bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Digital Natives and Community Resilience: An Exploration of AAPI Families’ Digital Technology Use
Authors: Stamps David , Jones-Williams Brianna
Published: October 2024

The current study adopted community resilience and explored Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) digital natives’ supporting family members’ digital technology use and outcomes related to engagement. A sample of 29 AAPI late adolescents answered open-ended questions about the challenges, benefits, and familial dynamics when the group helped or instructed older family members in using digital technologies. Findings showcased complex intergroup dynamics between digital natives and their family members, including increased mutual respect, greater communication access, and worry of family members’ physical ailments interrupting digital technology use. Outcomes demonstrated how AAPI digital natives, amid family systems, embraced collectivist tendencies as a means of resilience amid the ongoing challenges related to digital technology use.
Unpacking the Role of Ethical Leadership in the Era of Sustainable Development Goals and Values-Based Marketing
Authors: Tolstoy Daniel , Melén Hånell Sara , Ghauri Pervez N.
Published: October 2024

Tackling the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has become a key strategic marketing activity for multinational enterprises (MNEs) to build their reputation and ensure their brand value. However, SDGs can cause goal conflicts for MNEs, resulting in firms not being equally responsive to all stakeholders. Therefore, this study explores how ethical leadership, underpinned by a corporate purpose, enables MNEs to pursue SDGs in foreign markets. The researchers argue that ethical leadership based on a corporate purpose can provide strategic direction for MNEs, thus enabling them to focus on selected SDGs that can be integrated into their values-based marketing agendas. Further, the findings reveal that a corporate purpose can offer consistency and perseverance in the exertion of ethical leadership at the local market level; however, ethical leadership may require organizational members to disassociate from structural inconsistencies and goal conflicts in pursuit of SDGs. Thus, the study makes a significant contribution to the literature on international marketing by adopting an ethical perspective to explain how MNEs can strategically position themselves in relation to SDGs in international markets. The findings suggest that ethical leadership can build a foundation for credible marketing communication while serving as a driver of values-based marketing programs.
Leveraging Systemic Contributors and Adaptations to Sharpen Interventions: The IMPActS Workshop
Authors: Balkin E. Miriam , Maguire Laura M. D. , Girth Amanda M. , Rayo Michael F.
Published: October 2024

A common pattern among intervention implementations is that, in many cases, initial adoption and early signals of success are followed by dwindling participation, signals that the intervention is not achieving its goals, and abandonment of the intervention as it was originally conceived. The IMPActS Framework facilitates anticipation of misalignment among stakeholders during the design, pitch, implementation, and sustainability of a candidate intervention’s implementation. We adapted the IMPActS Framework to design an IMPActS Workshop to occur within the context of an ongoing research with a partner organization to develop their proactive performance monitoring and sustained adaptability management program. The IMPActS Workshop prospectively tests the implementation sustainability of candidate interventions and sharpened intervention design to improve the likelihood of sustainment across the organization. We report the motivation, methods, results, and lessons learned from this effort.
Classify Mental Stress Levels With Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning
Authors: Su Bingyi , Qing Liwei , Lu Lu , Jung SeHee , Fang Xiaolei , Xu Xu
Published: October 2024

The growing need for mental stress detection in the workplace has prompted the exploration of machine-learning solutions. Nevertheless, traditional centralized methods often encounter critical data privacy issues, especially when dealing with sensitive physiological signals. To address this, we introduced a privacy-preserving mental stress detection framework utilizing federated learning, focusing on human-robot collaboration scenarios. We first developed classifiers employing traditional centralized algorithms including SVM, multilayer perceptron, random forest, and Naïve Bayes, followed by implementing a federated SVM classifier. These classifiers utilize multimodal physiological features to distinguish between relaxed, low-level stressed, and high-level stressed states. Comparative analysis regarding precision, recall, and F1-score was conducted to evaluate the performance of the federated learning model against centralized models. The results demonstrate that federated learning not only offers comparable accuracy to centralized methods but also ensures the protection of sensitive data, making it a valuable approach in scenarios where data privacy is paramount.
Road-classification-based sprung-mass adaptive suspension control system
Authors: Wu Xiao , Shi Wenku , Chen Zhiyong , Xuan Shengyi
Published: October 2024

The road-classification-based sprung-mass adaptive suspension control system (RBSA) is established to improve the ride comfort under the condition that the road grade and sprung mass changed simultaneously. First, a linearized optimal control method for the Macpherson suspension is derived based on mechanical equations, and the reliability of the method is verified by experiments. Second, based on the optimal control theory and multi-objective optimization algorithm, the RBSA control system is established. The controller parameters can be automatically adjusted by the RBSA control system according to the road roughness grade and sprung mass acceleration under different sprung mass and road excitation conditions, and the vibration of the suspension is optimal under different conditions. Finally, the correctness and superiority of the control system are verified by simulation and experiment and by comparing with passive suspension, ordinary active suspension, and preview suspension with fixed sprung mass. The results of simulation and experiment show that the sprung mass acceleration of the RBSA control system is smaller than that of the comparing group, and the ride comfort can be effectively improved.
Deprescribing in hospitalized patients with cancer: A clinical pharmacist-initiated multidisciplinary intervention
Authors: Sakran Razan , Litvak Michael , Haim Nissim , Kurnik Daniel
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To examine the feasibility and utility of a clinical pharmacist-led multidisciplinary deprescribing intervention in hospitalized cancer patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study among cancer patients hospitalized in oncology department who underwent a medication review by a clinical pharmacist. The pharmacist's recommendations were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team. We collected demographic and clinical information, including information on medication burden before and after intervention and number and types of deprescribing recommendations and their acceptance, and compared them among patients with different estimated life expectancies.

Results

During a 2-year study period, 392 patients evaluated by the clinical pharmacist received 2808 prescriptions (median, 7 per patient). The clinical pharmacist recommended deprescribing of 559 medications (19.9%; 95 CI, 18.4–21.4%), at least 1 medication in 321 patients (82%). The multidisciplinary team accepted 89.6% of deprescribing recommendations, resulting in a reduction of the medication burden by 501 medications ( P < 0.001). 12.8% of deprescriptions addressed clinically manifested adverse drug effects in 15.1% of patients. The estimation of life expectancy by the senior oncologist was reasonably accurate, but did not affect deprescribing rate.

Conclusions

A clinical pharmacist-led deprescribing intervention within a multidisciplinary team effectively reduces medication burden and addresses adverse drug effects in cancer patients. Deprescribing interventions should be incorporated in cancer patients at any stage of the disease.
Improving Patient Experience and Team Engagement with Environmental Services: Application of Watson's Theory of Human Caring
Authors: Montana-Rhodes Lou , Kennedy Oehlert Julie , Hill Kevin
Published: October 2024

Patient experience and team engagement are key performance indicators in organizational strategic planning. Health-care organizations have a seldom-used resource within acute care settings that expands the ability to improve patients’ experiences of their care as well as their own team engagement. Environmental services (ES) staff, the second largest health-care workforce, spend an average of 10 min per patient day interacting with patients and families. Few studies highlight how nursing theory may influence patient experience outside of the nursing role. This paper explores how ES staff at a non-profit rural 974-bed academic medical center impacted patient experience using nursing theory to promote a caring environment. Applying Watson's Theory of Human Caring and Caritas Processes© with ES team members beginning at leadership levels increased team engagement and improved patient experience. ES team members benefited from a professional nursing framework and from being integrated as a valued partner in advancing human caring.
The Effect of Game Ad Outcome on Subsequent Mobile Gaming Experience: The Mediating Role of Inferred Difficulty
Authors: Ashouri Sama , Koorank Beheshti Mohammadali , Gopinath Mahesh
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the effect of game advertisement outcomes on a player's subsequent gaming experience. Research on vicarious experience shows that individuals infer game difficulty to be higher when watching game advertisements where players lose (vs. win) the game. Building on the effort-paradox paradigm, the first of this three-part study shows that such higher inferred difficulty enhances enjoyment and engagement during subsequent gaming experiences, especially for advertisements featuring easy game levels. Solely manipulating the difficulty level, Study 2 confirms the underlying mechanism of inferred difficulty for the observed effect of game advertisement outcomes. Study 3a shows that the main positive effect of losing (vs. winning) ads does not hold for advertisements featuring difficult game levels. Study 3b further explores this by focusing only on advertisements with difficult game levels, investigating how variations in players’ self-efficacy might influence their response to losing advertisements depicting difficult game levels. The findings across four studies suggest that, when promoting easy game levels, marketers can use advertisements with losing outcomes to extend gaming sessions, thereby increasing revenue from in-game advertisements. However, for difficult game levels, advertisements with losing outcomes are effective only for those with high self-efficacy.
Predictors of Successful Tobacco Cessation After Receiving an E-Cigarette Based Smoking Cessation Intervention
Authors: Pope Ian , Clark Allan , Clark Lucy , Ward Emma , Stirling Susan , Belderson Pippa , Notley Caitlin
Published: October 2024

Introduction

E-cigarettes have been shown to be effective for tobacco smoking cessation. Predicting those who are most likely to achieve smoking abstinence after receiving an e-cigarette based smoking cessation intervention could help to target interventions more efficiently.

Methods

A secondary analysis of baseline characteristics of 505 people who received an emergency department based smoking cessation intervention incorporating brief advice, provision of an e-cigarette starter kit and referral to stop smoking services. Gender, ethnicity, age, employment status, deprivation, partner smoking status, cigarettes per day, motivation to quit, cigarette dependence and previous e-cigarette use were assessed as predictors of abstinence. Self-reported smoking status was collected 6 months after intervention delivery.

Results

At 6 months 169/505 (33%) of those who received the intervention self-reported abstinence. The groups that were more likely to report having quit were females (37.4% of females vs 31.0% of males), older people (41.1% of over 50s vs 33.3% of under 35s), lighter smokers (36.4% of those who smoked less than 10 cigarettes per day vs 30.7% for those who smoked over 20) and more motivated quitters (35.6% for those with high motivation vs 29.2% for those with low motivation). However, in multiple logistic regression, when adjusting for the other factors, no factors significantly predicted smoking abstinence. Degree of nicotine dependence was very similar between those who quit and those who did not.

Conclusion

The study found no baseline factors that could predict successful smoking cessation with e-cigarettes. Consequently, this study does not support the use of a targeted e-cigarette-based smoking cessation intervention, suggesting the adoption of a more universal approach.
Inverse problems in hydrodynamics lubrication: Parameter identification in the Reynold equation by using physics-informed neural networks
Authors: Xi Yinhu , Sun Rongkun
Published: October 2024

In this work, the inverse problems for hydrodynamic lubrication were solved by using the physics informed neural networks (PINNs) method. Both the conditions without and with the cavitation effects are studied. For the journal bearings without considering the cavitation effects, the eccentricity values can be accurately inverted using only 10 data points with a maximum error of less than 6%. For the problems with the mass-conserving cavitation, the geometry parameters for 1D conditions were estimated and accurate results can be obtained by also using 10 data points. While for the journal bearings with incompressible lubricants, the error was less than 3% with only 50 data points. For the ones with compressible lubricants, the eccentricity ratios can be estimated with 50 data points again, and the maximum error is less than 10%. In addition, the experimental oil pressure data were used to predict the journal bearing eccentricity, and the results were acceptable with only 9 oil pressure data points. The PINNs method presented two significant strengths: its ability to operate effectively with very sparse data points and its precision in delivering results, and it can provide a promising method for identifying unknown parameters in hydrodynamics lubrication with small data.
Toward a conceptualization of the musical self: A theoretical-methodological approach to subjectivity in independent musicians
Authors: Toval-Gajardo Mauricio , Ruiz-Zuñiga Marcela , Fortes Gabriel
Published: October 2024

The objective of this study is to advance a theoretical and methodological proposal for the analysis of subjectivity construction in independent musicians. Existing social and cultural theories of subjectivity have not satisfactorily addressed the artistic experience of musicians. We present an analytic model that highlights the place of language from a perspective informed by dialogical theories and which also incorporates the aesthetic dimension of subjectivity in the occupational field. By analyzing six narrative interviews, we offer a qualitative insight into how independent musicians subjectively experience their musical activity. We constructed dialogical dimensions associated with four subjective movements in the interviewees’ discourse: aesthetic, activity, authorship, and reflectivity. Our findings about the configuration of musical subjectivity yielded three core points of articulation: musical self, existential self, and musical-occupational self. The musical self emerges as a particular subjective configuration, since creative activity represents a point of vital and occupational grounding where the boundaries between work and subjective experience appear to fade. Employing the aesthetic dimension of subjectivity made it possible to add complexity to the articulation and integration of various subjective elements of a psychological and social nature that have traditionally been studied in isolation.
Unveiling fluctuation patterns of tourist volume: Insights from 56 major attractions in China
Authors: Wang Bingcan , Li Yong , Gursoy Dogan , Yu Fengmin
Published: October 2024

Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of tourist volume is crucial for effective tourism management and planning. However, existing tourism data analysis methods often fail to capture the complex, continuous fluctuations and temporal variations in tourist behavior. To address this challenge, we apply functional data analysis (FDA) in the tourism industry to provide a more nuanced understanding of tourist volume dynamics. Specifically, we perform FDA on real-time tourist volume data from 56 major attractions in Beijing, China, revealing intrinsic fluctuation patterns, key factors driving tourist arrivals, and the dynamic characteristics of attractions across temporal scales. Our findings enhance the ability to optimize attraction management, marketing strategies, and policy-making, while also advancing tourism data science by integrating FDA. This approach fills the methodological gap and offers a comprehensive framework for exploring the spatiotemporal complexities of tourism data.
Parenting a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Jordanian’s perspectives
Authors: Harb Eman M , Obieat Hanan D AL , Hamdan-Mansour Ayman M
Published: October 2024

Raising your child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Jordan is a challenge due to the prevailing behavioral concerns, low availability of specialized care, and generalized feelings of social stigma. This phenomenological study involved twelve Jordanian parents of children aged 4–14 years, all diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: “The Journey through ADHD,” in which parents recognized the abnormalities of their children, reported suffering during the diagnosis, and described a wide range of uncertainty regarding the diagnosis and treatments. The second theme was “Disease as part of life,” where parents reported the impact on family dynamics and social life. The third theme was “Caregiving burden,” reflecting physical and emotional exhaustion and financial burden. Jordanian parents caring for children with ADHD face several challenges, including physical, emotional, economic, and social challenges and limited access to specialized services. Identifying their unique needs and challenges is essential in supporting them, providing appropriate services and resources, and developing policies and guidelines for culturally competent quality services.
Exploring beliefs, motivations and emotions: Insights from learning Maltese as a second language
Authors: Caruana Lawrence Farrugia , Żammit Jacqueline
Published: October 2024

Second language acquisition is a complex process that involves numerous challenges and is influenced by various factors, including linguistic competence and classroom settings. This study examines the concerns and emotions experienced by 43 adult international students learning Maltese as a second language. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the research collected both qualitative and quantitative data through questionnaires and interviews. The results reveal a spectrum of positive and negative emotions experienced by students during a Maltese language learning session that incorporated digital resources. The evidence presented in this research shows that students have both personal and practical goals concerning second language acquisition. The use of non-traditional technological interventions aligned with the learners’ beliefs and motivations, makes the learning process more effective, particularly by eliciting positive emotions. This study underscores the importance of addressing students’ concerns and emotions in second language acquisition and the benefits of integrating technology into language learning. Pedagogically, this study advocates for a nuanced approach to address learners’ emotional concerns, emphasizing the imperative for language instructors to be trained in emotion regulation strategies to help students manage their emotions during the learning process. Moreover, integrating cultural components into language pedagogy can serve as a compass, guiding students through social norms and intricacies, thereby fostering a sense of belonging within the local community. Furthermore, the study highlights the pedagogical merit of immediate feedback mechanisms and the implementation of diverse, inclusive teaching methods and resources tailored to accommodate various learning styles and paces. These pedagogical implications advocate for a holistic and adaptive language teaching paradigm, aiming to foster a more inclusive and emotionally supportive learning environment for international students.
Prevalence, incidence, and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children in Beijing, China
Authors: Zhao Yanan , Lu Feng , Ding Ruoxi , Zhu Dawei , Zhang Rong , Sun Siwei , He Ping , Zheng Xiaoying
Published: October 2024

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in the world has increased over the last decade, but the prevalence, incidence, and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder in China were not well understood. Using administrative data, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of autism spectrum disorder and describe the co-occurring conditions in preschoolers in Beijing, China. The study focused on 0- to 6-year-old children with registered residence in Beijing, using cohorts derived from the Beijing Municipal Health Big Data and Policy Research Center. We conducted a detailed analysis of autism spectrum disorder prevalence among the cohorts, comparing estimates across 2 to 3 years for the same birth cohort (4 years, 5 years). For the 6-year-old cohort, we obtained 1-year prevalence estimates in 2021. Annual incidence rate was also calculated. The prevalence in 6-year-old children in 2021 was 10.5 per 1000 (95% confidence interval = 9.7–10.9). The male-to-female prevalence ratio was 4.3. Between 40% and 43% of preschool children had at least one co-occurring condition. The incidence for children 6 years old and under was 0.11% in 2019 and increased to 0.18% in 2021. Both the prevalence and incidence rates in Beijing were comparable to those reported in developed countries.

Lay abstract

It is the first study to explore the prevalence, incidence, and co-occurring conditions of autism spectrum disorder for the preschoolers in China. The prevalence and incidence of autism spectrum disorder has increased in recent decades. Autism spectrum disorder has become an important public concern worldwide. In this study, all hospital confirmed cases had an associated diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) codes: F84.0, 84.5, F84.9). In total, 4457 children aged 4–6 years were identified as having autism spectrum disorder. In 2021, 1 in 95 children aged 6 years, 1 in 115 children aged 5 years, and 1 in 130 children aged 4 years were estimated to have autism spectrum disorder in Beijing. The incidence was 0.11% in 2019 and increased to 0.18% in 2021. There has been a great emphasis on the importance of early autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in large cities in China.
‘It’s designed for someone who is not me’: A reflexive thematic analysis of the unmet healthcare support needs in UK autistic adults aged 65 years and over
Authors: Mansour Hassan , Gillions Amy , Brown Jude , Pattenden Anoushka , Hartley Susan , Patel Sarifa , James Stephanie , Styles Martin , Mandy Will , Stott Joshua , O’Nions Elizabeth
Published: October 2024

Autistic people are more likely to experience physical and mental health difficulties across the lifespan, leading to an increased risk of premature mortality likely due to health disparities. At present, little is known about the healthcare experiences of autistic older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 autistic adults aged 65 years or over living in the United Kingdom. Reflexive thematic analysis produced these themes: (1) A lifetime of being misunderstood; (2) Autistic people falling between the gaps; (3) Processing autism diagnosis in later life; (4) Concerns about service pressures and scarce resources; (5) Lack of continuity of care, empathy and understanding; (6) Anxiety, alexithymia and sensory overload; and (7) Reduced social support and concerns for the future. Some of the challenges autistic older adults faced were like those experienced by younger or middle-aged autistic adults. However, they also reported additional difficulties related to ageing and lifelong experiences of social exclusion. These difficulties were made worse by increased service pressures. A comprehensive approach is needed, including enhanced staff training, personalised care, targeted support and policy changes. Services should also consult with autistic older adults so they can advocate for their care, shape policy and co-design services.

Lay abstract

Autistic people often face both physical and mental health challenges throughout their lives, which can lead to a higher risk of premature death due to health inequalities. However, we know very little about the healthcare experiences of autistic older adults. In this study, we talked with 19 autistic adults aged 65 years or above living in the United Kingdom. We found these main themes: (1) A lifetime of being misunderstood; (2) Autistic people falling between the gaps; (3) Processing autism diagnosis in later life; (4) Concerns about service pressures and scarce resources; (5) Lack of continuity of care, empathy and understanding; (6) Anxiety, alexithymia and sensory overload; and (7) Reduced social support and concerns for the future. Themes show that autistic older adults face unique healthcare access challenges because services don’t consider their lifelong experiences of social exclusion. Participants also worried about age-related decline coupled with reduced social support, which makes it harder for them to get support. To address these challenges, healthcare services should provide more targeted support, make policies and funding consistent, and improve healthcare provision by providing staff training. Importantly, they must also speak with autistic older adults so they can advocate for their current and future care.
From Black squares to White guilt: The influence of Black Lives Matter on non-Indigenous views of the Voice to Parliament referendum in Australia
Authors: Worrall-Carter Harriet , Yasseri Taha
Published: October 2024

This article examines the impact of the global Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement on decolonization efforts in Australia, focusing on non-Indigenous Australians’ attitudes towards the Voice to Parliament (VtP). This study utilized surveys (122 respondents) and interviews (11) with predominantly non-Indigenous Australians, conducted before the October 2023 VtP referendum. We found that the BLM movement did not bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Instead, the research highlights a highly polarized environment, particularly evident in the discourse surrounding the VtP referendum. Factors such as the lack of truth-telling regarding Australia's colonial history, media bias, community segregation and political polarization created a complex association between BLM and stances on the VtP. A promising result is that individuals who recognized the link between BLM and challenges faced by Indigenous Australians were more likely to support the VtP. The overall findings indicate that Australia has a way to go towards true reconciliation.
Beyond magic: Prompting for style as affordance actualization in visual generative media
Authors: Laba Nataliia
Published: October 2024

As a sociotechnical practice at the nexus of humans, machines, and visual culture, text-to-image generation relies on verbal prompts as the primary technique to guide generative models. To align desired aesthetic outcomes with computer vision, human prompters engage in extensive experimentation, leveraging the model’s affordances through prompting for style. Focusing on the interplay between machine originality and repetition, this study addresses the dynamics of human-model interaction on Midjourney, a popular generative model (version 6) hosted on Discord. It examines style modifiers that users of visual generative media add to their prompts and addresses the aesthetic quality of AI images as a multilayered construct resulting from affordance actualization. I argue that while visual generative media holds promise for expanding the boundaries of creative expression, prompting for style is implicated in the practice of generating a visual aesthetic that mimics paradigms of existing cultural phenomena, which are never fully reduced to the optimized target output.
“It’s between me and myself”: Inverse parasocial relationships in addressing (imagined) podcast listeners
Authors: Sharon Tzlil , John Nicholas A.
Published: October 2024

This article explores how podcasters address their invisible—and thus imagined—audience. Based on in-depth interviews, we examine how different ways of imagining the listener evoke specific strategies of addressivity and analyze the connection between these imaginaries and the concept of intimacy as understood and performed by podcasters. We introduce a working definition of the “imagined podcast listener” and present a typology of eight types of imagined relationships between podcaster and audience. By juxtaposing these findings with the contexts in which podcasters describe “intimacy,” we argue that while podcasters may envision a diverse audience, their perception of intimacy within their podcasts often reflects a self-centered imaginary of the listener. We describe this phenomenon as an inverse parasocial relationship, as it reverses the direction of the illusory connection between media personae and their audiences. Despite the potential of podcasting to foster dialogue, we highlight its tendency to promote inward-directed addressivity.
Understanding China’s infrastructure activities in Africa through artistic practice and exhibition
Authors: An Ning , Xu Zhe , Luo Guang , Xing Penghua
Published: October 2024

The infrastructure-led development model initiated by China under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has faced domestic and international challenges. By focusing on a national travelling art exhibition featuring Chinese railway construction in Africa in 2023, this paper examines the role that curatorial and exhibition practices can play in (re)shaping public geopolitical understandings of China-Africa relations. Exhibiting over 200 artworks collected from both China and Africa, this art programme not only forms a nuanced, personal and storied narrative of China’s overseas development work in Africa but also tactically responds to current internal and external criticism of the Chinese government’s global ambitions channelled through the BRI. This work extends the ongoing interest geographers have at the intersection of the visual arts and critical geopolitics.
Guadiana in Four Movements
Authors: Neto Pedro F. , Korkmaz Burak
Published: October 2024

This paper introduces Guadiana in Four Movements, a research-short film that explores the present and future of the River Guadiana’s Lower basin in the Iberian Peninsula. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining social science and the arts, the film integrates diverse audio and visual materials from multimodal ethnographic fieldwork with the sonification of climate scenarios. By drawing connections that demonstrate the tensions between diverse formations and temporalities and by accounting for how these tensions are shaping, and taking shape along, the Lower Guadiana, it tests the boundaries and potential of geographic theory, revealing how creative practice can engage with complex socio-material and socio-natural assemblages. This essay underscores the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing cultural geography and provides alternative ways to understand and engage with Guadiana’s landscapes and possible futures.
Monitoring a mass timber—BRB braced mass timber frame under cyclic loading via acoustic emission
Authors: He Xiangdong , Williamson Emily , Wu Yuning , Briggs Dylan , Zhu Xuan , Pantelides Chris P
Published: October 2024

This article focuses on the acoustic emission (AE) monitoring of a new type of mass timber buckling restrained brace (T-BRB), consisting of a wood casing made of mass plywood panel and a steel core embedded in the casing, for improving seismic resilience of mass timber structures. The casing secures the steel core through a series of bolts. To investigate the failure mechanisms of T-BRBs, two cyclic loading tests are conducted on a mass timber frame braced by T-BRBs with and without carbon fiber-reinforced polymer wraps, and an AE system is deployed for structural health monitoring (SHM). Multiple AE signatures are analyzed to infer the yielding point and failure modes of the T-BRB. AE features, including AE hit rate and cumulative energy, can successfully identify the ultimate structural failures. Results from AE hits and measured area of rectified signal envelope (MARSE) per quarter cycle suggest that the first significant feature values correspond to the cycle when the embedded steel core yielded. The b-value analysis demonstrates a general decreasing trend through the loading process and can characterize the evolution of structural damages. By evaluating both the strain energy and AE energy to reflect damage severity, the sentry function can identify the load cycle of steel core yielding and ultimate structural failure. As the first work applying AE monitoring on structural experiments of T-BRB, this research provides general guidances for SHM of T-BRB braced mass timber structures.
The biohybrid assembly
Authors: Lee Yong Ju
Published: October 2024

In the field of contemporary architectural design, novel approaches have emerged to redefine the concept of sustainability through the utilization of bio-composites. One area of exploration involves investigating mycelium as an architectural material across various scales and functions. In this context, the presenting research explores the hybrid assembly combining mycelium and custom 3D printing incorporating robotic fabrication techniques. The Biohybrid Assembly project is a double-layered hybrid structure printed by FGF extruder for the inner layer and a customized mycelium extruder for the outer layer. Furthermore, the Biohybrid Assembly project demonstrates the possibility of large-scale construction, addressing challenges associated with existing mycelium applications. Various types of mycelium-based composites were tested to determine their optimal viscosity, growth, and strength, which were subsequently utilized to fabricate the desired model geometry. A specialized 3D printing extruder was designed and manufactured to nozzle the selected composite. Ultimately, a custom workflow, incorporating an industrial robotic arm, was established to fabricate the hybrid structure consisted of organic and inorganic materials. This research significantly contributes to the redefinition of sustainability by exploring biohybrid construction technology. Through establishing a system for a large-scale prototype, it reinterprets the concept of ecofriendliness in architecture and highlights the advantages and potential of innovative bio-integrated fabrication methods.
The Sentosa Nurses: Historical Context for Policies to Protect Internationally-Educated Nurses from Human Trafficking
Authors: Rosario Andre A.
Published: October 2024

This article presents a historical analysis of the Sentosa nurses, a group of nurses recruited from the Philippines in 2005 and 2006 to work in a health-care facility on Long Island, New York. The international nurse recruitment company that hired them underpaid them, assigned them to work in unsafe conditions with low nurse-to-patient ratios, and breached other parts of their contracts with the nurses. When the nurses decided to resign and break from their contracts early, the recruitment company retaliated, initiating civil, administrative, and criminal charges against the nurses. The Sentosa nurses’ story reflects that by the end of the first decade of the 2000s, the international nurse recruitment industry grew not only in size, but also in power, leaving internationally-educated nurses vulnerable to exploitation. More recent reports from 2019 of the labor trafficking of internationally-educated nurses are not new. Instead, a historical perspective reveals an ongoing pattern of deceptive practices and informs recommendations for stricter policies that ban recruiters from using liquidated damages provisions or breach-of-contract fees to trap nurses in exploitative work environments.
Clinical Value of Seven Autoantibodies Against Tumor-Associated Antigens and Tumor Markers in Lung Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Analysis from a Single Institution
Authors: Ren Fan , Chen Feng , Xu Xiaoqian , Ni Hong , Li Tong , Ren Dian , Song Zuoqing , Chen Gang , Chen Jun , Xu Song
Published: October 2024

Background: Lung cancer screening is not limited to low dose computed tomography (LDCT). Recently, molecular biomarkers have been shown to have the potential to improve the current state of early lung cancer detection. The current study determined the efficiency of seven autoantibodies against tumor-associated antigens (7-AABs) and tumor markers in patients with lung cancer. Materials and Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of 7-AABs and tumor markers in 354 patients with lung cancer and 108 patients with benign pulmonary disease under care at Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 7-AABs were 30.0%, 84.3%, 86.3%, and 0.61, respectively. When combining the 7-AABs and tumor markers, the sensitivity was 68.6%, the specificity was 52.8%, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.72. The 7-AABs positive expression rate in lung cancer patients was significantly higher than patients with benign pulmonary diseases (30.1% vs 15.7%); however, the 7-AABs positive expression rate was affected by clinical features and pathologic stages. When combining 7-AABs and tumor markers, the combined 7-AABs and tumor marker positive expression rate increased to 68.6%. Conclusion: Based on this study and previous literature, the supplemental diagnostic value of 7-AABs has been confirmed; however, due to the low sensitivity, the value of 7-AABs alone in lung cancer screening is limited. The combination of 7-AABs and tumor markers has improved sensitivity and positivity, but decreased specificity, which makes their performance in cancer screening and early detection worthy of further research.
COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccine-Related Skin Ulcerations in the Lower Extremities: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Beaineh Paul , El-Bsat Ayman , Hafez Bassel , Bizri Abdul Rahman , Kibbi Abdul-Ghani , Merashli Mira , Haddad Fady
Published: October 2024

Several associations have been made between COVID-19 and vasculitis. Recent data also shows the prevalence and association of de novo vasculitis with either COVID-19 infection or COVID-19 post vaccination. In this article, we present the case of new-onset leukocytoclastic vasculitis, secondary to COVID-19 vaccination, that was complicated by severe infected and nonhealing ulcers in the lower extremities.

Case

A 53-year-old male patient presented to the dermatology clinics with a three-week history of painful necrotic patches coalescent of the lateral malleolus of the right and left ankles. History goes back to when the patient reported developing pruritic papules two weeks after receiving his second shot of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (BNT162b2). Punch biopsy was consistent with leukocytoclastic vasculitis. He was prescribed a four-week course of systemic corticosteroids and antibiotics as per cultures. Vascular assessment confirmed normal peripheral arterial and venous system. Two months later, the patient re-presented with fever and worsening of his lower extremity ulcers. He underwent debridement of his wounds. Intra-operative cultures revealed multidrug resistant bacteria. He required an additional debridement session a few days later and a 14-day course of Piperacillin-Tazobactam. The patient was subsequently discharged on corticosteroids and Azathioprine and followed up in the vascular surgery and rheumatology clinics. At four months follow-up, the patient's wounds were almost completely healed.

Conclusion

This article highlights a case of severe new-onset COVID-19 vaccine-associated leukocytoclastic vasculitis complicated with infected ulcers that required debridement twice in addition to a prolonged course of antibiotics and immunosuppression therapy. To our knowledge, none of the cases reported in the literature were this severe in nature. In this post-pandemic era, it must remain high on the differential list, and healthcare specialists should maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating sudden new-onset skin lesions that do not have an immediately apparent etiology.
Underutilization of Neurodiagnostic Resources in Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
Authors: Andrade Danielle M.
Published: October 2024

[Box: see text]
Chasing the Holy Grail: Seizure Prediction Through Neural Cycles
Authors: Englot Dario J.
Published: October 2024

[Box: see text]
Personal Testimony About Dealing with Loss and Self-Care
Authors: Selig William P.
Published: October 2024

As an interfaith hospital chaplain and a Christian, navigating the profound emotional terrain of grief and loss is both a professional duty and a deeply personal journey. Attending the funerals of two close friends has brought out the interplay between my role as a spiritual caregiver and my own vulnerability. In reflection, I realize the importance of self-care and the reminder that in offering comfort and empathy, I must first find it within myself.
Anatomy of Lister’s Tubercle: Implications for Volar Locked Plating of the Distal Radius
Authors: Laane Charlotte L.E. , Raasveld Floris V. , de Klerk Huub H. , Weigel Daniel T. , Pratap Jayanth S. , Chen Neal C. , Eberlin Kyle R.
Published: October 2024

Background:

Determining accurate intraoperative screw length in complex distal radius fractures may pose difficulties. With volar plate fixation, excessive screw length may result in extensor pollicis longus injury and this can be challenging to determine via intraoperative imaging. This study aims to identify the precise anatomic location and parameters of Lister’s tubercle on the dorsal aspect of the radius.

Methods:

The anatomy and location of Lister’s tubercle was evaluated in 26 cadaveric arms, of which 27% were female, with a mean age of 73.6 years. Additionally, Lister’s tubercle was evaluated on 198 computed tomography (CT) scans using a quantitative distal radius surface map. Median age was 28 years, and 28% of the patients were female.

Results:

As measured in cadaveric arms, the mean Lister’s tubercle length was 12.6 mm, and width was 5.4 mm. The distance from the radial styloid to the distal and proximal border of Lister’s tubercle averaged 23.0 and 10.4 mm, respectively. Of the total distal radial width, Lister’s tubercle begins 43% from the radial border and spans to 42% of the ulnar border, encompassing 16% of the entire width of the dorsal distal radius. On CT mapping, the distance between the peak of Lister’s tubercle and the ulnar and radial border of the radius was 46% and 54%, respectively. Female sex was associated with a smaller distal radius width, but not with a smaller Lister’s tubercle.

Conclusions:

Knowledge of Lister’s tubercle anatomy may assist in more precise screw placement in volar locked plating of distal radius fractures.

Level of evidence:

IV—Therapeutic.
Intraoperative Cost Comparison of Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release With WALANT Versus MAC Anesthesia
Authors: Godfrey Jenna M. , Benda John , Choi Won Jin , Tavakolian Jason D. , Owen Erin C.
Published: October 2024

Background:

The cost of endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) has historically been shown to be significantly higher than the cost of open carpal tunnel release (OCTR). Setting and anesthetic technique drive costs in hand surgery; ambulatory surgical center (ASC) settings demonstrate lower costs when compared to hospital-based settings and local-only anesthetic techniques demonstrate savings over general anesthesia. The purpose of this study is to compare wide awake local-only anesthesia technique (WALANT) to monitored anesthetic care (MAC) for ECTR performed in an ASC setting.

Methods:

This study includes 481 ECTR under WALANT and 405 ECTR under MAC, performed between January 2019 and December 2021 in an ASC. Utilizing previously reported direct operating room costs, overhead, and material costs, we calculated a final cost for each procedure. We also report our complication rates: intraoperative conversion to OCTR and late revision to OCTR.

Results:

Intraoperative times were shortest for ECTR performed under WALANT (22 min) versus ECTR under MAC (25 min). The total cost for ECTR under WALANT was most cost-effective at $1341.28 versus ECTR under MAC at $1634.00. Both techniques demonstrated a low complication profile.

Conclusions:

Our intraoperative process flow, staffing model, and ASC setting resulted in cost savings making ECTR an economically feasible option.
Circulos de Conversación [Talking Circles] and Art-Based Methods: An Insurgent Data Collection Methodology
Authors: Carranza Mirna E.
Published: October 2024

This paper seeks to contribute to the carving [of] spaces that enable researchers to acompañar [walk with/accompany] a process of those that hold both ancient and cosmic knowledge carried across generations through oral traditions. Thus, it presents a pathway to a qualitative research methodology used to gather Indigenous Women’s experiences of inclusion/exclusion in a country in South America. More specifically, the goal of this paper is to discuss art-based methods and círculos de conversación [talking circles] as data gathering while following principles of reciprocity, solidarity, mutual respect and complementarity. Implications such as researchers needing to reposition in relation to occidental ethical principles that necessitate us to be neutral are discussed last.