bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global Longitudinal Strain and Biomarkers of Cardiac Damage and Stress as Predictors of Outcomes After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Perry Andrew S. , Stein Elliot J. , Biersmith Michael , Fearon William F. , Elmariah Sammy , Kim Juyong B. , Clark Daniel E. , Patel Jay N. , Gonzales Holly , Baker Michael , Piana Robert N. , Mallugari Ravinder R. , Kapadia Samir , Kumbhani Dharam J. , Gillam Linda , Whisenant Brian , Quader Nishath , Zajarias Alan , Welt Frederick G. , Bavry Anthony A. , Coylewright Megan , Gupta Deepak K. , Vatterott Anna , Jackson Natalie , Huang Shi , Lindman Brian R.
Published: September 2022

Background

Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a sensitive measure of left ventricular function and a risk marker in severe aortic stenosis. We sought to determine whether biomarkers of cardiac damage (cardiac troponin) and stress (NT‐proBNP [N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide]) could complement GLS to identify patients with severe aortic stenosis at highest risk.

Methods and Results

From a multicenter prospective cohort of patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation, we measured absolute GLS (aGLS), cardiac troponin, and NT‐proBNP at baseline in 499 patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction <50% was observed in 19% and impaired GLS (aGLS <15%) in 38%. Elevations in cardiac troponin and NT‐proBNP were present in 79% and 89% of those with impaired GLS, respectively, as compared with 63% and 60% of those with normal GLS, respectively (
P
<0.001 for each). aGLS <15% was associated with increased mortality in univariable analysis (
P
=0.009), but, in a model with both biomarkers, aGLS, and clinical covariates included, aGLS was not associated with mortality; elevation in each biomarker was associated with an increased hazard of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, >2;
P
≤0.002 for each) when the other biomarker was elevated, but not when the other biomarker was normal (interaction
P
=0.015).

Conclusions

Among patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation, elevations in circulating cardiac troponin and NT‐proBNP are more common as GLS worsens. Biomarkers of cardiac damage and stress are independently associated with mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation, whereas GLS is not. These findings may have implications for risk stratification of asymptomatic patients to determine optimal timing of valve replacement.
Long‐Term Activation of Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor by Dulaglutide Prevents Diabetic Heart Failure and Metabolic Remodeling in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Xie Saiyang , Zhang Min , Shi Wenke , Xing Yun , Huang Yan , Fang Wen‐xi , Liu Shi‐qiang , Chen Meng‐Ya , Zhang Tong , Chen Si , Zeng Xiaofeng , Wang Shasha , Deng Wei , Tang Qizhu
Published: September 2022

Background

Mechanistic insights of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists remain incompletely identified, despite the efficacy in heart failure observed in clinical trials. Here, we evaluated the effects of dulaglutide on heart complications and illuminated its underlying mechanism.

Methods and Results

We used mice with high‐fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin‐induced type 2 diabetes to investigate the effects of dulaglutide upon diabetic cardiac dysfunction. After the onset of diabetes, control and diabetic mice were injected subcutaneously with either dulaglutide (type 2 diabetes‐dulaglutide and control‐dulaglutide groups) or vehicle (type 2 diabetes‐vehicle and control‐vehicle groups) for 8 weeks. Subsequently, heart characteristics, cardiometabolic profile and mitochondrial morphology and function were evaluated. Also, we analyzed the effects of dulaglutide on neonatal rat ventricular myocytes treated with high glucose plus palmitic acid. In addition, wild type and AMP‐activated protein kinase α2 mutant mice were used to evaluate the underlying mechanism. In type 2 diabetes mouse model, dulaglutide ameliorated insulin resistance, improved glucose tolerance, reduced hyperlipidemia, and promoted fatty acid use in the myocardium. Dulaglutide treatment functionally attenuated cardiac remodeling and dysfunction and promoted metabolic reprogramming in diabetic mice. Furthermore, dulaglutide improved mitochondria fragmentation in myocytes, and simultaneously reinstated mitochondrial morphology and function in diabetic hearts. We also found that dulaglutide preserved AMP‐activated protein kinase α2‐dependent mitochondrial homeostasis, and the protective effects of dulaglutide on diabetic heart was almost abated by AMP‐activated protein kinase α2 knockout.

Conclusions

Dulaglutide prevents diabetic heart failure and favorably affects myocardial metabolic remodeling by impeding mitochondria fragmentation, and we suggest a potential strategy to develop a long‐term activation of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor–based therapy to treat diabetes associated cardiovascular complications.
Day‐to‐Day Blood Pressure Variability and Risk of Incident Chronic Kidney Disease in a General Japanese Population
Authors: Sasaki Takaya , Sakata Satoko , Oishi Emi , Furuta Yoshihiko , Honda Takanori , Hata Jun , Tsuboi Nobuo , Kitazono Takanari , Yokoo Takashi , Ninomiya Toshiharu
Published: September 2022

Background

Several longitudinal studies have reported that higher visit‐to‐visit blood pressure variability is associated with greater risk for developing chronic kidney disease. However, no population‐based studies have investigated the association between day‐to‐day home blood pressure variability and incident chronic kidney disease.

Methods and Results

A total of 2342 Japanese community‐dwelling residents aged ≥40 years without chronic kidney disease at baseline were followed up by annual health examinations for 10 years. Home blood pressure was measured 3 times every morning for 28 days. Day‐to‐day coefficients of variation of home systolic blood pressure levels were categorized into quintiles. Chronic kidney disease was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
or the presence of proteinuria. The hazard ratios for developing chronic kidney disease were estimated with a Cox proportional hazards model. During the follow‐up period, 772 participants developed chronic kidney disease. Increased coefficients of variation of home systolic blood pressure were associated significantly with higher risk of chronic kidney disease after adjusting for confounders (
P
for trend <0.001): Individuals in the highest quintile of coefficients of variation had a 1.50‐fold (95% CI, 1.17–1.94) greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease than those in the lowest quintile. The combination of higher coefficients of variation and higher mean value of home systolic blood pressure was associated with the multivariable‐adjusted risk of developing chronic kidney disease.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that increased day‐to‐day blood pressure variability is a significant risk factor for developing chronic kidney disease in a general Japanese population.
Borrowing in an Illegal Market: Contracting with Loan Sharks
Authors: Lang Kevin , Leong Kaiwen , Li Huailu , Xu Haibo
Published: September 2022

Using over 11,000 unlicensed loans to over 1,000 borrowers in Singapore, we provide basic information about an understudied market: illegal moneylending. Borrowers and lenders interact frequently and rely primarily on relational contracts to enforce their agreements. Borrowers have high discount rates, often have gambling and/or substance abuse problems, and often repay late. While lenders sometimes resort to nonfinancial punishments, the primary cost of late repayment is the compounding of a very high interest rate. Consistent with our view that lenders cannot extract all surplus, a crackdown on illegal lending raised interest rates and lowered the size of loans.
Getting the Price Right? The Impact of Competitive Bidding in the Medicare Program
Authors: Ding Hui , Duggan Mark , Starc Amanda
Published: September 2022

We study Medicare’s competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment. We use Medicare claims data to examine the effect on prices and utilization, focusing on continuous positive airway pressure devices for sleep apnea. We find that spending falls by 47.2% after a highly imperfect bidding mechanism is introduced. This is almost entirely driven by a 44.8% price reduction, though quantities also fall by 4.3%. To disentangle supply and demand, we leverage differential cost sharing across Medicare recipients. We measure a demand elasticity of -0.272 and find that quantity reductions are concentrated among less clinically appropriate groups.
Latent Exports: Almost Ideal Gravity and Zeros
Authors: Anderson James E. , Zhang Penglong
Published: September 2022

Export promotion at the extensive margin is a key concern of governments. We develop measures of how far firms in origin sectors are from break-even entry in destination markets. The measure is based on Almost Ideal gravity featuring heterogeneous price and income elasticities. Tobit estimation of 2006 trade flows for 75 countries and 25 sectors generates latent trade bias (LTB)—the latent (projected) trade share of nonpartners minus the as-if-frictionless trade share. Explained LTB variance decomposition shows that variable trade costs (distance and tariffs together) account for zero flows more than do fixed trade costs (entry cost) and income variation.
Life history variation between two Eurasian tree sparrow Passer montanus populations at different altitudes
Authors: Li Shaobin , Gao Hao , Liu Jinlong , Li Chongmou , Li Guopan , Li Dayong
Published: September 2022

Altitudinal gradients create environmental variation that can strongly affect avian life history strategies. To fully understand this issue, a comparison of the demography of populations of the same species over large altitudinal differences is required. Here, we investigated the breeding ecology of two populations of Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus), one in the temperate zone of central China at an altitude of 30 m and another in the alpine zone of the northeastern Tibetan plateau at an altitude of 3430 m. The breeding ecology of this species was rarely studied at such a high altitude before. Our result revealed that high-altitude tree sparrows started breeding later, had a shorter breeding period (80 versus 140 days), produced smaller broods (1.2 versus 2.5 chicks) and had significantly smaller clutches (4.0 versus 4.9 eggs) but larger eggs (4272 versus 3443 mm3) when compared with their low-altitude counterparts. Besides, tree sparrows at our high-altitude site had longer nestling periods (14.5 versus 13.4 days) than those at the low-altitude site. High-altitude tree sparrows tend to have reduced fecundity but allocate more energy into each offspring to confront the stressful conditions at high altitudes. The observed patterns are consistent with adaptive life history strategies.
The Hierarchy of Calories? State Intervention, Food Rationing, and Food Smuggling in Occupied Tianjin (1937–1945)
Authors: Kiang Chi Ho
Published: September 2022

This article aims to advance the understanding of the wartime food experience in Japanese-occupied Tianjin. We argue that food accessibility in Tianjin was conditioned by one’s position within the collaborationist regime and the depressed marketing system. While the state asserted its monopolistic power over food allocation, determining individuals’ entitlement to grain by their racial identities, occupation, and residency, the flourishing clandestine trade suggested the state’s failure to support its monopolistic claim over the allocation of grain resources. Making distinctions between imposed regulation policies and human practices, this essay attempts to elaborate the process of empire-building from the top down as well as the bottom up.
DNA barcode data confirm the placement of subterranean Noemacheilus (Troglocobitis) starostini Parin 1983 in the genus Paracobitis (Teleostei, Nemacheilidae)
Authors: FREYHOF JÖRG , GEIGER MATTHIAS F. , BALL SARAH , ZIMMERMAN BRIAN
Published: September 2022

DNA barcodes (COI) of Troglocobitis starostini, endemic to a single site in Turkmenistan, were analysed and put into the taxonomic context of the large group of nemacheilid loaches known from Western and Central Asia. All applied phylogenetic tree-based analyses place the species into the genus Paracobitis. This finding supports previous morphological studies. While the exact position of Troglocobitis starostini within Paracobitis was not resolved unambiguously, it was constantly recovered within Paracobitis, irrespective of the tree reconstruction method applied. With a minimum interspecific K2P distance of 7.19% P. persa was the closest hit in our dataset, which comprised a total of ten species of Paracobitis, which showed an average interspecific K2P distance of 5.43% (range 2.78–9.44%).
New species and records of Amphichroum Kraatz, 1857 from China and the Himalayan Region (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini)
Authors: SHAVRIN ALEXEY V.
Published: September 2022

New taxonomic, diagnostic and faunistic data for eight species of the genus Amphichroum Kraatz, 1858 (Omaliinae) from China and the Himalayan Region are provided. Three species are (re-) described and illustrated: A. discolor sp.n. and A. grandidentatum sp.n. (both from Biluo Mts., Yunnan, China), and A. reticulatum Coiffait, 1978 (Bhutan). New records for five species from China and Nepal are given.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency in A Selected Nurse Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Xiang Yuwei , Zhou Qian , Wu Zhoupeng , Gou Juxiang
Published: September 2022

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) causes severe symptoms and complications in the general population, but the prevalence, related risk factors, and treatment of CVI are unknown among nurses. The demographics and occupational factors of nurses from a university hospital were collected by questionnaires, and the presentation of CVI was confirmed by the specialist vascular surgeons. A total of 1606 participants were enrolled, and the prevalence of CVI was 7.5%. After multivariate adjustment, CVI was positively related to deep venous thrombosis history (OR 6.44, 95% CI 2.73-15.22), increased standing time (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.20-4.10), and increased time in night shift rotation (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.29-3.14). CVI was negatively related to oral contraceptives (OR .43, 95% CI .21-.87). Of the participants, 72.5% with CVI received compression therapy. For them, wearing compression stockings with a pressure of >20 mmHg or for >4 h/day significantly increased the rate of symptom relief, while the length of compression stockings made no difference. Thus, it was beneficial for nurses to spend less time standing and shorten their time in night shift rotation. Wearing compression stockings with sufficient pressure and for enough time was recommended for CVI symptom relief.
Ruling the Periphery: Pakistan state ruling practices in Lower Dir
Authors: Khan Usman , Ullah Shakir , Rui Tao
Published: September 2022

This article examines Pakistan State’s ruling practices in Lower Dir, a peripheral region. It argues that this peripheral region was ruled by a colonial logic of governmentality. Through a “thick” ethnography of Lower Dir, I documented the militarized and fragmented state practices that Tsing refers to as the “sticky materiality of practical encounters” of the local people with the state apparatuses. The study collected data through anthropological methods such as mobile ethnography at checkpoints, casual conversations with locals, and firsthand observations of state ruling practices in the region. This article concludes that it is the Pakistan state’s strategic interest that keeps the region out of the mainstream, and its security status is now even more important for Pakistan state following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in August 2021.
Bayesian optimization for process planning selections in automated fiber placement
Authors: Brasington Alex , Halbritter Joshua , Wehbe Roudy , Harik Ramy
Published: September 2022

Since the arrival of Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) in the 1980s and 1990s, the manufacturing technique has been progressively improving in quality and reliability of the process and resulting structures. The state-of-the-art of AFP is allowing for the manufacture of structures with increasing geometrical complexity. To adequately manufacture such structures, a large effort in process planning is required to reduce defect occurrence to the best extent possible. Many optimization methodologies have been established for AFP in terms of the design and process parameters. However, limited work has been accomplished in terms of process planning optimization. The work presented in the latter will develop a Bayesian Optimization (BO) technique for the optimization of process planning with the use of the Computer Aided Process Planning (CAPP) software and its connection with Vericut Composite Programming (VCP). A case study is performed on a doubly curved tool surface and the optimal solution is compared with as-manufactured results for validation. A predictive tool is also developed to rank layup strategies based on defect importance. Results show a substantial improvement in defect occurrence and allow a process planner to immediately see the performance of various layup strategies and starting point combinations.
Phonetic and Lexical Encoding of Tone in Cantonese Heritage Speakers
Authors: Soo Rachel , Monahan Philip J.
Published: September 2022

Heritage speakers contend with at least two languages: the less dominant first language (L1), that is, the heritage language, and the more dominant second language (L2). In some cases, their L1 and L2 bear striking phonological differences. In the current study, we investigate Toronto-born Cantonese heritage speakers and their maintenance of Cantonese lexical tone, a linguistic feature that is absent from English, the more dominant L2. Across two experiments, Cantonese heritage speakers were tested on their phonetic/phonological and lexical encoding of tone in Cantonese. Experiment 1 was an AX discrimination task with varying inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs), which revealed that heritage speakers discriminated tone pairs with disparate pitch contours better than those with shared pitch contours. Experiment 2 was a medium-term repetition priming experiment, designed to extend the findings of Experiment 1 by examining tone representations at the lexical level. We observed a positive correlation between English dominance and priming in tone minimal pairs that shared contours. Thus, while increased English dominance does not affect heritage speakers’ phonological-level representations, tasks that require lexical access suggest that heritage Cantonese speakers may not robustly and fully distinctively encode Cantonese tone in lexical memory.
Particle image velocimetry measurements of the flow structures induced by the free-falling spin flight of maple seeds
Authors: Dong Lin , Wen Guoan , Rinoshika Akira
Published: September 2022

Most measurements of flow field caused by a rotating maple seed were performed in a vertical wind tunnel limited to fixing the vertical axis to simulate the stable falling spin period. In the nature, however, the free-falling motion of maple seeds induces airflow, which makes the seeds spin and generates lift to reduce falling speed. In this study, the flow structures around free-falling Japanese maple seeds in spin are measured using particle image velocimetry. In general, the free-falling spin flight of a seed is divided into three stages: transition period I, transition period II, and the stable period. In transition period II, it can be observed that the sizes of wingtip and root vortices increase with decreasing coning angle of the seed wing and result in an increase in seed rotation speed and decrease in free-falling speed. We also find that the flow structures induced by the free-falling motion of the maple seed in the stable period are different from those that suspend the rotation seed in a vertical wind tunnel. The leading-edge vortex (LEV) and trailing-edge vortex (TEV) are observed above the front of the leading edge and at the top back of the trailing edge, respectively. The position of the LEV core is located above the front of the leading edge, and it gradually approaches the leading edge of the seed along the spanwise direction, toward the wing tip. As the seed enters the stable period, the root vortex shrinks, and the tip vortex grows.
Applicative value of T2 mapping in evaluating lumbosacral nerve root injury induced by lumbosacral disc herniation
Authors: Chen Jingcong , Qin Ziliang , Zeng Xiangling , Zhong Yu , Deng Ming , Lan Bowen , Fan Bing
Published: September 2022

Background

To alleviate the damage caused by nerve root entrapment mediated by lumbosacral disc herniation (LDH), an imaging method that allows quantitative evaluation of the lumbosacral nerve injury is necessary.

Purpose

To investigate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance (MR) T2 mapping in nerve root injury caused by LDH.

Material and Methods

A total of 70 patients with unilateral sciatic nerve pain and 35 healthy volunteers were divided into three groups: LDH with nerve root entrapment; LDH without nerve root entrapment; and 35 healthy volunteers. All participants underwent 3.0-T MR with T1-weighted (T1W) imaging, T2-weighted (T2W) imaging, and T2-mapping images. T2 was measured and observed with the left and right nerve roots of the L4-S1 segments in healthy volunteers; the differences between the three groups were compared. T2 and the relaxation rate of nerve root injury were analyzed.

Results

T2 showed significant differences among the three groups (F = 89.494; P = 0.000), receiver operating characteristic curve revealed that the T2 relaxation threshold was 79 ms, the area under curve (AUC) area was 0.86, sensitivity was 0.77, and specificity was 0.74; the T2 relaxation rate was 1.06, the AUC area was 0.88, sensitivity was 0.74, and specificity was 0.85.

Conclusion

T2 mapping could quantitatively evaluate the nerve root injury with lumbar disc degeneration. Hence, it can be used for the clinical evaluation of nerve root entrapment caused by LDH.
Comparison of perinephric fat measurements between malignant and benign renal tumours
Authors: Tsai Jui-Peng , Lin Dao-Chen , Huang Wei-Ming , Chen Marcelo , Chen Yi-Hsuan
Published: September 2022

Objective

To investigate different parameters derived from the quantity and quality of perinephric fat, and to compare their effectiveness in predicting the malignant pathology of renal tumours.

Methods

Data from patients diagnosed with renal tumour between April 2014 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed, and patients were categorized into malignant or benign tumour groups. Fat parameters, including perinephric fat volume (PFV), perinephric fat area (PFA), perinephric fat thickness (PFT), and Mayo adhesive probability (MAP) score were measured using abdominal computed tomography scans. Between-group differences were assessed by analysis of variance and χ2-test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the performance of perinephric fat parameters in diagnosing malignancy.

Results

A total of 109 patients were included. MAP score, PFV, PFA, and PFT were significantly increased in the malignant versus benign tumour group, and after correction for body mass index (BMI), the indexed PFV/BMI, PFA/BMI, and PFT/BMI values remained significantly higher in the malignant tumour group. All parameters showed fair predictivity of malignancy, with comparable area under the curve values in the ROC curve.

Conclusion

An increased amount of perinephric fat is predictive of malignant pathology for renal tumours. The predictive accuracy for each perinephric fat parameter remained fair after correcting for BMI.
Neuromuscular blocking agents in the intensive care unit
Authors: Rodríguez-Blanco Jonathan , Rodríguez-Yanez Tomás , Rodríguez-Blanco Jesús Daniel , Almanza-Hurtado Amilkar José , Martínez-Ávila María Cristina , Borré-Naranjo Diana , Acuña Caballero María Camila , Dueñas-Castell Carmelo
Published: September 2022

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) are a controversial therapeutic option in the approach to the critically ill patient. They are not innocuous, and the available evidence does not support their routine use in the intensive care unit. If necessary, monitoring protocols should be established to avoid residual relaxation, adverse effects, and associated complications. This narrative review discusses the current indications for the use of NMBA and the different tools for monitoring blockade in the intensive care unit. However, expanding the use of NMBA in critical settings merits the development of prospective studies.
The end of postsocialism (as we knew it): Diverse economies and the East
Authors: Cima Ottavia , Sovová Lucie
Published: September 2022

This paper brings together two streams of literature which rarely enter into conversation: diverse economies scholarship and critical readings of postsocialism. Mobilising the cases of food self-provisioning (FSP) in Czechia and agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan as an empirical basis for our reflections, we pursue a two-fold aim. Firstly, we call for attention to the postsocialist East as fertile ground for the study of diverse economies. Secondly, we offer a postcapitalist reading of postsocialism as embedded and emancipated theorising, arguing that diverse economies thinking can support novel representations of this geopolitical area and open space to appreciate economic diversity on the ground.
Extended Time Accommodations on the 2017 NAEP Grade 8 Mathematics Test: Eligibility, Use, and Benefit
Authors: Witmer Sara E. , Lovett Benjamin J. , Buzick Heather M.
Published: September 2022

Extended testing time is a common accommodation given to students with disabilities. However, little is known about whether students who are eligible for the accommodation actually use it, and with what effect. The present study used process data available from the digitally delivered 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics test to explore these topics. We found that although the majority of students with special education plans were eligible for extended time accommodations, most of those eligible students did not actually take any additional time at all to complete the test. We describe differences in eligibility for extended time and use of extended time that were identified according to gender, race/ethnicity, disability type, family income level, English Learner status, perceived importance of the test, and use of the text-to-speech (TTS) accessibility feature. Use of extended time (among eligible students) was associated with higher performance. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.
Sudden Decompensation of Patients Admitted to Non-ICU Settings Within 24 h of Emergency Department Admission
Authors: Taveras Anabelle N. , Clayton Lisa M. , Solano Joshua J. , Hughes Patrick G. , Shih Richard D. , Alter Scott M.
Published: September 2022

Background

Patients admitted to the hospital floor (non-intensive care (ICU) settings) from the emergency department (ED) are generally stable. Unfortunately, some will unexpectedly decompensate rapidly. This study explores these patients and their characteristics.

Methods

This retrospective, observational study examined patients admitted to non-ICU settings at a community hospital. Patients were identified by rapid response team (RRT) activation, triggered by acute decompensation. ED chief complaint, reason for activation, and vital signs were compared between patients transferred to a higher level of care versus those who were not.

Results

Throughout 2019, 424 episodes of acute decompensation were identified, 118 occurring within 24 h of admission. A higher rate of ICU transfers was seen in patients with initial ED chief complaints of general malaise (87.5% vs 12.5%, p  =  0.023) and dyspnea (70.6% vs 29.4%, p  =  0.050). Patients with sudden decompensation were more likely to need ICU transfer if the RRT reason was respiratory issues (47% vs 24%, p  =  0.010) or hypertension (9.1% vs 0%, p  =  0.019). Patients with syncope as a reason for decompensation were less likely to need transfer (0% vs 10.3%, p  =  0.014). Patients requiring ICU transfer were significantly older (74.4 vs 71.8 years, p  =  0.016). No differences in admission vital signs, APACHE score, or qSOFA score were found.

Conclusions

Patients admitted to the floor with chief complaint of general malaise or dyspnea should be considered at higher risk of having a sudden decompensation requiring transfer to a higher level of care. Therefore, greater attention should be taken with disposition of these patients at the time of admission.
Ethos in Time: Nurse Theorist Katie Eriksson as Remembered by Dr. Jessica Hemberg
Authors: Hemberg Jessica , Morrow Mary R.
Published: September 2022

The year 2022 is Nursing Science Quarterly’s 35th year in publication, and we are dialoging with nurse theorists. We hope to uncover influences and origins of their theoretical thinking and hear about their current projects related to nursing science. In this scholarly dialogue column, we dialogue with Dr. Jessica Hemberg, a former nursing student of nurse theorist Dr. Katie Eriksson who was internationally known for her theory of caritative caring. In 1986, Professor Eriksson was invited to create a caring science academic program at Åbo Akademi University in Vaasa, Finland, which drew graduate students from all Nordic countries.

Eriksson’s work highlighted the uniqueness and dignity of the human being and the importance of protecting the vulnerable suffering human being. Dr. Eriksson passed away in 2019, and we are grateful to spend some time with one of her PhD students.
Concept Inventing: Feeling Pulled in Different Directions
Authors: Tschanz Coby L. , Thoun Deborah S.
Published: September 2022

People refer to feeling pulled in different directions as laboring with everyday living of life challenges and opportunities. Guided by concept inventing within a humanbecoming worldview, a now-truth of this phenomenon is that feeling pulled in different directions is visualizing surfaces with spirited longing in a riveting uncertitude of diversions. The ingenuous proclamation was expressed in the language of humanbecoming as imaging the powering valuing of languaging originating and illuminated within the artform Scorned as Timber, Beloved of the Sky by Emily Carr. This exploration contributes to nursing knowledge within the humanbecoming paradigm and offers foci for future inquiry.
Social Capital in the Family Business Literature: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda
Authors: Stasa Michele , Machek Ondřej
Published: September 2022

Using a systematic literature review, we address the topic of social capital in family firms. Based on 69 studies, we analyze the main findings, sampling and methodologies, theoretical approaches, definitions, and measurements of social capital in family firms. We also present how social capital is used as a model variable and present a conceptual framework of social capital in family firms. Subsequently, we identify the research gaps and develop research questions for further research.
How do work placement learning instructional methods enhance students’ learning experiences?
Authors: Ogba Francisca Ngozi , Okolie Ugochukwu Chinonso , Udu David Agwu , Idike Ifeanyi Matthew
Published: September 2022

This study focuses on identifying the most effective instructional methods of work placement learning (WPL) delivery that industry-based instructors can adopt to enhance students’ learning experiences. Employing interview and focus group methods, the authors learned from 39 participants, including 21 higher education students who had undertaken WPL in various industries and 18 industry-based instructors who have been providing placement learning tasks (instructions) to students. Focusing on the four most effective methods identified from the thematic analysis – namely, exploration, elaboration, engagement and evaluation (operationalised as the 4E instructional methods) – the authors analyse how the 4E instructional methods contribute to facilitating students’ learning experience during work placements. Drawing on experiential learning theory and the findings of the study, recommendations are offered for the adoption of the 4E instructional methods for the effective delivery of WPL tasks to facilitate students’ work-related knowledge, skills and attitudes for their future career development and employability.
Finite element simulation of stresses in cutting tools during tapping
Authors: Demirel Tuncer , Yağmur Selçuk , Kayır Yunus , Kurt Abdullah
Published: September 2022

Tapping is inherently more complex than other machining processes. The main reason for this complexity is that the chip removal process takes place in a closed environment. For this reason, in order to use the tap tools more efficiently, it is necessary to know the cutting conditions and the stresses that occur in the tool during cutting. In this study, holes of different diameters were drilled in the AISI 1050 material and threaded with M10 taps with three different geometries. Uncoated HSS and TiN coated HSS taps were used in the study. The tapping operations were carried out in dry conditions. The simulation conditions were chosen exactly the same as the experimental conditions. Stresses during tapping were analyzed using the Third Wave AdvantEdge program based on the finite element method (FEM). The tapping tools were modeled by reverse engineering method and then imported in the program. In general, the coating applied to the tools positively affected the stresses on the cutting tool.
Stepping Up to the Mic: Gender Gaps in Participation in Live Question-and-Answer Sessions at Academic Conferences
Authors: Jarvis Shoshana N. , Ebersole Charles R. , Nguyen Christine Q. , Zhu Minwan , Kray Laura J.
Published: September 2022

Question-and-answer (Q&A) sessions following research talks provide key opportunities for the audience to engage in scientific discourse. Gender inequities persist in academia, where women are underrepresented as faculty and their contributions are less valued than men’s. In the present research, we tested how this gender difference translates to face-to-face Q&A-session participation and its psychological correlates. Across two studies examining participation in three conferences, men disproportionately participated in Q&A sessions in a live, recorded conference ( N = 189 Q&A interactions), and women were less comfortable participating in Q&A sessions and more likely to fear backlash for their participation ( N = 234 conference attendees). Additionally, women were more likely to hold back questions because of anxiety, whereas men were more likely to hold back questions to make space for others to participate. To the extent that men engage more than women in Q&A sessions, men may continue to have more influence over the direction of science.
What’s in a book exchange: Examining contents in relation to steward intentions, geography, and public library collections
Authors: Mckenna-Foster Andrew , Roseen Hanna
Published: September 2022

In the last decade, book exchanges, most prominently those registered with the Little Free Library® network, have attracted the interest of researchers and media alike. Very little is known about what types of books are available in these book exchanges and how their collections compare to those in public libraries. To address this gap in knowledge, we selected a random sample of 42 Little Free Libraries across eight Seattle neighborhoods to inventory their contents. We interviewed the stewards about their stocking and weeding practices. Our inventory shows that most of the books available in Little Free Libraries are children’s, mystery, suspense, self-help/health, and scifi/fantasy books published in the last 10–30 years. Neighborhoods in our sample ranged in socioeconomic and racial diversity measures, but there were no significant differences in LFL contents related to those measures. We also compared our inventory to the collections of nearby public library branches and found Little Free Libraries offer a complementary rather than competitive selection scenario: books in LFLs are generally older, with a lesser proportion of children’s books and higher proportion of fiction books.
Protective exclusion as a postcolonial strategy: Rethinking deportations and sovereignty in the Gambia
Authors: Zanker Franzisca , Altrogge Judith
Published: September 2022

In 2019, the tiny West African country of the Gambia imposed a moratorium on all deportation flights from the EU. Though West African countries are notoriously reluctant to cooperate on forced returns, such a moratorium was unheard of and caused an uproar within diplomatic circles in Europe. In the age of deportability, why is deporting ‘unwanted’ migrants an illustration of a nation’s sovereign rights, yet refusing to accept deportees is not? The Gambian government used the moratorium to forestall political destabilization at a time of transition from a long dictatorship. With the moratorium, the government not only sought to protect deportees from violent removal practices but also served the interests of the Gambian population more broadly, among whom deportation remains deeply unpopular. Drawing on original expert interviews and informal conversations carried out between 2017 and 2020, this article shows that the moratorium allowed the Gambia to enact its internal sovereignty through a (temporary) protective exclusion of its citizens. Given the asymmetric and colonial legacy of modern-day sovereignty between states, the moratorium was a legitimate renegotiation of established but questionable standards of interstate sovereignty.
Value ‘stripping’: Affordable housing, institutional investment, and the political economy of municipal debt
Authors: Bloom Aretousa
Published: September 2022

In this commentary, I examine the role of institutional investors in affordable housing production in England, reflecting and expanding on the papers in this special issue on the governance of residential investment. Drawing on my research on the politics of municipal debt and local authority housebuilding in London, I provide a snapshot of the key regulatory changes that have enabled insurance companies, pension funds, and other institutional investors to extract profits from social and affordable housing. I also explore the politics and relations of power that underpin this transformed environment through a discussion of investors’ lobbying activities, and through an analysis of ‘income strip deals’, long-term leasing agreements between investors and local authorities that have gained popularity in recent years. In line with the authors in this issue, I argue that to grasp the recent wave of institutional investment in public housing, we need to pay attention to the narrative framings through which the promise of patient capital is enacted and legitimised, and to the range of regulatory actions mobilised to support and maintain the flow of value to rentiers.
‘To prove I’m not incapable, I overcompensate’: Disability, ideal workers, the academy
Authors: Humphrys Elizabeth , Rodgers Jess , Asquith Nicole L , Yaghi Sally Anne , Foulstone Ashleigh , Thorneycroft Ryan , Cook Peta S
Published: September 2022

The experiences of academics with disability have received modest but growing attention internationally, but virtually none in the Australian context. This article outlines research findings from a study examining their experiences at a large Australian university. The article uses a materialist framework to demonstrate how capitalist social relations shape and demarcate an ‘ideal university worker’, how disabled workers find it difficult to meet this norm, and the limited assistance to do so provided by managers and labour relations policy frameworks. The research findings point to a profound policy gap between employer and government disability policy inclusion frameworks and the workplace experience of academics. This breach requires further investigation and, potentially, the development of alternate strategies for workplace management of disabilities if there are to be inroads towards equity.
Analytical and clinical performance of a fluorescence enzyme immunoassay for progesterone and determination of ovulation day in bitches
Authors: Milani Chiara , Boscato Elisa L. , Gabai Gianfranco , Badon Tamara , Schrank Magdalena , Sontas Hasan B. , Romagnoli Stefano , Mollo Antonio
Published: September 2022

We evaluated the performance of a third-generation fluorescence enzyme immunoassay kit (FEIA; Tosoh Bioscience) for progesterone (P4) measurement in canine serum to identify the day of luteinizing hormone (LH) peak and ovulation in bitches. We conducted P4 assays on 54 serum samples using a FEIA and a chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA; Siemens). For the FEIA kit, the linearity test, recovery test, inter- and intra-assay CVs, and total error observed (TEo) were calculated. Serum samples from 28 bitches were used to evaluate the association of P4 concentration with the day of LH peak and the day of ovulation based on P4 thresholds (P4 ≥ 2 ng/mL, and doubling at 4–8 ng/mL in the following 48 h), and with pregnancy length. Linearity was 75–97% and 86–94% for high (37.0 ng/mL) and medium (3.8 ng/mL) pool serum samples, respectively. Recovery was 86.4–119%. Intra-assay CVs were 2.6%, 3.3%, and 5.2% for low (0.23 ng/mL), medium (6.24 ng/mL), and high (38.3 ng/mL) pool concentrations. Inter-assay CVs were 2.22% and 2.53% for P4 concentrations of 2.70 ng/mL and 8.2 ng/mL, respectively. TEo was 8.72% and 22.7% for P4 concentrations of 2 and 8 ng/mL, respectively. The mean pregnancy length from the day of LH peak and ovulation were 64.6 ± 1.7 and 63.3 ± 1.1 d, respectively. The third-generation FEIA kit that we tested was highly reliable.
Nurses’ Experiences as Care Providers for Syrian Refugees With Noncommunicable Diseases: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Kuru Alici Nilgun , Öztürk Çopur Ebru
Published: September 2022

Introduction:

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of disability and death in the world. In Syria, the incidence of NCDs in refugees is 45%. Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and other NCDs are the most common causes of morbidity in Syria. Nurses have challenges caring for Syrian refugees with NCDs. The purpose of the study was to explore nurses’ experiences of caring for Syrian refugees with NCDs in Turkey.

Methodology:

A phenomenology design was used. Inclusion criteria were nurses working experience of more than 1 year, caring for Syrian refugees with NCDs, and willingness and ability to participate in an individual interview. The participants were 20 nurses who worked with Syrian refugees at a public hospital in Kilis Province the border with Syria. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and analyzed by the thematic analysis method of Braun and Clarke.

Results:

Three major themes and six subthemes were identified. Major themes included the communication experience, cultural differences, and Syrian refugees’ lack of knowledge about NCDs.

Discussion:

The results provide insight related to nursing care in Turkey for Syrian refugees with NCDs. The study revealed that nurses encountered challenges when caring for Syrian refugees with NCDs. Culturally competent assessment and interventions for refugees with NCDs should be encouraged considering these three themes.
Medicaid, Race, Utilization of Crisis Services at Community Mental Health Agencies
Authors: Larrison Christopher R. , Davis Jordan P. , Okunoren Oladoyin , Sinha Gaurav R. , Hack Samantha M.
Published: September 2022

We compare African-American and White clients receiving services at 13 rural and semi-rural community mental health agencies (CMHAs) and the impact of Medicaid on the use of crisis and outpatient services. SEM was utilized to model the indirect effect of crisis services between the association of Medicaid and total hours of outpatient services. We modeled the moderating effects of race using mixture modeling and latent class. The base model showed a non-significant indirect effect between having Medicaid and total hours of services through the use of crisis services (Indirect effect = 0.01, p = .98). African-American clients who received Medicaid were more likely to use crisis services ([Formula: see text], which was associated with increased hours of outpatient services ([Formula: see text]. In general, Medicaid was not related to increase service or crisis service usage. However, African-American clients access crisis services significantly more than White clients.
Healthcare Providers’ Experiences with Hiccups in Patients with Cancer: Report of a United States National Survey
Authors: Wieland Jana , Martin Nichole , Jatoi Aminah
Published: September 2022

Hiccups occur in 15-40% of cancer patients, but previous research has not sought the perspectives of cancer healthcare providers. The objective of this research is to report on United States cancer healthcare providers’ awareness of their patients’ hiccups and these healthcare providers' perceived need for further palliation options. A survey was developed and then distributed throughout the United States via email to cancer healthcare providers; results are reported descriptively. Six hundred eighty-four cancer healthcare providers completed 2 eligibility screening questions which required them to have cared for an adequate number of patients (> 10 in the past 6 months) with “clinically significant” hiccups (defined as hiccups that persisted for >48 hours or occurred from cancer or from cancer care). Of 113 eligible healthcare providers, 90 completed the survey. Healthcare providers described hiccups as associated with stress/anxiety, fatigue, sleep problems, and decreased work/school productivity. In 49% of patients, healthcare providers initially prescribed medications (commonly chlorpromazine or baclofen); 18% expressed dissatisfaction with current palliation. Proffered comments included, “When current therapies do not work, it can be very demoralizing to our patients; ” and “…my biggest complaint is that current treatments also come with their own side effects which can be quite severe.” Discordance appears to exist between the percentage of cancer patients with hiccups and the percentage of cancer healthcare providers with awareness of their patients’ hiccups. Nonetheless, healthcare providers described notable hiccup-associated symptoms in their patients and a need for more palliative options.