bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Myocardial Infarction Quality of Care and Outcomes in Asian Ethnic Groups in the United States
Authors: Vijay Aishwarya , Huang Xiaoning , Huffman Mark D. , Kandula Namratha R. , Lloyd-Jones Donald M. , Jose Powell O. , Yang Eugene , Goyal Abhinav , Khan Sadiya S. , Shah Nilay S.
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND:

National-level differences in myocardial infarction (MI) quality of care among Asian patients in the United States are unclear. We assessed the quality of MI care in the 6 largest US Asian ethnic groups.

METHODS:

Patients aged ≥18 years with ST-segment–elevation MI or non–ST-segment–elevation MI in the Get With The Guidelines–Coronary Artery Disease registry (711 US hospitals, 2015–2021) were assessed. The odds of MI-related quality of care and process outcomes were evaluated in Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian adults compared with non-Hispanic White adults. Sex-stratified logistic regression models were adjusted for age and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS:

There were 5691 Asian patients (1520 Asian Indian, 422 Chinese, 430 Filipino, 114 Japanese, 283 Korean, 553 Vietnamese, and 2369 other Asian) and 141 271 non-Hispanic White patients, overall 30% female, and mean age of 66.5 years. Relative to non-Hispanic White adults, among patients with ST-segment–elevation MI, door-to-ECG time ≤10 minutes was less likely in Asian Indian (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.64 [95% CI, 0.50–0.82]), Chinese (aOR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.46–0.93]), and Korean (aOR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.33–0.97]) men and in other Asian women (aOR, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.41–0.90]). Door-to-balloon time ≤90 minutes was less likely in Asian Indian men (aOR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.56–0.90]) and Filipina women (aOR, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.24–0.98]). In patients with ST-segment–elevation MI or non–ST-segment–elevation MI, optimal medical therapy for MI was less likely in Korean men (aOR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.47–0.90]) and more likely in Asian Indian men (aOR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.06–1.40]) and women (aOR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.04–1.67]) and Filipina women (aOR, 1.84 [95% CI, 1.27–2.67]).

CONCLUSIONS:

MI quality of care varies among US Asian patients with ST-segment–elevation MI and non–ST-segment–elevation MI. Quality improvement programs must identify and address the factors that result in suboptimal MI quality of care among US Asian patients.
Contribution to the knowledge of the Anthicidae Latreille, 1819 (Coleoptera) of the Solomon Archipelago with notes on some Indo-Pacific Sapintus Casey, 1895
Authors: TELNOV DMITRY
Published: September 2024

Anthicidae of the Solomon Archipelago, comprising the nation of the Solomon Islands and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea, are assessed based on published records and new data. An annotated checklist and distribution maps of the Solomon Archipelago anthicids are presented. Sapintus francoisi (Pic, 1902) stat. restit., comb nov. is herein considered a valid species, removed from the synonymy with S. oceanicus (La Ferté-Sénectère, 1849), and a new combination is proposed (from Anthicus Paykull, 1798). Lectotypes are designated for Anthicus oceanicus var. guamensis Blair, 1942, A. rectifasciatus Lea, 1896, and S. oceanicus to maintain nomenclatural stability. Sapintus minamiiwo Bonadona & Sakai in Sakai, 1986 and Anthicus oceanicus var. guamensis were found conspecific with S. francoisi and new synonyms are introduced. Anthicus rectifasciatus and S. vexator (Werner, 1965) were found conspecific with S. oceanicus, and new synonyms are introduced.
The epidemiology of mental and substance use disorders in Australia 2020–22: Prevalence, socio-demographic correlates, severity, impairment and changes over time
Authors: Slade Tim , Vescovi Joshua , Chapman Cath , Teesson Maree , Arya Vikas , Pirkis Jane , Harris Meredith G , Burgess Philip M , Santomauro Damian , O’Dean Siobhan , Tapp Caley , Sunderland Matthew
Published: September 2024

Objective:

Mental and substance use disorders are the leading causes of disability worldwide. Contemporary estimates of prevalence, severity and impairment are essential for service planning. This study provides estimates of prevalence, severity, impairment and demographic correlates of mental and substance use disorders in 2020–22 and changes in prevalence since 2007.

Methods:

Data were from the two Australian National Surveys of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted in 2020-22 ( N = 15,893) and 2007 ( N = 8841). Descriptive statistics report prevalence of lifetime and 12-month mental and substance use disorder by sex and age, proportion of people with each mental disorder by levels of severity (mild, moderate and severe) and mean days out of role by mental disorder class (mood, anxiety, substance use). Logistic regression analyses examined demographic correlates of mental disorder class and assessed changes over time.

Results:

The lifetime prevalence of any mental or substance use disorder in 2020–22 was 40.2%. The 12-month prevalence was 20.2% (mood disorder - 7.4%, anxiety disorder - 15.7% and substance use disorder - 3.1%). Mood disorders were associated with significant impairment. The prevalence of mental disorders has changed over time, with mood and anxiety disorders increasing and substance use disorders decreasing. These changes were most evident among young adults.

Conclusion:

Mental disorders are common in Australia. Impairment associated with mental disorders remains significant. Particular focus should be paid to young adults aged 16–24 years who have shown the largest increases in anxiety and mood disorder prevalence over the past 13 years.
The psychosocial impacts of the 15 March terrorist attack on the Christchurch Muslim community: A descriptive, cross-sectional assessment
Authors: Sulaiman-Hill Ruqayya , Schluter Philip J , Tanveer Sandila , Boden Joseph M , Porter Richard , Beaglehole Ben , Dean Shaystah , Thaufeeg Zimna , Bell Caroline
Published: September 2024

Objective:

On 15 March 2019, a white supremacist terrorist carried out sequential attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand during Friday prayers. This resulted in the loss of 51 lives, 40 others sustained gunshot injuries, and there were approximately 250 survivors. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts on community members, assess clinical needs, facilitate access to appropriate interventions and provide insights into working with a traumatised and diverse population.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study used semi-structured clinical interviews and self-report measures to assess social and demographic factors, mental health disorders and well-being for adult Muslims 11–32 months post-attack.

Results:

A total of 189 participants completed assessments. The sample was diverse, representing 34 different ethnicities and participant proximity to the attack was complex, with personal and familial exposures. Elevated levels of psychological distress and psychopathology were found with 38% of participants reporting moderate/severe psychological distress on the Kessler-10, 39% reporting post-traumatic stress disorder on the post-traumatic stress disorder checklist-5, and 40% reporting poor well-being or possible depression on the World Health Organization-5 Well Being Index. Secondary stressors were also documented, as well as high scores for post-traumatic growth and the importance of faith.

Conclusion:

This study provides valuable insights into the repercussions of the Christchurch mosque attack on the affected community, describing the complexity of exposure and the substantial burden of morbidity experienced. It also highlights the high levels of social connectedness and the role of faith in promoting positive outcomes in the recovery process for this population.
Mortality in people living with dementia who self-harmed: An Australian data linkage study
Authors: Walker Adrian R , Srasuebkul Preeyaporn , Trollor Julian N , Wand Anne PF , Draper Brian , Cvejic Rachael C , Moxey Annette , Reppermund Simone
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

This study aimed to examine mortality for people living with dementia/mild cognitive impairment who self-harmed.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in New South Wales, Australia, using data ranging from 2001 to 2015. From people who accessed hospital services in the study period, we identified 154,811 people living with dementia/mild cognitive impairment, 28,972 who self-harmed and 1511 who had a record of both dementia/mild cognitive impairment and self-harm. We examined rates, causes and predictors of death for people with dementia/mild cognitive impairment and/or self-harm diagnoses using flexible parametric survival analyses. We explored rates of repeat self-harm in people living with dementia who self-harmed.

Results:

Circulatory disorders accounted for 32.0% of deaths in people with a living with dementia who self-harmed, followed by neoplasms (14.7%), and mental and behavioural disorders (9.6%). Death was more likely for someone who had self-harmed if they developed dementia/mild cognitive impairment. Predictors of death included male sex, greater physical comorbidity, a history of delirium, more previous emergency department presentations and fewer previous mental health ambulatory service days. Greater engagement with outpatient mental health services predicted a decreased likelihood of repeat self-harm.

Discussion:

We found that mortality increases when people who self-harm develop dementia. We argue post-diagnosis support offers a potential opportunity to reduce mortality rates in people with both dementia and self-harm diagnoses.
“When I Spoke, I Spoke From the Heart”: Empirical Insights and Therapeutic Lessons From an Indigenous Counseling Center
Authors: Wilbur Rachel E. , Pham Tony V , Gone Joseph P.
Published: September 2024

Indigenous Peoples in Canada experience inequities in behavioral health outcomes stemming from colonial subjugation, including tacit cultural assimilation through health care. Indigenous communities assert that culturally commensurate health interventions improve wellbeing. This study, conducted with clients and staff at a First Nations behavioral health treatment program, sought to identify how respondents conceived of the therapeutic endeavor with respect to possibilities for remedying colonial injuries such as the abuses of the Indian Residential Schools (IRSs). Thematic analysis of 32 interviews revealed that targeted therapeutic goals as well as specific counselor qualities were important for a positive therapeutic experience for those in the program. Ultimately, assimilative practices, such as the IRSs of the past and mainstream behavioral health treatment programs in the present may collectively contribute to the continuation of inequities in health outcomes for Indigenous Canadians. Decolonizing the therapeutic endeavor offers a potential avenue for positive change.
Assessing the Psychometric Qualities of the Data-Informed School Leadership Survey
Authors: Sun Jingping , Xia Jiangang , Hua Cheng , Man Kaiwen , Johnson Bob L.
Published: September 2024

Purpose: There is little consensus in the literature regarding a) what it means for a school leader to lead with data, and b) how to measure data-informed leadership in a reliable and valid way. This study examines the psychometric properties of an operational measure intended to assess the extent to which a school leader is a ‘data-informed school leader. The measurement invariance, reliabilities and construct and predictive validities of the Data-Informed School Leadership Survey (DISL Survey) are assessed using various psychometric statistical techniques. Methods: Using data collected from 155 teachers from 7 public schools in a southern state, the following psychometric statistics used to address our purpose: the Many-Facet Rasch (MFR) Model, Bayesian second-order Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling- Multiple Indicators, Multiple Causes analysis (Bayesian SEM-MIMIC), and reliability analysis. Findings: Results show an adequate fit from all MFR, Bayesian CFA, and MIMIC models and a high reliability (Cronbach α = .98). The DISL Survey instrument exhibits sound psychometric properties. Results likewise confirm the value of using MFR modeling and Bayesian methods to examine the psychometric properties of DISL Survey as a means of improving educational leadership measures. Implications for Research and Practice: Data from this study confirm the validity and reliability of the Data-Informed School Leadership Survey (DISL Survey) as an instrument to assess the strengths and weaknesses of Data-Informed School Leadership (DISL) and as a means for providing feedback for improving such leadership. Heretofore a measure for assessing this leadership was non-existent.
Elastic properties identification of a bio-based material in tertiary packaging: Tools and methods development
Authors: Saihi Mohamed Hichem , Sassi Sonia , Collombet Francis , Grunevald Yves-Henri , Davila Yves , Zitoune Redouane
Published: September 2024

This study focuses on the use of bio-based materials for structural purposes in the packaging field, which requires the identification of their mechanical properties at a representative scale. The mechanical properties of bio-based materials are more variable than those of traditional composite materials. In a standard characterization approach using elemental coupons under uniaxial loading, the variability depends on the chosen representative elementary volume (REV), free edges, boundary conditions, etc. for elastic properties that are not identified for representative working conditions; this could lead to the ineligibility of these bio-based materials as structural materials. This paper contributes to the debate on how to study the response of bio-based materials within a structure, here a packaging structure as a logistic unit (LU) subjected to a compressive load simulating storage and stacking conditions. In the set of tools and methods for the design of packaging materials made of bio-based materials, an elastic nonlinear geometric finite element model (FEM) and an experimental approach are presented. The FEM allows the numerical identification of zones of interest within the LU. Inevitably, the FEM classically requires input data which are elastic properties of the equivalent homogeneous material. The design of the FEM is based on a calculation-test approach using an existing reference LU and it can be summarized in two main steps. The first step concerns the development of a FEM able to restore the experimental conditions of vertical compression imposed by transport standards for packaging. The second step is based on updating the input properties of the FEM by reverse identification, to achieve the representative working condition properties, using experimental results obtained on the existing reference LU. For the reverse identification a multi-scale investigation is mandatory. For this purpose, the linear elastic part of the load/vertical displacement curves (at the LU stiffness scale) and the displacement and strain fields measured (at the local LU scale) by 3D digital image correlation (3D DIC) are evaluated. Then, FEM property updating is carried out by reducing the deviation of displacement/strain fields between FEM and experimentally measured results (3D DIC). Finally, we explain how FEM and 3D DIC help in decision-making by allowing the recognition of zones of interest in a phase of design of new LUs with the concept of Multi-Instrumented Technological Evaluator (MITE).
Coping With Child Loss: Its Impact on the Mental Health of Chinese Parents
Authors: Chen Lu , Tan Cuilian , Chu Lanlan
Published: September 2024

Using data from the 2011-2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, this research employs a two-way fixed effects model to investigate the impact of child loss on parental mental health. The findings indicate a significant decline in mental well-being among Chinese bereaved parents aged 45 to 65, as evidenced by elevated depression scores. Mechanism analysis reveals reduced emotional support from children and increased alcohol consumption, exacerbating mental health challenges. These effects persist regardless of the gender of the lost child and the gender of the parent, and such an adverse effect is found to exist for parents who lost biological children and those with a rural Hukou in China. Moreover, our study reveals that the pain of losing a child does not alleviate over time. These findings underscore the need for support for bereaved parents and call for societal and governmental attention to their challenges.
Looking backwards, looking forwards: collective and critical conversations on psychology in South Africa
Authors: Malherbe Nick , Suffla Shahnaaz , Bowman Brett , Cooper Saths , Foxcroft Cheryl , Mashego Teresa , Mulaudzi Mercy , Nel Juan Adriaan , Pillay Anthony , Ratele Kopano , Sodi Tholene , Stevens Garth , Watts Ann
Published: September 2024

To mark the 30th anniversary of the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA), 11 of PsySSA’s past presidents, along with two facilitators, gathered in early 2024 for a roundtable discussion on psychology in South Africa. This article represents an edited transcript of that conversation. The guiding motif of the discussion – looking backwards, looking forwards – led discussants through the historical temporalities, institutional, professional and disciplinary debates, as well as the political concerns that face and have forged South African psychology. The discussants were specifically concerned with the challenges of unifying organised psychology; the generative forces, conflicts and antagonisms within psychology; psychology’s pedagogical and intellectual developments; and what it means to politicise psychology in and beyond South Africa. In looking ahead, the discussion concluded with an internationalist reflection on how psychology in South Africa contributes to global knowledges and praxes. The conversation was characterised by epistemic, sectoral and political tensions, as well as ambivalences and shifting centres of gravity, all of which reflect the accomplishments made within South African psychology, as well as psychology’s status as a strongly contested and patently unfinished organisational, disciplinary, professional, service and knowledge project.
If not belief in God, then what? Identifying factors that contribute to well-being among Polish nonbelievers
Authors: Łowicki Paweł , Barker Sally B.
Published: September 2024

Recent estimates by the Pew Research Center show that Poland is one of the fastest secularizing countries in the world. Despite the growing role of such attitudes in Poland and other countries around the world, still little is known about the psychosocial functioning and mental health of nonbelievers. The present study aimed to fill in this knowledge gap by examining various factors that may contribute to nonbelievers’ well-being, including perceived social support, emotion regulation strategies, secular beliefs (humanism and belief in science), and clarity of self-beliefs. Five hundred Polish nonbelievers took part in this study, of whom 38% reported no nominal affiliation with any religious or secular group, 33% affiliated with Roman Catholics, and 22% identified as Atheists. Comparing these groups, we found that while Catholics and Atheists did not differ significantly in terms of their overall well-being, religious “nones” scored lower than Catholics on overall well-being (but not meaning in life or social support). In addition, it was found that—at the level of the whole sample—having greater clarity of self-beliefs, using functional emotion regulation strategies, as well as having greater perceived social support were all positively associated with the presence of meaning in life and well-being.
Exploring College Purpose
Authors: Schnee Emily
Published: September 2024

Background:

Upon returning to in-person teaching at Kingsborough Community College after the pandemic, I realized something profound had shifted in my students. The well-documented drop in community college enrollment attributed to the pandemic seemed to reflect deeper disjunctures that had led students to an existential questioning of the purpose and value of a college degree.

Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study:

This study explores 30 community college students’ evolving perceptions of the purpose of college as they navigate through a first-year composition course with a curriculum that explicitly engages them in reading, writing, and researching various perspectives on the purpose, value, and challenges of pursuing a college education.

Research Design:

This qualitative, exploratory study involved redesigning my Composition I and II curricula to engage students in reading, writing, and thinking about the purpose of college; researching the challenges they and other community college students face in pursuing a degree; and proposing student-generated solutions to the community college enrollment and retention crisis. Data collected include two semesters of student essays, discussion boards, annotations on course readings, class activities, and notes from in-class discussions. Data analysis for this essay centered on student writing and followed a grounded theory approach with a focus on identifying salient themes related to student beliefs around college purpose and the impact of academic momentum policies on their college experience.

Conclusions or Recommendations:

The data from this study show that (1) community college students’ understanding of the purpose of college is diverse and malleable and (2) academic momentum policies that press students to attend college full time, despite their many life exigencies, are undermining community college students’ passions and purpose in pursuing a college education.
Women in Defense of Territory in Morelos, Mexico
Authors: Bastian Duarte Angela Ixkic
Published: September 2024

Women in Mexico who take part in the defense of their territory face the concrete manifestations of capitalist accumulation and patriarchal logic, as well as the colonialist dynamics of extractive projects. These conditions transform their family relationships and their participation in community life. This article reflects upon the experiences of women who have fought against the Morelos Integral Project in central Mexico. It draws from the interviews conducted by the author between 2018 and 2022, as well the author’s participant observation in organizational meetings at the national, regional, and local levels.
Toxicologic Pathology Forum: mRNA Vaccine Safety–Separating Fact From Fiction
Authors: Sellers Rani S. , Dormitzer Philip R.
Published: September 2024

SARS-CoV-2 spread rapidly across the globe, contributing to the death of millions of individuals from 2019 to 2023, and has continued to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality after the pandemic. At the start of the pandemic, no vaccines or anti-viral treatments were available to reduce the burden of disease associated with this virus, as it was a novel SARS coronavirus. Because of the tremendous need, the development of vaccines to protect against COVID-19 was critically important. The flexibility and ease of manufacture of nucleic acid–based vaccines, specifically mRNA-based products, allowed the accelerated development of COVID-19 vaccines. Although mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics had been in clinical trials for over a decade, there were no licensed mRNA vaccines on the market at the start of the pandemic. The rapid development of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines reduced serious complications and death from the virus but also engendered significant public concerns, which continue now, years after emergency-use authorization and subsequent licensure of these vaccines. This article summarizes and addresses some of the safety concerns that continue to be expressed about these vaccines and their underlying technology.
Subjectivity in Welfare Mobilities: Rethinking Welfare as a Structure, a Process, and an Experience
Authors: Jolivet Dominique
Published: September 2024

This article reflects on what migration studies have accomplished when researching the role of welfare in migration. It highlights that conventional migration theories do not sufficiently account for how people understand welfare and how they interpret and react to welfare perceptions. The article calls for more attention to the interplay of welfare's subjectivity and migration processes to better understand (im)mobility aspirations and decisions. This dynamic interplay can be captured through the concept of welfare mobilities and studied by combining old and new migration theories within a more integrated analytical framework. The article provides an empirical example of the insights that this approach can bring and shows the need to conceptualize welfare as a structure, a process, and an experience to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of its role in migration decision making.
Behavioral Management in the Rehabilitation of a Person with Severe Mental Illness: The Path Less Travelled
Authors: Mishra Jyoti , Kaur Navneet , Tyagi Shikha , Gupta Nitin
Published: September 2024

In severe mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia, rehabilitation begins immediately. Aside from the token economy, there is limited literature on behavioral modification (BM), which is a crucial aspect of rehabilitation for person with severe mental illness (SMI). We demonstrate the implementation and effectiveness of BM for one year in managing behavioral difficulties in a person with SMI. The direct observation method and the ABC functional analysis model were used for evaluation. Management, such as reinforcement and punishment, was implemented. Pre- and postassessments revealed a considerable decrease in problematic behaviors. This article also highlights the obstacles faced while managing the case and caregiver burden in rehabilitation. In persons with SMI, the application of BM enhances the patient’s functionality and reduces the caregiver burden.
Sim-to-real transfer of adaptive control parameters for AUV stabilisation under current disturbance
Authors: Chaffre Thomas , Wheare Jonathan , Lammas Andrew , Santos Paulo , Le Chenadec Gilles , Sammut Karl , Clement Benoit
Published: September 2024

Learning-based adaptive control methods hold the potential to empower autonomous agents in mitigating the impact of process variations with minimal human intervention. However, their application to autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) has been constrained by two main challenges: (1) the presence of unknown dynamics in the form of sea current disturbances, which cannot be modelled or measured due to limited sensor capability, particularly on smaller low-cost AUVs, and (2) the nonlinearity of AUV tasks, where the controller response at certain operating points must be excessively conservative to meet specifications at other points. Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) offers a solution to these challenges by training versatile neural network policies. Nevertheless, the application of DRL algorithms to AUVs has been predominantly limited to simulated environments due to their inherent high sample complexity and the distribution shift problem. This paper introduces a novel approach by combining the Maximum Entropy Deep Reinforcement Learning framework with a classic model-based control architecture to formulate an adaptive controller. In this framework, we propose a Sim-to-Real transfer strategy, incorporating a bio-inspired experience replay mechanism, an enhanced domain randomisation technique, and an evaluation protocol executed on a physical platform. Our experimental assessments demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in learning proficient policies from suboptimal simulated models of the AUV. When transferred to a real-world vehicle, the approach exhibits a control performance three times higher compared to its model-based nonadaptive but optimal counterpart.
Sovereign Credit Rating: Impact on Social Investment and Role in Financial Subordination
Authors: Vijaya Ramya
Published: September 2024

This article examines sovereign credit rating methodologies and their impact on fiscal space in developing economies. While sovereign ratings are meant to reflect default risk, the biases embedded in the rating methodologies result in overly punitive rating actions in developing economies that often limit their ability to implement countercyclical policies. In addition, with a singular focus on austerity, they tend to shift focus away from critical development priorities and social welfare spending. Using panel data of credit rating changes in 133 countries over the period 2000–2020 from Moody’s, we explored the long-term trends in the impact of ratings. Negative rating actions have been intensifying in developing economies since 2010. We found that rating changes did tend to influence fiscal priorities. Downgrades lowered the proportion of spending on health and education and increased the proportion of spending on interest payments. We situate this examination of credit ratings within the framework of the financial subordination literature. We suggest that credit ratings are a new manifestation of financial subordination and have created a new dimension in reproducing and deepening the inequalities in the global financial system.

JEL Classification: B5, F34, F02
Comments on David McNally’s “Marx on Colonization and Bonded Labor”
Authors: Munro Kirstin
Published: September 2024

These are comments on David McNally’s 2024 David Gordon Memorial Lecture. In this response, I point to the immanent critique present in Professor McNally’s remarks. I then show the potential usefulness of immanent critique for an engagement with neoclassical economics, and I consider the consequences for Marxist economics of characterizing the critique of political economy as a critical theory of economic categories.

JEL Classification: B14, B51, B24
Prediction of elastic properties of woven polymer composites using micromechanical models and measured microstructural parameters
Authors: López-Santos Francisco , Hernández-Pérez Adrián , Ledesma-Orozco Elías , Avilés Francis
Published: September 2024

Prediction of elastic properties of plain weave composites using two well-known micromechanical models is addressed, along with a dedicated finite element model of the unit cell which includes details of the woven architecture. Predictions of micromechanical models are carried out using geometric input parameters statistically measured from micrographies of the unit cell of the plain weave composite and compared to finite element predictions and to measured elastic properties of an E-glass/vinyl ester plain weave composite. The micromechanical models predict that the width and thickness of the yarn in the fill and warp directions greatly influence the elastic properties and anisotropy of the plain weave composite. Good agreement between all approaches and the measured values is observed for the in-plane elastic properties, as long as the input geometric parameters of the unit cell required for the models are measured with statistical rigor. However, transverse shear moduli are not accurately predicted by the examined micromechanical models, only by the finite element method. Reasons for such discrepancies are discussed and supported by modeling findings and digital image correlation full field strain maps.
Implementing low budget machine vision to improve fiber alignment in wet fiber placement
Authors: Arrabiyeh Peter A , Bobe Moritz , Duhovic Miro , Eckrich Maximilian , Dlugaj Anna M , May David
Published: September 2024

Machine vision is revolutionizing modern manufacturing, with new applications emerging regularly. The composites industry, relying on precision in aligning fibers, stands to benefit significantly from machine vision. Ensuring the exact fiber orientation is critical, as deviations can compromise product mechanical properties and lead to failure. Machine vision, particularly in wet fiber placement (WFP), offers a solution for monitoring and enhancing quality control in composite manufacturing. WFP involves pulling fiber bundles, impregnating them with resin, and precisely transporting them to mold tooling for layer-by-layer fabrication. The challenge lies in handling tacky, wet fiber bundles, making tactile sensors impractical. This makes WFP an ideal candidate for contactless process monitoring. The objective of this study is to employ a low budget machine vision in WFP, utilizing a webcam connected to a single-board computer. Artificial intelligence is trained using images of fiber bundles just before placement on the tooling mold. The module detects and measures the position and orientation of a roving in the starting position, enabling the initiation of the WFP process. The methods employed are thoroughly evaluated for reliability and feasibility. After completing only 50 training epochs, a roving detection accuracy of 91.3% could be achieved with almost no critical errors. With additional iterations per placement process, the system functions almost flawlessly at its current state.
Latinx Immigrant Health: Does Immigrants’ Perceptions of Integration Protect their Health?
Authors: Deniz-Zaragoza Mirella , Casimiro Vieyra Esaú , Ayón Cecilia
Published: September 2024

Restrictive immigration policies and enforcement practices are associated with poor health and mental health outcomes among Latinx immigrants. Over the last two decades, the state of California has enacted over 20 pro-integration immigration policies to protect and enhance the quality of life for immigrants. Accounting for the nested structure of immigration policy, this study examined the relationship between immigrants’ perceptions of integration and health. Participants originated primarily from Mexico ( N = 137). Hierarchical regression analysis was used to evaluate the contribution of variables in sequential blocks. While controlling for demographics, and immigration characteristics, we assessed the relationship between California immigration policy knowledge, perceived immigrant integration, threat of deportation, and two indicators of health—psychological distress and self-rated health. Perceived immigrant integration was associated with lower levels of psychological distress and better self-rated health. The threat of deportation was associated with a decline in self-rated health and higher levels of psychological distress. Policy advocacy and access to health care are needed to reduce the harmful effects of enforcement practices.
Biomimetic synthetic test system based on hydroxyapatite cement for adhesive strength evaluation of experimental mineral-organic bone adhesive materials
Authors: Otto Paul Frederik , Hienz Sebastian , Mittmann Silvia , Dümmler Niklas , Renner Tobias , Gergely Csaba , Kade Juliane Carolin , Gbureck Uwe
Published: September 2024

The development of bone adhesive materials is a research field of high relevance for the advancement of clinical procedures. Despite this, there are currently no material candidates meeting the full range of requirements placed on such a material, such as biocompatibility, sufficient mechanical properties and bond strength under biological conditions, practical applicability in a clinical setting, and no adverse effect on the healing process itself. A serious obstacle to the advancement of the field is a lack in standardized methodology leading to comparable results between experiments and different research groups. Natural bone samples are the current gold-standard material used to perform adhesive strength experiments, however they come with a number of drawbacks, including high sample variability due to unavoidable natural causes and the impossibility to reliably recreate test conditions to repeat experiments. This paper introduces a valuable auxiliary test method capable of producing large numbers of synthetic test specimens which are chemically similar to bone and can be produced in different laboratories so to repeat experiments under constant conditions across laboratories. The substrate is based on a hydroxyapatite forming cement with addition of gelatine as organic component. Crosslinking of the organic component is performed to improve mechanical properties. In order to demonstrate the performance of the developed method, various experimental and commercial bone/tissue adhesive materials were tested and compared with results obtained by established methods to highlight the potential of the test system.
In Coping with Intimate Partner Violence, Women’s Beliefs About Forgiveness Matter
Authors: Golden Kristin B. , Fitchett George , Shen Sa , Godlin Anne E. , Gobin Robyn L.
Published: September 2024

Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) often feel pressured to forgive their abusers and remain in dangerous relationships. However, forgiveness does not have to include reconciliation and it may be conceptualized in different ways. This quantitative study surveyed 110 women who experienced IPV from men and separated from their abusers. It then examined (a) the prevalence of 20 different beliefs about forgiveness and (b) the relationship between those beliefs, the women’s self-reported practices of forgiveness, and the women’s intent to return to their abusers. The study asked whether different beliefs about forgiveness were—in combination with different levels of forgiveness—associated with intent to return to abusers. It found that women’s beliefs about forgiveness varied widely, but only 4.6% of the women believed that forgiveness involved reconciliation. In contrast, 80% of the women believed it was simultaneously possible to forgive and to avoid the men who hurt them. When interaction analyses were conducted, significant interactions were found between three beliefs and women’s self-reported practices of forgiveness. For two beliefs, the interactions were positively associated with intent to return to abusers (i.e., a belief that forgiveness involves reconciliation, and a belief that forgiveness involves treating a person better than before). For one belief, the interaction was negatively associated with intent to return (i.e., the belief that it is possible both to forgive and to avoid a person). Results suggest that women’s beliefs about forgiveness matter. Women are more likely to return to abusers if they believe forgiveness involves reconciliation or treating their abusers better than before. They are less likely to return, if they believe it is possible to forgive their abusers and still avoid them. Interventions targeting women’s beliefs about forgiveness may increase their safety.
Interpersonal Violence Against Indigenous Sámi and Non-Sámi Populations in Arctic Sweden and the Mediating Effect of Historical Losses and Discrimination
Authors: Simmons Johanna , Storm Mienna Christina , Josefsson Maria , Axelsson Per , Nägga Katarina
Published: September 2024

The prevalence of interpersonal violence has been reported at higher levels among Indigenous than non-Indigenous populations worldwide, but has not been thoroughly investigated among the Sámi population in Sweden. The aims of this study were to investigate: (1) the prevalence of emotional, physical, and sexual violence and violence by intimate partners, family members, acquaintances, and strangers among participants identifying as Sámi or Swedish, (2) whether reporting experiences of historical losses and discrimination mediated the anticipated association between identifying as Sámi and reporting experiences of violence, and (3) whether background characteristics were associated with reporting experiences of violence. Cross-sectional questionnaire data collected in 2021 for the “Health and Living conditions in Sápmi” study were used. All adults in an arctic region in Sweden were invited to participate (response rate: 41%). Respondents self-identifying as Sámi ( n = 375; 24.7%) or Swedish ( n = 1,144; 75.3%) were included in this study. Sámi respondents of both sexes more often reported violence by an acquaintance or stranger. Likewise, more Sámi than Swedish women reported family violence (16.4% vs. 9.2%), but there was no difference concerning intimate partner violence (13.3% vs. 15.4%). Mediation analyses revealed strong positive indirect effects of historical losses and discrimination on the different types of violence. Being female was the strongest predictor of reporting intimate partner violence, and younger age was associated with violence by all perpetrators except family members. In conclusion, interpersonal violence was more often reported by Sámi respondents, but the association was explained in full by experiences of historical losses and discrimination. The results underline the importance of a life-course and even intergenerational and historical perspectives when investigating interpersonal violence.
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Knowledge and Confidence in Providing Care for Transgender Patients Following Sexual Assault
Authors: Berishaj Kelly , Morrissey Sarah , Kennedy Margaret M.
Published: September 2024

The transgender population experiences disproportionate rates of sexual assault (SA) compared with the cisgender population. Sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) have specialized education to provide care to victims of SA across the lifespan; however, training related to the care of transgender individuals following sexual assault is not always represented in SANE education. This leads to a lack of knowledge and confidence in providing care to transgender victims and can result in inequitable care and poor outcomes. To explore forensic nurses’ knowledge and confidence in the care of the transgender population following SA, a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was employed and distributed to two professional forensic nursing organizations. A total of 240 survey responses were received. The majority of participants reported that content related to transgender sexual assault (TGSA) was not part of their SA education. Nearly 60% perceived their knowledge and confidence in providing TGSA care as “beginner” or “developing” and almost all “agree” or “strongly agree” that additional TGSA education would be beneficial to them. As over half of participants have provided care to a TGSA patient and more than 80% expect to provide care in the future, it is imperative include standardized content related to TGSA care as part of core SANE curriculum and to offer continuing education to address the gap in current SANE TGSA knowledge and practice.
Dependency Theory and Marxism in Latin America: Between Convergences and Contradictions
Authors: Nogara Tiago Soares
Published: September 2024

The emergence of Marxist dependency theory (MDT) in Latin America during the 1960s questioned the developmentalist doctrines of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the class alliance strategies of communist parties. MDT gained traction during the Cold War in the 1970s and 1980s and saw a new cycle of ascension in the early 21st century with the rise of progressive governments during Latin America’s Pink Tide. While some MDT scholars identify with Marxism-Leninism, this article critically examines aspects of this claimed affinity. The hypothesis posits that MDT’s assertions diverge from fundamental Leninist concepts and the theoretical traditions of Marxist-Leninist parties, instead reviving in new forms the arguments of their opponents in classical Marxist debates. The analysis focuses on two key dimensions of MDT arguments: (1) political propositions concerning the two-stage theory and alliances with bourgeois sectors by proletarian parties and (2) theoretical propositions on superexploitation of labor and subimperialism.
Online vibration monitoring using laser vibrometer and acoustic emission techniques in robotic milling CFRP composites
Authors: Chen Yajie , Wang Guanbo , Tan Mingbo , Wen Zilei , Li Maojun
Published: September 2024

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) material has superior mechanical properties, often utilized in the aerospace industry. However, its prone to surface defects such as burrs and delamination under the influence of machining vibration, thereby compromising component quality. This study evaluated the relevant vibration signal features via signal processing methods, and investigated the effect of machining parameters on machining stability during robotic milling of CFRP composite. Specifically, the study assessed machining status by analyzing milling signals and compared surface quality between vibration and stable machining stages, the former corresponds to a larger Sa on the machined surface, with more pronounced profile fluctuations. Machining vibration manifests distinct characteristics in laser vibrometer signals, exhibiting in time-frequency plots with short-term signal enhancements at multiple frequencies. This phenomenon occurs more frequently during entry and exit stages. The results indicated that feed speed has a limited effect on milling stability within the selected parameter range, and severe machining vibration occurred at lower spindle speed (12,000 rpm) and higher milling depth (2 mm). Corresponding surface defects formation mechanisms were discussed, revealing that the formation of uncut burrs at the top was related to axial milling force, while interlayer debonding cracks stemmed from variations in fiber orientation between adjacent layers.
An efficient technique for developing the active sound control system in electric vehicle
Authors: Zhu Yawei , Zhang Yi , Xie Liping , Liu Zhien , Lu Chihua
Published: September 2024

The sound characteristic is a critical metric to manifest the brand differentiation of electric vehicle (EV), and the sound design with more diverse acoustic characteristics has become a hot issue in current research of EV technology. In this paper, an efficient technique of active sound design (ASD) is explored to develop the control system of active sound generation (ASG) with powerful sound quality for EV. Firstly, an optimization algorithm of sound synthesis based on multi-frequency superimposition is proposed to improve the harmonic interference phenomenon in the synthesized sounds. Subsequently, an adaptive sound control strategy is formulated, where an iterative accumulation method is proposed to calculate the “virtual engine speed” of EV, and a gain table is presented to divide the running state. Besides, an ASG system is developed based on the proposed ASD technique. The tests result demonstrate that there are 18 target order sounds are reproduced perfectly, and the powerful sound quality interior EV is enhanced while the original interior acoustic environment of EV is retained, which confirms the effectiveness of the proposed control technique of ASG system. The proposed ASD technique here accelerates the change from silence to sound quality in the electric vehicles, which has important theoretical significance and engineering value.