bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Penser le Java mystique de l'âge moderne avec Foucault : peut-on écrire une histoire « non intentionnaliste » du politique ?
Authors: Bertrand Romain
Published: September 2010

Résumé De quelle manière le spécialiste de politique comparée peut-il se saisir des préceptes anti-utilitaristes de Michel Foucault ? Le refus obstiné de ce dernier d’agréer les notions jumelles d’« agent » et d’« acteur » peut se révéler un précieux mode d’analyse des sociétés politiques extra-européennes, dès lors que celles-ci n’obéissent pas nécessairement aux philosophies utilitaristes contemporaines. À titre d’exemple, la poésie mystique javanaise des xvii - xix e siècles, composée par les princes, les aristocrates et les poètes de cour des palais de Surakarta et de Jogjakarta, s’enracine dans le refus ascétique de l’illusion de l’identité individuelle. Produit d’une longue lutte de pouvoir et de préséance entre divers groupes de l’élite sociale javanaise et héritière de multiples et complexes traditions spirituelles, cette pensée mystique ne peut se comprendre dans ses propres termes qu’à raison de la mise à distance du théorème instrumentaliste. Sa lecture « foucaldienne » offre ainsi matière à une critique constructive de l’excessive prégnance du langage contemporain de l’intérêt et de l’intention consciente dans le domaine de l’étude des passés extra-européens.
Characteristics of Ponds Used by Breeding Mottled Ducks on the Chenier Plain of the Texas Gulf Coast
Authors: Haukos David , Martinez Stephanie , Heltzel Jeannie
Published: September 2010

Mottled ducks Anas fulvigula are nonmigratory and primarily depend on habitats associated with coastal marshes of the Gulf Coast for their entire life cycle. Much of remaining available coastal marsh habitats of the Texas Gulf Coast are managed by state and federal agencies. The Texas Gulf Coast breeding population of mottled ducks has recently declined dramatically. To aid in development of management plans for breeding mottled ducks, we estimated the number of potential pair ponds available on the Texas Chenier Plain National Wildlife Refuge Complex relative to marsh type (fresh, intermediate, brackish, and saline), estimated occupancy, compared habitats of used and unused pair ponds, and evaluated pair pond selection relative to marsh type during spring 2004 and 2005. Greater than 18,000 ponds were recorded in >22,400 ha of coastal marsh with >74% of potential pair ponds in the intermediate marsh type. Average pond size of 425 randomly selected ponds across marsh types was 0.09 ha. Pond occupancy was estimated as 1.3% and 2.5% in 2004 and 2005, respectively, in 634 ponds surveyed for presence of mottled duck pairs. Mottled ducks selected for ponds in fresh marsh with short surrounding vegetation associated with recent cattle grazing, but avoided recently (<3 mo prior) burned areas. Pond area was greater with shallower water depth for used compared to unused ponds. The presence and coverage of submergent and emergent vegetation did not influence use of pair ponds by mottled ducks. Development of breeding habitat (pair ponds, nesting cover, brood habitat) in fresh marsh will benefit mottled ducks. Our results indicate development of breeding habitat on the Texas Gulf Coast, and vegetation management using cattle grazing timed for disturbance in fresh marsh during mid- to late winter and early spring will further attract breeding mottled ducks.
An exploratory study of the interaction between work and personal life: Experiences of South African employees
Authors: Koekemoer Eileen , Mostert Karina
Published: September 2010

Orientation: The interaction between work and personal life is an important field of research in the 21st century and of pressing concern for various individuals and organisations internationally and in South Africa.Research purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the interaction between work and personal life and the experiences thereof in the South African context.Motivation of the study: South African employees are faced with various circumstances which could influence the interaction between their work and personal life and which could constitute different/unique experiences regarding this interaction.Research design, approach and method: A non-probability purposive voluntary sample was used. Data collection was done by means of semi-structured in-depth interviews with 92 participants. Content analysis was used to analyse and interpret the research data.Main findings: Four main themes (i.e. the experience of work, experiences and domains in the personal life, interaction between work and personal life, consequences associated with the interaction) were extracted from the data. Participants indicated stressful and supportive aspects in their work as well as additional personal dimensions in their personal life. Interaction between work and various personal dimensions were indicated, as well as consequences associated with different types of interaction.Practical and managerial implications: Individuals experienced interaction between their work and various other personal dimensions, where the forms of interaction were associated with certain consequences (i.e. spillover of emotions, energy depletion).Contribution/value-add: Compared to international findings, unique findings were obtained relating to individuals’ personal life and the consequences associated with the interaction.
Professional Tensions in Client-Centered Practice: Using Institutional Ethnography to Generate Understanding and Transformation
Authors: Townsend Elizabeth , Langille Lynn , Ripley Debra
Published: September 2010

For almost 20 years, occupational therapists have advocated client-centered practice. Yet client-centered practice is fraught with tensions that arise outside the practice of individual occupational therapists. This paper is guided by two questions: What produces professional tensions in client-centered practice? and What understanding and change might be generated using institutional ethnography? The sociological theory and method of institutional ethnography are described using data from an ongoing investigation of mental health services as a social institution. Illustrated are the research aim, research questions, and institutional analysis that distinguish institutional ethnography from conventional ethnography. Two professional tensions are associated with attempts to fulfill client-centered practice in mental health. One is that of working at cross-purposes with the prevailing hierarchical structure; the other tension is that of being celebrated yet subordinated in the medical and management hierarchies of health services. Although client-centered practice is difficult to do, the authors recommend institutional ethnography as a research approach to generate understanding and transformation of the context and practice of occupational therapy.
Gazing Anew: The Shift From a Clinical Gaze to an Ethnographic Lens
Authors: Lawlor Mary C.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this paper is to analyze ways of perceiving, knowing, and being with others while engaging in qualitative and ethnographic research. As occupational therapists acquire research expertise and embark on research trajectories, they bring their clinical legacy into the research arena. The ability to conduct qualitative and ethnographic projects may require a reconfiguration of the clinical gaze of occupational therapists. This transformation is complex and also involves acquiring and adopting a stance that alters relational and interpersonal processes and results in new ways of seeing and being. I draw upon experiences in training, mentoring, and supervising therapists who embark on ethnographic research, as well as my own research practices, to illustrate points of intersection and divergence between the clinical gaze and ethnographic lens. Artistic metaphors are also used to highlight aspects of the interactional and intersubjective processes intrinsic to ethnographic practices. I argue that ethnographers are continually evaluating and negotiating their stance in the field. The clinician who becomes an ethnographer faces unique challenges to his or her stance in the midst of moment to moment encounters as well as over time in the course of prolonged engagement.
The Perils of Power in Interpretive Research
Authors: Cohn Ellen S. , Lyons Kathleen Doyle
Published: September 2010

Occupational therapy is based on core values of altruism, equality, and honoring the dignity of others. Embedded in these values is the ever-present negotiation of power. To honor the concern for the welfare of others, researchers are challenged to think about issues of power throughout the research process. This paper identifies dilemmas and raises questions researchers might ask themselves as they struggle to share power in the interpretive research process.
Data Analysis in Qualitative Research: A Plea for Sharing the Magic and the Effort
Authors: Dickie Virginia A.
Published: September 2010

This discussion of data analysis in qualitative research addresses the question of how authors describe this aspect of their research. I suggest that the tradition of organization of research papers from quantitative research is not a good fit for writing qualitative research. I argue for less jargon and more detailed description, with the analytic process integrated into the findings and interpretation.
Using Participant Observation to Study the Meaning of Occupations of Young Children With Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Spitzer Susan L.
Published: September 2010

Understanding the individual meaning of daily activities for children with developmental disabilities such as autism is both important and challenging for researchers and practitioners. Rigorous participant observation offers a method for developing this knowledge base by including the child’s perspective. Through literature and examples from an ethnography of young children with autism, this article illustrates the application of participant observation to children with developmental disabilities. Specific strategies can promote valid interpretations despite developmental, linguistic, and perceptual differences between adult researchers and child participants.
The Effect of Body Orientation on a Point-to-Point Movement in Healthy Elderly Persons
Authors: Nilsen Dawn M. , Kaminski Terry R. , Gordon Andrew M.
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. Upper limb retraining during the early phases of neurological rehabilitation often involves having individuals practice reaching in body orientations that reduce the effect of gravity on various joint motions (e.g., shoulder flexion, elbow extension). However, the efficacy of these training techniques has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of reducing gravity through a change in body orientation from sitting to side-lying on the kinematics of a point-to-point movement in healthy elderly persons.

METHOD. Nine healthy, right-hand-dominant women 62 to 66 years of age pointed to a target in two different body orientations—sitting and side-lying. A 2-dimensional kinematic analysis of the movement was performed to compare the trajectory of the hand and the interjoint coordination under the two conditions.

RESULTS. Regardless of body orientation relative to gravity, participants produced straight hand paths and smooth, bell-shaped velocity profiles. However, they moved slower in side-lying, and the pattern of interjoint coordination varied. The shoulder and elbow moved less, whereas the scapula made a greater contribution to the overall movement. Furthermore, the temporal coordination of the joints was modified as a consequence of body position.

CONCLUSION. The results indicate that point-to-point arm movements made against gravity differ from those made in a gravity-reduced plane, particularly at the joint level, illustrating that movement organization is sensitive to this contextual difference. The effect of minimizing gravity on upper limb movement needs to be explored in patient populations to determine whether training patients in gravity-reduced orientations is efficacious.
Computerized Temporal Handwriting Characteristics of Proficient and Non-Proficient Handwriters
Authors: Rosenblum Sara , Parush Shula , Weiss Patrice L.
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to use computerized temporal measures to examine and compare the writing process of proficient and non-proficient third-grade handwriters.

METHOD. A computerized digitizer system was used to compare the temporal handwriting measures of two groups of 8–9-year-old students. Classroom teachers used a questionnaire to identify 50 students who were non-proficient handwriters and 50 students who were proficient handwriters. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) analyses were used to test for the group differences across tasks for each dependent variable. Total time, “on paper” time, “in air” time, speed, and number of characters per minute were recorded as the participants performed graded writing tasks.

RESULTS. Non-proficient handwriters required significantly more time to perform handwriting tasks [F(4,91) = 14.83, p < .0001]; their “in air” time, was especially longer as compared to the proficient handwriters [F(4,91) = 13.63, p < .0001]. Their handwriting speed was slower [F(4,91) = 5.99, p < .0002], and they wrote fewer characters per minute (F(4,91) = 14.63, p < .0001).

CONCLUSION. The use of a computerized handwriting system provides objective temporal measures of handwriting performance, and may lead to the development of additional tools for the evaluation and treatment of handwriting difficulties.
Facilitating Written Work Using Computer Word Processing and Word Prediction
Authors: Handley-More Dottie , Deitz Jean , Billingsley Felix F. , Coggins Truman E.
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether occupational therapy intervention that focused on teaching children to use word processing, either alone or with word prediction, was effective in improving the written communication skills of children with learning disabilities and handwriting problems.

METHOD. A single-subject alternating treatments design was replicated across three children in grades 4 and 5. During the baseline phase the children wrote stories by hand; during the intervention phase, the children wrote stories, alternating among handwriting, word processing, and word processing with word prediction. Dependent variables focused on percentages of legible words, percentages of correctly spelled words, total amount written, and rate of writing. Data were analyzed by visual inspection.

RESULTS. Results were variable. Two children had clear improvements in legibility when using either word processing alone or with word prediction. These same children demonstrated clear improvements in spelling when using word prediction. Though rate of writing was best for two children when using handwriting, relative to total amount produced, one method was not clearly preferable to another.

CONCLUSION. Occupational therapy intervention involving word processing with word prediction improves the legibility and spelling of written assignments completed by some children with learning disabilities and handwriting difficulties. It is important to evaluate each child individually and provide training and ongoing support for technology use.
Effect of an Occupational Intervention on Printing in Children With Economic Disadvantages
Authors: Peterson Cindee Q. , Nelson David L.
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether an occupational therapy intervention improved an academic outcome (D’Nealian printing) in a school setting. The study specifically examined improvement in printing skills in economically disadvantaged first graders who were at risk academically and socially. The intervention was based on an occupational framework including biomechanical, sensorimotor, and teaching–learning strategies.

METHOD. The final sample consisted of 59 first-grade children from a low socioeconomic urban elementary school-based health center who were randomly assigned to an occupational therapy intervention or a control condition. In addition to regular academic instruction, the intervention group received 10 weeks of training twice a week for 30-minute sessions. The control group received only regular academic instruction. Subjects were pretested and posttested on the Minnesota Handwriting Test, which assesses legibility, space, line, size, and form (the main variables in this study) as well as speed.

RESULTS. Multivariate analysis of variance confirmed that the gain scores in the occupational therapy intervention group were significantly greater than those in the control group. The Hotelling-Lawley Trace value was 0.606, with F (5, 53) = 6.43, p < .0001). The estimated effect size (η2) was .378, with an observed power of .994. Largest gains for the intervention group were in the areas of space, line, and size.

CONCLUSION. The intervention group demonstrated a significant increase in scores on the posttest of the Minnesota Handwriting Test when compared to the scores of the control group. Occupational intervention was effective in improving the academic outcome of printing in children who are economically disadvantaged.
Consistency of Handwriting in Early Elementary Students
Authors: Marr Deborah , Cermak Sharon
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine the consistency of handwriting in children from the beginning of kindergarten to the middle of the first-grade year. Consistency was defined as retaining the same qualitative performance and relative ranking over time.

METHOD. Ninety-three children were tested at the beginning of the kindergarten year and again in the middle of the first-grade year on the Scale of Children’s Readiness In PrinTing (SCRIPT). Data were analyzed with a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (3 performance groups [lower, middle, upper] x 2 grades) followed by a Tukey’s HSD post hoc analysis. An analysis of the change in performance of individual children also was conducted.

RESULTS. The main effects and the interaction in the ANOVA were significant. Post hoc analysis for grade demonstrated that both the middle and the lower performing groups showed a significant improvement from kindergarten to first grade, whereas the upper performing group remained unchanged. Post hoc analysis found significant differences among all three performance groups in kindergarten. In first grade, the lower performing group continued to score significantly lower than the middle and upper performing groups, whereas the middle and upper performing groups were not significantly different. Analysis of individual data revealed that 60% of the students were consistent in their performance from kindergarten to first grade.

CONCLUSION. The correlation between kindergarten SCRIPT scores and first-grade SCRIPT scores provides initial evidence that a moderately consistent pattern of handwriting performance exists. Students with low- and middle-ranked handwriting skills show relatively similar improvement over time, whereas change for students ranked high is limited.
Community Participation and Quality of Life Outcomes After Adult Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Huebner Ruth A. , Johnson Kerrie , Bennett Chantel Miller , Schneck Colleen
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. This study examined outcomes after traumatic brain injury in adults salient to occupational therapy.

METHOD. Demographic data and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores from the inpatient rehabilitation stay were first gathered from a retrospective chart review. At follow-up, 25 adults, on average 21 months post-injury, completed measures of disability, community participation, quality of life, and satisfaction with occupational therapy during a telephone interview. Analysis of covariance was used to test the differences between pretest and posttest scores on the FIM; regression analysis and correlations were used to analyze predictions and relationships.

RESULTS. Statistically significant improvements in FIM scores during rehabilitation were predictive of the level of long-term disability and community participation among participants. At follow-up, participants were often unemployed, depressed and withdrawn, and experienced limitations in decision making, hand use, bladder control, and community integration. Less disability and more community participation were related to higher quality of life. Satisfaction with occupational therapy, although high, was unrelated to most outcomes.

CONCLUSION. Results support the premise that participation is associated with a high quality of life, yet persons with brain injury have significant needs for long-term occupational therapy.
Personal–Professional Connections in Palliative Care Occupational Therapy
Authors: Prochnau Catherine , Liu Lili , Boman Jeanette
Published: September 2010

This qualitative study examined the experiences of occupational therapists working in palliative care. Multiple qualitative interviews were conducted with each of eight occupational therapists working with people who are terminally ill. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed for recurring and unique themes. Five themes emerged: satisfaction, hardship, coping, spirituality, and growth. Common themes, while resonating through all participants’ stories, were experienced in a uniquely personal way by each participant. The result was the discovery of an individualized “personal–professional connection” for each participant. The exploration of personal–professional connections can contribute to the understanding of occupational therapy practice in palliative care. Furthermore, these individual stories may resonate for other occupational therapists and inspire personal and professional reflection; validation of feelings and issues can arise from parallel comparisons. Therapists may in turn gain insight into the relationship between their own personal and professional experiences.
Perceptions of Effective Professional Behavior Feedback: Occupational Therapy Student Voices
Authors: Scheerer Carol R.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to gather formative evaluation data to determine students’ perceptions of effective aspects of professional behavior feedback for use in program development. A qualitative design was used to gather data from baccalaureate-level occupational therapy students. Through focus groups and semi-structured interviews, data were gathered about the students’ beliefs, feelings, and recommendations for policy changes. Four themes emerged: Not Just “Contact With a Piece of Paper”; Fieldwork Needs To Be Taken Into Account; Faculty Fairness and Support Need To Be Present; “This Is Like Therapy for Me.” Aspects of these themes have implications for classroom and fieldwork settings. The type of feedback these students found helpful and the desire to have fieldwork performance considered along with their classroom behavior were salient perceptions. As educators, it is important to listen to the voices of students to gain insights into their perceptions of the effective aspects of the feedback process for professional behaviors.
The Effects of Collaborative Goal-Focused Occupational Therapy on Self-Care Skills: A Pilot Study
Authors: Gagné Desirée Elizabeth , Hoppes Steve
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. This pilot study examined collaborative, goal-focused therapy to determine its effects on performance of self-care activities, including eating, grooming, bathing, upper body dressing, lower-body dressing, and toileting.

METHOD. Thirty-one patients at a rehabilitation hospital, divided between control and experimental groups, comprised the sample. Participants’ performances on self-care activities were measured using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) at admission to therapy and again at a 2-week follow-up. Attainment of goals was not emphasized in the control group. In the experimental group, new goals and achievement of previously set goals were regularly discussed and documented. Comparisons were made between 2-week FIM scores of the control and experimental groups, and data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS. The experimental group demonstrated greater gains on FIM scores when compared to the control group on all self-care activities, but only upper-body dressing met levels of statistical significance.

CONCLUSION. Findings support the efficacy of collaborative, goal-focused occupational therapy in the treatment of deficits in upper-body dressing, but did not support this approach with toileting, eating, grooming, bathing, and lower-body dressing. Further study, with a larger sample, is recommended.
Outcomes of a Pilot Occupational Therapy Wellness Program for Older Adults
Authors: Matuska Kathleen , Giles-Heinz Amy , Flinn Nancy , Neighbor Michael , Bass-Haugen Julie
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a pilot occupational therapy wellness program designed to teach elders the importance of participation in meaningful social and community occupations to their quality of life.

METHOD. Sixty-five older adults participated in this pilot wellness program held at each of three senior apartment complexes. Measures of health-related quality of life using the SF-36 Health Survey and frequencies of social and community participation from a program-specific intake form were completed by 39 participants before and after the 6-month program. Participants also evaluated components of the program through a satisfaction survey.

RESULTS. Scores on the SF-36 Health Survey were significantly higher in vitality, social functioning, and the mental health summary scores following participation in the program. Participants reported an increased frequency of socialization and community participation with an average of 55% participating in at least three or more activities per week before the program to an average of 66% participating after the program. Participants who benefited the most attended more classes, were older, and were nondrivers. Eighty percent of those polled rated the pilot program as good or excellent.

CONCLUSION. This pilot study provides additional support for prevention efforts for elders in the community. Wellness programs for seniors may be most effective if targeted to those who are older and non-drivers.
Driving to Learn: A New Concept for Training Children With Profound Cognitive Disabilities in a Powered Wheelchair
Authors: Nilsson Lisbeth M. , Nyberg Per J.
Published: September 2010

Analysis of the case studies of two preschool children with profound cognitive disabilities indicates that training in a powered wheelchair can increase wakefulness and alertness, stimulate a limited use of the arms and hands, and promote the understanding of very simple cause-and-effect relationships. The enhanced activity level had a positive influence on the children’s ability to react to external stimuli and invitations to interact. These effects in turn promoted the development of initiative and exploratory behavior. Because of their profound cognitive disabilities, neither of the children was able to reach the normative training goal—to be able to drive purposefully and safely. In this paper the target group is defined according to criteria for the prescription of powered wheelchairs and the resulting new concept of “driving to learn” is described and discussed from different aspects.
Play in Mayan Children
Authors: Bazyk Susan , Stalnaker David , Llerena Maricel , Ekelman Beth , Bazyk John
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of play activities and playfulness in a group of Mayan children in southern Belize.

METHOD. This qualitative study involved participant observation in the daily occupations of 20 children from five Mayan families over a 2-week period. Analysis of the field notes, using open and closed coding, revealed themes specific to customs of child rearing, play activities, and playfulness.

FINDINGS. The primacy of adult work is a major cultural principle that influences Mayan children's daily occupations. Parents did not encourage play but permitted play if it did not interfere with work. Children found ways to integrate play activities and playfulness into their daily occupations.

CONCLUSION. The statement, “play is a child's major occupation,” may not be a universally held belief. Parental values and customs of child rearing should be considered in order to provide culturally sensitive and relevant services.
Occupational Therapists’ Responses to Practice Errors in Physical Rehabilitation Settings
Authors: Scheirton Linda , Mu Keli , Lohman Helene
Published: September 2010

OBJECTIVE. Errors occur in all health care professions. Practice errors, however, have not been systematically examined in occupational therapy. The purpose of this study was to examine occupational therapists’ responses to practice errors in physical rehabilitation settings.

METHOD. A qualitative focus group research method was used in this study and a total of 35 occupational therapists from four different states who had practice experience in physical rehabilitation settings participated in four focus groups. Focus group discussions were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by two investigators of the study. Qualitative software program, NUD*IST Vivo was used to aid the data analysis process.

RESULTS. Five major themes were generated from the data regarding practice errors, which included (1) Concept of practice error: It is against our standards; (2) Perceived causes of practice error: Not just an individual matter; (3) Emotional responses: I felt horrible; (4) Impact on practice: Doing things differently; and (5) Management of practice error: Being honest and taking initiative. Occupational therapists perceived practice error from a broad perspective and identified physical and psychosocial issues as practice error.

CONCLUSION. Most practice errors described by participants appeared to be preventable. Despite the tremendous emotional distress in reaction to making an error, participants valued the learning in the experience and made constructive practice changes. Findings of the study have implications for current educational training programs and practice such as the development of clinical reasoning related to patient safety and assertiveness training for hierarchical situations.
A theoretical study of abiotic methylation reactions of gaseous elemental mercury by halogen containing molecules
Authors: Castro L. , Dommergue A. , Larose C. , Ferrari C. , Maron L.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. Methylation reactions of gaseous elementary mercury by halogen containing molecules such as halogenomethane species CH3X (with X=Cl, Br and I) and the dimethylchlorinium ion CH3ClCH3+ were investigated at the DFT level. With CH3X, the reaction is predicted to be almost athermic and kinetically demanding for a thermal reaction. The reaction can proceed photochemically in the visible range; therefore sunlight may increase the reaction rate. These results compare well with the experimental data. Consecutive methylation of the CH3HgX products (with X=Cl, Br and I) and subsequent formation of CH3HgCH3 were also studied. These reactions are predicted to be kinetically inaccessible and thermodynamically unfavorable. With CH3ClCH3+, the reaction is predicted to be athermic but kinetically easy. This is due to the suitability of the methyl transfer reagent. Geometrical and electronic data were systematically analyzed in order to rationalize the results.
Methane production, consumption and its carbon isotope ratios in the Southern Ocean during the austral summer
Authors: Boontanon N. , Watanabe S. , Odate T. , Yoshida N.
Published: September 2010

Abstract. The distribution of dissolved CH4 in the Southern Ocean at 140° E was measured during the austral summer. Surface CH4 was supersaturated on average, and the calculated mean sea-air flux rate was 0.32 μmol m−2 d−1. The vertical distributions exhibited a CH4 maximum at approximately 125 m (ΔCH4, 2.94 nM) below the chlorophyll-rich layer, suggesting a relationship between CH4 production and plankton dynamics in this area. CH4 oxidation and ocean movement characteristics in the deep layer led to the enrichment and fluctuation of δ13CCH4. We estimated the influence of Southern Ocean CH4, a source of isotopically heavy CH4 to the atmosphere, on the global CH4 budget to be approximately 0.19 Gg d−1.
Travel-Time Disparities in Access to Proton Beam Therapy for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Burus Todd , VanHelene Alexander D. , Rooney Michael K. , Lang Kuhs Krystle A. , Christian W. Jay , McNair Christopher , Mishra Sanjay , Paulino Arnold C. , Smith Grace L. , Frank Steven J. , Warner Jeremy L.
Published: May 2024

Importance

Proton beam therapy is an emerging radiotherapy treatment for patients with cancer that may produce similar outcomes as traditional photon-based therapy for many cancers while delivering lower amounts of toxic radiation to surrounding tissue. Geographic proximity to a proton facility is a critical component of ensuring equitable access both for indicated diagnoses and ongoing clinical trials.

Objective

To characterize the distribution of proton facilities in the US, quantify drive-time access for the population, and investigate the likelihood of long commutes for certain population subgroups.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This population-based cross-sectional study analyzed travel times to proton facilities in the US. Census tract variables in the contiguous US were measured between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. Statistical analysis was performed from September to November 2023.

Exposures

Drive time in minutes to nearest proton facility. Population totals and prevalence of specific factors measured from the American Community Survey: age; race and ethnicity; insurance, disability, and income status; vehicle availability; broadband access; and urbanicity.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Poor access to proton facilities was defined as having a drive-time commute of at least 4 hours to the nearest location. Median drive time and percentage of population with poor access were calculated for the entire population and by population subgroups. Univariable and multivariable odds of poor access were also calculated for certain population subgroups.

Results

Geographic access was considered for 327 536 032 residents of the contiguous US (60 594 624 [18.5%] Hispanic, 17 974 186 [5.5%] non-Hispanic Asian, 40 146 994 [12.3%] non-Hispanic Black, and 195 265 639 [59.6%] non-Hispanic White; 282 031 819 [86.1%] resided in urban counties). The median (IQR) drive time to the nearest proton facility was 96.1 (39.6-195.3) minutes; 119.8 million US residents (36.6%) lived within a 1-hour drive of the nearest proton facility, and 53.6 million (16.4%) required a commute of at least 4 hours. Persons identifying as non-Hispanic White had the longest median (IQR) commute time at 109.8 (48.0-197.6) minutes. Multivariable analysis identified rurality (odds ratio [OR], 2.45 [95% CI, 2.27-2.64]), age 65 years or older (OR, 1.09 [95% CI, 1.06-1.11]), and living below the federal poverty line (OR, 1.22 [1.20-1.25]) as factors associated with commute times of at least 4 hours.

Conclusions and Relevance

This cross-sectional study of drive-time access to proton beam therapy found that disparities in access existed among certain populations in the US. These results suggest that such disparities present a barrier to an emerging technology in cancer treatment and inhibit equitable access to ongoing clinical trials.
Benign breast tumors may arise on different immunological backgrounds
Authors: Torland Lilly Anne , Lai Xiaoran , Kumar Surendra , Riis Margit H. , Geisler Jürgen , Lüders Torben , Tekpli Xavier , Kristensen Vessela , Sahlberg Kristine , Tahiri Andliena
Published: May 2024

Benign breast tumors are a nonthreatening condition defined as abnormal cell growth within the breast without the ability to invade nearby tissue. However, benign lesions hold valuable biological information that can lead us toward better understanding of tumor biology. In this study, we have used two pathway analysis algorithms, Pathifier and gene set variation analysis (GSVA), to identify biological differences between normal breast tissue, benign tumors and malignant tumors in our clinical dataset. Our results revealed that one‐third of all pathways that were significantly different between benign and malignant tumors were immune‐related pathways, and 227 of them were validated by both methods and in the METABRIC dataset. Furthermore, five of these pathways (all including genes involved in cytokine and interferon signaling) were related to overall survival in cancer patients in both datasets. The cellular moieties that contribute to immune differences in malignant and benign tumors were analyzed using the deconvolution tool, CIBERSORT. The results showed that levels of some immune cells were specifically higher in benign than in malignant tumors, and this was especially the case for resting dendritic cells and follicular T‐helper cells. Understanding the distinct immune profiles of benign and malignant breast tumors may aid in developing noninvasive diagnostic methods to differentiate between them in the future.
Rapid initiation protocol for naltrexone: 5‐7 days instead of 10‐15
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: May 2024

Your idea of “rapid” may be different from that of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which funded a study showing that it is possible to start patients on injectable, extended‐release naltrexone (trade name Vivitrol) within five to seven days after they stop opioid use – and called that “rapid initiation.” But it's all relative. The standard treatment method was within 10‐15 days, according to NIDA.
Left and Right‐Handed Light Reflection and Emission in Ultrathin Cellulose Nanocrystals Films with Printed Helicity
Authors: Bukharina Daria , Southard Lindsay , Dimitrov Botyo , Brackenridge Justin A. , Kang Saewon , Min Peng , Wang Yanan , Nepal Dhriti , McConney Michael E. , Bunning Timothy J. , Kotov Nicholas A. , Tsukruk Vladimir V.
Published: May 2024

Natural polymers, particularly plant‐derived nanocelluloses, self‐organize into hierarchical structures, enabling mechanical robustness, bright iridescence, emission, and polarized light reflection. These biophotonic properties are facilitated by the assembly of individual components during evaporation, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which exhibit a left‐handed helical pitch in a chiral nematic state. This work demonstrates how optically active films with pre‐programmed opposite handedness (left or right) can be constructed via shear‐induced twisted printing with clockwise and counter‐clockwise shearing vectors. The resulting large‐area thin films are transparent yet exhibit pre‐determined mirror‐symmetrical optical activity, enabling the distinction of absorbed and emitted circularly polarized light. This processing method allows for sequential printing of thin and ultrathin films with twisted layered organization and on‐demand helicity. The complex light polarization behavior is due to step‐like changes in linear birefringence within each deposited layer and circular birefringence, different from that of conventional CNC films as revealed with Muller matrix analysis. Furthermore, intercalating an achiral organic dye into printed structures induces circularly polarized luminescence while preserving high transmittance and controlled handedness. These results suggest that twisted sequential printing can facilitate the construction of chiroptical metamaterials with tunable circular polarization, absorption, and emission for optical filters, encryption, photonic coatings, and chiral sensors.
Elevating Platinum to Volumetric Capacitance: High Surface Area Electrodes through Reactive Pt Sputtering
Authors: Gryszel Maciej , Jakešová Marie , Vu Xuan Thang , Ingebrandt Sven , Głowacki Eric Daniel
Published: May 2024

Platinum is the most widespread electrode material used for implantable biomedical and neuroelectronic devices, motivating exploring ways to improve its performance and understand its fundamental properties. Using reactive magnetron sputtering, PtOx is prepared, which upon partial reduction yields a porous thin‐film form of platinum with favorable properties, notably record‐low impedance values outcompeting other reports for platinum‐based electrodes. It is established that its high electrochemical capacitance scales with thickness, in the way of volumetric capacitor materials like IrOx and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT. Unlike these two well‐known analogs, however, it is found that PtOx capacitance is not caused by reversible pseudofaradaic reactions but rather due to high surface area. In contrast to IrOx, PtOx is not a reversible valence‐change oxide, but rather a porous form of platinum. The findings show that this oxygen‐containing form of Pt can place Pt electrodes on a level competitive with IrOx and PEDOT. Due to its relatively low cost and ease of preparation, PtOx can be a good choice for microfabricated bioelectronic devices.
Novel Palladium Hydride Surface Enabling Simultaneous Bacterial Killing and Osteogenic Formation through Proton Capturing and Activation of Antioxidant System in Immune Microenvironments
Authors: Zhang Dongdong , Li Mei , Chen Shuhan , Du Huihui , Zhong Hua , Wu Jun , Liu Feihong , Zhang Qian , Peng Feng , Liu Xuanyong , Yeung Kelvin W.K.
Published: May 2024

Achieving bacterial killing and osteogenic formation on an implant surface rarely occurs. In this study, a novel surface design–a palladium hydride (PdHx) film that enables these two distinct features to coexist is introduced. The PdHx lattice captures protons in the extracellular microenvironment of bacteria, disrupting their normal metabolic activities, such as ATP synthesis, nutrient co‐transport, and oxidative stress. This disruption leads to significant bacterial death, as evidenced by RNA sequence analysis. Additionally, the unique enzymatic activity and hydrogen‐loading properties of PdHx activate the human antioxidant system, resulting in the rapid clearance of reactive oxygen species. This process reshapes the osteogenic immune microenvironment, promoting accelerated osteogenesis. These findings reveal that the downregulation of the NOD‐like receptor signaling pathway is critical for activating immune cells toward M2 phenotype polarization. This novel surface design provides new strategies for modifying implant coatings to simultaneously prevent bacterial infection, reduce inflammation, and enhance tissue regeneration, making it a noteworthy contribution to the field of advanced materials.
Enhancing Charging Efficiency with Lithium Silicate in Silicon Composite Anode Materials Through Lithiothermic Reduction Reaction Synthesis
Authors: Jeong Kyoung‐Jin , Hossen Sarwar , Rahman Md Tareq , Shim Joon Sub , Lee Dong‐Hee , Nersisyan Hayk H. , Lee JongHyeon
Published: May 2024

This study synthesizes silicon (Si) powders with lithium silicates including lithium orthosilicate (Li4SiO4), lithium metasilicate (Li2SiO3), and lithium disilicate (Li2Si2O5), creating a composite structure of crystalline Si within a LixSiyOz matrix through the lithiothermic reduction reaction (LTRR) process. The reduction of Li‐ion consumption of the anode is investigated by 1) initial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer formation, 2) SEI layer formation in response to Si expansion‐induced damage, 3) trapping of Li ions at Si defects, and 4) side reactions during initial charge and discharge cycles. Si/LixSiyOz electrode exhibits a specific capacity of 1522.2 mAh g−1 and an initial coulombic efficiency of 83.5%. The effect of the calendering process is observed, and a pressurization condition of 5000 kgf cm−2 or less is set, and the ICE is improved to 93.4%–96%. Si/LixSiyOz electrodes outperform pure crystalline Si electrodes in specific capacity (7.3%), ICE (42%), and retention characteristics (17%). The integration of the LixSiyOz matrix into Si anodes enhances Li‐ion transport and partially suppresses Si expansion. Additionally, the Si/LixSiyOz electrode exhibits superior rate capability in the 0.2–1.6 A g−1 range.
Engineering Light‐Driven Rod‐Shaped Micromotors for Exhibiting Controlled and Tunable Multimode Swimming
Authors: Panda Suvendu Kumar , Debata Srikanta , Andia Kanhu Charan , Das Sayan , Singh Dhruv Pratap
Published: May 2024

The recent era of research has been focused on attaining precise and adjustable propulsion modes in micromotors, with remarkable implications in microrobotics and active‐matter applications. This study introduces a novel design of rod‐shaped micromotors featuring light‐driven motion and wavelength‐dependent multimodal swimming behavior. The micromotors are fabricated through the Glancing Angle Deposition (GLAD) technique, which offers a flexible approach to engineering surfaces by incorporating photocatalytic materials (TiO2 and Cu2O) at specific locations. Here, three distinct designs of micromotors (titania, hybrid‐1, and hybrid‐2) are presented that are programmed to showcase diverse behaviors of movements (linear, helical, and axial rotation) when exposed to a specific wavelength. The application of light facilitates convenient control over activity and mode switching by altering between UV and visible ranges. Numerical modeling using a finite element approach is performed to validate the experimental results, demonstrating excellent agreement with the experimental findings. The present study is anticipated to be helpful in tailoring such complex micro/nanoscale advanced functional materials with intricating swimming modes desired for various applications in micro/nanorobotics.
Establishing the NiMo6Se8 Chevrel Phase as a Promising Material Using DFT
Authors: Surucu Gokhan , Surucu Ozge , Usanmaz Demet , Özel Faruk , Gencer Aysenur
Published: May 2024

In this study, the NiMo6Se8 Chevrel phase is analyzed using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and the Vienna Ab‐initio Simulation Package (VASP). The analysis focuses on the phase's structural, electrical, and mechanical characteristics to fill gaps in the current literature. The presence of a rhombohedral crystal structure confirms its thermodynamic stability, as indicated by a negative formation enthalpy, which suggests that it can be synthesized under favorable conditions. The electronic properties of the phase are analyzed, indicating that it exhibits semiconductor characteristics with a bandgap of 1.07 eV. This makes it appropriate for various technological applications. The estimated elastic constants provide an indication of mechanical strength and flexibility, with a noticeable presence of anisotropic elasticity. The confirmation of dynamical stability is achieved by analyzing the phonon dispersion curve, which reveals the absence of any negative frequencies. Furthermore, the material has a low thermal conductivity, increasing its suitability for thermoelectric applications. The analysis emphasizes the versatile capabilities of the NiMo6Se8 Chevrel phase, especially in thermoelectric and energy storage applications, showcasing its promising potential for future technological implementation.