bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surviving after the Death of a Spouse: A Phenomenological Study of Young and Low-Income Mothers in Turkey
Authors: Ergün-Başak Bircan
Published: May 2024

The aim of this study is to examine psychosocial adjustment of low-income mothers who lost their spouses at a young age. The study was conducted using a qualitative research method with a phenomenological approach. The data was collected through focus group interviews. Thirteen women between the ages of 26 and 43 participated in the study. In this study, manifest content analysis was carried out with an inductive perspective. In this scope, five interrelated themes emerged as loss, initial reactions, difficulties, coping ways, and change. For the participants, the death of their spouse was perceived as the loss of a loved one, the loss of their children’s father, a loss of security, and the loss of an abusive spouse. The initial reactions that emerged as a result were shock, helplessness, anxiety, and ambivalence. Participants faced social pressure, exclusion, parenting an orphaned child, insufficient basic life skills, and economic difficulties after their spouses’ deaths. In order to cope with these difficulties, they sought social support, applied for social assistance funds, focused on their motherhood roles, used religious coping mechanisms, and set boundaries. It was determined that participants learned new skills, gained self-confidence, and developed helping behaviors toward others during the post-loss change process. Findings revealed that participants are unable to access adequate social, economic, and psychological resources in society. This circumstance caused them to withdraw from their social environment and reevaluate their existential goals. The new identity created by these women could be interpreted as a challenge to the culture that marginalizes them.
Isolation, anticancer potency, and camptothecin—producing ability of endophytic fungi isolated from Ixora chinensis
Authors: Doan Thi Nhung , Le Thi Dung , Ho Ngoc Anh , Ho Thuong Thi , Do Thi Thao , Hoang Ha , Nguyen Mau Hung , Bui Thanh Mai , Chu Hoang Ha
Published: May 2024

Camptothecin (CPT) is an important alkaloid used for anticancer treatment. It is mainly produced by two endangered and overharvested Camptotheca acuminata and Nothapodytes nimmoniana plants. Endophytic fungi are promising alternative sources for CPT production. In the present study, fungi residing within explants of Ixora chinensis were isolated and their CPT-producing capability of their endophytes was verified via thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses and compared with standards. In addition, MTT and sulforhodamine B assays were selected to test the anticancer effect. The endophytic fungi collection of 62 isolates were assigned to 11 genera, with four common genera ( Diaporthe, Phyllosticta, Colletotrichum, and Phomopsis) and seven less common genera ( Penicillium, Botryosphaeria, Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis, Aspergillus, and Didymella). Moreover, the anticancer activity of extracts was assessed against human lung carcinoma (A549). Among eight potential extracts, only Penicillium sp. I3R2 was found to be a source of CPT, while the remaining seven extracts have not been discovered potential secondary compounds. Thus, other prominent endophytic fungi might be potential candidates of phytochemicals with anticancer properties.
Evaluating the missional impact of an advent son et lumière in Liverpool Cathedral
Authors: Francis Leslie J.
Published: May 2024

This study tests the thesis that innovative cathedral installations and events may soften the boundaries between common ground and sacred space, perhaps especially at Christmas. Over two-fifths of the participants surveyed at the 2023 son et lumière ‘The light before Christmas’ in Liverpool Cathedral said that their experience made them more likely to attend a carol service in the cathedral and one-fifth said they were more likely to attend a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service. By coincidence, the 4,749 attendance at the Christmas Eve carol services was a 21 per cent uplift on the pre-Covid 2019 attendance; the 1,232 attendance at Midnight Mass was a 73 per cent uplift on the 2019 attendance.
Two forgotten Anglo-Catholic pioneer priests
Authors: Hardy John
Published: May 2024

Peter Green (Salford) and Charles Jenkinson (Leeds) were Anglo-Catholic parsons who devotedly worked in northern England either side of the Second World War. Are they models for today? Green prioritized ‘intentional evangelism’. Jenkinson was a Christian socialist and Modernist who ‘meddled in politics’ as a city councillor: his priority was housing reform. Green remained a parish priest; Jenkinson moved into new town development. Despite their shortcomings, each cleric distinctively represents a relevant kind of priesthood: the parish missionary sharing the archbishops’ commitment to ‘mission-shaped’ church (Green), and the activist intent on building the kingdom by transforming his parishioners’ built environment (Jenkinson).
On the third day: a case study in reading the Bible backwards
Authors: Philps Mark
Published: May 2024

This article examines various attempts to trace the Old Testament source of New Testament claims in Luke and 1 Corinthians about the Messiah rising on the third day, including that of Bruce Metzger, Harvey McArthur, Tom Wright, Clare Amos and Richard Hays.
Skeletal Muscle Texture Assessment Using Ultrasonography: Comparison with Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Wilkinson Thomas J. , Baker Luke A. , Watson Emma L. , Nikopoulou Katerina , Karatzaferi Christina , Graham-Brown Matthew PM. , Smith Alice C. , Sakkas Giorgos K.
Published: May 2024

Skeletal muscle dysfunction is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Of interest is the concept of “muscle quality,” of which measures include ultrasound-derived echo intensity (EI). Alternative parameters of muscle texture, for example, gray level of co-occurrence matrix (GCLM), are available and may circumvent limitations in EI. The validity of EI is limited in humans, particularly in chronic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the associations between ultrasound-derived parameters of muscle texture with MRI. Images of the thigh were acquired using a 3 Tesla MRI scanner. Quantification of muscle (contractile), fat (non-contractile), and miscellaneous (connective tissue, fascia) components were estimated. Anatomical rectus femoris cross-sectional area was measured using B-mode 2D ultrasonography. To assess muscle texture, first (i.e., EI)- and second (i.e., GLCM)-order statistical analyses were performed. Fourteen participants with CKD were included (age: 58.0 ± 11.9 years, 50% male, eGFR: 27.0 ± 7.4 ml/min/1.73m2, 55% Stage 4). Higher EI was associated with lower muscle % (quadriceps: β = −.568, p = .034; hamstrings: β = −.644, p = .010). Higher EI was associated with a higher fat % in the hamstrings (β = −.626, p = .017). A higher angular second moment from GLCM analysis was associated with greater muscle % (β = .570, p = .033) and lower fat % (β = −.534, p = .049). A higher inverse difference moment was associated with greater muscle % (β = .610, p = .021 and lower fat % (β = −.599, p = .024). This is the first study to investigate the associations between ultrasound-derived parameters of muscle texture with MRI. Our preliminary findings suggest ultrasound-derived texture analysis provides a novel indicator of reduced skeletal muscle % and thus increased intramuscular fat.
Fostering Autonomy: A Technology-Aided Check-In/Check-Out Intervention for Online High School Students With Autism
Authors: Mallory Patrick J. , Hampshire Patricia K.
Published: May 2024

Many students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encounter difficulties related to self-management, which subsequently hinder their capacity to actively engage in online learning. As the enrollment of students with ASD in online education continues to rise, the exploration of self-management techniques adaptable to this educational modality becomes imperative. However, the existing body of research in this area remains limited. To bridge this gap, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a technology-aided Check- In/Check-Out (CICO) intervention to promote on-task behavior among three students with ASD attending online high school. A multiple baseline across participants design was used to measure the percentage of ontask behavior for each student. The findings suggest the implementation of the CICO intervention increased on-task behavior of all three students. This investigation underscores crucial considerations for devising and implementing personalized interventions within the context of online learning environments. The study’s constraints are acknowledged, and recommendations for prospective research avenues are outlined.
A Comparison of Role-play v. Mixed-Reality Simulation on Pre-Service Teachers’ Behavior Management Practices
Authors: Whitney Todd , Cooper Justin T. , Snider Kate
Published: May 2024

Students with disabilities are being educated in the general education setting at an ever-increasing rate; therefore, it becomes imperative that educator preparation programs ensure that pre-service teachers are equipped to meet the needs of all students. Teacher education scholars have encouraged educator preparation programs to maximize the potential of technology to improve the use of evidence-based and high-leverage practices. This study sought to examine the effects of role-play versus mixed-reality simulation on the development of pre-service teachers’ ability to implement high-probability practices while setting group expectations for behavior. Using a switching replications design, results suggested mixed-reality simulation was more effective than role-play on the development of pre-service teachers’ ability to implement high-probability practices (i.e., opportunities to respond, feedback) while setting group expectations for behavior. Additionally, student perception regarding the feasibility and acceptability of mixed-reality simulation to learn classroom management strategies was greater than that of role-play. Implications of results and future research are discussed.
A Review of Measurement Characteristics Within Single-Case Designs in Special Education
Authors: Enders Olivia , King Seth A. , Nylen Brendon , Wang Lanqi , Opeoluwa Oluwatosin
Published: May 2024

Single-case designs substantiate the effectiveness of interventions for people with disabilities and other populations through the repeated measurement of behavior over time. Consequently, employing accurate and reliable systems of measurement is critical to the validity of single-case designs. Much of the data in single-case research are collected through systematic direct observation. Direct observation often involves the use of time sampling, wherein an observer indicates whether a behavior occurred during a specific period. Although scholars have highlighted the potential for time sampling to distort the results of single-case design, targeted reviews indicate time sampling continues to be used in literature involving people with disabilities. The current study reviews literature from the field of special education, in which single-case designs are frequently used to evaluate the efficacy of practices. Using a large, representative sample of 1,425 randomly selected single-case design articles from 33 special education journals, we coded articles to determine the type and features of measurement systems employed by researchers. Findings indicate one-fifth of articles feature some form of time sampling. In addition, time sampling is more prevalent in journals pertaining to individuals with emotional/behavioral disorders. A discussion of implications for research quality follows an overview of results.
Hot deformation and dynamic recrystallisation behaviour of Fe-23Mn-3Cr-0.3C steel
Authors: Wang Tong , Lin XueHao , Du HaiMing , Mo DeMin , Liu GuangChao , Pang HuiYong , Wang JiuQing
Published: May 2024

The effects of deformation temperature (880–1200°C) and strain rate (0.001–1 s−1) on the hot deformation mechanism of Fe-23Mn-3Cr-0.3C steel were investigated through single-pass compression tests. The findings revealed that the flow stress of Fe-23Mn-3Cr-0.3C steel could be accurately represented by a constitutive equation based on the Arrhenius equation, with a high correlation coefficient of 0.996 observed between experimental values and the model. Moreover, a critical strain model for dynamic recrystallisation (DRX) was formulated. The study delved into the evolution of DRX using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technology, uncovering two primary nucleation mechanisms: (1) discontinuous DRX characterised mainly by grain boundary bulging and twin-assisted nucleation and (2) continuous DRX characterised predominantly by sub-grain rotation.
Erosion mechanism of low-alloy steel at simulated conditions for artillery firing environment
Authors: Hu Chenchen , Mao Qingzhong , Peng Gang , Gao Junzhen , Zheng Huaibei , Xu Xu , Nan Fengqiang , Liu Dabin
Published: May 2024

To investigate erosion mechanism as exposed to extreme interior ballistic environment within artillery barrels, a specially designed testing apparatus has been utilised to perform simulated erosion testing at stress-temperature regimes close to practical working conditions. Detailed metallographic examination after testing at 600°C with a contact force of 9000 N has identified erosion mechanisms involved with adhesive and oxidative wear with the formation of an ultra-fined grain layer in subsurface regions. The erosion mechanism during testing at 1000°C is associated with a significant loss of strength for the matrix due to austenitisation and rapid formation of porous oxides. The approach utilised in the present study has facilitated an evaluation of erosion resistance of barrel materials with high efficiency and low cost.
Developing a generalizable pediatric ECMO emergency checklist for clinical specialist: Progress and challenges
Authors: Furlong-Dillard Jamie M. , Abulebda Kamal , Calhoun Aaron W.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) emergencies require skilled clinical specialist (CS) who manage ECMO circuits. While tools for assessing CS skills have been published, there is significant variation in protocols and circuit design. This study aims to further develop these checklists to produce a generalizable ECMO skill assessment with adequate validity evidence to support its use as a summative evaluation tool.

Methods

An initial survey determined variation in ECMO circuit components and configurations, and the original checklists and simulations were altered through a modified Delphi process. The finalized checklist and simulation were then assessed for validity and reliability. Three trained raters assessed ten simulations from five subjects at two different institutions using two circuit designs. Data analysis was conducted using a fully crossed subject x rater x circuit generalizability (G) and decision (D) study.

Results

The G-study coefficient was 0 with 0% variance across subject and circuit. The greatest variance was among raters (28.7%). Significant variance was also associated with the subject and pump type relationship (27%).

Conclusion

Despite the rigorous process used to modify the assessment, generalizability was poor. Lack of familiarity with center-specific circuit design played a key role. Future endeavors in ECMO skill assessment should focus either on developing and validating site-specific tools or standardizing circuit designs.
Assessment of venous disease with different venous disease specific scales in Behçet’s disease patients with deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Aksoy Aysun , Colak Seda , Yagiz Burcu , Coskun Belkıs Nihan , Omma Ahmet , Sarı Alper , Atas Nuh , Ilgın Can , Karadag Omer , Erden Abdülsamet , Yildiz Yasin , Dalkılıç Ediz , Direskeneli Haner , Alibaz-Oner Fatma
Published: May 2024

Objectives: Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a frequent and important consequence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) for Behcet`s disease (BD) patients. Although various clinical scales are used to diagnose PTS, Villalta scale was accepted as the standard tool to diagnose and grade the severity of PTS. Poor quality of life (Qol) in the general population was defined for patients with PTS, however, studies in BD patients with PTS is limited. Our aim was to compare the performance of different scales to assess venous disease in BD patients with a history of DVT and to assess the relationship with quality of life.

Methods: Patients with BD ( n = 194, M/F:157/37, age:39.1 ± 9.5 years) with a DVT history were investigated. Villalta, VCSS,CEAP scale and SF 36,Veines scales were used to assess venous disease and QoL respectively.

Results: Among BD patients, 120 (61.9 %) patients were classified as having PTS by Villalta and of patients 18% had severe PTS. Half of patients with CEAP score <4 were classified as having PTS. Also, 42% of patients with CEAP>4 and almost two third of VCSS classified severe CVD patients was grouped in severe PTS by Villalta scale. VCSS and Villalta classified PTS patients had decreased disease specific and general Qol scores compared to the patients without PTS. Also, severe PTS group (by VCSS) had decreased veines QoL scores and PCS compared to mild/moderate group.

Conclusion: BD patients with DVT have a high risk of PTS. Our results show that both Villalta scale and VCSS should be used to assess venous disease BD patients with DVT. However, VCSS classified severity of PTS can show better correlation with venous disease -specific QoL.
Substituting natural gas with hydrogen: A case study on mass, energy, and emissions in electric arc furnace steelmaking
Authors: Shahabuddin M. , Akbar Rhamdhani M. , Brooks Geoffrey , Fontana Andrea , King Alister
Published: May 2024

This study sets out to explore the use of hydrogen into steelmaking via the electric arc furnace route, weaving together technoeconomic analysis with a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment. Through a detailed examination, we scrutinize the financial prospects of integrating hydrogen within a scrap-based steel mill, using Liberty GFG's data for a case study. Based on the data, the steel plant's annual consumption is 1.2 million GJ/y of energy, primarily derived from natural gas, to produce 0.75 million tonnes of steel. We explore the potential of replacing this natural gas with 10-kilotonnes of hydrogen per year (1.35 t/h), considering the steel mill's capacity factor of 0.82. By employing sophisticated flowsheet-based calculations, we unravel the environmental implications of integrating hydrogen into the steelmaking process. The investigation reveals that the plant consumes 2.9 GJ per tonne of steel from natural gas, indicating a demand of 23.5 kilograms of hydrogen to completely supplant natural gas. This equates to 2.35 kilograms of hydrogen per tonne of steel for every 10% displacement of natural gas. At present, the comprehensive cost of employing hydrogen stands at US$ 144 per tonne of steel, predicated on a wind electricity price of US$ 38 per MWh. In contrast, utilising natural gas amounts to US$ 58 per tonne of steel. However, the horizon holds promise for a substantial reduction in hydrogen costs over the next decade, heralding a potential paradigm shift in its utilisation.

The emission analysis shows that the plant produces greenhouse gas emissions of 735 kgCO2e/t steel, out of which 70% is due to the use of dominant fossil electricity and the rest 30% (223 kgCO2e/t steel) from other carbon sources such as natural gas, lump coke, coke fines, and diesel fuel. Modeling proposes that a complete substitution of grid electricity and natural gas would lead to process emissions totaling 104 kgCO2e/t steel. To achieve a net-zero emission target, a strategic shift is suggested: replacing lump coke and coke fines with biochar. This substitution not only eliminates lifecycle emissions but also paves the path towards realising a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.
Effect of alloying on the cleanliness of Ti-stabilised interstitial-free (IF) steel during Ruhrstahl–Heraeus (RH) treatment
Authors: Wei Chunxin , Deng Zhiyin , Hao Guangyu , Yang Boran , Zhu Miaoyong
Published: May 2024

To understand the alloying process on the cleanliness of Ti-stabilised interstitial-free (IF) steel, two different alloying operation processes were conducted during Ruhrstahl–Heraeus (RH) treatment. It was found that the Ti–Fe alloy contains extremely high oxygen and nitrogen contents. After Al addition, [Al]–[O] deoxidation reaction can quickly get close to equilibrium (within 1 min), and most inclusions are pure Al2O3. After Ti–Fe addition, the TiO x content in the inclusions increases first and then drops. Because the average content of TiO x is lower than 10 mass%, most inclusions should be solid. The addition of Ti–Fe alloy just after Al addition would not evidently weaken the yield of Ti–Fe alloy, or influence the removal efficiency of the inclusions. Due to the longer RH circulation time after Ti–Fe addition, the inclusions and impurities in the alloy can be further removed, resulting in better steel cleanliness.
Casting Ambiguity: Securitization of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena in the United States
Authors: Krame Ghaleb , Vivoda Vlado , Bar-On Tamir
Published: May 2024

This study examines the evolving securitization of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) in the United States (U.S.), utilizing the Copenhagen School’s theory to illustrate a significant shift in the Pentagon’s discourse, moving from outright dismissal to a nuanced acknowledgment of UAPs. By engaging with and expanding upon the UFO taboo discussions, this research sheds light on the contemporary debates on the role of materiality in securitization processes. The paper argues that the complexity of UAP securitization necessitates a multidisciplinary approach that integrates security, scientific inquiry, and global cooperation which will consequently provide a multidimensional understanding of UAPs within national and international security frameworks.
The geographies of ‘stranded communities’ in energy transitions
Authors: Atkins Ed
Published: May 2024

The transition from fossil fuels poses risks to communities and industries dependent on carbon-heavy work. This article calls for geographical scholarship to engage more fully with the experiences of those ‘stranded communities’ at risk of such change. It critically reviews examples of deindustrialisation and the decline of coal communities to demonstrate how energy transitions will animate new work and extend geographical understandings of economic restructuring. This paper closes with an agenda for new scholarship to proactively envision decarbonisation in ways that are anticipatory and preventative of future processes of labour restructuring and loss.
Migraine and risk of atrial fibrillation: A 9-year follow-up based on the Trøndelag Health Study
Authors: Giri Samita , Tronvik Erling , Dalen Håvard , Ellekjær Hanne , Loennechen Jan P , Olsen Alexander , Hagen Knut
Published: May 2024

Background

Data from some population-based studies have indicated an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients with migraine, particularly among individuals with migraine with aura. The present study aimed to assess the association between primary headache disorders and AF.

Methods

In a population-based 9-year follow-up design, we evaluated the questionnaire-based headache diagnosis, migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) included, collected in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3) conducted in 2006–2008, and the subsequent risk of AF in the period until December 2015. The population at risk consisted of 39,340 individuals ≥20 years without AF at HUNT3 baseline who answered headache questionnaire during HUNT3. The prospective association was evaluated by multivariable Cox proportional hazard models with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Among the 39,340 participants, 1524 (3.8%) developed AF during the 9-year follow up, whereof 91% of these were ≥55 years. In the multivariable analyses, adjusting for known confounders, we did not find any association between migraine or TTH and risk of AF. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were respectively 0.84 (95% CI = 0.64–1.11) for migraine, 1.16 (95% CI = 0.86–1.27) for TTH and 1.04 (95% CI = 0.86–1.27) for unclassified headache. However, in sensitivity analyses of individuals aged ≥55 years, a lower risk of AF was found for migraine (HR = 0.53; 95% CI = 0.39–0.73).

Conclusions

In this large population-based study, no increased risk of AF was found among individuals with migraine or TTH at baseline. Indeed, among individuals aged ≥55 years, migraine was associated with a lower risk for AF.
Incorporating a Public Transit Equity Lens in Evacuation Planning
Authors: Wambura Veronica , Wong Stephen D.
Published: May 2024

Disasters caused by extreme weather and human-initiated events continue to disproportionately affect vulnerable and underserved communities. Although these communities often rely on public transit to travel, most North American jurisdictions still lack a fundamental understanding of equity-centered needs or evacuation plans that incorporate public transit use. Consequently, this study conducted a community-centered methodology with eight focus groups in February 2023 among historically underrepresented groups in evacuation planning. Comprising 52 participants in Edmonton, Alberta, the groups included carless residents, people with disabilities, older adults, lower-income households, racial and ethnic minorities, recent immigrants, parents/guardians of young children, and women. Thematic analysis of the focus group data was performed using MAXQDA. Participants identified challenges and concerns related to public transit costs, possible overcrowding, and inadequate assistance services for people with disabilities and the medically fragile during evacuations. The focus groups largely looked to emergency management offices and transportation agencies to ensure public transit reliability, affordability, and accessibility. Surprising references were also made to public transit as a potential tool for building community cohesion and reducing sentiments of anxiety during disasters. Finally, we found that each group had specific insights based on their vulnerability. For example, whereas lower-income households prioritized increased frequency of transit services during emergencies, older adults called for trained medical staff and accessibility features. We offer several policy recommendations to enhance both resilient and equitable evacuation planning.
From toxic bonds to healing relationships. A journey through group analytic theory and practice
Authors: Schlapobersky John
Published: May 2024

The essentials of therapeutic practice in group analysis are summarised through three basic principles. The conductor is responsible for fostering a climate that allows each of a group’s members to find their own voice; bear witness to the voices of others; and come out of the shadows together through the group’s discourse.

These principles are built on the author’s earlier writing about the speech, silence, and the language of the group which can make a home amongst strangers. They are framed in the ordinary language of daily experience and the parallel idiom of musicology to address the most primary of musical instruments—the voice.

They incorporate of a range of other terms and concepts that bring our attention to core complexities at the heart of many peoples’ deepest sources of disquiet arising out of unresolved intergenerational trauma. The group’s work is akin to a mourning process set in motion for hitherto unacknowledged grief. Disturbance can move about unpredictably. Our challenge is to locate and translate hidden, buried or displaced injury into the everyday language of human suffering where seeds can be sown for resolution.

This multi-modal presentation is illustrated with clinical vignettes from groups at work and with collage and paintings. It opens with a Paul McCartney song, ‘Blackbird’ (1968), whose music and lyrics give historical significance to the struggle for human rights. Its closing vignettes explore ‘tools for conviviality’ with images of lost and found brotherhood and a spontaneous online ceremony of eating together in China. The paintings of Morris Nitsun bring us to an ultimate agency for change generated by small groups—the shifting mood-scape of their dynamic life. One image conveys the tragedy and desolation of the pandemic, and another offers the natural world’s consolation in beauty.
Beyond coping and adaptation: Toward a sociology of coaching. A necessary paradigm shift to address contemporary dramatic social change
Authors: Stănciulescu Elisabeta
Published: May 2024

This article discusses how, in today’s world of disruptive and dramatic social change, non-sports related coaching, which includes a wide range of services such as life coaching, career coaching, executive coaching, and team coaching, can inadvertently fuel undesirable social dynamics. There is little or no awareness of this risk among coaches and coachees. The global, fast-growing, multi-billion-dollar industry aimed at supporting people and organizations to perform better and increase wellbeing while managing and adapting to change has been developed with limited sociological input. The article is based on 15 years of social constructionist-informed reflective practice by a sociologist-turned-coach, and uses a multi-layered theory-driven autoethnographic account to argue for a sociologically informed paradigm shift in coaching, as well as relevant sociological knowledge, learning sciences, and action research methodology in coaches’ education. It presents the rationale and key features of a new coaching approach that places dramatic social change-relevant sociological concepts at the heart of the process, helps people develop psycho-sociological awareness, and uses a learning-to-develop through research design. A new definition of coaching to address dramatic social change is derived. Coaching practitioners will find dramatic social change-relevant sociological concepts, critical reflections, coaching questions, and procedures to expand coaching effectiveness. Interdisciplinary research topics are proposed, combining coaching sociology – which must be developed to make coaching a well-founded profession – and coaching psychology, which currently dominates the knowledge production in the field. Implications for workplace strategies to attract, motivate, and retain employees in search of meaning or purpose in life are also suggested.
Obscenity Factories: Profanity and Community in Workgroup Cultures
Authors: Fine Gary Alan , Corte Ugo
Published: May 2024

How does profanity contribute to community at work? While obscene talk might be viewed as contrary to the establishment of collegial ties, such discourse can, under the right circumstances, reinforce group sociality as well as challenge hierarchical control. In some sites of labor, participants are permitted—even expected—to use “bad language.” Rather than undermining local culture, this form of communication supports it by revealing the intensity of salient moments. We situate profanity as a means of deepening group membership (affiliation), defining a status hierarchy (division), and delineating boundaries (distinction). Not all workplaces are characterized by profanity, but those that are we label “obscenity factories,” emphasizing the production of community through conversational deviance. To examine this process, we utilize descriptive ethnographies of trauma doctors in war zones, restaurant cooks, wildland firefighters, and correction officers.
Influence of magnesium and calcium sulfate whisker on crystallization characteristics of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) and Poly(butylene succinate)
Authors: Mao Hsu-I , Liu Shu-Hui , Chu Jui-Ching , Shiu Jia-Wei , Chen Pei-Yin , Chen Chin-Wen
Published: May 2024

Inorganic fillers of whisker-like morphology are considered promising materials, and they have gained significant attention in recent years as a substitute for glass fibers due to their fibrous surface characteristics and extremely low bulk density. This study selected magnesium sulfate whiskers (MSWs) containing crystal water and pure calcium sulfate whiskers (CSWs) as fillers. They were physically blended with biodegradable polymers PBAT and PBS in a range of 0.1 wt.% to 2 wt.% to form composite materials. The non-isothermal crystallization behavior of the composite materials was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The data indicated that with an increase in whisker content, the crystallization temperature (Tc) of composites increased, and the addition of a small amount of whiskers led to a reduction in the half-crystallization time of the composite materials, indicating the crystallization capacity of the materials has been enhanced to varying degrees. Analysis via POM unveiled a consistent pattern of decreased spherulite size and heightened spherulite count with the introduction of whiskers. This phenomenon is ascribed to the whisker fillers’ function as nucleating agents within the polymer matrices, thereby stimulating the crystallization process. Interestingly, the findings suggest that CSWs exert a more significant influence on crystallization than MSWs, likely due to the distinct single fiber morphology of the former filler.
Personality Change Across Four Years in World Trade Center Responders
Authors: Khudari Christopher , Oltmanns Joshua R. , Ruggero Camilo , Luft Benjamin J. , Kotov Roman
Published: May 2024

The present study investigated personality change over the course of a four-year longitudinal study in N = 452 older adults who responded to the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center ( Mage = 55 years, SD = 0.41). This sample provides the rare opportunity to compare normative findings of personality change with change in a unique group with a common trauma. Participants completed the Faceted Inventory of the Five-Factor Model and the Big Five Inventory-2 across four years. Latent growth modeling showed significant mean-level decreases in Openness and Extraversion. At the facet-level, significant decreases were found for Aesthetic Sensitivity, Creative Imagination, Intellectual Curiosity, Anxiety, Anger Proneness, Positive Temperament, Venturesomeness, Ascendence, Empathy, and Achievement Striving. Further, responders showed variability in change—in particular, for Neuroticism and its facets. Regressions from exposure level and age on personality change were also examined. Results highlight the importance of facet-level analysis, as significant change was found only for certain facets within domains—sometimes when the domains showed no change. Differences between responders and normative comparisons were examined. Responders share unique trauma and personality findings may allow clinically useful information on the mental-health problems that responders experience.
“A Vulnerable Time To Be a Young Family in an Emergency”: Qualitative Findings From an Exploration of an Emergency Perinatal and Infant Feeding Hotline in Louisiana
Authors: Gross Tyra T. , Ludman Malaika , Woods Barr Alexis
Published: May 2024

Background:

Birthmark Doula Collective, a cooperative that provides doula and lactation services in the Greater New Orleans area, mounted an emergency response after two Category 4 storms: Hurricane Laura (2020) and Hurricane Ida (2021). The response included activating a no-cost emergency perinatal and infant feeding hotline. Both disasters coincided with a resurgence of COVID-19 infections in Louisiana.

Research Aim:

The aim of this study is to understand how an emergency perinatal and infant feeding hotline supported infant and young child feeding in emergencies during hurricanes in Louisiana.

Method:

This study used a cross-sectional, retrospective qualitative design in a population with low breastfeeding rates. We conducted a content analysis of 97 hotline call logs from Hurricanes Laura and Ida, focus groups with lactation support providers who staffed the hotline during either storm ( n = 5), and interviews with mothers who called during Hurricane Ida ( n = 2). Focus groups and interviews lasted 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis techniques.

Results:

Call logs revealed infant feeding needs (e.g., mastitis, low milk supply, relactation, and infant formula requests) and non-infant feeding needs (e.g., infant supplies, perinatal and infant care referrals, shelter information). Infant formula was the most requested supply during both hurricanes. Maternal participants discussed family vulnerabilities during Hurricane Ida. Staff described training and strategies to provide support while maintaining their own well-being.

Conclusion:

Providing a free emergency hotline service is one way to support pregnant and postpartum people and their families seeking infant feeding advice, supplies, and support in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
Impact of Risk Stratification in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus in a Health System Specialty Pharmacy Setting
Authors: Stout Mackenzie , Giavatto Carly , McDonald Nicholas , Bryant Lauren , Ross Casey , Fitzpatrick Casey , Mourani Jessica , Lopez-Medina Ana I
Published: May 2024

Background: Integrated pharmacist care into health systems results in significant A1c reduction and improved outcomes in patients with diabetes. However, little is known about the adoption of Health System Specialty Pharmacy (HSSP) chronic disease management (CDM) services within diabetes clinics. Risk stratification is proven to enhance care in various patient populations. Objective: The objective of this study is to describe how the implementation of risk stratification in the HSSP setting results in optimized patient outcomes in diabetes. Method: This is a retrospective descriptive study reporting the results of expanding the HSSP care model to implement risk stratified CDM services for patients with diabetes. A total of 285 patients were enrolled in the HSSP CDM pharmacy services and were stratified into high- or low-risk groups. Results: Eighty-eight patients were stratified as high-risk with an average baseline A1c of 11.47% and a most recent average of 8.84%. The remaining 285 patients were stratified into the low-risk group. Their average baseline A1c was 7.48% and the last recorded average A1c was 7.15%. Patients not enrolled in HSSP CDM services (N = 100) had a lower reduction in average A1c compared to patients enrolled in the program. Conclusion: Patients stratified into high- and low-risk groups had greater reductions in A1c compared to patients who did not use HSSP CDM services. These results showcase the success of risk stratification and demonstrate the impact HSSP has on patients needing CDM services and outlines a strategy to provide the greatest impact in a high-volume patient population.
Effect of Auriculotherapy on Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Choi Sunyeob , Kim Bomi
Published: May 2024

Background: Auriculotherapy, a form of therapy that involves stimulating specific points on the ear auricle, has garnered attention for its potential in holistic stress management in adults, aligning with broader patient-centered therapeutic approaches. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of auriculotherapy for stress relief in adults. Methods: A comprehensive search of nine databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, RISS, KMbase, and KISS) was performed, yielding 553 studies. Of these, 12 were selected for meta-analysis based on the inclusion criteria, which considered demographic data, types of auriculotherapy, intervention characteristics, auricular points, and stress-related outcomes. The risk of bias was also evaluated for each selected study. Results: The meta-analysis results ( n = 12) indicated that auriculotherapy was significantly superior to the control group in terms of subjective stress index, blood pressure, heart rate variability, and pulse rate, as well as improving low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) heart rate components and their ratio (LF/HF) in adults. Additionally, the subgroup analysis indicated a trend where the effect size of acupressure may be larger than that of acupuncture. Conclusions: Our findings underscore auriculotherapy's efficacy in reducing stress in adults, advocating for its integration into nursing curriculums as a viable clinical intervention for stress management. Promoting its application in clinical environments could complement holistic, patient-centric care paradigms.
Incoherences and Incompatibilities: Just Peace and Just War in Contemporary German Protestantism
Authors: Feiler Therese
Published: May 2024

This article revisits some of the main tenets and problems of the Just Peace concept as developed in the German Protestant Church, showing how it is beset by incoherences, ironical returns of expanded violence, as well as the problem of abstraction: once the Just Peace concept is applied to concrete problems, it runs dry. The article then examines some recent contributions made under the wider umbrella of ‘peace ethics’, showing that attempts to combine the Just Peace and bellum iustum are bound to fail. It then retraces the present shift to Just War thinking that reorders the basic terms, whilst also retaining some of the tenets of the Just Peace approach. Some refinements of these developments are indicated.
A new method for motion stability improving of dual-robotic ultrasonic nondestructive testing system
Authors: Guo Canzhi , Xu Chunguang , Cheng Guanggui , Wang Xiaodong , Ding Jianning
Published: May 2024

The dual-robotic ultrasonic nondestructive testing (NDT) system equipped with extension arm is an effective means to realize automatic ultrasonic testing of composite semi-enclosed workpieces. However, this cantilever structure amplifies the tiny vibrations of the inspection system, which seriously affects the coupling effect and the resolution of ultrasonic inspection. To solve the problem, this paper proposes a S-shaped acceleration and deceleration feature control algorithm to improve the motion stability and further to improve the inspection resolution of dual-robotic ultrasonic NDT system. Furthermore, the specific steps of S-shaped acceleration and deceleration features control algorithm in trajectory planning of the dual-robotic ultrasonic NDT system are described in detail. Comparative experiments of motion stability show that the acceleration in the x direction at the left and right ends of the detection area decreased significantly, from 0.15 to 0.08 m/s2 and the ultrasonic image of the internal defects have a higher resolution and smoother edges. The improvement plays an important role in promoting the resolution at the left and right ends of the detection area.
Coupled thermomechanical finite element analysis of ultrasonic hot embossing process
Authors: Abdel-Aleem Ahmed , El-Bab Ahmed M R Fath , Yoshino Masahiko , El-Hofy Hassan A , Hassan Mohsen A
Published: May 2024

Ultrasonic Hot Embossing of polymers is one of the most attractive manufacturing methods of high-quality and complex microparts needed for biological and chemical processes. A little simulation work has been done to study the deformation mechanism and the required load in the Ultrasonic Hot Embossing of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). This paper developed a 2D coupled thermo-mechanical finite element model to simulate the forming behavior of the ultrasonic embossing process of PMMA, optimize the mold microfeature corner, and predict the embossing load as well. VDISP ABAQUS subroutine has been used to describe the downward motion of the mold assisted with ultrasonic vibration. The Arbitrary Eulerian-Lagrangian re-meshing technique has been implemented to refine the deformation zone during simulation to avoid divergence due to localized excessive deformation. Embossing load, temperature, stresses, strains, and energy dissipation have been recorded and analyzed. Simulation results revealed that the coupled thermo-mechanical FE Model efficiently captures the deformation behavior and Embossing load. It also proved that a Mold microfeature corner of 20 μm filet radius is recommended to adequately fill out the area around the mold and maintain uniform temperature and strain distributions.
Growth arrest-specific protein 6 as a marker of nephritis in systemic sclerosis and juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Ahmed Alshymaa A , Said Dina , Sami May M
Published: May 2024

Background: Renal impairments commonly occur as a complication of autoimmune connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Therefore, early nephritis prediction is vital for patient outcomes. Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6 (GAS6) was found to be upregulated in many types of inflammatory renal disease, including diabetic nephropathy.

Aim: To evaluate GAS6 as a predictor of renal impairment in adults with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and children with systemic lupus Erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The study included 60 patients with SSc and 40 children with SLE. The serum level of GAS6 was measured using the ELISA technique. In adults with SSc, total proteins in 24-h urine concentration of >300 mg/24 h indicated renal inflammation, while in children with SLE, nephritis was diagnosed by abnormal renal pathology.

Results: In SSc patients, GAS6 significantly increased in patients with proteinuria. GAS6 is an independent predictor of nephritis with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.06 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.0-1.1. at cutoff 12.2 ng/mL GAS6 predicted proteinuria with sensitivity 86.7% (95% CI: 59.5% to 98.3%), specificity 57.8% (95% CI: 42.1% to 72.3%), positive predictive value 40.6% (95% CI: 31.5% to 50.4%), negative predictive value 92.9% (95% CI: 77.7% to 97.73%), and accuracy 65.0% (95% CI: 51.6% to 76.9%). In SLE patients, Serum GAS6 did not differ significantly between children with and without lupus nephritis.

Conclusion: GAS6 is an independent predictor of nephritis in patients with SSc. However, there is no association between GAS6 and nephritis in juvenile patients with SLE.
Is science to be trusted? How environmentally active youths relate to science in social media
Authors: Gustafsson Karin M.
Published: May 2024

Research has shown a great distrust among youths toward political representatives, who they demand should “listen to the science.” However, less research has been done on youths’ own trust in science. This study explores and explains how youths who are environmentally active in two different environmental youth organizations relate to science in social media, whether they trust science, and how youths’ relation to science creates a discursive context in which they may develop their identity. The study uses the approach of discourse analysis to examine social media content published on Facebook by Fridays for Future Sweden and Fältbiologerna (the Swedish Field Biologists). The study shows (i) how subject positions for scientists and youth are created in relation to one another based on different expressions of youths’ trust in science and (ii) how environmental youth organizations, by identifying with science, make youths important actors in the discourse on climate change.
A Case of Conservatively Managed Thymic Enlargement Secondary to Haemorrhage in a Newborn
Authors: Zaid Maria Elina , Irshad Sadia , Singh Harsimran Laidlow , Lee Geraint , Gowda Bharath
Published: May 2024

Thymic haemorrhage is rare in neonates. We report a case of a newborn infant with respiratory distress, who had findings of a widened mediastinum and enlarged thymic shadow on chest radiography. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated a heterogenous lobulated anterior mediastinal mass proven on biopsy to represent an intrathymic haemorrhage. To the best of our knowledge, this was the only case reported in the literature to have not required any invasive ventilator support or blood products. It is therefore important to illustrate that this unusual pathology can respond well to conservative as well as more aggressive management strategies.