bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Taxonomizing a truly morphologically cryptic complex of dwarf geckos from Madagascar: molecular evidence for new species-level lineages within the Lygodactylus tolampyae complex
Authors: VENCES MIGUEL , MULTZSCH MALTE , ZERBE MILENA , GIPPNER SVEN , ANDREONE FRANCO , CROTTINI ANGELICA , GLAW FRANK , KÖHLER JÖRN , RAKOTOMANGA SANDRATRA , RASAMISON SOLOHERY , RASELIMANANA ACHILLE P.
Published: June 2024

The Lygodactylus tolampyae complex includes several deep genetic lineages of small diurnal geckos from the West and North West of Madagascar whose taxonomy is largely unsolved. We sequenced DNA fragments of one mitochondrial and four nuclear-encoded genes for up to 70 samples across the entire known range of these geckos. We find as many as 11 mitochondrial lineages differentiated by >4% pairwise distances in the 16S rRNA gene fragment, with >9% pairwise distance for the majority of lineage comparisons. Many of these lineages were concordantly differentiated in all of the nuclear-encoded genes without any haplotype sharing, despite the syntopic occurrence of some of them. We therefore hypothesize that the complex contains seven candidate species, but a comprehensive taxonomic resolution is complicated by various hindrances. These include incomplete sampling, with two lineages each known only from a single specimen, and one further lineage with no voucher specimens available for examination. Further hurdles are the probably lost holotype of L. tolampyae and its imprecise type locality, as well as the apparent lack of any morphological differentiation between the majority of the genetic lineages. Based on a survey of historical literature and the travel routes of the original collector, A. Grandidier, we conclude that the provenance of the holotype of L. tolampyae is likely in the wider Morondava area in the West and assign the sole candidate species from this area to this name. We then proceed to describe three species that represent separate genetic lineages for all markers studied: Lygodactylus morii sp. nov., a species common in Ankarafantsika National Park and several nearby sites in the North West; L. herilalai sp. nov., a species occurring in close syntopy with L. morii in Ankarafantsika without any signal of genetic admixture; and L. schwitzeri sp. nov. from Sahamalaza Peninsula in the North West. This leaves three more lineages without a name and with the need to gather additional samples, two from Namoroka National Park and one from other sites in the North West. We confirm the L. tolampyae complex to be an apparently rare example of truly cryptic reptile species in Madagascar, where even detailed morphological examination does not reveal morphological differences among lineages that are clearly evolutionarily independent and require recognition as distinct species due to their co-occurrence without admixture.
Models of the Sea Surface Height Expression of the Internal-Wave Continuum
Authors: Samelson R. M. , Farrar J. T.
Published: June 2024

Several models are presented for the sea surface height (SSH) signature of the interior-ocean internal-wave continuum. Most are based on the Garrett–Munk internal-wave model. One is derived from the frequency spectrum of dynamic height from mooring observations. The different models are all plausibly consistent with accepted dynamical and semiempirical spectral descriptions of the climatological interval-wave field in the interior ocean, but they result in different proportionalities between interior and SSH spectral energy levels. The differences arise in part from differences in the treatment of near-surface stratification, and a major source of uncertainty for all the models comes from inadequately constrained assumptions about the energy in the low-vertical-mode internal-wave field. Most of these models suggest that the SSH signature of the internal-wave continuum will be visible in SSH measurements from the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) wide-swath satellite altimeter. Temporal variability of internal-wave energy levels and the internal-wave directional spectrum are less well characterized but will also be consequential for the observability of internal-wave signals in SWOT data.
An Exploration of the Experiences, Wellbeing and Survival Tactics of Older Widowers in Ekiti State, Nigeria
Authors: Omotosho Babatunde Joshua
Published: June 2024

Men in old age usually receive less attention than their female counterparts due to physiological, social and cultural influences. Older widowers are not left out of this reality. This study explored the experiences, lifestyles and coping mechanisms of elderly widowers within the family and community networks in selected rural communities in Ekiti State, southwest Nigeria. Findings revealed that living without their spouses was challenging. Notwithstanding, the participants were able to navigate these hurdles through personal commitment to life and the supports. Coping within a patriarchal society is challenging for elderly males; many of them however did not see it as insurmountable.
Childhood, Experience, Encampment: The Case of Italian-Speaking Refugees in Austria–Hungary During the First World War
Authors: Cretu Doina Anca
Published: June 2024

This article seeks to uncover and understand children's experiences in the confining spaces of the refugee camp in Austria–Hungary during the First World War. This narrative builds primarily on recollections of adults about their younger selves as I draw on a number of available autobiographies, memories, and interviews produced by Italian-speaking refugees who fled Trentino and the Austrian Littoral. I bring these sources together as I seek to explore ways encampment inherently pervaded refugees’ childhood. The article departs from top-down analyses of displacement in Austria–Hungary as it reflects on how refugee children understood their uprootedness and the rapport they developed with the camp as a proposed tool of state-driven care.
Hurricane-Force Grief: A Mirror of Fathers’ Love
Authors: Denhup Christine
Published: June 2024

A child’s death is a traumatic experience that profoundly impacts parents’ psychological, physical, and social wellbeing. The literature describes gender differences in grief response associated with child loss, yet less is known about fathers’ grief in comparison that of mothers due to fathers’ underrepresentation in bereavement research. There is a need for scholarly exploration to advance understanding of fathers’ grief. This article presents selected findings on fathers’ grief responses that emerged from a larger qualitative study, which aimed to describe fathers’ lived experience of bereavement after a child’s death. Profound grief emerged as one essential theme of fathers’ bereavement experience. Participants described the meaning of their grief, their multidimensional grief responses, their grief triggers, and their grief intensity. Findings deepen understanding of fathers’ grief associated with child loss and advance the body of parental bereavement literature.
Sense of coherence, social support, satisfaction with life, and resilience as mediators between fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease and depression
Authors: Kagee Ashraf , Padmabhanunni Anita , Coetzee Bronwyne , Booysen Duane , Kidd Martin
Published: June 2024

We tested the role of sense of coherence, social support, satisfaction with life, and resilience, as resources in the association between fear of COVID-19, perceived vulnerability to disease, and depression. Data from 804 students were collected at three South African universities in 2022 and 2023 by means of an electronic survey and analysed using structural equation modelling. We found that higher levels of fear of COVID-19 and hopelessness were associated with depression among the sample. Satisfaction with life, sense of coherence, and perceived social support had significant negative relationships with depression, indicating that these represent potential protective resources. Perceived vulnerability to disease had a positive relationship with perceived social support. While fear of COVID-19 significantly impacted depression, it did not show a significant relationship with other mental well-being measures, such as satisfaction with life, sense of coherence, resilience, or social support. Hopelessness showed a strong negative correlation, not only with resilience but also with satisfaction with life, sense of coherence, and perceived social support, making it a critical factor in mental well-being. Perceived social support acted as a mediator between both hopelessness and perceived vulnerability to disease and depression. Satisfaction with life mediated the relationship between hopelessness and depression, and sense of coherence mediated the relationship between perceived vulnerability to disease and depression. While higher levels of fear related to COVID-19 and pervasive feelings of hopelessness were robust predictors of depressive symptoms, factors such as satisfaction with life, sense of coherence, and perceived social support emerged as protective resources.
Cigarette Smoke Constituents and Nicotine Differentially Affect Cytokine Production by Human Macrophages Stimulated by TLR Ligands In Vitro: Considerations for a Standardised Protocol
Authors: Sharaf Abeer Abdullah M. , Todd Ian
Published: June 2024

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung condition associated with cigarette (tobacco) smoking. Numerous in vivo animal studies have been conducted to investigate the links between cigarette smoke, nicotine and infection in lung pathology. As an alternative to animal experiments, we used an in vitro system to investigate the effects of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) or nicotine on TNF-α and IL-10 production by monocyte-derived human macrophages. The macrophages were simultaneously stimulated with either poly-IC (as a chemical surrogate for viral infection) or lipopolysaccharide (as a chemical surrogate for Gram-negative bacterial infection). CSE enhanced TNF-α production, whereas nicotine inhibited IL-10 production by the macrophages, particularly when co-stimulated with the microbial chemical surrogates. A system of this type may help to further our understanding of the immunological and inflammatory effects of smoking, without recourse to in vivo studies. Requirements for the optimisation and standardisation of such an in vitro system are also discussed.
Cerebral autoregulation in pediatric and neonatal intensive care: A scoping review
Authors: Fedriga Marta , Martini Silvia , Iodice Francesca G , Sortica da Costa Cristine , Pezzato Stefano , Moscatelli Andrea , Beqiri Erta , Czosnyka Marek , Smielewski Peter , Agrawal Shruti
Published: June 2024

Deranged cerebral autoregulation (CA) is associated with worse outcome in adult brain injury. Strategies for monitoring CA and maintaining the brain at its ‘best CA status’ have been implemented, however, this approach has not yet developed for the paediatric population. This scoping review aims to find up-to-date evidence on CA assessment in children and neonates with a view to identify patient categories in which CA has been measured so far, CA monitoring methods and its relationship with clinical outcome if any. A literature search was conducted for studies published within 31st December 2022 in 3 bibliographic databases. Out of 494 papers screened, this review includes 135 studies. Our literature search reveals evidence for CA measurement in the paediatric population across different diagnostic categories and age groups. The techniques adopted, indices and thresholds used to assess and define CA are heterogeneous. We discuss the relevance of available evidence for CA assessment in the paediatric population. However, due to small number of studies and heterogeneity of methods used, there is no conclusive evidence to support universal adoption of CA monitoring, technique, and methodology. This calls for further work to understand the clinical impact of CA monitoring in paediatric and neonatal intensive care.
Driving pressure association with mortality in post-lung transplant patients: A prospective observational study
Authors: Xuan Chenhao , Gu Jingxiao , Chen Jingyu , Xu Hongyang
Published: June 2024

Objective

To investigate the association between driving pressure (ΔP) and 90-day mortality in patients following lung transplantation (LTx) in patients who developed primary graft dysfunction (PGD).

Methods

This prospective, observational study involved consecutive patients who, following LTx, were admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2022 to January 2023. Patients were separated into two groups according to ΔP at time of admission (i.e., low, ≤15 cmH2O or high, >15 cmH2O). Postoperative outcomes were compared between groups.

Results

In total, 104 patients were involved in the study, and of these, 69 were included in the low ΔP group and 35 in the high ΔP group. Kaplan-Meier analysis of 90-day mortality showed a statistically significant difference between groups with survival better in the low ΔP group compared with the high ΔP group. According to Cox proportional regression model, the variables independently associated with 90-day mortality were ΔP and pneumonia. Significantly more patients in the high ΔP group than the low ΔP group had PGD grade 3 (PGD3), pneumonia, required tracheostomy, and had prolonged postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) time, postoperative ventilator time, and ICU stay.

Conclusions

Driving pressure appears to have the ability to predict PGD3 and 90-day mortality of patients following LTx. Further studies are required to confirm our results.
Comparison of the overall survival of different treatment methods in patients with Muscle-invasive bladder cancer: A retrospective study
Authors: Pakmanesh Hamid , Khajehsalimi Azadeh , Hesamarefi Mohammadamin , Ebadzadeh Mohamad reza , Bazrafshan Azam , Malekpourafshar Reza , Mirzaei Mahboubeh , Daneshpajouh Azar , Shahesmaeili Armita , Eslami Nazanin
Published: June 2024

Objectives:

Bladder-Sparing Approach was presented in patients who are not willing or not suitable for Radical Cystectomy (RC). There have been inconsistencies in the literature regarding the comparison of survival rates of these two methods. Our objective is to evaluate the survival rate of patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) undergoing different treatment methods.

Design:

Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Setting:

A secondary care, multicenter study in Kerman, Iran 2008 to 2016.

Participants:

All 200 patients who were diagnosed with Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer and were admitted to our hospitals. Patients with inaccessible medical files and patients with pathologies other than TCC were excluded.

Main outcome measures:

Radical cystectomy and different methods of bladder preservation were compared based on their survival rate.

Interventions:

Radical cystectomy or bladder preservation

Results:

Overall survival of the patients was 2 years [95% CI: 1.37–2.63]. The overall 5-year survival rate of patients with MIBC was 32%. Having a 6.4 years overall survival, the RC group showed the highest survival compared with others ( p = 0.01); the overall survival of patients undergoing TMT, TURT, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy monotherapy was 3.15 years [95% CI: 2.242–4.061], 4.06 [95% CI: 3.207–4.931], 2.58 [95% CI: 1.767–3.399], and 3.14 [95% CI: 1.614–4.672] years, respectively. Patients younger than 65 undergoing RC had an overall survival of 7 years, compared with 2 years for the TMT group. ( p = 0.0001).

Conclusions:

The Bladder-Preservation method, as a replacement for RC, showed a lower overall survival rate in our study. A prospective randomized clinical trial may declare the best treatment.
Labor Intensification and Value Production: A Rejoinder
Authors: Basu Deepankar , Haas Cameron , Moraitis Thanos
Published: June 2024

In this note, we provide a rejoinder to Rieu (2024), which had presented a critical commentary on our analysis of the intensification of labor in Basu, Haas, and Moraitis (2024).

JEL Classification: B51, C02
Microstructure design and mechanical properties of TiCx-Cu cermets prepared by infiltration method
Authors: Lei Cong , Zhai Hongxiang , Jin Fangwei , Xiong Bin , Wei Shanxiang , Zhang Ping
Published: June 2024

TiCx-Cu cermets with various ceramic structures were prepared by infiltrating method. In this study, the effects of grain size and porosity of the preforms on the microstructures and mechanical properties of the cermets were investigated. Meanwhile, the interface between Cu and TiCx was studied. In the process of infiltration, TiC0.5 grains were eroded by the metal phases due to the reactive wetting behavior, resulting in the scattered structure of ceramics in the cermets. Compared to cermets reinforced by scattered TiC, fracture forms of TiCx-Cu cermets with the co-continuous structure included cleavage fracture of ceramic grain, ductile fracture of metal, phase interface separation between metal and ceramic, and metal root pulling out in ceramic grains. The co-continuous TiCx-Cu cermets could reduce the damage of cracks and improve the fracture toughness of the cermets through crack deflection, crack bifurcation, metal bridging, and metal pinning. In this study, cermets with 72 vol% content of TiC reached a flexural strength and fracture toughness of 914 ± 102 MPa and 11.3 ± 0.3 MPam1/2, respectively. The excellent mechanical properties are attributed to the firm interface strength and the unique structure.
Artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation viewed through the context of the previous four decades
Authors: Anderson Susan
Published: June 2024

Computers and applications of computers into our world have changed dramatically during the past five decades, from early days of minimal central processing unit capacity, limited memory and without advantage of global networking. In this article, the author highlights the application of predictive artificial intelligence in use globally over the last 40 years in process industries. It discusses the novel application of process automation and robotics in health clinical high-volume laboratory use that began as a Canadian innovation initiative and followed by similar innovation extending to other countries.
Social impacts experienced by women with HIV and infertility in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review
Authors: Lawson Kyla , Zablotska-Manos Iryna
Published: June 2024

Background

In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) prevalence among reproductive-aged women remains high, and infertility among these women is common. The social consequences for these women are yet to be explored. This scoping review summarises the social consequences of living with HIV and infertility for SSA women.

Methods

This scoping review of published peer-reviewed literature focused on the intersection of infertility and living with HIV among women in SSA. We followed the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews. We searched PubMed, Web of Science and SCOPUS and included all original research reports which met the inclusion criteria; women in Sub-Saharan Africa, living with HIV, and infertility.

Results

Fourteen papers met the inclusion criteria. Both HIV diagnosis and infertility were reported as stigmatising experiences for women who desire to have children. The stigma of infertility had a greater negative impact on women than that of an HIV diagnosis. Familial, community support, and medical intervention were perceived vital to ensure women feel de-stigmatised and in control of their future, even without children.

Conclusion

This is the first review demonstrating the social consequences of HIV and infertility on SSA women. Further research and interventions are needed to reduce the social consequences of infertility within SSA.
Primary human papillomavirus testing by clinician- versus self-collection: Awareness and acceptance among cervical cancer screening-eligible women
Authors: MacLaughlin Kathy L. , Jenkins Gregory D. , St Sauver Jennifer , Fan Chun , Miller Nathaniel E. , Meyer Amanda F. , Jacobson Robert M. , Finney Rutten Lila J.
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing by clinician-collection is endorsed by U.S. guideline organizations for cervical cancer screening, but uptake remains low and insights into patients’ understanding are limited. This study aims to primarily address patient awareness of primary HPV screening by clinician-collection and acceptance of primary HPV screening by clinician- and self-collection, and secondarily assess factors associated with awareness and acceptance.

Setting

Primary care practices affiliated with an academic medical center.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey study of screening-eligible women aged 30–65 years was conducted to assess awareness and acceptability of primary HPV screening. We analyzed bivariate associations of respondent characteristics with awareness of primary HPV screening by clinician-collection, willingness to have clinician- or self-collected primary HPV testing, and reasons for self-collection preference.

Results

Respondents (n = 351; response rate = 23.4%) reported cervical cancer screening adherence of 82.8% but awareness of clinician-collected primary HPV as an option was low (18.9%) and only associated with HPV testing with recent screening ( p = 0.003). After reviewing a description of primary HPV screening, willingness for clinician-collected (81.8%) or home self-collected (76.1%) HPV testing was high, if recommended by a provider. Acceptability of clinician-collected HPV testing was associated with higher income ( p = 0.009) and for self-collection was associated with higher income ( p = 0.002) and higher education ( p = 0.02). Higher education was associated with reporting self-collection as easier than clinic-collection ( p = 0.02). Women expected self-collection to be more convenient (94%), less embarrassing (85%), easier (85%), and less painful (81%) than clinician-collection.

Conclusions

Educational interventions are needed to address low awareness about the current clinician-collected primary HPV screening option and to prepare for anticipated federal licensure of self-collection kits. Informing women about self-collection allows them to recognize benefits which could address screening barriers.
Peripherally inserted central catheter malposition into the azygos vein: A case series report and review of the literature
Authors: Luo Mengna , Wu Zhenming , Fan Yuying
Published: June 2024

Background:

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are frequently utilized for extended intravenous treatments. However, complications such as incorrect placement into the azygos vein can result in significant health issues. A thorough understanding of these aspects is crucial to enhance the safety and effectiveness of PICC procedures, thereby improving patient care outcomes.

Methods:

The research was conducted on a cohort of 12 patients who experienced PICC malposition into the azygos vein. Systematically reviewed information on classification, imaging manifestations, potential influencing factors, and methods for identification, prevention, and management.

Results:

The analysis uncovered two PICC malposition classifications within the azygos vein, each with unique imaging characteristics. It also pinpointed several factors influencing malposition, offering valuable insight into potential risks. Moreover, it established effective detection methods, underscoring the significance of imaging techniques. Additionally, it outlined strategies for preventing and managing PICC malposition in the azygos vein, enhancing overall comprehension of the issue.

Conclusions:

The findings emphasize the importance of taking a proactive stance to avoid malposition and stress the necessity of prompt and precise intervention when malposition does happen, thereby enhancing the safety and effectiveness of PICC processes.
Audiovisual prominence and discoverability in Europe: Stakeholders’ alliances under construction
Authors: Garcia Leiva Maria Trinidad
Published: June 2024

This paper seeks to shed light on the EU regulation and policy for prominence and discoverability of EU works and of services of general interest from the point of view of main European audiovisual agents as represented by corresponding organisations. Their positions are characterised following a stakeholder analysis and in relation to the advocacy coalition framework. The study draws on evidence from statements and positions, policy documents, reports and other secondary source materials, as well as findings from interviews. After a brief conceptual introduction and a legal and policy review, an explanation of the analytical framework used follows, together with a structured analysis of stakeholders’ views regarding the content, implementation and impact of EU regulation and policy for prominence and discoverability of EU works and of services of general interest. Conclusions revolve around the existence, or not, of advocacy coalitions, emerging key policy issues, and challenges to be met.
A pilot study examining the impact of a pragmatic process for improving the cultural responsiveness of non-Aboriginal alcohol and other drug treatment services using routinely collected data in Australia
Authors: Henderson Alexandra , Shakeshaft Anthony , Allan Julaine , Wallace Raechel , Barker Daniel , Farnbach Sara
Published: June 2024

Objective: Routine health data has the potential to identify changes in patient-related outcomes, in close to real time. This pilot project used routine data to explore and compare the impact of changes to cultural responsiveness on service use by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (hereafter, Aboriginal) clients in Australia.Methods: The New South Wales Minimum Data Set (MDS) for alcohol and other drug use treatment services was provided for 11 services for a period of 30 months from March 2019 to September 2021 (four months prior to two years after the intervention; data were analysed between March 2022 to February 2023). Change in cultural responsiveness was assessed via practice audits of services at baseline and two years. The average change in audit rating was analysed using a linear mixed regression model. Generalised Linear Mixed Models were used to identify changes in service use by Aboriginal clients. Results: All 11 services showed increased audit scores at two years, with a statistically significant mean increase of 18.6 (out of 63 points; b = 18.32, 95% CI 12.42-24.22). No statistically significant pre-to post-changes were identified in: (1) the proportion of episodes delivered to Aboriginal versus non-Aboriginal clients (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.94-1.40), (2) the number of episodes of care provided to Aboriginal clients per month (IRR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.84-1.23), or (3) the proportion of episodes completed by Aboriginal clients (OR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.82-1.13). Conclusions: The lack of statistically significant impact on service use outcomes using MDS contrasts to the improvements in cultural responsiveness, suggesting further work is needed to identify appropriate outcome measures. This may include patient-reported experience measures. This project showed that routine data has potential as an efficient method for measuring changes in patient-related outcomes in response to health services improvements.
Analysing intersex rights narratives in Spain
Authors: Platero Lucas , Solntseva Sveta
Published: June 2024

The last decade has seen significant legislative changes enacted for intersex people worldwide. In Spain, regional and national LGBTI+ laws that include the rights of intersex individuals have also been passed. Drawing on theories of how public problems are represented, this article analyses the representations of intersex rights in Spain, problematizing some of the assumptions currently embedded in political debates. An examination of the main discourses of the stakeholders involved in intersex debates between 2018 and 2023 found two primary discourse representations: (1) sex is binary by nature; and (2) intersex is an example of body diversity, tied to debates on gender self-determination and the new national LGBTI+ law. These representations have embodied consequences for intersex individuals, who are often subjected to non-consensual, irreversible and potentially harmful medical interventions. Despite the persistence of the pathologization of variations of sex characteristics, changes in legislation and key medical documents (such as identity cards and birth certificates), the emergence of intersex activism and intersex-inclusive policies indicate an important shift in intersex rights in Spain.
Performing different forms of ‘sociable authenticity’ in five bakery shops in Sweden using the semla pastry as a prominent multimodal resource
Authors: Kroon Åsa
Published: June 2024

This article examines how five bakeries in a mid-sized Swedish town communicate with their (potential) customers using different forms of ‘authentic’ displays of the much-loved seasonal pastry, the semla (a particular type of Lenten bun). Authenticity is understood as strategies of communicating with potential customers and passers-by in ways that make them feel included in a successful, sociable relationship with the bakery in question (see Scannell’s, 2001, article, ‘Authenticity and experience’). Specifically, various semla artefacts are used in the shop window/entrance as strategies to ‘talk to and interact with’ passers-by. However, these semla displays are not recognized as advertising by the bakers themselves. While previous research on authenticity, food discourse and ideology have identified traditional, natural and elite authenticity as expressed in relation to specific social groups, this study shows how authenticity may harbour oppositional values and seemingly incoherent ways of addressing customers in relation to such questions as power, eliteness and class. One explanation for these more subtly distinctive authenticity performances may be found in Swedish culture which has less social class distinction. This may, in turn, mean that certain establishments and products may not be as prominently class imprinted as others when it comes to how they address customers. Such a culture may create a more blended range of authenticity expressions.
The power of specific emotion analysis in predicting donations: A comparative empirical study between sentiment and specific emotion analysis in social media
Authors: Lee Sanghyub John , Paas Leo , Ahn Ho Seok
Published: June 2024

This paper investigates the role of sentiment and specific emotion analysis in forecasting donation behaviour within the context of social networking services (SNSs). The study empirically examines the influence of sentiment and specific emotion analysis on donation behaviour for two non-profit organizations (NPOs): The Fred Hollows Foundation (The Foundation) in both Australia and New Zealand, and The University of Auckland (UOA) in New Zealand. We collected and analysed 298,569 tweets from 106,349 users mentioning these NPOs, along with 5,175,359 tweets mentioning the top 20 US brands from 1,623,113 users. We found that NPOs are often associated with brands that induce joy. Furthermore, sadness expressed by marketers and joy expressed by users positively affected donations to The Foundation, while user-expressed anger positively influenced donations to UOA within the same month. A two-month rolling average analysis highlighted the significant effect of lingering negative emotions on monthly donations over time. Specific emotion analysis outperforms sentiment analysis by demonstrating a higher effect size ( R 2). We advocate for the application of the transformer-transfer learning method for specific emotion analysis when scrutinizing large-scale social media data and devising fundraising strategies.
Detecting ice on plate-like structures via flow-induced random vibration: a dispersion curve shift identification approach
Authors: Qin Qihang , Wang Xun
Published: June 2024

This paper proposes an ice detection framework for thin plate structures using flow-induced random guided waves measured by two passive sensors. Its principle is based on the fact that the ice accretion shifts the dispersion curve of guided wave, which can be extracted from the cross-correlation of ambient wave fields at two receivers. More specifically, the group velocity under various frequencies is identified from the prominent peak of the cross-correlation with a band-pass filter, which signifies the travel time of a narrow-band guided wave, and this forms a reconstruction of the dispersion curve. The ice thickness is then estimated by minimizing the weighted error between the reconstructed dispersion curve and its theoretical model solved from the Rayleigh–Lamb equations for the two-layer (ice-plate) structure. The weights are assigned to various frequencies according to the global sensitivity of the group velocity versus the ice accretion. The proposed method is assessed by a laboratory experiment where the ice accretion on an aluminum plate is carried out in an air-cooling environment and the random vibration is excited by spraying air jet onto the plate surface. Experimental results show that the ice thickness can be accurately estimated if it is of the same order or even lower than the plate thickness. The proposed method has the potential to realize the long-range real-time detection of aircraft icing conditions where the passive sensors can be tiny, light, free of energy supply, and mounted on the internal surface of fuselage skin without any effect on aircraft aerodynamics.
Improved bidirectional echo state network-based time series reconstruction and prediction for structural response
Authors: Tan Yan-Ke , Wang Yu-Ling , Ni Yi-Qing , Zhang Qi-Lin , Wang You-Wu
Published: June 2024

The integrity of the data collected by structural health monitoring systems has a significant impact on structural damage detection and state assessment. The missing or abnormal segments and unacquired future segments can be supplemented through signal reconstruction and prediction models. This paper proposes two novel models toward these two tasks based on bidirectional echo state network, which can exploit both historical and future signal segments to improve accuracies. Adaptive combination coefficient is introduced to control the rate of error accumulation. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed models are verified by cases of synchronized missing, long-term missing, and boundary effect. A hyperparameter study related to both reservoir and memory is conducted to generate optimal models with maximum processing abilities. An ARIMAX and improved Kalman filter-based preprocessing method is adopted to keep all useful information and provide optimal estimation of the true signal values. The proposed models also show high performance in generating the high-frequency components. The superiority of the proposed models is validated through the datasets measured from Canton Tower, both stationary signals under free vibration and non-stationary signals under earthquake being considered.
Analog Simulation and the Indian Wars: Encountering the Other Through Board Wargames
Authors: Gonzalo-Iglesia Jan
Published: June 2024

Combining a historical perspective and game studies and using information from the BoardGameGeek online database, we analyze how board wargames simulate the Indian wars and represent Native North Americans. Based on 125 games published between 1960 and 2023, first, we identified the main historical moments reproduced, followed by an iconographic and formal analysis of these games. The conclusions reveal that, like other cultural products (novels, films, or video games), the focus is on the mythical founding moments of the history of the United States, mainly the late 19th-century war on the prairies and conflicts between European powers to gain control of the continent. Despite everything, it is observed that board wargames do not avoid traumatic themes such as raids on settlements and that in recent years there have been dynamics that offer new themes and perspectives dealing with the subject.
An Examination of Complication Rates and Surgery Durations in Elective Hand Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lin Lawrence J. , Mai Eric , Azad Ali
Published: June 2024

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges to hand surgeons as hospitals worked to adapt to unprecedented demands on resources and personnel. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on outcomes in elective hand surgery using a large national database. Methods: This is a retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) dataset for patients undergoing elective hand procedures in 2019 and 2020. Demographics, comorbidities, procedural factors, and outcomes were compared between cases occurring in 2019 and 2020. Multivariable regressions were performed to evaluate the association between operative year and 30-day outcomes. Results: A total of 8971 patients were included with a mean age of 52.2 ± 16.7 and 52.8 ± 16.4 years for the 2019 and 2020 cohorts, respectively. Compared to the 2019 cohort, the 2020 cohort demonstrated higher prevalence of obesity (43.3% vs 40.8%, P = 0.019), hypertension requiring medication (32.9% vs 35.0%; P = 0.046), and American Association of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class ≥ 3 (30.4% vs 27.0%; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in outcomes including 30-day readmissions, reoperation, or complications between cohorts on unadjusted or multivariable analysis. Conclusions: Elective hand cases performed during the pandemic were associated with longer operating times and more frequently involved patients with greater comorbidities. Despite these differences, patients undergoing surgery during the pandemic demonstrated similar outcomes including complications, readmissions, and reoperations compared to those undergoing surgery the year prior, suggesting that even in the setting of a pandemic, performing elective surgery is safe without an increased risk to the patient.
Knowledge, attitude and practices about pharmacovigilance activities among hospital nurses: a multicentre cross-sectional survey
Authors: Mahfodz Mira Marina , Siddiqui Sania , Zainal Hadzliana
Published: June 2024

Background:

The national pharmacovigilance (PV) system has been established in many countries worldwide following the thalidomide tragedy. Nurses have an important role in recognising and reporting any Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR); however, their role has not been widely explored, particularly in Southeast Asian countries.

Aims:

To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) about PV activities, along with barriers and facilitators that affect ADR reporting among hospital nurses in Malaysia. The present study also explores the relationship between demographic characteristics and predictors of KAP among hospital nurses in Malaysia.

Methods:

A multicentre, questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in March–May 2021, among nurses working at tertiary care hospitals in Malaysia.

Results:

The mean KAP score of study participants was 57 ± 11. Overall participants had poor ADR knowledge (37.4%), and poor reporting practices (48.9%). Age >30 years (AOR = 2.7 (1.13–6.8), p = 0.02), and working experience of greater than 10 years (AOR = 2.44 (1.08–5.52), p  = 0.03), were significantly associated with good ADR knowledge and reporting practices among study participants.

Conclusions:

In summary, study findings offer valuable insight for developing targeted interventions and formal training to improve nurses’ ADR knowledge and reporting practices. Addressing gaps in these areas can enhance patient safety and overall healthcare quality.
The dead as memory workers
Authors: Kent Lia
Published: June 2024

This article examines how Timor-Leste’s dead are memory workers. Drawing on ethnographic research, it probes how the restless spirits of those who died during the Indonesian occupation (1975–1999) are activating practices of searching for and recovering their bodies among their families and communities that allow them to be ‘gathered in’ and cared for in new geographic and socio-political spaces. These practices enable the re-membering of communities of the living and the dead in the aftermath of the profoundly dismembering effects of the occupation while also allowing some of the silences of nation-and-state-building projects to be made partially present and negotiated. I suggest that while the dead are not memory activists in the sense that they push for a specific social or political agenda, they are memory workers in the way they work on the living, opening up reparative and political possibilities. The work of the dead troubles the distinctions between the active and the passive, the subject and object, and the human and the more-than-human that lie at the heart of dominant understandings of memory-work and memory activism, inviting new ways of thinking about agency and the unexpected avenues through which social and political change can sometimes take place.
Mnemonic reciprocity: Activating Sydney’s Comfort Women statue for decolonial memory
Authors: Graefenstein Sulamith , Kennedy Rosanne
Published: June 2024

This article introduces the concept of mnemonic reciprocity to examine the dynamics of exchanges between local memory activists and other community members after a Comfort Women statue was installed in 2016 on the grounds of Sydney’s Ashfield Uniting Church. Contributing to the scholarship on grassroots memory activism and on the global travels of the Comfort Women statue, we take a feminist, decolonial approach that identifies points of connectivity between the disparate communities that have come together in the semi-public location of the church for selected commemorative events. Based on an analysis of the ways in which mnemonic reciprocity is fostered through exchanges between Korean-Australians and Indigenous Australians, we suggest that the statue’s commemorative functions, when activated on the level of the local, are doubly decolonial. The Comfort Women statue activates the memory of Japan’s imperialism in South Korea and beyond in the semi-public locality of suburban Sydney. In addition, when articulated critically, the Peace Statue can help to decolonise memory in Australia, contributing to intimate, small-scale acts of a reconciliatory and reparative nature. This case, we argue, demonstrates first that it is crucial to identify the particularities governing the place in which a carrier of memory, such as a statue, is re-territorialised. Second, by showing that localised acts of mnemonic reciprocity can strengthen community relations, it offers an alternative to the nationalist memory wars between South Korea and Japan that have been repeated in many diasporic communities where statues have been erected.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage mimicking an acute migraine attack: A case report
Authors: Bhattarai Himal Bikram , Bhusal Amrit , Bhattarai Ganesh , Basnet Bibhusan , Gautam Swotantra , Koirala Sabina , Uprety Manish , Adhikari Bibhuti , Pokhrel Ritu , Katwal Shailendra
Published: June 2024

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a neurological emergency in which arterial blood accumulates in the subarachnoid space with cerebral aneurysmal rupture being the most common cause. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is often misdiagnosed in the emergency department and mortality rates range from 8% to 67%. It may be the manifestation of the chronicity of the migraine. The difference in severity or quality compared to previous headaches, and other symptoms, particularly neck stiffness, but also seizure, syncope, focal neurological deficit, and vomiting are the key factors differentiating subarachnoid hemorrhage from the migraine. We report a case of a 37-year-old female with a previous history of migraines who presented with acute onset of excruciating headaches in the occiput associated with nausea, vomiting, and photophobia in whom a non-contrast computed tomography scan of the head showed hyper-densities involving the bilateral cerebral cortical sulcus and Sylvian fissure and the cerebral angiography showed a complex aneurysm in anterior communicating artery.
A burning encephalitis: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-hyperintense lesions in Anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated encephalitis with seizures in anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated encephalitis with seizures—A case report and review of the literature
Authors: El Ouali Ibtissam , Naggar Amine , Berrada Kenza , Jiddane Mohamed , Touarsa Firdaous
Published: June 2024

FLAMES, or fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-hyperintense lesions in anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein)-associated encephalitis with seizures, represents a rarely documented syndrome characterized by ambiguous features. Positioned within the spectrum of inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, it is regarded as a distinct subset of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, the latest classification in this domain. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease exhibits a diverse clinical spectrum, spanning from solitary optic neuritis or myelitis to multifocal central nervous system demyelination, manifesting as acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, or cortical encephalitis accompanied by seizures, delineating the fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-hyperintense lesions in anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated encephalitis with seizures syndrome. We present a compelling case study of a 30-year-old individual with a history of recurrent seizures initially diagnosed with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes. However, the disease’s progression more closely resembled self-resolving cerebral cortical encephalitis linked with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies. In addition, we undertake a systematic review of literature cases to explore the diagnostic significance of magnetic resonance angiography, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and specialized markers such as diffusion-weighted imaging and perfusion in discerning fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-hyperintense lesions in anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated encephalitis with seizures syndrome and elucidating its distinctive characteristics.
A Rare Case of Immunoglobulin G4-Related Constrictive Pericarditis Diagnosed Via Multimodality Imaging
Authors: Ozgur Sacide S. , Tagliaferri Ariana , Aiken Arielle , Desai Binoy , Abboud Rachel , Shamoon Yezin , Akel Tamer , Singhal Monisha , Shamoon Fayez
Published: June 2024

Constrictive pericarditis (CP) presents as a pathophysiological state where the pericardium becomes inelastic due to fibrotic changes, most commonly secondary to a protracted inflammatory process. The disease is characterized by compromised diastolic cardiac function due to loss of pericardial compliance. Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)-related disease, an entity marked by the insidious proliferation of IgG4-positive plasma cells and subsequent fibrosis within various organs, is an infrequent but recognized cause of CP. A case of a 55-year-old male patient with clinical manifestations of dyspnea and edema in the lower extremities elucidates the diagnostic complexity inherent to CP. Echocardiography revealed a constellation of signs, including annulus reversus, septal bounce, and a congested inferior vena cava; cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated diffuse pericardial thickening with delayed gadolinium enhancement, suggestive of a long-term inflammatory state; and right heart catheterization confirmed the hemodynamic hallmark of CP—equalization of diastolic pressures across the cardiac chambers. The serological analysis elicited elevated serum levels of IgG4 and IgE, pointing to the differential diagnosis of IgG4-related disease. Given the nonspecific clinical presentation of IgG4-related CP, a heightened index of suspicion combined with a systematic approach to imaging and serological evaluation is paramount.