bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the combined influence of aerodynamic sweep and casing treatment in a transonic compressor rotor
Authors: Chi Zhidong , Chu Wuli , Zhang Haoguang
Published: September 2023

Casing treatment and three-dimensional blade design are effective techniques to remedy the deficiency of compressor stability margin, yet their combined effects on compressor performance are seldom studied. With the help of URANS simulations, this paper explored the combined influence of aerodynamic sweep and casing treatment in a transonic compressor rotor. Compared with the configurations of single sweep and single casing treatment, the combined configuration presented an outstanding advantage for improving compressor performance. For compressor overall performance, the stall margin improvement of combined configuration was up to 11.8%, larger than single forward sweep and single casing treatment. Meanwhile, peak efficiency penalty of combined configuration (−1.02%) was significantly lower than that of single casing treatment. Under the effect of casing treatment, the results showed that the pulsating axial velocity could effectively delay the interface of the tip leakage flow and main flow, preventing the overflow of tip leakage flow. The distributions of blockage coefficient and loading coefficient indicated that combined configuration was more effective due to tip unload by casing treatment and blockage resistance ability by forward sweep. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal evolutions of axial velocity at slot opening surface were discussed in detail. Compared with the single casing treatment, higher positive axial velocity excitation and smaller range of negative axial velocity were introduced by combined configuration, which contributed to better stability enhancement.
Effect of Ligustrazine on Lipopolysaccharide-induced Inflammatory Response of Vascular Endothelial Cells and its Possible Mechanism
Authors: Zhang Xia Meng , Ma Zehong , Mao Chengjian , Zhang Jihong , Ma Zhongdanni
Published: September 2023

Background

Endothelial cell (EC) inflammation plays a crucial role in the development of several cardiovascular disorders (CD), including atherosclerosis and sepsis. Ligustrazine (Lig), a bioactive constituent derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort, has exhibited in vivo anti-inflammatory properties. Despite the observed positive outcomes, the exact mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects remain unidentified.

Aim

The goal of this research is to investigate the influence and potential mechanism of Lig on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Introduction

These experiments investigate the effectiveness of Lig in preventing LPS-induced damage in HUVECs, with the goal of elucidating the underlying processes at work.

Materials and Methods

To evaluate HUVECs’ viability, a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was conducted. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to measure changes in ICAM-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) levels. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the levels of ICAM-1, IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, and toll-like receptors (TLR4) mRNA. Additionally, we performed WB analysis to assess the levels of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65, TLR4, IκBα, and p-IκBα.

Results

The findings demonstrated significantly suppressed cell viability due to LPS treatment, while Lig treatment increased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Lig also effectively reduced the mRNA levels of ICAM-1, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1. Furthermore, Lig pretreatment led to downregulation of TLR4, p-IκBα, and NF-κB p65 in HUVECs.

Discussion

The findings indicate that Lig reduces LPS-induced inflammation in HUVECs, and that the TLR4/NF-κB pathway is critical in increasing cell survival and minimizing inflammatory damage. This provides possible anti-inflammatory techniques for treating CD.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our work demonstrates Lig’s anti-inflammatory actions on LPS-stimulated HUVECs. The data suggest that Lig lowers inflammation via regulating the TLR4/NF-B pathway, boosting cell survival, and decreasing inflammatory responses.
Voacangine Mitigates Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells HK-1 Proliferation and Triggers Apoptosis through the Suppression of NF-κB Facilitated PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway
Authors: Hou Aihui , Zhen Huimin , Qiao Xiaofeng , Dang Herong , Shen Yuanfeng
Published: September 2023

The nasopharyngeal epithelium, which is frequently found in Southeast Asia and Southern China, gives rise to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Despite improvements in diagnostic tools and remedial modalities, the prognosis of NPC remains meager. Thus, innovative and effective anti-cancer agents are desirable. Voacangine (VCG) is a recognized alkaloid sequestered from the plant Voacanga foetida. Hence, the current research assessed the anti-proliferative and apoptotic action of VCG on HK-1 human NPC cells and its underlying molecular actions. The results exposed that VCG (20 and 25 µ/ml) avert the HK-1 cells proliferation, which stimulates apoptosis by the amelioration of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspases, while it lessens cyclin-D1, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), c-Myc, survivin in a dose-dependent way. Furthermore, VCG alleviates inflammation, cell proliferation, and augmented cell death through the attenuation of Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) facilitated Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Protein kinase B/Mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signaling. This creates a Bax/Bcl-2 proportion imbalance, which triggers caspases cascade, Cyt-c, and induces apoptosis. Our findings deliver novel perceptions into exploring VCG as a beneficial bioactive alkaloid for the handling of NPC.
In vitro Neuroprotective Activity of Vigna radiata L. and Vigna pilosa L. on Amyloid Beta-induced Cytotoxicity
Authors: Prasanth N. V. , Pandian P. , Balasubramanian T.
Published: September 2023

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is considered to be the most common form of dementia. The drugs that are available for the treatment of AD provide only partial improvement of the condition. In recent years, natural ingredients have received increased attention in generating novel medications for treating various neurological disorders, including AD. Vigna radiata and Vigna pilosa are plants that are routinely included in many Ayurvedic formulations used to manage memory impairment.

Objectives

The present study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro anticholinesterase and neuroprotective activities of the plants V. radiata and V. pilosa.

Materials and Methods

A modified 96-well microplate assay according to Ellman’s method was employed to measure acetyl choline esterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. In vitro neuroprotective effect was measured by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay using the SHSY-5Y (neuroblastoma cells) cell line against β-amyloid induced neurotoxicity. The ethyl acetate extract of V. radiata and the ethanolic extract of V. pilosa, which showed maximum AChE inhibitory activity, were selected for the MTT assay. The cell viability was evaluated by direct observation of cells with the help of an inverted phase contrast microscope, followed by the MTT assay method.

Results

Maximum AChE inhibitory activity was exhibited by an ethyl acetate extract of V. radiata. It showed AChE activity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 286.40 µg/mL, while the ethanol extract of V. pilosa showed an IC50 value of 160.19 µg/mL. Extracts of both plants, V. radiata and V. pilosa, significantly ( p ≤ 0.001) improved the percentage of cell viability in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion

The plants V. radiata and V. pilosa showed potent anti-Alzheimer activity when tested using in vitro AChE inhibitory activity and by MTT assay using an β-amyloid-induced in vivo cytotoxicity model. These findings demand the need for further studies using in vivo models.
The Votes Are In! Candidate Debates as Large Policy Course Experiential Learning Method
Authors: Redmond Melissa , Woodside Liz , Martin Beth
Published: September 2023

Background: Like other professional training programs, social work pedagogy has long recognized the value of experiential learning for professional development. Despite social work's rich experiential learning literature involving field education, direct practice courses, and program evaluation, there is a dearth of literature examining how to make learning in the policy classroom experiential, particularly for large class sizes. Purpose: We asked, “How might electoral candidate debates provide experiential learning opportunities for large classes?” Approach: The authors organized municipal and federal election candidate debates attended in-person and online by over 300 undergraduate students in a social work policy class at a Canadian university. Integrating our experiences as instructors/organizers and a teaching assistant, within a social constructivist framework, we used Kolb's experiential learning theory, and critiques thereof, to analyze reflective assignments from 73 students. Results and Conclusions: Candidate debates, when facilitated appropriately, can encourage students in large courses to work through the stages of experiential learning and consider related concepts and possible links among social justice course content and social policy, social work practice, and political engagement. Implications: The paper contributes to a broader understanding of the opportunities and constraints associated with employing experiential learning in the large social work classroom and beyond.
Treatment Outcomes for Carbapenem-Resistant and Cephalosporin-Susceptible Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia
Authors: Ng Tsz Hin , Zhao Jing J. , Gumbleton Ryan , Olson Shannon , Smith Stephanie , Scipione Marco R.
Published: September 2023

Background:

Carbapenem-resistant (Car-R) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an urgent threat. These isolates may remain susceptible to traditional noncarbapenem antipseudomonal β-lactams, but it is unclear if carbapenem resistance impacts the effectiveness of these agents.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes in Car-R and cephalosporin-susceptible (Ceph-S) P. aeruginosa pneumonia treated with cefepime versus other susceptible agents.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study evaluated patients diagnosed with hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated pneumonia who had a respiratory isolate of Car-R Ceph-S P. aeruginosa. Patients were excluded if they had polymicrobial respiratory cultures, other concomitant infections, empyema, death within 3 days of index culture, or received less than 3 days of susceptible therapy. Patients treated with cefepime were compared to other susceptible therapies. The primary endpoint was 30-day in-hospital mortality.

Results:

Eighty-seven patients were included: cefepime, n = 61; other susceptible therapies, n = 26. There were no differences in 30-day in-hospital mortality between cefepime and other susceptible therapies (19.6% vs. 19.2%, p value = 0.719). In addition, there were no differences between clinical cure rates (cefepime 65.6% vs. other therapies 72 %, p value = 0.47). In multivariate logistic regression, treatment with cefepime (odds ratio [OR], 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-2.52) was not independently associated with 30-day in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion and Relevance:

For the treatment of Car-R Ceph-S P. aeruginosa pneumonia, cefepime showed similar rates of 30-day in-hospital mortality and clinical outcomes when compared to other susceptible therapies. Cefepime may be utilized to conserve novel β-lactam and β-lactamase inhibitors.
Surprise of Serious COVID-19 Vaccination Messages on TikTok: The Effect of Expectancy Violation on Message Effectiveness
Authors: Oh Jeeyun , Zhuo Shuer , Jin Eunjoo
Published: September 2023

TikTok is a social media channel for light entertainment and humor. Then what happens when TikTok tries to persuade users with serious health messages? A between-subject study ( N = 189) induced expectancy violation by using six COVID-19 vaccination videos with a varied level of seriousness. Among those who held stronger perceptions of TikTok as an entertainment channel, the seriousness of videos was associated with increased expectancy violation and message effectiveness. Those who held more negative vaccine attitudes experienced greater expectancy violation as video seriousness increased, and expectancy violation was a positive predictor for message effectiveness and vaccine-related intentions among this group.
Polyamino Sugar Condensate
Authors: Raj Preethi S. , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Cohen David E. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Rettie Allan E , Ross David , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Tilton Susan , Fiume Monice , Heldreth Bart
Published: September 2023

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety reviewed updated information that has become available since their original assessment from 1982, along with updated information regarding product types, and frequency and concentrations of use, and reaffirmed their original conclusion that Polyamino Sugar Condensate is safe for topical application to humans in the practices of use and concentration as described in this report.
Squalane and Squalene
Authors: Fiume Monice , Bergfeld Wilma F. , Belsito Donald V. , Hill Ronald A. , Klaassen Curtis D. , Liebler Daniel C. , Marks James G. , Shank Ronald C. , Slaga Thomas J. , Snyder Paul W. , Heldreth Bart
Published: September 2023

The Expert Panel for Cosmetic Ingredient Safety reviewed newly available studies since their original assessment in 1982, along with updated information regarding product types and concentrations of use, and confirmed that Squalane and Squalene are safe as cosmetic ingredients in the practices of use and concentration as described in this report.
Environmental Health Risks After the 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake and Salient Mitigating Strategies: A Critical Appraisal
Authors: Ahmed Sirwan Khalid , Chandran Deepak , Hussein Safin , SV Praveen , Chakraborty Sandip , Islam Md. Rabiul , Dhama Kuldeep
Published: September 2023

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria, followed by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake, caused over 50 000 deaths and over 100 000 injuries. The immediate physical injuries were severe, but the health repercussions, including the strain on healthcare services and the possibility of disease outbreaks, were equally concerning. Infections due to multidrug resistant microbes were also a matter of concern. Earthquake has caused not only loss of property and physical damage but also has a great negative impact on the mental health of the people. It is associated with serious psychological trauma. Moreover, the risk of malnutrition also became evident. Food aid and nutritional supplements can reduce the risk of malnutrition, but they are not a long-term solution. Establishment of sustainable food systems and restoration of agricultural productions are essential. Other demanding issues like derth of access to essential services related to health care, chances of child birth related complications following earthquake also need to be addressed. Emerging crises and disasters (conflicts, pandemics, epidemics), in addition to pre-existing conditions (collapsed health facilities, cold winter conditions, destruction of lifeline infrastructures, overcrowding in emergency shelters, poor sanitation, and unfavorable socio-economic conditions), may further exacerbate the already precarious public health situation and significantly delay the recovery process. The early warning and protection against the development of infectious diseases in earthquake-affected areas depend on good disease surveillance at the local and regional levels, which has been proposed as one of several techniques for prevention and management of infectious diseases in these areas. Our article outlines high-level approaches to reduce the risk of health issues among victims of Turkey and Syria.
Anti-defection rules and party switching in the Italian Parliament
Authors: Pinto Luca
Published: September 2023

Despite considerable progress in the study of party switching, scholarly interest in institutional constraints explicitly designed to limit or penalise inter-party mobility remains limited in the literature. This paper contributes to the emerging scholarship on party switching and legal institutional constrains by assessing the effectiveness of the new anti-defection regulations introduced in the Italian Senate starting from 2018. To evaluate the impact of this intervention, we develop two quasi-experimental research approaches that take advantage of the bicameral structure of the Italian Parliament and the fact that the anti-defection regulations were only implemented in the Senate and not in the Chamber of Deputies. Our results indicate that anti-defection regulations failed both to limit inter-party mobility and the formation of new legislative parties. However, they were effective in influencing the timing of party switching, concentrating it in the phases of government formation and dissolution.
How Racial Matter Comes to Matter: Memory Work, Animacy and Childhood Dolls
Authors: Khawaja Iram , Staunæs Dorthe , Vertelyte Mante
Published: September 2023

Dolls have a long history in psychological and literary scholarship, and in popular culture. Many of these cultural products point to how dolls bring forth imaginaries of race and gender. Dolls, however, are not only figures of representation or identification. Dolls are agential in the ways they bring life to racialised, affective and embodied experiences. In this article, we develop an affective hauntology, applying memory work to explore how memories of childhood dolls can inform us about formations of race, racialisation and Whiteness. Applying Mel Y. Chen’s conceptualisation of animacy as an affective-material construction, we explore how dolls become ‘real and true’, bringing forth how racial matters come to matter as part of gendered subjectivities. Our memories of childhood dolls cut across different geopolitical and historical contexts – Eastern Europe, Western Europe and South-East Asia – revealing interesting differences and similarities in terms of processes of racialisation from the 1970s to 1990s.
Iatrogenic ulnar nerve palsy associated with supracondylar humeral fracture in children: A systemic review on its management
Authors: Ikram Mohammad Arshad , Shahzad Huma , Gnanou Justin Vijay
Published: September 2023

Background

Supracondylar humeral fractures (SCHFs) are among the most common pediatric fractures. Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning are considered the established gold standard. Biomechanically, cross-pinning is resilient for any axial rotation, but the medial pin increases the risk of iatrogenic injury to the ulnar nerve.

Objective

A systematic review was conducted to provide an evidence-based analysis of the literature on the management of iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury caused by the medial pin during closed reduction and percutaneous fixation of displaced SCHF in children.

Methods

MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and ScienceDirect databases were searched to identify all articles that reported ulnar nerve injury caused by the medial pin during closed reduction and percutaneous fixation of displaced SCHF in children and suggested the management. Reference lists from the articles retrieved were further scrutinized to identify any additional studies of interest.

Results

One thousand six hundred and six articles on SCHF treated by closed reduction and cross-pinning were identified initially with 25 studies included in the analysis after screening. Four thousand six hundred and seventy-five children sustained SCHF with a median age of 7 years. Of 3036 children treated by closed reduction and cross pinning, 205 (6.75%) were diagnosed with iatrogenic ulnar nerve injury. The management involves observation only, removal of the medial pin, or exploration. The average recovery time in the group treated by removal of wire was statistically shorter than the other two groups.

Conclusion

The evidence suggests surgical exploration of the ulnar nerve can be delayed for up to 7 months, with most studies favouring observation only. In selected cases, immediate removal of the medial pin should be considered.
Great expectations? A taxonomy for expectancy research in journalism studies
Authors: Wilhelm Claudia , Detel Hanne
Published: September 2023

Expectancy research in journalism studies is characterized by a heterogeneous use of terms related to expectations, reflecting the complexity and ambiguity of the expectation construct. To enable a systematization and classification of different expectation concepts, we develop a taxonomy comprising seven criteria: Whereas the (1) dimension specifies the content of expectations and (2) dimensionality indicates the degree of complexity of the concept, the criteria (3) perspective and (4) object specify whose expectations are being addressed and to whom they are directed. The (5) level of expectation distinguishes between first- and second-order expectations. The (6) level of analysis helps locating expectation concepts, either at the micro, meso, or macro level. Finally, the (7) mode allows for classifying expectations as prescriptive, probabilistic, or valuative. An exemplary application of the taxonomy to the expectation concept of journalistic roles reveals the focus points of previous research and research gaps. Besides, the taxonomy can be used in further theory building and in developing measures of expectation concepts.
Prevention of Child Maltreatment: Integrative Review of Findings From an Evidence-Based Parenting Program
Authors: Altafim Elisa Rachel Pisani , Magalhães Cátia , Linhares Maria Beatriz Martins
Published: September 2023

This integrative review of the ACT Raising Safe Kids (ACT)—child maltreatment prevention program for parents—focuses on the program’s theoretical framework, examines the ACT studies about the effects on caregivers, and discusses the ACT’s implications for the practice and public policy. A systematic search of the PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Lilacs databases was performed, along with a search on the ACT Program website and contacting program researchers. Twenty-five studies evaluating the ACT Program were reviewed. The evaluation studies were conducted in the United States, Brazil, Portugal, and Peru. The program improved parenting practices in general and targeted populations such as incarcerated parents, mothers with a history of childhood violence, and mothers of preterm children. Additionally, the program was effective in decreasing child behavioral problems. Overall, the ACT Program effectively decreased hostile, aggressive, and coercive parenting and child behavior problems, which are key predictors of family violence.
Inexpensive and Easy to Set Up Robotic Cardiac Simulator Offers “Unlimited” Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Experience: Proof of Concept
Authors: AlJamal Yazan N. , Burgin Robert , Kitahara Hiroto , Gonzalez Gabriela , Balkhy Husam H.
Published: September 2023

Objective:

Robotic totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass (TECAB) grafting is the least invasive form of coronary bypass surgery. However, despite its advantages, this approach has not gained widespread adoption. One possible reason is the advanced and complex robotic skills required to execute a totally endoscopic sutured coronary anastomosis. We prepared a novel, inexpensive, easy to set up robotic TECAB simulator.

Methods:

A pig heart was placed in a cardboard box, and 3 holes were made on the side to mimic the exposure and surgical ergonomics of TECAB port placement. Four robotic ports were placed and docked to the da Vinci Si robot (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Monofilament 7:0 suture (7 cm long) was used to perform the anastomosis to the left anterior descending artery using remnant conduit. Seven cardiac surgeons of various training levels participated and were asked to fill out a 10-point questionnaire.

Results:

The cost of the simulator totaled $20 per session, with 20 min to assemble. Each session allowed each trainee to practice 3 to 4 coronary anastomoses. Three cardiac surgeons completed the survey and strongly agreed that the model was easy to set up, the anastomotic exercise was realistic, and that this practice helped them gain confidence.

Conclusions:

Our TECAB simulator is inexpensive, easy to set up, and allows trainees to practice endoscopic coronary suturing. We believe this to be a valuable training tool to learn how to do TECAB for established surgeons and that such a simulator may be of great value to cardiothoracic training programs and their trainees. Further studies are warranted.
The role of catastrophizing in chronic cyclical pelvic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rabinowitz Emily P , Sayer MacKenzie A , Delahanty Douglas L
Published: September 2023

Background:

Dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cramps) is one of the most common gynecological complaints in women and girls. Dysmenorrhea may be a condition itself or a result of another medical condition, including endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. Research examining the relationship between menstrual pain ratings and catastrophizing has produced mixed results.

Objective:

To review and meta-analyze the relationship between catastrophizing and pain ratings of chronic cyclical pelvic pain.

Design:

Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies that reported the relationship between menstrual/pelvic pain and catastrophizing were included. Study populations had to include healthy menstruating persons or persons with a condition associated with cyclical pelvic pain including primary dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, and/or chronic pelvic pain.

Data sources and methods:

A systematic search of articles published since 2012 on PubMed, PsychInfo, CINHAL, and Medline was conducted in January and rerun in November of 2022. Search terms included cyclical pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, pelvic pain, and catastrophizing. Data extraction was completed independently by two extractors and cross-checked for errors. A random-effects meta-regression was used to synthesize the data using restricted maximum likelihood.

Results:

Twenty-five studies examining 4,540 participants were included. A random effects model found a meta-correlation between catastrophizing and pain of r = .31 (95% confidence interval: .23–.40) p < .001. Heterogeneity was large and significant ( I2 = 84.5%, Q(24) = 155.16, p < .001). Studies that measured general pelvic pain rather than cyclical pelvic pain specifically and those that used multi-item rather than single-item measures of pain had significantly higher correlations. Age and depression did not moderate the relationship between catastrophizing and pain.

Conclusion:

A systematic review and meta-analysis found that catastrophizing had a small but significant positive association with pain ratings. Patients experiencing cyclical pelvic pain may benefit from interventions targeting the psychological management of pain.

Registration:

This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO on 14 January 2022. Registration number: CRD42022295328.
Is telestroke more effective than conventional treatment for acute ischemic stroke? A systematic review and meta-analysis of patient outcomes and thrombolysis rates
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed , Elsherif Salah , Legere Brittney , Fatima Nida , Shuaib Ashfaq , Saqqur Maher
Published: September 2023

Background:

Telestroke systems operate through remote communication, providing distant stroke evaluation through expert healthcare providers. The aim of this study was to assess whether the implementation of a telestroke system influenced stroke treatment outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients compared with conventional in-person treatment.

Aims:

The study group evaluated multiple studies from electronic databases, comparing telemedicine (TM) and non-telemedicine (NTM) AIS patients between 1999 and 2022. We aimed to evaluate baseline characteristics, critical treatment times, and clinical outcomes.

Summary of review:

A total of 12,540 AIS patients were included in our study with 7936 (63.9%) thrombolyzed patients. Of the thrombolyzed patients, 4150 (51.7%) were treated with TM, while 3873 (48.3%) were not. The mean age of TM and NTM cohorts was 70.45 ± 4.68 and 70.42 ± 4.63, respectively (p > 0.05). Mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores were comparable, with the TM group reporting a non-significantly higher mean (11.89 ± 3.29.6 vs. 11.13 ± 3.65, p > 0.05). No significant difference in outcomes was found for symptoms onset-to-intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (ivtPA) times (144.09 ± 18.87 vs. 147.18 ± 25.97, p = 0.632) and door-to-needle times (73.03 ± 20.04 vs. 65.91 ± 25.96, p = 0.321). Modified Rankin scale scores (0–2) were evaluated, and no significant difference was detected between cohorts (odds ratio (OR): 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89–1.29, p = 0.500). Outcomes did not indicate any significance between both cohorts for 90-day mortality (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.94–1.43, p = 0.17) or symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.73–1.34, p = 0.93). Results between groups were also non-significant when analyzing the rate of thrombolysis with ivtPA (30.86%± 30.7 vs. 20.5%± 18.6, p = 0.372) and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy (11.8%± 11.7 vs. 18.7%± 18.9, p = 0.508).

Conclusion:

The use of telestroke in the treatment of AIS patients is safe with minimal non-significant differences in long-term outcomes and rates of thrombolysis compared with face-to-face treatment. Further studies comparing the different methods of TM are needed to assess the efficacy of TM in stroke treatment.
XR technology and risk assessment: The future of probation training?
Authors: Meenaghan Amy , McDermott Michelle , Haggar Laura
Published: September 2023

Risk assessment and prediction play a key role in decision-making in probation practice. Yet the practical application of risk assessment judgements can be impacted by a range of factors, with implications for people under supervision as well as for potential victims and the community. Furthermore, there has been a shift within probation training to remote and online learning platforms to support workplace development. This article describes an exploratory study assessing the capacity of technology-enhanced training tools for enhancing and improving risk assessment in probation home visits. The findings indicate that, despite the limitations of the research, virtual reality and 360° videos may be valuable tools for addressing a number of the inherent challenges facing current probation training.
Combined passive and active flow control for fixed-wing micro air vehicles
Authors: Esmaeili A , Sousa JMM
Published: September 2023

This study presents the design, implementation, and assessment of a combined passive and active flow control technique with the aim of increasing the aerodynamic performance of fixed-wing Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs). Power consumption restrictions in MAVs support the choice of passive flow control solutions such as the use of a modified (tubercled) wing leading edge. This strategy successfully allows to delay and mitigate aerodynamic stall but detrimental effects are found at pre-stall operating conditions. In order to retrieve the lift-generation capabilities of the baseline wing at pre-stall, a subsidiary active flow control method making use of air blowing was designed and installed in the modified wing. Guidance to the selection of optimum settings was provided by experimental and computational analyses. The resulting hybrid flow control system demonstrated its effectiveness, thus producing generalized lift enhancements irrespectively of the attitude of the wing.
Mobilising Against Insecurity, Engaging in Local Civic Life: The Collective Action of Chinese and South-East Asian Inhabitants in a Paris Suburb
Authors: Merle Aurore
Published: September 2023

Based on a social action research, this article discusses the collective action taken by inhabitants of Chinese and South-East Asian origin in a north-eastern suburb of Paris: targeted by violent attacks, these residents occupied the public space at the base of their residences and demanded the intervention of public authorities. In recounting the different steps of the mobilisation, this article demonstrates how an ethnocentric dynamic was created around security issues and how an ethno-spatial minority was formed within the neighbourhood and the city. It also shows in what conditions this ethno-security action transforms itself into an associative and citizen commitment within the neighbourhood and the city and modifies the perceptions of the actors, their capacity for action and their relations with the neighbourhood and with politics. At the intersection of several fields of research, including the sociology of migration, urban sociology and political sociology, the article shows how ordinary inhabitants of Chinese and South-East Asian origin participate in their neighbourhood's local civic life.
Unusual case of concurrent metformin-associated lactic acidosis and euglycaemic ketoacidosis
Authors: Yi Koo Geraldine Pei , Dutta Aliviya , Zhang Yuan Helen
Published: September 2023

Metformin-associated lactic acidosis (MALA) and euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EKA) are both life-threatening endocrine emergencies. MALA is a well-documented complication of anti-glycaemic therapy in diabetics while EKA is an increasingly recognized disease entity with the advent of use of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. However, the occurrence of concurrent metformin-associated lactic acidosis and euglycaemic ketoacidosis (MALKA) is uncommon and rarely reported in the literature. We report an unusual case of MALKA, in a 74-year-old gentleman with no previous history of chronic kidney disease and SGLT-2 inhibitor use, who presented with altered mental status, acute renal failure and profound high anion-gap metabolic acidosis (HAGMA) with lactaemia, ketonaemia and normoglycaemia (pH 6.965, bicarbonate 3.1, creatinine 522, glucose 6.6, lactate 17.5, ketones >8). The patient was initiated on intravenous insulin infusion with dextrose-containing drip and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in the intensive care unit (ICU). The patient had a prolonged hospital stay but was eventually discharged with a normalised renal function without need for long-term dialysis. The parallel occurrence of MALA and EKA suggest a metformin-associated inhibition of gluconeogenesis. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and investigation of concurrent diabetic ketoacidosis in the presence of MALA and vice versa as MALKA benefits from both prompt institution of parenteral glucose therapy and insulin infusion and consideration of initiation of haemodialysis.
Six ways of failing to see (and why the differences matter)
Authors: Nartker Makaela , Firestone Chaz , Egeth Howard , Phillips Ian
Published: September 2023

Sometimes we look but fail to see: our car keys on a cluttered desk, a repeated word in a carefully proofread email, or a motorcycle at an intersection. Wolfe and colleagues present a unifying, mechanistic framework for understanding these “Looked But Failed to See” errors, explaining how such misses arise from natural constraints on human visual processing. Here, we offer a conceptual taxonomy of six distinct ways we might be said to fail to see, and explore: how these relate to processes in Wolfe et al.’s model; how they can be distinguished experimentally; and, why the differences matter.
Ketamine for bipolar depression: an updated systematic review
Authors: Fancy Farhan , Haikazian Sipan , Johnson Danica E. , Chen-Li David C. J. , Levinta Anastasia , Husain Muhammad I. , Mansur Rodrigo B. , Rosenblat Joshua D.
Published: September 2023

Background:

The therapeutic potential of subanesthetic doses of ketamine appears promising in unipolar depression; however, its effectiveness in treating bipolar depression (BD) remains uncertain.

Objective:

This systematic review aimed to summarize findings on the use of ketamine for the treatment of BD by assessing its efficacy, safety, and tolerability.

Design:

Systematic review.

Methods:

We conducted a systematic review of studies that investigated the use of ketamine for adults with BD. We searched PubMed and Embase for relevant randomized-controlled trials, open-label trials, and retrospective chart analyses published from inception to 13 March 2023.

Results:

Eight studies were identified [pooled n = 235; mean (SD) age: 45.55 (5.54)]. All participants who received intravenous (IV) ketamine were administered a dose of 0.5–0.75 mg/kg as an adjunctive treatment to a mood-stabilizing agent, whereas participants who received esketamine were administered a dosage ranging from 28 to 84 mg. Flexible dosing was used in real-world analyses. A total of 48% of participants receiving ketamine achieved a response (defined as ⩾50% reduction in baseline depression severity), whereas only 5% achieved a response with a placebo. Real-world studies demonstrated lower rates of response (30%) compared to the average across clinical trials (63%). Reductions in suicidal ideation were noted in some studies, although not all findings were statistically significant. Ketamine and esketamine were well tolerated in most participants; however, six participants (2% of the overall sample pool, 5 receiving ketamine) developed hypomanic/manic symptoms after infusions. Significant dissociative symptoms were observed at the 40-min mark in some trials.

Conclusion:

Preliminary evidence suggests IV ketamine as being safe and effective for the treatment of BD. Future studies should focus on investigating the effects of repeated acute and maintenance infusions using a randomized study design.
What happens next? The ever-dreaded “knock” and mobile access instability for vehicle residents
Authors: Montague Kaitlin E.
Published: September 2023

This high-exposure study explores information-seeking via mobile phone usage among a specific unstably housed population. There exists a population referred to as “vehicle residents” who are people earning wages, who have chosen to move into their vehicles as a survival strategy during a time when housing expenses account for more than half of lower-income Americans’ monthly income, and whose situation varies from traditional homelessness in that they sustain some stability in maintaining ownership of the vehicle in which they are residing. Building on previous studies of homeless people and their mobile phone usage, while using mobilism as the frame, this study investigates the ways that access instability, an underexamined facet of digital inequality, impacts vehicle residents’ ability to search for information via their mobile phones to support their daily lives. This study is based on two rounds of semi-structured interviews with the same participants, complemented by a virtual guided tour of participant's vehicles. Among the key findings is that mobility creates and resolves access instability for vehicle residents, introducing the concept of mobile access instability. Overall, understanding the unique features and information needs of this particular group results in a more thorough comprehension of the contemporary housing crisis, which is necessary to improve policy by developing mitigation strategies and resolutions.
Assessing the sustainability of smart healthcare applications using a multi-perspective fuzzy comprehensive evaluation approach
Authors: Wu Hsin-Chieh , Chen Tin-Chih Toly , Chiu Min-Chi
Published: September 2023

A smart healthcare application can be judged as sustainable if it was already widely used before and will also be prevalent in the future. In contrast, if a smart healthcare application developed during the COVID-19 pandemic is not used after it, then it is not sustainable. Assessing the sustainability of smart healthcare applications is a critical task for their users and suppliers. However, it is also a challenging task due to the availability of data, users’ subjective beliefs, and different perspectives. In response to this problem, this study proposes a multi-perspective fuzzy comprehensive evaluation approach to evaluate the sustainability of a smart healthcare application from qualitative, multi-criteria decision-making and time-series perspectives. The proposed methodology has been used to evaluate the sustainability of eight smart healthcare applications. The experimental results showed that the sustainability of a smart healthcare application evaluated from different perspectives may be different. Nevertheless, another technique can be used to confirm the evaluation result generated using one technique. In other words, these views compensate for each other.
The Mediating Effects of Entrepreneurial Orientation Between Procedural Rationality and Strategic Decision-making Effectiveness
Authors: Hakeem Anas
Published: September 2023

Researchers have shown interest in theory of organizational information processing and the resource-based theory, as they can both serve to provide competitive advantages for companies. Earlier studies have indicated that procedural rationality is used by firms to increase the demand for information processing when making effective strategic decisions. However, there is limited understanding of the mediating effects of entrepreneurial orientation as an intangible resource for organizations between procedural rationality and strategic decision-making effectiveness in the available studies in the literature. Thus, this study sheds light on the relationship between procedural rationality in strategic decision-making from organizations and their strategic decision-making effectiveness, taking into consideration the mediating effects of entrepreneurial orientation as an intangible resource for organizations. The research model was tested using a structural equation modelling design based on survey data from 162 companies that work under the umbrella of the Saudi financial sector, collated and analysed by software (SPSS and SmartPLS), the research found that procedural rationality in strategic decision-making within organizations positively affected their strategic decision-making effectiveness. Likewise, the research revealed that procedural rationality in strategic decision-making increased the level of entrepreneurial orientation. Moreover, the research findings showed that the high level of entrepreneurial orientation within organizations positively impacted their strategic decision-making effectiveness. These findings enrich the fields of strategic decision-making and procedural rationality through entrepreneurial orientation within organizations, this relationship should synchronize in function focusing on relevant information, data analytics, and strategic approach process. In light of this, this study brings scientific evidence from the perspective of financial companies within Saudi Arabia.
Social Networks Play a Complex Role in HIV Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and the Uptake of PrEP Through Transgender Women Communities Centered Around Three “Casas Trans” in Lima, Peru: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Temelkovska Tijana , Moriarty Kathleen , Huerta Leyla , Perez-Brumer Amaya , Segura Eddy , Passaro Ryan Colby , Lake Jordan E , Clark Jesse , Blair Cherie
Published: September 2023

Transgender women's (TW) social networks may facilitate HIV prevention information dissemination and normative reinforcement. We conducted a qualitative study of social networks among 20 TW affiliated with 3 “casas trans” (houses shared among TW) in Lima, Peru, using diffusion of innovations theory to investigate community-level HIV prevention norms. Participants completed demographic questionnaires, social network interviews, and semistructured in-depth interviews. Median age was 26 and all participants engaged in sex work. Interviews revealed high HIV prevention knowledge and positive attitudes, but low engagement in HIV prevention. Respondents primarily discussed HIV prevention with other TW. Network members’ opinions about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) frequently influenced respondents’ personal beliefs, including mistrust of healthcare personnel, concern that PrEP efficacy was unproven, fear of adverse effects, and frustration regarding difficulty accessing PrEP. Patterns of influence in TW networks may be leveraged to improve uptake of HIV prevention tools, including PrEP.
Communication with Kin in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Reed Megan N. , Li Linda , Pesando Luca Maria , Harris Lauren E. , Furstenberg Frank F. , Teitler Julien O.
Published: September 2023

This study investigates patterns of communication among non-coresident kin in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic using data from the New York City Robin Hood Poverty Tracker. Over half of New Yorkers spoke to their non-coresident family members several times a week during the pandemic, and nearly half increased their communication with non-coresident kin since March 2020. Siblings and extended kin proved to be especially important ties activated during the pandemic. New Yorkers were most likely to report increased communication with siblings. A quarter of respondents reported that they increased communication with at least one aunt, uncle, cousin, or other extended family member. Although non-Hispanic White respondents reported the highest frequency of communication with kin, it was those groups most impacted by COVID-19—foreign-born, Black, and Hispanic New Yorkers—who were most likely to report that they increased communication with kin in the wake of the pandemic.
‘No Home’ and ‘No Host’ but a ‘Third Space’ for Jasmine
Authors: Morve Roshan K.  , Kadri Nashrin A.
Published: September 2023

In Jasmine, the conceptual understanding of Bharati Mukherjee’s protagonist Jyoti is often caught between two worlds and cultures. This is the story of a simple Indian village girl Jyoti’s journey from India to America. During her journey, her transformation and feminist role are significant to understand the cultural changes in her life. This article analyses Mukherjee’s Jasmine with the diasporic postcolonial theoretical framework. This article explores Jyoti’s struggles, assimilation and accommodation in the Third Space with scholars like Bhabha, Lin and Schwartz et al. The postcolonial concepts like a Third Space, identity transformation and acculturation process create a space to explore Jasmine’s journey. To conclude, her efforts to assimilate and identity construction attracts us to explore diasporic space in women’s life. This research finds a potential scope to explore the cross-cultural psychology of the female character in the novel to (re)present the diasporic journey from India to America. This research finds that Jasmine’s role as a diasporic figure creates a Third Space and acculturation.