bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visualizing a Drug Abuse Epidemic: Media Coverage, Opioids, and the Racialized Construction of Public Health Frameworks
Authors: Welhausen Candice A.
Published: October 2022

In technical and professional communication, the social justice turn calls on us to interrogate sites of positionality, privilege, and power to help foreground strategies that can empower marginalized groups. I propose that mainstream media coverage of the opioid epidemic represents such a site because addiction to these drugs, which initially primarily affected White people, has been positioned as a public health issue rather than a criminal justice problem. I explore the strategies that were used to create this positioning by investigating themes in the visual rhetoric as conveyed through data visualizations and in the text of the articles in which these graphics were published. My results align with two previous studies that confirmed this public health framing. I also observed an emphasis on mortality, which contributes to our understanding of rhetorical strategies that can be used to engender support rather than condemnation for those suffering from drug addiction.
Cigarette Smoking Cessation Counselling in Pregnant Smokers with Mental Illness/Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Salameh Taghreed N. , Hall Lynne A. , Hall Martin T.
Published: October 2022

Our objective was to determine if past-year mental illness and substance use disorders (SUD) among pregnant smokers predicted the probability of receipt of counselling for cigarette smoking cessation. A secondary analysis of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2016–2019 was conducted. We found that approximately 83% of pregnant smokers ( N = 373) received screening for cigarette smoking, and 65% received cessation counselling. Having mental illness predicted the probability of receipt of counselling for smoking cessation in pregnant smokers (adjusted odds ratio [ AOR]: 3.75; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.25–11.27). However, having SUD (alcohol [ AOR: 2.30; 95%CI: 0.57–9.26] or illicit drug use [ AOR: 1.32; 95%CI: 0.26–6.82]) or comorbid mental illness and SUD ( AOR: 0.23; 95%CI: 0.03–2.03) was not associated with receipt of counselling for smoking cessation. Practice guidelines and policy initiatives are needed to reduce cigarette use and its related adverse health outcomes in pregnant smokers with SUD.
Towards a Definition of Hate Speech—With a Focus on Online Contexts
Authors: Hietanen Mika , Eddebo Johan
Published: October 2022

As legislators and platforms tackle the challenge of suppressing hate speech online, questions about its definition remain unresolved. In this review we discuss three issues: What are the main challenges encountered when defining hate speech? What alternatives are there for the definition of hate speech? What is the relationship between the nature and scope of the definition and its operationability? By tracing both efforts to regulate and to define hate speech in legal, paralegal, and tech platform contexts, we arrive at four possible modes of definition: teleological, pure consequentialist, formal, and consensus or relativist definitions. We suggest the need for a definition where hate speech encompasses those speech acts that tend towards certain ethically proscribed ends, which are destructive in terms of their consequences, and express certain ideas that are transgressions of specific ethical norms.

[Media: see text]
Childhood anaemia levels among under-5 children in Namibia and their associated sociodemographic factors: A multivariate ordinal modelling approach
Authors: Oyedele Opeoluwa
Published: October 2022

Background

Anaemia is a serious global public health problem with high prevalence (>40%) in children particularly in low- and middle-income countries including Namibia with a current 46.1% prevalence rate.

Aim

This study was aimed at examining the sociodemographic factors influencing the occurrence of childhood anaemia levels in Namibia.

Method

A multivariate ordinal regression model was applied to statistically identify potential sociodemographic factors associated with anaemia levels among children under-5 years old using data collected from the 2013 NDHS.

Results

The odds of having mild anaemia level was lower for sociodemographic characteristics such as mother's age, total children ever born, health insurance coverage, child's residency, child's age and main language spoken at home. The odds of having moderate anaemia level was higher for characteristics such as mother's age, place of residence, highest education level and child's diarrhoea status, while it was lower for characteristics such as age of head of household, total children ever born, health insurance coverage and sex of child. Similarly, the odds of having severe anaemia level was higher for characteristics such as region, place of residence, highest education level, number of household members, wealth index, health insurance coverage, child's residency and child's diarrhoea status, while it was lower for characteristics such as total children ever born and sex of child.

Conclusion

It is therefore recommended that the policies and practices concerning anaemia diagnosis, treatment and prevention in the country be substantially revised by policy-makers, starting with the known prevalent causes and identified sociodemographic factors from this study.
Role of Japanese schools for the blind in the era of inclusion
Authors: Miyauchi Hisae , Matsuda Erika
Published: October 2022

This study investigated the different activities and distinctive roles undertaken by the 67 schools for the blind across Japan. A qualitative content analysis based on primary sources, including annual reports published by the Association of Principals of Schools for the Blind from 2011 to 2020 was conducted. From the identified activities, two themes: “activities targeted to individuals with visual impairment” and “activities targeted to environment of individuals with visual impairment,” with nine total categories emerged. Several findings of this study corroborated those from previous research. However, this research elucidates how Japanese schools for the blind approach crucial elements needed in ensuring equal access to education and social participation for all students with visual impairment (VI) including those in mainstream classrooms. The findings highlight the complexity of the debate surrounding segregated schools in this era of inclusion and calls on policy makers and school administrators to adopt a more nuanced understanding of the roles these schools play in supporting inclusive education.
The Betz limit and the corresponding thermodynamic limit
Authors: Coelho Paulo
Published: October 2022

The Betz’s limit for the maximum efficiency of an ideal wind turbine imposes a maximum value of about 60% on the conversion of the kinetic energy of an airflow into work. In this paper, we analyze the reason for this value because, from a thermodynamic point of view, it can be 100%. The present work explains the reason for this difference, since it appears to be relevant from a didactic point of view. However, from a practical point of view, the Betz’s limit does not affect in any way the more useful and widespread expression for calculating the ideal maximum power of a wind turbine, which is at the origin of the referred limit. Complementarily, two approaches for the calculation of the theoretical maximum efficiency, in line with thermodynamics, are also presented in this work.
A Community of Scholars for the Church's Teaching Ministry: A Vision for Flourishing at SPCE's 50th Anniversary
Authors: Trentham John David
Published: October 2022

This article was originally composed and delivered as the Presidential Address at the annual meeting of the Society of Professors in Christian Education (SPCE), which convened in Dallas, Texas on October 14–16, 2021. This meeting marked the fiftieth anniversary of the Society's incorporation. A list of “ten ideals for a flourishing community of scholars devoted to the church's teaching ministry” is presented. Two appendices are included that contain historical information about the organization's leadership and honored luminaries.
Intimate Partner Violence-Related Emergency Department and Hospital Visits in California Following the ICD-10-CM Transition, 2016–2018
Authors: Adhia Avanti , Rebbe Rebecca , Lane Eastman Andrea , Foust Regan , Putnam-Hornstein Emily
Published: October 2022

With the transition to the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM), additional research is needed to understand which diagnostic codes for intimate partner violence (IPV) are being used. The current study examined characteristics of IPV visits and frequency of diagnostic codes to identify IPV in all emergency department (ED) and inpatient hospital visits for adults in California from 2016–2018, after ICD-10-CM implementation. Five ICD-10-CM codes outlined in the Uniform Data System Reporting Instructions were used to identify IPV. Fewer than 0.1% of visits (17,347 ED visits and 1,430 hospitalizations) included documentation of IPV. Visits with documented IPV were more common among patients who were younger, female, Black, primarily English-speaking, and publicly insured compared to visits with no documented IPV. There were fairly consistent patterns over time in the specific ICD-10-CM codes used for IPV between 2016 and 2018. Physical and sexual abuse were the most common codes for types of abuse. Among the 15 EDs and 15 hospitals in California with the highest volume of IPV visits, there was variability in the use of ICD-10-CM codes for IPV visits. Accurate documentation of IPV in administrative data may improve patient care and increase understanding of the burden and effects of IPV on individuals and communities.
Midwife-Led Continuity of Antenatal Care and Breastfeeding Duration Beyond Postpartum Hospital Discharge: A Systematic Review
Authors: Shipton Emma V. , Callaway Leonie , Foxcroft Katie , Lee Nigel , de Jersey Susan J.
Published: October 2022

Background:

The World Health Organization recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life and that breastfeeding should continue for 2 years and beyond. Most women initiate breastfeeding, but many do not continue for the recommended duration. While midwife-led continuity of antenatal care is linked to improved mother and infant outcomes, the influence on breastfeeding duration has not been previously reviewed.

Research Aim:

To critically analyze the literature that compared midwife-led continuity of antenatal care with other models of care where researchers have measured breastfeeding duration beyond postpartum hospital discharge.

Methods:

A systematic literature review with critical analysis was used to answer the research aim. We systematically searched and screened five databases for quantitative studies where researchers had reported breastfeeding duration beyond postpartum hospital discharge after midwife-led continuity of antenatal care, compared with another model of antenatal care. Methodological quality was assessed using tools from the Cochrane Collaboration (RoB2 and ROBINS-I). In total, nine studies met the inclusion criteria.

Results:

Clear conclusions about the association between midwife-led continuity of antenatal care and breastfeeding duration were not found. The risk of bias within non-randomized studies ranged from serious to critical, and a judgement of “some concerns” of risk of bias in the one randomized study.

Conclusion:

To date, the question of whether midwife-led continuity of antenatal care improves breastfeeding duration has not been established. There has been a lack of consistency in definitions of breastfeeding and descriptions of models of care, which has weakened the evidence-based of literature reviewed. Our review protocol was registered with PROSPERO; although due to COVID-19, this registration was not checked for eligibility by the PROSPERO team (CRD42020151276). https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020151276
The evolution of consensus through coordinated action
Authors: Joshi Ishan
Published: October 2022

Little is known about how the scope for deliberation can be compared across different branches of government. Two things need to happen for a consensus to emerge in a particular setting. Crucially, parties must coordinate to facilitate such provisions in the first place. Second, the quality of this coordination must be able to override the other biases of the environment in the long run. A parsimonious framework presents the necessary and sufficient conditions for both of these to happen across different settings—legislatures, bureaucracies, and judiciaries. Complicating matters are intra-group factions that have heterogeneous preferences. Interestingly, even if we assume factions that do not want to compromise outnumber those that do, it is the former that take the lead in solving the coordination problem in equilibrium. A related finding suggested by these comparisons is that as institutional environments become more complex—and move away from purely representative functions—the scope for generating this consensus is enhanced.
Buffering new risks? Environmental, social and economic changes in the Turkana Basin during and after the African Humid Period
Authors: Hildebrand Elisabeth , Grillo Katherine M , Chritz Kendra L , Fischer Markus L , Goldstein Steven T , Janzen Anneke , Junginger Annett , Kinyanjui Rahab N , Ndiema Emmanuel , Sawchuk Elizabeth , Beyin Amanuel , Pfeiffer Susan K
Published: October 2022

This paper evaluates risk-oriented frameworks for explaining environmental, social, and economic changes faced by fishing and herding communities in the Turkana Basin during and after the African Humid Period (AHP, 15–5 ka). The orbitally-forced AHP created moist conditions, high lake levels, and unusual hydrological connections across much of northern and eastern Africa. As arid conditions set in and rainfall decreased between 5.3 and 3.9 ka in eastern Africa, Lake Turkana (NW Kenya) shrank dramatically. Shoreline retreat coincided with an expansion of open plains, creating new ecological conditions and potential opportunities for early herders in the basin. In this changing landscape, economies shifted from food procurement (fishing/hunting aquatic resources) to food production (herding), likely through both in-migration by pastoralists and adoption of herding by local fishers. Early pastoralists also built at least seven megalithic pillar sites that served as communal cemeteries during this time. Recent research has shown that local environmental dynamics – both during and after the AHP – were complex, demanding a more careful interrogation of the notion that post-AHP life entailed new and/or heightened risks. Risk-buffering strategies might include mobility, diversification, physical storage, and exchange. Archaeologists working around Lake Turkana have proposed that economic shifts from fishing to pastoralism entailed increased mobility as a risk-buffering strategy to deal with aridity and resource unpredictability, and that pillar sites – as fixed landmarks in an unstable landscape – provided settings for congregation and exchange amongst increasingly mobile herding communities. However, recent research has shown that local environmental dynamics in the Lake Turkana basin – both during and after the AHP – were more complex than previously thought, necessitating re-evaluation of the notion that post-AHP life entailed new and/or heightened risks. Here, we explore risk buffering strategies (e.g. mobility, diversification, physical storage and/or exchange) as only one category of potential explanation for the new social practices observed in the region at this time. Gauging their applicability requires us to (a) assess the spatial mobility of communities and individuals interred at pillar sites; (b) evaluate whether and how mobility strategies may have changed as pastoralism supplanted fishing; and (c) examine alternative explanations for social and economic changes.
The value of digital and physical library services in UK public libraries and why they are not interchangeable
Authors: Ruthven Ian , Robinson Elaine , McMenemy David
Published: October 2022

This study reports on a series of focus groups of UK public library users to understand how the forced closure of UK libraries caused by the COVID pandemic and the increased use of replacement digital services affected their library use. We specifically focus on digital exclusion and whether this increased as the result of physical library services being inaccessible. We show that although digital exclusion did increase as the result of library closures, digital exclusion was not the best way to characterise our participants’ experiences and digital choices was a more suitable concept. We show how public library users adapted to library closures, how they coped with these closures, and how they intend to use library services in the future. Our participants reported different patterns of use of digital and physical library services, had different experiences of these two modes of library service, and described their value in different terms. We explore what they valued in physical and digital services and show how simple arguments that digital services can replace physical ones do not match the experiences or wishes of those who use these services.
Near infrared spectroscopy for blend uniformity monitoring: An innovative qualitative application based on the coefficient of determination
Authors: Roggo Yves , Martinez Lizbeth , Peinado Antonio , Matero Sanni
Published: October 2022

Blending process is a critical unit operation in the pharmaceutical industry during the solid dosage form production. Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool to assess the blend homogeneity in real-time. In this paper, a new methodology for blending process monitoring and for end point confirmation is proposed. Quantitative procedure validation and maintenance of NIR procedures are time-consuming activities that can prevent the adoption of PAT tools in the pharmaceutical industry. Clearly, there is a need in the industry for simpler and more intuitive qualitative blend monitoring analytical procedure that are easy to build, validate and maintain. The method introduced herein consists of tracking the trend of the Coefficient of Determination (CD) between a mean reference spectrum from a homogeneous batch and the NIR spectra that are recorded during the blending operation. Four formulations of commercial products were selected from different scales–including low dosage solid form-to show the usefulness of the method. In addition, this analytical procedure is tested with data from two different types of spectrometers (diode array instruments). Method calibration was performed with five batches (representing expected process variability) for each product: one for the computation of the homogeneous batch target spectrum and four to compute the limit of the CD values related to anticipated and acceptable homogeneity. Method validation was performed with homogeneous batches and with challenge spectra for assessing the specificity of the method. Real-world examples ( e.g. technical, validation batches and clinical batches) were presented in order to demonstrate that this method is able to detect inhomogeneous batches. The new qualitative method presented in this paper is useful for determination of the blending endpoint, in assessing the blend uniformity in real-time and in increasing process understanding during early development and troubleshooting.
Somali Refugee Women’s Experiences and Perceptions of Western Health Care
Authors: Njenga Angela
Published: October 2022

Introduction:

The purpose of this study was to explore Somali refugee women’s experiences and perceptions of Western health care in the United States. This study took place in the Midwestern region of the United States.

Methodology:

This qualitative descriptive study collected data from 15 participants through in-depth interviews.

Results:

Six themes emerged: (a) communication and resource provision, (b) participatory decision-making, (c) provider attitudes toward cultural practices, (d) understanding the U.S. health care system, (e) resistance to Western health care and, (f) religious beliefs.

Discussion and Conclusion:

Accounts of the women in this study ran the gamut from positive views to those that were more critical and replete with complaints about Western health care providers and the system. Somali refugee women need culturally competent health care providers who provide sensitive care, offer resources, and involve the women in decision-making about their care.
Effectiveness and Safety of Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Thai Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Real-World Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Srikajornlarp Saowaluk , Amnueypol Montawatt , Vathesatogkit Prin , Numthavaj Pawin , Ungkanont Artit , Likittanasombat Khanchit , Pattanaprateep Oraluck , Angchaisuksiri Pantep , Boonyawat Kochawan
Published: October 2022

Background

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are commonly used to prevent stroke and systemic embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, studies into their effectiveness and safety in the Thai population have so far been limited.

Objectives

To study the effectiveness and safety of warfarin and DOACs among Thai AF patients

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on AF patients at Ramathibodi Hospital from 2013 to 2018. All patients were followed for at least 1 year. Relevant clinical information was collected and compared between AF patient groups receiving warfarin, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban. The primary outcome was a composite of major bleeding, ischemic stroke, and systemic thromboembolism. The secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality and disease-specific mortality caused by major bleeding, ischemic stroke, and systemic thromboembolism.

Results

A total of 1680 AF patients were enrolled in the study (warfarin 1193, apixaban 140, dabigatran 193, rivaroxaban 114). The estimated incidence of composite outcome was 16% [95% CI, 14−18%] and 12.4% [95% CI, 9.4−15.3%] in the warfarin and DOAC group, respectively, given a number needed to treat of 28 [95% CI, 3−52]. Compared with warfarin, DOACs were associated with both lower rate of all-cause mortality (4.9% [22/447] vs 8% [98/1193]) and lower disease-specific mortality (0.4% [2/447] and 1% [12/1193]).

Conclusions

This study suggests DOACs were associated with a lower risk of major bleeding, ischemic stroke, and systemic thromboembolism compared to warfarin in Thai patients with AF. Patients receiving DOAC also had a lower rate of all-cause mortality and disease-specific mortality.
Safety and Efficacy of Drug-Coated Balloons in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes and Vulnerable Plaque
Authors: Zhang Yu-Bin , Liu Heng-Dao , Xing Jun-Hui , Chen Bo-Wen , Zhao Yan-Yan , Gu He-Ping , Tao Hai-Long
Published: October 2022

Background

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the main treatment option for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) often related to the progression and rupture of vulnerable plaques. While drug-eluting stents (DES) are now routinely used in PCI, drug-coated balloons (DCB) are a new strategy to PCI and their practice in the treatment of ACS with vulnerable plaques has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of DCB in ACS complicated with vulnerable plaque lesions.

Methods

123 patients were retrospectively analyzed and diagnosed with ACS and given PCI in our Cardiology Department from December 2020 to July 2022. Vulnerable plaques were confirmed by intravenous ultrasound (IVUS) in all patients. According to individual treatment plan, patients were entered into either DCB (n = 55) or DES (n = 68) groups. The results of coronary angiography and IVUS before and immediately after percutaneous coronary intervention were analyzed. The occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and the results of coronary angiography were also evaluated during follow-up.

Results

There were no significant differences in baseline clinical characteristics, preoperative minimal luminal diameter (MLD), and preoperative diameter stenosis (DS) between the two groups. Also, there were no differences in IVUS plaque burden (PB), vessel area, and lumen area in the two groups before and immediately after PCI. The efficacy analysis showed that immediately after PCI, the DCB group had smaller MLD and higher degrees of lumen stenosis than the DES group ( P < 0.05). However, during follow-up, no significant differences in MLD and DS were seen in two groups; relatively, late loss in luminal diameter（LLL）in the DCB group was smaller ( P＜0.05). Safety analysis showed that during follow-up, 9 patients developed restenosis after DCB implantation while restenosis occurred in 10 patients with DES treatment, no statistical difference in the incidence of restenosis in the two groups. Besides, there was no statistical difference in the incidence of major adverse cardiac events（MACE）during hospitalization and follow-up in the DCB group (7.3% (4/55)) and the DES group (8.8% (6/68)).

Conclusion

DCB is safe and effective for ACS complicated with vulnerable plaque and has an advantage over DES in LLL.
Specialized Local Government and Water Conservation Policy in the United States
Authors: Switzer David , Deng Jun
Published: October 2022

Special districts are an increasingly important part of the local government equation in the United States, representing over forty percent of local governments. The spread of these governments is controversial, however, as some argue that they will have a negative impact on service delivery, due to a perceived lack of political accountability. Others argue that their focus on single policy issues allow them to more efficiently respond to the citizens they serve. Despite the controversy, only a few studies have quantitatively investigated the differences in service delivery between special district and general purpose governments. Building on Mullin's earlier work, in this research note we investigate the relationship between specialized local government and water utility rates. We find little direct difference between special districts and general-purpose governments, with some minimal support for a conditional relationship between special districts and scarcity.
Discovery of Promising Inhibitors of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2), Estrogen Receptor (ER), and Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase a (PI3Ka) for Personalized Breast Cancer Treatment
Authors: Akinnusi Precious A , Olubode Samuel O , Adebesin Ayomide O , Nana Toluwani A , Shodehinde Sidiqat A
Published: October 2022

Despite the rapid developments and advancements to improve treatments, Breast cancer remains one of the deadliest health challenges and the most frequently diagnosed tumor. One of the major problems with treatment is the unique difference that each cancerous cell exhibits. As a result, treatment of breast cancer has now become more personalized based on the specific features of the tumor such as overexpression of growth factor receptors (Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2)), hormone receptors (Human Estrogen receptor alpha (ER)) and kinases involved in pivotal signaling associated with growth (Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)). Several chemotherapeutic agents have been developed to curb the menace, but the associated adverse drug effects cannot be overlooked. To this end, this study employed a molecular modeling approach to identify novel compounds of natural origin that can potentially antagonize the receptors (mentioned above) associated with the pathophysiology of breast cancer and at the same time pose very little or no side effects. The results of the molecular model of biological interactions between a library of 118 anthocyanins and the binding pockets of the protein targets identified 5 compounds (Pelargonin, Delphinidin 3- O-rutinoside, Malvin, Cyanidin-3-(6-acetylglucoside), and Peonidin 3- O-rutinoside) with good binding affinities to the protein targets. Further MM-GBSA calculations returned high binding energies. The specific molecular interactions between the compounds and the targets were analyzed and reported herein. Also, all the compounds exhibited good pharmacokinetic profiles and are therefore recommended for further analyses as they could be explored as new treatment options for a broad range and personalized breast cancer treatments.
Analysis of Elastic-Plastic Loading and Unloading Contact between Ellipsoid and Rigid Flat
Authors: Zhang Wangyang , Chen Jian , Wang Chenglong , Liu Di , Zhu Linbo
Published: October 2022

The loading contact behaviour of ellipsoids has been extensively studied, although there is limited research on their loading and unloading contact behaviour. This study uses the finite element method to analyse loading and unloading contact between an elastic-plastic ellipsoid and a rigid body. Unloading of an ellipsoid with different ellipticities was precisely conducted at the end of the elastic-plastic state. The ellipticity of the contact area is related to interference during loading and is independent of interference during unloading. When the interference is sufficiently large, the ellipticity of the contact area asymptotically approaches that of the ellipsoid. A new empirical formula is presented to describe the residual plastic interference of the ellipsoid after elastic-plastic unloading. The ellipsoid contact parameters (contact pressure, contact load, interference, and contact area) during the loading and unloading processes are numerically fitted based on the finite element analysis results, and dimensionless expressions are proposed for practical applications. The correctness and validity of the current study are evaluated through comparison with the prediction results of previous models and experiments.
The promise of beginnings: Unpacking ‘diversity’ at Oculus VR
Authors: Harley Daniel
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a case study of the inaugural year of Launch Pad, a diversity initiative by Meta’s virtual reality (VR) subsidiary, originally known as Oculus. As industry-led discourse presented VR as a vision of opportunity and change in the tech industry, Launch Pad presented a vision of social progress through improved diversity. However, a variety of contextualizing factors within that first year complicate these visions of progress, including the gendered and racialized norms of the tech industry, the politics of Oculus’s co-founder and the mixed feelings of the first beneficiaries of the program. I argue that even if Launch Pad is a good faith effort to address historical and current forms of marginalization and underrepresentation in the tech industry, such efforts must go much further than mentorship and tokenized inclusion, requiring a genuine recognition of the need for systemic change.
Assessment of telemedicine versus in-person care in managing abdominal pain in children during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Jazayeri Amir , Dinh Julie V , Eseonu Debra , Hollier John M , Shneider Benjamin L
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in telemedicine care delivery. This raises the question of whether the visit type affects the care provided to patients in the pediatric gastroenterology clinic. The aim of this study is to assess whether diagnostic, treatment, and outcome measures differ between telemedicine and in-person visits in patients seen in pediatric gastroenterology clinics for the chief complaint of abdominal pain.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients aged 0–22 who underwent their initial pediatric gastroenterology clinic visit, for abdominal pain, between March and September 2020 (n = 1769). The patients were divided into two groups: in-person or telemedicine. Clinical outcome measures were compared from the initial gastroenterology visit and followed for a total of 3 months.

Results

There was an increase number of images (M = 0.52 vs. 0.36, p < 0.001), labs (M  = 4.87 vs. 4.05; p = 0.001), medications (M  = 2.24 vs. 1.67; p < 0.001), and referrals (M  = 0.70 vs. 0.54; p < 0.001) performed per visit in the in-person group. Electronic communications (3.97 vs. 5.12 p <0.003) was less frequent after in-person visits. There was no difference in number of procedures (M = 0.128 vs. 0.122, p = 0.718), emergency room visits (M = 0.037 vs. 0.017 p = 0.61), follow-up visits (M = 1.21 vs. 1.21 p = 0.922), or telephone encounters (M = 1.21 vs. 1.12 p = 0.35) between the two groups.

Conclusion

Telemedicine utilizes less resources while having comparable outcome measurements in children with a chief complaint of abdominal pain.
Social media use of the police in crisis situations: A mixed-method study on communication practices of the German police
Authors: Jungblut Marc , Kümpel Anna Sophie , Steer Ramona
Published: October 2022

Social media have become essential for crisis communication. While past research has focused on their role in corporate communication, studies largely ignored how public organizations use social media. Among these, the police are a particularly relevant case due to their responsibilities in society. Using a sequential mixed-methods design that combines qualitative interviews with an automated content analysis, this study analyzes how the German police use social media during community (e.g. mass shootings) and organizational-level crises (e.g. misdemeanors within the police). The results demonstrate that Twitter and Facebook are the primary platforms for crisis communication, with their unique affordances shaping the communicative styles of the police. We also find police communication strategies to differ between the two crisis types. During community-level crises, the main goal of the police is to provide information in a largely unidirectional manner, while communication during organizational-level crises is more dialogue-oriented to prevent reputational damage.
Mechanical and shape-memory behavior of homogenized NiTiHfPd alloys
Authors: Acar Emre
Published: October 2022

Mechanical behavior of a Ni45.3Ti34.7Hf15Pd5 (at.%) alloy was systematically analyzed after homogenization treatment at 1050°C for 4 h. Shape-memory behavior under a wide range of compressive stress levels from 100 to 1000 MPa was investigated through constant-stress thermal cycling experiments. The alloys showed a reversible strain of 2.5% against a huge stress of 1 GPa. Superelastic behavior was observed in a large temperature window of 50°C–170°C. Training of the alloys resulted in hardening effect and better shape recovery in constant-temperature loading experiments at –50°C.
Temptations, Techniques and Typologies: Insights from a Western Australian Sample of Young People Who Burgle
Authors: Rock Suzanne , Gately Natalie , McCue James , St Martin Nathalie
Published: October 2022

A significant amount of property crime is committed by young people. In this novel qualitative study, 50 young people were interviewed to obtain an insight into their motivations to burgle. Decisions were based on peer pressure, opportunity and perceived need. Bennett and Wright’s typologies of adult burglars were applied to young burglars. Young burglars were more prone than adults in Bennett and Wright’s study to commit opportunistic burglaries, but were deterred by similar target characteristics. The social and psychological factors are strong motivators for youth burglary and should guide the development of intervention and deterrence strategies.
(In)visible powers: witnessing the ‘tourist-waters’ of Nämforsen
Authors: Maria Thompson Linda
Published: October 2022

This artistic research reflection explores Sweden’s legally-mandated ‘tourist-release’ at the Ångermanälven River’s storied site of Nämforsen. Against World Wars and calls for energy independence of the mid 1940s, the iconic Ångermanälven River was industrialised from a free-flowing salmon river to eventually a series of 44 dams and hydropower plants. Later, a unique environmental court legal judgement resulted in ‘tourist-water’ at Nämforsen that gives the illusion of a free-flowing river during summer months. Existing for solely aesthetic purposes, tourist-water is an unexplored example of the (in)visible powers perpetuating myths associated with hydropower and place in Sweden. Through text and images, this piece reflects on witnessing this tourist-water phenomena through place-based documentary arts practice. The fieldwork is part of a doctoral project in artistic practice focusing on how photography can mediate complex issues in places of environmental change through the case of Nämforsen. Strategies such as framing, time-scaling and montage have emerged from this practice at the same time as ethical concerns related to representation are raised. This case is especially pertinent as hydropower in Sweden comes under increased scrutiny, simultaneously as it is marketed as a sustainable energy solution. The piece furthermore highlights the lasting implications of conservation efforts centred historically on aesthetic rather than ecologic values.
Educating the left – framing party education in Sweden and Spain
Authors: Arriaza Hult Maria
Published: October 2022

This article interprets how five left-leaning parties in Sweden and Spain intend to politically socialise their members through the use of educational activities. By applying a framing perspective on interviews with leading party representatives from the five parties, the analysis theoretically illuminates how educational activities can be a tool for mobilisation. While the interviewed party representatives stress that educating their members has several functions for a party, three salient frames about party education are identified in the interview data as follows: education as (i) movement building, (ii) training members and leaders and (iii) deliberative reflection. Categorising the different ways that in which education is understood shows how different political motives are integrated into parties’ education. Hence, the findings emphasise the intermediating role that education plays between a party organisation and its members in left parties.
A Systematic Review of Children’s Perspectives of Fathers who Perpetrate Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Rogers Kristin , Berger Emily
Published: October 2022

Exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) between parents or caregivers can result in lifelong mental, physical, and relational challenges for children. Although the impacts of IPV on children are well documented, the aim of this systematic review was to be the first to synthesize the literature on children’s perspectives of fathers who have perpetrated IPV. Five electronic databases were searched using a string of search terms relating to the variables of interest. In total, 11,40 records were obtained from the database search. Screening based on a strict inclusion and exclusion criteria yielded 24 qualitative articles addressing the perceptions of children concerning fathers who perpetrate IPV. Research capturing the views of children regarding fathers who perpetrate IPV is scant. The current review highlights that children experience a range of feelings about their perpetrating fathers, including fear, anger, hatred, as well as ambivalence and love toward their father and children often have difficulty integrating contradictory experiences of their fathers’ behaviors. Father–child relationships are severely affected by IPV, including their fathers’ use of coercive control, even after the parents have separated. Finally, children’s experiences of their fathers’ attempts at behavior change varied. More research is needed to understand the views of children in this area, with consideration given to children’s developmental stage and the type of IPV experienced. Recommendations for research and interventions for children and families are emphasized further within this review.
Trauma and Substance Use among Indigenous Peoples of the United States and Canada: A Scoping Review
Authors: Spillane Nichea S. , Schick Melissa R. , Kirk-Provencher Katelyn T. , Nalven Tessa , Goldstein Silvi C. , Crawford Michael C. , Weiss Nicole H.
Published: October 2022

Substance use has been identified by Indigenous populations as contributing to health disparities facing their communities. Rates of trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder are higher in Indigenous, compared to non-Indigenous, populations and have been linked to substance use. Historical trauma is thought to be one mechanism underlying substance use and related disorders. The purpose of the present study is to summarize the current state of the literature focusing on the association between trauma (historical and lived) and substance use among Indigenous populations in the United States and Canada. Databases were systematically searched using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses statement. The search strategy initially yielded 4,026 articles. After exclusion of ineligible articles, 63 articles remained for synthesis. Results of the present review provide evidence for a positive link between substance use and both historical trauma (i.e., 86.4% of studies) and lived trauma (i.e., 84.7% of studies). Indigenous participants reported that historical trauma and pain related to loss of cultural identity contributed to substance use in their communities. Indigenous participants also consistently described an association between lived trauma and substance use. Despite heterogeneity among Indigenous communities, findings suggest a significant association between trauma and substance use across many different tribes and settings (e.g., reservation/reserve, rural/urban). Indigenous participants identified healing from trauma and reconnecting with culture as necessary components for reducing substance use and maintaining sobriety. With this, the development and implementation of interventions should partner with Indigenous communities in a manner that promotes and enhances cultural values for healing.
The role of visual expectations in acupuncture analgesia: A quantitative electroencephalography study
Authors: Choi Dha-Hyun , Lee Seoyoung , Lee In-Seon , Chae Younbyoung
Published: October 2022

Acupuncture is a complex treatment comprising multisensory stimulation, including visual and tactile sensations and experiences of body ownership. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of these three components of acupuncture stimulation in acupuncture analgesia. 40 healthy volunteers participated in the study and received acupuncture treatment under three different conditions (real-hand, rubber-hand synchronous, and rubber-hand asynchronous). The tolerance for heat pain stimuli was measured before and after treatment. Brain oscillation changes were also measured using electroencephalography (EEG). The pain tolerance was significantly increased after acupuncture treatment under all three conditions. Noticeable deqi (needle) sensations in response to acupuncture stimulation of the rubber hand were found under both rubber-hand synchronous and rubber-hand asynchronous conditions. Deqi sensations were significantly correlated with acupuncture analgesia only under the rubber-hand synchronous condition. Increased delta and decreased theta, alpha, beta, and gamma waves were observed after acupuncture treatment under all three conditions. Our findings clarified the role of cognitive components of acupuncture treatment in acupuncture analgesia through the rubber-hand illusion. This study is a first step toward separating various components of acupuncture analgesia, i.e. visual, tactile, and body ownership, and utilizing those components to maximize analgesic effects.
Dancing through time: A methodological exploration of embodied memories
Authors: Giese Julia , Keightley Emily
Published: October 2022

This article responds to an absence of memory studies research methodologies for exploring embodied memories, including its form and content, the lived practices it involves, and its embeddedness in wider socio-political discourses. While conceptualisations of embodiment are central in the field of memory studies, its methodological consequences remain under-developed. We are proposing dance-based methods as having significant potential to address alternative ways of knowing and relating to the past. Drawing on empirical work on both professional and social dance among British Bangladeshi women in London, conducted as part of the 5-year research project Migrant Memory and the Postcolonial Imagination, we found embodied remembering to be a social form of doing that can serve to create, preserve and negotiate shared pasts.
Internet-based interventions to support recovery in youth: A systematic review
Authors: Dallinger Vicki C , Krishnamoorthy Govind , Burton Lorelle J , du Plessis Carol , Pillai-Sasidharan Arun , Ayres Alice
Published: October 2022

Personal recovery represents a paradigm shift in how individuals are seen to benefit from mental health interventions, from a narrow view of symptom reduction to a holistic, multi-dimensional view of well-being, functional gains and rehabilitation. Although there is a large body of evidence supporting the use of recovery-oriented care in adults, research on personal recovery amongst youth with mental health concerns is an emerging area of research. Efforts to promote youth mental health have also focussed on the use of digital applications and platforms as a means of overcoming barriers related to factors including stigma and lack of available services. This systematic review aims to review the literature on existing internet-based, youth mental health interventions with regard to (a) identifying elements of the programs that align with the personal recovery and (b) outcome measures utilised in assessing personal recovery. Eleven papers were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Five of the programs reviewed from these eleven papers showed efficacy for recovery processes. The results offer preliminary support and guidance for the use of internet-based mental health interventions in the promotion of personal recovery amongst youth. Future research and practice are suggested to further develop understanding in this area.