bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Global Diagnosis of Eddy Potential Energy Budget in an Eddy-Permitting Ocean Model
Authors: Guo Yiming , Bishop Stuart , Bryan Frank , Bachman Scott
Published: April 2022

We use an interannually forced version of the Parallel Ocean Program, configured to resolve mesoscale eddies, to close the global eddy potential energy (EPE) budget associated with temperature variability. By closing the EPE budget, we are able to properly investigate the role of diabatic processes in modulating mesoscale energetics in the context of other processes driving eddy–mean flow interactions. A Helmholtz decomposition of the eddy heat flux field into divergent and rotational components is applied to estimate the baroclinic conversion from mean to eddy potential energy. In doing so, an approximate two-way balance between the “divergent” baroclinic conversion and upgradient vertical eddy heat fluxes in the ocean interior is revealed, in accordance with baroclinic instability and the relaxation of isopycnal slopes. However, in the mixed layer, the EPE budget is greatly modulated by diabatic mixing, with air–sea interactions and interior diffusion playing comparable roles. Globally, this accounts for ∼60% of EPE converted to EKE (eddy kinetic energy), with the remainder being dissipated by air–sea interactions and interior mixing. A seasonal composite of baroclinic energy conversions shows that the strongest EPE to EKE conversion occurs during the summer in both hemispheres. The seasonally varying diabatic processes in the upper ocean are further shown to be closely linked to this EPE–EKE conversion seasonality, but with a lead. The peak energy dissipation through vertical mixing occurs ahead of the minimum EKE generation by 1–2 months.
Acquired Factor XIII Deficiency in a 19-year-Old Male Following Ballistic Injury
Authors: Rodgers Skylar C. , Carter Kristen T. , Kutcher Matthew E. , Iwuchukwu Chinenye O.
Published: April 2022

Factor XIII deficiency is a rare cause of post-operative bleeding. It poses a diagnostic challenge as standard coagulation tests including prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, and activated partial thromboplastin time are usually normal in factor XIII deficiency. We present the case of our patient, a 19-year-old male with acquired factor XIII deficiency diagnosed after ballistic injury with a post-operative course complicated by hemorrhage. This case demonstrates an uncommon cause of coagulopathy, acquired factor XIII deficiency, and the challenges it poses to post-operative management. The diagnosis of acquired factor XIII deficiency may be challenging, but a high clinical suspicion is imperative to avoid a missed diagnosis and delayed treatment.
Breast Trauma: A Decade of Surgical Interventions And Outcomes From us Trauma Centers
Authors: Sargent Rachel E. , Schellenberg Morgan , Cheng Vincent , Emigh Brent , Matsushima Kazuhide , Inaba Kenji
Published: April 2022

Background

Traumatic breast injuries that require surgical intervention are rare and incompletely studied. The study objective was to define the incidence, mechanism/burden of injury, interventions, and outcomes after breast injuries requiring surgery nationally.

Methods

All patients with breast trauma necessitating surgery were identified from the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) (2006-2017) using ICD-9 and -10 codes, without exclusions. Demographics, injury mechanism/severity, procedures, and outcomes (mortality, hospital length of stay [LOS, days], ICU LOS, and AIS >1 in >1 body regions, defining multisystem trauma) were compared with ANOVA or Chi-squared tests, as appropriate.

Results

In total, 899 patients (.01% of NTDB) met study criteria. Median age was 41 years and most patients were female (n = 802, 89%). Penetrating trauma was the most common injury mechanism (n = 395, 44%), followed by blunt trauma (n = 369, 41%) and burns (n = 135, 15%). Median ISS was higher after blunt trauma than penetrating trauma or burns (10 vs 5 vs 4, P < .001). Laceration repair/mastotomy was the most common procedure among penetrating (n = 354, 90%) and blunt (n = 265, 72%) trauma patients, while mastectomy was the most common after burns (n = 126, 93%). Breast procedures varied significantly by mechanism (P < .001).

Conclusion

Breast injuries requiring surgery are uncommon. Most occur following penetrating trauma, although injury severity is highest after blunt trauma and mortality is highest after burns. Procedure type, injury severity, and outcomes varied significantly by mechanism of injury, implying that breast trauma should be considered within the context of injury mechanism. These findings may assist with prognostication after breast trauma necessitating surgical intervention.
Atherosclerosis and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Balta Sevket
Published: April 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common disease defined by excess fat deposition in the liver. The course of NAFLD is not fully understood, however, some pathogenic mechanisms have been identified. Accumulation of fat in liver cells is associated with insulin resistance, central obesity, triglyceride accumulation in the liver and hepatic fatty acid metabolism dysregulation that cause steatosis. The other process leads to hepatocyte inflammation and necrosis, which leads to severe hepatic disease; non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Many clinical studies have underlined the link between NAFLD and atherosclerosis. NAFLD may alter the balance lipid-glucose metabolism as well as increase the risk of hypertension and systemic inflammation. This results in a greater risk of vascular events. The present review considers the link between NAFLD and atherosclerosis.
The PID and 2DOF control of the integral system - influence of the 2DOF parameters and practical implementation
Authors: Guras Radek , Strambersky Radek , Mahdal Miroslav
Published: April 2022

The article deals with the issue of using the Two Degree of Freedom (2DOF) PID controller to control an integral system and investigates by the simulation and experimental measurement what influence it has on the course of the control process compared to standard PID controller. The controlled plant is represented by the DC electric motor with worm gear and its output shaft rotation angle. The article studies the effect of the added parameters of the 2DOF controller on the dynamics of the closed-loop control. The influence of these parameters is then evaluated using the quality of feedback control criteria ITAE. The paper studies how the overshoot of the controlled variable during the setpoint step is eliminated using 2DOF control theory. The overshoot is caused due to an aggressive tuning of the controller to eliminate the disturbance effect on the controlled variable of the integral plants with dead zones.
Exploring the Impact and Lived Experiences of Hospice Staff Working in End-of-Life Care: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
Authors: Moody Chloe D.
Published: April 2022

Current research surrounding the experiences of hospice staff is significantly underdeveloped. Additionally, the stigmatisation of death in Western society has formed delusions of hospice care amongst the general public. These findings gained an insight of the lived experiences of six hospice staff across England and Wales, through an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Eight superordinate themes were identified; ‘COVID-19 as a barrier to care delivery’, ‘Discomfort is key for personal growth’, ‘Self-preservation is paramount’, ‘Psychological impact of hospice environment’, ‘Internal conflict surrounding life and death’, ‘Complexities of a firm belief system’, ‘Utopian view of hospices’ and ‘Colleagues are a pillar of support’. All narratives shared overarching themes on growth, acceptance, and morality. These findings have future implications at the organisational level, identifying areas for adjustment for employee wellbeing. Furthermore, this may also educate aspiring end-of-life care staff in preparation for the reality of hospice environments.
Language Teacher Education, Reading, and Curriculum Change in Southeast Asia: A Laotian Perspective
Authors: Macalister John , Phonekeo Say
Published: April 2022

This study was conducted to understand issues related to the current practice of English teacher education development in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic with a focus on reading. It recognizes that what pre-service teachers experience both prior to and during their teacher education are important and need to be understood if the goals of teacher education are to be achieved. Previous research found that pre-service teachers’ prior experiences of both reading and learning to read were mostly a matter of learning discrete language items rather than developing comprehension and critical reading, and that these experiences had shaped perceptions about how reading is taught. This study extends this understanding by investigating reading-related pedagogy on a teacher education programme. Its findings highlight a gap between an education policy that promotes communicative language teaching and classroom practice. Therefore, for the goals of policy to be realized in the language classroom, appropriate innovations are needed.
The forest behind the tree: Heterogeneity in how U.S. Governor’s party affects black workers
Authors: Tchuente Guy , Kakeu Johnson , Francois John Nana
Published: April 2022

Income inequality is a distributional phenomenon. This paper examines the impact of U.S. governor’s party allegiance (Republican vs Democrat) on ethnic wage gap. A descriptive analysis of the distribution of yearly earnings of Whites and Blacks reveals a divergence in their respective shapes over time suggesting that aggregate analysis may mask important heterogeneous effects. This motivates a granular estimation of the comparative causal effect of governors’ party affiliation on labor market outcomes. This paper uses a regression discontinuity design (RDD) based on marginal electoral victories and samples of quantiles groups by wage and hours worked. Overall, the distributional causal estimations show that the vast majority of subgroups of Black workers earnings are not affected by democrat governors’ policies, suggesting the possible existence of structural factors in the labor markets that contribute to create and keep a wage trap and/or hour worked trap for most of the subgroups of Black workers. Democrat governors increase the number of hours worked of Black workers at the highest quartiles of earnings. A bivariate quantiles groups analysis shows that democrats decrease the total hours worked for Black workers who have the largest number of hours worked and earn the least. Black workers earnings more and working fewer hours than half of the sample see their number of hours worked increase under a democrat governor.
Experimental and numerical simulation on dynamics of a moored semi-submersible in various wave directions
Authors: Diep Nguyen Thi Thanh , Nguyen Van Minh , Yoon Hyeon Kyu
Published: April 2022

A moored floating platform has great potential in ocean engineering applications because the mooring system is necessary to keep a floating platform in the station. It relates directly to operational efficiency and safety of a floating platform. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the dynamics of a moored semi-submersible in waves by performing model test and numerical simulation. First, a three-dimensional panel method was used to estimate the motion of a moored semi-submersible in waves. A semi-submersible is modelled as a rigid body with six degrees-of-freedom (6DOF) motion. Dynamic response analysis of a semi-submersible is performed in regular wave and irregular wave. Second, the model test is performed in various wave directions. An Optical-based system is used to measure 6DOF motion of a semi-submersible. Numerical results are compared with the experimental results in various wave directions. Wavelength and wave direction showed significant effects on the motion response of a semi-submersible in regular wave. Third, to obtain a better understanding of response frequencies, the time histories of motion responses in irregular wave are converted from the time domain to the frequency domain. Effects of the wave frequency component on motion responses and mooring dynamics are analyzed. Motion spectrum in irregular wave has a strong response to the natural frequency of a moored semi-submersible and the peak of wave frequency. Finally, exceedance probability is estimated to predict probable extreme values of motion responses of a moored semi-submersible as well as mooring dynamics.
Integrating Telepsychiatry Into Rural Primary Care for Upstream Prevention: Feasibility Case Study of the Faith Net Program
Authors: Agley Jon , Barnes Priscilla , Tidd David , Todd Amy , Friedman Kendra , Gordon Shelby , Richardson Jodi , Delong Janet
Published: April 2022

Introduction

For decades, there has been a deficit of mental health services in rural areas of the United States. Beyond that longstanding need, the COVID-19 pandemic has reportedly increased the prevalence of unmet mental health needs among adults. Presently, many non-critical but urgent mental health concerns are first identified in rural emergency departments. This report describes the results of a 6-month feasibility case study of a program to integrate telepsychiatric triage “upstream” from emergency departments in rural primary care.

Methods

At routine primary care encounters in a single midwestern rural county, patients at risk for moderate-severe or severe depression, expressing thoughts of self-harm, or otherwise presenting in a way that raised clinical concern for mental or behavioral health, were referred to on-site telepsychiatric triage. Patients whose triage indicated further concern were provided six psychiatric and/or social work encounters for stabilization and treatment.

Results

68 patients were referred to telepsychiatric triage during the pilot study (.85% of the estimated adult population in the county). Of those, only two had a documented mental/behavioral health diagnosis prior to triage, but 46 were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder during the program.

Conclusions

This model of telepsychiatric triage was feasible in rural primary care and may support identification and mitigation of unmet mental health needs.
Occurrence of harmful elements in the ‘high-aluminium coals' from the Pingshuo mining district, Shanxi Province, China
Authors: Zhao Qiaojing , Li Xin , Wang Jun , Zhang Minmin , Zhao Cunliang , Zhao Jing , Panchal Balaji , Ma Jialiang
Published: April 2022

“High-aluminous coal” is an important coal kind and widely distributed in North China in age of Permo-Carboniferous period. To explore their occurrence state, a total of 15 harmful elements (Li, Ga, In, Cd, Cr, Pb, Be, Mn, Zn, Ag, Co, Ni, Cu, Ba and U) in the No.9 coal and No.11 coal collected from Pingshuo mining district were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and scanning electron microscope with energy spectrum (SEM-EDX). The results showed that the content of Li, Ga, In, Pb, Ag and U were all exceed the world hard coal. In view of the result of clustering analysis within trace elements, it was found that Co, Ni, Zn, Cu, Ag and Cr were mainly associated with sulfide minerals due to their common sulfophilic property. Manganese was mainly occurred in carbonate minerals, while Ba, Cd and U were mainly associated with total minerals. In addition, Pb was related to sulfides and Be is mainly distributed in clay minerals. The enrichment of such harmful elements in Pingshuo coal was caused by the combined effect of transgression and input of terrestrial materials in the peat accumulation stage. Li, Ga, In and Ag have reached the harmful grade.
Perceived and Ideal Inequality in University Endowments in the United States
Authors: Day Martin V. , Norton Michael I.
Published: April 2022

Whether and which university to attend are among the most financially consequential choices most people make. Universities with relatively larger endowments can offer better education experiences, which can drive inequality in students’ subsequent outcomes. We first explore three interrelated questions: the current educational inequality across U.S. universities, people’s perceptions of this inequality, and their desired inequality. Educational inequality is large: the top 20% of universities have 80% of the total university endowment wealth while the bottom 20% have around 1%. Studies 1 to 3 demonstrated that people underestimate university endowment inequality and desire more equality. These perceptions and ideals were mostly unaffected by contextual factors (e.g., salience of endowment consequences, distribution range) and were not well explained by participants’ demographics. Finally, Study 4 revealed that learning about current endowment inequality decreased tolerance of the distribution of university wealth. We discuss the implications of awareness of educational inequality for behaviors and educational policies.
Southern Identity and Serendipitous Opportunity in Qualitative Research Among Appalachians in Chicago
Authors: Guy Roger
Published: April 2022

In qualitative research, identity is often discussed in terms of being an outsider vis- à-vis the subjects and setting. While important, there are research situations that require instrumental demonstrations of identity rather than a cloaking of the outsider status. This article uses ethnographic work among urban Appalachians in Chicago as a backdrop to examine how identity is a conduit for enhancing serendipitous opportunities in research. While it is known that identity facilitates more access to subjects, I examine instances of when it is purposefully used to the advantage of the researcher among populations resistant to outsiders. I demonstrate instances of identity work as an interactive process between the researcher and subject that involves the use of shared meanings that convey authenticity and acceptance to facilitate inquiry.
Representational Politics in the Film Series “Asian Americans”: The Contestation of Identity Essentialism
Authors: Nguyen Anh A. T.
Published: April 2022

This paper highlights counternarratives of identity essentialism (re)producing representational conflations to normalize the existing system of social hierarchies. Analyzing anti-hegemonic discourses of identity in the film series “Asian Americans”, I propound how anti-essentialist critiques work as a rhetorical vehicle for constructing coalitional possibilities. This essay reinstates the importance of deconstructing binary logics in understanding social and cultural relations regulating Asian/American derogatory representations. Unpacking the invisibility of ideological power in administering representational strategies, this essay employs intersectional lenses to visualize the contradiction of Asian/American politics reclaimed by the dynamic integration of capitalism, transnationalism, imperialist militarism, and racially sexual fetishism. Representational complexity thus becomes a modality of analytic unveiling the presence of power relations in racially gendering Asian/Americans.
Norm-disruptive learning and music teacher competency development: A thematic synthesis
Authors: Bennett Catherine , Sena Moore Kimberly
Published: April 2022

With an aim to inform pedagogical processes for the development of more diverse and equitable music teaching practice, we sought to uncover the nature of norm-disruptive learning for music teachers. We defined “norm-disruptive learning” as any facet of music teacher development that problematizes and expands beyond previously known philosophies, pedagogies, and repertoires. A thematic synthesis methodology was used to consolidate qualitative research that explored characteristics of norm-disruptive experiences and the competencies music teachers developed. A total of 15 sources met inclusion criteria. Findings are organized into nine analytic themes and three meta-analytic themes which encompass the nature of norm-disrupting learning and related emerging competencies. We found that norm-disruptive experiences seem most likely to influence music teacher competency development when internal and external connections are made, which can occur through experiencing with thinking and camaraderie; when dissonant in nature, but also balanced with affirmative experiences; and when of substantial duration and vividness. Norm-disruptive experience with these characteristics can deepen understanding of self and diverse others, develop appreciation for difference, expand musical and pedagogical abilities, and spark motivation to continue learning or to implement new abilities.
The effects of short bouts of ergometric exercise for severely burned children in intensive care: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chao Tony , Parry Ingrid , Palackic Alen , Sen Soman , Spratt Heidi , Mlcak Ronald P. , Lee Jong O. , Herndon David N. , Wolf Steven E. , Branski Ludwik K. , Suman Oscar E.
Published: April 2022

Objective

To determine the effects of short bouts of ergometric exercises on the number of days in the burn intensive care unit (ICU), body mass, and functional ambulation.

Design

Multi-center, randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Burn intensive care unit.

Participants

Children ages 7–17 with severe burns covering over 30% total body surface area (TBSA).

Intervention

All patients received standard of care (Control) with the experimental group receiving additional exercise with a cycle ergometer (Exercise).

Main measures

The number of days in the ICU, total weight, lean body mass (LBM), and functional ambulation were taken shortly after randomization and again within one week of the scheduled hospital discharge. Results of outcomes are expressed as median ± interquartile range (IQR), unless otherwise noted (e.g. demographics).

Results

Fifty-four severely burned children (n = 18 Control, n = 36 Exercise) were included. The average ± standard deviation for age was 12 ± 3 years and TBSA was 48 ± 16%. The median ± IQR ICU days for Control was 46 ± 51 days vs 31 ± 29 days for Exercise. The median total weight loss for Control was 2.2 ± 1.2 kg vs 1.8 ± 1.4 kg in Exercise. Control lost 0.75 ± 0.8 kg of LBM vs 0.46 ± 0.43 kg in Exercise. Both groups showed significant improvement in functional ambulation ( p < 0.01). However, exercise did not add additional benefits.

Conclusion

Short bouts of ergometric exercises are feasible for severely burned patients while receiving care in the ICU but did not add additional benefits.
Impact of surgical mask on performance and cardiorespiratory responses to submaximal exercise in COVID-19 patients near hospital discharge: A randomized crossover trial
Authors: Poncin William , Schalkwijk Adrien , vander Straeten Charlie , Braem Frédéric , Latiers Fabien , Reychler Gregory
Published: April 2022

Background

Wearing a surgical mask in hospitalized patients has become recommended during care, including rehabilitation, to mitigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. However, the mask may increase dyspnoea and raise concerns in promoting rehabilitation activities in post-acute COVID-19 patients.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of the surgical mask on dyspnoea, exercise performance and cardiorespiratory response during a 1-min sit-to-stand test in hospitalized COVID-19 patients close to discharge.

Methods

COVID-19 patients whose hospital discharge has been planned the following day performed in randomized order two sit-to-stand tests with or without a surgical mask. Outcome measures were recorded before, at the end, and after two minutes of recovery of each test. Dyspnoea (modified Borg scale), cardiorespiratory parameters and sit-to-stand repetitions were measured.

Results

Twenty-eight patients aged 52 ± 10 years were recruited. Compared to unmasked condition, dyspnoea was significantly higher with the mask before and at the end of the sit-to-stand test (mean difference[95%CI]: 1.0 [0.6, 1.4] and 1.7 [0.8, 2.6], respectively). The difference was not significant after the recovery period. The mask had no impact on cardiorespiratory parameters nor the number of sit-to-stand repetitions.

Conclusion

In post-acute COVID-19 patients near hospital discharge, the surgical mask increased dyspnoea at rest and during a submaximal exercise test but had no impact on cardiorespiratory response or exercise performance. Patients recovering from COVID-19 should be reassured that wearing a surgical facemask during physical or rehabilitation activities is safe. These data may also mitigate fears to refer these patients in rehabilitation centres where mask-wearing has become mandatory.
System-based victim advocates identify resources and barriers to supporting crime victims
Authors: De La Rue Lisa , Ortega Lilyana , Castro Rodriguez Gena
Published: April 2022

Often left out of conversations around criminal justice reform are the victims of violent crimes. One group of people who have the needs of crime victims at the forefront of their work are victim advocates. The current study examines barriers and resources for victim advocates in being able to do their work of supporting crime victims. Through interviews with nine system-based victim advocates points of intervention are identified, which if improved would allow victim advocates to better be able to support victims of crimes. Using principles of grounded theory analysis, four themes emerged: building partnerships and community support, intersectionality, resources and supports, and bureaucracy. In order to better support victim advocates in their work, systems need to remove bureaucratic barriers. There is also a need for access to culturally sensitive mental health services and supports.
Naturalistic use of psychedelics is related to emotional reactivity and self-consciousness: The mediating role of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences
Authors: Orłowski Paweł , Ruban Anastasia , Szczypiński Jan , Hobot Justyna , Bielecki Maksymilian , Bola Michał
Published: April 2022

Background:

Psychedelics are able to acutely alter emotional reactivity and self-consciousness. However, whether the regular naturalistic use of psychedelics can be linked to more persistent trait-level changes in these domains remains an open question.

Aim:

To test the hypotheses that (1) using psychedelics is related to higher positive and lower negative emotional reactivity; and (2) an adaptive pattern of self-consciousness, including diminished public self-consciousness and rumination, and increased reflection and self-awareness; and (3) these relations are mediated by the intensity of past ego-dissolution and mystical experiences.

Method:

An online survey including questions about the history of psychoactive substance use; questionnaires measuring trait levels of emotional reactivity and self-consciousness; questionnaires for retrospective assessment of ego-dissolution and mystical experiences. Data collected from 2516 participants (1661 psychedelics users) were analyzed using robust linear regression and mediation analysis.

Results:

A higher number of lifetime uses of psychedelics predicted greater positive and lower negative emotional reactivity; also, in the domain of self-consciousness, it predicted greater reflection and internal state awareness, and reduced rumination tendency and public self-consciousness. Finally, the intensity of past mystical and ego-dissolution experiences mediated almost all the observed relationships between the lifetime number of psychedelics uses and psychological variables.

Conclusions:

Lifetime psychedelics use predicts an adaptive pattern of trait-level emotional reactivity and self-consciousness. Ego-dissolution and mystical experiences are essential in understanding the long-lasting psychological effects of psychedelics use. Our findings might potentially explain previous observations of increased well-being in psychedelics users.
Early disturbance of dynamic synchronization and neurovascular coupling in cognitively normal Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Shang Song’an , Ye Jing , Wu Jingtao , Zhang Hongying , Dou Weiqiang , Krishnan Muthaiah Vijaya Prakash , Tian Youyong , Zhang Yingdong , Chen Yu-Chen , Yin Xindao
Published: April 2022

Pathological process in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is accompanied with functional and metabolic alterations. The time-varying properties of functional coherence and their coupling to regional perfusion are still rarely elucidated. To investigate early disruption of dynamic regional homogeneity (dReho) and neurovascular coupling in cognitively normal PD patients, dynamic neuronal synchronization and regional perfusion were measured using dReho and cerebral blood flow (CBF), respectively. Neurovascular coupling was assessed by CBF-ReHo correlation coefficient and CBF/ReHo ratio. Multivariate pattern analysis was conducted for the differentiating ability of each feature. Relative to healthy controls (HC) subjects, PD patients demonstrated increased dReho in middle temporal gyrus (MTG), rectus gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, and precuneus, whereas reduced dReho in putamen and supplementary motor area (SMA); while higher CBF/dReho ratio was located in putamen, SMA, paracentral lobule, and postcentral gyrus, whereas lower CBF/dReho ratio in superior temporal gyrus, MTG, precuneus, and angular gyrus (AG). Global and regional CBF-Reho decoupling were both observed in PD groups. The CBF/Reho ratio features achieved more powerful classification performance than other features. From the view of dynamic neural synchronization and neurovascular coupling, this study reinforced the insights into neural basis underlying PD and the potential role in the disease diagnosis and differentiation.
Building a mental toolbox: Relationships between strategy choice and sight-singing performance in higher education
Authors: Pomerleau-Turcotte Justine , Dubé Francis , Moreno Sala Maria Teresa , Vachon Francois
Published: April 2022

Sight-singing is an inescapable component of music training in higher education and is often challenging for students. However, some strategies could help students perform. Yet, the extent to which students can use strategies to improve their sight-singing performance remains unclear. This article asks two questions to fill this gap: (1) Which strategies do students use when sight-singing? (2) Does the application of some types of strategy predict performance? We recruited 56 postsecondary music students and asked them about their musical backgrounds. They then sight-sang a short melody while we recorded their eye movements. After that, we conducted semi-structured retrospective interviews, using eye-movement videos and attention distribution heatmaps to help participants remember the strategies they used. We analyzed the interview transcripts to identify the strategies students used and regrouped them into categories. We extracted seven categories and discovered that using body movements predicted rhythm scores, that using musical knowledge predicted pitch and combined scores, and that relying on automatic skills predicted all dimensions of sight-singing performance. We recommend that aural skills instructors teach strategies explicitly and help students develop robust musical knowledge, as they are required to build strong automatic skills.
Making sense of background music listening habits: An arousal and task-complexity account
Authors: Kiss Luca , Linnell Karina J
Published: April 2022

Although listening to background music is common, there is no consensus about its effects on cognitive-task performance. One potential mediating factor that could resolve the inconsistency in findings is arousal. To explore the role of arousal in mediating the effect of background music, this survey study directly explored people’s background music listening habits during a variety of everyday tasks varying in their complexity including studying, reading, driving, and monotonous tasks. Out of the 197 participants, most participants reported listening to background music during driving or monotonous tasks but fewer did so during studying or reading. Participants who did listen to music during studying or reading mostly reported choosing instrumental music and listening to music to calm them down. Contrarily, participants who listened to music during driving or monotonous tasks reported choosing vocal music more often and listening to music to feel energised. In sum, results revealed clearly different patterns in background music listening habits between tasks varying in their complexity that are consistent with arousal mediating the effect of background music. The results also revealed that people have an implicit awareness of the effects of background music and match the music to their needs as dictated by the specific task.
Wind energy resources assessment of Cuba using the regional climate model PRECIS in high resolution scenarios of climate change RCPs
Authors: Alonso Yoandy , Bezanilla Arnoldo , Alpizar Milena , Martinez Yosvany
Published: April 2022

An analysis of the behavior of the wind speed using the regional climate model PRECIS in high resolution scenarios of climate change RCPs is presented. The projections indicate that throughout the century, the speed of the surface wind will continue to increase to a greater or lesser extent (depending on the scenario) in most of the national territory, mainly towards the coast north, as an intensification and westward shift of the anticyclone North Atlantic could occur. The most important thing about this increase is that allows to consolidate the current projection of the Cuban wind program, in which the construction of 13 wind farms is proposed, precisely where the wind potential of Cuba will be increased. Finally this increase is added to the wind speed outputs of the Numerical Wind Atlas of Cuba to estimate the values of wind speed over the future periods.
How Leader’s Red Tape Interacts With Employees’ Red Tape From the Lens of the Job Demands-Resources Model
Authors: Muylaert Jolien , Decramer Adelien , Audenaert Mieke
Published: April 2022

Currently, the public sector is undergoing a major digital transformation. Although this digitization is seen as a positive transformation, digital tools can also put additional job demands on employees, resulting in negative HR outcomes. An example of a job demand resulting from such digital tools is red tape. By building on the job demands-resources model, we developed a theoretical model investigating the relationship between red tape originating from digital tools and turnover intention. Our data analysis ( N = 779 teachers; 91 school leaders) provides evidence for a positive indirect relationship between red tape originating from digital tools and turnover intention, through emotional exhaustion. Additionally, our results also suggest that the amount of red tape perceived by an employee’s leader will exacerbate the strength of this indirect relationship, hereby providing evidence that a factor at leader-level can exacerbate effects on a lower level.
Bi-layered PLGA electrospun membrane with occlusive and osteogenic properties for periodontal regeneration
Authors: Zhong Meiling , Lin Jixia , He Zhimin , Wu Wuchao , Ji Dehui , Zhang Richao , Zhang Jiali
Published: April 2022

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membranes not only can hamper undesirable tissues down-growth into the defects but also can selectively promote the in-growth of regenerative bone tissue, playing a critical role in periodontal regeneration. Herein, a bi-layered electrospun membrane with different sized pores was designed and fabricated by adjusting electrospinning parameters combing with facile two-step electrospinning. The small-sized pore layer (SL) as occlusive layer consisted of electrospun poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibers, while the macroporous osteoconductive layer (ML) was attained via introducing the nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) particles into PLGA nanofibers during electrospinning. Morphological results such as surface topography, nanofiber size, and pore size distribution, showed that the SL exhibited a dense structure with pore size mainly from 4 to 7 μm. In contrast, the ML possessed a loosely packed structure with pore size mainly from 20 to 28 μm, which was beneficial to the infiltration of the cells. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) results showed that nHA particles were evenly loaded in PLGA nanofibers. In vitro biodegradation tests suggested that the bi-layered membrane possessed a proper degradation timeframe, which must function for at least 4 to 6 weeks. The cell experiments indicated that the bi-layered electrospun membrane possessed good cytocompatibility and proved the effective barrier potency of the small-sized pore layer. Furthermore, as revealed by the alkaline phosphate activity test, the PLGA/nHA layer possessed an improved osteogenic capacity for Human osteosarcoma cells (MG63). These results indicate that the bi-layered electrospun membrane may have potential for periodontal tissue regeneration.
Mobilization and Rehabilitation Practice in ICUs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Liu Keibun , Nakamura Kensuke , Kudchadkar Sapna R. , Katsukawa Hajime , Nydahl Peter , Ely Eugene Wesley , Takahashi Kunihiko , Inoue Shigeaki , Nishida Osamu
Published: April 2022

Background

Mobilization and acute rehabilitation are essential in the intensive care unit (ICU), with substantial evidence supporting their benefits. This study aimed to characterize ICU mobilization practices during the COVID-19 pandemic for patients with and without COVID-19.

Methods

This was a secondary analysis of an international point prevalence study. All ICUs across the world were eligible to participate and were required to enroll all patients in each ICU on the survey date, 27 January 2021. The primary outcome was the achievement of mobilization at the level of sitting over the edge of the bed. Independent factors associated with mobilization, including COVID-19 infection, were analyzed by multivariable analysis.

Results

A total of 135 ICUs in 33 countries participated, for inclusion of 1229 patients. Among patients who were not receiving mechanical ventilation (MV), those with COVID-19 infection were mobilized more than those without COVID-19 (60% vs. 34%, p < 0.001). Among patients who were receiving MV, mobilization was low in both groups (7% vs. 9%, p = .56). These findings were consistent irrespective of ICU length of stay. Multivariable analysis showed that COVID-19 infection was associated with achievement of mobilization in patients without (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.71-7.42) and with MV (aOR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.00-4.51). Factors that prevented mobilization were prone positioning in patients without MV and continuous use of neuromuscular blockade and sedation agents in patients with MV, whereas facilitating factors were the presence of targets/goals in both groups.

Conclusion

Mobilization rates for ICU patients across the globe are severely low, with the greatest immobility observed in mechanically ventilated patients. Although COVID-19 is not an independent barrier to the mobilization of patients with or without MV, this study has highlighted the current lack of mobility practice for all ICU patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. (299 words)
Prevalence and Formal Reporting of Sexual Violence among Undergraduate Student-Athletes: A Multi-State Study
Authors: Adhia Avanti , Ellyson Alice M. , Kroshus Emily
Published: April 2022

Sexual violence (SV) is a serious problem on college campuses, and student-athletes are one group of college students at risk for experiencing SV. The administrative context and close-knit bonds of college teams introduce opportunities and structures for responding to SV and delivering uniquely tailored prevention programming, but there is limited research about formal reporting of SV among student-athletes. The current study examines the prevalence of SV and SV reporting history and perceptions among a multi-state sample of undergraduate student-athletes. Student-athletes at 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I institutions across the US participated in an online survey about their experiences of SV victimization, formal reporting of SV, knowledge of resources, and perceptions of responses to SV at their institutions. Among 1004 student-athletes who completed the survey, 29% experienced some type of SV since enrolling at their university, with higher prevalence of SV among student-athletes on women’s teams (36%) compared to men’s teams (13%). About one fifth of student-athletes felt very or extremely knowledgeable about where to make a report of SV, and only about 10% felt very or extremely knowledgeable about what happens when a student reports SV. Only 9% of participants who experienced SV filed a formal report at their institution. Perceptions about whether campus officials would take the report seriously or would conduct a fair investigation were most positive for students who experienced and formally reported SV. Further research with student-athletes about their decision to formally report and barriers to reporting is needed to build a more comprehensive understanding of the unique experiences of SV among student-athletes. Our results highlight the importance of including and targeting student-athletes in campus SV prevention efforts to build knowledge and trust in hopes of ultimately decreasing the prevalence and adverse consequences of SV.
A Change for the Worse: Negative Social Exchanges are Associated with an Accelerated Decline in Self-Rated Health Over Time
Authors: Newsom Jason T. , McQueen Ann , Rook Karen S. , Krause Neal , Denning Emily C.
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Age-associated accelerated declines in physical health vary across individuals, and researchers have suggested that individual differences in decline may vary as a function of stressors. The relation of one such stressor, negative social exchanges, to accelerated declines in self-rated health is investigated.

Method

Participants are from a 2-year, 5-wave, national, longitudinal study of social relationships among older adults. Growth curve analyses are used to examine the relation of negative and positive social exchanges to accelerated changes in self-rated health, controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and depressive symptoms.

Results:

Individuals reporting more frequent negative social exchanges showed significantly accelerated declines in physical health. Positive social exchanges were not related to linear or accelerated declines in self-rated health over time.

Discussion:

The association between negative social exchanges and accelerated deterioration in self-rated health provides general support for hypotheses that interpersonal stressors play an important role age-related physical health decline.
Investigation on mechanical behavior of clinched joints produced with dissimilar dies
Authors: Ren Xiaoqiang , Chen Chao , Peng Hao , Zhang Huiyang , Li Haijun
Published: April 2022

The advantages of well-distributed material flow, easy demolding, and good mechanical interlock structure of the extensible die provide the possibility to be widely used in joining lightweight components. In order to explore the differences in the mechanical properties of the joints produced by different dies, the mechanical behavior of the clinched joints made by the fixed die and extensible dies of 2, 3, and 4 movable segments was investigated in the present study. The process of forming evolution, geometric characterization, failure mode, static strength, joint stiffness, and energy absorption of the dissimilar joints were studied by experimental method. In the clinching process, the neck thickness of joints made by extensible dies can be enlarged by the sliding outward of the movable segments compared with those produced by fixed dies. The failure mode of all clinched joints in this paper is neck fracture. The clinched joints produced by extensible dies of 3 movable segments have the highest static strength in both static tensile and shear tests among the dissimilar joints, which values are 1239.41 and 1259.80 N, respectively. Shearing strength of the joints performed by the extensible dies with 2, 3, and 4 movable segments was increased by 9.84%, 10.09%, and 9.40%, and the tensile strength of those clinched joints was increased by 16.27%, 20.31%, and 14.34% than that of the joints produced by the fixed dies. Experimental have proved that the number of movable segments on the extensible dies has a limited effect on the joint stiffness, tensile strength, and energy absorption of the clinched joints in the cross-lap-tensile test, while it has great effect on the stiffness and energy absorption of the clinched joints in the single-lap-shear test.
Influence of uncertain inflow conditions on a subsonic compressor cascade based on wind tunnel experiment
Authors: Gao Limin , Ma Chi , Cai Ming , Li Ruiyu , Wang Haohao , Yang Guang
Published: April 2022

The intended inflow condition of compressors is subject to the uncertain inflow Mach number ( Ma1) and incidence angle ( i). To quantify the effects of uncertain inflow conditions, real-time measuring experiments of Ma1 and i are performed under various operating conditions to extract the statistical characteristics of the uncertainties. Statistical analysis shows that Ma1 and i follow Gaussian distribution. 0.005 and 0.125 are chosen as the standard deviation of Ma1 and i, respectively. Based on these data, an in-house code of non-intrusive polynomial chaos and Sobol’ indices are employed to quantify the variability in the aerodynamic performance of a compressor cascade caused by uncertain Ma1 and i. The results show that the inflow uncertainties narrow the steady working range of the compressor cascade and lead to fluctuation in the aerodynamic performance. The fluctuation amplitude of the total pressure loss coefficient increases about 15.8 times and tenfold while the static pressure ratio increases just double and 1.3 times under various Ma1 and i conditions, respectively. An analysis of flow field under various operating conditions shows that the uncertainties change the peak isentropic Mach number on the suction surface alter the location and size of the boundary layer separation and reattachment, and shift the interference between the wake and suction surface separation vortex. The sensitivity analysis reveals that as Ma1 increases from 0.5 to 0.6, the dominant parameter affecting the uncertainty of the flow field changes from i to Ma1. When Ma1 increases to 0.75, the coupling effect of Ma1 and i dominates the flow field.