bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Limites à cumulação da cláusula penal com outros institutos da responsabilidade contratual
Authors: Teixeira Barbara Veltri Filgueiras
Published: November 2023

O estudo pretende explorar os critérios para limitação da incidência e cumulação da cláusula penal com outros institutos inseridos no gênero de acordos sobre a responsabilidade civil contratual. Para tal, primeiramente serão examinadas as regras específicas do Código Civil sobre o instituto, que estabelecem suas modalidades substitutiva e cumulativa. A seguir, serão analisadas as construções sistemáticas da doutrina e da jurisprudência, que majoritariamente sobrepõem tais modalidades com as possíveis funções, indenizatória e punitiva, que podem ser atribuídas à cláusula penal. Neste ponto, pretende-se esclarecer que a função e a modalidade da cláusula penal podem ser aferidas de forma apartada. A partir dessa noção, será explorada a incidência de cláusulas gerais capazes de limitar a cumulação da cláusula penal com outras penalidades e remédios indenizatórios e restitutórios, depurando seus elementos essenciais a partir da análise de entendimentos jurisprudenciais e doutrinários considerados imprecisos. Em conclusão, pretende-se demonstrar, com apoio em exemplos de casos práticos, que cláusulas penais de regime cumulativo podem ter natureza tanto punitiva como indenizatória, o que influencia os limites de sua eficácia em virtude da incidência das cláusulas gerais da vedação ao bis in idem e ao enriquecimento sem causa.
Critérios para classificação das obrigações de não fazer
Authors: Chagas Beatriz Uchôas
Published: November 2023

As obrigações de não fazer são uma das grandes classes de obrigações no direito privado brasileiro. A despeito de sua importância, até o momento não receberam tratamento aprofundado. Acredita-se que um primeiro passo nesse sentido seja a análise da diversidade dessas obrigações e a proposição de critérios de classificação que sirvam a ordená-las. Examina-se, assim: (i) a divisão de obrigações de não fazer em sentido estrito e obrigações de tolerar; (ii) obrigações ou deveres de não fazer acessórios e principais; (iii) obrigações de não fazer instantâneas e duradouras; (iv) obrigações de não fazer divisíveis e indivisíveis. Ao final, recolhem-se os critérios de classificação que se mostraram úteis e os possíveis critérios que emergiram da análise e que justificam outros estudos.
Pandemia, tecnologia e seus reflexos nas relações familiares
Authors: Santos Bruna Vieira Esteves dos , Cardoso Natasha Reis de Carvalho
Published: November 2023

O artigo visa realizar uma breve análise quanto aos impactos da pandemia da COVID-19 nas relações familiares, por meio da leitura e críticas de pesquisas que demonstram como o uso imoderado das tecnologias durante esse período impactou significativamente as relações familiares, principalmente no que tange à saúde mental dos seus membros, causadas principalmente pelo isolamento social compulsório. Além disso, também discorre sobre os efeitos do uso constante das tecnologias na saúde de crianças e adolescentes. Por fim, o artigo traz algumas soluções para o uso equilibrado das novas tecnologias e como elas podem ser utilizadas a nosso favor, em detrimento de sua primária nocividade.
A ausência de diálogo entre as alterações da Norma Regulamentadora 31 e as decisões do judiciário trabalhista sobre segurança e saúde no trabalho na agricultura, pecuária, silvicultura, exploração florestal e aquicultura em amostragem empírica
Authors: Silva Mariana dos Anjos Ramos Carvalho e
Published: November 2023

O artigo analisa se a alteração da NR 31 trazida em 2020, com vigência a partir de 27 de outubro de 2021 dialoga com as disposições da OIT (Organização Internacional do Trabalho) e com as principais discussões encontradas na jurisprudência do judiciário trabalhista em amostragem no Brasil. A regulamentação foi alterada com o intuito de simplificar e estabelecer os preceitos a serem observados no ambiente de trabalho rural, tornando compatível o planejamento e desenvolvimento de atividades do setor com a prevenção de acidentes e doenças relacionadas ao trabalho rural. O trabalho empírico localizou as decisões (acórdãos) do Tribunal Regional do Trabalho da 18ª Região com base no critério de busca específico da norma (NR 31) e com recorte de critério temporal de ano das decisões do ano de 2019. As conclusões do estudo empírico mostram a ausência de diálogo entre a alteração da NR 31 com os temas dos julgados e a normatização prevista na OIT ratificada pelo Brasil, com a exclusão de previsões sobre direitos dos trabalhadores rurais, bem como no tema de condições sanitárias que podem representar risco ao trabalho decente, condições degradantes de trabalho, ausência de pausas e exposição ao calor.
O ensino de teoria do estado para o combate à desigualdade sob a ótica da finalidade: a experiência da Faculdade de Direito da USP
Authors: Lutaif Michel Kurdoglian , Balbani Arthur Paku Ottolini , Fonseca Lucca Lopes Monteiro da
Published: November 2023

O presente artigo situa-se no campo da Teoria do Estado e das metodologias do ensino do Direito. Por um lado, almeja-se traçar algumas considerações sobre a finalidade como elemento formador do Estado, caracterizando o combate às desigualdades como finalidade do Estado brasileiro. Por outro lado, pretende-se realizar uma defesa da importância do ensino da Teoria Geral do Estado – disciplina cada vez menos presente nos cursos de graduação em Direito – como forma de compreensão do fenômeno da desigualdade e de capacitação para o manuseio dos instrumentos estatais para enfrentar essa problemática ante o contexto da globalização. Para tanto, foram utilizadas duas metodologias de pesquisa, sendo a primeira teórica, por meio de revisão doutrinária sobre a finalidade do Estado e sobre a globalização, e a segunda empírica, a partir da exposição de algumas experiências de metodologias ativas no ensino da Teoria do Estado na Faculdade de Direito da Universidade de São Paulo, demonstrando-se como o ensino jurídico pode ser transformador sob a ótica da finalidade e da igualdade.
Processos estruturantes: origem, casos relevantes na América Latina e reflexões a partir do sistema processual brasileiro
Authors: Mazini Paulo Guilherme
Published: November 2023

O presente artigo tem por objetivo o estudo da estabilidade dos processos estruturantes, com o propósito inicial de identificar os conceitos apresentados pela doutrina para a definição – nem sempre precisa – desse modelo processual. Também está inserida nesse trabalho a análise de decisões estruturantes de grande repercussão em países latino-americanos, sequenciada pela demonstração cabal de que o Código de Processo Civil Brasileiro contém instrumentos, técnicas e regras que se adaptam perfeitamente aos processos estruturantes. Por fim, pretende-se examinar o regime de estabilidade das decisões estruturantes – aqui compreendidas numa acepção que engloba as sentenças e as interlocutórias que julgam parcialmente o mérito ou que homologam a composição de parte dos pedidos – à luz do dispositivo contemplado no art. 23, caput da LINDB e da teoria das preclusões dinâmicas, bem como em conformidade com a concepção de coisa julgada disciplinada no CPC em vigor.
Recurso de agravo na história processual luso-brasileira: da irrecorribilidade à taxatividade mitigada
Authors: Coelho Fernanda Rosa
Published: November 2023

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar a gênese e o desenvolvimento do recurso de agravo na história do direito processual luso-brasileiro até os dias atuais, especificamente quanto ao seu cabimento. Utiliza-se o método de abordagem dedutivo, por meio de procedimento histórico e metodologia descritiva, a partir de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental em fontes primárias e secundárias. Nota-se que, ao longo da história processual civil luso-brasileira, repetem-se os mesmos problemas e as mesmas “soluções” para o regime do agravo, seja no alargamento de seu cabimento, seja na sua restrição, em flagrante tensão entre a necessidade de descongestionamento dos Tribunais e a prestação de uma tutela jurisdicional adequada. Evidencia-se, assim, a necessidade de um novo olhar sobre o tema, abandonando as antigas concepções arraigadas na processualística brasileira, marcada pelo seu condicionamento histórico ao direito português.
Federalismo, competência legislativa e reserva de lei complementar em matéria tributária: os municípios podem estabelecer espécies de extinção do crédito tributário não previstas no Código Tributário Nacional?
Authors: Lima Marcelo Cheli de
Published: November 2023

O presente artigo tem por escopo refletir e responder a seguinte questão: os Municípios podem criar hipóteses de extinção do crédito tributário a par das já existentes no Código Tributário Nacional? Para os devidos fins, utilizar-se-á o método hipotético-dedutivo na busca pela resposta às indagações, além da análise da Constituição Federal, do Código Tributário Nacional, da doutrina e da jurisprudência do Supremo Tribunal Federal. A resposta à questão é positiva, ou seja, os Municípios têm competência para instituir modalidades de extinção de seus créditos tributários não previstas no CTN, porque a Constituição só exige lei complementar nacional para dispor sobre prescrição e decadência em matéria tributária, a teoria dos poderes implícitos (que pode o mais pode o menos) pode ser utilizada como supedâneo para a resposta afirmativa e, finalmente, as hipóteses de extinção do crédito tributário previstas no Código Tributário Nacional constituem um rol exemplificativo. Portanto, como conclusão, a resposta é positiva, ou seja, os Municípios podem, por simples lei ordinária, estabelecer novas hipóteses de extinção do crédito tributário.
Le eccezioni preliminari nel caso Alleged Violations of Sovereign Rights and Maritime Spaces in the Caribbean Sea (Nicaragua v. Colombia)
Authors: Travan Federico
Published: November 2023

Il lavoro costituisce una discussione dei principali problemi relativi alle «eccezioni preliminari» nell’ambito del processo davanti alla Corte internazionale di giustizia nel caso Alleged Violations of Sovereign Rights and Maritime Spaces in the Caribbean Sea (Nicaragua v. Colombia). Vengono innanzi tutto analizzate le tre questioni preliminari più problematiche del caso: quella dell’esatta definizione dell’oggetto della controversia; quella dell’esistenza di un «potere inerente» della Corte in grado di fondare la competenza della stessa a decidere una controversia relativa all’esecuzione di una sua precedente sentenza; quella, infine, dell’esistenza della controversia. Nell’affrontare l’analisi di questi problemi, è messo poi in evidenza che alcuni argomenti giuridici, non meno rigorosi né meno validi rispetto a quelli accolti dalla Corte, avrebbero potuto condurre a una decisione esattamente opposta a quella di cui al dispositivo della sentenza sulle eccezioni preliminari del 17 marzo 2016, con cui la Corte aveva dichiarato la propria «competenza» a decidere il caso. Un’argomentazione diversa, altrettanto valida dal punto di vista teorico, avrebbe condotto infatti alla declaratoria dell’«irricevibilità della domanda», con la conseguenza che non vi sarebbero state né la celebrazione del processo sul merito, né la condanna della Colombia con la sentenza del 21 aprile 2022. Si conclude così mostrando l’ineluttabile «non univocità» dell’applicazione del diritto come «tecnica pura», e sostenendo – anche sulla base di una valorizzazione, nel caso concreto, del concetto aristotelico di phronesis – che se la Corte ha infine sposato taluni argomenti e non altri, ciò è stato essenzialmente il risultato del calcolo degli effetti «pratici» della propria decisione, e quindi di «scelte» che in certa qual forma possono dirsi anche «politiche».
Voces silenciadas: breve historia de los pueblos indígenas de la Argentina y su lucha en la actualidad por el reconocimiento de sus derechos
Authors: Irala González Olivia Raquel
Published: November 2023

El presente artículo pretende analizar la realidad de los pueblos indígenas en la Argentina y el reclamo constante que han llevado adelante por la materialización de sus derechos, a través del estudio del caso “Comunidades Indígenas miembros de la Asociación Lhaka Honhat (Nuestra Tierra) vs. Argentina”. Para ello, en primer lugar, se realizará un breve racconto histórico en cual se podrá apreciar el rol que ocupaba el indígena en la sociedad colonial del siglo XVI. En segundo lugar, se analizará la legislación argentina vigente que regula en la materia. Y por último, se hará hincapié en el análisis del fallo de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos que resulta paradigmático para la Argentina, por ser el primer caso relacionado con un reclamo de pueblos indígenas llevado ante una corte internacional. Este trabajo propone la utilización de aquél como un precedente inédito para el resto de los países de la región.
Retrocesso no combate às desigualdades raciais em saúde e gestão da pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil
Authors: Coimbra Júlia Rodrigues
Published: November 2023

A saúde das pessoas não é determinada por aspectos naturais ou pelo destino; é impactada pelo acesso a um sistema de saúde e por outras condições socioeconômicas, tais como renda, educação e moradia. Evidencia-se uma gradação social e racial da saúde, pois, no Brasil e no mundo, os mais pobres e não brancos têm uma saúde pior. Essas condições, denominadas “determinantes sociais da saúde”, podem ser controladas, o que demonstra o papel de políticas públicas e do Direito na saúde das populações. O Direito afeta a saúde e pode exercer um papel duplo, de perpetuar ou impactar os determinantes sociais da saúde. O Direito brasileiro, fundamentado na Constituição Federal de 1988, determina a existência de um sistema universal de saúde e prevê ações afirmativas no combate ao racismo estrutural na área de saúde. Não obstante a importância dessas normas, o país apresenta desigualdade social e racial extrema, inclusive no tocante à saúde, o que foi agravado pelo recente retrocesso em certas políticas e pela pandemia de COVID-19. Para promover a saúde e o combate às desigualdades em saúde, para além da existência de normas e instituições, é necessário preservar o Estado Democrático de Direito e garantir a representatividade institucional de grupos menos favorecidos. Ataques à democracia representam ataques a políticas de saúde pública e de redução de desigualdades sociais e raciais, o que ficou demonstrado durante a pandemia de COVID-19 no Brasil.
The third opinion on fern phylogenetics with novel insights into their mitogenome evolution
Authors: CÁRDENAS GLENDA G. , LEHTONEN SAMULI
Published: November 2023

The current understanding of fern phylogeny is primarily based on plastid and nuclear sequences, but the third genome—the mitogenome—has remained practically unstudied. We inferred the first broad scale fern phylogeny based on mitogenomic data, obtained from the One Thousand Plant Transcriptomes Initiative project, and compared it with the plastid phylogeny. The trees were mostly congruent and corresponded to the current understanding of the fern phylogeny, but we observed different evolutionary patterns between the two genomes. Protein-coding markers located in the plastome had, on average, over two times higher substitution rate than the markers from the mitogenome. The similar rate variation pattern between the genomes in different fern lineages supports the idea that a common mechanism, like life history traits, drives the rates of molecular evolution. The few conflicting nodes we observed have also been difficult to resolve in other studies, suggesting that even genomic data may not suffice to resolve them.
Piptoporellus taiwanensis sp. nov. (Polyporales, Fomitopsidaceae) from Taiwan and its phytochemistry
Authors: JEN CHIA-I , LAI MING-NAN , ARIYAWANSA HIRAN A. , BANDARA ASANKA R. , NG LEAN-TEIK
Published: November 2023

Piptoporellus is a recently proposed genus placed under Fomitopsis-like taxa in the Antrodia clade. Four species of Piptoporellus are known, of which three are distributed in China, and one in Africa. A specimen collected around Sun Moon Lake, Nantou County, Taiwan proved to be the first documentation of Piptoporellus in Taiwan. Based on morpho-molecular data, a new species, Piptoporellus taiwanensis, is introduced. In a multi-gene. phylogeny of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (nrITS) region, large subunit RNA gene (nrLSU), small subunit RNA gene (nrSSU), and translation elongation factor 1-α gene (tef1-α), the novel taxon formed a distinct clade sister to P. hainanensis and P. triqueter. Phenotypically our strain differs from other Piptoporellus species in having yellow to orange pileus, buff to yellow pore surface, thin-walled basidiospores, and a dimitic hyphal system. Chemical analysis showed that this novel species contained about 3.878 g of total polysaccharides, 112.9 mg of total phenols, 182.9 mg of total flavonoids, 34.33 mg of total triterpenoids, and trace amounts of alkaloids per 100 g of dried fruiting bodies. This study has shed light on the diversity of Piptoporellus taxa in Taiwan and has also shown that this novel species contains significant amounts of polysaccharides, polyphenols, and triterpenoids.
Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Surgical Care and Outcomes for Hepatobiliary Malignancies
Authors: Parina Ralitza , Emamaullee Juliet , Ahmed Saif , Kaur Navpreet , Genyk Yuri , Raashid Sheikh Mohd
Published: November 2023

Background

As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, some states expanded Medicaid eligibility to adults with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty line. While this resulted in an increased proportion of insured residents, its impact on the diagnosis and treatment of hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) cancers has not been studied.

Study Design

The National Cancer Database (NCDB) from 2010 to 2017 was used. Patients diagnosed with HPB malignancies in states which expanded in 2014 were compared to patients in non-expansion states. Subset analyses of patients who underwent surgery and those in high-risk socioeconomic groups were performed. Outcomes studied included initiation of treatment within 30 days of diagnosis, stage at diagnosis, care at high volume or academic center, perioperative outcomes, and overall survival. Adjusted difference-in-differences analysis was performed.

Results

A total of 345,684 patients were included, of whom 55% resided in non-expansion states and 54% were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Overall survival was higher in states with Medicaid expansion (HR .90, 95% CI [.88-.92], P < .01). There were also better postoperative outcomes including 30-day mortality (.67 [.57-.80], P < .01) and 30-day readmissions (.87 [.78-.97], P = .02) as well as increased likelihood of having surgery in a high-volume center (1.42 [1.32-1.53], P < .01). However, there were lower odds of initiating care within 30 days of diagnosis (.77 [.75-.80], P < .01) and higher likelihood of diagnosis with stage IV disease (1.09 [1.06-1.12], P < .01) in expansion states.

Conclusion

While operative outcomes and overall survival from HPB cancers were better in states with Medicaid expansion, there was no improvement in timeliness of initiating care or stage at diagnosis.
Plasma cell-free DNA in patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia treated with arsenic trioxide
Authors: Fujihara Junko , Nishimoto Naoki , Takeshita Haruo
Published: November 2023

Background

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is free DNA found in circulating blood that originates from apoptosis or necrosis, and elevated cfDNA concentrations have been reported in cancers and other diseases.

Methods

In this study, the concentrations and fragment distributions of plasma cfDNA were preliminary investigated in elderly ( n = 1) and paediatric ( n = 1) patients with acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) treated with arsenic trioxide (ATO).

Results

A slight increase in cfDNA concentrations was observed in the APL patients compared with healthy controls. The change in plasma cfDNA concentrations corresponded to the change in plasma arsenic concentrations during ATO treatment. The fragment distribution pattern did not differ before and during treatment. Three ladder fragments were observed in part of the cfDNA in the second consolidation therapy in an elderly APL patient and the first consolidation therapy of a paediatric APL patient, while two fragments were observed in all other treatment periods. Moreover, APL-related gene mutations were successfully genotyped from plasma cfDNA by using polymerase chain reaction-based methods and these results are consistent with those from leukocytes.

Conclusion

This study is the first to report the concentrations and fragment patterns of cfDNA from APL patients treated with ATO. The results suggested that plasma cfDNA concentration in APL patients increased with ATO treatment and that cfDNA is released mainly via neutrophil extracellular traps (and/or necrosis) in addition to apoptosis. To confirm whether cfDNA concentrations and fragment patterns can be used as a biomarker for APL treated with ATO, further accumulative data are needed.
Cardiac troponin in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: Incidence, predictors, and outcomes
Authors: Gupta Praveen , Gupta Anunay , Bansal Sandeep , Balakrishnan Ira
Published: November 2023

Background

The incidence, predictors, and association of cardiac troponin with mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 were not adequately studied in the past and were also not reported from an Indian hospital.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, the cardiac troponin of 240 hospitalized COVID-19 patients was measured. The incidence, predictors, and association of elevated cardiac troponin with in-hospital mortality were determined among hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Results

The cardiac troponin was elevated in 12.9% (31/240) of the patients. The troponin was elevated in the patients in the older age group (64 years vs. 55 years, p = .002), severe COVID-19 illness (SpO2 < 90%) (93.5% vs. 60.8%, p < .001), low arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) (80% vs. 88%, p = .001), and low PaO2/FiO2 ratio ( p < .0001). The patients with elevated cardiac troponin had elevated total leukocyte counts (TLC) ( p = .001), liver enzyme ( p = .025), serum creatinine ( p = .011), N-terminal-Pro Brain natriuretic peptide ( p < .0001), and d-dimer ( p < .0001). The majority of the patients with elevated cardiac troponin were admitted to the intensive care unit (90.3% vs. 51.2%; p < .0001), were on a ventilator (61.3% vs. 21.5%; p < .0001), and had higher mortality (64.5% vs. 19.6%; p < .0001). The Kaplan–Meir survival analysis showed that the patients with elevated troponin had worse survival ( p log-rank<.0001). Age, NT-ProBNP, d-dimer, and ventilator were the predictors of elevated troponin in multivariate logistic regression analysis. The Cox-regression analysis showed a significant association between elevated cardiac troponin and in-hospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.145–3.97; p = .017). Two-thirds (65%) of patients with elevated cardiac troponin died during their hospital stay.

Conclusions

COVID-19 patients with elevated cardiac troponin had severe COVID illness, were more commonly admitted to an intensive care unit, were on a ventilator, and had high in-hospital mortality.
Restorative Justice in a No Excuses Charter School
Authors: Lustick Hilary , Cho Vincent , Miller Andrew
Published: November 2023

Restorative justice practices are an increasingly popular approach to behavioral management, rooted in relationships rather than the behaviorist approach of many traditional forms of schooling. Research on restorative practice implementation demonstrates that schools rarely have time to consider cultural change, as they rush to reduce suspensions and discipline gaps. Presumably, this mismatch between culture and practice would be even more pronounced in a no-excuses charter, but this presumption warrants inquiry. Framed by theories of institutional logics, the current study examines an historically no-excuses charter school’s shift toward restorative justice. We find that a behaviorist, “no-excuses” logic inhibits teachers and administrators from embracing the cultural and ideological foundations of restorative justice, even as they express ideological and intellectual commitment to the shift in practices. We close with implications for school leadership and restorative justice implementation.
Effectiveness of Safe Patient Handling Equipment and Techniques: A Review of Biomechanical Studies
Authors: Fray Mike , Davis Kermit G.
Published: November 2023

Objective

This review aimed to evaluate all studies that have evaluated the biomechanical effects when using assistive devices.

Introduction

The physical demands of patient handling activities are well known. One safety strategy for the reduction of the physical risks is use of assistive devices.

Method

The search process identified articles published in English-speaking journals through Google Scholar, Medline, and ISI Web of Science. The included 56 studies contained a biomechanical assessment of a patient handling activity with assistive devices.

Results

The biomechanical effects included four groups: changes in body posture (spinal, other joints), subjective assessment (force, effort, discomfort), measured force (hand force, ground reaction force, spine force, joint torque), and physiological measures. The evidence showed caregivers benefited from using lift hoists, air-assisted devices, and to a lesser extent friction reducing devices for lateral transfers and repositioning, while floor and ceiling lifts were most effective for patient transfers. Some gaps were noted in the evidence and other handling tasks such as sit-to-stand, turning patient in bed, limb lifting, and repositioning and some more high hazard activities like supporting people with limited balance and those that fall need to be investigated with respect to biomechanical outcomes.

Conclusion

There is a growing level of biomechanical evidence to support the use of assistive devices for many patient-handling tasks, but the benefits of equipment use in some transfers remain uninvestigated.

Practical Application

Evidence indicates the best way to lift patients safely is with floor or ceiling lifts, and air-assisted devices for lateral and repositioning tasks.
Changes in Neck and Shoulder Muscles Fatigue Threshold When Using a Passive Head/Neck Supporting Exoskeleton During Repetitive Overhead Tasks
Authors: Garosi Ehsan , Kazemi Zeinab , Mazloumi Adel , Keihani Ahmadreza
Published: November 2023

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a head/neck supporting exoskeleton (HNSE) on the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGFT) of the neck and shoulder muscles during a simulated overhead work task.

Background

Overhead work is a well-known risk factor for neck and shoulder musculoskeletal disorders due to the excessive strain imposed on the muscles and joints in these regions.

Method

Fourteen healthy males performed a repetitive overhead nut fastening/unfastening task to exhaustion while wearing and not wearing the HNSE at two neck extension angles (40% and 80% of neck maximum range of motion). Electromyographic signals were continuously recorded from the right and left sternocleidomastoid (SCMR, SCML), splenius capitis (SCR, SCL), upper trapezius (UTR, UTL), and anterior deltoid (ADR, ADL) muscles. The normalized electromyographic amplitude (nEMG) data was time normalized, and a bisegmental linear regression was applied to determine the muscle fatigue break point.

Results

The results showed a significant increase in fatigue threshold time in the SCMR ( p < .001), SCML ( p = .002), and UTR ( p = .037) muscles when the HNSE was used. However, the EMGFT times for the right and left deltoid and left trapezius muscles showed a nonsignificant reduction due to the head/neck support exoskeleton use. In addition, the neck extension angle did not reveal a significant effect on muscles’ EMGFT time.

Conclusion

Overall, the findings confirmed a significant delay in fatigue onset in sternocleidomastoid muscles, as measured by the electromyographic fatigue threshold. This finding suggests that the HNSE can be an effective ergonomic intervention for reducing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders in overhead workers. However, further studies are needed to investigate the effect of the HNSE at other neck extension angles and more realistic tasks to ensure the generalizability of our results.

Application

The present findings emphasize the application of the fatigue onset time to evaluate the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions, including exoskeletons, which can subsequently be utilized to alleviate postural demands and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
Effect of the Caregivers-to-Caregivers Training Programme on informed caregivers of persons with mental disorders: A pilot study
Authors: Jiang Yu Lei , Yin Feng , Lv Zi Yao , Hou Hao , Yang Bing Xiang , Liu Qian , Fu Shi-Yu , Zhang Jia-Ning , Wang Xiao Qin
Published: November 2023

Objective:

Many people with mental disorders are cared for by informed caregivers, but they usually have limited care-related training and lack caregiving capacity and support networks. In order to provide professional training and social support for informed caregivers, we designed the Caregivers-to-Caregivers Training Programme (C2C) and performed a pilot study to assess its effect.

Methods:

Caregivers of persons with mental disorders who participated in the C2C were asked to participate in a quasi-experimental study to assess their knowledge and skills development, self-care ability, trainer engagement, and training content. A total of 800 participants completed self-designed evaluation questionnaires and two open-ended questions to gather suggestions and feedback. Assessments were carried out at pretest (baseline), post-test, and at 2-month follow-up. Results were analyzed using one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise comparison method.

Results:

At post-test, 667 assessments were considered valid and 515 were deemed valid at 2-month follow-up. One-way repeated-measures ANOVA showed that the main effect of the scores on knowledge and skills development and self-care ability from baseline to 2-month follow-up was significant ( p < .001). Results of pairwise comparison method showed that the scores on each item of knowledge and skills development and self-care ability at post-test and at 2-month follow up were higher than those at baseline ( p < .001). The scores on items of trainer engagement and training content were all above average (4/5). The open-ended questions resulted in 678 comments indicating that participants gained significant support from other caregivers and healthcare professionals in the alliance and wanted more and continuously updated material.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that C2C effectively improved the development of caregivers’ knowledge, skills, and their self-care ability. Available social support for caregivers was better than average, including professional support and peer support.
Difficult Heritage in Southeastern Europe: Local and Transnational Entanglements in Memorializing Political Prisons after Socialism
Authors: Bădescu Gruia
Published: November 2023

Throughout Central and Eastern Europe, various governments supported the creation of memorial museums of political violence during state socialism. While much scholarly attention has been given to Hungary’s House of Terror and the Baltic museums of occupations, this article examines the contrasting situation in Southeastern Europe, where state actors were generally absent and which witnessed relatively belated and overwhelmingly bottom-up processes. The article analyses the particularity of political prisons as ‘difficult heritage’. It scrutinizes the commonalities and entanglements between the memorialization of political prisons in three Southeastern European countries marked by distinctive trajectories both during and after communism: Albania (Spaç), Romania (Sighet and Piteşti), and Croatia (Goli Otok). The article shows how in the absence of state-level policies to address transitional justice, activism surrounding difficult heritage memorialization has aimed to fill the gap. It also argues that the relationship between site memorialization in Southeastern Europe and the wider European models is doubly constitutive: first, the memorialization of Sighet in 1990s Romania borrowed approaches from Western European Holocaust memorialization, then shaped a European wide set of best practices; second, a wave of new memorial initiatives after 2010 in Southeastern Europe was connected to the Europeanization of memory and transnational engagements.
A Meta-analysis of the Relations Between Socioeconomic Status and Parenting Practices
Authors: Ayoub Mona , Bachir Maya
Published: November 2023

The question of why parents parent the way they do is central in parenting studies. Research about the predictors of parenting has been guided by Belsky’s classical model of parenting determinants. In this model, socioeconomic status was not explicitly considered as a determinant of parenting. However, there is ample research that came later that found relations between socioeconomic status and parenting. The aim of this study was to find an aggregate estimate of the relations between socioeconomic status and parenting practices using meta-analytic methods. We found that socioeconomic status was positively linked to positive parenting, and negatively linked to negative parenting. In particular, socioeconomic status was positively linked to parental warmth and parental behavioral control, but negatively linked to parental psychological control. The relations between socioeconomic status and positive or negative parenting were not moderated by child’s age or sex and did not differ based on the type of socioeconomic status indicator. Moreover, all the correlations were small in magnitude, and were comparable to other predictors of parenting such as parent’s depression, parent’s personality traits, and child’s temperament. Our results suggest that parent’s overall socioeconomic status, or its different constituents, supplement Belsky’s model of parenting determinants.
Data augmentation using generative models for track intrusion detection
Authors: Lee Soohyung , Kim Beomseong , Lee Heesung
Published: November 2023

The objective of this work is to address the problem of detecting track intruders in railway systems using deep learning-based algorithms. Unauthorized entry onto railway tracks poses a significant risk of collisions between trains and humans. However, intrusion discrimination algorithms often suffer from a lack of learning data and data imbalance issues. To overcome these challenges, this research proposes an algorithm that combines generative models and classification networks. Generative models are utilized to generate synthetic intrusion data by learning the underlying distribution of available data and creating new samples resembling the original data. The augmented intrusion data is then used to train deep neural networks to accurately identify intrusions. The proposed algorithm is evaluated using real data sets, demonstrating its effectiveness in overcoming limited learning data and data imbalance issues. By augmenting intrusion data using generative models, the algorithm achieves improved accuracy compared to traditional approaches. In conclusion, the algorithm presented in this work provides a solution for detecting track intruders in railway systems. By leveraging generative models to augment limited intrusion data and utilizing classification networks for intrusion discrimination, the algorithm demonstrates improved performance in accurately identifying intrusions. This research highlights the potential of deep learning-based approaches in enhancing railway safety and recommends further exploration and application of these methods in real-world settings.
Freedom Dreaming: An Abolitionist Teacher Residency
Authors: Albright Thomas , Cross Stephanie Behm , Davis Camea
Published: November 2023

Schools are sites of unfreedom. As such we engage in freedom dreaming and co-constituting of non-negotiables of an abolitionist teacher residency (ATR). This conceptual article asks: what non-negotiables are necessary when centering abolition in residency work? Our dream guides illustrate the need to draw on radical imaginations, freedom dreaming, abolitionism, and abolitionist education to dismantle caustic systems. An ATR must: (a) attune to their geo-socio-historical and political situatedness, (b) be democratic/participatory in nature, (c) commit to an onto-epistemological orientation rooted in critical theories and abolition, and (d) emphasize learning as liberation. We invite others into this “abolitionist turn” within residencies.
Delays in adjuvant radiotherapy for primary breast cancer is harmful, especially in low-income countries
Authors: Maharaj Ravi , Cave Christo , Motilal Shastri , Naraynsignh Vijay
Published: November 2023

Our retrospective cohort study of the effects of radiotherapy delay on the oncological outcome of breast cancer patients showed a prolonged radiotherapy waiting interval was associated with a statistically significant increase in the 3-year breast cancer-specific mortality. This research should stimulate setting up protocols geared towards minimizing delays.
Developmental Constitutionalism and the Fourth Branch: Ghana’s Independent Constitutional Bodies and the Redress of Poverty and Inequality
Authors: Atuguba Raymond A , Young Katharine G
Published: November 2023

Ghana’s Constitution has long emphasised the importance of equality, democracy, human rights and development. These principles are entrenched in a separation of powers framework that includes independent constitutional bodies that operate semi-autonomously from the tripartite executive, legislative and judicial branches. As part of a symposium on so-called ‘fourth branch’ institutions that provide redress for poverty and inequality, this article explores two institutions: the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and the National Development Planning Commission. The first is a 30-year-old national human rights institution, which monitors and investigates alleged violations of human rights, corruption and the misappropriation of public moneys, and provides redress, partly through its increasing focus on economic and social rights and the claims of the most vulnerable, including women, children and persons with disabilities. The second, currently executive body, is the subject of current calls for constitutional reform in Ghana. These reforms would entrench national development planning to enhance features of autonomy, technical capacity and partisan independence. As such, these proposals offer a distinctive and yet also paradigm-defying model of fourth branch arrangements in developmental constitutionalism, raising questions about the usurpation of policymaking and the deficits of democracy that are commonly raised against courts, international financial institutions or other international economic arrangements.
Looking on the (B)right Side of Life: Cognitive Ability and Miscalibrated Financial Expectations
Authors: Dawson Chris
Published: November 2023

It is a puzzle why humans tend toward unrealistic optimism, as it can lead to excessively risky behavior and a failure to take precautionary action. Using data from a large nationally representative U.K. sample [Formula: see text] our claim is that optimism bias is partly a consequence of low cognition—as measured by a broad range of cognitive skills, including memory, verbal fluency, fluid reasoning and numerical reasoning. We operationalize unrealistic optimism as the difference between a person’s financial expectation and the financial realization that follows, measured annually over a decade. All else being equal, those highest on cognitive ability experience a 22% (53.2%) increase in the probability of realism (pessimism) and a 34.8% reduction in optimism compared with those lowest on cognitive ability. This suggests that the negative consequences of an excessively optimistic mindset may, in part, be a side product of the true driver, low cognitive ability.
Role of granulocyte colony stimulating factor in the treatment of cirrhosis of liver: a systematic review
Authors: Rajpurohit Siddheesh , Musunuri Balaji , Basthi Mohan Pooja , Bhat Ganesh , Shetty Shiran
Published: November 2023

Objective

We performed a systematic review to analyze the benefits of and risk factors associated with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Methods

PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched for randomized controlled trials and case–control studies that compared the use of GCSF with another treatment or control group. The Jadad and Newcastle–Ottawa scales were used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. The primary outcome studied was mortality; and the secondary outcomes were the disease severity score, liver transplantation criteria, complications, CD34+ cell count, adverse events, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). PROSPERO registration number CRD42023416014.

Results

The initial search yielded 2,235 studies, of which seven studies of 670 patients with liver cirrhosis were included. Multiple cycles of GCSF significantly improved the survival rate, disease severity score, CD34+ cell count, and HRQOL; and significantly reduced the incidences of liver transplantation, ascites, infection, and hepatic encephalopathy. Fatigue and backache were the most commonly reported adverse events.

Conclusion

GCSF significantly improves the survival rate and disease severity scores, and reduces the incidence of complications in patients with liver cirrhosis. The administration of GCSF is likely to be effective in patients awaiting liver transplantation.
Study on damage of the macrostructure of the cochlea under the impact load
Authors: Wang Jiakun , Liang Junyi , Gao Lei , Yao Wenjuan
Published: November 2023

Due to the tiny and delicate structure of the cochlea, the auditory system is the most sensitive to explosion impact damage. After being damaged by the explosion impact wave, it usually causes long-term deafness, tinnitus, and other symptoms. To better understand the influence of impact load on the cochlea and basilar membrane (BM), a three-dimensional (3D) fluid-solid coupling finite element model was developed. This model accurately reflects the actual spatial spiral shape of the human cochlea, as well as the lymph environment and biological materials. Based on verifying the reliability of the model, the curve of impact load-amplitude response was obtained, and damage of impact load on the cochlea and the key macrostructure-BM was analyzed. The results indicate that impact wave at middle frequency has widest influence on the cochlea. Furthermore, impact loading causes tears in the BM and destroys the cochlear frequency selectivity.
The association between stigma and wellbeing in an Italian cohort of PLWH: The role of social support and personal factors
Authors: Delle Donne Valentina , Massaroni Valentina , Lombardi Francesca , Dusina Alex , Salvo Pierluigi Francesco , Borghetti Alberto , Ciccullo Arturo , Visconti Elena , Di Giambenedetto Simona
Published: November 2023

Our aim was to assess the association between different types of stigma and physical, behavioural and emotional wellbeing, and to evaluate whether these associations were mediated by the level of social support, age, education, sex and time from HIV diagnosis in an Italian cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH). We enrolled 96 PLWH and had them complete a cross-sectional online survey that included the “HSS-12”, the “SF-12” and the “DASS-21”. We performed linear regression analyses to explore the associations between the HSS-12 scores and cART adherence, viral load, SF-12 and DASS-21 scores, and a mediation analysis to identify mediators in the significant associations. We showed that higher level of depression and worse perception of mental health were significantly associated with higher HSS-12 “personalised stigma” ( p = .009, p = .020) “disclosure concerns” ( p = .012, p = .039), “concerns about public attitudes” ( p =.007, p = .005) and “negative self-image” scores; ( p < .001, p = .001); worse perception of physical health status was associated with higher HSS-12 “personalised stigma” scores ( p = .018); higher level of anxiety and stress were associated with higher ”negative self-image” scores (0.001 and p < .001). The association between higher HSS-12 “negative self-image” and higher levels of depression, anxiety and stress were mediated by lower age (a*b = +0.10; a*b = +0.12; a*b = +0.11). This study may have important implications for clinical practice as it contributes to understanding the characteristics and consequences of HIV-related stigma in a population of PLWH with excellent viroimmunological status and therapeutic adherence.
Beyond the consult question: Nurse ethicists as architects of moral spaces
Authors: Wolfe Ian D
Published: November 2023

Nurse Ethicists bring a unique perspective to clinical ethics consultation. This perspective provides an appreciation of ethical tensions that will exist beyond the consult question into the moral space of patient care. These tensions exist even when an ethically preferable plan of action is identified. Ethically appropriate courses of action can still lead to moral dilemmas for others. The nurse ethicist provides a lens well suited to identify and respond to these dilemmas. The nurse–patient relationship is the ethical foundation of nursing practice and this relational ontology is well suited to addressing ethical dilemmas that exist prior to and beyond the initial consult question. This paper will describe one nurse ethicist’s phronetic and pragmatic approach to a clinical ethics consult elucidated through feminist ethics and systems thinking. This paper will describe the theoretical basis for this method, present a case, and describe how this consultation approach provides a rich analysis based around relationships and responsibilities that also highlights the important ethical tensions within the social structure that exists around the patient and continue after the consult question is answered.
Radicalizing Managers’ Climate Education: Getting Beyond the Bull**** Fairy Tale of Eternal Economic Growth
Authors: Laasch Oliver
Published: November 2023

In this essay, I argue that we should radicalize managerial climate change education given that incremental and accommodative forms of responsible management learning and education (RMLE) are at odds with the urgency, nature, and magnitude of the climate crisis. I argue for three practices to radicalize RMLE, and illustrate them through examples from a degrowth context. First, management educators should engage in anti-paradigmatic performative politics to disrupt the reality-making of climate damaging theories, and “realize” better alternative theories. Second, as management educators, we should engage ourselves, our students, and wider stakeholders in anti-paradigmatic thought that transcends and challenges problematic mainstream management paradigms. Third, we should explore what and how we and our students can learn from radical climate movements’ civil disobedience, in order to disrupt climate-damaging practices. In this paper, I aim to provoke and facilitate urgently needed discussions about the radicalization of RMLE for climate change education and beyond. Therefore, I close this essay with an invitation for rejoinders and suggest salient implications for educational practitioners and researchers.