bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Connections as a Protective Factor for Sexual Violence-Related Attitudes
Authors: O'Connor Julia , Hoxmeier Jill , Woerner Jackie , Cares Alison
Published: August 2024

Endorsing problematic sexual violence-related attitudes including rape myth acceptance (RMA), hostile sexism, and disapproval of sexual consent is associated with negative outcomes, including the perpetration of sexual violence. This study examined social connections as a protective factor for sexual violence-related attitudes among a sample of 770 participants. Results indicate that in the full sample, connections to a workplace were protective for RMA and hostile sexism while family connections were protective for disapproval of sexual consent, RMA, and hostile sexism. Patterns of other social connections differed in separate models for men and women. Unexpected findings indicating that connections to a religious social group are a risk, not a protective, factor are discussed.
How Municipalities Exploit Their De Facto Power to Manage Metropolitan Planning Through Mutual Deference
Authors: Freemark Yonah
Published: August 2024

Transportation infrastructure projects organize mobility and land-use development across metropolitan areas. As such, they are typically undertaken by states, regional governments, or public authorities overseen by higher-level governments. But since these projects have localized implications, city governments have an interest in shaping project planning. I examine case studies of six rail transit projects in France and the United States to understand the regional politics of infrastructure investment. I show that even when deprived de jure jurisdiction over planning, local governments harness the broadly shared view of their democratic legitimacy to exert de facto power over matters affecting them. Localities increase their power through inter-municipal alliances composed of cities whose residents hold contrasting ideological viewpoints. These alliances are founded on mutual deference, which means an agreement to support—or at least not oppose—the perspectives of neighboring localities if doing so does not threaten a locality's own needs.
Ankylosing spondylitis in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty increases the risk of medical and implant-related complications: a case control analysis
Authors: Mekkawy Kevin L , Rodriguez Hugo C , Mercadal Gino , Gosthe Raul G , Khanuja Harpal S , Corces Arturo , Roche Martin W
Published: August 2024

Introduction:

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory spondyloarthropathy, often involving the spine and sacroiliac joints. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been shown to be effective in improving pain and function in patients with AS with hip involvement. However, extraskeletal manifestations and altered mechanics in those with AS leads to increased complications. Thus, the aims of this study were to assess the effects that AS has on medical and implant complications, falls, length of stay, and readmissions following THA.

Methods:

A retrospective review of the Mariner private insurance claims database was conducted from 2010 to 2020. All cases of THA and those with AS were identified using Current Procedural Terminology, and International Classification of Disease 9th and 10th revision codes. Patients who underwent THA with a diagnosis of AS were matched to non-AS patients 1:5 based on demographic and comorbidity profiles. 90-day medical complications, falls, and readmission rates, as well as 2-year implant complications were compared between cohorts.

Results:

A total of 6509 AS patients were matched to 32,489 control patients. The AS group had significantly higher rates of myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, wound complications, acute kidney injury, pneumonia, sepsis, transfusions, and falls when compared to the control group. The AS group had significantly higher rates of prosthetic joint infection, dislocation, mechanical loosening, and periprosthetic fracture (all p < 0.0001). Likewise, mean length of stay and readmissions were significantly greater in the AS group.

Conclusions:

Ankylosing spondylitis in patients undergoing THA is associated with significant risk of medical and implant complications, as well as fall risk, length of stay, and readmission rates. These findings may allow orthopaedic surgeons to be more attentive in identifying those patients at risk and allow for more educated patient counseling and perioperative planning.
Outcomes of balloon-assisted maturation with large-diameter balloons
Authors: Juneja Amandeep , Wang David E , Whitaker Litton , Hoffstaetter Tabea , Silpe Jeffrey , Landis Gregg S , Etkin Yana
Published: August 2024

Objectives:

Balloon-assisted maturation (BAM) is a well-established technique for maturation of inadequate arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes of initial BAM using large-diameter angioplasty balloons.

Methods:

Charts of patients who underwent BAM between 2018 and 2021 at a single academic institution were reviewed. AVF maturation rate was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included procedural complications, re-intervention rates, post-procedure vein diameter, and time to catheter-free hemodialysis (HD). Outcomes of patients that underwent initial BAM with ⩾7 mm diameter balloons (Group I) were compared to those of patients that had initial BAM with <7 mm balloons (Group II).

Results:

Group I ( n = 149) was a significantly younger cohort and had more men compared to Group II ( n = 90). There were no significant differences associated with procedural details and complication rates. Median vein diameter was larger (5.9 mm, IQR: 5–6.4) in Group I compared to Group II (5.1 mm, IQR: 4.2–5.9; p = 0.03) on post-procedure Duplex ultrasound. There was also a higher incidence of vein stenosis in Group II. The overall maturation rate was higher in Group I (97% vs 88%, p = 0.003), and a larger proportion of patients in Group II required more than one BAM to achieve maturation (33% vs 16%, p = 0.002). The median time to catheter-free HD after first BAM was 29 days (IQR: 19–47) in Group I and 42 days (IQR: 24–75) in Group II ( p = 0.002). At 60 days after first BAM, the incidence of catheter-free HD was 83% in Group I versus 67% in Group II ( p = 0.001).

Conclusions:

Our study demonstrates that the ability to utilize large angioplasty balloons during initial BAM is associated with higher rates of AVF maturation with fewer re-interventions and shorter time to catheter-free dialysis. AVFs that can tolerate this procedure often have more favorable baseline characteristics.
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Could be a Priority Pathogen to Cause Public Health Emergency: Noticeable Features and Counteractive Measures
Authors: Chandran Deepak , Chakraborty Sandip , Chandran Diljith , Subedi Deepak , Jisha Ankitha Indu , Chopra Hitesh , Rabaan Ali A , Al-Tawfiq Jaffar A , Islam Md. Rabiul , Dhama Kuldeep
Published: August 2024

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is caused by a specific strain of the 6 types of human coronaviruses (HCoV). MERS-CoV has spread unchecked since it was first discovered in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The virus most likely spreads through nosocomial and zoonotic channels. Genetic analyses suggest that bats were the initial hosts and that the disease spread to camels. Person-to-person transmission occurs with varying frequency, being most prevalent in clinical settings and the least common among the general population and among close relatives. Due to the severity of the illness, high fatality rate, potential for epidemic spread, and lack of adequate medical countermeasures, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to list MERS-CoV as a priority pathogen. While no specific antiviral medicines exist, a combination of antivirals has shown promise in recent clinical trials. Vaccines against MERS-CoV are critically needed and are currently being developed. Early diagnosis and implementing appropriate infection control measures are keys to preventing hospital-associated outbreaks. Preventive measures include avoiding raw or undercooked meats and other animal products, ensuring proper hand hygiene in healthcare settings and around dromedaries, educating the public and healthcare personnel about the disease, and adhering to other recommended practices. Countries with a high prevalence of MERS should adhere to regulations designed to limit the transmission of the virus. The recent spread of MERS-CoV highlights the importance of public awareness regarding the significance of reporting symptoms so that appropriate control measures can be adopted. The narrative review discusses the incidence of MERS, its clinical presentation, potential transmission routes, recent reports, preventative and control measures, and current therapeutic options.
Digitally skilled but socially disadvantaged: Enabling digital capabilities in low-income families
Authors: McCosker Anthony , Tucker Julie , Kennedy Jenny
Published: August 2024

This paper presents a case study of smart home technology use in a low-income household, focussing on the paradox within the digital divide of having high digital skills while experiencing social disadvantage. Contextualised within a larger study of digital disadvantage in low-income households, we use an ethnographic case study approach to examine the experiences of a single parent who lives with her son in public housing and uses various smart home and assistive technologies to manage the home environment and their health and disability. Countering macro studies that equate low-income and disability with digital exclusion, we explore the ‘enabling capabilities’ associated with using digital technologies to address disadvantage. Our case study is contextualised against the typical digital inclusion challenges faced by low-income families and draws on Sen and Nussbaum’s capabilities approach to addressing social inequalities. The paper highlights the need to support situation-specific digital capability development and flexible technology and social welfare arrangements. Our findings and approach contribute to a more nuanced understanding of how to address digital inequality.
Gatekeeping and fence-making: Themes and discourses of musicianship in UK music therapy training
Authors: Wetherick Donald
Published: August 2024

Music therapy pedagogy remains under-researched in the United Kingdom, with much pedagogic knowledge held implicitly by experienced trainers and supervisors. Musical training requirements are further under-theorised, emphasising a ‘high degree of musicianship’ as a single criterion while leaving unclear how musical and therapeutic identities are integrated within the Music Therapist/musician. This article presents findings from interviews with five experienced UK trainers carried out in 2017–2018. Interviews were analysed from two perspectives: a thematic analysis identified trainers’ views on what ‘being a Music Therapist’ means in musical terms, while a discourse analysis helped show how trainers position music therapy in relation to musicianship more generally. Findings suggest trainers understand musicianship in music therapy as a combination of distinct musicianship characteristics, where exceptional achievement in one does not make up for lack in another. Trainers’ assessments of competence across these characteristics not only act to identify suitable candidates for training (gatekeeping) but also discursively construct the practice of music therapy itself and distinguish it from other musical practices (fence-making). The UK music therapy training context has developed rapidly since these data were collected. Nevertheless, this study gives an account of recent pedagogic thinking on musicianship which remains relevant to current music therapy training.
CrossFit, Community, and Identity: A Gemeinschaft in a Liquid Modern World?
Authors: Till Chris , Ibrahim Joseph
Published: August 2024

This article applies Zygmunt Bauman’s notion of liquid modernity to understand the dynamics of temporary communities through the branded strength and conditioning programme of CrossFit (CF). By drawing on 18 semi-structured interviews across 4 different UK CF gyms, we argue that to some participants CF offers a temporary return to a modified version of the strong social bonds associated with older forms of community (described by Ferdinand Tönnies as Gemeinschaft). These close communities, however, are modified by their intermingling with contemporary capitalist relations and their service to the development of individual identity and body projects consistent with recent re-conceptualizations. These new forms retain some Gemeinschaft characteristics, such as a space for friendship and camaraderie, while also providing opportunities to work on individual life and body projects. Ultimately, due to their temporary character and focus on self-development, we argue they are best categorized as what Zygmunt Bauman refers to as ‘peg communities’.
Ambivalent, discontent, and sceptical: Marginalised queer lives in the post-same-sex marriage era in Taiwan
Authors: Chan Lik Sam
Published: August 2024

This study explores the significance of the legalisation of same-sex marriage for LGBTQ individuals in Taiwan, both as sexual minorities and as Taiwanese. Through in-depth interviews with 33 LGBTQ individuals, three distinct subject positions were identified: ambivalent homonationalists, who acknowledged their marginalised status but endorsed the state’s homonationalist project; discontent nationalist queers, who expressed dissatisfaction with the same-sex marriage law and showed indifference toward the homonationalist project; and sceptical queer nationalists, who recognised their lack of full citizenship rights and were pessimistic about the role of the same-sex marriage law in elevating Taiwan’s international recognition. By considering the limitations of the same-sex marriage law and geopolitical tension, this study reveals the complex outlooks of LGBTQ individuals in the post-same-sex marriage Taiwan.
Tracing the limits of epistemic agency in truth-telling about Australian settler colonialism
Authors: Kunjan Priya
Published: August 2024

The Australian state and much of the settler polity maintain an unresolved contradiction between fully acknowledging Indigenous people and upholding a system predicated on the assumption of their socio-political inferiority. This tension inflects a public sphere in which Indigenous people frequently deploy truth-telling as an epistemic strategy, albeit one that involves a balance between challenging cultivated silences and/or colonial triumphalism and the costs of repetitive epistemic labour. The landscape of communicative exchange thus outlined suggests the need for a more nuanced assessment of the decolonial potential of truth-telling about colonial violence in Australia, given a contemporary context wherein settler individuals and institutions increasingly attempt to elicit such testimony from Indigenous people. Discourse analysis of media items published in 2020 about 26 January, Australia's national day, reveals Indigenous people’s resistance against both colonial untruths and the racialised epistemic power differential enabling their circulation.
Decolonising consciousness: Confronting and living with colonial truths in Australia
Authors: Bradfield Abraham
Published: August 2024

National and state/territory dialogues in Australia have increasingly turned towards implementing mechanisms that will oversee truth-telling processes to facilitate reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. While truth lies central to decolonising, it is vital to reflect on whose truth(s) are being represented, and in what ways it should be disseminated. In this article I discuss how the cultivation of a ‘decolonising consciousness’ may assist in confronting national and personal truths while also helping citizens of settler-colonial nations acquire the proficiency needed to put decolonial understandings into praxis. I argue that decolonising truths entails a responsive consciousness that is informed by frameworks such as border thinking, agonistic pluralism and kincentric orientations. Decolonising truth enables non-Indigenous settlers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples alike to live alongside the complexities of mutually informing, competing, and at times incommensurable worldviews; this is the point of departure in the ongoing path towards reconciliation.
Historical education and colonial racist violences: A contribution to debates on historic reparations for Black, Afro-descendant people in Colombia
Authors: Londoño Bustamante Alejandra
Published: August 2024

Racist violence has deep colonial roots that affect all aspects of life and the repertoires of violences in contexts such as the Colombian contemporary war. In this article, I will construct a woven web at three moments. Through this, I argue that teaching history from historical consciousness in settings such as schools can contribute to necessary social dialogues for processes of historical reparation such as those pertaining to the African diaspora who were victims of the slave trade and are now settled in Colombia. Through this web, I also discuss pedagogies that incorporate categories such as the longue durée, historical consciousness and continuity and change that contribute to restorative, anticolonial and historical reparation processes.
Dynamical analysis of a forced vibrating planar motion of a spring pendulum
Authors: Amer TS , Amer Asmaa , Galal AA
Published: August 2024

This work studies the nonlinear movement of a two degrees-of-freedom (DOF) spring pendulum that is dampened and affected by a harmonic force externally. It is presumed that the spring’s pivot point travels along an elliptic route. Lagrange’s equations are utilized to generate the regulating system of motion. The multiple-scales approach (MSA) is used to gain the system’s analytic solutions up to the third-order approximation. Therefore, all resonance cases that have emerged are categorized, wherein two of them are scrutinized at once. As a result of the removal of secular terms, the solvability constraints are attained and then the steady-state solutions are investigated. The examined motion’s temporal evolution, the resonance response curves, and the solutions at the steady-state are all depicted graphically. In compliance with the Routh–Hurwitz criteria (RHC), all possible fixed points (FPs) for the steady and unsteady cases are found and displayed. The stability zones are examined and analyzed to estimate the effect of various factors on the system’s behavior. This model has gained prominence recently due to its industrial uses in seismic isolation systems for buildings and structures. However, in seismic engineering, a 2DOF vibrating pendulum system can be used as part of a seismic isolation system designed to protect buildings and infrastructure from earthquake-induced vibrations. The pendulum mechanism helps to absorb and dissipate seismic energy, reducing the amount of force transmitted to the structure. During an earthquake, the ground motion acts as an external harmonic force on the building. The distribution of mass and the structural layout can cause rotational moments that act on the building. The pendulum system can be tuned to counteract these moments, helping to stabilize the structure. The pendulum system allows for both horizontal and vertical displacement, providing two degrees of freedom. This capability is essential for accommodating the complex, multi-directional nature of seismic waves.
Modeling analysis on the influence of the gyrostatic moment on the motion of a charged rigid body subjected to constant axial torque
Authors: Amer TS , El-Kafly HF , Elneklawy AH , Amer WS
Published: August 2024

The 3D modeling analysis for the rotary motion of an asymmetric rigid body (RB) that gains a charge is presented. Under the effect of a gyrostatic moment (GM), an electromagnetic force field (EFF), time-varying body-fixed torques (TVBFTs), and constant axial torque (CAT), Euler’s equation of motion (EOM) is derived to describe the body’s EOM. The process is to derive the analytic solutions for the general attitude motion of the RB that is nearly symmetrical; therefore, a novel analytical solution for the angular velocities of the body has been approached. These new solutions are obtained by considering torques that vary over time and expressing them as integrals. Additionally, a novel closed-form evaluation mechanism for these integrals is offered. Specifically, the case of a constant torque around the spin axis and transverse torques represented by polynomial functions of time is explored. When dealing with an axisymmetric RB subject to a CAT, the solutions obtained from Euler’s EOM are exact. However, it is important to note that novel analytic solutions for the Eulerian angles are approximations, as they rely on the assumption of small angles. Nonetheless, these approximations have broad applicability to a wide range of practical problems. The method’s precision is demonstrated through the graphical simulation of the proposed solutions. Additionally, a computer program is utilized to create diagrams and phase plane curves, highlighting the contribution of various body parameters to the motion. These plots depict the contributions of various values regarding GM, charge, and CAT. Motion stability is also examined through phase diagrams. In addition to presenting novel solutions and outcomes for the problem, this study plays a vital role in multiple scientific and engineering fields as it has the potential to optimize mechanical systems, explain celestial motion, and improve spacecraft performance.
Understanding datafication in Swedish ECEC through three evaluation imaginaries
Authors: Benerdal Malin , Larsson Magnus
Published: August 2024

In this paper we explore datafication through a specific kind of evaluative practice in Swedish early childhood education and care (ECEC): the creation of quality reports by individual preschools. A theoretical framework is developed based on Dahler-Larsen's descriptions of three ‘evaluation imaginaries’ (the modern, reflexive modernity and audit society), with elaboration of their respective characteristics and complementary notions from other sources. We then apply the framework, and a qualitative text analytical approach, to analyse eight quality reports from diverse Swedish preschools, purposefully selected to represent preschools that vary in terms of ownership, geographical location, size and pedagogical profile. We find that the reflexive modernity imaginary is most clearly influential in the ECEC quality reports, but there are emerging indications of the audit society imaginary's influence. We also find variations in prioritised focus in the reports among ECEC providers, underscoring the need for further exploration. The study calls for future research to delve into provider-specific nuances, expand the investigation to other kinds of evaluations and scrutinise the broader implications for ECEC operations and practices.
Understanding oversight through parliamentary questions: The European Parliament in the Economic and Monetary Union
Authors: Akbik Adina , Migliorati Marta
Published: August 2024

Although parliamentary questions are an essential tool of legislative oversight, there is limited research on their variation in holding governments accountable. In this article, we analyse a new dataset of 1393 oral questions posed by Members of the European Parliament during the 8th parliamentary term. After distinguishing between questions asking for information, justification, or rectification of conduct, we explain their variation in connection to the formal oversight relationship between parliaments and scrutinised actors, and to the type of policy activity carried out by the latter. We find that Members of the European Parliament are more likely to address rectification questions and less likely to ask information questions the fewer legal controls they have. Moreover, information questions are more likely to occur in the oversight of policy formulation, while justification questions are prevalent in the oversight of policy execution. The findings flag the importance of structural factors in the practice of legislative oversight.
A study on misfire detection by calculating crank angular velocity considering in-cylinder gas properties
Authors: Hasegawa Ryo , Aoyama Yukitoshi
Published: August 2024

Misfire detection using a new crank angular velocity calculation was studied for high efficiency and robust engine ignition performance and combustion stability control. An applying production was achieved by applying in-cylinder gas properties prediction and its correction to the misfire index and verifying it under various conditions. The relationship between the misfire index and torque fluctuation was consistent depending on the combustion control factors EGR, injection timing, pilot injection quantity change, and environmental change factors water temperature and intake gas temperature. On the other hand, it was found that the piston speed changes due to the in-cylinder pressure with respect to the intake pressure, and the crank angular speed needs to be corrected. Commonly used sensors for engine cooling water temperature, intake gas temperature, intake pressure, and engine speed were used as representative values for in-cylinder pressure, and the cooling loss was subtracted from the polytropic index and the reduction in specific heat ratio due to EGR was corrected. By building a new model that calculates the compression end pressure model from the polytropic index and adding corrections to the misfire index, we applied logic that can be calculated for each cycle to the ECU onboard. Conventionally, compression end pressure prediction requires calculations that take combustion conditions into account, which requires the number of sensors and their accuracy, and a long calculation time. However, in this study, Authors focused on the fact that the pressure at TDC during a misfire does not include ignition and combustion phenomena and expressed the necessary physical phenomena using the minimum sensor information. As a result of the above, a control structure at a level that can be applied to products was obtained.
Cultivating translanguaging spaces: Young emergent bilingual children’s toy unboxing play
Authors: Yoon Yeojoo , Dong Pool Ip
Published: August 2024

This study explores the captivating world of toy unboxing videos as a space for emergent bilingual children to engage in translanguaging practices. Through the lens of translanguaging, which encourages the unrestricted use of full linguistic repertoires, this research examines the experiences of two five-year-old immigrant and emergent bilingual children, who employ linguistic repertoires from both English and Korean, within toy unboxing play. Toy unboxing play is not exclusive to these children alone but extends beyond as a shared phenomenon of new play among children across the globe. This ethnographic case study seeks to understand when and how translanguaging is employed in their toy unboxing play and explores the possibilities it opens for fostering inclusive views on linguistic practices among emergent bilingual children. In our findings, we argue that toy unboxing play can be a way of creating translanguaging space facilitating the deployment of children’s linguistic repertoires and contributing to their meaning-making and learning processes. The translanguaging practices exhibited by the children in their toy unboxing play demonstrate linguistic flexibility across three key domains: (1) playful interaction with toys and self, (2) emotional interaction with families and intimate others, and (3) transcultural interaction with peers and virtual audience. The study contributes valuable insights into the potentialities of translanguaging within the context of children’s play. Translanguaging emerges not only as a linguistic phenomenon but as a holistic approach to communication, reflecting the multifaceted nature of emergent bilingual children’s identities and experiences. The hybridized approach observed in their play underscores the importance of recognizing translanguaging as a way of being and belonging for children and families with transnational and transcultural backgrounds. By shedding light on the intricate interplay between language, culture, and play, this research deepens our understanding of inclusive and liberating translanguaging spaces for emergent bilingual children.
Experiences of the Older Adults After Being Abused: A Qualitative Meta-synthesis
Authors: Li Yue , Ji Wenting , Dong Xiaohui , Guo Julan , Cai Mingjin , Gong Xiaoyan , Xie Xuemei , Hou Chaoming , Gao Jing
Published: August 2024

Elder abuse is a global public health problem with severe social costs. Research on elder abuse has gradually increased; however, less attention has been paid to older adults’ perceptions and experiences of abuse. This review aimed to integrate older adults’ perceptions and experiences of abuse to provide a theoretical basis for developing interventions that meet their authentic needs. Six electronic databases were searched to include qualitative studies examining perceptions and experiences of abuse among adults aged 60 years or older, and 22 studies were included. This study used the Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregation approach to integrate the qualitative findings, which identified four themes: (a) changes resulting from elder abuse, (b) causes of abuse, (c) barrier factors and facilitating factors to the disclosure of abusive behavior, and (d) adopting different response strategies. The findings revealed that older adults experience persistent physical and psychological burdens and financial stress following abuse. Multiple factors influence the emergence of abuse and older adults search for help from the outside world, especially social support and perceptions of abuse. Older adults can deal with abuse by accepting the status quo or taking steps to change it. These findings have important implications for helping older adults prevent and cope with abuse experiences.
Assessment of Sonographic Parameters for Predicting Primary Patency Rate in Hemodialysis Patients With Venous Valve-Related Stenosis
Authors: Xiong Yu , Gao Xuejing , Cui Lin , Lyu Qiong , Tu Bo , Chen Bo , Wan Ziming
Published: August 2024

Objectives:

Ultrasonography is more frequently used in patients with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis. The aim of this study is to use sonographic parameters for predicting primary patency in hemodialysis patients with venous valve-related stenosis (VVRS) who are treated by ultrasound-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).

Methods:

A total of 229 VVRS patients who underwent PTA between January 2017 and December 2021 were enrolled. Clinical characteristics were retrospectively collected. Sonographic parameters were measured both before and after PTA. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were performed to identify independent factors associated with primary patency rate.

Results:

All measured sonographic parameters improved after PTA compared to before PTA. Before PTA, the diameter of VVRS > 1.0 mm, age ≤ 57 years, and body mass index (BMI) > 21.57 kg/m2 were associated with better outcomes. While the diameter of radial artery, proximal radial artery close to the anastomosis, brachial artery, the flow volume of brachial artery, the length and peak velocity (PV) of the VVRS, and the diameter and PV after the VVRS had no association with the primary patency rate. After PTA, only patients with a diameter of VVRS > 4.0 mm had favorable outcome. In addition, patients with a gain of diameter of VVRS > 2.4 mm after PTA had a trend of better outcomes.

Conclusions:

The diameter of VVRS before and after PTA could be served as markers to predict primary patency rate and second patency rate in AVF patients with VVRS. The gain of diameter of VVRS could also be a potential marker.

Clinical Impact

Using simple markers of sonographic parameters, we could quickly identify patients with a higher risk of restenosis. These patients should be followed more closely in case of restenosis at early. It is also beneficial to the prevention of thrombosis. These measures help to preserve more valuable vascular for a long-term dialysis. Additionally, the physician should pay more attention on the dialysis-related complications in these risky patients, such as hemodialysis-related hypotension.
A Comparative Study of DC Beads, Callispheres and Multimodal Imaging Nano-Assembled Microspheres Loaded with Irinotecan in Vitro
Authors: Wang Jieyu , Zhang Shaoya , He Yiwei , Sun Wan , Zhu Xiaoyang , Xi Zihan , Ma Qian , Ye Yuanxin , Song Ziyang , Zhang Yuqing , Shao Guoliang
Published: August 2024

Introduction: In recent years, the development of drug-eluting embolization beads that can be imaged has become a hot research topic in regard to meeting clinical needs. In our previous study, we successfully developed nano-assembled microspheres (NAMs) for multimodal imaging purposes. NAMs can not only be visualized under CT/MR/Raman imaging but can also load clinically required doses of doxorubicin. It is important to systematically compare the pharmacokinetics of NAMs with those of commercially available DC Beads and CalliSpheres to evaluate the clinical application potential of NAMs. Methods: In our study, we compared NAMs with two types of drug-eluting beads (DEBs) in terms of irinotecan, drug-loading capacity, release profiles, microsphere diameter variation, and morphological characteristics. Results: Our results indicate that NAMs had an irinotecan loading capacity similar to those of DC Beads and CalliSpheres but exhibited better sustained release in vitro. Conclusion: NAMs have great potential for application in transcatheter arterial chemoembolization for the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases.
Exposing Freeway Inequalities in the Suburbs: The Cases of Pasadena and Pacoima
Authors: Ramirez Andres F. , Proussaloglou Emmanuel , Loukaitou-Sideris Anastasia , Wasserman Jacob L.
Published: August 2024

U.S. freeways have come under scrutiny for their adverse impacts on low-income neighborhoods of color, primarily in urban centers. This article offers a comparative historical analysis of the impact of freeways on two communities in Southern California, which were ethnically diverse suburbs. Planning authorities in Pasadena and Pacoima chose freeway routes that displaced a greater share of households of color than the proposed alternatives. Meanwhile, neighboring white, wealthier communities successfully influenced routing decisions in consequential ways. Beyond the visible and immediate effects of the freeways, social inequity and environmental degradation persist in both neighborhoods today.
Advancing Emergency Department Triage Prediction With Machine Learning to Optimize Triage for Abdominal Pain Surgery Patients
Authors: Chai Chen , Peng Shu-zhen , Zhang Rui , Li Cheng-wei , Zhao Yan
Published: August 2024

Background

The development of emergency department (ED) triage systems remains challenging in accurately differentiating patients with acute abdominal pain (AAP) who are critical and urgent for surgery due to subjectivity and limitations. We use machine learning models to predict emergency surgical abdominal pain patients in triage, and then compare their performance with conventional Logistic regression models.

Methods

Using 38 214 patients presenting with acute abdominal pain at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between March 1, 2014, and March 1, 2022, we identified all adult patients (aged ≥18 years). We utilized routinely available triage data in electronic medical records as predictors, including structured data (eg, triage vital signs, gender, and age) and unstructured data (chief complaints and physical examinations in free-text format). The primary outcome measure was whether emergency surgery was performed. The dataset was randomly sampled, with 80% assigned to the training set and 20% to the test set. We developed 5 machine learning models: Light Gradient Boosting Machine (Light GBM), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Deep Neural Network (DNN), and Random Forest (RF). Logistic regression (LR) served as the reference model. Model performance was calculated for each model, including the area under the receiver-work characteristic curve (AUC) and net benefit (decision curve), as well as the confusion matrix.

Results

Of all the 38 214 acute abdominal pain patients, 4208 underwent emergency abdominal surgery while 34 006 received non-surgical treatment. In the surgery outcome prediction, all 4 machine learning models outperformed the reference model (eg, AUC, 0.899 [95%CI 0.891-0.903] in the Light GBM vs. 0.885 [95%CI 0.876-0.891] in the reference model), Similarly, most machine learning models exhibited significant improvements in net reclassification compared to the reference model (eg, NRIs of 0.0812[95%CI, 0.055-0.1105] in the XGBoost), with the exception of the RF model. Decision curve analysis shows that across the entire range of thresholds, the net benefits of the XGBoost and the Light GBM models were higher than the reference model. In particular, the Light GBM model performed well in predicting the need for emergency abdominal surgery with higher sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy.

Conclusions

Machine learning models have demonstrated superior performance in predicting emergency abdominal pain surgery compared to traditional models. Modern machine learning improves clinical triage decisions and ensures that critically needy patients receive priority for emergency resources and timely, effective treatment.
“Take the Keys to the Happy Hob Hotel”: Live-Streaming, Yingyeo Culture, and Affective Support
Authors: Dunkel William
Published: August 2024

Material conditions under global neoliberalism have increased youth precarity, and live-streaming has emerged as a form of “gig work” for young people as they broadcast their lives and social activities onto digital platforms. Studies have demonstrated that live-streaming often acts as a site of exploitation by corporate interests and self-commodification via platform capitalism where streamers adjust their behavior to serve the interests of capital accumulation. This article examines a subgroup of game streamers, “challenge runners,” who impose rules to increase gameplay difficulty thereby pursuing excellence in “unproductive” actions that relieve neoliberal isolation—categorized by the Korean youth cultural practice of yingyeo. By examining two popular British and Korean Twitch.tv challenge runners, The Hob and Lynn respectively, their streams and fan interactions, I identify how—in response to conditions under global neoliberalism—youth create meaningful relief through pursuing “valueless” behavior and affective support.
The Effect of Text Message-Based mHealth Interventions on Physical Activity and Weight Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Emeran Aminah , Burrows Robyn , Loyson Josh , Behardien Muhammed Rizaan , Wiemers Lauren , Lambert Estelle
Published: August 2024

Physical inactivity and obesity are detrimental to one’s overall health, as they increase the risk of developing non-communicable diseases. Fortunately, physical inactivity and obesity can be improved by supporting lifestyle behavior changes. This support may be provided remotely by Mobile Health (mHealth) messaging interventions, which involve using mobile messages for health improvement. This study aimed to determine the effect of mHealth interventions using unidirectional text messaging/instant messaging on physical activity and weight-related outcomes in adult populations. An electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, for pre-post interventions using unidirectional messaging for physical activity/weight loss. A total of 43 articles were included in the review. Most studies used non-tailored text messages, were RCTs, and were performed on clinical populations in high income countries. Meta-analysis showed that messages had minimal effects on physical activity (d+: .14, 95% CI: .05 to .23, P = .003, I2 = 65%), and no effect on weight loss (d+: .04, 95% CI: −.02 to .10, P = .21, I2 = 29%). This suggests that unidirectional messaging alone is not sufficient to promote physical activity and weight loss. Future studies should consider using bidirectional messaging or other interventions in addition to messages, such as mobile applications, to potentially improve intervention effectiveness.
Visual letter similarity effects in Korean word recognition: The role of distinctive strokes
Authors: Bae Sungbong , Lee Chang H. , Pae Hye K.
Published: August 2024

While the impact of visual letter similarity on word recognition in the Latin script has been extensively documented using masked priming techniques, research into non-Latin scripts such as Hangul remains limited. Hangul letters are systematically formed by adding one or two strokes to the base form, creating a pool of visually similar letters in the inventory. This study investigated the role of added distinctive strokes in word recognition by employing two experimental tasks: a lexical decision task (Experiment 1) and a same-different word matching task (Experiment 2). The results of Experiment 1 revealed a visual similarity effect only for primes without distinctive strokes, indicating an asymmetry in the priming effects. Conversely, Experiment 2 showed that visually similar primes facilitated target word processing regardless of the presence of the distinctive stroke, indicating no asymmetric priming effect. These findings suggest initial uncertainty of letter identity during Korean word processing and the processing of distinctive strokes in differentiating visually similar words.
Comparison on erosion performance of HVOF sprayed NiCrSiBCFe-WC-Co and NiCrSiBCFe-Cr3C2NiCr coatings
Authors: Yadav Abhay Shankar , Mishra S. B.
Published: August 2024

Hard coatings are used to improve the wear resistance of various engineering materials while maintaining the mechanical properties of the base material. In this work, the high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spray process was used to deposit NiCrSiBCFe(65)-WC-Co(35) and NiCrSiBCFe(65)-Cr3C2-NiCr(35) coatings on SA213-T17 boiler steel to improve the erosion wear resistance of the base material. The erosion wear behaviours of the specimens were investigated using an air jet erosion tester at 30 and 90° impact angles and 400 ± 25 °C temperature. The surface morphologies of the as-deposited and eroded samples were examined using the Scanning electron microscope. The NiCrSiBCFe-WC-Co ceramic coating deposited on SA213-T17 boiler steel exhibited superior erosion resistance compared to NiCrSiBCFe-Cr3C2-NiCr coating and boiler steel under all the tested conditions. This enhanced performance can primarily be attributed to the higher hardness of the NiCrSiBCFe-WC-Co coating due to the presence of harder phases such as WC, W2C and NiCo2O4.
Navigating classroom challenges and curriculum changes: A qualitative study of an English Teacher’s journey in the Indonesian education system
Authors: Puspitasari Maya
Published: August 2024

This article employs narrative inquiry to investigate the experiences of an English teacher, referred to as Dede (pseudonym), at a senior high school in West Java, Indonesia. The research question guiding this study is: ‘How does an English teacher in senior high school navigate and adapt his teaching approaches in response to curriculum changes in Indonesia?’ Using a semi-structured interview, this study provides a detailed analysis of Dede’s narratives to uncover the challenges faced by English educators in this setting and to highlight the sources of their motivation and dedication. The research focuses on four main themes: teaching journey; public versus private schools; curriculum stories; and policy and practice. The findings reveal the complex obstacles and dynamic changes in curriculum that English teachers navigate, offering valuable insights into the broader context of senior secondary education in Indonesia. By exploring Dede’s teaching path, this study contributes to the ongoing discussion of effective teaching strategies and the evolving landscape of English language education in West Java.
Should the beach chair position have national guidelines to reduce the risk of cerebrovascular complications? Results from a National Survey of Surgeons and Anaesthetists
Authors: Ensor David , Gwilym Stephen E , Imam Mohamed , West Simeon , Elgebaly Ahmed , Baring Tobias
Published: August 2024

Background

The beach chair position is frequently used in UK shoulder surgeries, but cerebrovascular complications, while rare, can have severe consequences. No consensus exists on best practices due to limited evidence.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sampling method among the British Elbow and Shoulder Society and Regional Anaesthesia UK members to gauge the need for guidelines. It aims to assess the need for standardised guidelines, covering topics such as demographics, current clinical practises in anaesthetics and surgery and the prevalence of cerebrovascular complications post-surgery.

Results

Of 534 respondents, 67% were anaesthetists and 33% surgeons. Twelve percent currently use local guidelines. 40% conduct all shoulder surgeries in the beach chair position. The most common bed angle is 45°, but 30% choose 60° or higher. 12.4% of respondents have local guidelines available. Only 20% of anaesthetists use cerebrovascular monitoring, with 6% of surgeons and 2% of anaesthetists reporting postoperative neurological issues. Eighty-five percent of respondents recommended the need for a national guidelines.

Conclusions

Current practices in the use of beach chair position vary considerably. There is a desire from both surgeons and anaesthetists for a consensus approach to guideline development based on current available evidence and practice.
A scoping review of the educator role performed by Health Information Managers in health workplace-based education: The practitioner Health Information Manager-educator
Authors: Lee Jenn , Boyd James , Khalil Hanan
Published: August 2024

Background:

Health Information Managers (HIMs) play a crucial role in the management and governance of health information ensuring the accuracy, confidentiality and accessibility of health data for clinical care and business operational purposes. This role also extends to education and training in the workplace.

Objective:

The aim of this scoping review was to explore and elucidate the role played by HIMs when they undertake a health workplace-based (healthcare organisation or service) educational role and/or functions as evidenced in the existing body of literature.

Method:

A scoping review of the literature to investigated the importance of the educator role for HIM health workplace-based educators. A three-step search strategy was designed to ensure a comprehensive exploration of relevant research.

Results:

Of 63 articles assess for eligibility, 14 were included in the final analysis. All included articles acknowledged the importance of the HIM-educator workplace-based role. Half of the included articles had been published within the last 7 years. Only 8 of the 14 articles provided some description of HIM-educator attributes, suggesting that these characteristics remain unexplored.

Discussion:

Findings from this scoping review have shed light on the limitations within the current available literature concerning the attributes of HIM health workplace-based educators. The findings also highlight an important gap in knowledge concerning the qualities of these HIM-educators.

Conclusion:

This identified gap in the literature signals a need for further exploration and investigation into the specific attributes, skills, and characteristics that define effective HIM-educators undertaking a health workplace-based educational role.