bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sexual harassment or disinhibition? Residential care staff responses to older adults' unwanted behaviours
Authors: Cook Catherine M. , Schouten Vanessa , Henrickson Mark , McDonald Sandra , Atefi Narges
Published: October 2021

Background

The ethical complexity of residential care is especially apparent for staff responding to residents’ inappropriate sexual expression, particularly when directed towards care workers as these residents are typically frail, often cognitively impaired, and require ongoing care.

Objectives

To explore staff accounts of how they made meaning of and responded to residents' unwanted sexual behaviours directed towards staff. This exploration includes whether staff appeared to accept harassment as a workplace hazard to be managed, or an unacceptable workplace violation, or something else.

Methods

These qualitative data are drawn from a national two‐arm mixed method study in Aotearoa New Zealand undertaken in 35 residential care facilities. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 77 staff, residents and family members. Interpretive description was used to analyse the data.

Results

Staff had numerous ways they used to respond to behaviours: (1) minimisation, deflection and de‐escalation, where staff used strategies to minimise behaviours without requiring any accountability from residents; (2) holding residents accountable, where staff to some degree addressed the behaviour directly with residents; (3) blurred boundaries and complexities in intimate long‐term care, where staff noted that in a context where touch is common‐place, cognitive function was diminished and relationships were long‐term, boundaries were easily breached; (4) dehumanising and infantilising residents’ behaviours, where staff appeared to assert control through diminishing the residents’ identity as an older person. It was evident that staff had developed considerable practice wisdom focused on preserving the care relationship although few referred to policy and education guiding practice.

Conclusions

Staff appeared to be navigating a complex ethical terrain with thoughtfulness and skill. Care workers seemed reluctant to label resident behaviour as sexual harassment, and the term may not fit for staff where they perceive residents are frail and cognitively impaired.

Implications for practice

Policy, education and clinical leadership are recommended to augment practice wisdom and ensure staff and resident safety and dignity and to determine how best to intervene with residents' unwanted sexual behaviours.
Bacterial type III effector–induced plant C8 volatiles elicit antibacterial immunity in heterospecific neighbouring plants via airborne signalling
Authors: Song Geun Cheol , Jeon Je‐Seung , Choi Hye Kyung , Sim Hee‐Jung , Kim Sang‐Gyu , Ryu Choong‐Min
Published: October 2021

Upon sensing attack by pathogens and insect herbivores, plants release complex mixtures of volatile compounds. Here, we show that the infection of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) plants with the non‐host bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato led to the production of microbe‐induced plant volatiles (MIPVs). Surprisingly, the bacterial type III secretion system, which injects effector proteins directly into the plant cytosol to subvert host functions, was found to prime both intra‐ and inter‐specific defense responses in neighbouring wild tobacco (Nicotiana benthamiana) plants. Screening of each of 16 effectors using the Pseudomonas fluorescens effector‐to‐host analyser revealed that an effector, HopP1, was responsible for immune activation in receiver tobacco plants. Further study demonstrated that 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 3‐octanone and 3‐octanol are novel MIPVs emitted by the lima bean plant in a HopP1‐dependent manner. Exposure to synthetic 1‐octen‐3‐ol activated immunity in tobacco plants against a virulent pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci. Our results show for the first time that a bacterial type III effector can trigger the emission of C8 plant volatiles that mediate defense priming via plant–plant interactions. These results provide novel insights into the role of airborne chemicals in bacterial pathogen‐induced inter‐specific plant–plant interactions.
Substance use‐related suicide after release from correctional, behavioral health, and healthcare facilities using national violent death reporting system data
Authors: Mennicke Annelise , Kaniuka Andrea R. , Pruneda Phoebe , Cramer Robert J.
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Suicide and substance use are prevalent problems among persons discharged from facilities. This study (1) articulated rates of substance‐related suicide deaths among those discharged correctional, behavioral health, and healthcare facilities, and (2) identified factors associated with substance‐related suicide deaths unique to, or generalizing across, facility discharge.

Methods

We used data from the National Violent Death Reporting System. Suicide deaths (N = 105,968) were aggregated from 2003 to 2017. Chi‐square and independent samples t‐tests were used to examine associations between drug/alcohol‐related deaths and each correlate. Logistic regression was employed to identify the most robust substance‐related suicide death‐related factors.

Results

Suicide deaths were commonly marked as being substance‐related: 69% from correctional institutions, 54% from behavioral health facilities, 45% from those not released from a facility, and 39% from healthcare facilities. Regression models indicated housing interruptions and interpersonal stressors increased odds of the suicide death being marked as substance‐related across discharge categories. Each discharge category also had unique predictors, underscoring the need for tailored prevention.

Conclusions

Substance‐related suicide deaths are particularly common among adults discharged from correctional and behavioral health facilities. Findings are discussed with respect to community‐focused, discharge planning, and clinical care suicide prevention strategies.
Race‐Making an Idioculture: The Case of a Black Social Club
Authors: Guzman Joseph A.
Published: October 2021

Racialization takes shape at the local level, where small groups form cultures reflecting larger society yet distinctly their own. But what do local racialization processes look like? That is, how does small group culture reciprocally interact with racial ideologies? In what ways do small groups experience and conceive of race at the local level, and how does this shape interpersonal behavior and belonging? Through an in‐depth case study of a Black men’s social club, I analyze the ways race is interpreted at the small group level and how the ideology of race (Fields, New Left Rev, 181, 1990, 95) and the idioculture of a group emerge and interact through group processes. Using a sociology of the local approach, the analysis bridges the cultural and racial by demonstrating how small groups create and negotiate culture through recurring interactions. I encourage greater dialogue between the sociology of small group culture and race, arguing that the former makes clear the building blocks and reciprocal tensions of constructing and experiencing racial ideology.
A persistent homology model of street network connectivity
Authors: Corcoran Padraig , Jones Christopher B.
Published: October 2021

We propose a novel model of street network connectivity which uses a method from the field of applied topology called “persistent homology”. The output from this model is a pair of density functions which model the relative strength and frequency of connected components and cycles in the network. In this context, strength is a function of street type, such as motorway or residential, with more significant street types providing greater connectivity. The pair of density functions output from the model are easily interpreted and provide novel insights into the connectivity properties of different street networks. We demonstrate the usefulness of this model through an analysis of UK and US city street networks. This analysis identifies tangible similarities and differences in the connectivity of different cities plus ways in which the connectivity of individual cities might be improved.
The pig as a model system for investigating the recruitment and contribution of myofibroblasts in skin healing
Authors: Hamilton Douglas W. , Walker John T. , Tinney Dylan , Grynyshyn Michael , El‐Warrak Alexander , Truscott Emily , Flynn Lauren E.
Published: October 2021

In the skin‐healing field, porcine models are regarded as a useful analogue for human skin due to their numerous anatomical and physiological similarities. Despite the widespread use of porcine models in skin healing studies, the initial origin, recruitment and transition of fibroblasts to matrix‐secreting contractile myofibroblasts are not well defined for this model. In this review, we discuss the merit of the pig as an animal for studying myofibroblast origin, as well as the challenges associated with assessing their contributions to skin healing. Although a variety of wound types (incisional, partial thickness, full thickness, burns) have been investigated in pigs in attempts to mimic diverse injuries in humans, direct comparison of human healing profiles with regards to myofibroblasts shows evident differences. Following injury in porcine models, which often employ juvenile animals, myofibroblasts are described in the developing granulation tissue at 4 days, peaking at Days 7–14, and persisting at 60 days post‐wounding, although variations are evident depending on the specific pig breed. In human wounds, the presence of myofibroblasts is variable and does not correlate with the age of the wound or clinical contraction. Our comparison of porcine myofibroblast‐mediated healing processes with those in humans suggests that further validation of the pig model is essential. Moreover, we identify several limitations evident in experimental design that need to be better controlled, and standardisation of methodologies would be beneficial for the comparison and interpretation of results. In particular, we discuss anatomical location of the wounds, their size and depth, as well as the healing microenvironment (wet vs. moist vs. dry) in pigs and how this could influence myofibroblast recruitment. In summary, although a widespread model used in the skin healing field, further research is required to validate pigs as a useful analogue for human healing with regards to myofibroblasts.
IMPACT OF INTERNAL SHADING CONTROLS ON EFFICIENT DAYLIGHTING IN HOME-OFFICE WORKSPACES IN TROPICAL CLIMATES
Authors: Mousavi Seyed Mohammad , Khan Tareef Hayat , Lim Yaik-Wah , Mohammadi Amin
Published: October 2021

Home office workspaces have significantly grown in residential sectors throughout the world. Nowadays, many people worldwide are forced to work from their housing units due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the existing residential buildings were only designed for living activities, not for desk-related tasks. This is more critical in tropical regions with the overabundance of indoor daylight and lack of external shadings on existing buildings. Despite the limitations for modifying the external facades, interior retrofit plays a major role in improving visual environments. Daylighting performances of various configurations, including internal shading devices, interior surfaces, and window films, were experimented with the Radiance-IES program. A field measurement of daylight was conducted in a home office room under the Malaysian tropical sky to validate the simulated results. This research proved that the existing residential buildings in the tropical climates had poor daylighting performance where the mean indoor illuminance could be over 10,000 lx. The combination of a light shelf, a partial blind, and the tinted window film could effectively 85% alleviate the excessive indoor daylight level. This configuration recorded a significant improvement in Useful Daylight Zone (around 300%), and Daylight Glare Probability was considerably reduced from 0.46 to 0.34.
OPTIMAL ACCURACY PERFORMANCE IN MUSIC-BASED EEG SIGNAL USING MATTHEW CORRELATION COEFFICIENT ADVANCED (MCCA)
Authors: Mustafa Mahfuzah , Zahari Zarith Liyana , Abdubrani Rafiuddin
Published: October 2021

The connection between music and human are very synonyms because music could reduce stress. The state of stress could be measured using EEG signal, an electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement which contains an arousal and valence index value. In previous studies, it is found that the Matthew Correlation Coefficient (MCC) performance accuracy is of 85±5%. The arousal indicates strong emotion, and valence indicates positive and negative degree of emotion. Arousal and valence values could be used to measure the accuracy performance. This research focuses on the enhance MCC parameter equation based on arousal and valence values to perform the maximum accuracy percentage in the frequency domain and time-frequency domain analysis. Twenty-one features were used to improve the significance of feature extraction results and the investigated arousal and valence value. The substantial feature extraction involved alpha, beta, delta and theta frequency bands in measuring the arousal and valence index formula. Based on the results, the arousal and valance index is accepted to be applied as parameters in the MCC equations. However, in certain cases, the improvement of the MCC parameter is required to achieve a high accuracy percentage and this research proposed Matthew correlation coefficient advanced (MCCA) in order to improve the performance result by using a six sigma method. In conclusion, the MCCA equation is established to enhance the existing MCC parameter to improve the accuracy percentage up to 99.9% for the arousal and valence index.
AN EFFECT OF SPRAY CONFIGURATION AND ADSORBENT MATERIAL ON PERFORMANCE OF THE SPRAY SCRUBBER IN THE DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER-ENGINE SYSTEM
Authors: Susastriawan Anak Agung , Purwanto Yuli , Purnomo Purnomo , Vindo Kade , Hariyanto Adi
Published: October 2021

The work aims to investigate an effect of spray configuration and adsorbent material on performance of wet scrubber in removing tar gravimetric in producer gas. The scrubber is installed at small scale downdraft gasifier-engine system and the tests are conducted in two sections. Firstly, the scrubber is tested using water adsorbent at various spray flow configurations to the producer gas flow (cross flow, counter flow, mixed flow). Secondly, the scrubber is tested using adsorbent of cooking oil and waste of engine lubricant at cross flow spray configuration. The performance of the scrubber investigated are temperature profile, log mean temperature difference, heat transfer rate, and tar removal effectiveness. For spray configuration test, the result shows that cross spray configuration (CrS) has the optimum performance. The CsS scrubber has the highest LMTD, heat transfer rate, and tar removal efficiency among others. The values are 29.8°C, 7.84 kW, and 0.43, accordingly. Meanwhile, the test using different adsorbent indicates adsorption property of the adsorbent plays an important rules in tar removal effectiveness of the scrubber. The removal effectiveness of the scrubber for using adsorbent of water, cooking oil, and engine lubricant are 0.43, 0.12, and 0.60, respectively.
KOMPOSISI PROKSIMAT DAN PENERIMAAN SENSORI MAKANAN VEGETARIAN INDIA STERIL TERPILIH
Authors: Mohd Kasim Zalifah , Hasim Nurul Farhana , Zubairi Saiful Irwan
Published: October 2021

Vegetarian diets are slowly becoming a lifestyle in Malaysia but is still lacking in the production of vegetarian foods in the form of ready-to-eat meals. The main objectives of this study were to determine the proximate composition and sensory acceptance of selected Indian vegetarian dishes (aloo gobi, dhal curry, potato curry, aloo patta gobi, bhindi masala, vadai and vegetarian kebab) before and after sterilization process. The preparation of the dishes was done using sterilization and vacuum packaging technique. As for the proximate analysis, ash, moisture, fat, protein, carbohydrate and crude fibre and total caloric content were determined. Sensory analysis which was quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) and the 7-point hedonic scale were used to determine appearance, colour, odour, taste, texture and overall acceptance, before and after sterilization process. In proximate analysis, significant difference (p<0.05) between reference and steril samples for vegetarian kebab and vadai (moisture), aloo patta gobi and aloo gobi (ash), bhindi masala, vegetarian kebab and aloo gobi (protein), aloo gobi, vegetarian kebab and vadai (fat).  Vegetarian kebab showed the highest mean value and significantly different (p<0.05) in energy values. Hedonic test showed that the overall acceptability of Indian vegetarian dishes among races were significantly different (p<0.05). Vegetarian kebab had the highest preference score as compared to the other samples. As for QDA, there were no significant difference in the overall acceptability for all the reference and sterilized samples. In conclusion, the sterilization process slightly affected the proximate composition and sensory acceptance of selected Indian vegetarian dishes.
Kesan Zikir Rātib al- Ἁṭṭas ke atas Akhlak Pengamalnya (The Effect of Rātib al- Ἁṭṭas Chanting on the Morality of The Chanters)
Authors: Sahimi Mohd Shafiq , Zakaria Norazlina
Published: October 2021

This article is the result of an academic based research into Rātib al- ‘Aṭṭas. Ratib or Islamic chant is an essential element in an order (or school) of Sufism. However, the debate on the correlation between the aforementioned Ratib and moral development has not yet been specifically appraised, nor has it been proved by practical means. The objective of this research is to identify the correlation between the practice of Rātib al- ‘Aṭṭas by practitioners and their moral development. This research used quantitative methodology (research survey) involving practitioners of this Rātib in the state of Johor region as the respondents. These 350 respondents were from four different zones of Johor. The data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential means (correlation t-test). The findings of this research have shown that Rātib al- ‘Aṭṭas has a significant connection between moral development and establishment of several moral values of the practitioners in Johor who were truly diligent in undergoing this practise based upon an accurate practice module, sincere and pure intention and consistency. It is hoped that from this research, Rātib al- ‘Aṭṭas will be generally accepted and will receive recognition from the institutions involved.
Mobile Educational Games For Learning Sirah Nabi: Development And Usability Evaluation
Authors: Kamarazaman Nadzirah , Ibrahim Roslina , Yusoff Rasimah C.M. , M Zainudin Norziha M. , Yaacob Suraya , Yahya Yazriwati , R. Azami Husna Hafiza
Published: October 2021

The pervasive use of the internet and mobile phone among the age group 5 – 17 years old makes learning through these media an attractive proposition. Mobile learning presents a flexible and inventive way of learning as well as the new normal. On the other hand, learning Sirah is an essential part of every Muslim in the world in order to understand what has happened in the past regarding our beloved prophet and to learn from his behaviour and follow his sunnah. However, past studies shown that the traditional learning approach seems dull and not interesting enough.  Mobile learning thus offers a new solution in learning the Sirah and similar subjects most students find of low interest and dull. The study used a quantitative approach using survey for data collection; and was divided into two phases: Sirah Game Prototype Design and Usability Evaluation phase. The ADDIE model was adapted as a model to guide instructional design process and development of the Sirah mobile applications with five phases throughout the process. An evaluation model consisted of seven components namely Game Usability, Mobility, Learning Content and Playability, Satisfaction, Efficiency was implemented. The findings suggested that students are highly interested in the use of the games for learning, able to learn Sirah subject in better ways by using the games and learning with games was found as enjoyable way to learn. This study adds more to Islamic digital content and enhances the learning approach for Sirah subject. We hope to contribute more towards Islamic digital content in the future for the benefit of our ummah and community.
Mission Engineering and Design using Real-Time Strategy Games: An Explainable-AI Approach
Authors: Dachowicz Adam , Mall Kshitij , Balasubramani Prajwal , Maheshwari Apoorv , Panchal Jitesh H. , Delaurentis Dan , Raz Ali
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we adapt computational design approaches, widely used by the engineering design community, to address the unique challenges associated with mission design using RTS games. Specifically, we present a modeling approach that combines experimental design techniques, meta-modeling using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), uncertainty quantification, and explainable AI (XAI). We illustrate the approach using an open-source real-time strategy (RTS) game called microRTS. The modeling approach consists of microRTS player agents (bots), design of experiments that arranges games between identical agents with asymmetric initial conditions, and an AI infused layer comprising CNNs, XAI, and uncertainty analysis through Monte Carlo Dropout Network analysis that allows analysis of game balance. A sample balanced game and corresponding predictions and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) are presented in this study. Three additional perturbations were introduced to this balanced gameplay and the observations about important features of the game using SHAP are presented. Our results show that this analysis can successfully predict probability of win for self-play microRTS games, as well as capture uncertainty in predictions that can be used to guide additional data collection to improve the model, or refine the game balance measure.
Finding Joy in the Journey: Sustaining a Meaningful Career in Sport Management
Authors: Dixon Marlene A.
Published: October 2021

In her 2020 Earle F. Zeigler Award address, Marlene Dixon presented and discussed five elements of a sustained career in academia: Lifelong Learning, Authenticity, Relational Mentoring, Work-Life Balance, and Faithfulness. Dixon suggests that remaining open to new learning and taking risks helps increase capacity and vigor. Authenticity brings richness, voice, durability, and purpose. Relational mentoring brings connection, community, enrichment, and longevity. Cultivating work-life balance, rest, and self-care not only helps avoid burnout, but also improves creativity, playfulness, and liveliness. Finally, leveraging the extended metaphor from Tolkein’sLeaf by Niggle, Dixon argues that faithfulness, rather than visibility or measurable outcome, defines the meaning and value of our work and contribution not only to science, but also to our life circles.
Liquid-phase sintering of lead halide perovskites and metal-organic framework glasses
Authors: Hou Jingwei , Chen Peng , Shukla Atul , Krajnc Andraž , Wang Tiesheng , Li Xuemei , Doasa Rana , Tizei Luiz H. G. , Chan Bun , Johnstone Duncan N. , Lin Rijia , Schülli Tobias U. , Martens Isaac , Appadoo Dominique , Ari Mark S’ , Wang Zhiliang , Wei Tong , Lo Shih-Chun , Lu Mingyuan , Li Shichun , Namdas Ebinazar B. , Mali Gregor , Cheetham Anthony K. , Collins Sean M. , Chen Vicki , Wang Lianzhou , Bennett Thomas D.
Published: October 2021

Stable emission in glass

Lead halide perovskites can exhibit bright, narrow band photoluminescence but have stability issues related to formation of inactive phases and the loss of lead ions. Hou
et al
. show that the black, photoactive phase of cesium lead iodide can be stabilized by forming a composite with a glassy phase of a metal-organic framework through liquid-phase sintering. The photoluminescence is at least two orders of magnitude greater than that of the pure perovskite. The glass stabilizes the perovskite under high laser excitation, and about 80% of the photoluminescence was maintained after 10,000 hours of water immersion. —PDS
The inescapable drive to sleep: Overlapping mechanisms of sleep and sedation
Authors: Franks Nicholas P. , Wisden William
Published: October 2021

Common human experience is that a long period without sleep is unsustainable, and it is also detrimental to health and behavior. The powerful and primal urge to sleep after sleep deprivation is intense and seems inescapable. The longer we stay awake, the more we feel the need to sleep, and however much we resist, we will inevitably succumb. Although it is obvious what benefits derive from other common and strong physiological drives, such as hunger, sex, and thirst, it is less obvious what drives us to sleep and what benefits accrue. Understanding the biochemical or circuit basis for the sleep drive could enable the benefits of sleep to be artificially stimulated with a new generation of sedative drugs.
AAAS video series focuses on combating misinformation
Authors: Ham Becky
Published: October 2021

Vaccines, AI, and sexually transmitted infections among first topics
In Other Journals
Authors: Smith Jesse , Sugden Andrew M. , Suleymanov Yury , Grocholski Brent , Hurtley Stella M. , Kelly Priscilla N. , Osborne Ian S. , Purnell Beverly A.
Published: October 2021

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature
Divided we sleep
Authors: Pérez Ortega Rodrigo
Published: October 2021

Poor sleep disproportionately undermines the health of communities of color. Researchers want to figure out why—and find solutions
United Kingdom moves to prevent birth defects
Authors: Wadman Meredith
Published: October 2021

European Union countries are holdouts against widespread practice of adding folic acid to flour
Dinosaurs thrived until asteroid hit, new fossils suggest
Authors: Price Michael
Published: October 2021

Data from Tanis site—claimed to preserve the Cretaceous extinction—impress some geologists, but skeptics remain
Pandemic spotlight brings attention—and plenty of heat
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: October 2021

Scientists like Devi Sridhar leaped to fill an information gap
Complete Genome Sequences of Two Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O146:H10 Strains Recovered from a Foodborne Outbreak in China
Authors: Huang Hui , Wang Yanwen , Wang Chunxu , Tang Yong , He Lili , Deng Jieyu , Pan Xianmin
Published: October 2021

Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) is one of the primary pathogenic contaminants of foods, contributing to several foodborne outbreaks in recent years. Here, we report the complete genome sequences of two non-O157 STEC strains isolated from an outbreak of diarrhea in the city of Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.
Early supported discharge for older adults admitted to hospital with medical complaints: a protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Williams Susan , Morrissey Ann-Marie , Steed Fiona , Leahy Aoife , Shanahan Elaine , Peters Catherine , O"Connor Margaret , Galvin Rose , O"Riordan Clíona
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Early supported discharge (ESD) aims to link acute and community care, allowing hospital inpatients to return home and continue to receive the necessary input from healthcare professionals that they would otherwise receive in hospital. The concept has been researched extensively in the stroke population, showing reduced length of stay for patients and improved functional outcomes. This systematic review aims to explore the totality of evidence for the use of ESD in an older adult population who have been hospitalised with medical complaints.

Methods

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials and quasi randomised controlled trials will be carried out in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies will be included if they provide an ESD intervention to older adults admitted to hospital for medical complaints compared with continuing inpatient care. MEDLINE, CINAHL, CENTRAL and EMBASE databases will be searched. The primary outcome measure will be length of hospital stay, secondary outcomes will include functional abilities, falls, quality of life, carer and patient satisfaction, unplanned emergency department re-presentation, unscheduled hospital readmission, nursing home admission or mortality. Titles and abstracts of studies will be screened independently by two authors. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool will be used independently by two reviewers to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. GRADE will be used to assess the quality of the body of evidence. A pooled meta-analysis will be conducted using RevMan software V.5.4.1, depending on the uniformity of the data.

Ethics and dissemination

The authors will present the findings of the review to a patient and public involvement stakeholder panel of older people that has been established at the Ageing Research Centre in the University of Limerick. Formal ethical approval is not required for the review as all data collected will be secondary data and will be analysed anonymously.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021223112.
Implementation of music in the perioperative standard care of colorectal surgery: study protocol of the IMPROVE Study
Authors: Kakar Ellaha , Ista Erwin , Klimek M , Jeekel Johannes
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Perioperative music intervention has been proven effective in reducing anxiety, pain, neurohormonal stress response and medication requirement. Unfortunately, there is a gap between new effective interventions and their (interventions) integration in standard care protocols. The aim of this preimplementation and postimplementation study is to investigate the adherence to a music intervention in a tailored, multilevel, systematic implementation strategy and the initial impact of the implementation on postoperative pain in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

Methods and design

A monocentre prospective preimplementation and postimplementation study was set up using The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to conduct a systematic implementation of music intervention in three phases. Primary outcomes are adherence to the music intervention and the initial impact of the music intervention implementation on postoperative pain scores on the first postoperative day. At least 100 patients will be included in the study. Secondary outcomes include adherence to the implementation strategy, penetration of music intervention in the standard care, assessment of the determinants for implementation, impact of the implemented music intervention on pain during the entire admission, anxiety, medication usage, complications, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay.

Ethics and dissemination

The Medical Ethics Review Board of Erasmus MC University Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands, has approved this protocol. The study is being conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Results of this trial will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conference presentations.

Trial registration

Dutch Trial Register NL8071.
Awareness and attitudes towards advance care planning in primary care: role of demographic, socioeconomic and religiosity factors in a cross-sectional Lebanese study
Authors: Assaf Georges , Jawhar Sarah , Wahab Kamal , El Hachem Rita , Kaur Tanjeev , Tanielian Maria , Feghali Lea , Al Hazzouri Adina Zeki , Elbejjani Martine
Published: October 2021

Objective

To assess awareness and attitudes towards engaging in advance care planning (ACP) and their relationship with demographic, socioeconomic and religiosity factors among Lebanese middle-aged to older-aged adults in primary care.

Design

A cross-sectional survey study.

Setting

Tertiary referral hospital in Beirut, Lebanon.

Participants

A total of 215 middle-aged to older-aged adults.

Results

Out of 215 participants, 18.6% of participants knew about ACP; 94% favoured truth-telling; 87.4% favoured healthcare autonomy; 77.2% favoured documenting their own health values and preferences; and 29.3% were willing to undergo life-prolonging interventions. Among participants who were aware of ACP, 67.5% preferred ACP documentation and 85% had negative attitudes towards life-sustaining interventions. Women were more aware about ACP than men. Those who were willing to undergo life-prolonging interventions were found to be men and had higher religiosity scores.

Conclusion

Large deficit in ACP awareness was evident despite the high preference for healthcare autonomy. Medical and public health efforts should strive to enhance patients’ ACP awareness and engagement in ACP while considering factors relevant to gender, culture and religiosity.
School-based behaviour change intervention to increase physical activity levels among children: a feasibility cluster non-randomised controlled trial in Yangzhou, China
Authors: Wang Haiquan , Blake Holly , Chattopadhyay Kaushik
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Children in China have low levels of physical activity. We developed a school-based behaviour change intervention to increase their physical activity levels. The study aimed to determine the feasibility of undertaking a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) in the future. This future cluster RCT will evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention.

Design

Feasibility cluster non-RCT design.

Setting

Two public schools (one intervention and one control) in Yangzhou, China.

Participants

Children aged 10–12 years and their parents.

Intervention

The 16-week school-based behaviour change intervention to increase physical activity levels consisted of three components (a) health education (physical education), (b) family involvement and (c) school environment support.

Outcomes measures

We estimated important parameters that are needed to design the future cluster RCT, such as SD of the primary outcome (ie, 7-day steps in children), intracluster correlation coefficient (ICC), recruitment of child–parent dyads, follow-up of children, completion of and time needed for data collection among children and intervention attendance.

Results

Sixty-four children and their parents participated in the study (32 per study group). The SD of the primary outcome was 34 519 steps. The ICC was 0.03. The recruitment and follow-up rates were 100%. The completion of data collection was 100% (except for the 7-day steps at baseline—one child lost the step log in the intervention group and two children lost their pedometer in the control group). The time needed to complete the self-reported questionnaire by children was around 15 min per study group, and the measurement of their anthropometric parameters took around 40 min per study group. The intervention attendance was 100%.

Conclusions

Based on the promising recruitment, follow-up, completion of and time needed for data collection and intervention attendance, it would be feasible to undertake the future cluster RCT in China.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR1900026865.
Effect of blowing ratio on film-cooling effectiveness of ginkgo shaped holes: a numerical approach
Authors: Awais Muhammad , Hasan Reaz , Rahman Hamidur
Published: October 2021

Modern gas turbine engines operate at high temperatures to improve thermal efficiency and power output. Increased rotor inlet temperatures increase the rate of heat transfer to the turbine blades, which requires sophisticated cooling schemes to keep the blade temperature at acceptable levels. This work is a numerical investigation of film cooling techniques as applied to gas turbines. The cooling performance of two differently shaped holes, namely, Ginkgo Forward and Ginkgo Reverse, were investigated in terms of centerline and local lateral cooling effectiveness, and a comprehensive comparison was made with the cooling performance of a cylindrical hole. The investigations were performed at a constant density ratio (DR = 2.0) and three different blowing ratios (BR = 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0). Under all of the operating conditions, the results demonstrated significant augmentation in centerline and lateral cooling effectiveness when the Ginkgo Reverse shaped hole was used, followed by the Ginkgo Forward and cylindrical cooling holes. For the shaped cooling holes, the low velocity gradient through the film alleviated the jet lift-off and turbulence, resulting in decreased entrainment of hot gas to the bottom surface. To conclude, the prominent lateral dispersal of the coolant due to the shaped cooling holes significantly enhanced thermal protection and the overall cooling performance.
The Overlap Gap Between Left-Infinite and Right-Infinite Words
Authors: Costa José Carlos , Nogueira Conceição , Teixeira Maria Lurdes
Published: October 2021

We study ultimate periodicity properties related to overlaps between the suffixes of a left-infinite word [Formula: see text] and the prefixes of a right-infinite word [Formula: see text]. The main theorem states that the set of minimum lengths of words [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] is finite, where [Formula: see text] runs over positive integers and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are respectively the suffix of [Formula: see text] and the prefix of [Formula: see text] of length [Formula: see text], if and only if [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are ultimately periodic words of the form [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for some finite words [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Rotating frame effects and potential on a relativistic scalar particle in Kaluza–Klein theory
Authors: Ahmed Faizuddin
Published: October 2021

The effects of uniform rotation on a relativistic scalar particle that interacts with a Cornell-type potential in background space–time described by the Kaluza–Klein theory are analyzed and the gravitational analogue of the Aharonov–Bohm effect is observed. Furthermore, linear confinement of a relativistic scalar particle was also discussed. We see a coupling between the angular velocity of the rotating frame [Formula: see text] and the angular momentum eigenvalue [Formula: see text] which shows the Sagnac-type effect.
A Cognitive Measure of Entrepreneurial Alertness
Authors: Chavoushi Zohreh Hassannezhad , Valliere Dave
Published: October 2021

Alertness is a foundational concept in current understandings of the spotting and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities. Yet, despite being identified as a key theoretical construct of individual entrepreneurs, its cognitive features are not fully described in the literature. And as a result, the existing instruments for measuring this cognitive feature of entrepreneurs do not fully reflect the broad nature of this concept. In this study, the cognitive theoretical basis of alertness is reviewed and a new scale, which better reflects the broader cognitive features of entrepreneurial alertness, is presented. This may assist the validity of future empirical studies that involve entrepreneurial alertness.
Functionalized Silver Nanoparticles Enhance Therapeutic Effect of Paclitaxel for Prostate Cancer Therapy by Arresting the Cellular Cycle and Producing ROS
Authors: Chen Jiahong , Fang Shumin , Yang Lifen , Ling Xiaohui , Liao Jinxian , Zhou Xiaobo , Li Maozhang , Zhong Weide
Published: October 2021

Chemotherapy has been proven to be an efficient strategy for the treatment of prostate cancer (PC). However, the insufficient cellular uptake of drugs is the biggest challenge for PC therapy. Therefore, in order to address the above concern, we developed tumor-targeted hyaluronic acid-silver nanoparticles (HA-Ag NPs), in which hyaluronic acid can specially bind with its receptor CD44 overexpressed on LNCaP cells. HA-Ag NPs have been used to load paclitaxel (PTX) to prepare functionalized silver nanoparticles (HA-Ag-PTX). The average particle size of HA-Ag-PTX was about 70 nm and kept under 120 nm for eight days. androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells (LNCaP) cells show good uptake of HA-Ag-PTX, and HA-Ag-PTX enters LNCaP cells in a clathrin-mediated energy-dependent manner. HA-Ag-PTX exhibits an excellent pH response release of PTX under the acidic condition, which is beneficial to enhance the distribution of PTX in the tumor microenvironment. HA-Ag-PTX effectively suppresses the migration and proliferation of LNCaP cells probably by arresting the cellular cycle at [Formula: see text]0/[Formula: see text]1 phase and enhancing the production of the reactive oxygen species. It is worth mentioning that HA-Ag-PTX exhibits greater anticancer activity in comparison with free PTX in the LNCaP cell model, indicating that HA-Ag NPs can effectively enhance the anticancer efficacy of PTX. As a whole, these findings suggest that HA-Ag-PTX has promising potential for PC therapy.
Two-ended quasi-transitive graphs
Authors: Miraftab Babak , Rühmann Tim
Published: October 2021

The well-known characterization of two-ended groups says that every two-ended group can be split over finite subgroups which means it is isomorphic to either by a free product with amalgamation [Formula: see text] or an HNN-extension [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a finite group and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we show that there is a way in order to spilt two-ended quasi-transitive graphs without dominated ends and two-ended transitive graphs over finite subgraphs in the above sense. As an application of it, we characterize all groups acting with finitely many orbits almost freely on those graphs.
Edge (m,k)-choosability of graphs
Authors: Soorya P. , Germina K. A.
Published: October 2021

Let [Formula: see text] be a simple, connected graph of order [Formula: see text] and size [Formula: see text] Then, [Formula: see text] is said to be edge [Formula: see text]-choosable, if there exists a collection of subsets of the edge set, [Formula: see text] of cardinality [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] whenever [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are incident. This paper initiates a study on edge [Formula: see text]-choosability of certain fundamental classes of graphs and determines the maximum value of [Formula: see text] for which the given graph [Formula: see text] is edge [Formula: see text]-choosable. Also, in this paper, the relation between edge choice number and other graph theoretic parameters is discussed and we have given a conjecture on the relation between edge choice number and matching number of a graph.
In-silicoPharmacokinetic and Affinity Studies of Piperazine/Morpholine Substituted Quinolines in Complex with GAK as Promising Anti-HCV Agent
Authors: Andac Cenk A. , Çakmak Osman , Ökten Salih , Çağlar-Andac Sena , Işıldak İbrahim
Published: October 2021

Piperazine/morpholine derivatives of quinoline substituted at positions C-3, C-6 and C-8 has been previously prepared by SNAr reactions of 3,6,8-tribromoquinoline (1) under microwave or conventional heating reaction conditions. In this study, we evaluated binding interactions between the piperazine/morpholine substituted quinolines and its highly-likely receptor, Cyclin G associated kinase (GAK) involved in hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into host cells, via docking, molecular dynamics (MD), thermodynamic and pharmacokinetics computations in order to select a possible lead compound, which may be used for lead-optimization in our future studies to develop novel drug candidates against HCV infections. 372 nsec MD simulations followed by MM-PBSA thermodynamic computations revealed that compound 23 ([Formula: see text]= 0.08[Formula: see text]nM) possesses the greatest potential to inhibit GAK. Pharmacokinetics computations suggest that compound 23 is a drug-like molecule as it conforms to the Lipinski filter. We determined that compound 23 could be a lead-like molecule for peripheric and cerebral HCV infections.
Evaluating Grasping Visualizations and Control Modes in a VR Game
Authors: Adkins Alex , Lin Lorraine , Normoyle Aline , Canales Ryan , Ye Yuting , Jörg Sophie
Published: October 2021

A primary goal of the
Virtual Reality
(
VR
) community is to build fully immersive and presence-inducing environments with seamless and natural interactions. To reach this goal, researchers are investigating how to best directly use our hands to interact with a virtual environment using hand tracking. Most studies in this field require participants to perform repetitive tasks. In this article, we investigate if results of such studies translate into a real application and game-like experience. We designed a virtual escape room in which participants interact with various objects to gather clues and complete puzzles. In a between-subjects study, we examine the effects of two input modalities (controllers vs. hand tracking) and two grasping visualizations (continuously tracked hands vs. virtual hands that disappear when grasping) on ownership, realism, efficiency, enjoyment, and presence.

Our results show that ownership, realism, enjoyment, and presence increased when using hand tracking compared to controllers. Visualizing the tracked hands during grasps leads to higher ratings in one of our ownership questions and one of our enjoyment questions compared to having the virtual hands disappear during grasps as is common in many applications. We also confirm some of the main results of two studies that have a repetitive design in a more realistic gaming scenario that might be closer to a typical user experience.
Construction of a Novel Doxorubicin Nanomedicine Using Bindarit as a Carrier: A Multiscale Computer Simulation-Assisted Design-Based Study
Authors: Shi Anjie , Long Ling , Liu Zhibin , Liu Yao , Gong Qingjia , Zhang Chengyuan , Yuan Hongfeng , Zhou Xing
Published: October 2021

Nanomedicines typically use polymeric materials or liposomes as carriers. This provides targeting advantages but may lead to a series of defects, such as low drug loading, high risk in terms of safety, and high production costs. Herein, we report a computer simulation-assisted designing method for the construction of a novel doxorubicin (DOX) nanomedicine without any polymer carriers. We used a small molecular drug, bindarit (BIN), as a carrier of DOX to provide synergistic antitumor effects. First, the intermolecular forces between DOX and BIN were calculated for evaluating the interaction and potential conformation of the DOX/BIN complex. Then, the potential assembly ability of the DOX/BIN complex was predicated here by using dissipative particle dynamic stimulation. These computational simulation results suggested that BIN could form an amphiphilic complex with DOX through π–π stacking, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interaction and then self-assemble to nanoaggregates at the mesoscopic scale. Under the computational guidance, doxorubicin/bindarit nanoparticles (DOX/BIN NPs) in a spherical morphology were successfully prepared, and these NPs possess the original cytotoxic activity of DOX. Thus, this multiscale computer simulation-assisted design strategy can serve as an effective approach to develop nanomedicines using small molecules as a carrier.