bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spot size-based laser vibrometer using an advanced image sensor for structural health monitoring
Authors: Cao Xuan Binh , Phan Hoang Nam , Hoang Le Phuong , Hoang Phuong Hoa , Pham Duy Hoa
Published: August 2023

Failure-induced vibrations are a common phenomenon in many civil structures, and the characterization of their vibration frequencies is crucial for monitoring their structural health. This paper presents a new optics-based mechanical system that can monitor the vibrations of civil structures through the fluctuation of laser spot size using advanced image sensors. The principle behind this vibrometer combines mechanical oscillation and laser optics, and it provides information on vibration through the precise variation of spot size in a low-cost, low-risk, and high-speed manner. The system comprises simple components that are easily integrated into various civil structures. Therefore, this novel approach offers a promising method for effectively monitoring the health of civil structures.
A novel automated crack identification method for concrete bridge structure using an unmanned aerial vehicle
Authors: Truong Chung T , Dang My Q , Pham Tung P , Do Phong V , Tran Huy Q
Published: August 2023

This study explores an automated method for identifying cracks on a concrete bridge structure using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a high-resolution camera. First, images are captured from the bridge, then a novel automated algorithm are used to isolate the region of interest. The deep learning algorithm then detects cracks on the structure using a pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model. The proposed method was tested on Tran Phu bridge, and the results confirmed the effectiveness of the UAV-based inspections for identifying cracks on structures.
Prevalence and influential factors of adopting electric motorcycles: The case of students in Hanoi, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Minh Hao , Tu Sy Sua , Nguyen Trung Anh , Nguyen Hai Binh , Mai Vu Yen , Nguyen Phuong Mai , Pham Ngoc Bao , Nguyen Tai Anh , Nguyen Minh Hieu
Published: August 2023

The development of electric motorcycles depends on the motorcycle usage rate in each country, which is crucial in forming sustainable urban development. In this study, we investigated determinants of using e-motorcycles among students in Hanoi, Vietnam. Students are the research subject due to their critical role in shaping future travel patterns. The used data were collected by surveying 290 students from three universities. We found that the prevalence of adopting electric motorcycles among students is 11%. The results of binary logit regression show that female students in Hanoi living within distances between home and school from 3 to 5 km are more inclined to utilize electric motorcycles. The perception of usefulness and environmental concern are facilitators of the adoption. However, perceived ease of use is not a significant predictor. This study plays a role as an exploratory analysis of the actual use of electric motorcycles. However, in order to have a better understanding of the motives behind the choice of electric vehicles for students and other population segments, more research in different settings is needed.
Analyzing the passengers’ satisfaction with the services in long-distance bus stations – The case of Mien Dong station in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Authors: Tran Hoang Quoc , Tu Sy Sua , Ngo Minh Ngoc , Huynh Thi Thuy Kieu , Nguyen Trung Anh , Nguyen Hai Binh , Mai Vu Yen , Nguyen Minh Hieu
Published: August 2023

Customer’s satisfaction plays the most important role in shaping continuance usage intention (i.e. loyalty). Therefore, much scientific effort has been invested in exploring the factors contributing to the satisfaction of passengers using the bus, air, intercity rail, and metro services. Notwithstanding, little is known about the determinants of customers’ satisfaction with the services offered by long-distance bus stations. Aiming at filling this research gap, the current study analyzed the passengers’ satisfaction in the case of Mien Dong station in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The used data from 300 passengers were collected in August 2022 through face-to-face interviews. As regards the analytical methods, the Exploratory Factor Analysis was applied to the responses to the attitudinal items in order to extract underlying constructs, which were then used together with demographical variables to fit an ordinal logit model. The findings show that most demographics were irrelevant, but habit was a significant predictor. Specifically, the higher usage frequency was involved in the lower level of satisfaction. All constructs derived from EFA (Information availability, Customer services, Reliability, Comfort, Safety and Security) were positively associated with the satisfaction level. Among latent constructs, security & safety and comfort were the strongest while information availability was the weakest. Based on the results of influential factors, some practical implications were suggested. Since Ho Chi Minh City is a typical megacity in developing countries, our findings are expected to be useful for other research in settings beyond Vietnamese cities/provinces.
Effect of Driver Safety Attitude and Risk Perception on Driving Behaviors in Vietnam
Authors: Vu Nam Hoai , Duy Dinh Do , Nguyen Dung Huu , Cao Tho Phan , Hoang Long Quoc
Published: August 2023

Road traffic accidents are a significant contributor to the global disease burden and a major cause of fatalities worldwide. In order to enhance traffic safety and minimize accidents, this study investigated the effect of driver safety attitudes and risk perception on driving behavior. To gather responses on risk perception and safety attitudes, surveys were conducted both online and on paper in three Vietnamese cities: Hanoi, Yenbai, and Laocai, and data was collected from 500 drivers. Exploratory factor analysis was performed on the 48 items in the questionnaire, resulting in eight factors that were subsequently analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis to generate risk perceptions on road systems and usage, safety attitude, and driving behavior. The four driving behavior factors identified were aggressive driving, careless driving, adherence to traffic rules, and multitasking. A structural equation model was used to explore the effects of driver risk perception and safety attitude on driving behavior. The results showed a significant positive correlation between drivers’ risk perception and safety attitude, with both factors significantly impacting driving behavior. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of traffic safety, with a specific focus on human factors.
What result in older persons’ acceptance of electric bikes in developing countries? An empirical evidence in Hanoi, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thi Hong Mai , Nguyen Phuong Mai , Tran Thi Phuong Mai , Tran Thi Thu Hien , Nguyen Minh Hieu
Published: August 2023

The elderly are a potential segment of electric bicycles (EBs); however, so far the understanding of the factors contributing to the choice of this mode for older persons in developing countries has been rather limited – particularly compared to that in developed countries. The current study aims at exploring people’s intention to accept EB in later life in Hanoi, Vietnam using the data from 360 older persons (at least 55 years old) to empirically analyse a conceptual framework formulated based on the Model of Goal-Directed Behaviour (MGDB) and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Desire is found to be the major contributor to intention, which is found to be significantly higher for younger and employed respondents. Desire is facilitated by subjective norms and attitude but is deterred by perceived crash risk. Perceived behavioural control and descriptive norms are irrelevant predictors. This study is one of the first research on the elderly’s intention to ride an EB in low- and middle-income countries.
Effect of asphalt concrete layer thickness on temperature distribution in the semi-rigid pavement
Authors: Tran Thao T.T. , Nguyen Hai H. , Pham Phuong N. , Nguyen Phuc Q.
Published: August 2023

The performance of a cement-treated base in semi-rigid pavements is greatly influenced by temperature change. Therefore, the thickness of asphalt concrete (AC) layer is one of the biggest concerns when designing semi-rigid pavement structures. The article evaluated the effect of AC layer thickness on the temperature distribution in semi-rigid pavement. First, a large-scale model for a semi-rigid pavement structure with a 13-cm AC surface layer placed on a 15-cm CTB layer was constructed to monitor temperature fluctuation in the pavement. This temperature monitoring result was then used for proposing and verifying a numeric prediction model developed in the ANSYS program to estimate the temperature distribution in the pavement structure. The model was then applied to cases of changing AC thicknesses to analyze the effect on CTB temperature. The results showed that the thickness of the AC layer significantly influenced the temperature distribution in the semi-rigid pavement; the thicker AC layer resulted in a low-temperature distribution in CTB.
Influence of thermal activation on the properties of non-ferrous slag blended cement mortar
Authors: Yong Chee Lok , Mo Kim Hung , Koting Suhana
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the influence of different thermal activation methods, namely the hot water curing method and steam curing method on the properties of cement mortar blended with low-volume non-ferrous slag (NFS) (15% cement replacement) is investigated. Therefore, mortar specimens are intrinsically prepared and cured at a controlled temperature of 60 °C in the different curing methods for a short period of 6 hours. Results showed that the steam curing method can significantly improve the compressive strength, reduce the water absorption level and densify the morphology of NFS blended cement mortar. The findings may contribute to accelerating the strength gain of NFS in cement-based material and reduce the amount of cement used.
Influence of different types and contents of gypsum on mechanical properties and porosity of sulphate activated binder
Authors: Cheah Chee Ban , Tan Leng Ee , Ramli Mahyuddin
Published: August 2023

Fly ash (FA) is pozzolanic, while blast furnace slag (GGBS) is latent hydraulic. These two materials react slowly in the presence of water to harden. Adding an alkali activator such as strong hydroxide could boost the hardening process, but the safe handling of highly corrosive materials is the primary concern. Therefore, the present work prescribed various types of gypsum to activate FA and GGBS as a binder phase for making mortar. It aimed to investigate the influence of different types and contents of gypsum on the mechanical properties and porosity of sulphate-activated binder. Gypsum is a less corrosive material to provide calcium and sulphate ions for activating GGBS and FA. The main component of gypsum was calcium sulphate. Gypsum provides calcium sources that promote more C-S-H to be formed. A few types of gypsum were studied with their effect on FA/GGBS blended mortar. Furthermore, the mechanical strength and porosity of gypsum-activated GGBS/FA blended mortar were assessed. The mortar containing white gypsum exhibited the best mechanical performance among all types of gypsum. On the other hand, red gypsum and dental gypsum were established to be more effective in pore refinements, lowering the mortar’s total porosity. In conclusion, white gypsum is the most suitable material for activating the FA/GGBS blend among the various types of gypsum examined.
Applying Plaxis 3D To Model Leaking Water Supply Pipe Causing Sandy Soil Erosion and Sinkhole Formation
Authors: Nguyen N N , Tran Y H , Le B V
Published: August 2023

Water supply pipes in urban areas are always buried underground. There are many causes of pipe breakage and leakage of high-pressure water from the pipe to the outside, the flow of water has a pressure higher than the soil erosion limit, causing the soil structure to be broken, eroding the surrounding clayey sandy soil. The development of the eroded clayey sandy soil area, which expands over time, is the cause of the formation of a sinkhole under the road, which is dangerous for vehicles and people. In this study, the authors apply finite element software (Plaxis 3D) to model water supply pipelines in sandy soil in case the pipeline leaks water with different pressures. Analytical models indicate that sinkhole formation is dependent on the extent of the erosive clayey sandy soil, which is related to the extent and direction of the pressurized water jet, and the depth of the pipe.
Model experiment and numerical analysis of horizontal subgrade reactions acting on flexible walls
Authors: Mohri Atsushi , Kikuchi Yoshiaki , Noda Shohei
Published: August 2023

A method of reinforcing breakwaters with piles has been proposed. In this structure, designing piles as passive piles is important. Although most previous studies on horizontal subgrade reactions have been limited to the deformation mode of walls, the subgrade reaction to the wall is known to depend on the deformation mode of the wall. Herein, we investigated the changes in the subgrade reaction due to different deformation modes of the wall using model loading experiments and finite element analysis. The model ground was simulated using an aluminum rod mass, and an aluminum plate was used for the wall model. The model ground height was set to the horizontal ground condition with a 200 mm step at the front and rear of the wall. Lateral loads were applied simultaneously to the wall at two different depths. By controlling the ratio of the two levels of the lateral load applied to the wall, the deformation mode of the wall was altered. The experimental results indicated that the magnitude of the subgrade reaction at the same deflection depended on the deformation mode of the wall. The elastoplastic finite element analysis results of the lateral pile-head loading experiment in the horizontal ground condition exhibited good agreement with the experimental results. Under the two-point loading condition, the behavior of the wall was significantly different for cases in which the deformation mode differed from that of the lateral pile-head loading condition. By comparing the behavior of the ground around the wall, we discovered that the shear deformation of the ground differed depending on the deformation mode.
Brazilian Tribology: origin, status quo and future perspectives
Authors: de Mello José Daniel Biasoli , Costa Henara Lilian
Published: August 2023

This first regional issue published in STMP highlights the potential and importance of the research carried out in Latin America regarding surface engineering and tribology. In order to celebrate this important initiative, a complete historical account of Brazilian tribology is presented for the first time. It initiates with the first steps of Brazilian tribology in the 1980s, followed by the evolution and expansion of tribology research both in academic centres and industry. Focus is given to two outstanding achievements of Brazilian tribology: the fully flexible engines that run at any proportion of ethanol and gasoline and a fully innovative, completely oil-less family of hermetic compressors. The status-quo of the current research groups on tribology is described. Finally, the future trends envisaged by the Brazilian tribology community are presented.
Effect of Si, Co, Fe contents and cooling condition on the microstructure of Al–Si–Co(–Fe) alloys
Authors: Li Zhenlei , Li Shihang , Gao Long , Li Mengyu , Gao Tong
Published: August 2023

In this paper, several Al–Si–Co and Al–Si–Co–Fe alloys were prepared by varying the contents of Si, Co and Fe, solidified via fast and slow–cooling conditions. In the ternary Al–xSi–yCo (x = 6, 12, 18; y = 2, 4) alloys, the Co–rich phase is Al9Co2–type with a certain Si content, which can be marked as (Al,Si)9Co2. The Al9Co2–type phase exhibits developed dendrites and block–like morphologies under fast and slow cooling conditions, respectively. In the quaternary Al–xSi–4Co–yFe (x = 6, 12, 18; y = 2, 4) alloys, the formed intermetallic compound is Al13Fe4–type, containing a certain amount of Si and Co. It exhibits fine and coarse dendritic morphologies under fast and slow–cooling conditions, respectively. With the increase of Si content and Fe: Co ratio in the Al–xSi–4Co–yFe alloys, the Si content and Fe: Co ratio in the Al13Fe4–type phase increase synchronously. The hardness of Al–xSi–4Co–yFe alloys were tested, and it was found that the fast–cooling alloys have higher hardness than the slow–cooling ones, while the value of fast–cooling Al–12Si–4Co–4Fe alloy is the highest. Besides, comparing with Al9Co2, the Al13Fe4 phase has a much higher tendentiousness to precipitate from Al–Si–Co–Fe alloys. This work may be referred for the control of Co– and Fe–rich phases in Al–Si alloys, with the concept of altering element contents and solidification conditions.
Pharmacotherapy considerations with finerenone in the treatment of chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ashjian Emily , Clarke Megan , Pogue Kristen
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This review provides an overview of the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D), how the novel treatment class of nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) fits within the treatment landscape, and how pharmacists can contribute to the multidisciplinary care of patients with CKD associated with T2D.

Optimizing pharmacotherapy for patients with CKD associated with T2D is critical to prevent or slow progression to end-stage kidney disease and reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events. However, many patients with CKD receive suboptimal treatment, in part because of the high complexity of care required, a lack of disease recognition among providers and patients, and a failure to utilize new kidney-protective therapies. Finerenone is the first nonsteroidal, selective MRA to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of adult patients with CKD associated with T2D. Clinical trials have demonstrated that finerenone significantly reduces the risk of cardiorenal disease progression vs placebo and has a reduced risk of hyperkalemia compared to traditional steroidal MRAs. Initiation of finerenone should follow evaluation of baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate and serum potassium levels. Consideration of potential drug-drug interactions, follow-up monitoring of potassium levels, and coordination of changes in pharmacotherapy across the patient care team are also important.

Conclusion

Finerenone is a valuable addition to the treatment landscape for CKD associated with T2D. Through their expertise in ­medication ­management, transitions of care, and patient education, clinical pharmacists are well positioned to ensure patients receive safe and effective ­treatment.
Water deficit changes patterns of selection on floral signals and nectar rewards in the common morning glory
Authors: García Yedra , Dow Benjamin S , Parachnowitsch Amy L
Published: August 2023

Understanding whether and how resource limitation alters phenotypic selection on floral traits is key to predict the evolution of plant–pollinator interactions under climate change. Two important resources predicted to decline with our changing climate are pollinators and water in the form of increased droughts. Most work, however, has studied these selective agents separately and in the case of water deficit, studies are rare. Here, we use the common morning glory (Ipomoea purpurea) to investigate the effects of experimental reduction in pollinator access and water availability on floral signals and nectar rewards and their effects on phenotypic selection on these traits. We conducted a manipulative experiment in a common garden, where we grew plants in three treatments: (1) pollinator restriction, (2) water reduction and (3) unmanipulated control. Plants in pollinator restriction and control treatments were well-watered compared to water deficit. We found that in contrast to pollinator restriction, water deficit had strong effects altering floral signals and nectar rewards but also differed in the direction and strength of selection on these traits compared to control plants. Water deficit increased the opportunity for selection, and selection in this treatment favoured lower nectar volumes and larger floral sizes, which might further alter pollinator visitation. In addition, well-watered plants, both in control and pollinator deficit, showed similar patterns of selection to increase nectar volume suggesting non-pollinator-mediated selection on nectar. Our study shows that floral traits may evolve in response to reduction in water access faster than to declines in pollinators and reinforces that abiotic factors can be important agents of selection for floral traits. Although only few experimental selection studies have manipulated access to biotic and abiotic resources, our results suggest that this approach is key for understanding how pollination systems may evolve under climate change.
libSBOLj3: a graph-based library for design and data exchange in synthetic biology
Authors: Mısırlı Göksel
Published: August 2023

The Synthetic Biology Open Language version 3 data standard provides a graph-based approach to exchange information about biological designs. The new data model has major updates and offers several features for software tools. Here, we present libSBOLj3 to facilitate data exchange and provide interoperability between computer-aided design and automation tools using this standard. The library adopts a graph-based approach. Tool developers can extend these graphs with application-specific information and use detailed validation reports to identify errors and interoperability issues and apply best practice rules.

Availability and implementation

The libSBOLj3 library is implemented in Java and can be downloaded or used as a Maven dependency. The open-source project, code examples and documentation about accessing and using the library are available via GitHub at https://github.com/SynBioDex/libSBOLj3.
DEP2: an upgraded comprehensive analysis toolkit for quantitative proteomics data
Authors: Feng Zhenhuan , Fang Peiyang , Zheng Hui , Zhang Xiaofei
Published: August 2023

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics has become the most powerful approach to study the proteome of given biological and clinical samples. Advancements in sample preparation and MS detection have extended the application of proteomics but have also brought new demands on data analysis. Appropriate proteomics data analysis workflow mainly requires quality control, hypothesis testing, functional mining, and visualization. Although there are numerous tools for each process, an efficient and universal tandem analysis toolkit to obtain a quick overall view of various proteomics data is still urgently needed. Here, we present DEP2, an updated version of DEP we previously established, for proteomics data analysis. We amended the analysis workflow by incorporating alternative approaches to accommodate diverse proteomics data, introducing peptide-protein summarization and coupling biological function exploration. In summary, DEP2 is a well-rounded toolkit designed for protein- and peptide-level quantitative proteomics data. It features a more flexible differential analysis workflow and includes a user-friendly Shiny application to facilitate data analysis.

Availability and implementation

DEP2 is available at https://github.com/mildpiggy/DEP2, released under the MIT license. For further information and usage details, please refer to the package website at https://mildpiggy.github.io/DEP2/.
POSTER ABSTRACTSP01 Our experience with outpatient initiation of propranolol in the treatment of complicated infantile haemangiomas
Authors: Finnegan Paula , Rafferty Siobhán , Byrne Berbie , O’Shaughnessy Ashling , Lynch Maeve
Published: August 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, consensus expert opinion published guidelines on the outpatient initiation of propranolol in the treatment of complicated infantile haemangiomas (IH). We performed an audit from 2015 to 2019 which demonstrated that the establishment of a dedicated IH clinic both improved access to and resulted in earlier initiation of propranolol in the Mid-West region. The aims of this re-audit were to evaluate patients referred to our clinic with IH, and to assess our compliance with international guidelines on the use of propranolol for the treatment of IH. All patients commenced on propranolol following referral to our dedicated IH clinic from January 2019 to September 2021 were identified from our dermatology database, and clinical and demographic data were collected from their charts. Data analysis demonstrated a 21-fold increase in outpatient initiation of propranolol, with 57% (n = 16/28) of patients commencing treatment as outpatients. In those patients who received inpatient initiation of propranolol, inpatient initiation was indicated in 88% (n = 8/9). We report treatment of 28 patients over 2 years with IH, 16 of whom were safely initiated in the outpatient setting, consistent with updated international guidelines. The main focus should now be on primary care education about IH in our community to ensure early intervention with propranolol when indicated.
P04 Biologics combined with conventional systemic agents for the treatment of children with severe psoriasis: practice survey among French and Italian paediatric dermatologists
Authors: Mahé Emmanuel , di Lernia Vito
Published: August 2023

Combined therapies involve the use of multiple drugs to increase efficacy and reduce the toxicity of individual treatments. We performed a survey carried out among French and Italian paediatric dermatologists (SFPD, GrPso, SIDerP) to better understand the reasons for using or avoiding these combinations. The survey was completed by 61 paediatric dermatologists (France, 57.4%; Italy, 42.6%; hospital practice, 98.4%; members of societies of paediatric societies and/or psoriasis working groups, 73.8%). Thirty-nine (63.9%) had previously used or planned to use the combined therapies, most commonly TNF-α inhibitors with acitretin or methotrexate. The most common reasons for dermatologists not using combined therapies were a lack of information about the safety (27.3%) or effectiveness (22.7%) of the combinations and the absence of recommendations on how to use combined therapies (22.7%). The main reason for using these treatments was to improve the outcome of biologic therapies in cases of partial efficacy or loss of efficacy. The most frequent clinical situations in which the dermatologists indicated that they combined therapies were to control a loss of efficacy (82.1%) and to treat psoriasis flare-ups (51.3%). Combined therapies have been used by the majority of paediatric dermatologists in the treatment of childhood psoriasis. Absence of information about these combined therapies, and no guidelines about their use are major limits for their use. However, these combined therapies should be considered for the treatment of children with severe psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and recalcitrant disease. Their use needs to be clarified in future management guidelines.
P14 Blueberry muffin syndrome secondary to acute myeloid leukaemia: a learning point
Authors: Melchionda Veronica , Kreuser-Genis Inge , McPherson Tess
Published: August 2023

A baby was initially referred at 6 weeks developing multiple erythematous, bruise-like and light-brown subdermal lumps over the head, face, arms, legs and buttocks. She had been born following breech presentation by elective C-section, which had been complicated by trauma and blood loss. No other clinical concerns were raised at this time. Nonaccidental injury was considered; however, subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn was the diagnosis made by paediatric team following slightly raised calcium and suggestive ultrasounds features. Newer lesions continued to arise in the same areas over 6 weeks, now with difficulty in feeding and irritability. One small cervical lymph node could be palpated. This was atypical for subcutaneous fat necrosis of the newborn and an urgent dermatological option was sought. On review, the lesions were clinically in keeping with an infiltrative process (blueberry muffin syndrome) and an urgent skin biopsy, blood film and TORCH screen were requested. A 4-mm punch biopsy confirmed leukaemia cutis with evidence of myeloid differentiation. MLL (KMT2A) rearrangement was detected, which was also subsequently found on a bone marrow sample. A peripheral blood film identified a population for NG2-positive myeloid blasts (6%), raising the possibility of infant acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). A TORCH screen did not highlight any congenital infections. The baby was promptly commenced on chemotherapy for AML. This case highlights how presentation can be atypical, the importance of reviewing possible diagnoses and considering an early biopsy to enable prompt treatment if required.
Construction and testing of a risk prediction classifier for cardia carcinoma
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Xia Ganshu , Liang Xiaolong , Li Shoumiao , Gong Yanxin , Li Baozhong , Deng Jingyu
Published: August 2023

Objectives

This research aimed to construct a prediction model for stages II and III cardia carcinoma (CC), and provide an effective preoperative evaluation tool for clinicians.

Methods

CC mRNA expression matrix was obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. Non-negative matrix factorization was used to cluster data to obtain subgroup information, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to uncover key modules linked to different subgroups. Gene-set enrichment analysis analyzed biological pathways of different subgroups. The related pathways of multiple modules were scrutinized with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Key modules were manually annotated to screen CC-related genes. Subsequently, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assessed CC-related gene expression in fresh tissues and paraffin samples, and Pearson correlation analysis was performed. A classification model was constructed and the predictive ability was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

CC patients had four subgroups that were associated with brown, turquoise, red, and black modules, respectively. The CC-related modules were mainly associated with abnormal cell metabolism and inflammatory immune pathways. Then, 76 CC-elated genes were identified. Pearson correlation analysis presented that THBS4, COL14A1, DPYSL3, FGF7, and SVIL levels were relatively stable in fresh and paraffin tissues. The area under the curve of 5-gene combined prediction for staging was 0.8571, indicating good prediction ability.

Conclusions

The staging classifier for CC based on THBS4, COL14A1, DPYSL3, FGF7, and SVIL has a good predictive effect, which may provide effective guidance for whether CC patients need emergency surgery.
The association between patients’ frailty status, multimorbidity, and demographic characteristics and changes in primary care for chronic conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pre-post study
Authors: Fikree Shireen , Hafid Shuaib , Lawson Jennifer , Agarwal Gina , Griffith Lauren E , Jaakkimainen Liisa , Mangin Dee , Howard Michelle
Published: August 2023

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of SARS-COV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) pandemic on primary care management (frequency of monitoring activities, regular prescriptions, and test results) of older adults with common chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease) and to examine whether any changes were associated with age, sex, neighbourhood income, multimorbidity, and frailty.

Methods

A research database from a sub-set of McMaster University Sentinel and Information Collaboration family practices was used to identify patients ≥65 years of age with a frailty assessment and 1 or more of the conditions. Patient demographics, chronic conditions, and chronic disease management information were retrieved. Changes from 14 months pre to 14 months since the pandemic were described and associations between patient characteristics and changes in monitoring, prescriptions, and test results were analysed using regression models.

Results

The mean age of the 658 patients was 75 years. While the frequency of monitoring activities and prescriptions related to chronic conditions decreased overall, there were no clear trends across sub-groups of age, sex, frailty level, neighbourhood income, or number of conditions. The mean values of disease monitoring parameters (e.g. blood pressure) did not considerably change. The only significant regression model demonstrated that when controlling for all other variables, patients with 2 chronic conditions and those with 4 or more conditions were twice as likely to have reduced numbers of eGFR (Estimated glomerular filtration rate) measures compared to those with only 1 condition ﻿﻿((OR (odds ratio) = 2.40, 95% CI [1.19, 4.87]); (OR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.12, 4.25]), respectively).

Conclusion

In the first 14 months of the pandemic, the frequency of common elements of chronic condition care did not notably change overall or among higher-risk patients.
Integrating STEADI for Falls Prevention in Outpatient Rehabilitation Clinics: An Outcomes Evaluation Using the RE-AIM Framework
Authors: Vincenzo Jennifer L , Caulley Jamie , Scott Aaron J , Wilson Brian S , Wingood Mariana , Curran Geoffrey M
Published: August 2023

Background and Objectives

The RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) framework was used to describe the implementation of the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries (STEADI) Initiative (2018–2021) for screening and assessing all older adults ≥65 years for falls risk across 34 outpatient rehabilitation clinics within a large health system.

Research Design and Methods

We described the Implementation process and strategies. Using Electronic Health Records (EHRs), we identified Reach, Adoption, and Maintenance of screenings and physical assessments to identify fall risk among older adults.

Results

STEADI Implementation strategies included health system mandates, EHR revisions, email instructions, educational sessions and resources, clinical leads and champions, and chart audits. Reach: 76.4% (50,023) had a completed screening, and 44.1% screened at risk for falls. Adoption: Clinic-level adoption varied, with most performing screenings. Profession-level adoption was highest for physical therapists (PTs; 94.2% initiated, 80.6% completed) and lowest for speech-language pathologists (SLPs; 79.8% initiated, 55.9% completed). Reach and Adoption of functional outcomes measures (FOM): PTs completed an FOM on 59.5% of at-risk patients, occupational therapists on 11.6%, and SLPs on 7.9%. Maintenance: All measures declined 1%–10% annually between 2018 and 2021.

Discussion and Implications

STEADI screening and FOMs were implemented systemwide in 34 outpatient rehabilitation clinics, reaching over 50,000 older adults. Screening adoption rates varied by clinic. PTs had the highest adoption rate. All adoption rates declined over time. Future research should consider an implementation science approach with input from key partners before implementation to identify barriers and develop strategies to support STEADI in outpatient rehabilitation.
2. Hedley Bull
Authors: Hurrell Andrew
Published: August 2023

Critiquing the Canon: International Relations Theory considers canonical ideas and thinkers within International Relations and locates them within their historical and geopolitical contexts. Each chapter is dedicated to a particular thinker, and encourages students to explore the limitations of the canon, supporting the decolonizing of our understanding. Pedagogical features include author tutorial videos and end-of-chapter questions to prompt students to develop their own voice and perspective on international relations.
3. Kenneth N. Waltz
Authors: MacKay Joseph
Published: August 2023

Critiquing the Canon: International Relations Theory considers canonical ideas and thinkers within International Relations and locates them within their historical and geopolitical contexts. Each chapter is dedicated to a particular thinker, and encourages students to explore the limitations of the canon, supporting the decolonizing of our understanding. Pedagogical features include author tutorial videos and end-of-chapter questions to prompt students to develop their own voice and perspective on international relations.
4. Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye: Power and Interdependence
Authors: Blaney David L.
Published: August 2023

Critiquing the Canon: International Relations Theory considers canonical ideas and thinkers within International Relations and locates them within their historical and geopolitical contexts. Each chapter is dedicated to a particular thinker, and encourages students to explore the limitations of the canon, supporting the decolonizing of our understanding. Pedagogical features include author tutorial videos and end-of-chapter questions to prompt students to develop their own voice and perspective on international relations.
6. Baruch Spinoza
Authors: Williams Caroline
Published: August 2023

This chapter focuses on the major works of Baruch Spinoza as they impact upon politics, particularly the posthumously published Ethics (1677). This broadly philosophical work, composed over fifteen years, opens up many important ideas that are further developed in Spinoza’s two explicitly political works, Theologico-Political Treatise (1670) and the unfinished Political Treatise. The chapter explores some of the key ideas and concepts to be found in Ethics, including the concepts of nature, individuality, mind and body, imagination, and freedom. It then deepens the political ground of these concepts by addressing power and democracy. The chapter also advances Spinoza’s idea of the multitude and considers some of the political exclusions present in his political philosophy. While one may find limits in the perception of political equality, gender, and race in his works, Spinoza’s analysis of the relationship between the human condition and the natural world remains deeply prescient for many radical political thinkers reflecting on such themes today.
7. John Locke
Authors: Kotef Hagar
Published: August 2023

This chapter discusses John Locke’s theory of the social contract, which became one of the primary frameworks of political thought in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It focuses on one of his books, The Second Treatise of Government, first published in 1689. Since Locke sees humans as essentially rational beings, he believes that even without a ‘power to keep them all in awe’, humans could live in relative peace with each other, form social lives, and regulate themselves according to the Laws of Nature. While seemingly presenting a universal individual, Locke’s social contract theory in fact contrives only specific individuals as the contracting agents: propertied, European (if not English) men. The chapter situates Locke’s contract within a global historical context by considering the voices that have been excluded from or marginalized within this story. Through these different figures—the servant (wage labourer), the wife, the Indigenous, and the slave—we see a series of tensions between formal equality and material, racial, and gender inequalities.
10. Carole Pateman and Charles Mills
Authors: Carver Terrell
Published: August 2023

This chapter begins by providing an overview of contractualism, explaining how social contract theories emerged in early modern north-west Europe as a critique of monarchical absolutisms. Contract theorists argued that absolutist monarchical governments were illegitimate. In recent years, political theorists Carole Pateman and Charles Mills have signally exposed the exclusionary violence and inclusionary discriminations related to gender, race, and class that lay within this apparently universal egalitarianism. To do this, they have theorized three prior contracts of domination: the sexual contract, the racial contract, and the settler contract. Each prior contract explains hypothetically how self-selected individuals have agreed that they can subordinate those whom they have already excluded. Thus, the subsequent social contract legitimates, not the human equality implied in its stated premises, but the inequalities that it fails to disclose. The chapter also registers the development of a further ‘capacity’ or ‘ableist’ contract modelled on the prior contracts of gender, race, and class. It examines the principles of contractual egalitarianism in relation to the subordinating dynamics of capitalist inequality.
14. Friedrich Nietzsche
Authors: Verkerk Willow
Published: August 2023

This chapter addresses many of Friedrich Nietzsche’s major works, with a concentration on his middle and later texts, to reflect on the problem of ‘the political’ in his oeuvre. It begins by identifying Nietzsche as a philosopher of culture whose perspectivist theory of knowledge challenges dualistic systems of truth. The chapter then explains Nietzsche’s concept of the will to power, with reference to how it functions at the level of the state and the individual, before presenting his critique of morality. It also examines Nietzsche’s difficult writings on equality and democracy and interrogates his positions on sex, race, and colonization. Finally, the chapter neither seeks to dismiss nor defend Nietzsche, but provides a foundation for understanding his philosophical concepts and methodologies.
21. Mary Wollstonecraft
Authors: Dodsworth Ashley
Published: August 2023

This chapter expounds on the political thought of feminist philosopher Mary Wollstonecraft, with a focus on her influential analysis of gender inequality. It highlights her most famous work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, by focusing on its radical arguments on gender, reason, and education. The chapter contextualizes Wollstonecraft’s work within the republican tradition, which underpinned her opposition to slavery and her recognition of global inequalities. The chapter suggests that her arguments for emancipation were justified by problematic assumptions of universalism that were made more complicated by the tensions of class, motherhood, and Orientalism. It also tackles the backlash against her memoir, published by her husband, as it unveiled her suicide attempts, a dysfunctional childhood, and a child being born out of wedlock.
25. Niccolò Machiavelli
Authors: Winter Yves
Published: August 2023

This chapter explores the ideas behind Niccolò Machiavelli’s two major political works, Discourses on Livy and The Prince. It starts by explaining how Machiavelli’s reception and biography highlight a correlation between his activities as Secretary of the Florentine chancery and his later theoretical work. Machiavelli’s philosophical thought primarily focused on power and the state; whereaa, his theory of history introduced the concepts of virtù (virtue) and fortuna (fortune). The chapter also outlines Machiavelli’s understanding of republican freedom in line with the significance of the conflict between the few and the many. Finally, it raises issues of violence, conquest, and empire correlating to Machiavelli’s theories.
26. Emma Goldman
Authors: Kinna Ruth
Published: August 2023

This chapter examines resistance in Emma Goldman’s anarchism. It starts with an discussion of her reputation, especially with respect to her detachment from conventional political theory and her failure to investigate race as a category of oppression. The chapter contends that Goldman’s structure of resistance involves love with open eyes and the spirit of revolt. It then considers her understanding of political theory as a practice informed by experience, which she then deploys to develop her conceptions of power and emancipation, in particular her understanding of the relation between class power and women’s oppression. The chapter discusses slavery and slavishness to show how Goldman used rights to advocate resistance to domination. The chapter further explores how her acceptance of revolt highlighted the futility of struggles for inclusion.
27. Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi
Authors: Casas Klausen James
Published: August 2023

This chapter examines the development of Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi’s theory and practice of non-violent resistance with respect to British imperialism in Asia and Africa. It also covers how Gandhi projected himself and conducted campaigns of resistance. Gandhi’s book Hind Swaraj presented Indian self-rule as personal/individual and political/collective and introduced the theory behind non-violent resistance. Gandhi’s autobiography reassessed his early activism, showing why anti-racist criticisms are not unfounded and elaborated his dilemmas in reconciling non-violent theory and practice in nationwide political campaigns. The chapter analyses the Salt Satyagraha to show how Gandhi attempted to resolve the tensions of non-violent resistance on a mass scale, which served as a model for non-violent protests against white supremacy and dictatorship.
28. Frantz Fanon
Authors: Mcbride Keally
Published: August 2023

This chapter offers a brief account of Frantz Fanon’s life and experiences, which provided the material for his analysis of the psychology of racialized colonialism. The chapter investigates his account of the psychology of race and gender with in a world where such categories operate to organize privileges. Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth (1962) examines the violence of colonization and decolonization, especially with respect to the use of revolutionary violence and the struggles of transforming liberation movements into long-lasting regimes providing freedom. Moreover, Fanon’s prediction of the systemic dysfunctions of postcolonial regimes provides valuable tools for analysing contemporary global politics. The chapter also acknowledges Fanon’s ultimate message that overcoming oppression means accepting collective responsibility for making and remaking the world, regardless of conditions.
31. W.E.B. Du Bois
Authors: Basevich Elvira
Published: August 2023

This chapter discusses W.E.B. Du Bois’s political thought and strategies for political advocacy which primarily focus on the politics of race, colonialism, gender, and labour. It also explains the key concepts in Du Bois’s criticism of how the white supremacist ideology shaped modern societies to create the colour line and to exclude members of vulnerable groups. These concepts include the doctrine of racialism, double consciousness, and Pan-Africanism. The chapter recognizes Du Bois’s contributions to Black feminist thought and American labour politics, which inspired major social justice movements in the twentieth century. Thus, Du Bois’s political thought shored up the contradictions in the liberal principles of freedom and equality for all.
36. Judith Butler
Authors: Woodford Clare
Published: August 2023

This chapter looks at the work of Judith Butler on feminism and queer theory. It presents their theory on performativity and parody, and explores the theoretical underpinning of Butler’s theory of subjectivity. Butler’s theorization of gender originated from a broader concern about which lives matter, whose lives get to count as human and whose lives are constrained and subjected to unbearable violence. The chapter highlights the continuing significance and relevance of Butler’s political thought in today’s society as Butler became a vocal critic of Western-centrism, US nationalism, and Zionism. Additionally, the chapter explains how Butler developed non-violent, anti-war politics which emphasized the need for people to live differently instead of within neoliberal rationality and individualism.