bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minimally Invasive Surgical Approach to Toxic Colitis
Authors: Moghadamyeghaneh Zhobin , Rahimi Murwarid , Kopatsis Katherine , Kopatsis Anthony Paul , Kopatsis Anthony
Published: March 2022

Background

We aimed to compare outcomes of surgical treatments of toxic colitis (infectious/inflammatory/ischemic) by the extent of colectomy (partial vs total colectomy) and different surgical approaches (minimally invasive surgery (MIS) vs open).

Methods

Multivariate analysis using logistic regression was used to investigate outcomes of patients with toxic colitis who underwent emergent colectomy during 2012-2019 by surgical approach and the extent of resection using NSQIP database.

Results

Overall, 2,104 adult patients underwent emergent colectomy for toxic colitis within NSQIP database during 2012-2019. Overall, 1,578 (75.4%) underwent total colectomy with colostomy, 486 (23.2%) underwent partial colectomy with colostomy, and 28 (1.3%) underwent partial colectomy with anastomosis. Overall, 198 (9.4%) of procedures were minimally invasive (MIS) with a 40.1% conversion rate to open. Thirty days mortality and morbidity of the patients were 31 and 86%, respectively. There was no significant difference in mortality of partial colectomy without anastomosis compared to total colectomy ( P = .86) and partial colectomy with anastomosis ( P = .64). Anastomosis was associated with 32.3% anastomosis leakage and 17.9% reoperation. MIS approach was associated with significant decrease in mortality (8.6 vs 33.3%, AOR: .35, P < .01) and morbidity (62.9 vs 87.8%, AOR: .49, P < .01) of patients.

Conclusion

Patients with toxic colitis undergoing surgical treatment have high mortality and morbidity. An MIS approach when possible is significantly associated with decreased morbidity and mortality of patients. There was no significant difference in outcomes seen when extending the resection in multivariate analysis. Anastomosis is associated with a high anastomosis leakage and need for reoperation risk.
Intercostal Lung Hernia Following Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Reconstruction
Authors: Marturano Matthew N. , Robinson Jordan N. , Elhage Sharbel A. , Korn Jason M. , Robinson Michael J.
Published: March 2022

Acquired lung hernias typically result from trauma or intra-thoracic surgery is defined as the protrusion of lung parenchyma beyond the anatomic boundaries of the thoracic wall. A 40-year-old woman underwent deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) breast reconstruction following her mastectomies. Post-operatively, she returned to the emergency department with severe chest pain, shortness of breath, and localized chest swelling. CT angiography demonstrated intercostal right lung hernia with concern for incarceration. She returned emergently to the operating room. The lung was reduced, but the flap was ultimately determined to be nonviable and was removed. Post-operative course was uneventful and the patient recovered well. Intercostal lung hernia is an uncommon clinical entity that has not previously been described as a complication of DIEP breast reconstruction. Its development is associated with significant morbidity including flap loss in this case. Early recognition of this rare complication is essential to avoid more severe sequelae of tissue ischemia.
Colon Cancer Grading Using Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging-Based Deep Learning
Authors: Tiwari Saumya , Falahkheirkhah Kianoush , Cheng Georgina , Bhargava Rohit
Published: March 2022

Tumor grade assessment is critical to the treatment of cancers. A pathologist typically evaluates grade by examining morphologic organization in tissue using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained tissue sections. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR) imaging provides an alternate view of tissue in which spatially specific molecular information from unstained tissue can be utilized. Here, we examine the potential of IR imaging for grading colon cancer in biopsy samples. We used a 148-patient cohort to develop a deep learning classifier to estimate the tumor grade using IR absorption. We demonstrate that FT-IR imaging can be a viable tool to determine colorectal cancer grades, which we validated on an independent cohort of surgical resections. This work demonstrates that harnessing molecular information from FT-IR imaging and coupling it with morphometry is a potential path to develop clinically relevant grade prediction models.
Revisiting the Bandwagoning Hypothesis: A Statistical Analysis of the Alliance Dynamics of Small States
Authors: Carter Brittnee
Published: March 2022

Early theories of alliance formation often focus on when great power or status quo states will enter into military alliances. However, revisionist powers, seeking to threaten the international order igniting global security concerns, often draw power from their alliances with small regional neighbours and weak states. Though several studies discuss indicators that may potentially drive these weak states to bandwagon with revisionist powers to the detriment of protecting status quo security interests, many of these theories have yet to be tested empirically, let alone be presented and tested within the same study. This research empirically tests the conditions under which weak states will form bandwagoning alliances with aggressor states. The results demonstrate that weak states will form bandwagoning alliances with neighbouring regional aggressors, when facing an external threat, and especially under conditions of internal duress or domestic political strife. In order to protect global security interests and to keep aggressor and revisionist states from gaining power and influence through bandwagoning alliances, status quo states should identify internally destabilized weak states and offer early assistance in state building and increasing bureaucratic capacity.
Detailed structural analysis for fiber-reinforced polymer with singularities via FETI domain decomposition
Authors: Gong DuHyun , Kang Seung-Hoon , Joo HyunShig , Cho Haeseong , Chun Taeyoung , Shin SangJoon
Published: March 2022

The conventional representative volume element approach may not be accurate enough in examining stress distribution near singularity in a composite. However, enormous number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) is usually required to discretize the subcomponents within the composite structure; hence, it may not be handled in a single CPU. In this study, the finite element tearing and interconnecting algorithm, a domain decomposition method, is proposed to address the challenges posed by such enormous number of DOFs via parallel computation. Owing to the message passing interface, analyses in this study will be conducted on the parallel computing environment. Furthermore, the METIS algorithm is adopted to automatically divide the solid domain into certain number of subdomains. Consequently, the fiber-reinforced polymer which possesses either a crack or notch discretized by over 10 million DOFs will be readily analyzed. The computational time is reduced significantly compared against the original one. Also, the stress and stiffness predictions show good agreement with those by the other existing analyses or experiments. Therefore, this study is expected to be fast and accurate in analyzing composite structures with enormous number of DOFs.
Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and the Perils of Impunity
Authors: Binningsbø Helga Malmin , Nordås Ragnhild
Published: March 2022

“Ending impunity” is often heralded as the key mechanism for stopping rape in war. Yet, little systematic evidence or analyses exist of the relationship between impunity (or lack thereof) and sexual violence. We argue that amnesties signal impunity and permissiveness for sexual violence, which can perpetuate and instigate more sexual violence by rebels. Trials, on the other hand, signal a nonzero probability of punishment, which could have a deterrent effect. Studying all intrastate armed conflicts in the period 1989–2011, we find in line with the impunity signal that amnesties are associated with sexual violence by rebels, but we are not able to demonstrate a deterrent effect of trials. While the study prevents us from conclusively saying that ending impunity would be an effective policy tool to stop sexual violence in war, the association between amnesties and subsequent sexual violence is a testament to the perils of impunity.
Family Unpredictability and Sense of Coherence: Relationships With Anxiety and Depression in Two Samples
Authors: Ross Lisa T. , Heming Bradley , Lane Alexa
Published: March 2022

Sense of coherence (SOC) refers to beliefs about how comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful one’s life is. We investigated how SOC relates to family of origin unpredictability and psychological functioning in two samples. College students ( N=172, 78% female; M=18.9 years old; 78% white/Caucasian) who recalled more family unpredictability while growing up also reported weaker SOC beliefs and poorer mental health. Furthermore, SOC mediated the negative impact of family unpredictability on anxiety but not on depression. Among adults ( N=220, 47% female, 50% male, 3% gender nonconforming; M=40.2 years old; 60% Caucasian), correlations among family chaos, SOC, and psychological functioning were even stronger, overall. One mediation was detected: the relationship between family unpredictability and anxiety was partially explained by adults’ perceptions regarding the manageability of their life. This is the first study to explore the relationships among SOC, family chaos, and psychological functioning.
Videoconferencing and Appearance-Related Anxiety’s Impact on Body Dissatisfaction: An Australian Investigation
Authors: Stewart Marni P. , Stapleton Peta
Published: March 2022

The pandemic resulted in increased use of videoconferencing. This study investigated whether Appearance-Related Anxiety, Videoconferencing Appearance-Focused Behaviours, and Weekly Videoconferencing Time contributed to state body dissatisfaction in 191 community Australians. Results indicated moderate to strong positive correlations between the three constructs, a weak negative correlation for weekly video time, although no correlation for total week video time. The three constructs predicted state body dissatisfaction when controlling for age and gender and Appearance Related Anxiety mediated Videoconferencing Appearance-Focused Behaviours and body dissatisfaction. The impact of videoconference communication on body dissatisfaction is discussed.
Penetrating foreign body in the larynx presenting as hoarseness
Authors: Lo Sheng-Wei , Yang Tsai-Ni , Tsai Ming-Shao
Published: March 2022

Penetrating neck injuries are not uncommon, while penetrated foreign bodies involving the larynx are rare, which can be critical and challenging even for experienced physicians. We presented a case of a 64-year-old man with a piece of grinder blade penetrating through the subglottic region, visiting our outpatient department with hoarseness persisting for 3 weeks. The flexible fiberoptic laryngoscope, CT and direct laryngoscope were used to establish the right diagnosis. A cervical incision over the prior scar region was performed to remove the foreign body from the laryngeal box. Clinically, laryngotracheal injuries could lead to severe crisis without proper and prompt treatment. As to penetrated foreign bodies involving the larynx, a proper airway management and surgical approach are crucial for minimizing the morbidity and mortality. An accurate localization and preoperative planning is on the other hand indispensable to a successful removal and recovery.
Outcomes of Adenotonsillectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children Under 3 Years of Age
Authors: Rayasam Swathi S. , Abijay Claire , Johnson Romaine , Mitchell Ron B.
Published: March 2022

Objectives: To identify predictors of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after adenotonsillectomy (T&A) in children under 3 years of age and to describe the characteristics of children with OSA under 3 years of age undergoing T&A in an ethnically diverse population. Methods: We examined 87 children under 3 years with T&A and pre- and post-operative polysomnography (PSG) between 8/2012 and 3/2020 at a large tertiary care hospital. Differences were compared for covariates including demographics, comorbidities, and respiratory parameters. Regression was used to identify predictors of persistent severe OSA. Significance was set at P < .05. Results: Of the 87 children in the study, 64 (74%) were male, 26 (30%) were obese, 34 (39%) were Hispanic, and 35 (40%) were Black. Most children (94%) had improvements in OSA severity as measured by the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) after T&A, but 78% had persistent OSA (AHI ≥1) after surgery. Children with persistent mild, compared to moderate-severe OSA, were more likely to have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (50% versus 24%, P = .025), a craniofacial disorder (30% versus 10%, P = .025), Down syndrome (20% versus 5%, P = .031), or pre-operative severe OSA. Conclusions: This study of an ethnically diverse population found that T&A is an effective procedure at improving, but not resolving, OSA in children under 3 years. Children with Down syndrome, craniofacial abnormalities, GERD, or pre-operative severe OSA who are under 3 years old are at high risk for persistent OSA and may benefit from post-operative PSG. Future study should examine complications and long-term outcomes of T&A in this age group.
Children of the Revolution: The Impact of 1960s and 1970s Cultural Identification on Baby Boomers’ Views on Retirement
Authors: Tunney Orlaith , Henkens Kène , van Solinge Hanna
Published: March 2022

There is widespread speculation that baby boomers will make significant changes to the retirement landscape. Some attribute these changes, at least in part, to countercultural movements this generation pioneered during the sixties and seventies. However, empirical investigation into the long-term impact of countercultural identification in youth is scarce. To address this, our study examines associations between baby boomers’ retirement views and identification with counterculture. Using data from 6024 pre-retired Dutch older workers, we investigate whether greater identification with counterculture is associated with more active retirement views. Our results show that greater identification with counterculture is associated with more active retirement views, even when controlling for potential confounders. Beyond highlighting the diversity of the baby boom generation, these findings support the idea that (counter)cultural identity in youth has an impact across the life course and may therefore have implications for other key questions of life’s third age beyond retirement.
Femisocial capital: Homophily and bill sponsorship by South Korean female legislators
Authors: Bang Jiun
Published: March 2022

This article is about femisocial capital: a type of gendered political capital tended towards facilitating greater intra-female collaboration. Unlike its similar conceptual counterpart of homosocial capital that typically reinforces male dominance in politics, femisocial capital, at least within the scope of legislative activity, highlights a positive function of gender and politics. By examining the bill sponsorship networks of multi-term female legislators in South Korea, this article finds that the institutional legacy of the progressive party in South Korea and its female lawmakers sharing associational membership in feminist organizations (hence, the prefix ‘femi’), enables such gendered political capital to function in their favor. In contrast to research agendas that seek to find gender working in explicit ways (i.e., whether more women in office leads to greater empowerment for women in politics), this article shows that while gender does matter, it may matter in much more discreet and less obvious ways.
High-intensity versus low-intensity resistance training in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: de Zwart Arjan H , Dekker Joost , Roorda Leo D , van der Esch Martin , Lips Paul , van Schoor Natasja M , Heijboer Annemiek C , Turkstra Franktien , Gerritsen Martijn , Häkkinen Arja , Bennell Kim , Steultjens Martjin PM , Lems Willem F , van der Leeden Marike
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To assess whether (i) high-intensity resistance training (RT) leads to increased muscle strength compared to low-intensity RT in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA); and (ii) RT with vitamin D supplementation leads to increased muscle strength compared to placebo in a subgroup with vitamin D deficiency.

Design

Randomized controlled trial

Setting

Outpatient rehabilitation centre

Subjects

Patients with knee OA

Interventions

12 weeks of RT at high-intensity RT (70–80% of 1-repetition maximum (1-RM)) or low-intensity RT (40–50% of 1-RM) and 24 weeks of vitamin D (1200 International units vitamin D3 per day) or placebo supplementation.

Main measures

Primary outcome measure was isokinetic muscle strength. Other outcome measure for muscle strength was the estimated 1-RM. Secondary outcome measures were knee pain and physical functioning.

Results

177 participants with a mean age of 67.6 ± 5.8 years were included, of whom 50 had vitamin D deficiency. Isokinetic muscle strength (in Newton metre per kilogram bodyweight) at start, end and 24 weeks after the RT was 0.98 ± 0.40, 1.11 ± 0.40, 1.09 ± 0.42 in the high-intensity group and 1.02 ± 0.41, 1.15 ± 0.42, 1.12 ± 0.40 in the low-intensity group, respectively. No differences were found between the groups, except for the estimated 1-RM in favour of the high-intensity group. In the subgroup with vitamin D deficiency, no difference on isokinetic muscle strength was found between the vitamin D and placebo group.

Conclusions

High-intensity RT did not result in greater improvements in isokinetic muscle strength, pain and physical functioning compared to low-intensity RT in knee OA, but was well tolerated. Therefore these results suggest that either intensity of resistance training could be utilised in exercise programmes for patients with knee osteoarthritis. No synergistic effect of vitamin D supplementation and RT was found, but this finding was based on underpowered data.
Reinforcing student learning by MATLAB simscape GUI program for introductory level mechanical vibrations and control theory courses
Authors: Pena Paul , Utschig Tristan , Tekes Ayse
Published: March 2022

The highly mathematical nature of introductory level vibrations and control theory courses results in students struggling to understand the concepts. Hands-on activity demonstrated in class can help them better understand the concepts. However, there is still an ongoing effort to lower the currently substantial cost of educational laboratory equipment for undergraduate-level engineering courses. Also, with the COVID-19 crisis, the Spring 2020 academic year took an unexpected turn for academics and students all over the world. Engineering faculty who teach laboratories had to move online and instruct from home. Online course preparation takes more time and effort compared to traditionally designed face-to-face courses and was compounded considering the unprecedented situation where many instructors didn't have time to record data from existing lab equipment or record video in their laboratories. In this paper, we present a Matlab Simscape GUI program designed to simulate modeling and control of dynamical systems for vibrations and control theory courses, and their associated laboratories, as one potential solution for online instruction. To complement the simulation program, online classroom and homework activities were designed using a learning sciences approach connecting several critical educational theories which can bolster student motivation, engagement with the material, and overall learning performance. The simulation is presented along with data from 19 students who completed the associated classroom and homework activities. Survey results probing student perceptions about the value of the learning tasks for the simulation were overwhelmingly positive and indicate this approach holds promise in supporting student learning.
Sustainable institutional investment in the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hoang Lai T , Yang Joey Wenling
Published: March 2022

This article examines institutions’ investment strategies towards environmental and social (E&S) stocks in the first quarter of 2020, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Backed with both institutional- and firm-level analyses, we find that institutional investors shift towards stocks with higher E&S performance. The high E&S portfolios exhibit lower risk and return characteristics, outperforming (underperforming) their peers on market-down (-up) days. Further analysis shows this shift towards E&S is not a permanent transition, rather it reversed with the market rebound in the second quarter, thereby suggesting that the underlying driver of institutional E&S investment strategy in the pandemic is downside-risk protection.

JEL Classification: G01, G12, G23, M14
Localized and widespread pressure pain hypersensitivity in patients with episodic or chronic migraine: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Navarro-Santana Marcos J , Curiel-Montero Francisca , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo , Alburquerque-Sendín Francisco , Rodrigues-de-Souza Daiana P
Published: March 2022

Objective

This meta-analysis compared pressure pain sensitivity in trigeminal, cervical spine and remote pain-free areas between migraine patients and headache-free controls considering diagnosis (episodic versus chronic) and sex. Databases and data treatment: Electronic databases were searched for cross-sectional or prospective case-control studies comparing pressure pain thresholds between migraine and headache-free controls. Data were extracted by two reviewers. The risk of bias and methodological quality was assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Meta-analyses of trigeminal, extra-trigeminal (cervical spine) and remote pain-free areas were compared. Frequency of migraine and sex were taken into account. Mean differences (MD) and random effects were calculated.

Results

Eighteen studies were included. Patients with migraine showed lower pressure pain thresholds than headache-free controls: trigeminal (MD −71.33 kPa, 95%CI −92.14 to −50.53), cervical spine (MD −68.50 kPa, 95%CI −84.67 to −52.33), and remote pain-free (MD −62.49 kPa, 95%CI −99.52 to −25.45) areas. Differences were consistently significant for episodic migraine in all locations, but only significant in the trigeminal area for chronic migraine (MD −67.36 kOPa, 95%CI −101.31 to −33.42). Overall, women had lower pressure pain thresholds than men. The methodological quality of most studies (66.7%) was good. The results showed a high heterogeneity.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis found low to high quality evidence showing lower pressure pain thresholds in trigeminal, extra-trigeminal, and remote pain-free areas in migraine sufferers when compared with headache-free controls. Hypersensitivity to pressure pain locally and widespread was consistently observed in episodic migraine, but locally in chronic migraine as compared to headache-free controls. Women with migraine were more sensitive than men. Registration number: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YJTAK
Burden of headache in a HIV-positive population of sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Leone Massimo , Giani Luca , Phaka Monica , Uluduz Derya , Tayyar Şaşmaz , Kamponda Maureen , Tolno Victor Tamba , Guidotti Giovanni , Marazzi Maria Cristina , Steiner Timothy J
Published: March 2022

Background

About 26 million people are living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. The DREAM programme in sub-Saharan Africa provides free healthcare for HIV/AIDS and a range of chronic non-communicable diseases. HIV is a risk factor for neurological non-communicable diseases including stroke and epilepsy, which themselves are associated with headache, and HIV may be a direct risk factor for headache. We investigated the prevalence and burden of headache in a HIV+ population in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

At the DREAM Centre in Blantyre, Malawi, a low-income country with a population of 19 million and 9.2% HIV prevalence, a structured questionnaire was administered by a trained lay interviewer to consecutively attending HIV+ patients aged 6–65 years. All were monitored with regular viral load detection.

Results

Of 513 eligible patients invited, 498 were included (mean age 34.1 ± 12.8 years; 72% females; 15 declined). All were on antiretroviral treatment, with viral load undetectable in 83.9%. The 1-year prevalence of headache was 80.3% (females 83.6%, males 71.9%); 3.8% had ≥15 headache days/month, 1.4% had probable medication-overuse headache. Mean overall headache frequency was 4.4 ± 5.4 days/month. Those reporting headache lost means of 2.3% of paid workdays and 3.3% of household workdays because of headache. Only one third had sought advice for their headache.

Conclusions

Headache is very prevalent among HIV+ patients in Malawi, imposing additional burden and costs on individuals and the community. Management of headache disorders should be implemented in HIV centres, as it is for other chronic non-communicable diseases.
Politics of fear, fury and emotional censorship in theatrical performance: Belarus Free Theatre
Authors: Tait Peta
Published: March 2022

This article argues that political performance reveals the significance of the emotions, emotional feelings, affect and mood in relation to the censorship of democratic expression. Belarus Free Theatre performers spoke about fear as they gave personal accounts of imprisonment and undertook extreme physical action on aerial ropes, creating performances that evoked both emotionally felt responses and bodily affect. The aesthetic mood effect in these performances shifted from amusing audiences with the absurdity of political censorship to alarming them with the terror of political persecution. Antonio Damasio points out that although aspects of the emotions merge in everyday life, ideas or impressions need to be separated out from the physiology of emotional feeling in their study. While the turn to affect emphasizes convergence and, importantly, recognizes human sensitivity to nonhuman energies, an impersonal energetic field can be distinguished from the personal and the psychological. This analysis of theatrical performance reveals the ways in which it presents social ideas of the emotions and aesthetic moods, as well as elicits the affect of bodily sensation and invites the emotionally felt responses of audience members. Theatrical performance offers a space for expressing emotions in political protest.
Probing mechanical properties of graphene oxide/epoxy composites based on nano indentation technique
Authors: Zhao Cun , Zhao Yufen , Pei Xiaoyuan , Liu Shengkai , Xia Yuanhua , Min Chunying , Shao Ruiqi , Wang Chunhong , Wang Wei , Xu Zhiwei
Published: March 2022

The silanized graphene oxide (KH-GO) with different mass fractions was dispersed in epoxy resin by a solution blending method and resin transfer molding process. The nano indentation method was used to test the micromechanical properties of GO/epoxy composites with different mass fractions, and the effect of GO on the hardness of epoxy matrix composites was quantitatively determined, and the influence of adding KH-GO on the thermal mechanical and bending properties of epoxy resin was discussed by dynamic thermal mechanical and universal strength machine tests. The experimental results show that the thermal and mechanical properties of composites are improved with the increase of the amount of KH-GO. Especially, when the content of KH-GO was 0.3%, the bending strength (125.4 MPa), hardness (281.0 MPa), and glass transition temperature (99.6°C) of composites reached the highest. It was proved that the composites showed its excellent performance and the silane coupling agent was successfully grafted to the graphene oxide by covalent bond, which effectively improved the interface compatibility of the reinforcing body and the matrix and was related to good dispersibility in the epoxy resin. This method is simple and effective, providing a certain reference value for the enhancement of the mechanical properties of the next generation of nanocomposites.
Development and Psychometric Properties of a Culturally Adapted Video Version of Strange Stories as a Measure of Advanced Theory of Mind in Youths
Authors: Nah Yong-Hwee , Chen Mo
Published: March 2022

This study described the development of a culturally adapted video version of Strange Stories test as a measure of advanced theory of mind for youths in an Asian country (i.e. Singapore), the Y-ToM, and to provide preliminary psychometric properties. Participants were 170 youths (82 male, 88 female) aged from 13 to 16 years old (M = 14.77, SD = 1.16) in Singapore. The youths completed the Y-ToM, an abbreviated IQ test and the Happé’s Strange Stories in a counterbalanced order while their parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). A two-factor structure consisting of social and physical subscales was suggested. Concurrent, convergent, divergent and diagnostic validity of the Y-ToM was examined. Internal consistency of the Y-ToM social subscale was acceptable though it was not satisfactory for the Y-ToM physical subscale. Inter-rater reliability was good while test-retest reliability was lower.
Fabrication of porous gehlenite coating on Al2O3–ZrO2–SiC composite ceramics and its in vitro biological activities
Authors: Chen Xianzhi , Li Jiaxin , Gu Shuidan , Wu Zhiyu , Wen Feng , Luo Lijie , Li Jianbao , Chen Yongjun
Published: March 2022

Porous gehlenite coatings on Al2O3–ZrO2–SiC composite ceramics were prepared by electro-spraying technique combined with reactive sintering method. The influences of gehlenite coating on the mechanical property of the ceramics and biological activity of the coating were investigated. The results indicated that the gehlenite coating has limited influences on flexural strength and fracture toughness of the ceramics, and the coating has elastic modulus of 82 GPa, hardness of 2.2 GPa, and adhesive strength of 1512 mN, suggesting its potential application in load-bearing ceramic implants. Simulated body fluid soaking test, CCK-8 and alkaline phosphatase activity assay demonstrated that the porous gehlenite coating has strong mineralization ability, which promotes proliferation and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. These excellent biological performances can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the porous surface of the coating and its release of Ca2+ and Si4+.
Attendance at a Community-Based, After School, Youth-Led Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative
Authors: Hutchison Courtney A. , Waterman Emily A. , Edwards Katie M. , Hopfauf Skyler L. , Simon Briana R. , Banyard Victoria L.
Published: March 2022

Sexual violence (SV) among adolescents is a pervasive public health concern. Research on community-based prevention programs that seek to reach youth outside of school hours is less developed, but suggests positive effects. In the current paper, we examine attendance at community events and overnight retreats for a youth-led SV prevention initiative, Youth Voices in Prevention (Youth VIP) using survey (n = 2539) and short-answer (n = 1177) data from a broad sample of youth in a small urban district in the Great Plains (United States), where Youth VIP took place. Multivariate logistic regression models using multiple imputation sampling were tested for retreat and community event attendance (respectively). The model of retreat attendance found that those with past SV victimization had significantly higher odds of attending retreats and each additional extracurricular activity youth participated in was associated with increased odds of attendance. The model of event attendance found that male youth had significantly lower odds of attending an event and that odds of attending increased with each additional extracurricular activity reported. Age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and bystander denial were not significant predictors of attendance. Short-answer questions, coded with content analysis, found that youth report being more likely to attend if events feature fun activities with their friends, money, or other incentives; in survey questions, youth report lack of time and lack of interest as the most common reasons for non-attendance. Findings suggest that programming that blends social time and recreational activities with SV content may improve youth attendance; additional recruitment may be needed to engage male youth and youth who are less involved in extracurriculars. This study provides important insight into youth attendance—who attends, who does not, and why—that can be leveraged by others when seeking to engage youth in SV prevention.
Prior Drug-Related Criminal Charges and Risk for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Authorized Purchasers of Handguns in California
Authors: Pallin Rocco , Wright Mona A. , Tomsich Elizabeth A. , Wintemute Garen J. , Stewart Susan , Kagawa Rose M. C.
Published: March 2022

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a considerable public health problem in the US, and evidence suggests that both drugs and firearms contribute to the risk of IPV and its severity. This study uses a retrospective, longitudinal cohort design to explore the association between past arrests, charges incurred in the legal process, and convictions for drug-related crimes, and risk of future arrest for IPV among legal handgun purchasers. The cohort included all legal purchasers of handguns in California in 2001 between the ages of 21 and 49 ( n = 79,678), 156 of whom had pre-purchase drug charges and post-purchase IPV charges. We used Cox proportional hazards regression with age at time of handgun purchase, sex, and race/ethnicity, and an array of community characteristics as covariates. Over the study period (2001-2013), in comparison to handgun purchasers who had no charges or convictions prior to their index purchase, risk for future IPV arrest was increased for purchasers whose only prior charges were drug-related (aHR = 3.4 [95% CI: 2.4-4.9]) and purchasers who had both prior drug- and non-drug related charges (aHR = 4.9 [95% CI: 4.1-6.0]). The magnitude of the risk ratio was greater when multiple drug types were involved and when the person had been charged with both the use and sale of drugs. Our findings suggest that, among legal handgun purchasers, prior drug charges are associated with future risk of IPV arrests or convictions. Given the established link between firearm access and IPV severity and fatality, these findings may inform the development and enforcement of policies that reduce firearm access for those at elevated risk of perpetrating intimate partner violence.
Adolescent Relationship Abuse, Gender Equitable Attitudes, Condom and Contraception Use Self-Efficacy Among Adolescent Girls
Authors: Hill Ashley V. , Hill Amber L. , Jackson Zachary , Gilreath Tamika D. , Fields Alana , Miller Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Experiencing adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) negatively impacts sexual health and influences risk behaviors of adolescent girls. ARA may be associated with more inequitable gender attitudes among girls, a potentially modifiable factor in violence prevention. This study examines the association among gender equitable attitudes, experiences of ARA, and sexual behaviors among girls participating in Sisterhood 2.0, a community-based violence prevention program implemented in low resource neighborhoods. Methods: Data were from baseline surveys collected for Sisterhood 2.0 implemented in Pittsburgh, PA. Participant demographics, gender equitable attitudes, self-efficacy to use condoms with partners, and self-efficacy to select appropriate contraception were assessed. A latent class analysis (LCA) estimated probability of responses to nine indicators, including sexual behavior self-efficacy and violence. Multigroup LCA by grade (9–12) was also estimated and analyses were performed with SAS V9.4. Results: Female-identified adolescents ages 13–19 ( n = 246) were primarily Black (75%) and evenly distributed across grade in school. Sixty-five percent reported emotional relationship abuse and 31% reported physical abuse within the previous nine months. A three-class solution was best fitting for the LCA. Experiences of violence were related to less equitable gender attitudes, being sexually active, and lower condom and contraception self-efficacy. Younger participants who were sexual minorities with less educated heads of household had more experiences with ARA and less equitable gender attitudes. Discussion: Gender equitable attitudes were lower in adolescent girls with greater experiences of ARA and worse condom and contraception self-efficacy. Integrating discussions about healthy sexual relationships and gender equity may be salient factors in violence prevention.
Why? How Perpetrators of Male-Male Homicide Explain the Crime
Authors: Di Marco Martín Hernán
Published: March 2022

This paper identifies the explanatory narratives used by perpetrators of male-male homicide in Buenos Aires (Argentina) to make sense of this crime. Drawing upon narrative criminology and masculinities theories, this study enquires into the rationalisations of perpetrators, considering their emic terms, rationalities and stories. Fieldwork was conducted between 2016 and 2020, and a convenience sample strategy was employed for participant recruitment. The analysis is based upon seventy-three narrative-biographical interviews with offenders, and field observations in prisons and homes of former convicts. The corpus was analysed following an inductive thematic coding strategy using Atlas.Ti. Eight narratives were typified, considering how men talked about agency and change, and the explanatory locus of the stories: ‘rebel’, ‘affected’, ‘idiot’, ‘either him or me’, ‘repeating the story’, ‘gang’, ‘betrayed’ and ‘victim’. These accounts revealed two paradoxes about violence perpetration storytelling and its discursive management: men can commit a homicide and present themselves as not responsible for it and, simultaneously, they use, reconfigure and negotiate expert theories and scientific labels to explain away, excuse and justify lethal violence. This study argues that accounts are not merely neutralisation strategies, but the rationalisations of the perpetrators’ experiences, and the foundation for how they relate to and inhabit penal institutions. This paper contributes to the understanding of how those explanations shape past and future actions, and how masculinities, biographical processes and violence performance are interconnected.
An Examination of Similarity between a Costume Designer and a Production Designer: Job Analysis Goes to Hollywood
Authors: Williams Steven E. , Werner Jon M.
Published: March 2022

This study examines the similarity of two unique positions in Hollywood—a costume designer and a production designer. It applies traditional job analysis and job evaluation methods in an industry with little history of doing so. Job data from interviews, questionnaires, and secondary sources were content analyzed for themes and categories. Quantitative data were collected and analyzed for supplemental evidence in comparing the similarity of the two positions. The study incorporated criteria from the California Fair Pay Act of 2016 in the assessment. Eight subject matter experts (SMEs) provided both narrative and quantitative data in response to the comprehensive job analysis. The results of the study show that these positions are sufficiently similar according to the criteria set forth in the California Fair Pay Act, raising issues concerning observed pay disparities between these positions. The findings also support the use of traditional methods of human resource management and industrial and organizational psychology in novel industries with unique positions. Finally, conclusions, limitations and implications are considered.
Incidence of Hypotension Associated With Two Different Vasopressin Discontinuation Strategies in the Recovery Phase of Septic Shock
Authors: Murata Joseph , Buckley Mitchell , Lehn Julie , Agarwal Sumit K. , Stevenson Byron , Martinez Brandon , MacLaren Robert
Published: March 2022

Introduction: Safe and effective vasopressor withdrawal strategies during the recovery phase of septic shock lack consensus and are not addressed in clinical practice guidelines. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of clinically relevant hypotension associated with different vasopressin (AVP) discontinuation strategies. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study, conducted at a university medical center over a three-year period. Adult patients ≥18 years with septic shock were included in the study. Patients were stratified into two groups; patients incrementally weaned from AVP and patients in which AVP was abruptly discontinued. The primary endpoint was to compare the incidence of clinically relevant hypotension between study groups up to 24 hours following discontinuation. Secondary analyses included the incidence of any hypotensive event up to 24 hours after AVP cessation, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, and in-hospital mortality. Results: A total of 74 patients (n = 46 AVP wean and n = 28 AVP no-wean) met inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The primary outcome was not statistically different between groups. Clinically relevant hypotension occurred in 24 patients (52.3%) and 16 patients (57.1%) in the AVP wean and AVP no-wean groups, respectively (P = .68). There were no significant differences in any secondary clinical outcome between the two study groups. Conclusion: No differences were found in the incidence of clinically relevant hypotension, length of stay, or mortality between AVP weaning and no-weaning discontinuation strategies. These findings suggest incremental weaning and abrupt withdrawal of AVP are both acceptable discontinuation strategies.
Workforce readiness for Industry 4.0 from the perspective of employers: Evidence from the Czech Republic
Authors: Olšanová Květa , Křenková Eva , Hnát Pavel , Vilikus Ondřej
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this paper is to explore to what extent industry representatives deem employees’ readiness as satisfactory for the implementation of Industry 4.0 elements, to determine how the availability of related positions in the market is perceived and, on that basis, to identify the implications for the education system in terms of structure and content. Mixed research of an exploratory sequential design was used. Analyses of in-depth semi-structured interviews ( n = 41) were carried out, followed by quantitative data collection ( N = 146) through survey items corresponding to formalized research questions. The findings revealed that the set of skills suggested by other researchers as key for implementing Industry 4.0 and ensuring future competitiveness was not recognized as currently necessary or missing by the respondents. Although the respondents appreciate the importance of personal characteristics like responsibility, loyalty, communication skills, and other soft skills, these characteristics and skills are often missing. Respondents from high-tech industries tend to perceive more significant gaps in STEM education and skills. Implications for the education system in terms of its content (STEM and soft skills) and structure (organization of technical education and lifelong learning) are suggested.
2PPaRR-2PPaRU: Design, analysis, and optimization of a new 3T1R parallel manipulator with rotational pitch motion
Authors: Zhang Xiaoshu , Wenxun Dong , Dai Li , Chen Jianneng , Zhao Xiong
Published: March 2022

A new 3T1R parallel manipulator (PM) 2PPaRR-2PPaRU with rotational pitch motion is proposed in this paper. In such a mechanism, there are four limbs connected to the moving platform (MP) through several revolute joints and universal joints, and all actuated joints are prismatic joints with an axis along a vertical direction. Mobility and motion characteristics are verified by constraint screw theory. The inverse kinematic solutions and the singularity configurations are derived through kinematic analysis. Next, the workspace analysis and the connection between [Formula: see text] and the volume of the reachable workspace are performed. The local motion/force transmission index is selected to evaluate the local transmission performance of 2PPaRR-2PPaRU PM. Finally, the global motion/force transmission index and the volume of reachable workspace are considered simultaneously to optimize the structural parameters. The 2PPaRR-2PPaRU PM with improved local transmission performance and reachable workspace has been achieved after optimization.
Numerical investigation and experimental verification of the proposed robot leg virtual model
Authors: Bakırcıoğlu Veli , Şen Muhammed Arif , Kalyoncu Mete
Published: March 2022

Modeling and simulation studies are significant in the early stages of the design process, since there is no prototype. For instance, dynamic systems such as control systems can be developed rapidly and effectively with the simulation studies. However, the validity of the results obtained from the simulation studies performed with the dynamic model should be verified before deepening the design studies. After all, the accuracy of the results of the performed simulations depends on the accuracy of the obtained model. In this paper, studies on the numerical analysis of the proposed leg model to be used in a quadruped robot, and experimental verification of the dynamic model obtained by this means are presented. In this context, a simulation model has been constructed by using the physical and mathematical model that includes all the major components of the proposed robot leg in order to evaluate the performances of different algorithms in the design studies. In order to evaluate the validity of the simulation model, a series of tests were carried out on the experimental setup and the obtained results were demonstrated both numerically and graphically. According to the obtained results, it was seen that the built simulation model was valid, and matched with the real system and its physical trends. Finally, after discussing the reliability and validity of the proposed robot leg experimental and simulation setup, low-level components affecting controller performance in hydraulically actuated robots are discussed and recommendations made.
Experimental investigation on mechanical behavior of fiber–metal laminates reinforced by hybrid carbon nanotubes and nanosilica under quasi-static pressure load
Authors: Saleh M. , Tooski M. Yarmohammad , Khorshidvand A. R. , Javadi M.
Published: March 2022

In this study, the effect of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and silica nanoparticles on quasi-static behavior of fiber–metal laminates (FML) has been experimentally scrutinized. FML consists of two layers of aluminum alloy plates and four composite layers including CNT/nanosilica-reinforced epoxy resin and glass fibers. The effect of weight percentage of carbon nanotube and nanosilica incorporated and their weight ratio in resin epoxy on the performance of FMLs against quasi-static compressive load has been considered. Furthermore, the design of experiments method and response surface methodology have been put into practice to develop an accurate mathematical relationship between the input parameters and the response variable. After designing and performing the experiments based on analysis of variance, a mathematical model corresponding to the real process is obtained. Moreover, the presented model has been validated by statistical methods. The results of this study indicate that the energy absorption capacity of these materials significantly increase through adding CNT to the FML, the highest failure force of 11.64 kN was obtained for FLMs comprising 0.6 wt.% of CNT and 3 wt.% of SiO2. An improvement of 27.88% and 45.86% in the absorbed energy and failure force was achieved, respectively, by adding 3 wt.% of SiO2 and 0.6 wt.% of CNT to FLM compared to pristine FLM.