bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving correlation accuracy of crashworthiness applications by combining the CORA and MADM methods
Authors: Bastien Christophe , Diederich Alexander , Christensen Jesper , Ghaleb Shahab
Published: December 2021

With the increasing use of Computer Aided Engineering, it has become vital to be able to evaluate the accuracy of numerical models. This research poses the problem of selection of the most accurate and relevant correlation solution to a set of corridor variations. Specific methods such as CORA, widely accepted in industry, are developed to objectively evaluate the correlation between monotonic functions, while the Minimum Area Discrepancy Method, or MADM, is the only method to address the correlation of non-injective mathematical variations, usually related to force/acceleration versus displacement problems. Often, it is not possible to differentiate objectively various solutions proposed by CORA, which this paper proposes to answer. This research is original, as it proposes a new innovative correlation optimisation framework, which can select the best CORA solution by including MADM as a subsequent process. The paper and the methods are rigorous, having used an industry standard driver airbag computer model, built virtual test corridors and compared the relationship between different CORA and MADM ratings from 100 Latin Hypercube samples. For the same CORA value of ‘1’ (perfect correlation), MADM was capable to objectively differentiate between 13 of them and provide the best correlation possible. The paper has recommended the MADM settings n = 1; m = 2 or n = 3; m = 2 for a congruent relationship with CORA. As MADM is performed subsequently, this new framework can be implemented in already existing industrial processes and provide automotive manufacturers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) with a new tool to generate more accurate computer models.
Flow Field and Heat Transfer of an Impinging Synthetic Jet in the Presence of Cross-Flow: Application of SAS and DES Approaches
Authors: Bazdidi–Tehrani Farzad , Saadniya Ali , Rashidzadeh Soroush
Published: December 2021

Nowadays, synthetic jets have various applications such as cooling enhancement and active flow control. In the present paper, the capability of two turbulence modelling approaches in predicting thermal performance of an impinging synthetic jet is investigated. These two approaches are scale adaptive simulation (SAS) and detached eddy simulation (DES). Comparisons between numerical data and experimental studies reveal that the ability of DES in predicting the asymmetrical trend of heat transfer profiles is better than SAS in almost all the study cases. Although, near the stagnation zone, the performance of SAS is superior. Results show that the effects of parameters such as frequency, cross-flow velocity and suction duty cycle factor are well predicted by both approaches. An increase of cross-flow velocity from 1.81 m/s to 2.26 m/s results in an improvement of [Formula: see text] near the stagnation point by almost 16.3% and 9.2% using DES and SAS, respectively.
Researching Posthumanizing Creativity: Expanding, Shifting, and Disrupting
Authors: Chappell Kerry
Published: December 2021

This article explores the affordances, challenges, and imperfections of researching “post”humanizing creativity, by offering two exemplars, sharing how we walk the talk, so to speak, as well as how we have been rewarded and challenged. This is all within the larger umbrella of exploring how a posthumanizing creative approach can expand pedagogical and methodological possibilities for educators, facilitators, environments, and other actants, and ultimately to see how this can disrupt established cultural and educational practice and research to address the challenges of the Anthropocene.
Frailty and In-Hospital Mortality Risk Using EHR Nursing Data
Authors: Lekan Deborah , McCoy Thomas P. , Jenkins Marjorie , Mohanty Somya , Manda Prashanti
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate four definitions of a Frailty Risk Score (FRS) derived from EHR data that includes combinations of biopsychosocial risk factors using nursing flowsheet data or International Classification of Disease, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes and blood biomarkers and its predictive properties for in-hospital mortality in adults ≥50 years admitted to medical-surgical units. Methods In this retrospective observational study and secondary analysis of an EHR dataset, survival analysis and Cox regression models were performed with sociodemographic and clinical covariates. Integrated area under the ROC curve (iAUC) across follow-up time based on Cox modeling was estimated. Results The 46,645 patients averaged 1.5 hospitalizations (SD = 1.1) over the study period and 63.3% were emergent admissions. The average age was 70.4 years (SD = 11.4), 55.3% were female, 73.0% were non-Hispanic White (73.0%), mean comorbidity score was 3.9 (SD = 2.9), 80.5% were taking 1.5 high risk medications, and 42% recorded polypharmacy. The best performing FRS-NF-26-LABS included nursing flowsheet data and blood biomarkers (Adj. HR = 1.30, 95% CI [1.28, 1.33]), with good accuracy (iAUC = .794); the reduced model with age, sex, and FRS only demonstrated similar accuracy. The poorest performance was the ICD-10 code-based FRS. Conclusion The FRS captures information about the patient that increases risk for in-hospital mortality not accounted for by other factors. Identification of frailty enables providers to enhance various aspects of care, including increased monitoring, applying more intensive, individualized resources, and initiating more informed discussions about treatments and discharge planning.
Nationwide data on home care and care home residence: presentation of the Swedish Social Service Register, its content and coverage
Authors: Meyer Anna C. , Sandström Glenn , Modig Karin
Published: December 2021

Aims:

All Swedish municipalities are legally obliged to provide publicly funded elder care to individuals in need. The Swedish Social Service Register collects data on such care. It is the only nationwide source of information on care home residency and use of home care but has rarely been used for research. This study aims to present the content and coverage of the Social Service Register and to provide guidance for researchers planning to use these data.

Methods:

For each month between 2013 and 2020, we examined which of Sweden’s 290 municipalities reported data to the Social Service Register. We calculated proportions of the population (restricted to ages 80–89 years to enable comparison) that were reported to the Social Service Register in each municipality and presented the types and amount of care recorded in the register.

Results:

The proportion of municipalities reporting to the Social Service Register increased from 82% to 98% during the study period but several municipalities reported fragmentarily and inconsistently, particularly during earlier years. Among municipalities reporting to the Social Service Register, 9% of the population aged 80–89 years resided in care homes and 19% received home care, but the registered amount and types of care varied substantially between municipalities and over time.

Conclusions:

The Swedish Social Service Register provides valuable data for research on aging and elder care utilisation, but data should be selected and vetted carefully, especially for earlier years. The amount and types of care may not always be comparable between geographical regions and different time periods. In recent years, however, the coverage of the Social Service Register is good.
Repair tables, broken vacuum cleaners and posters: Weaving new worlds together in response to breakdowns
Authors: Vandenabeele Joke , Decuypere Mathias
Published: December 2021

When people decide to gather and repair broken devices together, it seems obvious that repairers and visitors gain all kinds of instrumental competences (e.g. repair knowledge, skills, and attitudes) and that they can also experience deeply a transformative learning process about, for example, the need to keep planetary boundaries within the sustainable limits of life. In this article we approach the educational dimension of repair cafés differently and sketch the outlines of a minor public pedagogy. We analyze repair cafés as situated and entangled assemblages of both human and non-human actors; assemblages that are always very local and that need to be analyzed as specific, designated places—and times—where something is at stake. The central focus of this article is on substantiating this notion of a minor public pedagogy by offering a detailed analysis of the particular pedagogic moments that emerge in these encounters between humans and things. The navigational capacity of this public pedagogy is minor in nature as it doesn’t create clear signposts of where to go as humans. Instead, it engenders many moments of and propels humans into a sensory sensitivity for inhabiting the world in the here-and-now.
Equity in high school computer science: Beyond access
Authors: Bruno Paul , Lewis Colleen M
Published: December 2021

Little is known about the extent to which expansions of K-12 computer science (CS) have been equitable for students of different racial backgrounds and gender identities. Using longitudinal course-level data from all high schools in California between the 2003–2004 and 2018–2019 school years we find that 79% of high school students in California, including majorities of all racial groups, are enrolled in schools that offer CS, up from 45% in 2003. However, while male and female students are equally likely to attend schools that offer CS courses, CS courses represent a much smaller share of course enrollments for female students than for male students. Non-Asian students enroll in relatively few CS courses, and this is particularly true for Black, Hispanic, and Native American students. Race gaps in CS participation are to a substantial degree explicable in terms of access gaps, but gender gaps in CS participation are not. Different groups of students have access to CS teachers with similar observable qualifications, but CS teachers remain predominantly white and male. Consequently, white and male CS students are much more likely than other students to have same-race or same-gender instructors. Our findings and the implications we draw for practice will be of interest to administrators and policymakers who, over and above needing to ensure equitable access to CS courses for students, need to attend carefully to equity-related course participation and staffing considerations.
Functional Connectivity and Speech Entrainment Speech Entrainment Improves Connectivity Between Anterior and Posterior Cortical Speech Areas in Non-fluent Aphasia
Authors: Johnson Lisa , Yourganov Grigori , Basilakos Alexandra , Newman-Norlund Roger David , Thors Helga , Keator Lynsey , Rorden Chris , Bonilha Leonardo , Fridriksson Julius
Published: December 2021

Background

Speech entrainment (SE), the online mimicking of an audio-visual speech model, has been shown to increase speech fluency in individuals with non-fluent aphasia. One theory that may explain why SE improves speech output is that it synchronizes functional connectivity between anterior and posterior language regions to be more similar to that of neurotypical speakers.

Objectives

The present study tested this by measuring functional connectivity between 2 regions shown to be necessary for speech production, and their right hemisphere homologues, in 24 persons with aphasia compared to 20 controls during both free (spontaneous) speech and SE.

Methods

Regional functional connectivity in participants with aphasia were normalized to the control data. Two analyses were then carried out: (1) normalized functional connectivity was compared between persons with aphasia and controls during free speech and SE and (2) stepwise linear models with leave-one-out cross-validation including normed functional connectivity during both tasks and proportion damage to the left hemisphere as independent variables were created for each language score.

Results

Left anterior–posterior functional connectivity and left posterior to right anterior functional connectivity were significantly more similar to connectivity of the control group during SE compared to free speech. Additionally, connectivity during free speech was more associated with language measures than connectivity during SE.

Conclusions

Overall, these results suggest that SE promotes normalization of functional connectivity (i.e., return to patterns observed in neurotypical controls), which may explain why individuals with non-fluent aphasia produce more fluent speech during SE compared to spontaneous speech.
The power of love: The spiritual foundations of chaplaincy in Catholic universities – A framework for discussion
Authors: Torevell Dr David , McHugh Maria
Published: December 2021

This article delineates the foundational theological principles upon which a Catholic Higher Education chaplaincy devoted to the spiritual development of staff and students might rest. We claim that this is a key dimension of chaplaincy work. In a (post)modern culture where staff and students exhibit a range of beliefs or none, we offer a broad definition of spirituality not necessarily tied to religion and construct a framework which might appeal to a wide cross section of people attending Catholic Universities. It examines how the insights and guidance of two French Catholic writers, the 16th century priest St. Francis de Sales and the contemporary philosopher Jean-Luc Marion, offer a basis for understanding what constitutes a spiritual approach to life. We suggest that their emphases on the power of love, the heart, God’s glory, imago Dei and gift constitute a ground of hope and stable base from which spiritual progress might take place. We also outline how this template challenges the emphasis on autonomous agency at the centre of much educational discourse at the present time.
The Political Ecology of Death: Chinese Religion and The Affective Tensions of Secularised Burial Rituals in Singapore
Authors: Gao Quan , Woods Orlando , Kong Lily
Published: December 2021

This paper explores the political ecology of death and the affective tensions of secularised burial rituals in Singapore. Although scholars have recently acknowledged the roles of biopower and affect in shaping environmental politics, religion and death as socio-affective forces have not been substantively engaged with by political ecologists. We argue that death is inherently both a spiritual and ecological phenomenon, as it exposes not only the spiritual geographies that structure how people see the natural world, but also the affective tensions and struggles over what counts as a “proper” form of burial in relation to religion and nature. First, we demonstrate how the Singapore state utilises a politico-ecological discourse to secularise Chinese death rituals, such that the death can be separated from the transcendent spheres and incorporated into the environmental biopolitics. Second, we focus on how people's variegated affective inhabitations of religion and secularity condition the political ecology of death. In doing so, this paper foregrounds the roles of religion, secularity and affect in rethinking the “political” of political ecology.
Physiotherapists’ experiences of osteoarthritis guidelines in primary health care – an interview study
Authors: Åkesson Karin Sturesdotter , Sundén Anne , Hansson Eva Ekvall , Stigmar Kjerstin
Published: December 2021

Background

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease, globally. Guidelines recommend information, exercise and, if needed, weight reduction as core treatment. There is a gap between evidence-based recommended care for osteoarthritis and clinical practice. To increase compliance to guidelines, implementation was conducted. The aim of the study was to explore physiotherapists’ experiences of osteoarthritis guidelines and their experiences of implementation of the guidelines in primary health care in a region in southern Sweden.

Methods

Eighteen individual, semi-structured interviews with physiotherapists in primary health care were analysed with inductive qualitative content analysis.

Results

The analysis resulted in two categories and four subcategories. The physiotherapists were confident in their role as primary assessors for patients with osteoarthritis and the guidelines were aligned with their professional beliefs. The Supported Osteoarthritis Self-Management Programme, that is part of the guidelines, was found to be efficient for the patients. Even though the physiotherapists followed the guidelines they saw room for improvement since all patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis did not receive treatment according to the guidelines. Furthermore, the physiotherapists emphasised the need for management’s support and that guidelines should be easy to follow.

Conclusion

The physiotherapists believed in the guidelines and were confident in providing first line treatment to patients with osteoarthritis. However, information about the guidelines probably needs to be repeated to all health care providers and management. Data from a national quality register on osteoarthritis could be used to a greater extent in daily clinical work in primary health care to improve quality of care for patients with osteoarthritis.
Giant compressive emphysema: a rare complication of COVID-19
Authors: Rakotoson Julien , Andriamamonjisoa Johary Andriamizaka , Andriamihary Mandimbisoa Noely Oberlin , Ratsimbazafy Solohery Jean Noël , Randrianarimalala Roger Dominique , Rakotoarivelo Rivo Andry , Ralandison Stéphane
Published: December 2021

Background

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new ribonucleic acid (RNA) beta-coronavirus, responsible for a worldwide pandemic. Very few cases of SARS-COV-2-related emphysema have been described, except among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The thoracic CT scan is the key examination for the diagnosis and allows to evaluate the severity of the pulmonary involvement. The prognosis of the patient with giant emphysema (GE) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in critical or severe form remains poor. We report an original case of COVID-19 pneumonia, critical form, complicated by a giant compressive left emphysema of 22.4 cm in a young subject without respiratory comorbidities.

Case presentation

A 34-year-old man was hospitalized for left laterothoracic pain. He had no prior medical history. The physical examination revealed tympany on percussion of the left lung. The CT scan confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia with 95% lung involvement. Also, the presence of a voluminous left sub pleural emphysema of 22.4 cm with compression of the ipsilateral pulmonary parenchyma as well as the mediastinal structures towards the right side. The diagnosis COVID-19 pneumonia, critical form, complicated by a compressive left giant emphysema was made. He was put on oxygen, a dual antibiotic therapy, a corticotherapy, and curative doses of enoxaparin. A thoracic drainage surgery was performed at 24th day of hospitalization, which confirmed the giant emphysema. The patient remains on long-term oxygen therapy.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 has polymorphic manifestations, pneumonia is the most important one. There are relatively few reports associating COVID-19 and emphysema; furthermore, reports associating COVID-19 and giant emphysema are extremely scarce. CT scans can confirm the diagnosis and differentiate it from a pneumothorax. The pulmonary prognosis of the association of COVID-19 in its severe or critical form with giant emphysema remains poor.
Development of an observational - perceptual heat strain risk assessment (OPHSRA) index and its validation
Authors: Yazdanirad Saeid , Foroushani Abbas Rahimi , Monazzam Mohammad Reza , Dehghan Habibollah , Golbabaei Farideh
Published: December 2021

Background

The thermal strain can be measured using subjective methods without the use of sensitive equipment. The purpose of the present study was the development and validation of an observational - perceptual heat strain risk assessment (OPHSRA) method.

Methods

This cross-sectional study, in 2019, was performed. At first, an observational-perceptual questionnaire was designed using effective items in producing heat strain. Then, the reliability and validity of the questionnaire were examined. Later, 201 male workers were asked to perform the routine tasks for 90 min under various climatic conditions after resting in a cool room. At the end of the activity, the tympanic temperature of the subjects was accurately measured. Also, the designed questionnaire was completed by researchers and participants. Then, the effect coefficients of the items were calculated and used for developing the novel index. At final, the index validity was investigated.

Results

The values of the content validity ratio (CVR), content validity index (CVI), and Cronbach’s coefficient alpha (α) of the designed questionnaire with 16 questions were equal to 0.793, 0.913, and 0.910, respectively. The results indicated that environmental, job, administrative, and clothing items assessed by the questionnaire with the coefficients of 0.860, 0.658, 0.783, and 0.566 had significant effects on the thermal strain, respectively. These coefficients were exploited to develop the index. The result revealed that the OPHSRA index justified 69% of the variations of the tympanic temperature (R2 = 0.69).

Conclusion

The novel index developed by the questionnaire had an acceptable validity. Therefore, this index can be used for estimating the risk of thermal strain in a variety of thermal conditions.
Serial transverse enteroplasty and nipple valve construction, two life saving techniques for patients with short bowel syndrome, a report of 5 cases
Authors: Shafiekhani Mojtaba , Azadeh Nazanin , Ashrafzadeh Kiarash , Esmaeili Maryam , Nikoupour Hamed
Published: December 2021

Background

Various abdominal pathologies end up with surgical resection of small intestine. When the small intestine remnant is too short for adequate fluid and micronutrients absorption, short bowel syndrome is diagnosed. The disabling condition needs a multidisciplinary approach to design parenteral nutrition, care for thrombotic, hepatic and infectious complications and gradually wean the patient from parenteral nutrition. Various surgical techniques have been introduced to increase absorptive mucosa and enhance the intestinal adaptation process. Serial transverse enteroplasty and nipple valve reconstruction are among the procedures, which will be discussed in the current article.

Case presentation

Herein, we presented 5 cases of short bowel syndrome as a consequence of abdominal laparotomies, patients were referred to our center to receive parenteral nutrition and to be prepared for the final autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction or intestinal transplantation, if indicated.

Conclusion

Patient’s age, performance status and bowel remnant length determines the appropriate technique for autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction. Serial transverse enteroplasty is designed to increase bowel’s length by creating zigzag patterns through dilated bowel loops. Presence of ileocecal valve is crucial to delay intestinal transit time and to prevent colonic bacterial transfer to ileum. Patient’s with ileocecal valve loss benefit from creating an artificial valve, namely, nipple valve.
Paradoxical sex-specific patterns of autoantibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Liu Yunxian , Ebinger Joseph E. , Mostafa Rowann , Budde Petra , Gajewski Jana , Walker Brian , Joung Sandy , Wu Min , Bräutigam Manuel , Hesping Franziska , Rupieper Elena , Schubert Ann-Sophie , Zucht Hans-Dieter , Braun Jonathan , Melmed Gil Y. , Sobhani Kimia , Arditi Moshe , Van Eyk Jennifer E. , Cheng Susan , Fert-Bober Justyna
Published: December 2021

Background

Pronounced sex differences in the susceptibility and response to SARS-CoV-2 infection remain poorly understood. Emerging evidence has highlighted the potential importance of autoimmune activation in modulating the acute response and recovery trajectories following SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Given that immune-inflammatory activity can be sex-biased in the setting of severe COVID-19 illness, the aim of the study was to examine sex-specific autoimmune reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 in the absence of extreme clinical disease.

Methods

In this study, we assessed autoantibody (AAB) reactivity to 91 autoantigens previously linked to a range of classic autoimmune diseases in a cohort of 177 participants (65% women, 35% men, mean age of 35) with confirmed evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection based on presence of antibody to the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2. Data were compared to 53 pre-pandemic healthy controls (49% women, 51% men). For each participant, socio-demographic data, serological analyses, SARS-CoV-2 infection status and COVID-19 related symptoms were collected by  an electronic survey of questions. The symptoms burden score was constructed based on the total number of reported symptoms (N = 21) experienced within 6 months prior to the blood draw, wherein a greater number of symptoms corresponded to a higher score and assigned as more severe burden.

Results

In multivariable analyses, we observed sex-specific patterns of autoreactivity associated with the presence or absence (as well as timing and clustering of symptoms) associated with prior COVID-19 illness. Whereas the overall AAB response was more prominent in women following asymptomatic infection, the breadth and extent of AAB reactivity was more prominent in men following at least mildly symptomatic infection. Notably, the observed reactivity included distinct antigens with molecular homology with SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusion

Our results reveal that prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, even in the absence of severe clinical disease, can lead to a broad AAB response that exhibits sex-specific patterns of prevalence and antigen selectivity. Further understanding of the nature of triggered AAB activation among men and women exposed to SARS-CoV-2 will be essential for developing effective interventions against immune-mediated sequelae of COVID-19.
Fatigue and recovery have different effects on knee biomechanics of drop vertical jump between female collegiate and recreational athletes
Authors: Harato Kengo , Morishige Yutaro , Niki Yasuo , Kobayashi Shu , Nagura Takeo
Published: December 2021

Background

Although fatigue is known as one of the risk factors for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury, the effects of fatigue and recovery can be different based on the level of competition. However, it is unknown whether female recreational athletes are susceptible to fatigue or not, compared to female collegiate athletes with greater physical activity. The purpose of the present study was to examine and clarify the effects of fatigue and recovery on knee biomechanics of the drop vertical jump (DVJ) in female recreational athletes compared to female collegiate athletes.

Methods

Fifteen female collegiate athletes and ten female recreational athletes were enrolled in the current study. All subjects were basketball players and Tegner activity scales were level 9 and 7, respectively. They performed DVJ before and after the fatigue protocol. Three-dimensional knee kinematics and kinetics were collected during landing phase of DVJ. The data after the fatigue protocol (first, second, and third DVJs) were compared with those before the protocol using one-way repeated measures of analysis of variance in each group.

Results

Fatigue caused significant increase of knee abduction angle at initial contact (IC) and peak abduction moments within 40 ms from IC in female recreational athletes, whereas no increases of these parameters were observed in female collegiate athletes. Moreover, recovery from fatigue seemed to be more slowly in female recreational athletes than in female collegiate athletes as smaller knee flexion moment was observed even in post-fatigue third DVJ only for female recreational athletes.

Conclusions

Effects of fatigue on DVJ were significantly greater and continued for a longer duration in female recreational athletes compared to female collegiate athletes.
The effect of passive mobilization associated with blood flow restriction and combined with electrical stimulation on cardiorespiratory safety, neuromuscular adaptations, physical function, and quality of life in comatose patients in an ICU: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: de Campos Biazon Thaís Marina Pires , Libardi Cleiton Augusto , Junior Jose Carlos Bonjorno , Caruso Flávia Rossi , da Silva Destro Tamara Rodrigues , Molina Naiara Garcia , Borghi-Silva Audrey , Mendes Renata Gonçalves
Published: December 2021

Background

Intensive care unit-acquired atrophy and weakness are associated with high mortality, a reduction in physical function, and quality of life. Passive mobilization (PM) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation were applied in comatose patients; however, evidence is inconclusive regarding atrophy and weakness prevention. Blood flow restriction (BFR) associated with PM (BFRp) or with electrical stimulation (BFRpE) was able to reduce atrophy and increase muscle mass in spinal cord-injured patients, respectively. Bulky venous return occurs after releasing BFR, which can cause unknown repercussions on the cardiovascular system. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of BFRp and BFRpE on cardiovascular safety and applicability, neuromuscular adaptations, physical function, and quality of life in comatose patients in intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods

Thirty-nine patients will be assessed at baseline (T0–18 h of coma) and randomly assigned to the PM (control group), BFRp, or BFRpE groups. The training protocol will be applied in both legs alternately, twice a day with a 4-h interval until coma awake, death, or ICU discharge. Cardiovascular safety and applicability will be evaluated at the first training session (T1). At T0 and 12 h after the last session (T2), muscle thickness and quality will be assessed. Global muscle strength and physical function will be assessed 12 h after T2 and ICU and hospital discharge for those who wake up from coma. Six and 12 months after hospital discharge, physical function and quality of life will be re-assessed.

Discussion

In view of applicability, the data will be used to inform the design and sample size of a prospective trial to clarify the effect of BFRpE on preventing muscle atrophy and weakness and to exert the greatest beneficial effects on physical function and quality of life compared to BFRp in comatose patients in the ICU.

Trial registration

Universal Trial Number (UTN) Registry UTN U1111-1241-4344. Retrospectively registered on 2 October 2019. Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBec) RBR-2qpyxf. Retrospectively registered on 21 January 2020, http://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-2qpyxf/
The deuce-ace of Lassa Fever, Ebola virus disease and COVID-19 simultaneous infections and epidemics in West Africa: clinical and public health implications
Authors: Nnaji Nnabueze Darlington , Onyeaka Helen , Reuben Rine Christopher , Uwishema Olivier , Olovo Chinasa Valerie , Anyogu Amarachukwu
Published: December 2021

Globally, the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented clinical and public health concerns with increasing morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, the burden of COVID-19 in Africa has been further exacerbated by the simultaneous epidemics of Ebola virus disease (EVD) and Lassa Fever (LF) which has created a huge burden on African healthcare systems. As Africa struggles to contain the spread of the second (and third) waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of reported cases of LF is also increasing, and recently, new outbreaks of EVD. Before the pandemic, many of Africa’s frail healthcare systems were already overburdened due to resource limitations in staffing and infrastructure, and also, multiple endemic tropical diseases. However, the shared epidemiological and pathophysiological features of COVID-19, EVD and LF as well their simultaneous occurrence in Africa may result in misdiagnosis at the onset of infection, an increased possibility of co-infection, and rapid and silent community spread of the virus(es). Other challenges include high population mobility across porous borders, risk of human-to-animal transmission and reverse zoonotic spread, and other public health concerns. This review highlights some major clinical and public health challenges toward responses to the COVID-19 pandemic amidst the deuce-ace of recurrent LF and EVD epidemics in Africa. Applying the One Health approach in infectious disease surveillance and preparedness is essential in mitigating emerging and re-emerging (co-)epidemics in Africa and beyond.
Removing the stability limit of the time-space domain explicit finite-difference schemes for acoustic modeling with stability condition-based spatial operators
Authors: Liu Yang
Published: December 2021

The time step and grid spacing in explicit finite-difference (FD) modeling are constrained by the Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy (CFL) condition. Recently, it has been found that the spatial FD coefficients may be designed through simultaneously minimizing the spatial dispersion error and maximizing the CFL number. This allows one to stably use a larger time step or a smaller grid spacing than usually possible. However, when using such a method, only second-order temporal accuracy is achieved. To address this issue, I propose a new method to determine the spatial FD coefficients, which simultaneously satisfy the stability condition of the whole wavenumber range and the time-space domain dispersion relation of a given wavenumber range. Therefore, stable modeling can be performed with high-order spatial and temporal accuracy. The coefficients can adapt to the variation of velocity in heterogeneous models. In addition, based on the hybrid absorbing boundary condition, I develop a strategy to stably and effectively suppress artificial reflections from the model boundaries for large CFL numbers. Stability analysis, accuracy analysis, and numerical modeling demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of my proposed method.
Evidence From Men for Ovary-independent Effects of Genetic Risk Factors for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Zhu Jia , Pujol-Gualdo Natàlia , Wittemans Laura B L , Lindgren Cecilia M , Laisk Triin , Hirschhorn Joel N , Chan Yee-Ming
Published: December 2021

Context

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by ovulatory dysfunction and hyperandrogenism and can be associated with cardiometabolic dysfunction, but it remains unclear which of these features are inciting causes and which are secondary consequences.

Objective

To determine whether ovarian function is necessary for genetic risk factors for PCOS to produce nonreproductive phenotypes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Cohort of 176 360 men in the UK Biobank and replication cohort of 37 348 men in the Estonian Biobank.

Main Outcome Measures

We calculated individual PCOS polygenic risk scores (PRS), tested for association of these PRS with PCOS-related phenotypes using linear and logistic regression and performed mediation analysis.

Results

For every 1 SD increase in the PCOS PRS, men had increased odds of obesity (odds ratio [OR]: 1.09; 95% CI, 1.08-1.10; P = 1 × 10-49), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (OR: 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.10; P = 3 × 10-12), coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR: 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04; P = 0.0029), and marked androgenic alopecia (OR: 1.03; 95% CI, 1.02-1.05; P = 3 × 10-5). Body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c, triglycerides, and free androgen index increased as the PRS increased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and SHBG decreased (all P < .0001). The association between the PRS and CAD appeared to be completely mediated by BMI, whereas the associations with T2DM and marked androgenic alopecia appeared to be partially mediated by BMI.

Conclusions

Genetic risk factors for PCOS have phenotypic consequences in men, indicating that they can act independently of ovarian function. Thus, PCOS in women may not always be a primary disorder of the ovaries.
Slow Debt, Deep Recessions
Authors: Jungherr Joachim , Schott Immo
Published: December 2021

Business credit lags GDP growth by about one year. This contributes to high leverage during recessions and slow deleveraging. We show that a model in which firms use risky long-term debt replicates this slow adjustment of firm debt. In the model, slow-moving debt has important effects for real activity. High levels of firm debt issued during expansions are only gradually reduced during recessions. This generates an adverse feedback loop between high default rates and low investment and thereby amplifies the downturn. Sluggish deleveraging slows down the recovery. (JEL E23, E32, E44, G31, G32)
Spinoza’s Conatus: A Teleological Reading of Its Ethical Dimension
Authors: Aksoy Neşe
Published: December 2021

In this article I examine how the teleological reading of Spinoza’s conatus shapes the ethical trajectory of his philosophy. I first introduce the Spinozistic criticism of teleology and argue contra many critics that Spinoza has a mild approach to human teleology. On the basis of this idea, I develop the claim that conatus is a teleological element pertaining to human nature. From the teleological reading of conatus, I draw the conclusion that Spinozistic ethics is inclusive of objective, humanistic, and essentialist elements. In this sense, this paper emerges to be a challenge against the anti-teleological reading of conatus that is predominantly related to the subjectivistic, anti-humanistic, and non-essentialist interpretation of Spinoza’s ethics. It mainly situates Spinoza in a traditionally teleological context where the human conatus is seen as an act of pursuing objective and essential moral ends that is distinctive to human nature.
El contexto metodológico de la figura del estudiantado colaborador en las prácticas de las asignaturas jurídicas y sociales.
Authors: Giménez Murugarren María Pilar
Published: December 2021

En este artículo se presentan los resultados de un estudio realizado durante el curso académico 2017/2018 en la Facultad de Estudios Sociales y del Trabajo, de la Universidad de Málaga, basado en un proyecto educativo enmarcado en el aprendizaje cooperativo, mediante la colaboración del estudiantado de cursos superiores en colaboración en las prácticas de asignaturas asumiendo el rol de tutorización entre pares. El objeto de este estudio es el de analizar la figura del estudiantado tutor en el desarrollo de dicha experiencia innovadora en la asignatura de Derecho del Trabajo y de la Seguridad Social II. La recogida de información se ha realizado mediante la observación ecológica no participante y la entrevista en profundidad semiestructurada de una muestra conformada por nueve alumnos y alumnas, de un total de cuarenta y ocho que componen el grupo de clase grande, el docente responsable y la estudiante tutora colaboradora. El proceso metodológico permitió interpretar la realidad emergiendo en su análisis cuatro categorías, cuyos resultados indican altos niveles de satisfacción con relación a esta práctica cooperativa entre iguales, que permite concluir la notable aportación de la figura del estudiantado tutor en el rendimiento del alumnado y en su compromiso con la comunidad universitaria.
LiLa – methodisches Portal für Didaktisierung von authentischen Texten im DaF-Unterricht
Authors: Pytlík Petr , Veličková Jana , Štilec Vojtěch
Published: December 2021

LILA – THE METHODOLOGICAL PORTAL FOR WORK WITH AUTHENTIC TEXTS IN GERMAN CLASSES The cultural and scientific concept of linguistic landscapes is not used strictly in cultural and scientific disciplines anymore. Recently, several publications have appeared on theoretical foundations for the use of authentic and public texts in foreign language teaching, as well as on practical designs and their advantages for foreign language and cultural education. This article introduces the project „LiLa“ which develops on these latest trends and tries to transform them into practical teaching materials.
Selected Aspects of Crisis Management with the Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) on the Example of a Traffic Disaster
Authors: Jaszczur Wiesław , Łukasik Szymon
Published: December 2021

Purpose: The theoretical aim of this study was to present the impact of modern technologies on the improvement of the effectiveness of process activ- ities (documenting) at the site of a communication disaster. On the other hand, the utilitarian goal was to present the improvement of the organization of documenting a mass incident with the use of drones and photogrammetry tools. Design and methods: As part of the exercise consisting of a simulation of a communication disaster, the activities were documented using the func - tionality of unmanned aerial vehicles which interact with an IT system (Pix4D application). The characteristic drone models which can be used in the monitoring of a disaster site were presented. The discussed research approach describes the methods used to perform drone flights and to what extent the photogrammetric method of processing digital images obtained from drones was used. The issue of field measurements (control points, control lines), the purpose of which was to determine the accuracy of mapping and matching to the coordinate system, was discussed. Results: As part of the research, images were captured and taken with the use of UAVs and IT systems, which were collated and compared with the results of measurements from the visual inspection of the disaster site, performed in a traditional manner by the representatives of the procedural entity. A comparative analysis of the collected research material leading to a comparison of the work results captured by means of the traditional procedural forms with the methods and techniques of modern technologies (drone with the Pix4D Cloud application) allows for the following conclusions to be drawn. For short measuring sections (up to 15 meters), the measurement accuracy of the two methods differs by about 1.5%. For longer measuring sections (up to 100 m), the measurement error is approx. 2.3%. Conclusions: In case of the UAV method and the application Pix4D Cloud, the sources of measurement errors should be seen in the accuracy of rendering of the details of the model (the quality of imaging) and the ability to use this application. On the other hand, when using the police method, in which the measurement trolley is the measuring tool, the sources of error should be seen in the uneven terrain, the obstacles in the terrain, and the measurement error of the tool itself (the trolley). The innovation of the project to use UAVs certainly gains importance especially in a terrain with limited accessibility, i.e. in hilly and mountainous terrain, at road intersections or forks. Keywords: communication disaster, modern technologies, crisis management Article type: preliminary report
Analyzing Approximate Value Iteration Algorithms
Authors: Ramaswamy Arunselvan , Bhatnagar Shalabh
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we consider the stochastic iterative counterpart of the value iteration scheme wherein only noisy and possibly biased approximations of the Bellman operator are available. We call this counterpart the approximate value iteration (AVI) scheme. Neural networks are often used as function approximators, in order to counter Bellman’s curse of dimensionality. In this paper, they are used to approximate the Bellman operator. Because neural networks are typically trained using sample data, errors and biases may be introduced. The design of AVI accounts for implementations with biased approximations of the Bellman operator and sampling errors. We present verifiable sufficient conditions under which AVI is stable (almost surely bounded) and converges to a fixed point of the approximate Bellman operator. To ensure the stability of AVI, we present three different yet related sets of sufficient conditions that are based on the existence of an appropriate Lyapunov function. These Lyapunov function–based conditions are easily verifiable and new to the literature. The verifiability is enhanced by the fact that a recipe for the construction of the necessary Lyapunov function is also provided. We also show that the stability analysis of AVI can be readily extended to the general case of set-valued stochastic approximations. Finally, we show that AVI can also be used in more general circumstances, that is, for finding fixed points of contractive set-valued maps.
Alternative Futures for the Digital Transformation: A Macro-Level Schumpeterian Perspective
Authors: Bodrožić Zlatko , S. Adler Paul
Published: December 2021

This paper develops and deploys a theoretical framework for assessing the prospects of a cluster of technologies driving what is often called the digital transformation. There is considerable uncertainty regarding this transformation’s future trajectory, and to understand and bound that uncertainty, we build on Schumpeter’s macro-level theory of economy-wide, technological revolutions and on the work of several scholars who have extended that theory. In this perspective, such revolutions’ trajectories are shaped primarily by the interaction of changes within and between three spheres—technology, organization, and public policy. We enrich this account by identifying the critical problems and the collective choices among competing solutions to those problems that together shape the trajectory of each revolution. We argue that the digital transformation represents a new phase in the wider arc of the information and communication technology revolution—a phase promising much wider deployment—and that the trajectory of this deployment depends on collective choices to be made in the organization and public policy spheres. Combining in a 2 × 2 matrix the two main alternative solutions on offer in each of these two spheres, we identify four scenarios for the future trajectory of the digital transformation: digital authoritarianism, digital oligarchy, digital localism, and digital democracy. We discuss how these scenarios can help us trace and understand the future trajectory of the digital transformation.
Insulin for diabetes: 100 years of therapy
Authors: Jennings Peter , Stewart Martha
Published: December 2021

This month is the 100th anniversary of insulin use in humans. Peter Jennings and Martha Stewart provide an overview of how this advancement improved care for people living with diabetes

January 2022 marks 100 years since insulin was first successfully used to treat diabetes in humans. Everyone with type 1 diabetes – except those who have received pancreas or islet-cell transplants – and more than half of people with type 2 diabetes use insulin to manage their diabetes. Instead of being seen as a death sentence, type 1 diabetes is now seen as a long-term condition that can be self-managed for people with access to insulin and glucose monitoring technology. However, many people living with diabetes around the world are still unable to access affordable insulin, technologies and the support needed to self-manage their diabetes.
Families of graphs with twin pendent paths and the Braess edge
Authors: Kim Sooyeong
Published: December 2021

In the context of a random walk on an undirected graph, Kemeny's constant can measure the average travel time for a random walk between two randomly chosen vertices. We are interested in graphs that behave counter-intuitively in regard to Kemeny's constant: in particular, we examine graphs with a cut-vertex at which at least two branches are paths, regarding whether the insertion of a particular edge into a graph results in an increase of Kemeny's constant. We provide several tools for identifying such an edge in a family of graphs and for analysing asymptotic behaviour of the family regarding the tendency to have that edge; and classes of particular graphs are given as examples. Furthermore, asymptotic behaviours of families of trees are described.