is the lowest altitude not included in the blind zone, and estimates precipitation at altitudes higher than the CFB. High CFBs, which are common over mountainous areas, represent obstacles to detection of shallow precipitation and estimation of low-level enhanced precipitation. We compared KuPR data with rain gauge data from Da-Tun Mountain of northern Taiwan acquired from March 2014 to February 2020. A total of 12 cases were identified in which the KuPR missed some rainfall with intensity of >10 mm h−1 that was observed by rain gauges. Comparison of KuPR profile and ground-based radar profile revealed that shallow precipitation in the KuPR blind zone was missed because the CFB was estimated to be higher than the lower bound of the range free from surface echoes. In the original operational algorithm, CFB was estimated using only the received power data of the KuPR. In this study, the CFB was identified by the sharp increase in the difference between the received powers of the KuPR and the KaPR at altitude affected by surface clutter. By lowering the CFB, the KuPR succeeded in detection and estimation of shallow precipitation.

Significance Statement

The Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar (DPR) on board the GPM Core Observatory cannot capture precipitation in the low-altitude region near the ground contaminated by surface clutter. This region is called the blind zone. The DPR estimates the clutter-free bottom (CFB), which is the lower bound of the range free from surface echoes, and uses data higher than CFB. DPR consists of a Ku-band precipitation radar (KuPR) and a Ka-band precipitation radar (KaPR). KuPR missed some shallow precipitation more than 10 mm h−1 in the blind zone over Da-Tun Mountain of northern Taiwan because of misjudged CFB estimation. Using both the KuPR and the KaPR, we improved the CFB estimation algorithm, which lowered the CFB, narrowed the blind zone, and improved the capability to detect shallow precipitation.
Plausible Drying and Wetting Scenarios for Summer in Southeastern South America
Authors: Mindlin Julia , Vera Carolina S. , Shepherd Theodore G. , Osman Marisol
Published: August 2023

Summer rainfall trends in southeastern South America (SE-SA) have received attention in recent decades because of their importance for climate impacts. More than one driving mechanism has been identified for the trends, some of which have opposing effects. It is still not clear how much each mechanism has contributed to the observed trends or how their combined influence will affect future changes. Here, we address the second question and study how the CMIP6 summer SE-SA rainfall response to greenhouse warming can be explained by mechanisms related to large-scale extratropical circulation responses in the Southern Hemisphere to remote drivers (RDs) of regional climate change. We find that the regional uncertainty is well represented by combining the influence of four RDs: tropical upper-tropospheric amplification of surface warming, the delay in the stratospheric polar vortex breakdown date, and two RDs characterizing recognized tropical Pacific SST warming patterns. Applying a storyline framework, we identify the combination of RD responses that lead to the most extreme drying and wetting scenarios. Although most scenarios involve wetting, SE-SA drying can result if high upper-tropospheric tropical warming and early stratospheric polar vortex breakdown conditions are combined with low central and eastern Pacific warming. We also show how the definition of the SE-SA regional box can impact the results since the spatial patterns characterizing the dynamical influences are complex and the rainfall changes can be averaged out if these are not considered when aggregating. This article’s perspective and the associated methodology are applicable to other regions of the globe.

Significance Statement

Summer rainfall in southeastern South America (SE-SA) affects an area where around 200 million people live. The observed trends suggest long-term wetting, and most climate models predict a wetting response to greenhouse warming. However, in this work, we find that there is a physically plausible combination of large-scale circulation changes that can promote drying, which means SE-SA drying is a possibility that cannot be ignored. We also show that the definition of the SE-SA regional box can impact regional rainfall analysis since the spatial patterns characterizing the dynamical influences are complex and the changes can be averaged out if these are not considered when aggregating. This perspective and the associated methodology are applicable to other regions of the globe.
Back to Heraclitus: What Contentious Politics Looks Like When Everything Is in Flux
Authors: Toloudis Nicholas
Published: August 2023

This article examines the Dynamics of Contention research program against the backdrop of political science’s emergent concern with institutions during the 1990s. By the time Charles Tilly had developed his mechanism-based explanatory framework for understanding contentious politics, the study of institutions had come to dominate political science. Although the contentious politics framework has some similarities with historical institutionalism, I argue that the two approaches are incompatible, precisely because of the latter’s focus on institutions. The contentious politics approach requires historicizing everything, including institutions, in such a way that anything analyzable becomes a process. Historical institutionalism relies on historical fixedness and some understanding of equilibrium, both of which Tilly came to reject for the study of contentious politics, in favor of open-ended political conflict and causal mechanisms as explanatory building blocks. To probe the tension between Tilly’s mechanism-based approach to understanding contentious politics and historical institutionalism, I conduct a close reading of two books that Tilly wrote using the contentious politics approach to explain matters of concern to historical institutionalists: European Revolutions, 1492–1992 on revolutions and Contention & Democracy in Europe, 1650–2000 on democratization.
Candidate Debates and Partisan Divisions Evidence From Malawi’s 2019 Presidential Elections
Authors: Kramon Eric
Published: August 2023

Candidate debates are increasingly organized during elections in democracies and electoral autocracies. How do debates impact partisan divisions and preferences in these contexts? One theoretical perspective suggests that debates should amplify these preferences and divisions, while another implies debates should attenuate them. This paper evaluates these expectations by studying presidential debates organized during Malawi’s May 2019 elections. With an experiment and national panel survey, the paper provides evidence consistent with attenuation: debate watchers were substantially more likely to vote across partisan lines (cross-party voting), became more favorable toward out-partisan candidates, and became less favorable toward co-partisans. Suggestive evidence on causal mechanisms shows that these effects were driven by policy persuasion and debates’ impact on perceptions of the candidates’ policies and qualities. Results advance debates about information processing, campaign effects, and voting behavior in new democracies and electoral autocracies, and have implications for electoral institutions’ impact on partisan divisions.
Fatherhood and Reoffending after Release from Prison: The Importance of Co-Residing With a Partner and Children
Authors: Venema Simon D. , Dirkzwager Anja J. E. , Haan Marieke , Nieuwbeerta Paul , Blaauw Eric , Veenstra René
Published: August 2023

Little is known about the link between fatherhood and reoffending among people released from prison. This study examined the association between fatherhood, residential status, and registered reconviction rates using data from a Dutch pre-trial prison cohort sample ( N = 845, 42.5% fathers). The results show that fathers who co-resided with a partner and children 6 months after release from prison were significantly less likely to be reconvicted 18 months after release than non-fathers and fathers who did not reside with a partner and children. This paper concludes that fathers’ larger family context and reoffending risk factors need to be viewed in conjunction to understand the relationship between fatherhood and reoffending after release from prison.
Winning quietly: Hong Kong educators’ resistance to National Security Education
Authors: Lui Lake
Published: August 2023

This study highlights the role of educators in the resistance to Hong Kong’s National Security Education (NSE) amidst waves of political repression in the wake of the anti-extradition movement of 2019–2020. Education reforms, teacher training and student assessment used to cultivate students’ creativity, critical thinking and independent thinking skills. NSE, which emphasises China’s perspective of knowledge construction, has contradicted long-standing pedagogies of teaching and learning. The research questions are: How do politically liberal educators navigate these changes? Do they conform and/or resist? Based on the study of social media and interviews with 22 politically liberal former and current teachers, school librarians, educators in public organisations and professors of teacher training programmes, I find that beneath the public transcripts of compliance in schools, there is a repertoire of ‘winning quietly’ among educators in Hong Kong by training students’ ‘civil society competence’ using less politically sensitive issues, working perfunctorily on NSE-related tasks, using metaphors, jokes and prayers to convey hidden messages, and allowing students to engage in resistance. Classrooms and private online groups remain the third space for atomised resistance. Outside Hong Kong, educators openly counter the ideological influence under NSE both individually and collectively, enabling an alternative to NSE that can reach students in Hong Kong. This study illuminates that authoritarian governments never fully control the stage, and it is too soon to tell whether their attempts to create obedient citizens will prevail.
Effects of different preparation methods (solvent casting and melt blending) on properties of chitosan-filled polylactic acid biocomposite films
Authors: Cheerarot Onanong , Saikrasun Sunan
Published: August 2023

Biocomposite films based on chitosan (CS) and polylactic acid (PLA) were prepared using two different methods; (1) solvent casting and (2) melt blending followed by hot-press methods. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) were respectively incorporated as compatibilizer and processing aid. Thermal stability of solvent casted and hot-press composites were comparable and slightly lower than PLA, whereas the presence of PEG and PVOH lowered the thermal stability of the composites in N2 and in air. The secant modulus and ultimate stress of the hot-press films were clearly higher (about 80%–90%) whereas elongation was much lower than those of the solvent-casted films. XRD results revealed that the solvent-casted films exhibited semi-crystalline characteristics whereas the amorphous property was mostly observed for the hot-press films. The sharper XRD peaks of the casted and hot-press samples clearly observed with chitosan loading. Coarse surface after fracture was observed for the casted composite films whereas relatively smooth surface with a number of dispersed chitosan droplets was seen for the hot-press films. The presence of PEG and PVOH improved the dispersion of chitosan and slightly increased the water adsorption of the composites. The higher water adsorption capacity was observed for the casted composite films. The obtained results indicated that solvent casting and melt blending methods significantly affected the final properties of the material products, especially tensile and crystallinity characteristics of the chitosan-filled PLA biocomposite films.
The path to inclusion for undocumented migrant children in South Korea
Authors: Lee Bo Yeon
Published: August 2023

This study focuses on undocumented migrant children in South Korea. The Korean migration policies are centered on marriage migrants and their children until recently, while the issue of undocumented migrant children of migrant workers has long been overlooked. Undocumented migrant children are placed in an extremely unstable situation both legally and practically. This study shows why their basic rights should be protected from the perspective of constitutional and international law. It examines the comprehensive legal and policy frameworks of migration and the newly introduced measures to protect these children in Korea. It concludes with a discussion of the shortcomings of the current system and recommendations for improvement.
The Effect of Nationalism on Governance Choices in Cross-Border Collaborations
Authors: Ertug Gokhan , Cuypers Ilya R.P. , Dow Douglas , Edman Jesper
Published: August 2023

We examine how nationalism influences governance choice in cross-border collaborations. While nationalism has historically been within the purview of political scientists, we demonstrate its relevance to management scholars by theorizing how nationalist attitudes and behaviors among decision-makers might shape strategic decisions about collaborations with foreign partners. Drawing on insights from the social psychology literature, we theorize how two attitudes commonly associated with nationalism, that is, lower levels of trust and an unwillingness to work with foreigners, may increase decision-makers’ concerns about opportunistic behavior and invasiveness in cross-border collaborations. Integrating these insights into two key theories of governance choice—transaction cost economics (TCE) and resource dependence theory (RDT)—we derive two competing effects of nationalism: TCE suggests that a heightened concern about opportunistic behavior will make equity alliances preferable, whereas RDT predicts that a greater sensitivity to invasiveness would prioritize non-equity alliances. Examining 11,469 cross-border collaborations over a 25-year period, we find, in line with the RDT-based prediction, that firms from countries with stronger nationalist sentiments prefer non-equity alliances. We also find that cross-country dissimilarities and prior conflict between the firms’ home countries strengthen this negative association. Our findings advance research on cross-border collaborations by demonstrating why and when nationalism may influence governance mode choice. We also contribute to efforts to establish nationalism, specifically in the form of nationalist sentiments, as an important theoretical concept within the management literature.
A Sense of Connectedness in Reproductive Donation. Contrasting Policy With Donor and Donor Kin Lived Experience
Authors: Nordqvist Petra , Gilman Leah
Published: August 2023

This article asks how well new developments in family life are reflected in law and policy, with a particular focus on donor conception. There has been an unprecedented ‘opening up’ of family life in recent decades; this increased diversity is, at least in part, linked to developments in reproductive technologies, including gamete donation. In family lives touched by donation, genetic relations with ‘donor connections’ take genetic connectedness beyond traditional notions of kinship. There is not yet an established social script for how to understand what constitutes meaningful connectedness in reproductive donation. Focussing on the UK context specifically, where assisted conception is highly regulated, this article examines on the one hand, how UK law and policy portray meaningful connectedness in the context of donation, and, on the other hand, how well this fits with connectedness as experienced within egg and sperm donor communities. Drawing on original data from UK law and policy analysis, and empirical interview data with egg and sperm donors and their kin, our analysis shows important disparities between law and policy, and the empirical evidence, suggesting a need for an overhaul of UK donor conception law and policy.
Nurses’ Rest Breaks and Fatigue: The Roles of Psychological Detachment and Workload
Authors: Sagherian Knar , McNeely Clea , Cho Hyeonmi , Steege Linsey M.
Published: August 2023

Background:

Rest breaks have been shown to reduce acute fatigue, yet not all nurses who take rest breaks report lower fatigue. Psychological detachment—letting go of work-related thoughts—during rest breaks and workload may be key factors in explaining this phenomenon.

Objective:

To examine the mediating role of psychological detachment during rest breaks and determine how workload moderated that pathway to lower acute fatigue among hospital nurses.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 1861 12-hour shift nurses who answered an online survey between July and September 2021. The survey included measures of occupational fatigue, psychological detachment from work, workload, and questions on breaks, work, health, and demographics. Structural equation modeling was used in Mplus 8.9 software to estimate the direct and indirect effects of rest breaks on acute fatigue at 3 levels of workload.

Results:

Nurses, on average, reported high acute fatigue, rarely experienced psychological detachment during rest breaks, and reported heavy workloads. Around 60% were able to sit down for a break on their last shift but with patient-care responsibilities. The relationship between taking a rest break and acute fatigue was fully mediated by psychological detachment from work. However, this relationship only held in the context of manageable workloads.

Conclusion:

Our findings showed that within-shift recovery is possible when nurses can psychologically detach from work during rest breaks. However, this within-shift recovery mechanism was disrupted for nurses with heavy workloads.
Five-year outcomes of off and on-pump CABG: Insights from PROMOTE Patency Trial
Authors: Sajja Lokeswara Rao , Sarkar Kunal , Mannam Gopichand , Padmanabhan Chandrasekhar , Narayan Pradeep , Kamtam Devanish NH , Balakrishna Nagalla , Kodali Venkata Krishna Kumar , Mulay Anvay , Peter Sanjeeth , Beri Prashanthi
Published: August 2023

Background

There are limited studies reporting follow-up outcome data comparing of off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) with on-pump (ONCAB) technique. The aim of the study was to report the 5-year clinical outcomes of OPCAB and ONCAB in a post hoc analysis of the PROMOTE patency trial.

Methods

From March 2016 through March 2017, a total of 321 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were randomised to either the off-pump or the on-pump technique. Data on all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), repeat revascularisation and need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) were recorded. The composite and each of these individual outcomes are reported at 5-year interval.

Results

The mean follow-up period was 65.9 months (±3.39). A total of 275 (85.93%) patients followed up at the 5-year interval who underwent CABG by the off-pump ( n  =  158) and the on-pump ( n  =  162) technique. The all-cause mortality was 8.9% and 5.7% in ONCAB and OPCAB, respectively (hazard ratio [HR]  =  0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.25–1.57, p  =  0.31). The composite of all-cause mortality, non-fatal MI, non-fatal CVA, RRT and need for repeat revascularisation was comparable in both groups (7.1% vs. 11.9%, HR  =  0.57; 95% CI 0.25–1.31, p  =  0.18 in OPCAB and ONCAB, respectively). The rates of 5-year non-fatal MI ( p  =  0.2), non-fatal CVA ( p  =  0.36) and need for repeat revascularisation ( p  =  1) were similar in both groups. A sub-group analysis did not show any significant interaction or effect modification with either of the techniques.

Conclusions

The 5-year clinical outcomes of OPCAB are comparable to ONCAB in low-risk patients undergoing CABG. Off-pump coronary artery bypass had no additional benefit in any subgroup.
Biomarkers and the post-thrombotic syndrome: A systematic review of biomarkers associated with the occurrence of the post-thrombotic syndrome after lower extremity deep venous thrombosis
Authors: Harbsmeier Aksel Nathan , Altintas Izzet , Iversen Kasper , Andersen Ove , Nehlin Jan O.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a frequent chronic complication of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Biomarkers are potentially valuable clinical tools for handling PTS. The purpose of this review was to examine which biomarkers are associated with the development of PTS in adults with lower extremity DVT.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of all English language prospective studies of biomarkers and PTS published in PubMed and EMBASE. Studies were included if diagnosing DVT by diagnostic imaging and assessing PTS by clinical scales, for example, the Villalta scale. Biomarkers of thrombophilia and pathological clot properties were not assessed. Data was reported qualitatively.

Results

15 prospective studies were included. Studies varied widely in study design and methods of data analysis. Forty-six different biomarkers were examined, with seven being measured in two or more studies. The most frequently studied biomarkers were D-dimer, CRP, and IL-6. Associations between PTS and D-dimer were predominantly significant, while results on CRP and IL-6 were inconsistent. ICAM-1 was consistently associated with PTS in all studies and at all timepoints. IL-10 was significantly related to PTS development in the largest study and at all time points. Adiponectin, tPA, HRG and TAFI, MMP-1 and -8, and TIMP-1 and -2 were significantly associated with PTS in single studies.

Conclusion

(1) Further research on biomarkers and PTS is clearly warranted. (2) Significant differences in study designs made it difficult to draw reliable conclusions regarding individual biomarkers. We suggest the implementation of a standardized framework for the study of biomarkers and PTS, to make comparison of future studies more feasible. (3) D-dimer, ICAM-1, IL-10, MMP-1 and 8, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and adiponectin are clinical biomarkers of particular interest to include in future studies of PTS. Large scale systemic quantitative proteomic analyses of DVT patients could help identify novel biomarkers of interest in PTS-patients.
Hypocalcemic cataract secondary to idiopathic hypoparathyroidism in an adolescent
Authors: Zhang Hui , Yang Longfei , Xie Jianan , Zhao Meisheng , Liu Xin
Published: August 2023

Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism is a rare endocrine disorder characterized by hypocalcemia secondary to inadequate parathyroid hormone secretion. Hypocalcemia-related cataract is most often observed in patients with postoperative hypoparathyroidism, whereas primary hypoparathyroidism-related cataract is rare and displays slow progression. Cataract usually occurs in people aged 18 to 50 years. Here, we describe a 17-year-old boy with bilateral cataract and a history of hypocalcemic tetany who was diagnosed with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. Phacoemulsification with implantation of a monofocal aspherical intraocular lens was performed in the right eye; 6 months later, it was performed in the left eye. Elevated phosphorus and diminished calcium were observed in blood and aqueous humor. A deep anterior chamber, relatively thin central corneal thickness, large white-to-white distance, and thin lens were also observed. During follow-up, neither eye displayed intraocular lens decentration; best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in both eyes. These findings suggest that ophthalmologists should be vigilant when hypocalcemic tetany and cataract are present, especially in adolescents and young adults.
Queer Experiences Within the Bounds of International Relations
Authors: Hagen Jamie J. , Edney-Browne Alex
Published: August 2023

In this commentary, from our positionality as members of the LGBTQA Caucus executive committee, we consider the academic and embodied barriers that stand in the way of a more inclusive IR from the perspective of queer and trans scholars in the discipline. We offer our reflections from our positionalities as queer scholars applying queer theory in IR, including our work in the Caucus to support LGBTQ + scholars in the discipline as a means of confronting what continues to be a very narrowly accessible space – geographically, financially, socially and linguistically. Relatedly, we consider the embodied experience of not belonging to the discipline of IR; an experience that many LGBTQ + scholars will recognise.
Continuous Electroencephalography (EEG) Protocol Improves Seizure Detection in Children on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Authors: deCampo Danielle , Husari Khalil S. , Bembea Melania M. , Habela Christa W. , Ritzl Eva K.
Published: August 2023

Background / Objective

Seizures are a complication for pediatric patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). There are no standardized guidelines regarding continuous electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring to detect seizures in these patients, and the impact of protocolized monitoring has not been evaluated. Here we examined the effects of continuous EEG protocol implementation in our pediatric ECMO population.

Methods

Retrospective chart reviews were conducted on 57 patients who underwent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and concurrent continuous EEG out of 165 patients supported on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Timing of continuous EEG initiation and seizures detected by continuous EEG was determined for 5 years prior to and 15 months after protocol implementation.

Results

Protocol implementation was associated with increased ECMO–supported patients who were concurrently monitored by continuous EEG. Time from ECMO cannulation to continuous EEG initiation was shorter (median 7 hours after versus 16.2 hours before; P < .001). Patients who had ongoing seizures at the start of continuous EEG recording decreased from 64% preprotocol to 0% postprotocol ( P < .001), and there was an associated earlier time to break in status epilepticus postprotocol. Seizures were detected past 48 hours after cannulation in 50% of patients in the postprotocol group.

Conclusions

Protocol implementation resulted in earlier continuous EEG initiation and more EEGs initiated before seizure onset with evidence of altered seizure dynamics. Although current recommendations suggest that continuous EEG duration of 24-48 hours results in seizure detection for >90% of critically ill adults, longer monitoring may be needed to reliably detect seizures in children supported with ECMO, particularly if monitoring is initiated earlier in the post-cannulation period.
Women’s Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries of Southern Asia
Authors: Pettitt Lauren Alexandra , Biswas Raaj Kishore , Bhowmik Jahar
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The present study identified the vulnerable IPV cohorts of South Asian women, and the prevalence of and predictors of the women’s IPV acceptance.

Design

Cross-sectional survey - the United Nations Children’s Fund multiple index cluster survey.

Setting

Many South Asian women are accepting of IPV. Studies mostly focus on individual countries.

Subject

103 139 ever-married women from Bangladesh, Laos and Nepal.

Measures

Women’s attitudes toward IPV were measured using a set of five, fixed, binary responses.

Analysis

Following bivariate analysis, complex survey weight adjusted logistic regression models were fitted for individual country data, and the pooled sample.

Results

Of the sampled South Asian women 27.8% accepted IPV, and no major variation among countries in IPV acceptance. Education was the most reliable protector against IPV acceptance whereby, higher educational attainment systematically reduced IPV acceptance (OR = .61 [.56-.83]). Other significant protective factors were being un-married (Married OR = 1.34 [1.28-1.42]), having increased wealth (OR = .71 [.56-.83]), and being over 24 years old (OR = .88 [.83-.97]).

Conclusion

Only education produced absolute consistency at the country and region level; there seems to be no blanket solution for regionally reducing women’s IPV acceptance rates in Southern Asia. Focus on the least educated women and making education more accessible should be prioritised. Future IPV studies can consider measurement methods for women’s direct exposure to patriarchal standards and within community interaction.
Facilitating United States Service Members’ Transition Out of the Military: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective
Authors: Raabe Johannes , Eckenrod Morgan R. , Cooper Emily , Crain Jared A.
Published: August 2023

The purpose of the current qualitative research was to explore the role of veterans’ basic psychological needs during the military transition. Using purposive and snowball sampling, 16 veterans ( n = 13 male, n = 3 female; Mage = 38.3, SDage = 5.8 years) of the United States military ( n = 8 Army, n = 4 Marine Corps, n = 3 Navy) were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed seven themes: (a) veterans experienced different levels of relatedness in the military community during their transition, (b) perceptions of choice and control had varying influences on veterans’ sense of autonomy during their transition, (c) veterans experienced a false sense of competence starting the transition, (d) figuring out how to transfer military experiences and skills to civilian jobs posed a meaningful challenge for veterans’ sense of competence throughout the application process, (e) multiple factors helped veterans regain their sense of competence during the job search, (f) veterans experienced difficulties adjusting to new civilian job environment, and (g) family played a major role in fostering veterans’ sense of autonomy during the transition. These findings offer multiple conceptual and practical implications, including the context-specificity of perceived competence and relatedness, challenge of skill transfer, and temporality of backup plans, that can be used to help service members’ transition more effectively.
Transforming libraries and information professionals for the industry 4.0 in developing countries: Towards the development of a framework for accelerating change post-Covid-19
Authors: Salubi Oghenere
Published: August 2023

During the various stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous countries, including several in Africa, implemented lockdown measures. Unfortunately, libraries and information centres were not deemed essential services providers, resulting in partial operations or complete closures. Among the hardest-hit by the pandemic were developing economies, where libraries, typically non-profit organizations, play a crucial role. These institutions usually rely on funding from the government (in the case of public libraries) or parent institutions, which themselves often depend on government support (as is the case with academic libraries in government-owned institutions). With the economies of these countries suffering and experiencing a slow recovery, libraries in developing nations are likely to face further budgetary constraints. In addition to the economic impact on funding, there is a significant risk of a decline in the literacy rate among children due to the closure of libraries and schools during lockdowns. This paper employs a SWOT analysis to identify the challenges and benefits for libraries and information professionals from both societal and professional perspectives. Despite the obstacles that libraries in the developing world may encounter in the post-pandemic era, as well as during the fourth industrial revolution, there are also valuable opportunities that can be harnessed. One such opportunity is the provision of information services to digitally literate, yet informationally illiterate communities.
Are Empathic People Better Adjusted? A Test of Competing Models of Empathic Accuracy and Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Facets of Adjustment Using Self- and Peer Reports
Authors: He Joyce C. , Côté Stéphane
Published: August 2023

Are individuals adept at perceiving others’ emotions optimally adjusted? We extend past research by conducting a high-powered preregistered study that comprehensively tests five theoretical models of empathic accuracy (i.e., emotion-recognition ability) and self-views and intra- and interpersonal facets of adjustment in a sample of 1,126 undergraduate students from Canada and 2,205 informants. We obtained both self-reports and peer-reports of adjustment and controlled for cognitive abilities as a potential confounding variable. Empathic accuracy (but not self-views of that ability) was positively related to relationship satisfaction as rated by both participants and informants. Self-views about empathic accuracy (but not actual empathic accuracy) were positively related to life satisfaction as rated by both participants and informants. All associations held when we controlled for cognitive abilities.
Efficiency Over Accuracy?: Exploring Front-Line Practitioners’ Experiences and Opinions on the “Guilty Plea System”
Authors: Nash Caitlin , Dioso-Villa Rachel , Porter Louise
Published: August 2023

While most criminal cases are resolved by a guilty plea, little empirical research has examined guilty plea wrongful convictions. This study explored this issue through semistructured interviews with 27 legal professionals in Queensland, Australia ( n = 16 defense lawyers; n = 7 prosecutors; n = 4 magistrates). Driven by a systems and organizational perspective, we conducted a thematic analysis exploring the structural and organizational features that may systematically contribute to erroneous guilty plea convictions. We found an overarching emphasis on efficiency and pressure to quickly resolve cases, coupled with practical constraints impeding legal professionals from ensuring guilty pleas are appropriate and accurate. There was also a general acceptance of false guilty pleas through the justification of “choice,” legitimized by the authoritative precedent set by Meissner v R (1995). The findings indicate the routine nature of erroneous guilty plea convictions and raise important implications regarding the current validity of a guilty plea, as they do not always reflect actual guilt.
NeoTalk: Communication Skills Training for Neonatal Clinicians
Authors: Guttmann Katherine F. , Meshkati Malorie , Frydman Julia , Smith Cardinale B. , Dow Lindsay , Weintraub Andrea S.
Published: August 2023

Background

Despite proven benefit, pediatric subspecialists often have not been offered formal serious illness communication skills training. We sought to: 1) develop and evaluate the impact of a communication skills course, based on the VitalTalk framework, on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) clinicians; 2) evaluate provider comfort with key serious illness communication skills and frequency of use of those skills, before and after “NeoTalk” and; 3) explore differences and similarities between adult and pediatric serious illness communication skills courses.

Methods

We developed a NICU specific communication skills course and surveyed course participants to evaluate comfort with key communication skills before and after course participation, and frequency of use of key skills before and 2 months after our course. Wilcoxon signed rank tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to compare participant responses across time points.

Results

34 providers completed NeoTalk training. Complete pre- and post-course data was available for 29 participants. Participants reported increased comfort with skills including ‘sharing difficult news’ ( P = .018), and ‘responding to emotion’ ( P = .002). Participants did not report increased frequency in using target skills 2 months after training.

Conclusions

A multi-disciplinary cohort of NICU providers endorsed increased confidence in key communication skills but not increased skill application 2-months post-course completion. While a single course can successfully teach skills, additional exposure may be necessary to build new communication habits. Our experience developing NeoTalk helped elucidate some of the ways in which conversations about seriously ill infants may be different from conversations about seriously ill adults.
Dermatological Issues Among Individuals Receiving Palliative Care - A Review
Authors: Kwan Zhenli , Han Winn Hui , Yong Shin Shen , Faheem Nik Aimee Azizah , Choong Rebecca Kai Jan , Zainuddin Sheriza Izwa , Lam Chee Loong , Tan Maw Pin , Capelle David Paul
Published: August 2023

Skin disorders among individuals receiving palliative care may be associated with the primary condition or underlying comorbidities and patients may experience pruritus, discomfort or pain. Common conditions include xerosis, pressure ulcers, intertrigo, superficial fungal infections, telogen effluvium, pruritus, herpes zoster, eczematous disorders and edema. During end-of-life care, there is reduced skin perfusion and metabolism hence leading to susceptibility to infection, pressure and injury. Other factors affecting the skin include limited mobility, nutritional deficits and immunosuppression. Although treatment strategies for each skin condition are usually aligned with standard protocols, considerations among these patients include limited life-expectancies, potential treatment burden, drug-drug interactions as well as comfort-directed rather than cure-directed therapy. For patients with xerosis cutis, the regular use of moisturisers is recommended. The management and prevention of pressure ulcers include the strategies of skin assessment and care, pressure redistribution, nutrition and hydration and ulcer care. Superficial fungal infections require treatment with appropriate topical and/or systemic antifungals while antivirals and adjunctive treatment can be prescribed for herpes zoster. Treatment and symptom control of skin disorders in this population can improve quality of life and patients’ comfort level.