bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of Cavovarus Foot Alignment With Peroneal Tendon Tears
Authors: Taniguchi Akira , Alejandro Shannon F. , Kane Justin M. , Daoud Yahya , Tanaka Yasuhito , Ford Samuel E. , Brodsky James W.
Published: April 2021

Background

Although it is a widely accepted clinical principle that cavovarus deformity predisposes to peroneal tendon problems, there are limited data to support that assumption. This study tested the hypothesis that cavovarus is associated with peroneal tendon tears and evaluated which radiographic measures correlated with that association.

Methods:

A retrospective comparison of radiographic measures of cavovarus in 234 consecutive patients operatively treated for chronically symptomatic peroneal tendon tears was compared to a matched control group. Measures included calcaneal pitch, anteroposterior (AP) talometatarsal and talocalcaneal angles, and talonavicular coverage angle. A novel coordinate system analyzed midfoot and hindfoot components of cavovarus. Analysis of variance was used to compare cohorts, and a Tukey-Kramer test used to analyze 3 subgroups of brevis and longus tears, and concomitant tears.

Results:

The distribution of tears was 73% peroneus brevis, 8% longus, and 19% both tendons. Compared with controls, the study group, and subgroups, had multiple measures of increased cavovarus, including greater calcaneal pitch ( P = .0001), decreased AP talo–first metatarsal angle ( P = .0001), and increased talonavicular coverage angle ( P = .0001). Elevated medial longitudinal arch, and rotational changes in the radiographic profiles of the hindfoot were found with the coordinate system described by Yokokura.

Conclusion:

This study found a statistically significant association of increased cavovarus deformity with peroneal tendon tears, compared to controls. It documented the relative incidence of tears of peroneus brevis, peroneus longus, and concomitant tears in a large surgical series. It demonstrated which simple radiographic angles and complex coordinate measurements of cavovarus deformity were significantly associated with peroneal tendon tears.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative cohort study.
Randomized clinical trials and real life studies: Comparison of baseline characteristics of patients in oral target therapies for renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Lasala Ruggero , Santoleri Fiorenzo , Romagnoli Alessia , Musicco Felice , Abrate Paolo , Costantini Alberto
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Pivotal Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) constitute scientific evidence in support of therapeutic choices when a drug is authorized in the market. In RCTs, patients are selected in a rigorous manner, in order to avoid bias that may influence efficacy assessments. Therefore, patients who take the drug in Real Life Studies (RLSs) are not the same as those participating in RCTs, which, in turn, leads to low data transferability from RCTs to RLS. The objective of this study was to evaluate the differences between RCTs and RLS, in terms of patient baseline characteristics.

Materials and Methods

Our study includes all oral target therapies for RCC (Renal Cell Carcinoma) marketed in Europe before March 31, 2019. For each treatment, we considered both RCTs and RLSs, the former gathered from Summary of Product Characteristics published on the European Medicine Agency (EMA) website, and the latter yielded by our search in relevant literature. For each drug considered, we then compared the baseline characteristics of patients included in the RCT samples with those of the samples included in the RLSs using the Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney tests.

Results

We considered six medicines, for a total of 9 pivotal RCTs and 31 RLSs. RCTs reported the same type of patient baseline characteristics, whereas RLSs are more varied in reporting. Some patient baseline characteristics (metastases, previous treatments, etc.) were significantly different between RCTs and RLs. Other characteristics, such as ECOG Performance Status, brain metastases, and comorbidities, liver and kidney failure, are comprised in exclusion criteria of RCTs, though are included in RLS. Discussion and Conclusion: While evaluating equal treatments for the same indications, RCTs and RLSs do not always assess patients with the same characteristics. It would be necessary to produce evidence from RLSs so as to have an idea of treatment effectiveness in patients groups that are not eligible or underrepresented in RCTs.
Hypersensitivity reactions to paclitaxel: The Mexican experience of rapid desensitization
Authors: González Rosalaura V Villarreal , Díaz Sandra N González , Cruz Rodrigo A de la Cruz , Gutiérrez Oscar Vidal , Quezada Cindy E de Lira
Published: April 2021

Background

Taxanes adjuvant therapy is recommended in certain high risk or metastatic tumors, particularly in lung and breast cancer, but also in other types of cancer like ovarian. The incidence of severe adverse drug reactions to paclitaxel is of approximately 10%.

Objectives

Analyze type I hypersensitivity reactions to paclitaxel and their management in the Mexican population.

Method

It is a retrospective, observational and descriptive study that included type I hypersensitivity reactions to paclitaxel reported from our database. Symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions to paclitaxel were classified and skin testing was performed with a 6 mg/mL paclitaxel concentration. The desensitization procedure consisted of a 12-steps, 3-bags of 250 mL protocol with a 6–7-hour duration.

Results

A total of 60 desensitization procedures were performed and were all completed successfully. All participants in our group were female, their median age was 44.5 years. All of our patients had hypersensitivity adverse drug reaction to paclitaxel during their first exposure and within the first 10 minutes of infusion. 63.6% of the patients had a moderate hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel and 36.4% had a severe reaction.

Conclusions

Paclitaxel continues to be a common use drug and has a high rate of adverse drug reactions. This is the first study of hypersensitivity to paclitaxel in a Mexican population.
Anticancer drug waste minimization and cost-saving study by using a closed-system transfer device for chemotherapy compounding
Authors: adade Casimir adade , Diop Boubacar BF , Attjioui Houda , cheikh Amine , Mefetah Hafid , Bouatia Mustapha
Published: April 2021

Introduction

There is a need for an economic evaluation of the use of closed system (CSTD) in chemotherapy compounding, especially in resource-constrained settings.

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the cost saving of the management of cancer drug leftovers before and after introduction of CSTD associated with an extension of the beyond-use date (BUD) of cancer vials. A secondary objective was to estimate the level of minimization of drug wastage.

Materials and methods

This was a prospective, single-center study with two periods of two months each. The cost of drugs saved by using conventional systems (syringe and needle) without a closed system in the first period was compared to the cost of drugs saved by using the CSTD Chemoclave® system in the second period. The drug waste minimization rate compared actual drug waste to potential waste in Period 2.

Results

In Period 1, the amount of drug saved accounted for an average of 10.3% of the amount used in milligrams and the amount of drug wasted accounted for an average of 18.7%. In period 2, these proportions were 15.2% and 6.4% respectively. The CSTD generated an extra cost of 11,962.5 USD compared to the conventional system. The drug saved cost related only to the CSTD and the acquisition cost of the CSTD was a deficit of -7,444.95 USD and the cost saved from the compounding (CSTD and syringes) was a gain of 1,722.01 USD. The waste minimization represented an average of 72.5% ± 24.4% of potential waste.

Conclusion

The use of CSTD to extend the BUD allowed to reduce waste due to microbiological instability without adding an economic profit.
Exact solution of a 2D problem of thermoelasticity without energy dissipation for an infinitely long cylinder
Authors: Sherief Hany H , Elhagary Mohammed A
Published: April 2021

We consider a 2D problem of a circular cylinder that is infinitely long and whose external surface is free from outside effects and acted upon by an asymmetrical temperature distribution that is harmonic in time. The problem is within the context of the theory of thermoelasticity without energy dissipation. The exact solution is obtained by a direct approach. The results are represented graphically and discussed.
Abdominal Organ Transplantation: Noteworthy Literature in 2020
Authors: Wang Ryan F. , Fagelman Erica J. , Smith Natalie K. , Sakai Tetsuro
Published: April 2021

In 2020, we identified and screened over 490 peer-reviewed publications on pancreatic transplantation, over 500 on intestinal transplantation, and over 5000 on kidney transplantation. The liver transplantation section specially focused on clinical trials and systematic reviews published in 2020 and featured selected articles. This review highlights noteworthy literature pertinent to anesthesiologists and critical care physicians caring for patients undergoing abdominal organ transplantation. We explore a wide range of topics, including COVID-19 and organ transplantation, risk factors and outcomes, pain management, artificial intelligence, robotic donor surgery, and machine perfusion.
Effect of intra-arterial vasodilator administration during radial artery access on systemic blood pressure in patients receiving moderate sedation
Authors: Foster Haley S , Tabori Nora E , Sabri Saher S , Horton Keith M , Khan Arshad A , Sivananthan Gajan
Published: April 2021

Purpose:

The hemodynamic effects of intra-arterial vasodilator administration for the prevention of radial artery spasm during transradial access have not been well characterized. This study evaluates the effect of intra-arterial Verapamil and Nitroglycerine administration on systemic blood pressure and its correlation with timing of moderate sedation administration.

Materials and methods:

Institutional review board approval was granted. Patients who underwent transradial access from 4/2018 to 4/2019 and received both intra-arterial vasodilators and moderate sedation were identified and their electronic medical records reviewed. Patients were divided into three cohorts based on the timing of sedation and intra-arterial vasodilator administration. Decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) was expressed as means with standard deviation which were then compared using Student’s t-test.

Results:

A total of 84 patients who met inclusion criteria demonstrated an overall mean decrease in SBP of 16.45 mmHg ± 15.45 mmHg. Patients receiving sedation and intra-arterial vasodilators within their expected peak SBP effect times had similar SBP change following the intra-arterial vasodilators as those in whom the interval was greater than 10 min (4.2 mmHg; 95% CI (−4.11 to 12.52), p = 0.3171). Two patients experienced asymptomatic hypotension.

Conclusions:

Patients undergoing transradial access for procedures utilizing moderate sedation can safely receive intra-arterial Verapamil and Nitroglycerine for prevention of radial artery spasm.
Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of hub genes in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Luo Xuan , Feng Lei , Xu WenBo , Bai XueJing , Wu MengNa
Published: April 2021

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a tumor with high incidence. This study aimed to identify the central genes of LUAD. LUAD were analyzed by weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA), and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases and included 515 LUAD samples and 347 normal samples. The WGCNA algorithm generated a total of 10 modules. The top 2 modules (MEturquoise and MEblue) with the highest correlation to LUAD were selected. Ten Hub genes (IL6, CDH1, PECAM1, SPP1, THBS1, HGF, SNCA, CDH5, CAV1, and DLC1) were screened in the intersecting genes of DEGs and WGCNA (MEturquoise and MEblue). Only SPP1 was correlated with LUAD poor survival, indicating that SPP1 may be a key Hub gene for LUAD. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed to analyze the regulatory relationship of Hub genes, and SPP1 may be directly regulated by 4 microRNAs (miRNAs) and indirectly regulated by 49 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs).
Fretting wear behaviour of nickel foam struts used in fuel cell applications
Authors: Venkatesh Gangisetty , Gnanamoorthy Rajappa , Okazaki Masakazu
Published: April 2021

In any proton-exchange membrane fuel cell, the bipolar plates grab attention because of the high production cost and heavyweight. Hence, the open-cell nickel foams are considered as an alternative to these grooved plates. The reliability of the metallic foams used as flow distributors and gas diffusion layers plays a vital role in the fuel cell's overall performance. Fretting wear damage of the metal foam at strut/strut interface and strut/supporting frame interface due to the vehicular vibrations and pressurized fuel flow is expected to affect the performance and is investigated. This paper discusses the fretting wear behaviour of nickel foam strut that constitutes open-cell nickel foam based on laboratory tests. The experiments are performed by using two different contact configurations: steel ball on wrought nickel flat and nickel strut on wrought nickel flat. The test results reveal the fretting friction coefficient's dependence on the normal load, surface roughness and contact geometry. Although the nickel strut versus nickel flat fretting wear tests showed a low coefficient of friction, severe damages were observed on the nickel struts’ worn surfaces compared to the wrought nickel flat. Scanning electron microscope images of worn scars on nickel foam struts indicate the presence of shallow grooves, craters, micro-cracks and delamination craters at higher loads.
Simulation of thermal and mechanical performance of laser cladded disc brake rotors
Authors: Athanassiou Nicholas , Olofsson Ulf , Wahlström Jens , Dizdar Senad
Published: April 2021

Disc brakes wear during braking events and release airborne particulates. These particle emissions are currently one of the highest contributors to non-exhaust particle emissions and introduce health hazards as well as environmental contamination. To reduce this problem, wear and corrosion-resistant disc coatings have been implemented on grey cast iron brake disc rotors by using various deposition techniques such as thermal spraying and overlay welding. High thermal gradients during braking introduce risks of flaking off and cracking of thermally sprayed coatings with adhesive bonding to the substrate. Overlay welding by laser cladding offers metallurgical bonding of the coating to the substrate and other benefits that motivate laser cladding as a candidate for the coating of the grey cast iron brake discs. This study aims to investigate the effect of laser cladding on the thermal and thermo-structural performance of the coated grey cast iron brake discs. Therefore, thermal and thermo-stress analysis with COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 software is performed on braking events of grey cast iron brake discs as non-coated – reference and laser cladding coated with stainless steel welding consumables. The Results demonstrated that surface temperatures were more localised, overall higher in the laser cladded coating with over three times the stresses attained of reference grey cast iron discs. The output of the simulations has been compared by tests found in the literature. Laser cladding presented higher reliability and braking performance, nonetheless requiring the evaluation of its thermal impact on other system components.
Food tourism in Korea
Authors: Chang Seohee
Published: April 2021

Amid the growing popularity of food tourism, many national and local governments have been developing food tourism-centered destination management. However, few studies have examined whether such strategies have been effective. This study analyzes the behavioral and psychological patterns of food tourists at the demand side, with the focus on the period from 2015 to 2018, when the Korean government initiated food tourism-intensive strategies on the supply side (i.e., ‘K-Food’). This study has found that the psychological and behavioral patterns of food tourists display some changes, both positive and negative, that follow changes in the government’s policy strategies over the last 4 years. The study discusses the implications of this finding for food tourism strategies, particularly in terms of the importance of cultural attributes embedded in food tourism and the availability and accessibility of diverse local food tourism resources.
Improved analysis method for structural members subjected to blast loads considering strain hardening and softening effects
Authors: Cui Liuliang , Zhang Xihong , Hao Hong
Published: April 2021

In analysis and design of structures subjected to blast loading, equivalent Single-Degree-of-Freedom (SDOF) method is commonly recommended in design guides. In this paper, improved analysis method based on SDOF models is proposed. Both flexural and direct shear behaviors of structures subjected to blast load are studied using equivalent SDOF systems. Methods of deriving flexural and direct shear resistance functions are introduced, of which strain hardening and softening effects are considered. To collocate with the improved SDOF models, the improved design charts accounting for strain hardening and softening are developed through systematical analysis of SDOF systems. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed analysis method, a model validation is made through comparing the predictions with laboratory shock tube testing results on reinforced concrete (RC) columns. It is found that compared to the conventional approach with elastic and elastic-perfectly-plastic model, the elastic-plastic-hardening model provides more accurate predictions. Additional non-dimensional design charts considering various levels of elastic-plastic-hardening/softening resistance functions are developed to supplement those available in the design guides with elastic-perfectly-plastic resistance function only, which provide engineers with options to choose more appropriate resistance functions in design analysis.
Associations between mental health and sociodemographic characteristics among schoolchildren. A cross-sectional survey in Denmark 2019
Authors: Beck Michelle S. , Fjorback Lone O. , Juul Lise
Published: April 2021

Aims: We aimed to investigate associations between mental health and sociodemographic characteristics among schoolchildren in Denmark. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional survey from January to October 2019 among 4th to 9th graders ( N=1247) based on pilot data from a nationwide research project Stress-free Everyday LiFe for Children and Adolescents REsearch (SELFCARE). We assessed mental health using the five-item World Health Organization Well-Being Index and the self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. We investigated associations between mental health and sex, age in terms of grade, type of school, family setting and geographic region using regression analysis. Results: Mental health was poorer among girls in the older classes compared to girls in 4th grade, and better among boys in the older classes compared to boys in 4th grade. We found no difference in mental health among schoolchildren in municipal and private schools. Mental health was poorer among both girls and boys living alternately with their parents compared to residing with both of them. Mental health varied across geographic regions. Conclusions: We found associations between mental health and sex, age in terms of grade, family setting and geographic region.
An ethnography of deletion: Materializing transience in Solomon Islands digital cultures
Authors: Hobbis Geoffrey , Hobbis Stephanie Ketterer
Published: April 2021

This article demonstrates the fragility of digital storage through a non-media-centric ethnography of data management practices in the so-called Global South. It shows how in the Lau Lagoon, Malaita Province, Solomon Islands, the capacity to reliably store digital media is curtailed by limited access to means of capital production and civic infrastructures, as well as a comparatively isolated tropical ecology that bedevils the permanence of all things. The object biography of mobile phones, including MicroSD cards, typically short, fits into a broader historical pattern of everyday engagements with materializations of transience in the Lau Lagoon. Three types of visual media are exemplary in this regard: sand, ancestral material cultures and digital visual media (photographs and videos). Ultimately, Lau experiences of transience in their visual media are located in their visual technological history and the choices they make about which materials to maintain or dispose of.
Microstructural and mechanical characterization of lamb bone ash and boron carbide reinforced ZA-27 hybrid metal matrix composites
Authors: Singh Pawandeep , Mishra RK , Singh Balbir
Published: April 2021

ZA-27 hybrid metal matrix composites reinforced with lamb bone ash (LBA) and boron carbide (B4C) were fabricated by employing stir casting route. Single-reinforced composite with 5 wt.% of LBA and hybrid composites reinforced with LBA/B4C in the ratio of (3.75:1.25, 2.5:2.5, 1.25:3.75) were developed. Composites were processed as per ASTM standards and subjected to physical characterization (density and porosity), microstructural characterization, and mechanical characterization (hardness, compressive strength, tensile strength, and impact strength). Microstructural studies of ZA-27 composites using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed the uniform dispersion of reinforcements. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) of the developed composites confirmed the existence of LBA and B4C particles in the matrix. The density of the composites declined, and porosity increased with the increment in B4C wt.% compared with base alloy. Mechanical properties like hardness, compressive strength, and tensile strength improved significantly in the case of hybrid composites than single-reinforced composite. Hardness, compressive strength and tensile strength of the hybrid composites increased to a maximum of 41.12%, 24.40%, 61.08% respectively compared to the base alloy, whereas single-reinforced composite showed maximum improvement of 19.26% (hardness), 11.16% (compressive strength), and 28.38% (tensile strength) compared to the base alloy. Ductility of the composites decreased with the addition of reinforcements. Impact strength of the composites showed a marginal reduction; however, the reduction was higher in the single-reinforced composite than hybrid reinforced composites. Fractured morphology showed dimples, cracks, tear ridges, and voids.
Pedagogical publics: Creating sustainable educational environments in times of climate change
Authors: Bergdahl Lovisa , Langmann Elisabet
Published: April 2021

The paper offers a pedagogical response to the complexity of sustainability challenges that takes the existential and emotional dimensions of climate change seriously. To this end, the paper unfolds in two parts. The first part makes a distinction between ‘public pedagogy’ as an area of educational scholarship and ‘pedagogical publics’ as a theoretical lens for identifying certain qualities within educational environments, exploring what potential this distinction has for rethinking public pedagogy for sustainable development. Turning to Bonnie Honig (2015) and her call for creating ‘holding environments’ in the public sphere as a response to the democratic need of our time, the second part translates her political notion into an educational notion asking what fostering pedagogical publics as holding environments might involve. In relation to sustainability challenges, it is suggested that an environment that ‘holds’ people together as a pedagogical public has three main qualities: a) it makes room for new rituals for sustainable living to be developed in order to offer a sense of permanence; b) it invites narratives that can frame sustainability challenges in more positive registers; and c) it reinstates an intergenerational difference that serves to give back hopes and dreams to adults and children in troubling times.
Two-point radiation statistics from large-scale turbulent structures within supersonic jets
Authors: Cheng Jianhui , Goldschmidt James D , Shen Weiqi , Ukeiley Lawrence , Miller Steven AE
Published: April 2021

The noise from large-scale coherent turbulent structures within jets remains the dominant source. For the purpose of developing future control systems for the large-scale noise source, we investigate the statistics between upstream and downstream radiating waves. We investigate two off-design supersonic jet flows with instability theory and associated noise radiation, large-eddy simulation (LES), and experiments. We compare the auto-correlation, cross-correlation, coherence, and other statistics predicted by aeroacoustic instability theory. As instability waves are closely connected with the formation of large-scale turbulent structures, they yield insight into large-scale noise statistics. We investigate two nozzles at two supersonic off-design conditions. The first is a biconic nozzle operating at an unheated condition, and the second is a NASA nozzle operating at a heated condition. We find that for these jets, the noise from instability waves is coherent between 0.40 to 0.70 at large-scale radiation frequencies between the downstream and upstream radiation directions.
Stress evaluation in seven-wire strands based on singular value feature of ultrasonic guided waves
Authors: Ji Qian , Jian-Bin Li , Fan-Rui Liu , Jian-Ting Zhou , Xu Wang
Published: April 2021

The seven-wire strands are the crucial components of prestressed structures, though their performance inevitably degrades with the passage of time. The ultrasonic guided wave methods have been intensely studied, owing to its tremendous potential for full-scale applications, among the existing nondestructive testing methods, for evaluating the stress status of strands. We have employed the theoretical and finite element methods to solve the dispersion curve of single wire and steel strands under various boundary conditions. Thereafter, the singular value decomposition was adopted to work with the simulated and experimental signals for extracting a feature vector that carries valuable stress status information. The effectiveness of the vector was verified by analyzing the relationship between the vector and the stress level. The vector was also used as an input to establish a support vector regression model. The accuracy of the model has been discussed for different sample sizes. The results show that the fundamental mode dispersion curve offset on the high-frequency part and cut-off frequency increases as the boundary constraints enhance. Simulated and experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness and potential of the proposed support vector regression method for evaluating the stress level in the strands. This method performs well even at low stress levels and the reliability can be enhanced by adding more samples.
In Situ Laser Fenestration for Delayed Left Subclavian Artery Revascularization Following Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair of Type B Aortic Dissection
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Li Mingxing , Bai Hualong , Liu Yuanfeng , Bai Tao , Qiao Zhentao
Published: April 2021

In situ laser fenestration (ISLF) is currently used to reconstruct the aortic major branches during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). To our knowledge, there have been no reports on the application of ISLF for delayed revascularization of the LSA previously sealed in TEVAR. This report describes 5 patients who underwent ISLF for delayed LSA revascularization, with a technical success rate of 80%. No endoleakage occurred, and stents remained patent during more than 6-month follow-up. ISLF is an effective, safe and minimally invasive method for delayed revascularization of the LSA following TEVAR for type B aortic dissection (TBAD) when patients are selected appropriately.
Pivotal Play: Rethinking Meaningful Play in Games Through Death in Dungeons & Dragons
Authors: Sidhu Premeet , Carter Marcus
Published: April 2021

In game studies, meaningful play is commonly discussed and situated through Salen and Zimmerman’s (2004) definition describing it as the integrated and discernible relationship between player actions and system outcomes within the context of the game. However, this overlooks other ways that play can be meaningful. Based on observation and interviews with 20 Australian players, this article examines experiences with death in the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). In the context of meaningful play ( Salen & Zimmerman, 2004 ) and positive negative experiences ( Hopeametsä, 2008 ), we discuss (1) the impact of shared physical and social realities on death in D&D, (2) the design of death in D&D, and (3) how death in D&D shapes the future play and lives of players. From this, we argue that play can have meaning that transcends game boundaries, subsequently proposing the concept of “ pivotal play” to describe appealing, memorable, and transformative play experiences.
The Challenges and Strategies of Affordable Care Act Navigators and In-Person Assisters with Enrolling Uninsured, Violently Injured Young Black Men into Healthcare Insurance Coverage
Authors: Richardson Joseph B. , Wical William , Kottage Nipun , Chaudhary Mihir , Galloway Nicholas , Cooper Carnell
Published: April 2021

Low-income young Black men experience a disproportionate burden of violent injury in the United States. These men face significant disparities in healthcare insurance coverage and access to care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created a new healthcare workforce, Navigators and In-Person Assisters (IPAs), to support low-income minority populations with insurance enrollment. Using a longitudinal qualitative case study approach with Navigators and IPAs at the two busiest urban trauma centers in Maryland, this study identifies the culturally and structurally responsive enrollment strategies used by three Navigators/IPAs as they enrolled violently injured young Black men in healthcare insurance coverage. These approaches included gaining their trust and building rapport and engaging female caregivers during enrollment. Navigators and IPAs faced significant barriers, including identity verification, health literacy, privacy and confidentiality, and technological issues. These findings offer novel insight into the vital work performed by Navigators and IPAs, as they attempt to decrease health disparities for young Black male survivors of violence. Despite high rates of victimization due to violent firearm injury, little is known about how this population gains access to healthcare insurance. Although the generalizability of this research may be limited due to the small sample size of participants, the qualitative case study approach offers critical exploratory data suggesting the importance of trauma-informed care in insurance enrollment by Navigators and IPAs. They also emphasize the need to further address structural issues, which affect insurance enrollment and thus undermine the well-being of young Black men who have survived violent injury.
Black American Fathers Employed in Higher-Risk Contexts for Contracting COVID-19: Implications for Individual Wellbeing and Work-Family Spillover
Authors: Cooper Shauna M. , Thomas Alvin , Bamishigbin Olajide
Published: April 2021

Black Americans remain disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Emerging data suggests that employment in certain occupations (e.g., essential; frontline) may place individuals at higher-risk for contracting COVID-19. The current investigation examined how Black American fathers’ COVID-19 perceived work risk was associated with their individual well-being (COVID-19 diagnosis; depressive and anxiety symptoms; sleep disturbance; sleep quality) as well as spillover into family contexts. Participants were 466 Black American fathers ( M = 36.63; SD = 11.00) who completed online surveys in June–July 2020. Adjusted binomial logistic and multiple regressions were estimated to examine how fathers’ work context was associated with COVID-19 health outcomes, psychological functioning, sleep health, and family stress. Descriptive analyses revealed that 32% of fathers reported a personal diagnosis of COVID-19 and 21% indicated that an immediate family member had been diagnosed. Adjusted binomial logistic regression analyses revealed that fathers working in higher-risk contexts for contracting COVID-19 had a greater odds ratio for both a personal (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.68) and an immediate family member diagnosis (OR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.52, 4.36). Working in a higher-risk context for contracting COVID-19 was associated with poorer psychological functioning, greater sleep disturbance, and higher levels of family discord. Findings suggest that Black fathers working in higher risk contexts may be at risk for COVID-19 exposure and infection. Further, this study indicates that these effects extend to their own well-being, including mental and sleep health as well as increased family stress.
Effect of Pharmaceutical Effluents on Growth, Oxidative Defense, Secondary Metabolism, and Ion Homeostasis in Carrot
Authors: Hussain Iqbal , Rehman Kanwal , Ashraf Muhammad Arslan , Rasheed Rizwan , Gul Javeria , Akash Muhammad Sajid Hamid , Bashir Rohina
Published: April 2021

Pharmaceutical wastes are environmental micro pollutant and potential risk for the ecosystem. Therefore, the present study was planned to find out the effects of different pharmaceutical effluent (PE) regimes on growth, secondary metabolism, and oxidative defense in 2 carrot lines. The seeds of 2 carrot lines (DC-3 and T-29) were spread in plastic pots containing sandy loam soil. The design of experiment was completely randomized with 3 replicates per treatment. At vegetative stage, plants were irrigated with 5 different doses (control), 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) of PE on every 3-day interval, while control plants were irrigated with canal water. The carrot roots were harvested after 25 days’ application of the treatments to determine various attributes. High concentration of PE caused a substantial decline in growth, beta carotenoids, anthocyanin, total soluble protein, free amino acids, total soluble sugar, phenolic and flavonoid contents and an increase in proline, levels of H2O2 and MDA, activities of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in both lines. Moreover, PE caused significant reduction in the levels of essential nutrients (K+, Ca2+) and increased in Na+ content. However, T-29 line was found to be more PE tolerant because it had less H2O2, MDA and ascorbic acid contents. Thus, our findings showed that diluted PE (25%) could not be used for irrigation to increase the growth of plants in nutrients deprived environments without using bio filtration and biocarbon sorption technologies for treatments.
Interviewing as a Vehicle for Theoretical Sampling in Grounded Theory
Authors: Foley Geraldine , Timonen Virpi , Conlon Catherine , O’Dare Catherine Elliott
Published: April 2021

Interviewing is a frequently deployed data collection method in grounded theory research. Theoretical sampling is a core feature of the grounded theory method. Theoretical sampling is commonly understood as a means for sampling participants with a set of theoretical considerations in mind. However, theoretical sampling also occurs in the actual data generating process, for example through interviewing. Here, we illustrate how interviewing can be used as a vehicle for theoretical sampling. We discuss how to set up an interview study for it to be amenable to theoretical sampling. We show how interviewing and theoretical sampling align as the study proceeds and how interviewing in grounded theory can steer the course for theoretical sampling. We demonstrate how co-construction of data in grounded theory interviewing fuels theoretical sampling. Finally, we show that proceeding with questions for the purpose of theoretical sampling requires reflexivity and flexibility on the part of the researcher. We conclude that generating and analyzing data through the course of interviewing allows the researcher to probe into, expand on, and saturate key concepts and categories which collectively steer the inquiry and subsequent sampling. In the absence of theoretical sampling, it is not possible to grasp the basis for modifying interview questions or to decipher what or how questions should be asked, and for what purpose.
Comparative simulation study on two estimation methods and two control strategies for semi-active suspension
Authors: Xin Wang , Liang Gu , Mingming Dong , Xiaolei Li
Published: April 2021

With regard to the structural characteristics of the McPherson suspension system, when a vehicle is being driven on a rough road surface, the force direction of the suspension varies. This poses challenges to the vehicle’s driving safety and handling stability. Based on Lagrangian equations, this paper proposes a new nonlinear semi-vehicle suspension model and presents comparative studies, conducted through simulation, on the estimated accuracy and computational overhead of the small-computational-overhead extended Kalman filter (EKF) and unscented Kalman estimation (UKF) methods, and on the effectiveness of the skyhook sliding mode control (SHSMC) and nonlinear skyhook-sliding mode control (NSHSMC) semi-active suspension control methods. The response of the vehicle to the state estimation algorithm was evaluated through computer simulations using the Carsim vehicle dynamic software. The simulation results reveal that the vehicle dynamic states were satisfactorily estimated when the vehicle was driven on a rough road surface. Compared with the small-computational-overhead EKF algorithm, the estimated results of these variables based on the UKF algorithm have higher accuracy. However, the UKF algorithm requires longer computation time compared with the EKF algorithm. The SHSMC control algorithm achieved greater improvement for the vehicle’s drive handling stability in the 6–10-Hz vibration region compared with the NSHSMC control algorithm. In a high-frequency region over 10Hz, the semi-active suspension controlled by the SHSMC method had a more adverse effect on the driving comfort.
A new method of phase-shifting and displacement of unit motor to suppress the thrust fluctuation of linear motor
Authors: Zhou Feng , Zhao Han , Liu Xiaoke , Wang Fujia
Published: April 2021

Permanent magnet linear motors can cause thrust fluctuation due to cogging and end effects, which will affect the operation stability of the linear motor. In order to solve this problem, a new method of eliminating alveolar force by using phase-shifting and displacement is proposed in this paper. Taking the cylindrical permanent magnet linear motor as an example, the traditional cylindrical permanent magnet linear motor is divided into two unit-motors, and established finite element analysis model of cylindrical permanent magnet linear motor. It is different from other traditional methods, the thrust fluctuation was reduced by both phase-shifting and displacement simultaneously in this paper, and through simulation analysis, it is determined that the thrust fluctuation suppression effect was the best when the cogging distance was shifted by half. Furthermore, a comparative simulation was made on whether the magnetic insulating material was used. The simulation results show that: The method proposed in this paper can effectively suppress the thrust fluctuation of the cylindrical permanent magnet linear motor. And it can be applied to other similar motor designs. Compared with the traditional method of suppressing thrust fluctuation, the mechanical structure and the technological process of suppressing thrust fluctuation used in this method are simpler.
Combining convolutional neural networks with unsupervised learning for acoustic monitoring of robotic manufacturing facilities
Authors: Bynum Jeffrey , Lattanzi David
Published: April 2021

For automated robotic manufacturing, a key aspect of monitoring is the identification and segmentation of core actuation processes captured in sensor logs. Once segmented, the behavior of an industrial system during a particular actuation can be tracked to detect signs of degradation. This study presents a technique for performing such an analysis through a combination of machine learning techniques designed to work with an acoustic monitoring system. A spectrogram-based convolutional neural network (CNN) is first trained to identify and segment primary motion classes from acoustic data. Unsupervised clustering and feature-space analysis are then employed to further separate the data into motion sub-classes beyond the capabilities of the CNN. This approach was evaluated on acoustic recordings of a Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA) system. The developed CNN performed primary robotic motion segmentation with a maximum actuation identification accuracy of 87% when compared to validation data. The unsupervised clustering process had mixed success in distinguishing more fine-grained motion sub-classes due to strong variances in signal energy for some sub-classes. Further refinement is required for improved segmentation accuracy as well as automatic feature generation. The application of this process for life-cycle system monitoring is discussed as well.
Failure analysis of automobile engine pump shaft bearing
Authors: Guo Hao , Duan Haitao , Lei Jianzhong , Wang Dongfeng , Du Sanming , Zhang Yongzhen , Ding Zongye
Published: April 2021

The shaft bearing is the key component of water pump and its fatigue failure results in the abnormal operation of the system. However, the failure mechanisms of bearing are still unclear. In this paper, the failure analysis on the engine water pump shaft bearing was carried out by using the measurement of material composition and properties, observation of macro and micro morphologies, and theoretical analysis of fatigue failure. The wear behavior and failure mechanisms were clarified, and the prevention measures was further proposed. The bearing failure reflected from the fracture of bearing cage and serious wear of roller and mandrel. The wear behavior of the mandrel originated from the surface fatigue, and the failure was attributed to the large radial deflection load. Further, the decreased weight of impeller and shaft connector and the increased bearing thickness were recommended to improve the bearing operation.
A numerical study of the impact perforation of sandwich panels with graded hollow sphere cores
Authors: Elnasri Ibrahim , Zhao Han
Published: April 2021

In this study, we numerically investigate the impact perforation of sandwich panels made of 0.8 mm 2024-T3 aluminum alloy skin sheets and graded polymeric hollow sphere cores with four different gradient profiles. A suitable numerical model was conducted using the LS-DYNA code, calibrated with an inverse perforation test, instrumented with a Hopkinson bar, and validated using experimental data from the literature. Moreover, the effects of quasi-static loading, landing rates, and boundary conditions on the perforation resistance of the studied graded core sandwich panels were discussed. The simulation results showed that the piercing force–displacement response of the graded core sandwich panels is affected by the core density gradient profiles. Besides, the energy absorption capability can be effectively enhanced by modifying the arrangement of the core layers with unclumping boundary conditions in the graded core sandwich panel, which is rather too hard to achieve with clumping boundary conditions.
Strength training for throwing velocity enhancement in overhead throw: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Martínez-García D , Chirosa Ríos LJ , Rodriguez-Perea A , Ulloa-Díaz D , Jerez-Mayorga D , Chirosa Ríos IJ
Published: April 2021

The overhead throw is a fundamental technical-tactical ability for overhead sports. The purposes of this review are to assess the effect of resistance training (RT) in enhancing throwing velocity in athletes and to investigate the relationships between age or gender in this effect. Control group trials were identified through looking up electronic databases with a search span of 10th December 2020. Only studies which have control groups within research design, subjects randomly assigned to groups, healthy athletes with experience in the sport, an intervention consisting of a supervised RT program of a minimum duration of 4 weeks, and assessment of sport-specific throwing velocity were taken into account for this meta-analysis. A total of 16 studies with 424 subjects were deemed eligible per the inclusion criteria. The overall pooled analysis demonstrated that a large effect was observed for throwing velocity outcomes (ES 1.10; 95% CI 0.64–1.57; p < 0.00001). Differences were due to gender, with male (ES 1.12; 95% CI 0.55–1.78; p < 0.0001) and female athletes (ES 1.22; 95% CI 0.25–2.20; p < 0.00001). And due to age, with teenager athletes (ES 0.49; 95% CI -0.18–1.17; p = 0.04) and adult athletes (ES 1.34; 95% CI 0.64–1.92; p < 0.00001). Throwing velocity enhancement after RT was greater for women than for men, and for adults more than underage subjects. RT should last at least four weeks, with 2–3 sessions each week, and with any available implement.
A united front: Coach and teammate motivational climate and team cohesion among female adolescent athletes
Authors: Weiss Maureen R , Moehnke Hailee J , Kipp Lindsay E
Published: April 2021

Based on theory and research on athlete motivation and sport cohesion, this study examined the concurrent association of perceived coach and peer motivational climates with team cohesion among female adolescent athletes. Participants ( N = 235) included 14- to 18-year-old competitive volleyball players who completed self-report measures of motivational climates and team cohesion in the latter part of the season. Canonical correlation analysis revealed that all coach and peer task-involving dimensions were positively related, and peer intra-team conflict (ego-involving dimension) was negatively related, to team cohesion. Task-involving dimensions of coach cooperative learning and peer effort and relatedness support contributed most strongly to the relationship as did task cohesion. Multiple regression analyses showed that elements of both coach and peer climates were related to task and social cohesion. Findings extend past research by simultaneously examining coaches and peers as social sources of team cohesion among female adolescent athletes. Specific strategies are offered for how coaches can enhance team cohesiveness by directly shaping a task-involving climate, minimizing an ego-involving climate, and fostering a teammate task-involving climate that promotes positive peer interactions and relationships.