bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Farming Communities Cope With Displacement Arising from Farmer-Herder Conflict in North Central Nigeria
Authors: Peter Yikwab Yikwabs , Tade Oludayo
Published: July 2021

A largely overlooked area in extant literature on farmer-herder conflict in Nigeria is coping strategies employed by internally displaced farming communities. Using exploratory design and qualitative data collection tools, we collected data from 23 purposively selected victims of farmer-herder conflict in Nasarawa State who were displaced and were either living in internally displaced persons camps or with friends/family. Findings showed that participants relied on their friends and family to cope with victimization experiences. Reported coping strategies included job switching, relocation to a safer place, formation of a vigilance group and trusting in God. The article recommends, among other things, empowering displaced populations with skills to cope with displacement challenges.
Virtue, Shame, and Choice: Perspectives of Sex Work Among Adolescents in Variously Globalized Thai Communities
Authors: McKenzie Jessica , Reyes José J. , Xiong Kajai C. , Corona Alysia , Armsworthy Chelsee
Published: July 2021

Although taboo given the traditional Thai value of female sexual conservatism, sex work is a practice for which Thailand has gained international attention. As in other rapidly globalizing contexts, however, Thai youth are increasingly exposed to global values of gender equality, self-fulfillment, and personal choice. This may, in turn, alter youth perspectives of this taboo yet pervasive practice. To understand how Thai youth negotiate local and global values when considering sex work, this study examined the moral evaluations and moral reasoning of adolescents residing in variously globalized communities. Forty participants (20 adolescents in each a more and a less globalized Thai setting) participated in interviews in which they discussed their perspectives of sex work. Quantitative analysis of moral evaluations revealed that rural and urban adolescents alike deemed sex work as mostly morally wrong. Qualitative analysis of moral reasoning revealed that both participant groups prioritized Thai values of sexual purity for women, shame avoidance, and reputation maintenance. Yet distinct values were also endorsed across participant groups. Rural adolescents centered local values (e.g., relational choice, women’s dignity, Buddhist divinity) and urban adolescents drew heavily from global values (e.g., autonomous choice, romantic love, international reputation) when reasoning about the morality and immorality of sex work. Findings point to the manner in which contextual realities shape—and reshape—cultural values in this rapidly globalizing nation.
Effects of environmental temperature and humidity on evaporative heat loss through firefighter suit materials made with semi-permeable and microporous moisture barriers
Authors: Gao Huipu , Deaton Anthoney Shawn , Fang Xiaomeng , Watson Kyle , DenHartog Emiel A , Barker Roger
Published: July 2021

The goal of this research was to understand how firefighter protective suits perform in different operational environments. This study used a sweating guarded hotplate to examine the effect of environmental temperature (20–45°C) and relative humidity (25–85% RH) on evaporative heat loss through firefighter turnout materials. Four firefighter turnout composites containing three different bi-component (semi-permeable) and one microporous moisture barriers were selected. The results showed that the evaporative resistance of microporous moisture barrier systems was independent of environmental testing conditions. However, absorbed moisture strongly affected evaporative heat loss through semi-permeable moisture barriers coated with a layer of nonporous hydrophilic polymer. Moisture absorption in mild environment (20–25°C) tests, or when testing at high humidity (>85% RH), significantly increased water vapor transmission in semi-permeable turnout systems. It was also found that environmental conditions used in the total heat loss (THL) test (25°C and 65% RH) produced moisture condensation in bi-component barrier systems, making them appear more breathable than could be expected when worn in hotter environments. Regression models successfully qualified the relationships between moisture uptake levels in semi-permeable barrier systems and evaporative resistance and THL. These findings reveal the limitations in relying on THL, the heat strain index currently called for by the NFPA 1971 Standard for Structural Firefighter personal protective equipment, and supports the need to measure turnout evaporative resistance at 35°C (Ret), in addition to THL at 25°C.
Interactive query expansion for professional search applications
Authors: Russell-Rose Tony , Gooch Philip , Kruschwitz Udo
Published: July 2021

Knowledge workers (such as healthcare information professionals, patent agents and recruitment professionals) undertake work tasks where search forms a core part of their duties. In these instances, the search task is often complex and time-consuming and requires specialist expert knowledge to formulate accurate search strategies. Interactive features such as query expansion can play a key role in supporting these tasks. However, generating query suggestions within a professional search context requires that consideration be given to the specialist, structured nature of the search strategies they employ. In this paper, we investigate a variety of query expansion methods applied to a collection of Boolean search strategies used in a variety of real-world professional search tasks. The results demonstrate the utility of context-free distributional language models and the value of using linguistic cues to optimise the balance between precision and recall.
Changes over Time in Patient Stated Values and Treatment Preferences Regarding Aggressive Therapies: Insights from the DECIDE-LVAD Trial
Authors: Knoepke Christopher E. , Chaussee Erin L. , Matlock Daniel D. , Thompson Jocelyn S. , McIlvennan Colleen K. , Ambardekar Amrut V. , Schaffer Elisabeth M. , Khazanie Prateeti , Scherer Laura , Arnold Robert M. , Allen Larry A.
Published: July 2021

Background

Patient-centered care includes matching treatments to patient values and preferences. This assumes clarity and consistency of values and preferences relevant to major medical decisions. We sought to describe stability of patient-reported values regarding aggressiveness of care and preferences for left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for advanced heart failure.

Methods and Results

We conducted a secondary analysis of patients undergoing LVAD evaluation at 6 US centers. Surveys at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months included a single 10-point scale on the value of aggressive care (score 1 = “do everything,” 10 = “live with whatever time I have left”) and treatment preference (LVAD, unsure, no LVAD). Data were captured for 232 patients, of whom 196 were ultimately deemed medically eligible for LVAD, and 161 were surgically implanted by 1 month. Values at baseline favored aggressive care (mean [SD], 2.49 [2.63]), trending toward less aggressive over time (1 month, 2.63 [2.05]; 6 months, 3.22 [2.70]). Between baseline and 1 month, values scores changed by ≥2 points in 28% (50/176), as did treatment preferences for 18% (29/161) of patients. Values score changes over time were associated with lower illness acceptance, depression, and eventual LVAD ineligibility. Treatment preference change was associated with values score change.

Conclusion

Most patients considering LVAD were stable in their values and treatment preferences. This stability, as well as the association between unstable treatment preferences and changes to stated values, highlighted the clinical utility of the values scale of aggressiveness. However, a substantial minority reported significant changes over time that may complicate the process of shared decision making. Improved methods to elicit and clarify values, including support to those with depression and low illness acceptance, is critical for patient-centered care. [Box: see text]
Efficacy and safety of induction chemotherapy with daunorubicin or idarubicin in the treatment of an adult with acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Zhang Qi , Zhang Chun-Hong , Wang Zhen-Dong , Wang Dong
Published: July 2021

Background:

Anthracyclines are dispensable components of chemotherapy of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Objective:

To analyze the efficacy and safety of induction with idarubicin (IDA) or liposoma daunorubicin (L-DNR) in treatment of adults with high-risk ALL (HR-ALL) (presence of mixed lineage leukemia gene [ MLL] rearrangements, t[1;19], or prednisone poor response).

Methods:

Among 58 enrolled patients, 29 cases were defined as the IDA group and the other 29 patients were put into the L-DNR group. Both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated and overall response rate (ORR) was compared between the groups.

Results:

The L-DNR group’s OS and PFS were insignificantly higher than in the IDA group ( P=0.261 and P=0.247). Although not significantly different, the ORR of adults with HR-ALL receiving L-DNR regimens was also higher than in the IDA group ( P=0.085). Comprehensive cytogenetic analysis revealed that patients harboring MLL rearrangement, E2A-PBX1, and P53 mutation had poorer prognosis than others. All 58 patients experienced hematologic response in this study; however, the length of hematologic response in the IDA group was significantly longer than in the L-DNR group ( P=0.005). The incidence of bleeding and infection was without significant difference between the groups (both P>0.05).

Conclusion:

L-DNR proved to be an effective drug within a multiagent approach, which shows a favorable overall profile, as well as similar adverse events when compared with IDA in HR-ALL. Patients with E2A-PBX1 are much more sensitive to L-DNR than IDA. Despite some progress made, outcomes in MLL rearrangement or P53 mutation carriers remain unsatisfactory, and intensive treatment will be critical.
Prognostic role of hematologic parameters of metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with sunitinib
Authors: Bolzacchini Elena , Giordano Monica , Bertù Lorenza , Bregni Marco , Nigro Olga , Galli Luca , Antonuzzo Andrea , Artale Salvatore , Barzaghi Sabrina , Danova Marco , Torchio Martina , Pinotti Graziella , Dentali Francesco
Published: July 2021

Background:

Hemochrome parameters at the diagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and the development of macrocytosis during sunitinib therapy are considered prognostic.

Objective:

To evaluate the prognostic role of hematologic parameters and macrocytosis in mRCC treated with sunitinib.

Methods:

We analyzed clinical data of 100 patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib as first-line therapy in a retrospective multicenter study. We calculated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) at baseline and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) during therapy. We considered the following cutoffs: NLR >3, PLR >150, LMR <3, and MCV >100 fl. Clinical data histology, prior nephrectomy, Fuhrman grading, metastatic sites, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center score, and Heng score were collected. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated. Univariate and multivariate analysis using Cox regression model with time-dependent (macrocytosis) covariate were applied.

Results:

At the univariate analysis, low LMR was associated with shorter PFS and OS ( p = 0.02 and p = 0.06, respectively). High PLR was associated with worse PFS ( p = 0.005); median OS was 23 vs 28 months ( p = 0.13). At the multivariate analysis, poor risk (Heng score), low LMR, and high PLR were associated with shorter PFS (hazard ratio 7.1, 1.5, and 2, respectively); poor PS and poor risk (Heng score) were related to worst OS. Macrocytosis was observed in 26 patients and was not prognostic of survival.

Conclusions:

In our cohort of patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib, low LMR (>3) and high PLR (>150) were associated with shorter PFS. Macrocytosis was not prognostic.
Solution approach for optimal power flow considering wind turbine and environmental emissions
Authors: Maheshwari Ankur , Sood Yog Raj
Published: July 2021

The power grid is changing expeditiously with the increasing penetration of renewable energy sources (RES). Optimal utilization of RES reduces the burden on the primary grid and makes the grid more resilient. Traditional optimal power flow (OPF) is a complex problem in power management systems, and the complexity further increases with the integration of RES due to their intermittency. This paper presents the complete formulation of the OPF model incorporating wind turbines (WT) and environmental emissions for proper scheduling, planning, and efficient operation of thermal generating units (TGU) using the Ant Lion Optimization (ALO) algorithm. The formulation of the OPF problem comprises forecasted active power generation of WT, depending on the real-time measurement and probabilistic wind speed models. The results are analyzed from the perspective of operating cost, voltage profile, and transmission power losses in the system. The OPF approach and the solution methodology are tested on the IEEE 30 and IEEE 57-bus systems. The effectiveness of the proposed ALO algorithm is evaluated against well-established algorithms like Particle Swarm Optimization and Teaching-learning-based optimization. The comparison emphasizes the effectiveness of the ALO approach for solving various OPF problems with complex and non-smooth objective functions.
Is Driving Automation Used as Intended? Real-World Use of Partially Automated Driving Systems and their Safety Consequences
Authors: Kim Hyungil , Song Miao , Doerzaph Zachary
Published: July 2021

Advanced driver assistance systems with SAE Level 2 automated capabilities have entered the vehicle marketplace. Such driving automation systems (DASs) have the potential to fundamentally change the driving experience through automated lateral and longitudinal vehicle control. However, drivers may not use DASs as intended because of their misunderstanding of the systems’ capabilities and limitations. Moreover, the real-world use and effects of this novel technology on transportation safety are largely unknown. To investigate driver interactions with driving automation, the study examined existing naturalistic driving data collected from 50 participants who drove personally owned vehicles with Level 2 DASs for 12 months. It was found that 47 out of 235 safety-critical events (SCEs) involved DAS use. An in-depth analysis of 47 SCEs revealed that people misused DASs in 57% of SCEs (e.g., engaged in secondary tasks, used the systems not on highways or with hands off the wheel). During 13% of SCEs, the systems neither reacted to the situation nor warned the driver. A post-study survey showed that the participants found DASs useful and usable. However, the greater the positive attitude toward DAS features, the more participants felt comfortable engaging in secondary tasks. This is a potential unintended side effect of Level 2 DASs given that they still rely on the human driver’s supervision. This study also captured some scenarios where DASs did not meet driver expectations in typical driving situations, such as approaching stopped vehicles and negotiating curves. The findings may inform the development of human-machine interfaces and training programs to reduce the unintended use of DASs and their safety consequences.
Labour Controls, Unfreedom and Perpetuation of Slavery on a Tea Plantation
Authors: Shahadat Khandakar , Uddin Shahzad
Published: July 2021

This article examines labour controls in traditional tea plantations in Bangladesh. This study finds how social and economic exclusion through discriminatory labour laws and labour–manager relations rooted in the ‘coolie’ system have built a captive workforce separated from the mainstream workforce. This ultimately produces and reproduces slavery–laden labour controls. An opaque but punitive incentive system, sunset-sunrise working hours, maximum engagement, and the restrictions of promotion to managerial posts are constant reminders of the historically rooted indentured labour system. This article contributes to understanding modern slavery in an organisational context and the obstacles that prevent ‘free’ labourers from walking away from exploitative conditions. Organisational sites such as tea plantations present clear examples of how specific types of labour control restrict freedom of choice and produce ‘willing slaves’.
Understanding Consumer Sentiments Towards Marketing: An Investigation in Indian Context
Authors: Jain Sanjay K. , Goel Parul , Jain Sonali
Published: July 2021

Consumers constitute one of the most important elements of marketing environment. Understanding their sentiments towards marketing practices is a sine qua non for the development of effective marketing strategies, thus garnering their patronage, and attaining improved business performance. Based on Gaski and Etzel’s (1986) framework, the present study attempts to investigate consumer sentiments towards marketing in India and compare the results with those of consumers in select other countries. Analysis of the data collected through a survey of consumers located in Delhi and the NCR region reveals consumers to be holding moderately favourable opinion that business firms pursue customer-oriented business philosophy. As regards marketing mix elements, retailing/selling emerges as the element towards which consumers have expressed the most positive sentiments. Practices in relation to advertising and product come next in order of favourability in consumer perceptions. Pricing is the variable for which consumers appear holding the least favourable opinion. In overall terms, though the consumer sentiments towards marketing in India are found only moderately favourable, these turn out to be relatively much more favourable when compared with those of consumers in other countries.
Women’s Participation in Higher Education in India: An Analysis Across Major States
Authors: Ghosh Sanghita , Kundu Amit
Published: July 2021

Women’s participation in higher education is an important pathway towards gender equality in economy and society. This article examines their participation levels in higher education across major Indian states and explores the underlying factors in the disparity between states. It employs two indicators, namely, Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of Females and Gender Parity Index (GPI) to measure the absolute and relative participation of women in the higher education, from 2011 to 2019. The comparative statistical analysis of these parameters for the 16 major states shows that they perform poorly in postgraduation and technical education courses. However, they are better placed in GPI at undergraduation level. Further, they appear to be moving towards gender parity with recent increases in enrolment of girls in higher education. On the basis of fixed-effect panel data regression, it is found that significant share of female teachers, higher per capita state domestic product (a proxy for per-capita income) and availability of colleges and girls’ hostels are playing important roles to contributing to the GER of females and GPI in higher education in India.
Leukocyte numbers and intestinal mucosal morphometrics in horses with no clinical intestinal disease
Authors: Rocchigiani Guido , Ricci Emanuele , Navarro Mauricio A. , Samol Monika A. , Uzal Francisco A.
Published: July 2021

Healthy horses and other animals have large numbers of resident leukocytes in the intestinal wall, but there is scant information regarding which and how many leukocytes are normally present in the equine intestinal wall. Our aim was to provide a reference range of leukocytes in the intestinal mucosal and submucosal propria of normal horses. We included in our study intestinal tissues from 22 Thoroughbred racehorses with no clinical intestinal disease, which had been euthanized because of catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries. Neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, macrophages, and plasma cells were counted in 5 random 17,600-µm2 areas of villus lamina propria of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, and deep lamina propria of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, right ventral colon, left ventral colon, left dorsal colon, right dorsal colon, and small colon. Other features investigated in the same intestinal segments included villus height and width (small intestine), presence of ciliated protozoa, Paneth cells number, subcryptal leukocyte layers (number of leukocyte layers between the bottom of the crypts and the muscularis mucosae), and submucosal leukocytes. Lymphocytes were the most numerous cells in all segments analyzed, followed by plasma cells, eosinophils, macrophages, and neutrophils. Eosinophil numbers were significantly higher in both lamina propria and submucosa of the large intestine than in the small intestine. The duodenum had shorter and thinner villi than either jejunum or ileum. The data provided from our study will be useful for diagnosticians examining inflammatory processes in the intestinal tract of horses.
A Retrospective Examination of Home PCA Use and Parental Satisfaction With Pediatric Palliative Care Patients
Authors: Grossoehme Daniel H. , Brown Miraides , Richner Gwendolyn , Zhou Sarah M. , Friebert Sarah
Published: July 2021

Introduction:

Home Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) is an effective and often preferred therapy for the treatment of chronic pain symptoms in the pediatric palliative care patient. There is little previous research of patient experience with Home PCA. The purpose of this study was to investigate use of home PCA devices in pediatric patients to inform palliative care providers considering an alternative management option for the treatment of end-of-life or chronic pain.

Methods:

A chart review was performed of patients prescribed home PCA. Surveys were sent to patients’ guardians/caregivers. Questions referred to caregiver impression/satisfaction with information provided regarding use of the PCA machine, the medication used, the benefits and risks of PCA, monitoring of patient pain level and alertness, machine efficacy, and fears and concerns.

Results:

Thirty-four patients met inclusion criteria, and 18 patient families completed surveys. Demographic data showed that the majority were Caucasian and had a cancer diagnosis. Patient age and duration of home PCA use varied greatly. Overall, participants were satisfied with information received and felt positively about home PCA, albeit expressing concerns. The majority described the machine as easy to use and were satisfied with their child’s pain management and level of alertness.

Conclusion:

Responses indicated that home PCA is a manageable and effective alternative to traditional analgesic medications for management of chronic pain in the pediatric patient.
Strategies Australian Hospitals Utilize to Incorporate Patient Feedback in the Delivery and Measurement of Person-Centered Care: A Scoping Review
Authors: Davis Joy , Sinni Sue , Maloney Stephen , Walker Lorraine
Published: July 2021

Patients are central to healthcare clinicians and organizations but often subsidiary to clinical expertise, knowledge, workplace processes, and culture. Shifting societal values, technology, and regulations have remoulded the patient-clinician relationship, augmenting the patient’s voice within the healthcare construct. Scaffolding this restructure is the global imperative to deliver person-centered care (PCC). The aim of the scoping review was to explore and map the intersection between patient feedback and strategies to improve the provision of PCC within acute hospitals in Australia. Database searches yielded 493 articles, with 16 studies meeting inclusion criteria. Integration of patient feedback varied from strategy design, through to multi-staged input throughout the initiative and beyond. Initiatives actioning patient feedback fell broadly into four categories: clinical practice, educational strategies, governance, and measurement. How clinicians can invite feedback and support patients to engage equally remains unclear, requiring further exploration of strategies to propel clinician-patient partnerships, scaffolded by hospital governance structures.
Developing Cultural Competencies in Pre-Service Teachers Through Humanity Centered Design and Community-Based Learning
Authors: Lawless Frank Catherine M. , Bogard Treavor
Published: July 2021

Teacher education programs advocating for culturally sustaining teaching practices are concerned with providing experiences that develop cultural competencies and dispositions for teaching in diverse environments. Gloria Ladson-Billings (1995), influential research in the area of culturally relevant pedagogy, found that effective educators understand the culture of their students and make “conscious decisions to be a part of the community from which their students come ( p 479).” This article examines the potential of empathetic immersion into students’ communities using Humanity-Centered Design (HCD) for cultivating cultural competencies in preservice teachers (PTs). The authors describe how two HCD projects, a literacy center library and HCD informed lesson planning activity, immersed PTs into experiences that disrupt previously held beliefs and fostered dispositions for culturally effective teaching practices.
Research on strain softening constitutive model of coal-rock combined body with damage threshold
Authors: Wang Tuo , Ma Zhanguo
Published: July 2021

The coal seam and the roof of the roadway bear loads together in the underground engineering of coal mine. Especially for the roadway driven along the roof, its deformation is completely different from that arranged in the complete rock stratum. Accurately knowing the mechanical mechanism of coal-rock combined body can help understand the deformation and failure modes of such roadways. This article started with tests of coal-rock combined samples with different height ratios, based on the test results, a strain softening damage constitutive model of coal-rock combined body and a method for solving the parameters of the model were proposed, and the influence of the model parameters was discussed. The test results show that the stress peak value and residual strength of the coal-rock combined samples are negatively correlated with the proportion of coal in the coal-rock combined samples, and have a positive correlation with the confining pressure. The damage constitutive model fitted the test curve well. The model can accurately describe the stress-strain curve of coal-rock combined samples, and can reflect the influence of different height ratios of coal and rock samples and confining pressures. The effects of model parameters were discussed based on the damage constitutive model, which are expected to be widely used in underground engineering.
Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of Percutaneous Chevron-Akin Osteotomies for the Correction of Hallux Valgus Deformity
Authors: Mikhail Christopher M. , Markowitz Jonathan , Di Lenarda Luca , Guzman Javier , Vulcano Ettore
Published: July 2021

Background:

Hallux valgus is a common cause of pain and dysfunction of the foot, sometimes requiring surgical correction when conservative measures fail. Although there are many methods of correction, one of the newer techniques is minimally invasive chevron-Akin (MICA). The aim of the current study is to evaluate clinical and radiographic effectiveness of MICA and narcotic use in a large patient cohort.

Methods:

All patients in this retrospective study were treated by a single fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon. Patient demographics were collected for all cases. Preoperative and postoperative intermetatarsal angle (IMA) and hallux valgus angle (HVA) were measured in all patients on weightbearing 3-views radiographs. The Foot Function Index (FFI) was obtained pre- and postoperatively at each visit. All patients were prescribed regular use of ibuprofen for 3 days with acetaminophen and oxycodone reserved for breakthrough pain. Use of narcotic pain medication was recorded.

Results:

A total of 274 feet in 248 patients were included in the study. Overall, 87.9% were female and 12.1% were male. The mean preoperative IMA and HVA were 13.4 and 29.1 degrees, respectively. The postoperative IMA and HVA were 4.9 and 8.9 degrees, respectively. The mean FFI score part A was 92 preoperatively and 43 postoperatively. Patient satisfaction was 91.6%. The mean postoperative 5 mg oxycodone pill consumption was 2.2.

Conclusion:

MICA is good method to correct hallux valgus deformity with low postoperative narcotic use.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, restrospective cohort study of a single surgeon practice.
Coaction of Obesity Treatment–Associated Changes in Physical Activity and Emotional Eating: Mediation by Body Satisfaction
Authors: Annesi James J.
Published: July 2021

Background

Research on coaction suggests improvements in physical activity and emotional eating will occur in a reciprocal manner.

Aims

To determine if changes in body satisfaction mediate relations between physical activity and emotional eating changes and if age affects degree of change in those variables.

Method

Groups of early adult ( n = 43) and middle-age ( n = 52) women participants of a community-based obesity treatment were assessed on behavioral and psychological variables over 3 and 6 months.

Results

Improvements in physical activity, anxiety-related emotional eating, body satisfaction, anxiety, and exercise self-efficacy were significant overall. Early adults demonstrated greater reductions in emotional eating. Physical activity increase over 3 months significantly predicted 6-month reduction in emotional eating but not vice versa. Body satisfaction change significantly mediated the physical activity–emotional eating relationships. Changes in anxiety and exercise self-efficacy moderated activity → emotional eating and body satisfaction → physical activity relationships, respectively.

Conclusion

Findings can inform both theory and behavioral obesity interventions.
Effects of Home-Based Exercise on Frailty in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease: Systematic Review
Authors: Yoo Jongwon , Ruppar Todd , Wilbur JoEllen , Miller Arlene , Westrick Jennifer C.
Published: July 2021

Background:

New or worsening frailty is a common problem in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) during the prolonged time awaiting kidney transplantation. Structured physical activity in the dialysis setting has been shown to mitigate frailty, but little is known about the benefits of home-based exercise. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize the effects of home-based exercise interventions on indicators of frailty (weakness, slowness, low physical activity, perceived exhaustion, and shrinking) among patients diagnosed with ESRD.

Methods:

We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar using Medical Subject Heading terms and free text keywords including kidney failure, exercise, and frailty. We identified 13 relevant articles (eight randomized controlled trials, five quasi-experimental studies).

Results:

Our review found potential effectiveness of home-based exercise interventions on mitigating or preventing selected indicators of frailty (e.g., weakness, slowness, low physical activity, perceived exhaustion), particularly when the interventions combined aerobic walking, resistance exercise, and behavioral components and were delivered for at least 6 months. However, no published studies measured the effect of home-based exercise interventions on frailty as a whole.

Conclusions:

While existing studies suggest likely benefits of home-based exercise interventions among patients with ESRD, future research is warranted to develop and test home-based physical activity interventions that address all indicators of frailty.
Expectations and Perceptions of Dutch Pharmacy Staff Regarding a New Framework for Continence Care: A Focus Group Study
Authors: Schreuder Miranda C , van der Worp Henk , Metting Esther I , Blanker Marco H
Published: July 2021

Based on complaints that patients with urinary incontinence were not receiving the correct medical aids, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Wellbeing, and Sports requested further exploration. This resulted in a new framework based on considering individual activities of daily living when providing continence products. We aimed to explore the expectations of pharmacy staff regarding this new framework for continence care in the Netherlands and to establish the facilitators and barriers associated with that care. In total, 15 participants from 7 different pharmacies participated in 2 focus groups. Data analysis was by thematic content analysis. Pharmacy employees were positive about the idea of considering individual daily activities when providing continence products in the new framework, but they did have some reservations about the feasibility of implementation in daily practice. Barriers to optimal continence care included low reimbursement for patients with incontinence, especially with non-standard needs, and poor communication between the various stakeholders in continence care. Efforts must be extended to review the current reimbursement system and to change the policies and information provided by stakeholders in continence care, before the new framework will make a real impact in clinical practice.
Foreign language anxiety and achievement: A study of primary school students learning English in China
Authors: Hu Xiaoyi , Zhang Xian , McGeown Sarah
Published: July 2021

The present study sought to understand the nature and level of foreign language (FL) anxiety among primary school students and the relationship between FL anxiety and FL achievement. Changes in FL anxiety across groups of three primary school years were also examined. A total of 631 (324 male, 307 female) primary school students aged 9–11 years completed the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) that measured students’ FL anxiety. Our participants’ FL achievements as measured by low-stakes regular assessments and high-stakes formal examinations were also collected. On average, primary school students reported levels of FL anxiety comparable to those of adults observed in previous studies. Factor analysis on FLCAS generated four components of FL anxiety: communication apprehension, fear of negative evaluation, test anxiety and negative attitude towards classroom. Correlation analyses showed that students’ FL anxiety was inversely correlated with their FL achievements. The correlation was stronger for formal examinations with higher stakes as compared to regular assessments with lower stakes. Finally, the correlation strengthened as a function of higher instructional level. Results are discussed in relation to previous research. Implications to FL education are also considered.
Language achievement predicts anxiety and not the other way around: A cross-lagged panel analysis approach
Authors: Alamer Abdullah , Lee Jihyun
Published: July 2021

While language anxiety is known to be a strong predictor of the second language (L2) achievement for decades, there has been a relative lack of empirical attention to establishing which one – anxiety or achievement – influences the other. The present study, based on a cross-lagged panel analysis, examined the causal relationships between language anxiety and L2 achievement, each of which was measured at three times points across 17 weeks. The results supported the directional relationship from L2 achievement at Time 2 to language anxiety at Time 3 while the opposite directional relationship from language anxiety at Time 2 to L2 achievement at Time 3 was not supported. Thus, our results suggest that language achievement precedes anxiety and not the other way round. The moderation analysis further sheds light on the importance of the earlier L2 achievement in the development of anxiety later on, by understanding learners’ motivational profiles. That is, learners with high autonomous motivation and high achievement at Time 1 exhibited a further decrease in anxiety at Time 3. On the other hand, learners with high autonomous motivation but low achievement showed a higher level of anxiety at Time 3. Overall, the present study makes a noteworthy contribution to one of the most debatable issues in the field and concludes with some practical implications for L2 educators.
Carceral urbanism: Reconstructing the architecture of punitive space in post-genocide Rwanda
Authors: Hudani Shakirah E
Published: July 2021

In this article I make the argument that the prison in post-genocide Rwanda is an architectural artefact and a problem-space around which to examine the transitional dilemmas of the post-genocide period. I examine the changing punitive architecture of incarceration in Rwanda’s capital and in secondary urban areas. Looking at the space of the prison in relation to the changing city, I posit that through the penal production of space, the state reconfigures logics of punitive practices and urban governmentality. Changing logics of incarceration are evident in Rwanda today in the deconcentration of the capital, Kigali, to make way for an urban masterplanned order. In analyzing this shift in the visibility of the penal order in Rwanda over time, I contend that the prison constructs the city through its punitive and surveillance-based logic, as much as the city constitutes the prison as a spatially segregated edifice. I examine two sets of governmental spaces and practices that have run through different eras of Rwanda’s colonial, post-independence and post-genocide periods: (a) the prison and punishment, and (b) the reordering of the capital city and urban planning.
Women’s Preferences for Strong Men Under Perceived Harsh Versus Safe Ecological Conditions
Authors: Garza Ray , Pazhoohi Farid , Byrd-Craven Jennifer
Published: July 2021

Ecological conditions provide information about available resources for one’s environment. In humans, this has been shown to influence reproductive behavior, as individuals may engage in trade-offs between partner quality and investment. For instance, many women may trade-off preferences for men with physical features indicative of social dominance and health over physical features indicative of commitment and investment. The current study explored women’s preferences for formidable men under safe vs. harsh ecological conditions. Across three studies, U.S. university women ( N = 1,098) were randomly assigned to a perceived harsh or safe ecological condition. They were asked to rate the attractiveness of men’s body types (i.e., muscular vs. less muscular). Findings revealed that in general, women rated stronger men as more attractive than weaker men irrespective of the ecological condition. Evidence for preference as a function of ecology appeared only when a two-alternative forced-choice task was used (Study 3), but not in rating tasks (Studies 1 and 2). Study 3 showed that women had a relatively stronger preference for stronger men for short-term relationships in a resource scarce ecological condition. This research provides some evidence that perceived ecological conditions can drive women’s preferences for men with enhanced secondary sex characteristics as a function of mating context. These findings are consistent with previous research indicating the importance of physical characteristics in men’s attractiveness, and it adds to the existing literature on ecological factors and mating preferences.
Active vibration control of a shaft bracket-plate coupled system
Authors: Yang Dequan , Xie Xiling , Ren Mingke , Zhang Zhiyi
Published: July 2021

Active vibration control of a shaft bracket-plate coupled system is investigated. The vibration of the plate is controlled with electromagnetic vibration absorbers (EVAs), which are mounted around the feet of the shaft bracket to impede the transmission of vibration from the bracket apex to the plate. A dynamic model is established on the Timoshenko beam theory and the Kirchhoff thin plate theory to reveal the mechanism of vibration transmission. It is exhibited that all the induced forces and moments at the coupling points contribute much to the transverse responses of the plate. The feasibility of active control with the EVAs is evaluated numerically based on the controllability of the plate vibration. It is demonstrated that the two-point in-plane control is able to attenuate the plate vibration under the excitation of in-plane disturbance forces, while the multi-point control is effective in reducing the plate vibration regardless of the directions of disturbance forces. An experimental system is built to verify the performance of the two-point in-plane control. The results have shown that with the help of adaptive control, the two-point in-plane control is capable of suppressing the vibration of the foundation induced by the in-plane forces acting on the shaft bracket.
Administration of pro re nata medications by the nurse to incapacitated patients: An ethical perspective
Authors: Vaismoradi Mojtaba , Fredriksen Moe Cathrine , Vizcaya-Moreno M Flores , Paal Piret
Published: July 2021

The administration of pro re nata medications is the responsibility of the nurse. However, ethical uncertainties often happen due to the inability of incapacitated patients to collaborate with the nurse in the process of decision making for pro re nata medication administration. There is a lack of integrative knowledge and insufficient understanding regarding ethical considerations surrounding the administration of pro re nata medications to incapacitated patients. Therefore, they have been discussed in this paper and practical strategies to avoid unethical practices have been suggested. The complicated caring situation surrounding the administration of pro re nata medications is intertwined with ethical issues affecting the consideration of the patient's wishes and interventions that override them. The patient's right of autonomy and treatment refusal, surrogacy role, paternalism, and coercion are the main ethos of ethical pro re nata medication administration. Education and training can help nurses avoid legal and ethical issues in pro re nata medicines management and improve the quality and safety of healthcare. Empirical research is needed to improve our understanding of this phenomenon in the multidisciplinary environment of medicines management.
The influence of different parameters in tribological characteristics of pineapple/sisal/TiO2 filler incorporation
Authors: Sumesh KR , Saikrishnan G , Pandiyan P , Prabhu L , Gokulkumar S , Priya AK , Spatenka Petr , Krishna Syam
Published: July 2021

In this experimentation hybrid composites using natural fibers and titanium oxide (TiO2) nano filler were fabricated using compression moulding technique. Pineapple (P) and Sisal (S) fibers were used as the natural reinforcements with epoxy as the matrix material. The mechanical results of flexural, impact and tensile properties found good improvement in the properties with SP fiber reinforcement (1:1 ratio) and TiO2 filler addition. The combination with 40 wt.% SP/5 wt.% TiO2 observed better mechanical results. The Taguchi optimization results showed lower Specific Wear Rate (SWR) by the incorporation of high TiO2 filler (5 wt.%) addition with the polymer-based composites. The filler substitutes replace the vacant space between fiber/matrix phase and add to the properties. The multi response optimization with TOPSIS proved that hybrid SP has the high influence in overall tribological properties of the natural fiber composites with rank 1 followed by filler incorporation. The results showed combination with 5 wt.% TiO2/20 wt.% SP Hybrid fiber/500 m Sliding distance/Sliding speed of 1 m/s and applied load of 5 N having optimized results.
Space to Air High-Altitude Region Adjoint Neutron Transport
Authors: LaMere Zachary W , Holland Darren E , Dailey Whitman T , McClory John W
Published: July 2021

Neutrons from an atmospheric nuclear explosion can be detected by sensors in orbit. Current tools for characterizing the neutron energy spectrum assume a known source and use forward transport to recreate the detector response. In realistic scenarios the true source is unknown, making this an inefficient, iterative approach. In contrast, the adjoint approach directly solves for the source spectrum, enabling source reconstruction. The time–energy fluence at the satellite and adjoint transport equation allow a Monte Carlo method to characterize the neutron source’s energy spectrum directly in a new model: the Space to High-Altitude Region Adjoint (SAHARA) model. A new adjoint source event estimator was developed in SAHARA to find feasible solutions to the neutron transport problem given the constraints of the adjoint environment. This work explores SAHARA’s development and performance for mono-energetic and continuous neutron energy sources. In general, the identified spectra were shifted towards energies approximately 5% lower than the true source spectra, but SAHARA was able to capture the correct spectral shapes. Continuous energy sources, including real-world sources Fat Man and Little Boy, resulted in identifiable spectra that could have been produced by the same distribution as the true sources as demonstrated by two-dimensional (2D) Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests.
“Prison didn’t change me, I have changed”: Narratives of change, self, and prison time
Authors: Maier Katharina , Ricciardelli Rosemary
Published: July 2021

Drawing on interview data with over 50 male former prisoners in Ontario, Canada, we examine male ex-prisoners’ narratives of change within prison settings. Specifically, we focus on how ex-prisoners talk about change to self and their persona, as they reflect back on both their pre-prison selves and the ways they believe prison changed them. We find that these ex-prisoners described prison as a time where they developed a more general sense of positive change. Ex-prisoners described how prison living made them “calmer,” “stronger,” and more “patient” overall. These descriptions stand in tension with the overall hostility of prison environments where prisoners are forced to focus on survival and basic well-being as they navigate the risks and threats of prison living. Overall, in this article, we seek to contribute to emerging discussions on positivity within prison settings, acknowledging that studying the more positive impacts of prison is a delicate yet important endeavor necessary to help better understand the experiential complexities of punishment.
Oropharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 test causing atypical internal carotid artery dissection and stroke in a patient after mild COVID-19
Authors: Asan Livia , Deuschl Cornelius , Forsting Michael , Kleinschnitz Christoph , Köhrmann Martin
Published: July 2021

We report a patient who had recovered from pneumonia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) presenting with acute cerebral ischemia due to atypical dissection of the left internal carotid artery immediately after an oropharyngeal swab (OPS) for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing. The symptoms consisting of right-side hemiparesis and aphasia improved after systemic thrombolysis and the patient recovered completely in the further course. We demonstrate findings from imaging (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, neurovascular ultrasound) among other investigations and discuss coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related vessel wall vulnerability as well as tissue injury posed by the swab procedure as underlying causes of the dissection. Individuals performing OPSs during the corona pandemic should be aware of this so far undescribed complication.