bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Children's Safety on Parenting Strategy
Authors: Harris Jorgen
Published: May 2023

This paper hypothesizes that disadvantaged parents use more and harsher discipline in part as a rational response to parenting in more dangerous and less forgiving environments. I model parent-child interactions in which altruistic parents modify the behavior of short-sighted children by investing in children's self-control and by punishing misbehavior. In the model, parents choose to devote more resources to punishment when children's misbehavior has more serious long-term consequences. I present empirical evidence in support of this hypothesis by examining the relationship between school safety and parental discipline, finding that parents use harsher discipline when their children attend more dangerous and disorderly schools, even after accounting for neighborhood fixed-effects and a rich set of parent-level controls. Because parents are not directly exposed to their child's school environment, school safety is most likely to influence parents by shaping their concerns about their children's safety, rather than by affecting their stress, mental reserves, or knowledge about effective parenting strategies.
Recommoning water: Crossing thresholds under citizen-driven remunicipalisation
Authors: Geagea Dona , Kaika Maria , Dell’Angelo Jampel
Published: May 2023

Since 2008, the call to ‘remunicipalise’ water resources has become a key strategy for water movements across Europe. Remunicipalisation aimed at opposing the new wave of privatisation programmes and water commodification incentivised under austerity frameworks. However, the water movements’ lack of direct engagement with questions of re/commoning resulted in under-explored links, in practitioner and scholarly arenas, between demands for water remunicipalisation and practices of commoning. This article brings into dialogue the bodies of literature on commoning and remunicipalisation. It examines the conditions which enable crossing the paradigm threshold from municipal governance, towards more collective and situated models of water governance rooted in practices of commoning. The article operationalises the concept of recommoning water to capture this process, and proposes an analytical definition grounded in a case study of water remunicipalisation in Terrassa, Spain. In 2019, Terrassa achieved remunicipalisation to create a citizen water observatory. The empirical findings demonstrate that water activists in Terassa’s Observatory are reclaiming and reproducing the commons on a daily basis through a process of experimentation with institutional bricolage and (re)negotiation of power and autonomy. This citizen-led observatory is ensuring that resources are shared in common, are used for the common good and are reproducing the commons. The study concludes that water remunicipalisation can act as an important step for enabling processes of recommoning. Nevertheless, the institutionalisation of recommoning water under a public management regime is confronted with multifaceted tensions that merit attention from both activists and policymakers.
Rudder/fin joint anti-rolling control system based on interference model predictive control and sliding mode observer
Authors: Sun Mingxiao , Zhang Wenyu , Zhang Yongde , Luan Tiantian , Yuan Xiaoliang , Li Xiaogang
Published: May 2023

To overcome the difficulties of time-varying disturbance, model mismatch, and frequent operation in the rudder/fin joint control system, an interference model predictive control (I-MPC) rudder/fin joint control system with sliding mode observer is proposed. Considering that the model mismatch problem occurs when the ship is sailing, the model mismatch and external disturbance are regarded as the total disturbance. A discrete 3-degree-of-freedom ship disturbance mathematical model is established. The rudder angle and fin angle are selected as the system inputs, then a sliding mode observer is designed to observe the time-varying disturbance and system output in real time. Different from traditional MPC and feedforward compensation, I-MPC will predict the output based on the disturbance observation value, and the control law is solved under rudder/fin angle and angular velocity constraints. Simulation results show that the proposed method improves the tracking performance and anti-disturbance performance of the rudder/fin system. The observer has high observation accuracy for constant, sinusoidal, and time-varying disturbances. Mechanism wear and energy loss caused by frequent operation are avoided.
Attitude tracking backstepping control for small unmanned helicopters based on adaptive neural network under unknown environment disturbances
Authors: Li Yuan , Li Zhan , Yu Xinghu , Yang Xuebo
Published: May 2023

To solve the attitude tracking control problem of small unmanned helicopters under unknown bounded disturbances, an attitude tracking backstepping controller based on adaptive radial basis function (RBF) neural network disturbance compensation is proposed in this paper. The unknown disturbance is estimated online and in real time through RBF neural network with a novel gradient descent weight update rate. A novel attitude tracking backstepping controller based on virtual control variables is designed, and the system stability is analyzed using the Lyapunov method. The experimental verification of the backstepping controller is carried out on the three-degrees-of-freedom helicopter. The experiments show the effectiveness and advancedness of the proposed adaptive neural network backstepping controller in suppressing unknown external disturbances compared with the robust adaptive integral backstepping.
We Need Tough Brothers and Sisters in a Tight World: Cultural Tightness Leads to a Preference for Dominant and Muscular Leaders
Authors: Chen Hao , Wang Xijing , Zang Huilin , Guinote Ana
Published: May 2023

Cultural tightness is characterized by strong norms and harsh punishments for deviant behaviors. We hypothesized that followers in tight (vs. loose) cultures would more strongly prefer muscular leaders. This hypothesis was confirmed across seven studies ( N = 1,615) employing samples from the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. Using actual political leaders, we demonstrated that the tighter the state’s culture was, the more muscular the elected governor was (Study 1). Temporarily situating participants in a tight (vs. loose) culture made them select a leader higher on muscularity but not on body fat, and the effects obtained occurred for both male and female leaders (Studies 2–3B). In addition, we demonstrated the mediating role of authoritarianism and a preference for a dominant leadership in this process (Studies 4–5B). These results demonstrate the importance of considering the interface between culture and the physical appearance of leaders.
Emerging Adults with Diabetes in Safety-Net Care: Self-Management Influences and Patient-Provider Interactions
Authors: Wolf Rachel A. , Martyn Kristy K. , Haw J. Sonya , Kimble Laura P.
Published: May 2023

Emerging adults with diabetes, particularly in underserved communities, represent a growing but less studied population whose needs may differ from older adults. This study investigated perspectives of underserved emerging adults regarding diabetes self-management influences and provider interactions. Focus groups and interviews with emerging adults in a safety-net health care setting were conducted to identify perspectives regarding self-management influences and patient-provider interactions. Diabetes was perceived as a psychological burden complicated by busy lifestyles and competing responsibilities. Lack of resources, especially financial barriers, also limited self-management. Participants often perceived diabetes visits as standardized encounters providing access to diabetes supplies but desired additional guidance appropriate to their needs and life-stage. Participants valued encouragement and positive ongoing provider relationships for tailored informational and emotional support and support from family and peers. Providers and health care systems adapting to provide or facilitate this support will be better able to optimize diabetes management at and between visits.
Self-Care in Korean Immigrants with Chronic Diseases: A Concept Analysis
Authors: Kim Eun Jo , Choi Sarah E.
Published: May 2023

Chronic illnesses among Korean immigrants (KIs) in the United States have been rapidly increasing, yet the concept of chronic disease self-care in this group has not been delineated. The aim of this study was to review previous research on self-care among KIs with chronic diseases and describe the concept in cultural context. Using Rodgers’ Evolutionary Method, a total of 24 articles were analyzed. The definition and conceptual model of self-care in KIs with chronic diseases were proposed. The antecedents included knowledge and health literacy; social and family support; resources; patient-health care provider partnership; and elimination of cultural misbeliefs and disclosure of the disease. The attributes of the concept were aging well with diseases; treatment adherence; control and restriction; the acculturation process; care built on traditional Korean gender roles; and maintenance of mental health. The consequences involved positive physiological outcomes; self-efficacy; quality of life; and reducing worry about becoming a burden to the family. While the studied concept encompassed universal characteristics of chronic disease self-care, distinctive cultural features emerged. The findings contribute to a better understanding of chronic illness self-care in this population and the development of culturally sensitive and practical self-care interventions for KIs with chronic diseases.
Dose, Content, and Context of Usual Care in Stroke Upper Limb Motor Interventions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Newton Sarah P , Dalton Emily J , Ang Jia Y , Klaic Marlena , Thijs Vincent , Hayward Kathryn S
Published: May 2023

Objective

The objectives of this systematic review were to describe the current dose and content of usual care upper limb motor intervention for inpatients following stroke and examine if context factors alter dose and content.

Data sources

A systematic search (EMBASE, MEDLINE) was completed from January 2015 to February 2023 (PROSPERO CRD42021281986).

Methods

Studies were eligible if they reported non-protocolised usual care upper limb motor intervention dose data for stroke inpatients. Studies were rated using the Johanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. Data were descriptively reported for dose dimensions of time (on task or, in therapy) and intensity (repetitions, repetition/minute), content (intervention type/mode), and context (e.g., severity strata).

Results

Eight studies were included from four countries, largely reflecting inpatient rehabilitation. Time in therapy ranged from 23 to 121 min/day. Time on task ranged from 8 to 44 min/day. Repetitions ranged from 36 to 57/session, and 15 to 282/day. Time on task was lowest in the stratum of people with severe upper limb impairment (8 min/day), the upper limit for this stratum was 41.5 min/day. There was minimal reporting of usual care content across all studies.

Conclusion

Upper limb motor intervention dose appears to be increasing in usual care compared to prior reports (e.g., average 21 min/day and 23 to 32 repetitions/session). Context variability suggests that doses are lowest in the stratum of patients with a severely impaired upper limb. Consistent reporting of the multiple dimensions of dose and content is necessary to better understand usual care offered during inpatient rehabilitation.
Art Therapy in Australian Prisons: A Research Agenda
Authors: Tucker Sarah , Luetz Johannes M.
Published: May 2023

Art therapy in prisons remains widely under-researched in Australia and beyond and represents a major gap in the literature. Despite evidence that art therapy can be a tool for social change, to date, there are no recorded studies in Australia which have investigated the therapeutic benefits of art in prison populations with measured outcomes. Literary analysis suggests that research tends to be hampered by limitations in methodological approaches that are suited to prison environments. By engaging “inside” with inmates over the course of an 8-week art therapy program, this research design addresses this knowledge gap. Building on 5 years of piloting, the research methodological design presented in this paper embodies a prototype that promises to overcome the limitations of previous research approaches. This research agenda promises to facilitate creative interventions through sensitively attuned art therapy delivery. Benefits are expected to accrue to diverse stakeholder groups, including inmates, chaplaincy and parole services, voluntary facilitators, policymakers, criminologists, and taxpayers, among others.
Verification of Airport Pavement Serviceability Level Index Components Proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration
Authors: Parsons Timothy A. , Murrell Scott
Published: May 2023

The Federal Aviation Administration is developing new design procedures for extending airport pavement life beyond 20 years based on the concept of serviceability: the measure of a how well a pavement fulfills user expectations. A key element is a new distress “mega-index” whose elements are intended to represent the independent components of airport pavement serviceability: low foreign object damage potential, low skid potential, and smoothness. This research verifies the assumption that these three components completely describe airport pavement serviceability and proposes an improved probability-based form for the mega-index. The new form has several anticipated advantages including a real-world meaning, the expectation that it can be integrated into a risk management system, and the ability to break down condition into multiple submodels with separate inputs to improve the accuracy of pavement condition predictions.
Humic acid recovery from stabilized leachate: Characterization and interference with chemical oxygen demand–colour removal
Authors: Ahmed Zaber , Yusoff Mohd Suffian , Kamal Nurul Hana Mokhtar , Aziz Hamidi Abdul
Published: May 2023

Heterogeneous combinations of organic compounds (humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid) are the prime factor for the high concentration of colour and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in semi-aerobic stabilized landfill leachate. These organics are less biodegradable and cause a severe threat to environmental elements. Microfiltration and centrifugation processes were applied in this study to investigate the HA removal from stabilized leachate samples and its corresponding interference with COD and colour. The three-stage extraction process recovered a maximum of 1412 ± 2.5 mg/L (Pulau Burung landfill site (PBLS) leachate), 1510 ± 1.5 mg/L (Alor Pongsu landfill site (APLS leachate) at pH 1.5 and 1371 ± 2.5 mg/L (PBLS) and 1451 ± 1.5 mg/L (APLS) of HA (about 42% of the total COD concentration) at pH 2.5, which eventually indicates the process efficiency. Comparative characteristics analysis of recovered HA by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared significantly indicate the existence of identical elements in the recovered HA compared with the previous studies. The higher reduction (around 37%) in ultraviolet (UV) absorbance values (UV254 and UV280) in the final effluent indicates the elimination of aromaticity and conjugated double-bond compounds from leachate. Moreover, 36 and 39% COD and 39 and 44% colour removal exhibit substantial interference.
How energy benchmarking in healthcare facilities supports greenhouse gas emission reduction
Authors: Butler Kate
Published: May 2023

Energy benchmarking of Horizon Health Network’s facilities has been the foundation of an energy management system for the health authority that has led to greenhouse gas emission reductions. Benchmarking energy consumption and appropriately understanding the true impact of energy consumption is the first step in setting target greenhouse gas emission reduction. ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® is the benchmarking tool used by Service New Brunswick for all Government of New Brunswick owned buildings, including all 41 owned Horizon healthcare facilities. This web-based tracking tool then produces benchmarks which supports identification of energy conservation opportunities and efficiencies. Progress for energy conservation and efficiency measures can then be monitored and reported. Since 2013, this approach has supported 52,400 metric tonnes reduction in greenhouse gas emission from Horizon facilities.
Design and analysis of a concentrated-driven bionic-leg capable of omnidirectional legged locomotion based on 3-Dimensional dual-parallelogram-linkages
Authors: Xu Yuze , Luo Zirong , Shang Jianzhong , Wei Guowu , Zhu Yiming , Bai Xiangjuan
Published: May 2023

The Flexible, fast and lightweight leg mechanism is the key to improve legged robot’s mobility, efficiency and adaptability on complex terrain. Inspired by the motion mechanism of legged animals, we report a concentrated-driven omnidirectional legged locomotion bionic leg – OmniLeg. All the motor actuators are centrally installed in the hip plate of the proposed leg to reduce the rotational inertia. Meanwhile, the special 3-Dimensional dual-parallelogram-linkages transmission mechanism enables it to have the ability of omnidirectional legged locomotion in 3-Dimensional space and makes the posture of leg’s endpoint does not change with the motion of the leg mechanism which simplifying the motion control. In this paper, firstly the theoretical model, including mobility, kinematics model, inverse kinematics model, dimension parameters and workspace model, have been derived, analyzed and verified with the design and control of the real prototype. Next, to demonstrate the ability of omnidirectional legged locomotion intuitively, we manufacture a single-legged omnidirectional mobile robot and design a quadruped robot, and the simulation and experiment result illustrate that the design and analytical mode of OmniLeg is feasible and correct, which could be widely applied in the field of legged robot.
Digital finance and inequality in renewable energy technology innovation
Authors: Zhao Xing , Zhao Jing
Published: May 2023

The development of renewable energy is a strategic deployment to address climate change and ensure energy security. Frontier research generally focuses on the impact of renewable energy development and technological innovation on environmental protection and neglects the inequality in renewable energy technology innovation. This paper constructs a renewable energy technology innovation inequality index and analyzes the impact of digital finance on renewable energy technology innovation inequality using panel data from 30 regions in China from 2011 to 2018. The study found that digital finance can alleviate inequality in renewable energy technology innovation. The mechanism test results show that digital finance can optimize green credit allocation, promote technology flow, and optimize energy consumption structure, thus reducing inequality in renewable energy technology innovation. Further analysis shows that the differences in local government governance, environmental regulation, financial supervision, marketization, digital divide, and renewable energy category affect the relationship between digital finance and inequality in renewable energy technology innovation. This paper clarifies the relationship between digital finance and inequality in renewable energy technology innovation and provides new ideas for renewable energy technology innovation.
The impacts of economic policy uncertainty, energy consumption, sustainable innovation, and quality of governance on green growth in emerging economies
Authors: Borojo Dinkneh Gebre , Yushi Jiang , Miao Miao , Xiao Luo
Published: May 2023

This study investigates the impacts of economic policy uncertainty (EPU), energy consumption (EC), sustainable technological innovation (STI), and quality of governance on green growth (GG). Besides, it examines the moderating effect of STI and governance quality on the association between EPU and GG. It applies a Pooled Mean Group Autoregressive Distributed Lag estimator for 25 emerging economies for periods 1991–2019. For the robustness test, we utilize the asymptotic distribution of the Cross-section Augmented Distributed Lag to control for cross-sectional dependence concerns. We drive two indicators for GG by applying the principal component approach and directional distance function. The findings imply that STI and quality of governance have significant positive impacts on GG. However, EPU and EC adversely impact GG in emerging economies. Besides, quality of governance and STI positively moderate EPU's influence on GG, implying that countries with better quality of governance and promote STI mitigate the detrimental effects of high EPU on GG. Moreover, we run the causality analysis to investigate the causal relationship between target variables and GG. Policy suggestions are proposed based on the results.
Cathepsin B mediates the lysosomal-mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in arsenic-induced microglial cell injury
Authors: Zhang Zheyu , Pi Ruozheng , Jiang Yuheng , Ahmad Mashaal , Luo Heng , Luo Jieya , Yang Jie , Sun Baofei
Published: May 2023

Arsenic is a prevalent environmental pollutant that targets the nervous system of living beings. Recent studies indicated that microglial injury could contribute to neuroinflammation and is associated with neuronal damage. Nevertheless, the neurotoxic mechanism underlying the arsenic-induced microglial injury requires additional research. This study explores whether cathepsin B promotes microglia cell damage caused by NaAsO2. Through CCK-8 assay and Annexin V-FITC and PI staining, we discovered that NaAsO2 induced apoptosis in BV2 cells (a microglia cell line). NaAsO2 was verified to increase mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP) and promote the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through JC-1 staining and DCFDA assay, respectively. Mechanically, NaAsO2 was indicated to increase the expression of cathepsin B, which could stimulate pro-apoptotic molecule Bid into the activated form, tBid, and increase lysosomal membrane permeabilization by Immunofluorescence and Western blot assessment. Subsequently, apoptotic signaling downstream of increased mitochondrial membrane permeabilization was activated, promoting caspase activation and microglial apoptosis. Cathepsin B inhibitor CA074-Me could mitigate the damage of microglial. In general, we found that NaAsO2 induced microglia apoptosis and depended on the role of the cathepsin B-mediated lysosomal-mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Our findings provided new insight into NaAsO2-induced neurological damage.
A simple and inexpensive method to monitor and minimize exposure from manipulation of cytotoxic drugs
Authors: Ali Nuro , Carmo Helena , Robalo Raquel , Rocha Luísa , Fernandes Cristina , Moreira Fernando
Published: May 2023

Pharmacy personnel that manipulate cytotoxic drugs are under continuous exposure risk. Therefore, training and strict adherence to recommended practices should always be promoted. The main objective of this study was to develop and apply a safe, effective and low-cost method for the training and assessment of the safe handling of cytotoxic drugs, using commercially available tonic water. To evaluate the potential of tonic water as a replacement marker for quinine hydrochloride, deliberate spills of 1 mL of four different tonic waters (one coloured and three non-coloured) were analysed under ultraviolet light (300–400 nm). The pigmented sample did not produce fluorescence under ultraviolet (UV) light. The three commercially available tonic waters that exhibited fluorescence were further analysed by UV/Vis spectrophotometry (300–500 nm). Afterwards, a protocol of simulated manipulation of cytotoxic drugs was developed and applied to 12 pharmacy technicians, that prepared 24 intravenous bags according to recommended routine procedures using tonic water. Participants responded to a brief questionnaire to evaluate the adequacy and applicability of the activity. Seven of the participants had spillages during manipulation, the majority of which recorded during manipulation with needles. All participants scored the tonic water manipulation simulation with 4 or 5 points for simplicity, efficiency and feasibility. The obtained results suggest that tonic water can be used to simulate the manipulation of cytotoxic drugs in training and assessment programs. By using this replacement marker for quinine hydrochloride, it is possible to perform a more cost-effective, yet equally effective, assessment.
Health System Quality and Performance Indicators for Evaluating Home Care Programming: A Scoping Review
Authors: Jajszczok Max , Eastwood Cathy A. , Quan Hude , Scott Laurel D. , Gutscher Abram , Zhao Rachel
Published: May 2023

A systematic scoping review of health system Performance and Quality Indicators (PQI) related literature for evaluating publicly funded home care programming was conducted. Through the scoping review we identify PQIs, map these based on quadrants of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Quadruple Aim, classify these PQIs under general “areas of focus” categories, and present recommendations for use. We selected all articles that identified, referenced, proposed, and/or described at least 1 PQI to measure home care service programming. Minimum inclusion criteria were a description of 1 or more PQIs designed to evaluate and/or measure home care programming, outcomes of home care clients and/or caregivers, or overall system impacts of home care service provision. The review identified 3,475 citations. A review of the abstracts led to the retrieval of 510 full-text articles for assessment of which 105 articles were selected for detailed review and extraction of identified PQIs. Of the 105 identified articles a total of 829 unique PQIs were gathered. Based on the IHI Quadruple Aim, 661 unique measures were identified as Clinical Outcome, 35 as Healthcare Provider Satisfaction, 99 Patient Experience, and 34 in the Financial/Sustainability quadrants. Many patient outcome specific PQIs exist, followed by patient experience measures. Very few PQIs exist in the financial or healthcare provider experience quadrants. The lack of indicators across all the IHI Quadruple Aim quadrants is an opportunity for further development supporting home care quality oversight.
Out of Shape: The Implications of (Extremely) Nonnormal Dependent Variables
Authors: Certo S. Trevis , Raney Kristen , Albader Latifa , Busenbark John R.
Published: May 2023

Organizational researchers have increasingly noted the problems associated with nonnormal dependent variable distributions. Most of this scholarship focuses on variables with positive values and long tails, such as employee performance, capital expenses, and assets. However, scholars frequently test organizational theories using dependent variables that include negative values, which is perhaps most prominently the case as it relates to measures of firm performance. Over the course of two studies, we investigate the implications of such nonnormally distributed dependent variables in organizational research. In Study 1, we examine the nonnormality of firm performance measures and uncover extreme levels of skewness and kurtosis that vary substantially across measures, samples, and years. We also illustrate that many transformations scholars use to address nonnormality are ineffective. In Study 2, we create simulations that seek to mirror these distributions, and we find that such extreme nonnormality reduces efficiency and increases Type II errors with most statistical approaches. Our analyses also reveal the effectiveness of quantile regression when modeling dependent variables that exhibit the nonnormal distributions often found in organizational research.
Selective Non-toxics Inhibitors Targeting DHFR for Tuberculosis and Cancer Therapy: Pharmacophore Generation and Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Haddoumi Ghyzlane EL , Mansouri Mariam , Bendani Houda , Chemao-Elfihri Mohammed Walid , Kourou Jouhaina , Abbou Hanane , Belyamani Lahcen , Kandoussi Ilham , Ibrahimi Azeddine
Published: May 2023

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a crucial enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of folic acid. Its reserved properties and significance in both human (h-DHFR) and mycobacterium (mt-DHFR) make it a challenging target for developing drugs against cancer and bacterial infections. Although methotrexate (MTX) is commonly used for cancer therapy and bacterial infections, it has a toxic profile. In this study, we aimed to identify selective and non-toxic inhibitors against h-DHFR and mt-DHFR using an in silico approach. From a data set of 8 412 inhibitors, 11 compounds passed the toxicity and drug-likeness tests, and their interaction with h-DHFR and mt-DHFR was studied by performing molecular docking. To evaluate the inhibitory activity of the compounds against mt-DHFR, five known reference ligands and the natural ligand (dihydrofolate) were used to generate a pharmacophoric map. Two potential selective inhibitors for mt-DHFR and h-DHFR were selected for further investigation using molecular dynamics for 100 ns. As a result, BDBM18226 was identified as the best compound selective for mt-DHFR, non-toxic, with five features listed in the map, with a binding energy of –9.6 kcal/mol. BDBM50145798 was identified as a non-toxic selective compound with a better affinity than MTX for h-DHFR. Molecular dynamics of the two best ligands suggest that they provide more stable, compact, and hydrogen bond interactions with the protein. Our findings could significantly expand the chemical space for new mt-DHFR inhibitors and provide a non-toxic alternative toward h-DHFR for the respective treatment of tuberculosis and cancer therapy.
The importance of socio-economic determinants of health in the care of patients with peripheral artery disease: A narrative review from VAS
Authors: Kolossváry Endre , Farkas Katalin , Karahan Oguz , Golledge Jonathan , Schernthaner Gerit-Holger , Karplus Thomas , Bernardo Jonathan James , Marschang Sascha , Abola Maria Teresa , Heinzmann Monica , Edmonds Michael , Catalano Mariella
Published: May 2023

Socio-economic determinants of health (SDoH) include various nonmedical factors in the socio-economic sphere with a potentially significant impact on health outcomes. Their effects manifest through several mediators/moderators (behavioral characteristics, physical environment, psychosocial circumstances, access to care, and biological factors). Various critical covariates (age, gender/sex, race/ethnicity, culture/acculturation, and disability status) also interact. Analyzing the effects of these factors is challenging due to their enormous complexity. Although the significance of SDoH for cardiovascular diseases is well documented, research regarding their impact on peripheral artery disease (PAD) occurrence and care is less well documented. This narrative review explores to what extent SDoH are multifaceted in PAD and how they are associated with its occurrence and care. Additionally, methodological issues that may hamper this effort are addressed. Finally, the most important question, whether this association may contribute to reasonable interventions aimed at SDoH, is analyzed. This endeavor requires attention to the social context, a whole systems approach, multilevel-thinking, and a broader alliance that reaches out to more stakeholders outside the medical sphere. More research is needed to justify the power in this concept to improve PAD-related outcomes like lower extremity amputations. At the present time, some evidence, reasonable consideration, and intuitive reasoning support the implementation of various interventions in SDoH in this field.
Examining Professionalisation as a Strategy for Sex Worker Empowerment and Mobilisation
Authors: Gloss Nadine
Published: May 2023

In this article, I examine the concept of professionalisation in sex work as a strategy shaped by political activism that aims to empower and mobilise sex workers to fight for labour rights. Using a participant-based action research approach, I investigated one sex worker professionalisation programme in Germany to better understand how the design, training and goals of the programme reflected ideas and priorities from the Association for Erotic and Sexual Service Providers, a nationwide sex worker rights organisation in Germany. Through my analysis, I found that the programme for professionalisation was mainly oriented around criticism against the new German Prostitute Protection Act (2017), framing data protection as a sex worker rights issue, and encouraging critical resistance to authorities enforcing the Act. Based on these themes, I offer two new perspectives on the aims of the programme in relation to empowering and destigmatising sex workers. First, the tools of resistance offered through the programme as a way of empowering sex workers were confounded by sex workers’ individual situations that limited their ability to practice resistance. Second, the politics of funding for the programme, guided by the goal of ensuring sex workers are less of a public health risk, may interfere with the broader goal of destigmatising sex work.
A methodology for long-term offshore structural health monitoring using stand-alone GNSS: case study in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Wang Guoquan
Published: May 2023

This article presents a robust methodology for long-term offshore structural health monitoring (SHM) using the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The methodology relies on recently developed regional reference frames and single-receiver phase-ambiguity-fixed Precise Point Positioning techniques. The stable Gulf of Mexico Reference Frame 2020 (GOM20) provides a robust and consistent reference system for long-term offshore SHM in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Continuous GNSS observations (DEV1, 2010–2020) on a fixed platform in the Eugene Island 330 oil field are used to illustrate the methodology. The platform was installed in 1982 in 82-m water about 130 km away from the Mississippi Delta coastline. The major monitoring items include horizontal movements, seafloor subsidence, structure submergence, and seasonal oscillations. The stand-alone GNSS monitoring achieves 3- to 4-mm root-mean-square accuracy in the horizontal direction and 7 mm in the vertical direction for daily positions in the GOM region. According to this study, the GNSS antenna (DEV1) has moved 6 cm toward the northeast with respect to GOM20 since 2010; the ongoing structure submergence rate in the Eugene Island 330 oil field area is approximately 15 mm/year, a combination of seafloor subsidence (12 mm/year) and sea-level rise (2.6 mm/year) with respect to GOM20. The submergence in the future 40 years (2021–2060) would be greater than 0.6 m, likely between 0.8 and 1.0 m, but is unlikely to exceed 1.3 m. The peak-to-trough amplitudes of the seasonal movements at the top of the platform are below 5 mm in all three directions, comparable with the seasonal movements recorded by onshore GNSS in the Louisiana coastal region. The methodology introduced in this article can be applied to SHM in other offshore regions where stable regional reference frames are available.
Public Relations, Social Inclusion, and Social Exclusion
Authors: Grunig James E.
Published: May 2023

In the 1960s, I conducted two studies of large landowners and peasant farmers in Colombia. After 61 years in the profession, I see the theme of those studies and most of my subsequent research to be public relations as a means of social inclusion: allowing individuals and groups to take part in society. This essay describes social inclusion and public relations theories of publics, symmetrical communication, strategic management, and relationships. The essay concludes by discussing digital media as both a tool of inclusion and de facto social exclusion.
The Evolution of My Thinking About Professionalism
Authors: Becker Lee B.
Published: May 2023

The assumption that journalists who have professional values perform in ways that better serve their communities is embedded in the scientific literature on journalism. This notion is also incorporated into journalism education. Professionalism creates a distance between those believed to hold expert knowledge and those who do not. This essay argues that this gap is likely to make it harder for journalists to understand and serve their communities and provides evidence from participant observation that supports that argument.
Hard Wired for News Revisited: Biology, Culture, Deviance, Time, and Reality
Authors: Shoemaker Pamela J.
Published: May 2023

The essay addresses these questions: What is news? Why do we have news? My answers involve the synthesis of theories from biology and culture; I also show how the constructs time and reality can be used in news studies. Deviance is my primary construct, which in biology is defined as a threat or something novel in the environment. In studies of culture, deviance is defined according to whether the rules and norms of a society are followed. People are innately hard wired to survey the environment and attend to threats, but threats are defined by culture. The brain’s circuitry prioritizes information about negative stimuli, which results in more negative news than positive or neutral.
Usefulness of silent magnetic resonance angiography for intracranial aneurysms treated with a flow re-direction endoluminal device
Authors: Suzuki Tomoaki , Hasegawa Hitoshi , Okamoto Kouichirou , Ando Kazuhiro , Shibuya Kouhei , Takahashi Haruhiko , Saito Shoji , Fujiwara Hidemoto , Oishi Makoto , Fujii Yukihiko
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Flow re-direction endoluminal device (FRED) is a novel dual-layer flow-diverting stent to treat cerebral aneurysms with high obliteration rates, however, it induces inevitable metal-related artifacts. We compared silent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), a new MRA method using ultra-short time of echo and arterial spin-labeling, with conventional time-of-flight (TOF)-MRA for imaging aneurysms treated using FRED.

Methods

Between May 2020 and September 2022, 16 patients with unruptured internal carotid aneurysms treated using FRED simultaneously underwent silent MRA and TOF-MRA after treatment, with 36 follow-up sessions in total. Two observers independently graded the quality of intra-aneurysmal flow and stented parent arteries under both types of MRA from 1 (not visible) to 4 (nearly equal to digital subtraction angiography [DSA]), with reference to DSA images as a standard criterion.

Results

The mean scores for intra-aneurysmal flow and stented parent arteries were significantly better for silent MRA (3.93  ±  0.21 and 3.82  ±  0.32, respectively) than for TOF-MRA (2.08  ±  0.99 and 1.92  ±  0.79, respectively) ( P < 0.01). Intermodality agreements for intra-aneurysmal flow and stented parent arteries were 0.87 and 0.90, respectively.

Conclusion

Silent MRA is superior to TOF-MRA for assessing patients treated with FRED, with potential as an alternative imaging modality to DSA.
To patch, or not to patch a common femoral artery, that is the question
Authors: Vakhitov Damir , Salminen Akseli , Protto Sara
Published: May 2023

Objectives

There is no strong evidence to support or reject the use of patch angioplasty (PA) after femoral endarterectomy (FE). The current study aimed to assess early postoperative complications and compare primary patency (PP) rates after FE in patients treated with PA versus direct closure (DC).

Methods

This is a retrospective study of patients admitted during 06/2002–07/2017 with signs and symptoms of chronic lower limb ischemia (Rutherford categories 2–6). Patients with angiographically confirmed stenoses or occlusions of the common femoral arteries (CFAs) and managed with FE with or without PA were included in the study. Early postoperative wound complications were assessed. The PP analysis was based on imaging-confirmed data. The impact of PA on the patency was evaluated in a confounder-adjusted Cox regression model. PP rates were compared with log-rank between the PA and DC groups using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis in the propensity score-matched (PSM) cohorts.

Results

A total of 295 primary FEs were identified. The patients’ median age was 75 years. A total of 210 patients were managed with PA and 85 with DC. Altogether, 38 (12.9%) local wound complications were registered, 15 (5.1%) of which required re-interventions. There were 9 (3.2%) cases of deep wound infection, 20 (7.0%) seromas, and 11 (3.9%) cases of major bleeding, with no significant difference between the PA and DC groups. All of the infected patches were made of synthetic material, and 83% of them were removed. The PP analysis was performed on 50 PSM patient pairs with a median age of 74 years. The median imaging-confirmed follow-up lengths were 77 months (IQR = 47 months) for the PA patients and 27 months (IQR = 64 months) for the DC patients. The preoperative median diameter of the CFA was 8.8 mm (IQR = 3.4). The 5 year primary patency rates of CFAs with a minimum diameter of 5.5 mm managed with PA or DC exceeded 91%, p > 0.05. Female sex was associated with the loss of PP, odds ratio 4.17, p = 0.046.

Conclusions

Wound complications after FE with or without patching are not uncommon and often lead to reoperations. The PP rates of CFAs with a minimum diameter of 5.5 mm and accomplished with or without patching are comparable. Female sex is associated with the loss of patency.
The ways school headteachers/principals in England at different stages of adult ego development work with organisational complexity
Authors: Gilbride Neil , James Chris , Carr Sam
Published: May 2023

In this article, we analyse the ways school headteachers/principals (HT/Ps) at different stages of adult ego development (AED) make sense of and respond to the organisational complexity of their schools. The AED stage of 20 HT/Ps in England was assessed using the Washington University Sentence Completion Test. HT/Ps in the self-aware, conscientious and individualist AED stage were identified. The research used a critical incident technique to analyse how principals made sense of and responded to the complexity of their organisations. Those HT/Ps in the self-aware, conscientious and individualist stages differed in the way they acknowledged complexity, their capacity to recognise and accept ambiguity and unpredictability; and the way they acknowledged emergence in resolving wicked problems. Importantly, the way these differences were different in individuals in the self-aware, conscientious and individualist stages showed a clear development trend with an increasing acknowledgement of complexity; a growing tolerance of ambiguity and unpredictability; and an increasing acknowledgement of emergence in complex contexts. The findings have implications for the way the role of HT/P is viewed and developed in actual and potential HT/Ps. One important implication is that the stage of HT/Ps’ AED is likely to impact on their overall effectiveness in their role.
Self-management for sickle cell disease among patients and parents: A qualitative study
Authors: Druye Andrews Adjei , Nelson Katherine , Robinson Brian
Published: May 2023

Objective

This study aimed to explore self-management practices among patients and parents of children with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Methods

The qualitative descriptive design was employed. The study involved 19 participants comprising adult SCD patients ≥16 years, and nine parents of SCD children ≤ 15 years. Purposive sampling was conducted to select participants from a teaching hospital and SCD association. Data was collected using one-on-one interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

Self-management was reported through four categories including preventive health, self-monitoring, self-diagnosis, and self-treatment. Hydration, nutrition, activity limitation, avoidance of cold temperatures, and supportive medications were the most common preventive health actions. Regarding self-monitoring and self-diagnosis, the parents emphasized objective indicators such as changes in urine and eye colour compared to the adults who utilize subjective indicators such as feeling unwell and easy fatigue. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological measures were reported by both groups for treating painful episodes, fever, leg ulcers, priapism, and unspecified symptoms.

Discussion

The participants in this study practice several self-management actions with some differences in application between adults and children. Tailored self-management services may be helpful for adults and children when developing services for SCD patients.
Prosody affects visual perception in polysyllabic words: Evidence from a letter search task
Authors: Hasenäcker Jana , Domahs Frank
Published: May 2023

Previous research has shown that phonology influences the visual perception of a word’s letters. However, the influence of prosody, including word stress, on grapheme perception in polysyllabic words is poorly investigated. The present study addresses this issue with a letter search task. Participants searched for vowel letters (Experiment 1) and consonant letters (Experiment 2) in stressed and unstressed syllables of bisyllabic words. Results reveal facilitated vowel letter detection in stressed syllables compared with unstressed syllables, indicating that prosodic information affects visual letter perception. Moreover, an analysis of the response time distribution revealed that the effect was present even for the fastest decisions but increased for slower response times. However, no systematic stress effect emerged for consonants. We discuss possible sources and dynamics of the observed pattern and the importance to accommodate feedback processes of prosody on letter perception in models of polysyllabic word reading.
Coaching athletes with an intellectual disability at a national championship tournament
Authors: Carson Fraser , Walsh Julia
Published: May 2023

Coaching at a national championship tournament is different to coaching across a competitive season. The team and coaches are away from their regular environment and their normal support mechanisms are distant. While much is known about stressors for coaches in high-performance sport, the current study explored how these were manifested during the intensity of a championship tournament and the coping strategies employed by one coach of a selected, intellectually disabled basketball team. This social phenomenological analysis identified four primary stressors, creating unity and development of trust, management of parents, management of inexperienced coaching/support staff, and crisis management of a critical incident. Coping strategies employed during the tournament included planning, time alone for stress-recovery management and working with a qualified expert to manage a critical incident. The temporariness of the tournament brings unique stressors for the coach and a need to manage these quickly and efficiently, especially for athletes with an intellectual disability. The coach identified that it is unlike any other type of competition, as there is absolute consumption on the tournament and a need to create a rhythm to function effectively. The need for all team members to understand their role and responsibility suggests that a collaborative approach to leadership is essential. Failure to adapt to the tournament circumstances can inhibit chances of success.