bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teachers’ work and the marketisation of international schools: A quantitative analysis of teacher control, fulfilment, and buffering from business influences
Authors: Winchip Emily
Published: November 2024

This research investigates how marketised school contexts affect the work of teachers. In the growing sector of international schools, especially for-profit schools, the marketising influences in education may significantly impact how teachers experience their work. A questionnaire was administered to teachers in different types of schools including a large sample of teachers working in for-profit international schools. Rasch analysis and path analysis were used to construct scales and investigate the relationships between the scales. The scales were tested for fit, differential item functioning (DIF) and reliability. The main themes researched were teachers’ feelings of a lack of control over their work, the fulfilment they experience, and the buffering from business influences. These were analysed along with scales of business influences on teachers’ work and the extent to which their school was run as an EduBusiness. Teachers seem to experience a loss of control over their work as they experience more business influences on their work, especially those working in schools run as EduBusinesses. Buffering from those influences is an important aspect of teachers’ feelings of fulfilment, and more buffering and fulfilment are related to fewer feelings of a lack of control. The contribution this research makes is to understanding the patterns of the marketisation of schools and how teachers’ feelings of fulfilment and control are related to the extent that a school is run as a business and the business influences on their work.
Pseudo-damage simulation and CNN deep learning for damage identification of submerged structure-foundation systems
Authors: Pham Ngoc-Lan , Ta Quoc-Bao , Kim Jeong-Tae
Published: November 2024

Autonomous damage identification of submerged structure-foundation systems is challenging due to the difficulty of acquiring damage-induced system responses for training deep learning models. In this study, a novel approach integrating pseudo-damage simulation and convolutional neural network (CNN) deep learning is proposed for damage identification in the submerged structure-foundation system. Pseudo-damage simulation is a technique to generate equivalent damage conditions in inaccessible submerged sub-systems for training deep learning models. The following approaches are implemented to achieve the objective. Firstly, a scheme of pseudo-damage simulation for 1-D CNN deep learning is designed for the caisson-foundation system. Secondly, a vibration monitoring method using pseudo-wave-impulse excitations is designed for the caisson-foundation system. Thirdly, 1-D CNN models are trained for individual caisson units to predict the location and size of foundation damage by vibration signals out of a series of pseudo-damage cases. The 1-D CNN models demonstrate accurate performance in handling untrained scenarios. Experimental results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in achieving high accuracy for identification of the foundation damage.
Enhancing fault diagnosis with a hybrid attention mechanism and spatio-temporal feature mining model using small sample data
Authors: He Zhicheng , Tan Gang , Zhou Enlin , Li Eric , Hu Bian , Li Chongshi , Li Bing
Published: November 2024

Fault diagnosis in rotating machinery presents unique challenges due to the limited availability of effective samples, which can lead to a long-tail effect during model training. To overcome these challenges, this paper introduces a novel small-sample fault diagnosis model for rotating machinery named the parallel convolution and bidirectional gated recurrent unit of attention model (PConvBiGA), which focuses on spatial and temporal feature extraction. The model is comprised of two core components: the wide convolutional denoising block (WCDB) and the hybrid attention mechanism spatio-temporal feature mining model (HAM-STM). The WCDB employs a one-dimensional wide convolutional layer coupled with a parallel pooling strategy, which helps preserve essential information from the original vibration data while filtering out weak noise and irrelevant features for diagnosis. To counter the feature loss typically encountered in traditional spatio-temporal feature fusion methods, the HAM-STM is developed. This structure utilizes a hybrid attention mechanism to effectively allocate high-dimensional feature weights across different paths, enhancing the model’s ability to mine features from various channels’ spatio-temporal characteristics. This, in turn, boosts the feature extraction capabilities of the model. Experimental results demonstrate that PConvBiGA successfully extracts more comprehensive features from vibration signals, enabling precise diagnosis with small samples and showing strong generalization and robustness.
Design and implementation of a digital smart layer for ultrasonic-guided wave-based structural health monitoring
Authors: Wei Juntao , Sun Lingyu , Peng Chang , Fan Longqing , Teng Feiyu , Hao Wei , Zhang Lei , Sui Qingmei , Jiang Mingshun
Published: November 2024

Ultrasonic-guided wave (UGW) is an important technology for realizing structural health monitoring (SHM), and the piezoelectric transducer (PZT) is a commonly used actuator and sensor. The PZT layer is fabricated using a flexible printed circuit (FPC), and the interface of the PZTs is connected to the host of the monitoring system via cables. The flexible PZT layer (FPL) is easy to install, highly reliable, and widely used in industrial sites. However, as the distance between the host and the FPL gradually increases, the problem of guided wave (GW) signal attenuation caused by cables cannot be ignored. In addition, the use of shielded cables has the problem of heavy quality and high cost, and the use of unshielded cables has the problem of signal interference. Therefore, this paper proposes a digital smart layer (DSL) composed of a flexible signal acquisition system and a PZT array. The DSL acquires excitation and GW signals acquisition and performs PZT diagnostics. It connects to the host via a fixed six-wire cable and uses digital signals for communication. Multiple DSLs can be interconnected to form a network and perform damage detection simultaneously, improving the monitoring area and damage detection efficiency of the system. An experimental system was constructed on an aluminum plate to verify the functionality of the DSL. The results prove that the DSL solves the problems of signal attenuation and interference susceptibility of GW signal in long-distance cable transmission and realizes the diagnosis of PZT faults such as debonding and breakage. This paper provides a highly reliable and practical means of monitoring the condition of equipment structures such as airplanes, trains, and bridges.
A fine-tuning deep learning framework to palliate data distribution shift effects in rotary machine fault detection
Authors: Rezazadeh Nima , Perfetto Donato , de Oliveira Mario , De Luca Alessandro , Lamanna Giuseppe
Published: November 2024

In the condition monitoring of rotating systems, overfitting is a common challenge due to limited data history, which reduces the effectiveness of fault detection frameworks; this limitation often leads to unreliable diagnostics, resulting in unexpected machine failures and increased operational costs in industrial applications. Advances in deep learning suggest using simulated data to address this issue, but operational variabilities still cause significant data distribution shifts, affecting model accuracy. This article presents a new vibration-based monitoring framework that improves fault detection in rotary machines by effectively managing these shifts. It features a novel fine-tuning approach within sequential domain adaptation, requiring only a limited number of observations from the target domain for accurate model adjustment. The domain adaptation process is elucidated through a novel visualization of internal activation patterns within the sequential network. This method is further enhanced by a hybrid algorithm that combines wavelet transformation, a multi-layer perceptron, and a transformer encoder, followed by domain-specific fine-tuning. The framework’s effectiveness is demonstrated through experimental data from two different rotor systems, validated by sensitivity and comparative analyses, highlighting its robustness, generalizability, and practical applicability as a baseline in industrial fault detection scenarios.
Implementing the Earned Income Tax Credit: Shall Governments Design an Employee or an Employer-Based System
Authors: Strawczynski Michel
Published: November 2024

In this paper, I use a labor market equilibrium model and a social welfare analysis for comparing between an employee-based Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and an employer-based system. Since the labor supply of the low-wage workers is relatively rigid, firms enjoy market power that might be used in detriment of the policy-maker's goals when implementing an EITC. While the employee-based system avoids coordination among firms, and thus reduces their market power, an employer-based system allows for automatic take-up at the initial stage of the program’s implementation, which constitutes an advantage. These pros and cons in both systems shall be weighted one against the other; for that purpose, I run simulations using empirically plausible parameters taken from Israel, where an EITC has been implemented for a decade and a half. The simulations show that in terms of social welfare, the employee-based EITC tends to dominate the employer-based system.

JEL Numbers– H21, H24, and I38.
Avoiding Aortic Valve Passage in Branched Arch Repair by Use of the Modified Balloon Nose Cone Technique
Authors: Kasprzak Piotr , Kuczmik Waclaw , Pfister Karin , Rohlffs Fiona
Published: November 2024

Purpose:

To demonstrate the Modified Balloon Nose Cone Technique to avoid passage of the aortic valve in endovascular branched arch repair.

Technique:

The technique is demonstrated in a 54-year-old patient after previous open repair of the ascending aorta and mechanical aortic valve replacement due to type A aortic dissection. The delivery system of a custom-made stent-graft with 3 inner branches was modified by subtotally sawing off its nose cone. Using a right transaxillary access, a sheath was introduced over a through-and-through (TAT) wire exiting the left groin and meeting the branched stent-graft in a rendezvous fashion. A balloon was used to bridge the gap between both sheaths. Passing the innominate artery, both sheaths were pushed into the ascending aorta to establish a loop configuration of the balloon until the correct landing zone was reached. The main body was deployed, and the supra-aortic target vessels were connected. After the procedure, the mechanical aortic valve showed unimpaired function.

Conclusion:

The Modified Balloon Nose Cone Technique broadens the technical armamentarium in endovascular aortic arch repair offering a feasible solution to overcome the need of aortic valve passage. Especially patients with mechanical aortic valve could benefit from this method.

Clinical Impact

To describe the feasibility and safety of the Modified Balloon Nose Cone Technique in a severely comorbid patient with residual Type A aortic dissection and history of ascending aortic repair and mechanical replacement of the aortic valve to broaden the technical armamentarium in endovascular aortic arch repair offering a feasible solution to overcome the need of aortic valve passage.
From Roots to Practice: Ongoing Professional Development Experiences of Family Therapists Following Ethnic-Racial Socialization Discussions with Latino Families
Authors: Yzaguirre Melissa M.
Published: November 2024

This qualitative study explored couple/marriage and family therapists’ experiences following ethnic-racial socialization conversations with Latino families in therapy. Semi-structured interviews with therapists ( n = 20) were conducted. A rigorous thematic analysis revealed how multifaceted contextual influences shaped participants’ ongoing professional development, emphasizing growth from experiences and advocacy for justice. The results provide recommendations for enhancing inclusive practices among therapists working with Latino families, leveraging awareness of exposures and interactions across contexts.
Leadership Case Study: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Challenges in Post-COVID Higher Education
Authors: Bryan Alexandra , Robinson Taylor , Jones Isaiah , Thomas Justin
Published: November 2024

Dr. Alex Taylor is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Colorado State University—Columbia. In the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment at the university dropped, and students of color are having difficulty adjusting, leading to reduced retention. The President of the university has challenged Dr. Taylor to develop initiatives to increase enrollment. Considering recent legislation that passed banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in higher education, Dr. Taylor developed a new program to bring diverse students to Colorado State University. As the new program unfolds, the university struggles to support the program amid limited resources brought on by the pandemic.
Whole-brain mapping of afferents to the anterior cingulate cortex in adult mice
Authors: Xue Man , Chen Qi-Yu , Shi Wantong , Zhou Zhaoxiang , Li Xuhui , Xu Fang , Bi Guoqiang , Yang Xixiao , Lu Jing-Shan , Zhuo Min
Published: November 2024

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is critical for pain perception, emotion and cognition. Previous studies showed that the ACC has a complex network architecture, which can receive some projection fibers from many brain regions, including the thalamus, the cerebral cortex and other brain regions. However, there was still a lack of whole-brain mapping of the ACC in adult mice. In the present study, we utilized a rabies virus-based retrograde trans-monosynaptic tracing system to map whole-brain afferents to the unilateral ACC in adult mice. We also combined with a new high-throughput, high-speed and high-resolution VISoR imaging technique to generate a three-dimensional whole-brain reconstruction. Our results showed that several principal groups of brain structures send direct monosynaptic inputs to the ACC, including the cerebral cortex, amygdala, striatum, the thalamus, and the brainstem. We also found that cortical neurons in the ACC mainly receive ipsilateral monosynaptic projections. Some cortical areas and forebrain regions also bilaterally projected to the ACC. These findings provide a complete analysis of the afferents to the ACC in adult mice, and whole-brain mapping of ACC afferents would provide important anatomic evidence for the study of pain, memory, and cognition.
“You said burnout? Whew, chile!” A multigenerational collaborative autoethnography on the complexities of burnout and care among Black women researching substance use
Authors: Malone Natalie , Palomino Kaylee A , Verty Valerie PA , Goggins Mona KM , Jester Jasmine K , Miller-Roenigk Brittany , Wheeler Paris , Dogan-Dixon Jardin , Keeling Mekaila , McCleod Kendall A , McCray India , Sigola Zoe A , Atkinson Jovonna D , Hargons Candice N , Stevens-Watkins Danelle
Published: November 2024

Background:

Researchers and participants who are members of minoritized populations experience negative psychosocial and wellness outcomes like burnout. Burnout may manifest uniquely for Black women in academia conducting research with Black women participants navigating similar sociocultural contexts.

Objectives:

This article qualitatively interprets our experiences as 15 Black women scholar-practitioners at a midwestern university conducting community-engaged research. We discuss our experiences of care and burnout while working to reduce opioid use disparities among Black women community members as we simultaneously navigate multilevel challenges in academia.

Design:

We employ collaborative autoethnography, an autobiographical writing method, using a Black feminist framework and intersectionality methodology.

Methods:

We are 15 Black women researcher-subjects on the REFOCUS study—a mixed-methods National Institute on Health-funded project examining nonmedical prescription opioid misuse among Black Kentuckians. We examined a series of multigenerational sista circles and individual journal entries we completed to understand the multilevel power dynamics impacting our individual and collective work, burnout, and care.

Results:

Themes were: (1) “I see me in you”: Research with Black Women, (2) “Pervasive, cellular, and epigenetic”: Burnout Experiences; (3) “Taxing but rewarding”: The Price We Pay to See an Outcome, and (4) “Thank God for the collective”: Complexities of Caring Through the Process.

Conclusion:

We highlight the importance of continued efforts to address workload inequities among Black women in academia, particularly for those working to combat health disparities among Black women or within Black communities. We make recommendations for structural, institutional, and interpersonal steps to improve the support of Black women across career stages.
Women’s self-concept of and real knowledge about nutrition: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Pavicic Elena , Vincenz Annaletta , Bitterlich Norman , von Wolff Michael , Stute Petra
Published: November 2024

Background:

Lifestyle in Western countries has significantly changed during recent decades. These and other factors have increased the prevalence of overweight and obesity, leading to a higher risk of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. A balanced diet has been shown to predict better health, so several public healthcare strategies aim to encourage “healthy” food choices.

Objectives:

To assess self-concept of knowledge about nutrition compared to factual knowledge and knowledge implementation in daily life.

Design:

Cross-sectional cohort study with a total of 524 Swiss women recruited, of which 447 women met the inclusion criteria for the final analysis.

Methods:

Main outcome measure: a self-constructed questionnaire was used to evaluate subjective and objective knowledge about healthy nutrition and its practical application. Subgroup analyses utilized Fisher’s test for categorical and Mann–Whitney- U test for metric/ordinal.

Results:

Most participants sourced their nutritional information predominantly from nonexperts. While the majority believed they were well-educated about nutrition, this self-assessment was only partially accurate. The “nutrition pyramid” concept was widely recognized, and correct assignment of food items to dominant macronutrient components was generally accurate. However, understanding of food category ranking by optimal daily intake and composing a healthy diet was lacking. Higher education levels correlated with better objective nutrition knowledge ( p < 0.001), and normal-weight women were more likely than overweight/obese women to implement nutritional knowledge daily ( p = 0.021). Apart from body mass index other bio-psycho-social factors were observed.

Conclusion:

Recent insights show that although women perceive themselves as knowledgeable about nutrition, there are significant gaps in their objective understanding. Higher education levels improve nutritional knowledge, and normal-weight women apply this knowledge more effectively. Thus, providing accessible, high-quality expert information on nutrition is essential.

Trial registration:

The study has been approved by the Cantonal Ethics Committee (registration number: 2018-00358).
Do clinical practice guidelines incorporate sex and gender evidence?
Authors: González Ramos Ana M
Published: November 2024

Although the translation of sex and gender evidence into clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) is strongly advised by specialists, this commitment may be limited to presenting findings on women for specific diseases and topics. The inclusion of sex and gender evidence should deploy available data on health and illness, taking human diversity into consideration, especially when drafting CPGs. This work examines 21 guidelines from Spanish CPGs from 2018 to 2022, scraping sex and gender evidence across documents under the lens of 59 keywords related to sex and gender. Three out of four CPGs included relevant keywords to analyse. Then the set of words was analysed in terms of their frequency, as well as the context of the words (nature and location of the information in the CPG). It found that masculine keywords were widespread in CPGs as a result of an androcentric orientation in clinical research, except for those CPGs centred on women’s issues. CPGs focused on technical procedures tended to omit considerations regarding sex and gender. CPGs developed under the lens of a more sensitive gender approach formulated relevant Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes (PICO) questions and showed a greater diversity of situations, detailing different types of patients. Even though some CPGs do express good intentions regarding gender mainstreaming – for example, using gendered language and a balanced developers’ group – important omissions and a lack of precise information were still found.
Apparent statistical inference in crows may reflect simple reinforcement learning
Authors: George David N , Dwyer Dominic M , Haselgrove Mark , Le Pelley Mike E
Published: November 2024

Johnston et al. report results which they argue demonstrate that crows engage in statistical inference during decision-making. They trained two crows to associate a set of stimuli with different reward probabilities (from 10% to 90%) before choice tests between pairs of stimuli. Across most pairwise combinations, and in a control task in which the number of rewards was equated between probabilities, both crows preferred the stimulus associated with higher reward probability. The magnitude of this preference was affected by the absolute difference between the two probabilities, although (contrary to a claim made by Johnston et al. 2023) preference did not reflect the ratio of prior probabilities independently of absolute differences. Johnston et al. argue that preference for the stimulus with the higher reward probability is “the signature of true statistical inference” (p. 3238), implemented by an analogue magnitude system that represents the reward probability associated with each stimulus. Here, we show that a simple reinforcement learning model, with no explicit representation of reward probabilities, reproduces the critical features of crows’ performance—and indeed better accounts for the observed empirical findings than the concept of statistical inference based on analogue magnitude representations, because it correctly predicts the absence of a ratio effect that would reflect magnitudes when absolute distance is controlled. Contrary to Johnston et al.’s claims, these patterns of behaviour do not necessitate retrieval of calculated reward probabilities from long-term memory and dynamic application of this information across contexts, or (more specifically) require the involvement of an analogue magnitude system in representing abstract probabilities.
Eye movements as indices of spatial and associative memory
Authors: Beal Logan , Morgan Alexandra , Rollins Leslie
Published: November 2024

Previous research has shown that eye movements can serve as an indirect indicator of relational memory. The goal of the current research was to assess how eye movements coincide with different forms of spatial and associative memory. Young adults encoded object-scene combinations and were subsequently presented with repeated, novel, and manipulated scenes. The manipulated object-scene combinations included object additions and deletions (Experiment 1), a change in the location of the object (Experiment 2), or a change in object-scene combinations (Experiment 3). In Experiment 1, participants allocated more fixations to the critical region of a scene when a novel object was added to a scene versus previously presented within the scene; this effect could be supported by either item or relational memory. By contrast, participants did not preferentially view the region of the scene that an object previously occupied when objects were removed from the scene. For Experiments 2 and 3, participants allocated proportionally more fixations towards the critical region of manipulated than repeated scenes when the location of the object or object-scene combination was changed. These findings provide further support for eye movements reflecting relational memory and highlight the importance of data disaggregation for future studies of relational memory.
Early reperfusion in patients with acute retinal artery occlusion: A multicenter prospective study
Authors: Abdelmassih Youssef , Mauget-Faÿsse Martine , Seners Pierre , Milea Dan , Hallali Gabriel , Guillaume Jessica , Lecler Augustin , Vignal Catherine , Le Mer Yannick , Paques Michel , Bonnin Sophie , Obadia Michael
Published: November 2024

Background:

The visual outcome after central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is poor, but its relationship with early reperfusion (ER) is poorly known. We evaluated the incidence of ER in acute CRAO or branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), and its association with clinical outcome.

Methods:

In this prospective observational multicenter study, we included patients with acute CRAO or macula-involving BRAO presenting within 24 hours from symptom onset. ER was evaluated within 24 hours after the initial clinical evaluation using indocyanine green angiography (ICGA). The primary outcome was the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 1 month.

Results:

In all, 70 patients were enrolled, of whom 63 (90%) had CRAO. Median age was 71 years (interquartile range: 67–77), 63% were male, median time from symptom onset to presentation was 5.3 hours (interquartile range: 3.1–15.1), and 17% received intravenous fibrinolysis. ER was identified in 34 patients (49%), of whom 21 (30%) achieved complete reperfusion (100% filling of the 55° ICGA field). Patients with ER were less likely to have hypertension and diabetes mellitus ( p < 0.001 and p = 0.046, respectively). At the 1-month follow-up, BCVA was significantly better in ER patients (median BCVA 1.3 logMAR vs 1.7 logMAR, p = 0.001), with greater benefit with complete reperfusion ( p for trend < 0.001). ER was also associated with improved visual field and quality of life at the 1-month follow-up (both p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

ER occurred in almost 50% of the patients and was associated with improved visual outcomes and quality of life. Therapies that increase ER in CRAO will likely improve clinical outcomes.

Clinical Trial Registration:

This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT03049514); https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03049514
How tube feeding modes influence anxiety in patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke: A propensity score-matched, longitudinal study
Authors: Zeng Hongji , Zhao Weijia , Zeng Jing , Wang Rui , Luo Hong , Wen Changming , Liu Yanbo , Li Dongjian , Zeng Xi
Published: November 2024

Background:

Although tube feeding modes have been shown to influence psychological status, the specific mechanism of action and differences between intermittent oro-esophageal tube feeding (IOE) and nasogastric tube feeding (NGT) have yet to be uncovered. This study explored the effect of IOE versus NGT on anxiety in patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke.

Methods:

This longitudinal observational study included patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke who were treated in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine between February 2022 and June 2024. Questionnaires, scales, and medical records were used to collect data regarding anxiety symptoms, basic information, treatment details, and self-perception on the 1st and 10th day of hospitalization. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to balance potential confounding factors and analyze the association between IOE versus NGT and anxiety symptoms. Path analysis was conducted to explore the specific mechanisms of action.

Results:

Totally, 2459 participants (55.51% IOE users) were recruited. The IOE users had significantly lower moderate-to-severe anxiety rates than the NGT users (25.88% and 44.42%, p < 0.001). PSM analysis revealed an 8.56% difference in moderate-to-severe anxiety rates between IOE and NGT users. Self-perception of comfort, reflux, dietary schedule, social activity, self-esteem, and daily exercise showed significance as intermediate variables between tube feeding modes and anxiety symptoms in path analysis (all p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Compared to NGT, IOE can alleviate anxiety symptoms in patients with dysphagia after ischemic stroke who were treated in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. The relationship between tube feeding modes and anxiety symptoms was mediated by the self-perception of comfort, reflux, dietary schedule, social activity, self-esteem, and daily exercise.
Should we switch to tenecteplase for all ischemic strokes? Evidence and logistics
Authors: Muir Keith W
Published: November 2024

Recent clinical trials provide robust evidence of non-inferiority of tenecteplase 0.25 mg/kg over alteplase 0.9 mg/kg in acute ischemic stroke treated within 4.5 h of time last known well. Aggregate data meta-analysis suggests likely superiority of tenecteplase with respect to excellent (modified Rankin Scale 0 or 1) outcomes at 90 days. Less complex single intravenous bolus administration of tenecteplase brings significant logistical benefits compared to alteplase. Real-world implementation data demonstrate reduced door-to-needle and door-to-puncture times, and potentially improved clinical outcomes. Avoiding the need for infusion pumps and monitoring reduces resource requirements and facilitates inter-hospital transfer. Guidelines favor tenecteplase over alteplase due to its logistical advantages. Transitioning services to tenecteplase requires consideration of education and training for all relevant staff (medical, nursing, pharmacy) and should address physician concerns. Use of stroke-specific tenecteplase 25 mg dose vials is strongly preferable to minimize the chance of dosing errors that might arise from use of cardiac-dose tenecteplase. Some off-label uses of alteplase are supported by positive randomized controlled trial data (wake-up and unknown onset stroke, and imaging-supported late window use 4.5–9 h after onset) while equivalent data for tenecteplase are less conclusive. Trial data comparing tenecteplase to control give relevant safety data for both wake-up / unknown onset stroke and for late time windows, and some efficacy data favor tenecteplase in a late time window. Given the weight of evidence for biologically similar efficacy and safety of tenecteplase 0.25 mg/kg, and potential for dosing errors, retention of alteplase for off-label indications should not be recommended.
Probability analysis of compressor blade vibration based on radial basis function extremum neural network method
Authors: Wei Jingshan , Zheng Qun , Yan Wei , Jiang Bin
Published: November 2024

To enhance the transient response and modeling accuracy of compressor blade vibration characteristics in time domain dynamic reliability analysis, a method called the radial basis function extremum neural network (RBFENN) is proposed. This method combines the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) with the extreme response surface method (ERSM). By considering the time domain and frequency domain characteristics of unsteady aerodynamic excitation on blades affected by multi-row stator/rotor interference, the stress response distribution of the blades is determined through deterministic analysis. The RBFENN mathematical model is established using RBFNN to address the high nonlinearity in surrogate modeling. The ERSM is used to process the transient problem of motion reliability analysis, taking extreme values into account throughout the response process. In evaluating the vibrational reliability of the compressor blades, the maximum stress is considered as the primary focus of the study, taking into account the stochastic nature of aerodynamic excitation frequency, rotational velocity, and material parameters. It is observed that the unsteady aerodynamic excitation induces higher-order harmonic resonances in the blade velocity margin, resulting in increased stress at the leading edge of the blade root. This stress distribution follows a normal distribution pattern. A comparison among Monte Carlo methods, ERSM, and RBFENN demonstrates the superiority of the proposed RBFENN method in terms of computational accuracy and efficiency. This study introduces the RBFENN method as a learning-based approach for blade vibration reliability design, enriching the theory of mechanical reliability.
Cultural Translations of Social Movements: A Field-Translation Interpretation of the Adoption Pattern of the Temperance Movement in the Danish Field of Moral Reform
Authors: Sevelsted Anders
Published: November 2024

Studies of the diffusion and translation of social movements has traditionally interpreted the adopting context of a movement as culturally homogenous and explained the adoption of a matter of similarity between transmitters and adopters. As a consequence, most existing theoretical and methodological approaches to diffusion and translation are ill-suited to interpret culturally fragmented cases in which adoption patterns do not reflect cultural similarities. Building on social movement field literature, this article introduces a field-translation approach to account for fragmented cases with ‘dissimilar’ adoption patterns – specifically the adoption of the temperance movement in Denmark at the turn of the 20th century. Using mixed-methods – Social Network Analysis on temperance leaders’ organizational affiliations and content analysis of key texts – the article shows how attention to field-specific doxa can provide a satisfying interpretation of why rural progressives embraced an originally evangelical movement, while evangelicals first rejected it and only later became its most ardent supporter – and why the movement could not make inroads with urban progressives.
Reverse switching from the biosimilar SB2 to the originator infliximab in previously switched patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: results of a prospective long-term cohort study
Authors: Fischer Sarah , Donhauser Moritz , Cohnen Sarah , Fietkau Konstantin , Vetter Marcel , Grübel-Liehr Maria , Dietrich Peter , Rath Timo , Wilfer Angelika , Sologub Ludmilla , Krebs Sabine , Dörje Frank , Nagore Daniel , Meyer Sebastian , Neurath Markus F. , Atreya Raja
Published: November 2024

Background:

Data regarding multiple switches including reverse switching between infliximab and its biosimilars are scarce in the field of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Objectives:

We investigated the clinical effectiveness as primary outcome measure after repeated switches. Secondary endpoints included C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, immunogenicity (trough levels (TL); anti-drug antibodies (ADA), safety and drug persistence.

Design:

This study is a prospective, single-centre, observational cohort study. IBD patients receiving originator infliximab were switched to biosimilar SB2 and then reverse switched after 96 weeks and followed up for another 48 weeks.

Methods:

Clinical disease activity (Harvey–Bradshaw-index (HBI) in Crohn’s disease (CD), partial Mayo score (pMS) in ulcerative colitis (UC)), CRP, TL, ADA, therapy-discontinuations and (serious) adverse events ((S)AE)) were monitored throughout the study.

Results:

Ninety-five patients (60 CD, 38 female) were enrolled. The median HBI was 2 (interquartile range (IQR) 1–4) at baseline and 2 (1–4) at week 48, resulting in a mean intra-individual change of 0.0 (standard deviation (SD) 1.5). The median pMS was 1 (IQR 0–1) at baseline and 0.5 (0–1) at week 48 resulting in a mean intra-individual change of 0.0 (SD 0.8). Clinical remission was achieved in 80% at baseline and 82% at week 48. Median CRP 2.0 mg/l (IQR 1.0–4.1) at baseline and 2.4 mg/l (1.1–5.2) at week 48 resulted in a mean change of 1.7 (SD 5.8) and no significant differences in CD ( p = 0.3) and UC ( p = 0.9). Median TL were 7.2 µg/ml (IQR 3.8–19.3) at baseline and 5.5 µg/ml (3.5–13.1) at week 48, resulting in a mean change of −1.0 (SD 7.4) with no statistical significance (CD p = 0.26, UC p = 0.41). De-novo-ADA were developed by 3.4%. The discontinuation rate was 14.7%. Safety signals were consistent with previous studies.

Conclusion:

Reverse switching had no impact on efficacy of infliximab therapy in our cohort of IBD patients. The switch didn’t influence immunogenicity or safety of therapy.
Inflammatory bowel disease in axial spondyloarthritis patients. Is there any specific clinical picture? Data from the RESPONDIA and REGISPONSER registries
Authors: Llop Maria , Gómez-García Ignacio , Gratacós Jordi , Villoria Albert , Calvet Joan , Moreno Mireia , Arévalo Marta , Cabanillas-Paredes Montserrat , Collantes-Estévez Eduardo , Vazquez-Mellado Janitzia , López-Medina Clementina
Published: November 2024

Background:

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects 5%–10% of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. Prior data suggest AS patients with IBD may have more severe disease and lower HLA-B27 prevalence. Yet, little is known about potential distinctions in AS with IBD compared to those without IBD.

Objective:

To investigate the clinical characteristics and radiographic differences between patients with (AS) with and without concurrent IBD.

Design:

This multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study included patients meeting European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group criteria from the Registry of Spondyloarthritis of Spanish Rheumatology (REGISPONSER) and Ibero-American Registry of Spondyloarthropathies (RESPONDIA) registries.

Methods:

Characteristics and disease burden were compared between patients with and without IBD. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors independently associated with IBD presence in patients with AS.

Results:

We included a total of 2766 patients with AS (1254 from REGISPONSER and 1512 from RESPONDIA), among whom 142 patients (5.13%) presented with concomitant IBD. AS patients with concurrent IBD were less frequently male, had a lower prevalence of HLA-B27 positivity, experienced a lower prolonged diagnostic delay, had a lower frequency of enthesitis, and received more commonly intensified treatment compared to those without IBD. In terms of structural damage, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index (BASRI) score for the sacroiliac joints (SIJs), cervical spine, and lumbar spine was lower in patients with AS and IBD than in those without IBD. In the multivariable analysis, the presence of IBD was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of HLA-B27 and enthesitis, with odds ratios (OR) of 0.32 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.20–0.52) and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.33–0.97), respectively. Furthermore, structural damage in SIJs (BASRI) was significantly decreased in patients with IBD, with an OR of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.64–0.99).

Conclusion:

The presence of IBD in AS is associated with lower HLA-B27 positivity, less enthesitis, and less radiographic damage in this large population study.
Efficacy of emicizumab in patients with severe haemophilia A without factor VIII inhibitors in Germany: evaluation of real-life data documented by the smart medication eDiary
Authors: Escuriola Ettingshausen Carmen , Eberl Wolfgang , Eichler Hermann , Fischer Ronald , Hart Christina , Holstein Katharina , Knöfler Ralf , Kreutz Jürgen , Kühnöl Caspar David , Miesbach Wolfgang A. , Pfrepper Christian , Rösch Andreas , Sachs Ulrich J. , Trautmann-Grill Karolin , Mondorf Wolfgang
Published: November 2024

Background:

Systematically documented data on real-world use of emicizumab, a bispecific antibody factor (F)VIII mimetic, are still lacking in people with severe haemophilia A (PwSHA). Smart medication, a real-time, online platform, monitors treatment administration and outcomes for people with haemophilia A in Germany.

Objective:

To evaluate annualised bleeding rates (ABRs) and annualised joint bleeding rates (AJBRs), using data documented in the smart medication eDiary, for PwSHA receiving emicizumab.

Design:

Data for 97 PwSHA without FVIII inhibitors who started emicizumab treatment between 1 January 2018 and 31 March 2023, with >24 weeks of documentation after switching from FVIII replacement, were collected in the smart medication eDiary. Those with ⩾24 weeks of pre-emicizumab data were included for analysis 24 weeks before and after switching.

Methods:

The primary objective was to evaluate ABR and AJBR for treated bleeds. The proportion of bleed-free participants was calculated and administration frequency for FVIII and emicizumab were collected. The mean dosing frequencies for FVIII replacement and emicizumab were also evaluated.

Results:

The mean calculated ABR and AJBR were 0.64 and 0.39, respectively, after initiating emicizumab. For those with documentation before starting emicizumab ( n = 58), ABR decreased by 79.6% and AJBR decreased by 90.8%. The proportion of bleed-free participants increased by 21.3%, and joint bleed-free participants increased by 18.2%. The median FVIII dosing frequency was every 3.5 days ( n = 54; range: 1.0–20.8); median emicizumab dosing frequency was every 11.2 days ( N = 97; range: 6.6–29.4).

Conclusion:

Real-world data collected using the smart medication eDiary provide insights into efficacy outcomes after switching from FVIII replacement to emicizumab prophylaxis. Bleeds, including joint bleeds, decreased after switching.
Visceral adiposity as a predictor of new-onset diabetes in patients with primary aldosteronism: a cohort study
Authors: Chu Wen-Kai , Er Leay Kiaw , Chang Chin-Chen , Lu Jin-Ying , Wu Wan-Chen , Tsai Yao-Chou , Lin Yen-Hung , Wu Vin-Cent
Published: November 2024

Background:

Patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) exhibit a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the relationship between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) in PA patients remains unclear.

Objectives:

To explore the association between VAT and the risk of NODM in PA patients.

Design:

This is a prospective cohort study spanning 10 years (2010–2020).

Methods:

A total of 342 PA patients were enrolled prospectively. Abdominal adiposity indexes, including VAT area, VAT ratio, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) area, and SAT ratio, were measured using a computed tomography-based software at diagnosis.

Results:

Of 342 PA patients (46.2% male, mean age 50.8 ± 11.2 years), 35 (10.2%) developed NODM over a mean follow-up of 7.4 years. A positive nonlinear association between NODM risk and Log (VAT ratio) ⩾ −0.72 was observed (high-VAT group). High VAT (odds ratio (OR), 6.09; p = 0.005), older age (OR, 1.09; p < 0.001), higher body mass index (OR, 1.24; p < 0.001), higher waist-to-hip ratio (OR, 1.11, p < 0.001), lower baseline aldosterone (OR, 0.99, p = 0.011), higher diastolic blood pressure (OR, 1.05, p = 0.012), and lower systolic blood pressure (OR, 0.98, p = 0.045) as risk factors for high VAT. Adrenalectomy did not significantly associate with reduced NODM risk (OR, 0.49; p = 0.292).

Conclusion:

Our findings highlight that 10.2% of PA patients develop NODM over a mean follow-up of 7.4 years, with high VAT increasing the risk. Baseline VAT is a key determinant of NODM development in PA patients, regardless of targeted treatments.
Association between galectin-3 and hepatosteatosis in a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Lin Ming-Shyan , Tu Ya-Chi , Lin Yu-Sheng , Lin Meng-Hung , Lin Chun-Liang , Tsai Ming-Horng , Hsieh Yung-Yu , Chen Tien-Hsing , Chen Mei-Yen , Shi Chung-Sheng
Published: November 2024

Background:

Hepatosteatosis is a common condition that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Galectin-3 (GAL-3) has been implicated in liver fibrosis and inflammation.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between GAL-3 and hepatosteatosis.

Design:

This study is a retrospective secondary analysis of data from a community health screening program.

Methods:

A total of 766 participants were included in the final analysis. Hepatosteatosis was diagnosed using ultrasonography, and GAL-3 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between GAL-3 levels and the presence of hepatosteatosis, adjusting for age, sex, and other potential confounding factors.

Results:

The prevalence of moderate-to-severe hepatosteatosis in the study population was 31.5%. The participants with hepatosteatosis had a significantly higher mean level of GAL-3 compared to those without hepatosteatosis (16.6 ± 7.3 vs 13.5 ± 7.3 ng/ml; p < 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and other potential confounding factors, a higher level of GAL-3 was significantly associated with an increased risk of moderate-to-severe hepatosteatosis (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–1.46, p = 0.010). The coexistence of alanine transaminase/aspartate transaminase ratio >1 and GAL-3 >14.4 ng/ml was associated with a significantly increased risk (aOR 3.37, 95% CI: 1.90–5.99, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that GAL-3 level is significantly associated with the presence of moderate-to-severe hepatosteatosis, independent of other known cardiometabolic risk factors.
Improvements of the damage responses and failure modes of an RC vehicle over pass bridge under contact explosion using FEM-SPH coupled computational frameworks
Authors: Kuti Goutam , Saha Shuvra , Karmakar Somnath
Published: November 2024

Winds, earthquakes, and blasts are unpredictable and most challenging dynamic loads. However, the blast is relatively new, and its protection over infrastructure is a vital concern. Conversely, bridges play a critical role in the transport system, and their loss may affect the Nation’s growth. However, the literature says that experimental and numerical simulation is an excellent option to predict the blast impacts. Most of the data from the experiments are collected by photos or videography at high temperatures. Therefore, the reliability of those data is a genuine concern, particularly for bridges. Conversely, if correctly explored, numerical simulation is an option to get into the blast field with high accuracy. A mesh-based method like Finite Element Method (FEM) is excellent for numerical simulation up to a specific temperature. Beyond that, it starts a mesh tangling. Element erosion and remeshing processes may overcome this issue if the mesh-free method simulates. Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) is a mesh-free particle method that can naturally handle massive deformation due to adaptive features. Finally, the current study has coupled two discretisation systems to avoid instability and increase run time. Therefore, FEM-SPH coupling has been adopted to explore the direct damage-reduction, complete damage-time response, damaged contours of the shock wave propagations, damaged contours of particle formation, the effective plastic strain (EPS) and different failure modes of the Vehicle Over Pass typed bridge without and with the protective layer of non-Explosive Reactive Armour (nERA). Finally, the improvement of the bridge is eye-catching as the nERA effectively reduces the deformation, damage, particle formation, EPS, and failure modes.