bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-term results of percutaneous coronary intervention in no-touch vein grafts are significantly better than in conventional vein grafts
Authors: Ferrari Gabriele , Geijer Håkan , Cao Yang , Graf Ulf , Bojö Leif , Carlsson Roland , Souza Domingos , Samano Ninos
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Conventional vein grafts have a high risk of thrombosis and early atherosclerosis. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in conventional vein grafts is associated with a higher incidence of late adverse cardiac events. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term results after PCI in saphenous vein grafts (SVG) harvested with the no-touch technique compared to the conventional technique.

Methods

This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study, based on data from the Swedeheart register. The inclusion criterion was individuals who underwent CABG using different vein graft techniques between January 1992 and July 2020, and who required a PCI in SVGs between January 2006 and July 2020. The primary end point was long-term in-stent restenosis. The secondary endpoints were long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and 1-year re-hospitalization rates. The associations between the graft types and the endpoints were evaluated using the Fine and Gray competing-risk regression analysis.

Results

The study included 346 individuals (67 no-touch, 279 conventional). The mean clinical follow-up time was 6.4 years with a standard deviation of 3.7 years. The long-term in-stent restenosis rate for the no-touch grafts was 3.2% compared to 18.7% for the conventional grafts ( p < .01), with a subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) of 0.16 ( p = .010). The long-term MACE rate was 27.0% in the no-touch group and 48.3% in the conventional group ( p < .01) with a SHR of 0.53 ( p = .017). The short-term results were similar in both groups.

Conclusions

Percutaneous coronary intervention in a no-touch vein graft was associated with statistically significantly fewer in-stent restenoses and MACE at long-term follow-up compared to a conventional SVG.
Multimodal exercise programs may improve posttraumatic stress disorders symptoms and quality of life in adults with PTSD: An overview of systematic reviews with meta-analysis
Authors: Martinez-Calderon Javier , Villar-Alises Olga , García-Muñoz Cristina , Pineda-Escobar Saul , Matias-Soto Javier
Published: January 2024

Objective

This overview of reviews aimed to summarize the effectiveness of exercise, regular physical activity or mind–body exercises on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and comorbidities associated with PTSD (e.g. depression symptoms) among individuals without age, gender, race, ethnicity or setting restrictions.

Data Sources

The CINAHL, Embase, PubMed and SPORTDiscus databases were searched from inception to November 16, 2023.

Review methods

Systematic reviews with meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials evaluating exercise, regular physical activity or mind–body exercises were considered. Control groups and outcome measures were not restricted. AMSTAR 2 assessed the methodological quality of reviews. The overlap between reviews was calculated.

Results

A total of 14 systematic reviews were included meta-analyzing 23 distinct randomized clinical trials. There was a very high overlap between reviews (corrected covered area = 16%). PTSD symptoms, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, sleep quality, substance abuse and quality of life were meta-analyzed. No reviews meta-analyzed the effects of regular physical activity. Overall, the meta-analyses found multicomponent exercise programs may have positive results in reducing PTSD symptoms and improving quality of life. In addition, the results of yoga were inconsistent across the meta-analyses for PTSD symptoms, and no differences between groups were found in favor of yoga for depression symptoms. Finally, no specific conclusions could be made about anxiety symptoms, sleep quality and substance abuse.

Conclusion

A multicomponent exercise program may be effective in improving PTSD symptoms and quality of life, whereas yoga may be ineffective for depression symptoms in adults with PTSD.
Social acceptability of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress at the end of life: A population-based survey
Authors: Plourde Louis , Chang Sue-Ling , Farzin Houman , Gagnon Pierre , Hébert Johanne , Foxman Robert , Deschamps Pierre , Provost François , Masse-Grenier Marianne , Stephan Jean-François , Cheung Katherine , Joly Yann , Fallu Jean-Sébastien , Dorval Michel ,   for the P3A Study Group
Published: January 2024

Background:

Internationally, there is a growing interest in the potential benefits of psilocybin-assisted therapy to treat existential distress at the end of life. However, the social acceptability of this therapy is not yet well known.

Aim:

This study assesses the social acceptability of the medical use of psilocybin to treat existential distress at the end of life.

Design:

An online survey was conducted in Canada between November 23 and December 4, 2022. The questionnaire included items pertaining to perceptions, attitudes and concerns towards psilocybin-assisted therapy to treat existential distress at the end of life.

Participants:

The sample ( n = 2800) was stratified by province, age and sex. Participants were adults from four provinces of Canada: Québec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.

Results:

Overall, 79.3% considered psilocybin-assisted therapy a reasonable medical choice for a patient suffering from existential distress at the end of life, 84.8% agreed that the public health system should cover the costs of the intervention and 63.3% would welcome the legalisation of psilocybin for medical purposes. Previous psilocybin use ( p < 0.0001, for all dependent variables), exposure to palliative care ( p < 0.05, for all dependent variables) and a progressive political orientation ( p < 0.05, for all dependent variables) were associated with more favourable attitudes towards psilocybin-assisted therapy at the end of life.

Conclusion:

The social acceptability of psilocybin-assisted therapy for existential distress at the end of life is rather high in Canada. These findings may contribute to efforts to mobilise resources and improve access to this emerging therapy in palliative and end of life care settings.
To deny or dismantle? Responding to victims of targeted hostility in higher education
Authors: Wertans Emily , Chakraborti Neil
Published: January 2024

With the increasing diversification of higher education, the volume of targeted hostility that students are subjected to on the basis of their identities or perceived ‘differences’ has increased. Typically overlooked within conventional studies of hate crime, incidents of targeted victimisation within higher education are likely to mirror, if not exceed levels exhibited within broader society. Nonetheless, with an absence of robust research evidence exploring this phenomenon, institutions’ responses are often varied, ineffective, or absent. Through a mixed-methods approach involving a survey of 565 student respondents and 39 follow-up interviews undertaken at a UK-based university, this article discusses the nature, impact, and support needs of victims of targeted hostility within higher education. The article unpacks the commonalities and distinctions between victimisation encountered within a campus environment as compared with wider society. Drawing from this study’s research evidence, we argue that while the nature of victimisation within universities holds significant parallels to equivalent encounters within wider society, there are specific challenges within higher education, which can amplify the risk, fear, and impacts of targeted hostility. These challenges require responses within higher education, which acknowledge and prioritise evidence-based, victim-led interventions for prevention, reporting, and support.
Mental health impact on patients with COVID-19 in the community under a long period of full lockdown in Vietnam
Authors: Hung Dinh Viet , Thao Pham Ngoc , Lang Huynh Ngoc , Thu Le Thi , Tai Pham The , Toan Pham Quoc , Nhat Dao Van , Tien Nguyen Xuan , Chi Le Duy , Thuan Do Duc
Published: January 2024

Objective

We aimed to investigate the impact on the mental health of patients with COVID-19 in a centralized isolation facility in the community who experienced a long period of full lockdown during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cross-sectional study among 125 patients with COVID-19 in a centralized isolation facility in the community of Ho Chi Minh City from September to November 2021. We collected data on depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms, as indicated by scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, as well as sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among patients with COVID-19 was 14.4%, 20.8%, and 20.0%, respectively. Depression scores were significantly and positively correlated with body mass index whereas stress scores were significantly and positively correlated with age.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated an increased prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among patients with COVID-19 who were in a centralized isolation facility during the fourth COVID-19 wave in Vietnam. Overweight and older age were identified as risk factors for adverse mental health in patients with COVID-19. Psychological intervention programs should be implemented in isolation facilities for individuals with COVID-19 infection.
Impact of tourniquet use on severity of snakebite envenoming in Chongqing, China: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Yang Qian , Gao Yunhan , Fu Weijie , Ma Shaying
Published: January 2024

Objective

To identify risk factors associated with snakebite severity and determine whether tourniquet use can affect the severity and outcome of snakebites.

Methods

The clinical data of patients who sustained limb snakebites from 1 March 2021 to 31 October 2022 were reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups according to snakebite severity: mild (517 cases), moderate (112 cases), and severe (8 cases). We compared the clinical data of mild versus moderate to severe snakebites. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the independent risk factors for moderate to severe snakebites.

Results

The study involved 637 patients. There were statistically significant differences in age, tourniquet use, onset time, white blood cell increase, platelet decrease, creatine kinase (CK) increase, activated partial thromboplastin time shortening, and length of stay between patients with mild snakebites and those with moderate to severe snakebites. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, tourniquet use, and CK increase were independent risk factors for moderate to severe snakebites.

Conclusion

The overall severity of snakebites in Chongqing is mild, and the prognosis is good. Age, tourniquet use, and CK increase are independent risk factors for the severity of snakebites. We do not recommend tourniquet use after snakebites in Chongqing.
Calling the tune in maladaptive daydreaming: The impact of music on the experience of compulsive fantasizing
Authors: Somer Eli
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to shed light on the role of music in maladaptive daydreaming (MD), a psychological condition characterized by excessive, immersive daydreaming that interferes with well-being and functioning. Forty-one individuals with probable MD participated in asynchronous in-depth email interviews. A thematic analysis yielded three themes describing the role of music in MD. Two homogeneous themes pertained to outlier experiences: Music necessary and Music not desired. The third theme, Music enhances the MD experience, encompassed most of the data retrieved in this study and was further divided into five subthemes: Music avoided in “low energy” daydreaming scenes, Music as white noise, Music enhances MD creativity, Music as an MD trigger compromises the sense of agency; and Music as a powerful immerser that sets MD’s emotional “soundtrack.” This study adds to the sparse knowledge of complex visual narratives and identifies the essential role of music in inducing and formatting MD. The results led to the conclusion that music might be instrumental in MD by distancing the person from the external reality, triggering complex visual storylines, deepening the altered state of consciousness, and intensifying the vividness of the daydreamed plot by invoking an emotional response. Furthermore, hypothesis-driven controlled research was recommended.
Majority jury verdicts in England and Wales: a vestige of white supremacy?
Authors: Waller Nisha , Sakande Naima
Published: January 2024

In England and Wales, the requirement for a unanimous jury verdict in criminal cases was abolished in 1967, marking a significant departure from a centuries-old legal tradition. Majority verdicts are now common practice, yet no research to date explores the origins of this sudden change to the jury system. In contrast, recent research in the US uncovered a connection between the conception of majority verdicts in Louisiana and Jim Crow era law-making, finding that majority verdicts were strategically introduced to suppress the black juror vote and facilitate quicker convictions to fuel free prison labour. The US Supreme Court later outlawed majority verdicts in a case known as Ramos v. Louisiana, amid recognition of their racist origins . Adopting the critical epistemological position guiding the US research, we consider how race and class underpinned the decision to introduce majority verdicts in England and Wales. Drawing on Home Office files and other archival materials, we find that an increase in eligible jurors from different racial and class backgrounds led to a perceived decline in the ‘calibre’ of jurors – reflective of wider public anxieties about Commonwealth immigration, Black Power and white disenfranchisement. We conclude that a desire to dilute the influence of ‘coloured’ migrants on juries contributed to the introduction of majority verdicts in England and Wales.
Cables of a prescribed length under concentrated or distributed loads
Authors: Lubarda Marko V , Lubarda Vlado A
Published: January 2024

A general analysis of inextensible perfectly flexible cables of negligible weight and a prescribed length, loaded by an arbitrary number of concentrated loads, or by a uniformly distributed load per unit horizontal length, is presented. A catenary cable under its own weight, with or without a concentrated force, is also considered. The sags under loads and tensions in all segments of the cable are determined. The results are derived in closed-form, apart from a numerical solution of a single nonlinear algebraic equation for a suitably introduced parameter in the last step of the analysis. The study complements the treatment of cables under concentrated forces available in undergraduate textbooks, which omit the consideration of cables whose length is prescribed in advance. The general analysis may be found appealing for a senior or graduate structural mechanics course, while its specialization to cables with two or three loads only is well suited for an introductory mechanics course. Expressions for a catenary cable subjected to a concentrated load at its midpoint are also derived, with only one nonlinear transcendental equation for the introduced load parameter needing to be solved numerically. Three student projects are suggested which address the existence and uniqueness of the cable configuration under a concentrated force with a specified sag and length of the cable, the lifting of two symmetrically hung loads by an upward force, and the determination of the deformed shape and tension in a catenary cable subjected to a concentrated force at an arbitrary point of the cable.
Preliminary design of a hypersonic airbreathing vehicle based on four steps: An academic approach to learning
Authors: Guerra Eduardo Bento , Marinho George Santos , Silva Douglas do Nascimento , Toro Paulo Gilberto de Paula
Published: January 2024

This article proposes a systematic approach for the preliminary design of a hypersonic airbreathing (scramjet) vehicle within an academic context. The goal is to serve as an educational tool, focusing on teaching students the fundamental physical concepts behind scramjets. The article provides essential equations for generic scramjet designs while explaining the simplifications made from an academic perspective. It demonstrates the use of spreadsheets as a user-friendly tool to modify parameters and observe the behavior of shock waves. The article outlines a four-step procedure. It includes estimating atmospheric properties, designing the supersonic inlet, calculating combustion chamber parameters, and determining postcombustor properties. An academic exercise illustrates these steps for a scramjet flying at a specific velocity and altitude. The results show that this procedure, combined with spreadsheets, enables a rapid prediction of thermodynamic properties, enhancing the understanding of the fundamental physics behind hypersonic airbreathing vehicles.
Assessing the Impact of Media on Blaming the Victim of Acquaintance Rape
Authors: Gravelin Claire R. , Biernat Monica , Kerl Emily
Published: January 2024

Along with the direct trauma of their experience, many rape victims also suffer secondary victimization due to the tendency of others to blame victims for their assault, particularly in cases of acquaintance rape. We explored the role of news media coverage in promoting victim blaming tendencies. In Study 1, a content analysis of articles reporting sexual assaults from two newspapers revealed a tendency for media to overreport stranger rapes and underreport acquaintance rapes, perpetuating the stranger rape as “real rape” prototype. More victim blaming language was also used in reports of acquaintance rape than stranger rape. Perceivers responded to these differences; a high victim blaming news article resulted in greater victim blaming compared to an article low in victim blame content (Study 2 and 3), and exposure to a high blaming article produced greater victim blaming in a subsequent unrelated case of rape and increased endorsement of rape myths (Study 3). These findings demonstrate the importance of the media in shaping public perception of rape victims, particularly in cases of acquaintance rape, and suggest that news media, legislators, and other visible communicators can change the culture of victimization through intentional efforts to delegitimize rape stereotypes in their reporting and dialogs.
Research in the information age and the risks of researcher vicarious trauma
Authors: Lee Ronan
Published: January 2024

Exposure to traumatic material during research may traumatize scholars, contributing to negative health outcomes and curtailing research work. This article argues the social sciences have been slow to address the challenges engagement with potentially traumatizing material pose to researchers. The article reviews key literature on vicarious or secondary trauma and outlines how it might affect scholars. It considers examples from the professions, and scholarly fields including the technology industry, international development, countering violent extremism studies, and genocide studies which have already begun to grapple with these challenges. A case study focused on Myanmar-focused social sciences research outlines how recent improvements in mobile phone camera technology, Internet availability, and international linkages enabled by social media increase researchers’ exposure to potentially traumatizing material. A description of Researcher Vicarious Trauma is proposed and suggestions for how scholars, institutions, and professional associations might positively tackle the contemporary challenges of Researcher Vicarious Trauma are made.
A phase field and machining-learning approach for rapid and accurate prediction of composites failure
Authors: Gao Jin , Bai Yuelei , He Xiaodong , Fan Haolong , Song Guangping , Zou Xiaocan , Xiao Zhenqian , Zheng Yongting
Published: January 2024

A new approach is proposed for rapid and accurate prediction for composite failure in combination of the phase field and machine-learning methods. First, using experimentally-fitted tangent modulus instead of elastic modulus as constitutive relationship, a modified phase field method (MPFM) is established for the crack propagation and mechanical response, which can be effectively applied for composites with a nonlinear constitutive relationship. Interestingly, both the crack propagation path and mechanical responses of two typical examples of composites using MPFM are well consistent with previously available experimental and calculated ones. Furthermore, the data-driven back propagation neural network (BPNN) is constructed to greatly accelerate the prediction on a database generated by MPFM, emphasizing several critical parameters, for example, fiber orientations, external load, maximum failure strain, and critical strain energy release rate. Of much importance, the well-trained BPNN builds a bridge between the traditional computational fracture mechanics and machine learning algorithms, enabling non-specialists to accurately calculate the mechanical response of composites, moreover, saving over 99% of computing time in comparison with MPFM.
Surface roughness and cutting force in turning of alkaline-treated banana fibre-reinforced polymer composite: Compressed air cutting
Authors: Karim Md. Rezaul , Kumar Raman , Babbar Atul , Sharma Shubham , Kumar Ranvijay
Published: January 2024

Banana fibre-reinforced polymer (BaFRP) composite can ensure environmentally friendly decomposition of waste material and reduction of cost in comparison with traditionally used fibre material. This article emphasizes the influence of various machining constraints on surface roughness (Ra) and cutting force (Pz) in turning alkaline-treated banana fibre-reinforced polymer (T-BaFRP) composite. 30% weight fraction yields satisfactory mechanical properties. Taguchi orthogonal array L25 is used to design experiments and optimization using DFA and TOPSIS. An experimental investigation was conducted under compressed cooling air-cutting conditions where pressure was kept at 8 bar. Analysis of variance depicts that depth of cut and feed rate are the most prominent factors for surface roughness and cutting force. The predicted and experimental values error is 0.517% for surface roughness and 1.181% for cutting force. The optimization using DFA and TOPSIS reported optimal depth of cut, cutting speed, and feed rate at 0.362 mm, 55 m/min, and 0.113 mm/rev, and at 0.8 mm, 154 m/min, and 0.12 mm/rev, respectively. Ra of 2.594 µm and Pz of 14.258 N by DFA and 3.02 µm and 25.83 N by TOPSIS method have been attained. Moreover, confirmation test suggests that both response parameters (surface roughness and cutting force) are in close alignment with the results from the DFA and TOPSIS.
Alginate microspheres encapsulating hox transcript antisense RNA siRNA regulate the Hedgehog-Gli1 pathway to alleviate epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors resistance
Authors: Lu Guojie , Zhong Huiling , Gao Jianwei , Zhang Yaosen
Published: January 2024

The long non-coding RNA HOTAIR and the Hedgehog-Gli1 signaling pathway are closely associated with tumor occurrence and drug resistance in various cancers. However, their specific roles in the development of EGFR-TKIs resistance in non-small cell carcinoma remain unclear. To address the issue of EGFR-TKIs resistance, this study utilized the electrospray method to prepare sodium alginate microspheres encapsulating HOTAIR siRNA (SA/HOTAIR siRNA) and investigated its effects on RNA interference (RNAi) in the gefitinib-resistant cell line PC9/GR. Furthermore, the study explored whether HOTAIR could modulate EGFR-TKIs resistance through the Hedgehog-GLi1 signaling pathway. The experimental results showed that sodium alginate (SA) microspheres demonstrated excellent biocompatibility with high encapsulation efficiency and drug-loading capacity, effectively enhancing the silencing efficiency of siRNA. HOTAIR siRNA significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of PC9/GR cells while promoting apoptosis. Additionally, HOTAIR siRNA effectively suppressed tumor growth and downregulated the Hedgehog-GLi1 pathway and anti-apoptotic proteins, which were confirmed in animal experiments. Moreover, SA/HOTAIR siRNA exhibited superior inhibition of cellular and tumor functions compared to using HOTAIR siRNA alone. Clinical research findings indicated that monitoring the expression level of HOTAIR in the serum and urine samples of NSCLC patients before and after receiving EGFR-TKIs treatment can predict the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs to a certain extent. This study provided evidence that HOTAIR siRNA effectively mitigated the development of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs by inhibiting the Hedgehog-GLi1 pathway. Furthermore, it introduced a reliable and long-lasting drug delivery system for combating acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs.
Levels of Involvement with Child Protection Services Associated with Early Adolescent Police Contact as a Victim and Person of Interest
Authors: Tzoumakis Stacy , Whitten Tyson , Laurens Kristin R. , Dean Kimberlie , Harris Felicity , Carr Vaughan J. , Green Melissa J.
Published: January 2024

The relationship between childhood maltreatment and subsequent offending/victimization is well established. However, the magnitude of this relationship for different levels of child protection services (CPS) involvement is poorly understood, due to measurement issues, lack of longitudinal data, and reliance on reports of substantiated maltreatment, which can underestimate the impact of maltreatment. This study examined associations between CPS involvement during childhood (ages 0 to <11 years) and police services contact (as a victim and/or a person of interest) for criminal incidents in early adolescence (11 to ~14 years), differentiated according to levels of CPS involvement (i.e., no risk of significant harm [non-ROSH], unsubstantiated ROSH, substantiated ROSH, and out-of-home care; each examined relative to no CPS contact). Data for 71,465 children were drawn from the New South Wales Child Development Study, an intergenerational, longitudinal investigation that uses administrative records from CPS and police alongside other health, justice, and education data. Multinomial regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between increasing levels of CPS involvement and police contact as a victim only, a person of interest only, and as both victim and person of interest while accounting for covariates (i.e., child’s sex, Aboriginal, and/or Torres Strait Islander background, socioeconomic status, maternal age at child’s birth, and parental offending history). Children exposed to any of the four levels of CPS involvement had higher odds of police contact, relative to children with no CPS involvement. Odds ratios were higher for contact with police as both a victim and a person of interest, compared to police contact as a victim or a person of interest only. These findings highlight that children with even unsubstantiated CPS reports (i.e., non-ROSH and unsubstantiated ROSH reports) are at heightened risk of police contact compared to children who are unknown to CPS, underlining the need to support all families in contact with CPS.
Bad Break-Up Behavior: Break-Up Characteristics, Emotional Dysregulation, and Alcohol Use as Risk Factors for Cyber Dating Abuse Among Sexual Orientation Diverse College Students
Authors: Schroeder Grace E. , McMillan Iris F. , Jules Bridget N. , Langhinrichsen-Rohling Jennifer
Published: January 2024

Cyber dating abuse (CDA) is a growing public health concern among college students. CDA includes monitoring and abusive behaviors perpetrated toward an ex-partner via technology. Little is known about the predictors of CDA, particularly among sexual minority (SM) college students. Some theorized but relatively untested predictors include break-up characteristics, emotional regulation deficits, and alcohol use. The current study investigates what factors are associated with an increased risk for CDA toward an ex-partner (i.e., break-up characteristics, emotional dysregulation, and alcohol use) and the differences in associations with CDA between heterosexual and SM college students. Participants ( N = 661) self-reported their CDA perpetration following their worst romantic break-up. They also answered questions about the break-up, their emotional regulation skills, and their current alcohol use. While SM students ( n = 191) reported greater emotion regulation difficulties and alcohol use, they did not significantly differ from heterosexual participants ( n = 470) in their reported CDA perpetration post-break-up. Hierarchical regressions were conducted to determine the impact of break-up characteristics and individual factors on CDA perpetration. Break-up characteristics, emotional dysregulation, and alcohol use significantly predicted heterosexual participants’ CDA perpetration and accounted for 17% of the variance. Conversely, for SM students, only alcohol use was predictive of CDA, accounting for 5% of the variance. Although SM students report similar break-up experiences and levels of CDA as heterosexual students, additional, unmeasured factors may drive perpetration. However, given the generally high rates of alcohol use and CDA, and their robust association, interventions targeting alcohol reduction and healthy relationship dissolution strategies may be beneficial.
Predictors of Adolescents’ Transition Through the Stages of Change for Quitting E-Cigarettes: Findings From the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study
Authors: Ahuja Nikhil , Kedia Satish , Ward Kenneth D. , Jiang Yu , Dillon Patrick J.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To identify predictive factors associated with US adolescents’ transition through the stages of change for potentially quitting e-cigarettes using the Trans-theoretical model of behavior change.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

United States.

Subjects

We utilized data from adolescents (12-17 years) in Wave 3 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study who used e-cigarettes exclusively over the past 30 days (n = 177) and were followed up with in Wave 4.

Measures

Outcome variables were 3 transition categories: those who remained stagnant, those who progressed, and those who regressed in their stage of quitting e-cigarettes. Predictor variables were socio-demographics, e-cigarette harm perception, e-cigarette use at home or by important people, social norms, e-cigarette and anti-tobacco advertisements, and e-cigarette health warnings.

Analysis

Weighted-adjusted multinomial regression analysis was performed to determine the association between predictor and outcome variables.

Results

From Wave 3 to Wave 4, 19% of adolescents remained stagnant; 73.3% progressed; and 7.7% regressed. Adolescents were less likely to progress in their stage of change if they perceived nicotine in e-cigarettes to be “not at all/slightly harmful” (AOR = .26 [95% CI: .25, .27], P < .001); reported important people’s use of e-cigarettes (AOR = .18 [95% CI: .05, .65, P = .009); and “rarely” noticed e-cigarette health warnings (AOR = .28 [95% CI: .08, .98, P = .054).

Conclusion

Intervention efforts must target specific predictive factors that may help adolescents quit e-cigarettes.
The Impact of Inequalities on Data Policies: Favelas Unified Dashboard Case Study
Authors: Campos Elisa Maria
Published: January 2024

Data is the new asset of the current digital revolution. It is heralded as the “new oil” that will transform the world and function as a magic tool for development policies, with great potential to solve global health dilemmas. However, deep societal inequalities give datafication the risk of escalating disparities through data policies instead of solving them. The pandemic unmasked the price to pay for ignoring deep inequalities, helping this research to answer the question: “How did inequalities impact data policies for the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil?” To investigate this link, the author develops a theoretical model linking the World-historical model of relational inequalities to the capability approach and data colonization theory. This model sustains the analysis of the data collected in 5 months of participant observation in the Covid-19 Favelas Unified Dashboard plus governmental data analysis and semi-structured interviews with data policymakers for Covid-19 in Brazil. As a result, the author demonstrates how inequalities worked as a trap for data policies and argues that data inequalities go beyond the digital divide. Data inequalities skyrocket vulnerability of the poor, increasing contamination rates, and inhibiting development.
The Origins of Emerging Adults’ Work–Family Balance Self-Efficacy: A Dyadic Study
Authors: Cho Eunae
Published: January 2024

Despite the well-known benefits of work–family balance self-efficacy (WFBSE), little is known about its predictors. This study addresses this gap by examining predictors of WFBSE (enacted and vicarious experiences in multiple role management), the relative strength of predictors, and a moderator (parent-child closeness) that facilitates vicarious learning. Dyadic survey data were collected in Singapore from 108 emerging adults ( Mage = 21.8, SDage = 1.51 years) and their same-gender parents. Results from hierarchical regression analyses suggest that emerging adults’ work-school conflict (enacted failure) and parental work-to-family conflict (observed failure) were negatively associated with WFBSE. Dominance analysis supported the hypothesis that mastery experience is a stronger predictor of WFBSE than vicarious experience is. As expected, perceived parental work-to-family conflict had a stronger negative relationship with WFBSE among emerging adults who reported higher parent–child closeness. Implications for future research on emerging adults’ WFBSE and career development practice are discussed.
Impact of Lowered Inpatient Correctional Bedtime Insulin Dosing on Glycemic Outcomes of Veterans
Authors: Hiscox Allacyn , Armbrust Jennifer , Shin Maria , Bahng Jeffrey
Published: January 2024

Purpose: This study evaluated glycemic outcomes for hospitalized patients after reduction in bedtime correctional insulin dosing. Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center analysis of a protocol change that reduced bedtime correctional insulin scale. Comparable cohorts pre- and post-protocol change were created which included patients who were ordered correctional insulin with at least 1 blood glucose (BG) reading. The primary outcome was number of nocturnal hypoglycemia readings. Secondary outcomes included, but were not limited to, mean fasting BG, BG within various ranges, and length of stay. Results: 3 percent of patients in the post-protocol change group (N = 100) experienced nocturnal hypoglycemia compared to 6% of patients in the pre-change group (N = 100) ( P = .507). There were no significant differences in BG ranges <110 mg/dL, <140 mg/dL, 140 to 180 mg/dL, and >180 mg/dL. However, 19% of patients in the post-protocol change group had BG of >250 mg/dL as compared to 9% in the pre-change group ( P = .033). Mean fasting BG was higher in the post-protocol change group compared to the pre-change group (156.5 mg/dL vs 139.3 mg/dL [ P = .002]), as was hospital length of stay (5.17 vs 4.6 days, [ P = .024]). Conclusions: A decreased bedtime correctional insulin scale had mixed results with more patients achieving goal fasting BG but also more patients experiencing BG > 250 mg/dL and longer length of stay. Larger prospective studies are required to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this type of intervention and its long-term impact.
The Role of Spiritual Practices in the Multidimensional Impact of Religion and Spirituality on Giving and Volunteering
Authors: King David P. , Duffy Barbara J. , Steensland Brian
Published: January 2024

Religion is one of the most widely recognized predictors of charitable giving and volunteering. Yet there is less agreement on how it matters and whether spirituality matters as well. We explore religion’s modes of influence through multidimensional measures of religion and spirituality, including affiliation, membership, and salience. We introduce an analysis of spiritual practices to studies of prosocial behavior and find that six diverse spiritual practices are independently associated with greater likelihood of giving or volunteering. In full models, composite measures of spiritual practices beyond regular religiosity measures are significantly associated with both outcomes. Taken collectively, our results demonstrate the value of recognizing the multiple pathways through which religion and spirituality matter for giving and volunteering, the relevance of diverse forms of spiritual practice, and, most broadly, the importance of further exploring the links between spirituality and prosocial behavior.
Steering collision avoidance and lateral stability coordinated control based on vehicle lateral stability region
Authors: Pan Qianxi , Zhou Bing , Wu Xiaojian , Cui Qingjia , Zheng Kangqiang
Published: January 2024

The balance between vehicle lateral stabilization and collision avoidance is critical for steering collision avoidance in emergency situations. On the one hand, emergency steering may cause a vehicle to lose its lateral stability. On the other hand, the overly conservative stability controller may compress the safety margin of vehicle collision avoidance, leading to failure of collision avoidance. Therefore, steering collision avoidance and lateral stability coordinated control (SCALSC) based on the vehicle stability region is proposed. The Lyapunov’s Second Method is used to obtain the lateral stability region instead of the linear two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) vehicle states as the stability tracking target to ensure that the vehicle states are in the stability region. The SCALSC includes an active steering controller and a direct-yaw-moment controller (DYC). An active steering controller is used for collision avoidance in emergency conditions, while DYC is used for stability control. An intervention criterion for the DYC system is proposed by using the Hurwitz criterion. Finally, a simulation test was carried out based on MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results show that the proposed coordinated control method ensures stability, improves the safety margin of collision avoidance, and realizes multiobjective coordinated control of collision avoidance and autonomous vehicle stability control in emergency situations.
Experimental investigation in sustainable electric discharge drilling of Inconel alloy using grey-based fuzzy logic approach
Authors: Arif Tasnim , Sharma Amit
Published: January 2024

In the present era of manufacturing, sustainable processes are preferred for healthy and ecofriendly environment. To avoid the environmental pollutants and hazardous fumes during the drilling of Inconel-718 alloy, electrical discharge drilling (EDD) process has been used with deionized water as a dielectric medium in the present study. The process performance in terms of metal removal rate (MRR) and hole taper has been controlled by using four process variables such as discharge current, pulseduration, pulse interval and dielectric flushing pressure. The experiments were designed with the help of Box Behnken design (BBD) technique and further, the experimental results have been analyzed to optimize the process performance by using the grey-based fuzzy logic approach. The application of optimization approach has improved the MRR by 62.6% and hole taper is reduced by 20.23%. The parametric study has been carried out to examine the process behaviour with the variation of variables and pulse duration is found as most significant parameter for the study.
Impact of debonding between layers of ballastless turnouts on the vibration characteristics of the wheel-rail system
Authors: Li Shuxiao , Li Zhiheng , Yan Zheng , Wang Ping , Xu Jingmang
Published: January 2024

The mortar layer of the slab ballastless turnout is the weakest connecting part compared to the rest of the structure, meaning debonding between the turnout slab and the mortar layer is prone to occur under the dynamic load of a train. In order to study the impact of debonding on the vibration response of the wheel-rail system in the turnout area, a rigid-flexible vehicle-turnout coupled dynamic model that takes debonding into account was established based on the theory of vehicle-track coupled dynamics; the flexible deformation of the multi-rail and turnout slab was also included in the model. The impact of debonding on the wheel load transition and the vibration acceleration of the turnout structure and axle box were then analysed. The results show that: There are significant differences in the impact of different types of debonding on the vibration response of the vehicle-track coupled system. When the debonding height is less than the voiding limit, the impact of the debonding height is significant, while the vibration acceleration of the vehicle-turnout system remains basically unchanged once debonding height reaches the void limit.
Influence of thermal loading parameters and microstructure on the formation of stratified surface layers on railway wheels
Authors: Freisinger Matthias , Pichelbauer Kurt , Trummer Gerald , Six Klaus
Published: January 2024

Due to an increasing trend towards environmentally friendly public transport, rail networks face higher speeds and wheel loads affecting the material degradation of the railway components. Within this study, influencing parameters on the formation of stratified surface layers, forming on railway wheels during service due to thermal loadings in the wheel-rail contact, are studied. These layers consist of white etching layer and underlying brown etching layer and are susceptible to fatigue crack initiation. By using laser surface treatments, its formation based on two consecutive thermal loadings is systematically demonstrated on ER7 wheel steel. Further, a decrease in layer thickness with decreasing laser power, and an increase in brown etching layer thickness with increasing laser power difference is shown. Moreover, the effect of finer grain size leading to an increased layer thickness, and the influence of the chemical composition by comparing the standard ER7 wheel steel to a micro-alloyed wheel steel are demonstrated.
Automated rerailing of a road-rail shunting vehicle on road-level tracks using 2D-Lidar
Authors: Jung Hyun-Suk , Niermeyer Philipp , Manjunatheswaran Harish , Schindler Christian
Published: January 2024

Road-rail vehicles are emerging increasingly in small flat yards for shunting wagons. While numerous research works suggest automation of the shunting operation to improve its efficiency, the rerailing procedure of such vehicle, i.e., switching between road and rail mode, remains manually executed. Hence, we present a simple but novel method for a road-rail vehicle with skid-steer drive to rerail automatically on road-level tracks (e.g., level-crossing). The vehicle uses two 2D-Lidar sensors to scan the floor for (rail) in order to estimate its lateral displacement and angular orientation towards the track centre. A simplified model and a PID-type controller for the yaw rate were deployed while keeping the linear velocity constant for the vehicle to align itself at the centre of and parallel to the track. Upon reaching the goal, the rail wheels are descended and the rerailing is completed. Test runs were conducted from a random initial pose near the track centre while limiting the travel range in x-direction to 2.5 m, yet allowing a change of direction each time the vehicle reaches this limit. In 97% of the test runs, the vehicle rerailed successfully in 47 s on average (12 s of which was needed for lowering the rail wheels) with three changes of direction or less. In the remaining 3% of cases it took more attempts. Automated rerailing could be used not only as assistance function for the shunting personnel, but also as important feature of an autonomous shunting robot that is able to access both road and rail domains.
Human immunodeficiency virus prevention outcomes associated with arts-based sexual health workshop participation among Northern and Indigenous adolescents in the Northwest Territories, Canada
Authors: Lys Candice L , Logie Carmen H , Lad Anoushka , Sokolovic Nina , Mackay Kayley Inuksuk , Hasham Aryssa , Malama Kalonde
Published: January 2024

Background

Contextually tailored, arts-based HIV prevention strategies hold potential to advance adolescent sexual health and wellbeing. We examined HIV prevention outcomes associated with arts-based sexual health workshop participation with Northern and Indigenous adolescents in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada.

Methods

An Indigenous community-based youth agency delivered arts-based workshops in school settings to adolescents aged 13-18 in 24 NWT communities. Pre and post-test surveys included socio-demographic characteristics, sexually infections (STI) knowledge, HIV/STI risk perception, sexual relationship equity, condom use self-efficacy, and safer sex efficacy (SSE). Latent change score models were conducted to assess pre-post differences and factors associated with these differences.

Results

Among participants ( n = 344; mean age 14.3 years, SD: 1.3; Indigenous: 79%) most (66%) had previously attended this workshop. Latent change score models revealed a significant and large effect size for increased STI knowledge (β = 2.10, SE = 0.48, p < .001) and significant and small effect sizes for increased HIV/STI risk perception (β = 0.24, SE = 0.06, p < .001) and SSE (β = 0.16, SE = 0.07, p = .02). The largest increases across several outcomes occurred with first time workshop participants; yet previous workshop participants continued to report increases in HIV/STI risk perception and SSE.

Conclusion

Arts-based HIV prevention approaches show promise in advancing STI knowledge, risk perception, and SSE with Northern and Indigenous youth.
Comparison of clinician preference and HIV-ASSIST recommendations in antiretroviral therapy decision-making: A single center experience from Turkiye
Authors: Akbulut Ilkay , Odemis Ilker , Atalay Sabri , Inkaya Ahmet Cagkan
Published: January 2024

Background: HIV-ASSIST is a free, continuously updated, clinically validated online algorithm tool that synthesizes participant- and virus-specific characteristics and provides ART decision support based on the goals of maximizing viral suppression and tolerability. The aim of this study was to analyze the concordance of clinicians’ ART preferences with HIV-ASSIST recommendations and the influencing factors. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records of people with HIV (PWH) followed in the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Department of Health Sciences University Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital. The concordance between prescribed ART and HIV-ASSIST recommendations was evaluated. Results: The study included 101 participants (92 male, 91.1%), median age was 35 (20–67), and 24.8% of participants were treatment-experienced. The concordance between prescribed ART and HIV-ASSIST recommendations was 90.1% (absolute concordance 60.4%). The concordance rate was 89.5% (absolute concordance rate was 64.5%) in treatment-naive participants; 92% (absolute concordance rate was 48%) in treatment-experienced participants. Factors that were associated with discordance in the multivariate analysis were co-trimoxazole prophylaxis and hyperlipidemia. Conclusion: The recommendations of the HIV-ASSIST algorithm were found to be highly concordant with the ART prescriptions of our clinicians.